Family Rights (that aren't always right)

Prologue (Three years before Hallow’s Eve):

“Why must you be so stubborn!” Cordelia Rosier screamed at her daughter, holding up Pandora’s experimentation binder, “Why must you try and befoul the Rosier name with your so called ‘science experiments’. This is a noble house, we do not engage with such… muggle activities” She spat those last words, as her daughter tried to reason with her.

“But Mother…”

“Don't you ‘but mother’ me, young lady! If you can look me in the eyes, and tell me that you truly believe that this… this “science” goes against everything we believe in as purebloods, then you should leave” Cordelia threw the binder back to Pandora, knocking the younger woman back a step by the sheer weight of it. She faced her mother with her head held high, taking a deep breath.

“I believe that the way we use magic could be improved upon if we opened our horizons to less conventional methods and means. I mean… when was the last time a new spell was made, a new potion brewed, a new charm formed. We are holding ourselves back, and if you can't see that, then I might as well leave”. Her tone was steady, almost emotionless, as if she had already prepared herself for this moment. Cordelia scoffed.

“You have nowhere else. Where would you go?”

“Away from here, at least”

And with that, Pandora raised her wand, waving it in a graceful motion above her head, as her things picked themselves up and fold themself neatly into her trunk, along with her binder, everything fitting so easily that there must've been some form of expansion charm on it. She taps the top of it with her wand and it floats along behind her, as she walks past her mother, who just stood there, unable to believe what just happened. Pandora walked over to the living room, as her twin brother came out of his room to see what the commotion was.

“Hey Panda, what's happening? Why do you have your trunk packed? Where are you going?”

“Oh, Evan…” She hugs her brother “I can't stay here with mother anymore. I have to go…”

Evan hugged her back, slightly worried, glancing at the stairs where their mother was watching from the doorway

“But… wait…” Pandora cuts him off with a shake of her head

“It was never meant to be…” She pulled away slightly, smiling up at him, her head slightly tilted “Be a good heir for Mother and Father, I will try and stay in touch”. Evan watches as his older twin sets her trunk down in the hallway. Cordelia speaks up again, walking down the stairs.

“Pandora, wait…just give up on all this muggle nonsense and we can go back to the way we were, happy and at peace”

Pandora takes a deep breath, she knows this must be done, as much as it pains her to do so, the ancient magic is just too powerful for her to consider any other way. She shakes her head and as she turns away with her trunk to walk down the hallway, her Mother snapped again.

“You selfish blood-traitorous brat. You are no daughter of mine!”

“Fine, because I wasn't planning on staying your daughter for much longer anyway,” Pandora says over her shoulder, walking down the hall. Both her mother and brother look on, and Evan realises what she was about to do just a second too late, opening his mouth to protest.

“Panda, NO!”

Pandora raises her wand as she passes the family tree stuck to the hallway wall with a permanent sticking charm, blasting herself into a charred circle on the picture, before walking out the door, a loud CRACK being heard right outside the protective wards as she apparated away, both her mother and brother watch, shocked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Have you heard?”

Asked Lucius Malfoy, looking down at his younger brother currently residing in one of the arm chairs in Malfoy Manor library.

“Heard what?” Xenophillius Malfoy asked, looking up from his book. His brother hardly ever disturbed him during the day, mainly spending his time with his betrothed: Narcissa Black. It was pretty ironic to him that he finally took the time to come find him. They hardly saw each other anymore and much less interacted, not since Lucius decided he wanted to become the perfect “Head of House”. He spends all his time with either Father, Narcissa or the piles of paperwork on his desk or meeting up with The Dark Lord, talking about pureblood nonsense. Come to think of it, isn’t he supposed to get married in a year or two? Narcissa will be finished with Hogwarts then, she’ll move in, big wedding, more paperwork, contracts, dah dah dah….. He wonders what will be of him and Pandora then. Pandora Malfoy has a lovely ring to it…

“Xeno, I can practically hear your thoughts and they are insufferable. Turn them off.” His older brother says.

“Are you using Legimens on me? Because if you are, I'll tell Mother.” Xeno replies

“Tell Mother what, we’re not five… now we're going off track, what did I want to ask you again? Oh yes, have you heard that Pandora Rosier has been kicked out from the House of Rosier?” Lucius asks, carefully masking his expression.

