Anchises

Chapter Nine: Summer Ends

Song: Legend Lake, Maggie Synder

Draco closed the small pouch with his toothpaste and toothbrush, carefully putting it in the small gap his suitcase had. Closing his suitcase, he brought it down from his bed and gave one last look at the empty cabin. He was the last of his siblings to leave for the summer, and the cabin felt odd. The posters were still up, and so was the rug, but the beds were empty and any personal touch they had during the summer was gone. He would have to wait until next summer to see the cabin be filled with life, and hopefully, Piper would be joining them too. Drew too.

Best not to think about it. Draco hadn’t known Jason for long, but his death was still felt, especially around Piper. His dear sister, who had plans on visiting during the summer, decided to stay away for the rest of it. Not that any of them blamed her, and they knew she was alright since she would IM them whenever she could.

It was how they learned of Piper’s new girlfriend.

They were just happy she was moving on.

Draco closed the door to the cabin behind him and began the trek up the hill. Lou should already be waiting for him near the barrier. They were the last to leave this time, but he was more than fine with that. There was something daunting about starting school somewhere new, somewhere where they knew what he was. Somewhere where he would not need to hide his otherworldliness, not when it was actually expected of him to showcase that he was not mortal.

That he was a demigod.

It was odd seeing Camp Half-Blood so empty. Not to say every demigod left, there were still a few, mainly younger campers who didn’t have a home to go to. Usually, Jenna and Mark would be among them, but Valentina had finally convinced her parents to host them for the school year. Draco and the rest of his siblings were very happy for the twin, they deserved it. Still, there were some older campers remaining, though the number was much lower than usual. Ever since they learned about the education in New Rome, many older demigods decided to give it a shot.

“Ready Draco?”

He smiled at Nico and Will. “Yeah, nervous, but excited.”

“Just stick with me!” Lou grinned as she took his suitcase from him, and pushed it past the invisible barrier. Draco barely paid attention to how it floated down and neatly placed itself inside the Blackstone car. “Who knows, maybe you’ll end up in my same house!”

“Uhu,” he rolled his eyes goodheartly, before turning to their two other friends. “Be safe?”

“We’ll do our best,” Will forced a smile. Nico nodded silently, but Draco got the meaning. “Go and have fun in your magic school.”

Draco laughed and pulled them both into a hug. He resisted asking again if they were sure they didn’t need him on the quest. He knew they would tell him no, it had been the answer since Rachel first recited the new prophecy. Still, Draco couldn’t help but worry, part of him wanted to wrap Will and Nico in bubble wrap and never let them go, another wanted to cover them with protection spells, but he knew mortal magic would not work on either of them. Much less Nico as the son of one of the Three Kings.

He just hoped that they would come back.

“Ok, we will see each other soon, ok!” Lou smiled, though Draco could still see the fear in them. He could also feel it. “IM the moment you are back.”

Will and Nico nodded and Draco forced himself to walk beside Lou. To walk past the barrier that had been keeping safe for the entire summer. Nico and Will are going to be fine, he told himself. Nico has survived The Pit before.

“They’ll be fine…” Lou whispered as the doors to her car locked.

They have to be. Went unsaid but it remained heavy between them.

***

They cannot be more different, was the first thought Draco had when he first saw Ilvermorny. Hogwarts was a castle, fit for being the best magical school in Europe, but it wasn’t the only one. There were others of course like Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, but Ilvermorny had been the only magical school in North America for a long time. It was not until recently that other schools began to be built in other States, but nothing could beat the reputation of Ilvermorny.

But because it was the only one for a long time, the school was built to accommodate a large number of students. This was not just a boarding school, it was an entire town. Draco could not help but think of the University Towns Drew had shown the cabin when she first began looking at universities. He had been fascinated to learn of towns built around a University with the idea of housing all the students attending. Or at least that is what he understood.

That was what Ilvermorny seemed to simulate even if it was at a smaller scale.

After the gates had opened, allowing the car through, Draco first saw the buildings that he could only conclude were the dorms of the houses. Each was the size of a small castle, and at the entrance a golden statue of the house mascot. Students either walked, flew on brooms or their animagus form, or were riding carriages pulled by magic. He spotted many thanking and paying the House Elves for moving their suitcases, he remembered the long lecture Lou and her siblings gave him after he explained how house elves were treated in Europe or at least in England and Scotland. Sure, he had been lectured the previous summer, but it wasn’t until this one that the children of Hecate realized just how awful the situation was.

