Chapter 1
"Draco, wake up," a voice says.
He rubs his eyes. He blinks a few times before seeing a girl about the age of eleven with black curly hair.
"Bellatrix?" He asks.
She scoffs. "I know we were fighting but calling me that is rude," she says.
He looks in the mirror. "I'm eleven?" he asks.
"Yes, Draco, you're eleven," she says.
"How did this happen?" he asks.
She shrugs. "I'm guessing you were born and survived eleven years. What is wrong with you?" she asks.
He shakes his head. "I was seventeen Harry Potter had just died and Voldemort aimed his wand at me next," he says.
She stares at him. "And I'm the minister of magic," she says.
He rubs his eyes. "Who are you?" he asks.
She turns me to look at her. She catches my eyes and stares into them. "You're serious?" she asks.
He nods.
"I'm Valara Lestrange your cousin but almost a sister since I grew up with you after my mother left me on your family's doorstep a night after you were born with only a blanket and name and ran off. She then got arrested," she says, "What happened to you?"
Draco shrugs. "I was seventeen in the middle of a great war and then I woke up at eleven before even going to Hogwarts the first time," he says. He seems crazy to even to himself.
She sits on his bed. "I believe you. I don't know why but I do," she says.
He sits beside her. "I always wanted a sibling. It was lonely growing up alone in the mansion," he says.
She nods. "I bet it would be. So, I didn't exist in this previous timeline or world?" she asks.
He shakes his head. "Not that I know of," he says.
She turns to him. "You can ask me anything so you can get adjusted to life here," she says.
He nods. "When are we going to go get our school supplies?" he asks.
"Tomorrow," she says.
He asks, "Did Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord eleven years ago?"
She nods. "Some don't believe he's gone but yes," she says.
"Were mother and father Death Eaters?" he asks.
She nods. "They were, along with Bellatrix," she says.
"You said you're Lestrange?" he asks.
"Yes," she says.
"Why did you trust me so fast when I said I was a seventeen-year-old from a different life or world or timeline or whatever?"
She shrugs. "Your eyes are different and the way you speak to me is different too. The old Draco despised me, he would insult me and tell me to leave," she says.
"Oh," he says, "I despised you? Why?"
She shrugs again. "We never had a civilized conversation. You used to call the house elves to remove me before I got the chance to say anything. You would even get mad if fa-Lucius sent me up here to wake you," she says.
He nods. "You can call him father," he says, "It seems like he raised you."
"He did," she says, "He and Narcissa raised me and said on multiple occasions I could call them mother and father, but you used to get very upset if I did."
"I'm different now so go ahead and call them mother and father. If you want, you can call me your brother too."
She smiles. "Thanks, Drac," she says.
He ruffles her hair. He likes her.
"Dobby has come to inform Master Malfoy that breakfast is to be served," Dobby says.
"Thank you, Dobby," Draco says.
He sniffles and then bawls. "Master Malfoy has never thanked Dobby," he says.
He pats his head. "Quiet down, please, Dobby," he says.
He wails. "Master Malfoy is attempting to comfort Dobby," he says.
He looks at Valara. She smiles. "Thank you for informing us Dobby we will be down soon," she says.
We go down the stairs to the dining area. "Hello, darlings," mother says.
"Hello, mother," they say.
She eyes Draco for a moment. "It's nice to see you getting along," she says. Draco and Lara sit beside each other.
"Hello, kids, Narcissa," father says.
"Good morning, father," Draco says.
He looks at Draco. "This is strange," he says. He gets food on his plate and a newspaper. "As long as you get along."
They eat their food and keep to themselves. Draco avoids eye contact with either parent and stays silent.
Why am I here? He asks himself. This is insane. Is he supposed to save Potter? Himself? Both? If I am, how? I don't understand. Valara knows that I'm from the future. Will she tell someone? I could be admitted or questioned by the ministry. Voldemort could find out and have me kidnapped and then he would question me. I should just try to change it. Get a better ending. Anything. I should include Valara too. I glance over at her. I think she's trustworthy. She looks like Bellatrix, but she seems kind.
They get done and he drags Valara upstairs to the library. "Okay, Lara," he says, "I need to talk about this year's plan but if you don't want to help me, I completely understand."