He knew of his brother's courting with the lady and knew he probably planned on marrying her. Well, he didn’t know the last bit but he knew it would most likely happen.
Rosier is a very respected House, part of the Sacred 28, Father would most likely approve of it, maybe even be overjoyed. It is a well respected house. Now that the young lady has been kicked out, he wonders of the downfall of it. He recalls Sirius Black being kicked out, as well as Andromeda Black. Both burned from the Black Family Tree by Walburga Black.

“Pandora’s been, what?” Xenophillius asks in shock, surprise written all over his face. “That wouldn’t have…What?” Lucius carefully neutered his face, being careful of his next words. “She was experimenting with…muggle ‘science’. Lady Rosier found it fit that she no longer belonged to the House of Rosier. Her actions were deemed..unladylike.”

“That's absurd! Deranged even how dare she-"

"I will stop you right there, Son.” The cool, metallic voice of their Father Abraxas Malfoy stepped out of the shadows, having most likely been listening in on their conversation beforehand. Of course, Lucius thought, Father knows everything. He knew he would go tell Xeno about what happened to his witch.

Abraxas stepped forward towards his two sons who look so eerily similar to him. He looks his youngest son in the eye, looking at the panic starting to gather there.
“Xenophilius I forbid you to interact with the now disowned young Lady Rosier. And I expect you to follow my orders. She has embarrassed the Sacred 28 with this muggle nonsense, mixing spells and this ‘science’. You will not, and I repeat, not interact with her. She is disgraced.”

“Father, you cannot be serious.”

“I am very serious and you will listen to me. I am your father and Head of House. You will not bring shame to the Great House of Malfoy, interacting with a blood traitor. Much less courting her. Do you understand?”

Lucius looked at his younger brother, how his form faltered, how he seemed to accept defeat. Accept defeat too quickly. It’s a show, he thought, something bigger is going to happen.
Father seemed to assume that Xenophillius’ silence was enough of an answer. He spoke more softly next:

“I know it will be hard, but you will find someone else.” And with that, he patted Xenophilius' shoulder and left the two brothers. Most likely to do paperwork. Or see the Dark Lord. Lucius suspects the latter. He looks at his brother and sees the set in his eyes, the hardness. The calculation. He's planning something.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xenophilius opened the small muggle notebook, quickly jotting down a message

“I heard the news. Where do you want to meet?”

Before putting it back into his back pocket. He opened the drawer and started taking out the pouch of galleons he had. It was enough for them to live comfortably for a good few years. He stashed that away and opened his wardrobe. Magicking the trunk open, muttering a spell under his breath he swished his wand and all his belongings fell comfortably into it. All. The extension charm, he thought, she must have casted it. Before he could do anything he felt the growing warmth of the notebook. Taking it out he read the message: “Godric Hollow. Meet me in the graveyard.”

It’s set then. He’s really doing it. He wrote a quick response back and stored the notebook away.

“What are you doing?”

He quickly turned around and found his older brother staring at him, his face carefully masking no emotion. He looked around the room; to the open trunk being filled with clothes, to the gold items being carefully sorted away, his traveling robes. Then it suddenly clicked. His eyes widened in surprise.

“Lucius…”

“I knew you were planning something.”

It was a statement.

Of course. Lucius had always been able to read him, for some reason, ever since they were children. Lucius most likely knew he was up to something. Even after all these years, he still gets read like an open book by his older brother.

“It has already been decided, and you know it.” Xenophilius said, looking his brother directly in the eye.

“Clearly” said Lucius, studying him with his calculating gaze. Watching him cautiously. “There are plenty of other women out there, like Father said ‘you will find someone else’.”

“It’s not the same.”

“I can see that.”

The brothers stared at each other. Eyeing the other, waiting for one of them to speak first.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eventually, Lucius gets fed up with the silence, slipping into his brother’s thoughts for a moment.

“Out of curiosity, Why Godric’s hollow of all places?”

Xenophilius starts, glaring at his brother

“You know you’re not allowed…” he gets cut off by Lucius raising his eyebrows, crossing his arms
“don't tell Father, please Luci. We’re meeting in Godric’s because then she at least can stay at the Potters, they have a reputation for taking in disowned purebloods and Effie’s door is always open. It's the safest…”

“You’re not disowned the last I checked.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do?”

“Lucius, stop with your games.”

Lucius looked at him. Really looked at him. “You’re not going. I won’t allow it.”
“I don’t think you can make me listen to that.”

“And why is that?”