Draco hadn’t realized until then just how awful he had been either. He sent an apology letter and clothes to Dobby, wherever he was after he realized that. He had also prayed to his mum and Lady Hecate for protection for the house elves that remained in Malfoy Manor, and forgiveness on Lady Hecate’s part. The smell of roses and burning torch let him know that his prayers had been answered.

“And this is the castle. Where our lessons take place.”

Draco was brought out of his thoughts by Lou as she opened the door. He hadn’t even noticed they had stopped moving. Quickly, he stepped out of the car and looked at the building. It was a castle similar to Hogwarts and stood right in the middle of everything, grand and looming and Draco could just feel the magic around him. It was wrapping around him like a warm blanket, as if Ilvermorny herself was welcoming him to her halls.

He swore that the magic seemed to whisper: greetings, son of Love.

Around him, students slowed down to look at him. Clearly, their magic had shifted to let them know exactly what was among them. Beside him, Lou leaned down to the chauffeur and told him to leave her things in her dorm, not bothered by the stares. Draco realized that she had time to become used to the gazes of her fellow students, not just her, but her siblings too, and that he too would become used to it sooner or later. He had too.

“Ok, the welcome diner will start after everyone is sorted,” Lou began already walking ahead and Draco did his best to rush after her without losing footing. He could not be anything but deadly and graceful with all the eyes on him. “Sorting is different here like I told you.”

“Yes, the statues will glow if they see me fit to be part of their house,” he slowly recalled the lessons. “There is a possibility that more than one statue will want me, if that is the case, I am to choose the house.”

“Exactly. And we do not need to sit in our house, that is only for important events. Tonight is one of them, and tomorrow you can sit with me and my siblings. Of course, assuming you don’t join me in Thunderbird. Or join Peter in Wampus” She grinned at him, aware that if it came down to it, Wampus would be his last choice. “Or maybe you will be in Pukwudgie with Flavia.”

“The sorting, it is private?”

“Yup. Of course, you will be lined up with the other first year --have fun with that-- and since you already have your wand, there is no need for you to be given one during the sorting. Once you choose your house, or it is sorted for you, you will be brought out to the dinning hall and where you will be asked your house.” She turned a sharp corner and Draco easily followed, every step made it easier to ignore the gazes of the students and portraits they passed by. “You say it, and the symbol of your house will appear in the center of the brooch. We will eat once the last person is announced.”

Draco nodded, nearly colliding against Lou as she suddenly stopped and turned to him. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to say what she wanted or needed to say. The silence stretched for a moment, until finally, “Draco, your last name won’t have meaning here?”

He furrowed his eyebrows, confused and even a bit insulted. “I know. Lou I would no longer use it like I used to--”

“Sorry. I know. What I meant…” she frowned, trying to gather her thoughts and Draco let her. Instead, he analyzed the feelings from her: apprehension, fear, annoyance and… resignation. “Not even my last name matters here. Not once they learned who my mom is. No once they learn who your mom is and they will, you’ll have to announce it.”

“Why?”

“Because, Draco, it is part of your name, of who you are. More than your last name is.”

He frowned, even more confused than before. “I don’t understand the issue. Can I just not say it?”

She shook her head. “No. You have to, they already know you are a demigod. You have done a good job so far in ignoring their eyes, but the moment you are up there, you are not a magical mortal. You are a demigod whose mortal parent happens to be a witch. Blackstone holds power for my dad, but even I hold more power than him and not because of my last name. I hold power because my mom is Lady Magic, it just happens that my dad is a Blackstone.”

“Ok,” he nodded slowly. “I think I get it?"

Her smile was small and sad, “You won’t until you see their eyes. Draco, as demigods we hold expectations in Wizarding America. My siblings and I cannot be less than perfect in any of our classes, especially practical and theoretical magic. We are children of Magic herself. And you--”

“Cannot be anything but the son of Love and Beauty,” it slowly dawned on him. “But… camp isn’t that way.”

“Not anymore at least, it was a bit before Percy came. He changed a lot,” her smile widened for a bit. “But not here. Even if you are a child of Love and Beauty, because you are the son of a goddess you will be expected to perform better than everyone else. And because everyone will be able to tell that you are a demigod, you will be last as to not… overshadow anyone else. Not that it’ll change anything. I may be a daughter of my mom, but you, Draco, are a son of an Olympian. I don’t know how they will react to that.”