She rolls her eyes. "There's no fun in that. You can talk to me anytime, Drac," she says.
"Okay. What I remember about this year is that Potter and I met for the first time in the cloak shop. I made a total idiot of myself. We met again before the sorting ceremony, and I once again embarrassed myself. We had flying lessons together and the hope that we would become friends turned into embarrassment that he disliked me. I took something from Neville and caught it mid-air. He became the youngest seeker in twenty years. He won the cup and the house...I heard rumors that professor Quirrell was being used as a vessel by the Dark Lord and Potter defeated him with the help of Granger and Weasley."
She nods. "You seem to know a lot about 'Potter'," she says.
"Father said I should befriend him and eventually he became an enemy after rejecting me," he says.
"Who is Granger?" she asks.
"A mudblood," he says, "His other friend is a blood traitor."
She nods. "Okay, first we should try to befriend Potter. Don't be arrogant and try not to insult the "blood-traitors" or "mudbloods" since those seem to be his friends," she says.
He nods. "Sorry, it's just-"
"I get it. It's how father raised us, but we should be better than them," she says.
"This is going to be difficult," he says.
"It will be, but we'll figure it out," she says.
They spend the day reading and talking in the library. Lara shuffles through books about time travel and Draco talks about what he remembers leading to his reversal to being eleven, again. Being eleven the first time was terrible enough but now he has to do it again. One of the house elves comes to get them for dinner. They eat in silence then go to bed.
"Draco, do as you're told. They've lost. Come and join us," father says.
He looks behind him at the people he thought he hated. "I can't," he says. He looks at his mother who is shaking. "I'm sorry."
"Draco, cousin, come over here," Bellatrix says.
He shakes his head. "These people are my-are just kids. I can't give up," he says.
Voldemort laughs. "This is what you get for betraying me," he says. He gestures to Potter.
He can't fully look at him but from my peripheral, I can see his head is at an odd angle and he's not breathing. "I-I can't," he says.
He pulls his wand and says, "Avada Kavada."
Green then nothing.
He sits up in his bed and suppresses a sob. He died. He finally stood up to everyone who he believed was wrong, and he died? He has to stand up sooner. He can't betray everyone again. He could act like he's the same and get on the inside but where would that get him? Dead. Sooner. He has no plan. He needs to help Potter and everyone else at Hogwarts but what can he do? He could stand but he doesn't know most of what happened and he's too young to matter and he's a Malfoy.
"Drac, you awake?" Lara says. She gently taps the door.
"Yes," he says. He fixes his blankets.
She comes in. "We're leaving in an hour," she says.
"Lara, what am I supposed to do?" he asks.
She bites her lip. "Take it one day at a time. Let what you know now affect you but don't let it change you into something you don't want to be. If what you were before is something you want to be again then do that but if you want to be something else, then change. If you need help, I'll be there. Right now, though, you should get dressed and come down to breakfast," she says.
"Thanks," he says.
He changes out of his pajamas but doesn't fix his hair. No more gel. He goes downstairs.
"Good you're ready as soon as breakfast is complete, yes?" his mother asks.
He nods and sits at the table.
"And you, Valara?" she asks.
"I am, mother," she says.
They eat. After they finish, they grab their lists and floo powder to Diagon Ally.
"Draco and Valara go get your robes, Narcissa will get the cauldrons and books, and then meet you to go get your wands. I have something I must do," his father says.
"Be good, dears," his mother says. She turns and walks away.
He walks with Lara to the shop. They enter and the owner comes up to them. "First year at Hogwarts?" she asks.
"Yes, ma'am," he says.
"Good, good," she says. She measures them and writes them using magic. She grabs materials. The door opens again, and Potter walks through the door.
"Hello. Wait one moment," the witch says.
"First year at Hogwarts?" Potter asks.
"Yes," he says. His chest heaves. Harry Potter is alive and talking to him.
"Yep," Valara says.
"Me too," he says, "You excited?"
"Yes," Lara says.
"I hope it will be...different. How about you, are you excited?"
"Very much so," he says.
Lara steps off her pedestal. "All ready to go?" she asks.
The witch nods. "Who should I charge?" the witch asks.
