Prologue
The House of Black welcomed another heir. Regulus Arcturus Black, son of Orion and Walburga Black, brother of one-year-old Sirius Black, was born on a rainy spring.
Sirius Black never remembered the events of it, but it was years later, when both of them were capable of speech, he truly understood Regulus was someone he would guard over.
Regulus had been locked in a headlock by Harrison Nott, and six-year-old Sirius Black had rushed over and kicked his shin with full force such that Regulus was released, lying on the floor gasping for air.
The adults had dismissed it as a playful spar between friends, unwilling to damage the delicate friendship between the House of Black and the House of Nott. Truthfully, Regulus was not the eldest son, so he had not been important enough for them to pick a fight against the Notts.
Walburga had reprimanded Regulus for provoking the Nott heir. You should be grateful they aren’t demanding punishment for injuring their only heir , she had said.
Sirius never understood why his parents did not defend Regulus, so that night, in their room, he crawled into Regulus’s bed and comforted him.
He swore he would protect Regulus and defend him, even if his parents wouldn’t care.
In a chilly autumn, Lysandra Calysta Malfoy was born.
Given Abraxas Malfoy’s fierce love towards his wife, Lucinda Malfoy, it took her three times to convince him that, no, they were not going to name their daughter after her. After all, you’ve already named Lucius after me, love , she had said. Besides, I’m not dead yet, there’s no need in replacing my name that quickly , she chuckled.
Hours later, Lucius Malfoy was introduced to his baby sister.
Lysandra. He tried to pronounce her name. Ly-sand-dra. He rolled every syllable on his tongue, pronouncing them clearly.
His newfound sister was sleeping soundly in her cradle, unaware of Lucius’s presence. Her cheeks were flushed with a soft pinkness as she snored in deep sleep.
The seven-year-old Lucius Abraxas Malfoy stared at his sister for a long time, and despite her wrinkled face and hairless scalp, he found her to be the prettiest thing he had ever seen.
Lysandra had woken up at some point, and peered at Lucius quietly.
“Hello there,” Lucius whispered softly, “I’m your big brother, Ly. And as long as you’re with me, I’ll protect you until the end.”