Chapter 5
Draco the elder awakens to the dull ache throbbing in my head, a relentless reminder of the violent encounter that left me battered and bruised. His body protests with every movement, aching from the impact of being hurled into the unforgiving stone wall. A wave of nausea washes over him, signalling the likely presence of a concussion, his vision swimming as he struggles to regain his bearings.
As consciousness slowly seeps back into his fractured reality, the distant echoes of anguished cries penetrate the heavy fog of my mind. Younger Draco's tearful pleas reverberate through the dank confines of the Malfoy dungeons, his desperate cries piercing the eerie silence like a dagger to the heart.
With great effort, Draco Senior lifts his heavy eyelids, squinting against the dim light that filters through the grim surroundings. His gaze falls upon the sight that sends a jolt of dread coursing through his veins—he’s bound to a chair, limbs restrained, and wand nowhere to be found. Panic surges within him as he realises the gravity of his predicament, trapped and vulnerable in the heart of his family's stronghold.
Turning his gaze, he met with the sight of a sobbing younger Draco, his face contorted in anguish, snot nosed and red-faced from his relentless pleas for freedom. His tear-stained cheeks bear witness to the turmoil raging within him, a stark contrast to the facade of composure he usually wears.
"Mother! Father!" he wails, his voice trembling with desperation, each word a heart-wrenching plea for mercy.
"Please, let me go!" The anguish in his tone cuts through the air like a knife, his cries echoing off the cold, stone walls of the dungeon.
"I'm me, I swear! You have to believe me!"
But his parents remain stone-faced, unmoved by his frantic appeals. Their eyes betray no hint of recognition, their expressions cold and unyielding. Despite younger Draco’s desperate cries, they stand resolute, their disbelief casting a shadow over his desperate pleas.
Draco the elder's gaze shifts to his younger self, and his heart clenches at the sight of the injuries marring his younger self’s face and the blood staining his clothes. His chest tightens with a surge of panic, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. How could his parents allow his younger self to remain in such a state?
As he observes the terrified expression etched on his younger self's face, Draco's confusion deepens. Why hadn't his parents healed him? Why had they allowed him to suffer like this?
A dreadful realisation begins to dawn on Draco, a cold knot of fear coiling in the depths of his being. It wasn't that his parents didn't want to heal his injuries; it was that they couldn't. They couldn't risk using magic to heal him without knowing for certain which of the two Dracos was their true son.
The gravity of the situation hits Draco like a ton of bricks. His parents must have performed identification magic, but with both versions of him appearing identical, they were unable to determine who was the imposter and who was their real son. And in their uncertainty, they had left both Dracos injured and in pain, trapped in a nightmarish limbo of doubt and suspicion.
A wave of guilt washes over Draco as he realises the extent of the distress he has caused his family. His reckless actions have not only endangered himself but have also put his younger self in harm's way, leaving him vulnerable and defenceless.
As he struggles to come to terms with the dire consequences of his choices, Draco knows that he must find a way to convince his parents of his identity, to prove that he is their true son and set things right before it's too late. But with the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him and the spectre of doubt looming over his every move, the task ahead seems daunting and fraught with peril.
Draco the elder must have let out a groan of some kind, because soon after, his mother’s gaze sweeps over him, her eyes widened slightly in surprise as she notices the 2nd identical Draco stirring in his chair. "Lucius," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper, "he's awake."
His Father turns his attention to the 2nd boy that bore his son’s face, his brow furrowing with suspicion. "Who are you? What is your full name?" he demands, his voice cold and commanding.
The elder Draco blinks, his head throbbing with pain from the impact against the wall. His thoughts feel muddled, as if shrouded in a thick fog. "I'm Draco," he replies, his voice wavering slightly, "Draco Lucius Malfoy."
The words came out of his mouth without his consent.
Veritaserum!
Morganna’s Saggy Tits! They must have drugged me with it when I passed out…
They must have dosed both of us with it, considering the tearful, loquacious, dishevelled state in which my younger self currently finds himself…
Fuck how do I–
Occlumency!
Draco felt a surge of relief coursing through him, an unexpected shield against the relentless truth serum coursing through his veins. It was a skill he had honed in secret, a clandestine art taught to him by his godfather, Severus Snape, during his sixth year.
The lessons served a dual purpose: to help him control his emotions during a tumultuous period of his life and to conceal his traitorous thoughts from the probing gaze of the Dark Lord's legilimency.
This esoteric branch of mind magic was his hidden arsenal, a weapon of defense that neither of his parents could have fathomed him possessing.