"Malfoys," she says.
"Really?"
"You're good too," the witch says.
He steps down. "Thank you," he says. It feels foreign but good.
He turns to Potter. "I hope to see you on the train," he says.
"Drac, we could stay with him," Lara says. She eyes Potter up and down.
"Er, would you like company?" Draco asks. He wrings his hands.
"I will appreciate that. I'm here with Hagrid, Hogwarts' game gamekeeper," Potter says.
"We would be delighted," he says, "Hogwarts has a gamekeeper?" He decided to be less knowledgably outside Lara. It would be suspicious if he knew too much.
Potter nods. "They do. He's huge and when he came to get me, he knocked a door off its hinges," he says.
"Wow," He says. Maybe getting to know Potter wouldn't be too bad. He seems...excited. Less annoying than in the past.
The witch finishes Potter's robes. "I completely forgot. I'm Harry Potter," he says.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Valara Lestrange."
"Nice to meet you. How do know each other?" he asks.
"She is my cousin, but I see her as a sister. She grew up with me," he says.
"I wish I had a sibling. I have a cousin, but he hates my guts," he says.
They walk outside. "I understand, Drac and I didn't always get along. It's more of a recent development," Lara says.
Draco wrinkles his nose but nods.
"'Arry, hello. Who are ya?" Hagrid asks.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Oh," he says.
"Valara LeStrange."
"Nice to meet ya," he says, "Where ya headed now?"
"Ollivander's," Draco says.
He nods. "We'll accompany ya. If that's alright," he says.
"We would be delighted," Lara says.
They walk to Olivander's, and it strikes Draco how lively it is. It's strange since the last few years it was quiet. Now there are people and the smell of food.
"Draco?" Potter asks.
He looks up. "Oh. Here we are," he says.
"Can ya keep 'Arry company? I wanna do somethin'," Hagrid says.
Lara and Draco agree.
Potter goes inside with them. "Hello, Valara, Draco. Who is this?" their mother asks.
"Harry Potter, ma'am," Potter says. He sticks his hand out.
"Narcissa Malfoy. A pleasure to meet you," she says.
He nods.
Olivander greets us. "Who should we start with?" he asks.
He points to Lara. She steps to the counter. He hands her a wand. She picks it up.
"No," he says.
She sets it down. He gets another. She waves it a little.
"No, no," he says.
She puts it back on the counter. He brings another. This goes on for three more wands.
He says, "That's the one. A piece I am very proud of. It has a distinct personality. I almost didn't make it but one night I awoke and felt the itch. I'm glad it found its owner."
"Thank you," she says.
Mother pays for the wand.
"You next," Olivander says.
Harry steps to the counter. He tries a few wands.
"Interesting. Very interesting," Olivander says. Harry found his wand.
"What's interesting, sir?" he asks.
Oliver says, "It's interesting that this wand should choose you when its brother gave you this scar. You're going to do amazing things after all you know who did amazing things. Horrible? Yes, but still amazing."
Potter rubs his scar. He pays and steps away.
"Lastly, Mr. Malfoy," he says.
Draco is a bit weirded out how Ollivander talked to Potter about his wand. He steps forward. He grabs a wand but takes it after Draco barely grazes it. He brings another. Draco picks it up.
"No," he says.
He picks up the next wand. His wand.
He says, "No."
He freezes. No? It's his wand.
"Draco?" Harry says.
He turns to Potter then turns back to Ollivander. He picks up the next one and the next one. Wand after wand.
"A tricky one," he says.
They go through almost a hundred wands. He hands Draco more wands. He picks them up and Ollivander rejects them. Hagrid is standing outside, and his father is standing by his mother. None of the wands seem to want to work with Draco.
He picks up the six hundred and seventeenth.
"Yes," Ollivander says.
"Thank you," Draco says. He doesn't know if he is thanking Ollivander or thanking the wand for ending it.
"It's strange," he says.
"Sir?" he asks.
He tilts his head. "This wand is from the last Phoenix feather from its Pheonix's lineage and the last tree of its kind...or so we thought but the lineage continued after a surprise and the tree grew like a weed after a witch enchanted it," he says, "You're destined to thrive, Draco Malfoy."