“Ok.”

“I really hope you join one of our houses Draco,” Lou muttered in Ancient Greek once first years began to file in. Draco could feel their eyes, and if he saw them he knew they would reflect the awe and fear he felt from them. “It would not be good to be alone at first, but choose what resonates with you. We are here,” she pulled him into a hug that he returned before walking away.

Every one of her steps was graceful and evenly done. Nothing on her was out of place, and everyone around her parted to make way, some even lowering their heads slightly as if bowing. Draco swallowed and did his best to emulate Mother and her perfection, and pushed the doors open. He ignored the eyes of the first years, and approached one of the professors whose eyes widened as he took Draco in. As he recognized what exactly Draco was.

“Lord Malfoy,” the professor bowed and Draco could not find joy in the name. “I am Professor Krillward, I will be teaching you Potions this year, and I am the Deputy Headmaster of Ilvermorny.”

“Thank you for the welcome. Ilvermorny is magnificent from the little I have seen so far,” he greeted, remembering all the lessons his mother taught him from a young age. “And please, call me Black if you must use my last name. I believe Mr. Blackstone and my mother mentioned that in the letter.”

Professor Krillward sputtered, nodding rapidly causing his hat to flop with the movements. “Yes, of course Lord Black. Apologies. I am unsure of how much you know about the proceedings we do here, I believe they are different from Hogwarts."

“Lou explained them to me. She also mentioned that I would be going last because of my parentage.”

“Ah yes, Lady Blackstone, always diligent. Her and her siblings are brilliant students, naturally of course considering their mother. Are we to honor another of Lady Magic’s children?”

“No,” Draco forced an indulgent smile. “I would not wish to ruin the surprise.”

“Of course, of course,” a bell tolled twice and the professor’s eyes widened. “I must be going now, the ceremony is to begin if we want to eat dinner in a timely manner,” he hastily lowered his head in a bow. “Honor meeting you Lord Black.” 

He barely nodded in goodbye and the professor was gone, leaving Draco under the eyes of hundreds of eleven year-olds. He wondered if he had been that small when he was that age, but he remained where he was, watching as each first year moved forward and into the chamber. He didn’t know how long it took, he had done his best to distract himself without looking less than elegant. He could feel the curiosity all over the room, but none dared approach him.

He wondered briefly if his only friends would be Lou, Peter and Flavia Antonella or if he would meet people who would be able to see past his status as a demigod.

Finally, he was the only one who remained and as the doors opened up for him, he looked at the chamber in awe. He stopped at the center of the room, surrounded by four golden statues each representing one of the houses in the school. Draco didn’t move, feeling the judgment from each of them, until three statues moved at the same time. The creaking of gold echoed in the chamber as the Horned Serpent slithered up its branch, closer to him, and the Wampus crouched, slowly moving towards him as if Draco was prey. And the Pukwudgie turned to face him, cocking its head to the side.

Draco took each statue in, remembering the description of each house and what they looked for. Wampus wanted warriors. Too Gryffindor. As if sending his thoughts, the Wampus bowed before returning to its post, sitting regally once more. The Pukwidge had already looked away before Draco even approached the Horned Serpent.

Scholars. He liked that. The statue flickered its tongue at him before returning to its perch and the doors at the end of the chamber opened. Draco could hear the sudden hush that covered the dining room, as if they all sensed that he was coming.

With a deep breath, he did one final look at his robes, making sure there was no wrinkle, even adding some of his own godly power to assure that. Now or never. Every step seemed to echo in the chamber until he stood in front of the dining hall. Draco spotted Lou, Peter and Flavia Antonella at their respective houses, even from where he stood, Draco could tell the three had the best food and sitting.

“Welcome, to Ilvermony,” Headmaster Yuhol’s voice boomed. “You were offered Horned Serpent, Wampus and Pukwudgie, which one did you choose?”

“Horned Serpent,” the cheers of the house began even before Draco finished his sentence. It took a moment for them to die down, even among the groaning of the other houses.

“Among the scholars, a great choice. Your name?” And parentage went unsaid, but very clear.