The concept of occlumency was as foreign to his parents as the idea of countering Veritaserum itself. In their world, such potions were deemed infallible, their truths absolute. But Draco knew better. He understood that while the knowledge of occlumency might exist buried within the tomes of the Malfoy and Black family libraries, its practice was shrouded in secrecy, its mastery an elusive pursuit reserved for the most cunning and determined.
And thus not something either of his parents knew about, not would think to expect him to have in his artillery – As the potion worked its way through his system, probing for vulnerabilities, Draco erected mental barriers with practised precision. He delved into the depths of his mind, shielding his thoughts and memories from prying eyes. It was a silent battle, a clash of wills hidden beneath a façade of compliance.
For Draco, this was more than just a test of his abilities; it was a test of his resilience, his determination to protect himself and his secrets at any cost. And as the interrogation continued, he remained steadfast, his mind a fortress against the relentless onslaught of Veritaserum.
Lucius narrows his eyes, studying the elder Draco intently. There's something off about him, something not quite right. "Draco?" he repeats, scepticism lacing his tone. "Who are your parents, and can you provide details about their occupations and whereabouts?”
The elder Draco struggles to piece together his thoughts, his mind still reeling from the effects of the concussion, and magical drain from the time travelling ritual, thus weakening his abilities, but he attempted to reinforce his Occlumency shields to exert greater control over his thoughts and responses to the interrogation
“My parents are Lucius Abraxas Malfoy and my mother Narcissa Irma Malfoy née Black”
“What is your relation to us?”
"I…I am your son…" he admits, his words coming out disjointed and slow… though he hopes his parents will blame it on his frazzled mind from his likely concussed state
"You are my parents...you are my Father and she is my mother”
Because despite the technicality, Draco the elder does consider these younger version of his parents, HIS parents, as what would be the alternative? The dead ones he’s lost in the future he’s left?
“Are you truly who you claim to be, or are you an imposter attempting to deceive us?”
Am I attempting to deceive them? Yes
About my identity? Kinda
But If I could just slow my thoughts to answer truthfully….
“I am not an imposter trying to deceive you of who I am, for I am who I claim to be”
Thank Merlin for Occlumency, because without it–
Lucius exchanges a wary glance with Narcissa, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Damn, they can sense something’s off!
Something about the 2nd Draco's demeanour unsettles Lucius, a sense of disorientation and confusion that he can't quite shake.
The boy seemed too calm and controlled compared to the 1st Draco… yes it’s possible his mind is still fuddled from hitting his head, but there hasn’t been any outright reaction of desperation, panic, or whining, which is so unlike his son.
Lucius stood rigid, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. If he were to make a split-second decision, he would bet his entire family fortune that the second child before him was the imposter. Everything about the situation screamed deception, from the uncanny resemblance to his son Draco to the inexplicable access to the Malfoy and Black family's magical undercurrent within both boys' magic.
It had been hours of questioning the first Draco under Veritaserum while awaiting the awakening of the other boy, seizing the opportunity presented by the second Draco's unconscious state to concentrate fully on the potentially conscious imposter. Questions about his identity, personality traits, memories, and secrets that only the true Draco would know were posed relentlessly. Both boys underwent blood and magic tests, yet the results remained inconclusive.
The first Draco passed all blood and magic tests, as well as his identity under Veritaserum. However, his responses to questions about childhood memories, random anecdotes, and family secrets were mostly accurate. He answered enough questions correctly to raise concerns about how much an imposter could possibly know, yet also enough incorrectly to cast some doubts….
But should they doubt the boy's identity based on a few inaccurate answers or should it make sense that they cannot expect the reliability of their true son's memories. After all, who could expect anyone to recall every detail about themselves unless they had meticulously studied for the role of impersonating said selves?
Despite the uncertainty, the first child's reactions to their questioning mirrored those of the Draco they loved and knew so well, tempting Lucius to untie the boy and embrace him with comforting arms. But he dared not risk making a mistake, particularly when the second boy's blood and magic also suggested he was Draco. The second Draco had yet to be questioned, and unlike the first, he was significantly more injured.
Wouldn’t the real Draco be more defenceless against the imposter's attack?
The 2nd unconscious Draco, with his small, beaten, fragile, pale body, could, in fact, be the genuine Draco.
Whatever this undetectable glamour that is enveloping one of the "supposed Draco's" is so potent that it had surpassed every detection method they had employed: revelio spells, Polyjuice Potion, but most terrifyingly even family and blood magics. It was a baffling mystery, one that gnawed at Lucius's every thought.
The Black family magics were notoriously formidable and discerning. They possessed a sentience that could detect imposters with ruthless efficiency. Anyone attempting to deceive the family's magic would be swiftly exposed and subjected to a merciless onslaught of judgement. And yet both Draco’s show a clear undercurrent of Black family magics within their own magical essence, Narcissa unable to use the magics to discover which of the two is the imposter.