"Thank you, sir," he says.
They go outside. "Hagrid?" Malfoy asks.
"Mr. Malfoy, jus' here with 'Arry," he says, "'Arry I got you a present." He holds a brilliant white owl in front of him.
Potter grabs the cage. "Wow, she's beautiful. You didn't have to do that," he says.
"Happy birthday, 'Arry," he says.
Potter smiles. "Thank you, Hagrid," he says.
Draco looks in the cage. "Wow, do you know what you're going to name her?" he asks.
He shakes his head.
"We should do something for your birthday," Lara says.
"Oh. I don't think we have time," father says.
Potter nods. "Thank you but I have to get the rest of my stuff," he says.
"I hope to see you on the train," Draco says.
Potter says, "Me too. Goodbye, Draco, Valara."
They leave.
"I think we have everything except your animals," the father says.
"Really? We get animals?" Lara asks.
Lucius Malfoy nods. "We appreciate how hard you've been working so we want to get you animals of your choosing," he says.
"Thank you, father," Lara says.
"Thank you," Draco says. This did not happen last time. He bought him the most expensive owl and moved on.
He takes them to the animal shop. They enter and dozens of animal calls mix to create an ear-splitting cacophony.
Lara walks up to a small owl with huge eyes and head and a small body. She strokes its head.
"It's a little small, but I love it," Lara says.
"If it makes you happy, Valara," Lucius Malfoy says. He stands in the doorway avoiding any possible animals.
"Thanks, father," Lara says.
The owl climbs onto her arm.
"She's a beauty. I'm glad she found a good home," the owner says.
Draco looks at the birds, toads, rats, and cats but sees nothing appealing. "I don't know, fa-" he says. A huge falcon cleaning its wing catches his attention. He gets closer and sees the sign that says the glove is required. He puts it on. The falcon looks into his eyes and reminds him of Buck Beak, he looks back unblinking. He moves his hand in front of it. It climbs on and allows Draco to stroke its head, gently nipping at his fingers.
"Wow, he doesn't like anyone. That's incredible. He must deeply respect you," the owner says, "You're in for a surprise."
They pay for both. Draco goes into a shop and buys leather material and straps. My father raises his eyebrows. "I want him to be able to perch on my shoulder," Draco says.
He nods. "I could buy it instead of you making it," he says.
Draco shakes his head. "I want to do this," he says.
Lucius Malfoy nods and walks away.
They go home. "What are you going to name him?" Lara asks.
He shrugs. "You?" he asks.
"Artemis," she says.
"Brilliant," he says.
She smiles. "I'm off to bed. Today has been long," she says.
"I will be soon too," he says.
He sews the band onto the leather material and then puts Velcro on so he can attach it easily. It covers his entire shoulder so he can stand easily and latches around his bicep and neck to be secure. He makes sure it's comfortable by walking around with the bird on it.
"What should your name be, handsome?" he asks.
He coos, a much smaller noise than I expect from him. Draco pets his head.
"Do you want to go hunting?" he asks.
He rubs his head on my cheek.
He opens the window. "Go on then," he says.
He flies away. Draco takes his shoulder pad off. He closes the window and gets in bed. He falls asleep.
He wakes up. "Regulus," he says.
A tap echoes off the glass of his window. He opens it and puts his shoulder pad back on. "Regulus," he says.
He rubs his beak on Draco's cheek.
"Seems like you like it, Regulus," he says.
He coos. He hops off his shoulder.
"Breakfast is served, Master Malfoy," Dobby says.
He turns to Dobby. "Thank you, Dobby," he says.
He goes to the dining room. "So, what're their names?" their mother asks.
"Artemis," Lara says.
Mother says, "Lovely."
"Regulus," Draco says.
Mother stumbles. "What?" she asks.
"Regulus," Draco says, "I don't know where I heard it, but this morning, I thought he should be named Regulus. Why? Should I not?"
She shakes her head. "Brilliant name," she says.
Draco nods. They eat in silence, but his mind is racing. His mother obviously does not like the name Regulus and he doesn't know why. He doesn't remember her talking about anyone or anything named Regulus in his past life. He must have heard it somewhere though. He won't change his mind. Regulus loves the name.