“I am Draco Malfoy Black,” he had insisted his mother change his name for the registration. She had hesitated, but ultimately did. “Son of Aphrodite.”

Draco had thought he understood Lou’s warning, but now that he could see their eyes and feel their emotion, now he understood. He saw and felt it all, the awe, the jealousy, the fear of what he was of whose son he was. His names did not matter here, not anymore, not really. Malfoy and Black may have held power in Europe, Black maybe even held some power in the States, but that did not matter now.

Not in Ilvermorny and neither would it matter in the morning once the word spread to the rest of Wizarding America.

In their eyes it was not Lou Ellen Blackston or Peter Todd or Flavia Antonella López children of mortal parents.

They were Lou Ellen Blackston or Peter Todd or Flavia Antonella López, children of Lady Hecate.

He was not Draco Lucius Malfoy Black son of Narcissa Malfoy née Black.

He was Draco Lucius Malfoy Black son of Lady Aphrodite.

***

Draco added another book to his growing stack, finally deciding to return to the table he, Peter, Flavia Antonella and Lou had decided was theirs from the start of the semester. There were benefits to mortals knowing he and his friends were demigods, among them being that seating down on a table once was enough to make it unofficially theirs. Nobody else seemed to dare sit down on it, not that they would have done anything if other people did, but Draco did find it amusing that no one dared. As if they would be struck down if they did. He didn’t enjoy the fear, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

It was September already and he had gotten used to the formality and everything else that seemed to come for being a demigod studying at Ilvermorny. In the same way everyone expected magical perfection from the three children of Hecate, he was expected to be perfectly beautiful. Sometimes, he would even see people glaring at him from the corner of his eyes because their significant other approached him, no matter how innocent the reason. Though, they would be quick to look away and apologize if he caught them, probably fearing he would ask his mum to curse them.

Draco had managed to talk with some of his housemates, maybe if they got over the fact that he was not mortal, they could be friends. He understood now why Lou, Peter and Flavia Antonella said that Ilvermorny was lonely sometimes, even with their siblings nearby.

He understood why Lou didn’t understand how he survived being alone at Hogwarts. Honestly, Draco doubted he could have had it been anything like Ilvermorny.

“You sure you have enough books, Draco?” Flavia Antonella snickered, not even bothering to look up from her potions book. Apparently the loud thud was enough for her to know he brought back too many books.

“Dreaming: The Magical and Divine,” Peter raised an eyebrow, eyeing the different book titles. “History of Dream Magic? Quick Guide to the Lord of Dreams?”

“Not exactly course work,” Lou stated as she stopped writing. “Draco, what is going on?”

He hesitated, but even Flavia Antonella had stopped reading her book and joined her siblings in staring him down. Draco glanced at the book selection again. So far nothing he read talked about how to prevent Dreamwalking, at least not if it was done by divine intervention.

“I’m trying to find a way to stop Harry from Dreaming,” he whispered even as his next words were in Ancient Greek. “I cannot protect him from Voldemort or the upcoming war, and that crushes me. But I can protect him from me and our world.”

The siblings shared a look he could not decipher, and Peter leaned forward. “Draco, didn’t you say you will see them again?”

“Yes, but not now. Mum promised me she made sure they wouldn’t be able to contact me even when outside of camp, but…”

“Harry is Dreamwalking.” He nodded at Flavia Antonella’s words, “We thought you were fine with it. What changed?”

He hesitated. Unsure if he should say it. Harry technically saw something he should not have, experienced a funeral not for his eyes, or maybe that is why he should say it. “He was at Jason’s funeral. And he said he couldn’t control it.” The fear returned, crushing and all consuming, something in him telling him he needed to protect the loved ones he had left. That he could not be like Lucius and break his promise of protection. “It just happens. Maybe it is malicious and he just doesn’t know it. I just… he is reckless, and if I can find a way to protect him then I will. Just like I would for any of you. I left to keep them safe and now he cannot even control his Dreaming? That is dangerous.”

Lou watched him, before forcing the book he had picked up down. Her face was serious, and her words were measured as if fearing his answer. “Draco, what exactly are you willing to do to protect the people you care about?”

“Anything.” The words were out of his mouth before he even considered them and the four of them froze. “Fuck.”

Flavia Antonella’s frown thinned, and suddenly she and her sibling aged before his eyes. He wondered if he too aged at the sudden revelation. “Too much of a good thing.”