Wrong words. Quick as lightning Xenophilius snapped his fingers and his luggage shrunk, small enough to fit into his back pocket. The bag of gold also fell in his pocket along with anything valuable that would surely bring them money. Then, he apparated to the Malfoy Family room. Where his parents were. Father always prided in the Malfoy family history, and Lucius does too. Always going through the book ever since he was a child.

Father got up from the settee, Mother right next to him confusion etched on their faces. He heard a CRACK a split second later, Lucius appearing right behind him panic clearly showing on his face. The perfect pureblood mask was gone in a second.

“What is the meaning of this?” Abraxas asked, looking between his sons, clearly they had been in an argument.

Belovina Malfoy looked between her sons, worry clearly showing on her pretty face. Her youngest looked upset, angry and determined - and a little bit panicked while her oldest looked….scared? Lucius was never scared. Not even as a child. Something happened. Something big.

“Boys?” She asked, looking between them. She knew they weren't boys but men now, yet they would always be her boys. “What happened?”

Xenophilius quickly walked to the Malfoy family history book, flipping through the pages and stopping when he found the right one. He looked at Lucius, he looked afraid, worried. He looked at Mother and Father looking confused. Then he looked back at Lucius. “I’m sorry” was all he said. He pointed his wand at the book, pointing at his profile. Then he blasted himself off the Malfoy family tree and apparated away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CRACK.

The noise echoes around the silent village as Xenophilius appears at the gate to the graveyard, opening it quietly and walking inside, pulling out the muggle notebook and glancing at it

“Come to the Dumbledores’ grave” it read. He walks quietly through the rows of headstones until he reaches the one with the figure shrouded in shadows, soft smile on his face

“You made the shrouding work then?”. Pandora gasps, spinning around and launching herself at him, then pausing, taking a step back, looking him up and down. “I can’t feel the wards… did you…?”

Xenophilius nods, taking a deep breath.

“I couldn't let you be the only one who defected, not including the white sheeps of the Black Family of course” he smiles. Pandora laughs softly, a soft sound that sounds too pure to exist to Xenophilius.

“You know i love you right, we’re gonna make this work… even if i told you to wait until we had a place to stay before leaving” she pokes his chest playfully, raising her eyebrows. Xenophilius chuckles, taking her hand in his, pulling her closer by her waist and kissing the top of her head
“I love you too, now let’s get to the Potters before we run into someone who knows us”

After a few more fleeting kisses in the graveyard, the two love birds find themselves in front of the Potter’s door. Pandora reaches out and knocks… Or at least, tries to. The door swings open before her hand can meet the door, though she doesn't seem surprised at that like Xenophilius does.

“Hello dearies, i didn't think you would be here so soon, and both without your family wards, nonetheless.” Euphemia (Effie) Potter opens the door, her gaze softening more as Xenophilius shifts his weight.

“Ahh, I see… not your “family” anymore then, I take it?” Pandora nods, leaning on Xenophilius. Effie smiles,

“Well, you know you're always welcome here… JAMES, SIRIUS, SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE!” she calls up the stairs, moving away from the door as loud footsteps are heard running to the door

“Hello, Lovebirds fancy seeing you here.” Said James Potter, smiling at them cheekily. Sirius Black comes behind James, pushing his friend to the side and greeting them enthusiastically.

“Welcome to the Orphanage of the Banished or my particular favourite: Blood traitors!”

Pandora rolls her eyes, then holds out her hand, smiling despite herself,

“We need the ward entrance, James. We can't enter without it…”

The two boys looked slightly dejected that their jokes weren't being received as they hoped, but perked up quickly when they noticed Xeno slightly behind her.

“Ooh, the Malfoy’s Black sheep finally decided to leave the family, huh? About time," says Sirius.

Xenophilius rolls his eyes, his gaze slightly colder than intended as they try and take a stab at his family, “yeah, well… Blood is thicker than water, or have you forgotten, Black? Not all of us hate our noble families”

Sirius glowers at Xenophilius, taking his wand out, a spell on the tip of his tongue. But Pandora and James were quicker, James quickly disarming Sirius and Pandora moving protectively in front of her boyfriend.

“Sirius no, this house is a no dueling zone, remember? Just ignore him” James reminds him, patting him on the shoulder, though not giving him his wand back, knowing just how short of a temper the older Black brother has whenever his family is brought up. James quickly looks around, then looks back at Pandora and Xenophilius.

“We better get you set into the wards before someone recognises you both. Especially you, Malfoy, you're quite noticeable and knowing the both of you, I have no doubt you’ve made a dramatic exit. Specifically you, Malfoy.”

