Chapter 35
Chapter 35
While Draco could have gone on a trip around Essos, gone to all the magical cities and such, he had no such goals. Perhaps, had he valued the concept of blood-family he had never met more than he did, then he would have traveled to Pentos where the remaining Targaryens were said to be hiding. But he had no such goals.
It wasn’t just that his entire existence and legitimacy was questionable at best.
Or that the ‘Beggar King’ could easily blame him for the actions of his stupid mother and for the origins of the rebellion, hence the Targaryens losing the Iron Throne…
But if there was one thing Draco would never stand for, it was madness. All-consuming and devouring. Caused by the incest of generations…
One only needed to look at his father in his last life to see a wonderful example. A brilliant, beautiful and most importantly, powerful mage in his youth, reduced to a raving-mad lunatic with age. And he at least began as coherent and physically undamaged due to the introduction of fresh blood from his muggle father…
Sometimes, Draco couldn’t help but suppress a shudder that such could have been his fate in this life.
But he banishes such thoughts immediately as they appear. Because he didn’t conduct multiple Blood Rituals for nothing. Didn’t introduce and combine his previous genetic make-up to his new body just to not resemble the Starks.
And yes, he does understand that his genes from his previous life left much to be desired, that the Malfoys bore their single-child curse and the incestuous Gaunts were little different from the sister-fucking Targaryens. But they were his. His blood. Blood that carried his abilities. Abilities he would like to pass onto his own child someday.
And he also knew how to avoid the nastier side-effects of his actions. He wasn’t an idiot.
So much power is carried by names. So much. And so many curses too…
Because when one curses their enemies? They usually say a name. Whether given, when targeting a particular victim or family, when targeting an entire house is irrelevant.
Why did those foolish mudbloods think old families such as Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin were extinct?
The correct answer was, they weren’t.
Like the snakes some of them were, they shed their skins and rose anew. Concealed as so-called Cadet branches, true Gryffindor and Ravenclaw descendants had long-ago slipped away overseas, taking their vast fortunes and secrets with them. To the ire of both the Ministry and the Goblins.
But Hufflepuff and Slytherin?
They stayed.
As the Smiths and the Gaunts, but they did.
And accumulated curses.
The fools.
And so was Riddle.
But as long as he didn’t explicitly announce himself as the heir of Slytherin, he was free. Free of the curses, contracts and the responsibilities.
His mother’s ‘marriage’ in a muggle church was a mundane farce. Not Magically binding whatsoever. Merope didn’t undergo any of the compulsory bridal rituals for witches that were to marry into a different house, the purpose of which is to strip their offspring of any of their maiden-house blood abilities. To Magic, Tom Marvolo ‘Riddle’ was a true Gaunt and Slytherin by blood and magic.
And he had a fresh start.
Unlike the Gaunts.
But that was a boon he didn’t appreciate. Like many mudbloods he wanted more. And no one was there to explain pureblood secrets to him.
And so when he named himself the Heir of Slytherin, the Heir he had become. But with the vassals that were from that point on forced to follow his every order, he received all the ‘gifts’ that were wished onto the heads of his ancestors.
And there were many…
And he went mad.
So Draco’s solution?
In order to not repeat his last father’s mistakes?
To never name himself by names of houses he has any blood-rights to, such as Malfoy, Gaunt, Slytherin, Peverell, Stark or especially Targaryen. Because if he does? All those ‘lovely’ well-wishes will finally find an anchor and rain onto his head.
And it’s not like he has a magical focal point and a Family altars with a boost of power in ‘Family Magics’ attached to those names in this world that would warrant such actions…
But sometimes Draco wonders, what would be the reaction of the Westerosi nobles if they find out that unless their parents had married in a Godswood, they are automatically bastards to Magic? That the traits of houses that have magic in their veins, are carried by the women?
So why did Eddard Stark even think that a marriage in a Sept would suffice?
Well…
He certainly got his result…
And if all his children, even the Stark-like Arya, are more alike his Tully wife then him, then it is he that is the fool.
Draco himself was a wonderful exception to the general rule. For all that he looked like a stereotypical Malfoy, Magically, that wasn’t all he was. Because what was the Dark Mark if not a Magical Bond? To Magic, the intent behind one matters little. Only that one exists. Whether it’s a marriage, a Life Debt, an Ownership brand or a blood relation, such things were all bonds. And the offspring from those? They were all very much legitimate.
Marriage is self-explanatory.
And in an incestuous relationship, the mother remains part of her maiden house and so do her children. That is probably why the Targaryens started marrying their siblings in the first place. Once they had lost the relevant rituals after the Doom, that is. It was the only way for them to keep their Family Magics and dragon rider abilities within the family besides becoming matriarchal.
Why did naïve mudbloods never stop to think that a Life Debt (if they even believe in the existence of such) could be fulfilled by the birth of a mutual child? The condition was a ‘life for a life’ after all.
And in an Ownership brand? One alike the Dark Mark? The subject of such is property, plain and simple. And all assets of said property belong to their Master. Including children. And if they were to have ‘relations’? The resulting child would be free from Ownership by their own parent, but would still be part of their house.
Upon finding that ‘wonderful’ piece of information out, Draco was very glad that for all that Voldemort was a powerful and learned wizard in many aspects, he was still an ignorant half-blood in others. Because knowing that he could come into Gringotts and demand access to all his ‘followers’’ accounts was not a power anyone should yield.
Or his very real and existing power over Draco.
So Draco will take another family name in this life.
One that sounds Valyrian as he has no desire to hide his true visage for the rest of his life.
And one that honors his foster mother, Narcissa, who had done so much for him.
The Draco constellation has so many stars…
And systems…
But Eltanin sounds like a given name. So do Aldibain and Thuban, while Alsafi and Shaowei sound distinctly female. And Rabastan is something that will forever bring ‘dear’ Aunt Bella and the Lestranges to the forefront of his mind. So no thanks, he will pass.
And most importantly, none of those sound remotely Valyrian.
And among those that do?
Draconis? Too similar to his given name. And being called Draco Draconis is just tasteless.
Altais? The Arabic translation of that makes it unacceptable. There is no way he is accepting a surname that quite literally means ‘the goat’. Thinking of the ‘esteemed’ Headmaster of Hogwarts every time he uses his name is the very last thing he wants.
Arrakis? Naming himself and his future descendants for the scientific name of a Peanut? He will not be able to say THAT with a straight face every time he needs to introduce himself.
That leaves Batentaban Australis and Borealis. Australis or Borealis? Southern or Northern? That is the question of the year…
But taking the name ‘Snow’ into consideration? Borealis will serve him well. And Draco Borealis sounds sufficiently Valyrian to pass off as some old family name.
So the Northern Dragon it is.
Considering the circumstances, it is more than fitting.