Yes, its possible the boy could have been a distant Black relative or squib descendant re-gifted with magic into the line, but that is not who either claims to be.
For generations, the Malfoys had struggled with fertility issues, typically bearing only one child per generation. This fact ruled out the possibility of a secret Malfoy child or distant Malfoy relative laying claim to familial ties. And yet both ‘Draco’s’ hold the Malfoys magic within them as well. The intricate blend of blood, magic, and features present in both boys defied all logical explanation.
Which one is the REAL Draco?
How are there two Draco’s?
Why are there two Draco’s? Who’s secret plot does this belong to? And what are the motives behind it? What could they hope to accomplish in this farce, and what would have happened had we not awoken and arrived in time to discover the truth of the matter?
As Lucius grappled with the implications, he realised the gravity of the situation. When he glanced at his wife, he noticed a contemplative and distant expression on her cold masked face, indicating that the thought that had just dawned on him had long since crossed her mind.
If Draco’s identity and magical signature could be so easily mimicked, who's to say that either one of them is Draco?
What if the real Draco has already vanished, held hostage, or worse, already dead? But no! He can’t think like that.
They both cannot entertain such thoughts. He has to hope that one of these Dracos is the real one, and if not, then at least that his son is still alive. Because the alternative—
With a heavy heart and a mind fraught with uncertainty, Narcissa knew that she had to tread carefully. The fate of her son hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of a precipice as she grappled with the enigma before him.
The stakes were higher than she had ever imagined. Despite her instincts screaming that the second child was an imposter, she couldn't dismiss the unsettling possibility that there was more to this mystery than met the eye.
In the face of such overwhelming uncertainty, she could only cling to the fragile hope that somehow, against all odds, her son would find his way back to her. But she cannot hold too much hope, and all possibilities, including her son’s death must be considered, and to get to the bottom of this, she cannot act rashly.
However, the same cannot be said for a panicked and terrified Lucius, whose cold facade had now shattered like fragile glass in the face of the harrowing possibility that his son was neither child nor already dead. The realisation struck him like a thunderbolt, coursing through his veins with a chilling intensity that left him trembling in its wake.
For years, Lucius had cultivated an image of unwavering strength and composure, masking his fears behind a veneer of aristocratic poise. Yet, in this moment of profound uncertainty, that facade crumbled, revealing the raw vulnerability that lay beneath.
Gone was the stoic patriarch of the Malfoy family, replaced instead by a man haunted by the spectre of loss and betrayal. Every fibre of his being screamed in anguish, grappling with the agonising possibility that his beloved son may be lost to him forever.
The weight of his emotions bore down on him like an oppressive burden, threatening to suffocate him with its crushing force. In the depths of his despair, Lucius found himself adrift in a sea of uncertainty, clinging desperately to the faint hope that his son still lingered somewhere within the labyrinth of deception that surrounded them.
In that moment, all pretence fell away, leaving behind a broken man teetering on the brink of collapse. The facade of invincibility he had so carefully constructed lay in ruins, shattered by the unforgiving reality of his son's uncertain fate.
"Draco! Hah of course you’re Draco!” Lucius snaps with a mad look in his eyes.
“But if you are Draco and he is Draco, then how are there two of you? Why are you both claiming to be my son? What have you both done with the real Draco? Is my baby dead? What's going on?!" Lucius' voice rose in a crescendo of panic and fear as he fired off question after question, his hands trembling with the weight of uncertainty.
However, Veritaserum, though potent, is not an exact science, and amidst the barrage of inquiries, with it being unclear which Draco, if any, are truly directly being questioned, both Dracos find their minds tangled in a labyrinth of confusion and thus not forced to answer by the potions magic.
Not that Lucius noticed, as the room crackled with tension as Lucius paced back and forth, his eyes darting between the two Dracos, searching for any sign of deception or malice. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the fear that threatened to consume him.
But neither of the Dracos had an answer. They exchanged worried glances, their expressions mirroring the anxiety that gripped Lucius.
"Speak!" Lucius snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I demand to know what has become of my son. If one of you is truly Draco, then who is the other? What have you done with him?" His voice cracked with emotion, betraying the depth of his fear and desperation.
But the Dracos remained silent, their faces pale and drawn. The weight of Lucius' accusations hung heavy in the air, suffocating them with the enormity of the situation.
As the seconds ticked by, Lucius felt a sense of dread settle over him like a suffocating blanket. The truth seemed to elude him, slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.