“Oi! Spur of the moment decision, Potter! Luci just HAD to catch me packing everything, honestly he has eyes everywhere…”

“You don’t have the signature slithery snake move, Xeno. How sad.”
Pandora rolls her eyes, thinking for a moment

“I wouldn't put it past him to have charmed your room so he can see what you're doing at all times” Xenophilius looks as though his entire worldview has shifted, mouth slightly ajar.

“Oh… right…”

Both James and Sirius chuckle, as James points his wand as the couple’s intertwined hands

“I, James Fleamont Potter, heir of the Potter house, hereby allow Xenophilius Abraxas Malfoy and Pandora Celine Rosier into my house and wards, on the condition that they don't betray me or my family and treat this house and it’s ancestors with respect”
Pandora smiles softly, feeling the new magic slipping over her like a cloak, though Xenophilius just looks at her for confirmation it worked. She nods, leading him into the house, smiling at the two boys as she passes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they pass the kitchen, Effie calls out to them,

“Tea and biscuits, dear? There’s some fresh from the oven”

“Yes please, Lady Potter” Xenophillius replies, nodding respectfully

Effie smiles warmly “Just call me Effie, dear. Or Mum, if you prefer that” The Biscuit tray floats over to them, and Xenophilius stiffens, not used to such informalities before.

“Effie is fine” he mutters, looking at the ground as he takes a couple biscuits, continuing on with Pandora to sit stiffly on the couch. James and Sirius follow, flopping down easily, their form much less upheld and proper.

After a couple minutes of uncomfortable silence, Effie comes out from the kitchen with two mugs of steaming hot chocolate and three mugs of fruity tea, flicking her finger at the group on the couch as the mugs carefully fly to their owners, the two mischievous boys getting the hot chocolate, while the newcomers carefully reach up to pull their tea closer.

Effie settles on an armchair, raising her eyebrows at her boys to remind them to behave, before turning to the couple still sitting awkwardly beside her.

“Now if my memory serves correct, Pandora darling you weren’t supposed to come for a few days, not that you’re not welcome, just a bit sooner than expected. And Xenophilius, weren’t you supposed to come closer to Yule?”

“Uh so about that-” Said Xeno, a bit sheepishly

“Plans changed Effie,” said Pandora calmly “My mother got too pushy, and it would have just gotten more messy if we had waited. Xeno found out, and he decided that in the spur of the moment, that he would join me. Isn’t that right darling?”

“Yes, love” said Xeno, trying to not glare at James and Sirius giggling at them behind their hands.

Effie brings her mug up to her lips, taking a sip

“So, about that matter of your family names, have you decided whether or not you want to keep them?”
Pandora ponders for a moment, as Xenophilius glances at her, then back at Effie

“I don't think we are going to keep our family names, I think it's time we make our own family lines”

“New last name? Oh I have a great last name for you two: Padfoot, absolutely brilliant! You’ll thank me later.” Sirius pipes up, with mirth in his eyes, smirking.
Xenophillus rolls his eyes, looking at him in unamusement and disbelief “Are you serious?”
The room goes silent, as James and Effie can practically feel the joke coming.

“Oh, but I am Sirius!” Sirius adds with mock-innocence, hand on his chest. Despite having heard it all before, James cant help but laugh at his non-brother’s excellent delivery of the iconic line.

“That's really getting old mate,”

“No it is Sirius-ly not!”

Sirius shoves James off the couch, the spell that Effie put on the mugs making both hot chocolates gently float out of the road of the two boys so it doesn't spill. Pandora watches the two boys with a thoughtful expression on her face, quietly feeling around for a name.

“BOYS, for the last time, settle down. I don't want to have to fix half the house again because you two decided that your destructive ideas would work well in this house” Effie raises her voice slightly to be heard over the laughter coming from the tangled pile of limbs on the floor, separating them with a slight wave of her hand, turning back to pandora and Xenophilius.

“Now, Darlings… you don't need to choose a name right away, you have time”

Pandora shakes her head, and Xeno looks back at her, his gaze softening out of the glare that was aimed at the two other boys

“No, I think I know our name…”

Nobody questions her, Pandora Rosier has always had a way with magic and magical decisions. Everyone instead quietens, until James cant take the suspense anymore

“Go on then, spit it out”

Pandora looks at Effie, then at Xenophilius, taking a deep breath:

“Lovegood… Our name is Lovegood”