Desperation clawed at his chest as he struggled to make sense of the chaos unfolding before him. All he wanted was to hold his son in his arms, to know that he was safe and unharmed.
But until he had answers, until he knew the fate of his beloved Draco, he would not rest. He would search every corner of the earth if he had to, but he would find the truth, no matter the cost.
“Speak! Don’t just sit there blankly! Answer my question! Answer me!” Lucus screams, but despite his question it was clear he was now simply thinking aloud in his panicked state, and not clearly directing his statement to either Draco’s nor asking an actual question.
"Veritaserum is not an exact science," Narcissa explained with a tinge of frustration. "With so many questions fired off, bothDracos' minds are a mess of emotions."
Narcissa put a hand up, making Lucius pause, moving closer to scan both boys faces for any telltale signs of deceit. Yet, they remained silent, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear.
"It's unclear who the question is directed at," Narcissa states, her tone growing more urgent. "And as a result, neither of them are compelled to answer."
She sighed, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on her.
"It's crucial that we unravel this mystery," Narcissa insisted, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation that leaked out under her cold and authoritative tone. "My son's life may hang in the balance, and I will not rest until I know the truth. So, I implore you, if you insist that you are Draco, if either one of you truly say you are my son, then please, tell me what has happened. Help me understand."
But still, there was no response, only silence. Lucius felt frustration rising within him, threatening to make him explode, but Narcissa remained frozen, looking for any tell-tale signs of deceit.
Draco the elder understood the gravity of the situation. He realised that he needed to take control of the narrative before his fragmented state inadvertently revealed more than he intended. It wasn't just about gaining their trust; it was about ensuring that his younger self didn't suffer any further in this ordeal. While he lay unconscious, he was certain his parents had subjected the younger Draco to a gruelling interrogation.
Gathering his thoughts, Draco knew he had to offer something willingly, a gesture of goodwill to sway their suspicions and alleviate the tension. It wasn't fair for his younger counterpart to endure such fear and mistreatment. With a deep breath, Draco prepared himself to take charge of the situation and steer it in a direction that would protect them both.
Draco the elder took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "Mother, Father," he began, meeting their eyes with a steady gaze. "I know you've dosed me with Veritaserum, so I won’t lie. I am Draco, your son."
Narcissa's eyes that at one point widened in hope of new information, goes blank again as the enigma remains unanswered with neither boy admitting they are the imposter. Lucius remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"But there's more," Draco continued, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "The other boy is also Draco, your son. However, he is YOUR Draco, whereas I am a different Draco from the future. I know this sounds impossible, but I've travelled back in time to change the course of our destiny. My intention was to alter our path, but the ritual went awry and I unexpectedly arrived in a younger body next to the present Draco in my bedroom"
Let it be implied that the mistake was coming back young and to his home and that his original plan was to come back in time in his current age in some random place to take on a new identity, and not that he had planned to takeover their Draco’s body, practically killing their son to replace him.
Narcissa gasped, disbelief evident in her expression, while Lucius's brow furrowed in confusion. "Time...travel?" he questioned, his voice laced with scepticism.
"Yes, Father," Draco affirmed. "I understand it's difficult to comprehend, but it's the truth. I am here to correct the mistakes of my past and ensure a better future for our family."
Silence fell over the room as Lucius and Narcissa processed Draco's words, their minds grappling with the unimaginable reality he presented.
Draco the elder took a moment to gauge his parents' reactions before continuing. "Mother, Father," he said, his tone gentle yet firm. "I understand that this is a lot to take in, but I urge you to consider the well-being of the younger Draco."
Draco met his father's gaze head-on, knowing him to be the weaker link between the two parents. “I'm accustomed to enduring discomfort. Despite my younger body, I’m a teenager, and in my time, I've faced far worse than a few aches and pains, unlike my younger self.”
Don't let them subconsciously separate themselves from me, categorising me as the 'other', and outside of the family unit... remind them that I'm their son too...
Remind them that I, their son, their Draco, am severely injured and in their mercy...
that despite the time travel, and my perceived maturity, I am still underage and a child in their eyes, and should still be treated as such with pity and empathy....
pull at their heartstrings, play with their guilt.
Lucius looked torn, his eyes flickering between his two sons, while Narcissa remained stoic, her arms folded across her chest.
"He's been through a traumatic experience," Draco continued, his voice softening with empathy. "Regardless of the circumstances, he's still your very young son. I believe it's best to let him rest and recover from this ordeal."
Narcissa’s expression softened slightly at Draco's words, though her scepticism remained evident. "And what of you?" she asked, her gaze piercing.
Draco the elder took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "Mother," he began, his voice steady.
Lucius softens, but Narcissa flinches before going back to stoic cold and frigid.
Damn! Father's empathising, but mother's disassociating from me already.....
"I admit, I’m a tad bit concerned about my injuries, my head is pounding, and my visions a little blurry but it's not an injury I'm unfamiliar with during quidditch, but please, focus your attention on the younger Draco. He's the one who needs immediate care and healing."
Draco wanted to emphasise the severity of his injury, hoping to evoke empathy from his mother. His plan seemed to be partially working, given that he resembled Draco, sounded like Draco, and his current young body appeared fragile and pale. Blood and bruises stood out starkly against his fair skin, serving as a visible testament to his suffering.
Draco is sure he looks in a sorry state, which is working in his favour.
“I will stay and answer any questions you may have," Draco assured them. "But the younger Draco needs our care and compassion right now."
Lucius eyes widened with concern, "he's just a boy," Lucius protested quietly towards his wife, gesturing to the younger Draco. "He shouldn't have to endure any more pain."
Younger Draco whimpers at his father, making Narcissa’s eyes soften.
Draco nodded in agreement, his heart pounding with anticipation. "Exactly," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "That's why we need to focus on getting him the help he needs."
Draco could see his mother wants to remain firm, but her resolve is wavering, so he quickly moves his head away with a fake pained groan to catch a quick glimpse at Young Draco, trying to catch his eyes to quickly send a shot of messy Legilimency. The powerful but quick act of magic had the double desired affect of further over-exhausting Draco's already magically exhausted youthful body and core that he now has a slight nose bleed and teary dazed eyes to make him look even more pathetic and vulnerable. But most importantly, it safely shocked and stressed the emotionally wrecked young Draco into breaking into heartbreaking whimpers yet again, pulling at both his parents heart strings.
Both Narcissa and Lucius head's snapped up to look at Draco in worry as his nose starts to bleed, ruining his clothes, and like a whiplash panics as Younger Draco starts crying again.
Narcissa nodded in agreement, her maternal instincts kicking in. "You're right…Draco," she said, her lips roll awkwardly around his name like it's something foreign, but her voice thankfully was tinged with concern. "We'll take care of him."
To Draco's relief, his parents seemed to relent, their attention shifting to the younger Draco as they moved to attend to his injuries. As they bustled around the room, Draco allowed himself a small smile, knowing that his plan had worked. Despite his own injuries, he would use whatever means necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of his younger self, and with that gain some empathy from his parents, whilst he plans ahead on what he’ll say next.
With a sense of relief, Draco watched as his father moved to untie the younger Draco from the chair and, after a nod of approval from his mother, left his mother alone with him in the dungeons, to lead the younger Draco back to his bed. Draco could hear the tired cries of his younger self, and the soft comforting words his father gives him as they walk out the room.
As they left the room, he turned back to his mother, ready to continue their conversation about the future.
A/N: Why I made Lucius the softer parent and weaker link to pull heart strings from between the two parents:
- my version of why Draco's always claiming "my Father's going to hear about this" is because he's such a Daddy's boy, and Lucius is super soft with Draco whilst Narcissa is the disciplinary of the parents.... I know its not canon but its how i picture things.
- The Malfoys for generations have struggled with fertility, Lucius parents were very old when they had him so couldn't spend much time with him do to their old age and bodies and later early death, Lucius is an only child who always dreamed of a family of his own, Lucius and Narcissa suffered through many miscarriaged and failed pregnancy's so he's SUPER attached and protective over Draco who he spoils.
- Narcissa on the other hand grew up with loads of families, so learned to acclimate well with children, is not worried about being to mean, punishments, or expecting responsibility on her child since she knows its good character building, and rough housing is necessary for succesful developoment. so she's less afraid and more willing to balance Lucius' spoiling, but she also suffered through years of miscarriages because of Lucius' infertility problems so also still kinda spoils Draco despite being the more bad cop parent of the two.
A/N: My Fanon POV of the Black family
- Its my Fanon theory that the Blacks are all BAMF terrifying powerful wizards and witches, and that its so hardcore true that during the war it wasn't The Blacks, Lestrange, and Malfoys that were entrusted with Voldemorts Horcruxes, but members of the Black family in his death eater circle who just happened to marry into other families- Regulus Black, Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black, and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.
- Thats not to say that Narcissa was an active death eater, but that only a Black would be trusted to have the magics to handle such a dark object and protect it without knowing what it is... and thats IF they dont know what it is, and if they do know what it is, are dark and knowledgable enough to not be disgusted by how wrong it is to destroy it - yes Regulus morally wanted to destroy it... but you'd assume as a black he wouldn't have been against it morally.