Harry Potter The Long Lost Malfoy

"What—what was the ritual that you and Mother and Father and Aunt Andromeda did yesterday?" Just asking about it made heat crawl up Draco's face. Even though he was as much a part of the family as anyone else, and even though he cared about Henry just like their parents did, he hadn't been invited.

"A ritual to find the Horcruxes."

"You know where they are?"

"We were trying to figure out how many there were. And whether this book that Father had was one. The beams of light the ritual created didn't last long enough for us to track them all down."

"Oh." Draco frowned. He couldn't see any reason that he had to be left out of that ritual. "And what did it tell you?"

"Five, counting the one in me but not counting the book that Father had. Which was a Horcrux." Henry sighed and slumped back against his chair. "Seven altogether, given the snake. What are we going to do?"

"Fight him?" Henry should know that, really.

Henry shot him an unimpressed look that made Draco clear his throat and struggle against the impulse to bow his head. Yes, all right, maybe that had been a bit of a childish answer. "I mean," Henry whispered, "just that it sounds so impossible, to track down seven Horcruxes that could be hidden anywhere and destroy them. What if they're little Transfigured stones that he threw into the sea, or something?"

"You think the Dark Lord is that smart?"

Henry blinked. Then he said, "When you put it like that, not really."

Draco nodded. "I think they're more likely to be significant objects, like the snake, or like the diary. Father talked about how important it was to him. We'll still have to search hard to find them, but when we do, it shouldn't be that hard to be sure that they're Horcruxes. Or to destroy them."

Henry gave him a wan smile back. Then he said, "I think I'm going to go lie down for a little while," and stood up and wandered out of the room.

Draco followed him, but turned towards the sitting room where he knew his mother would be this time of day. Sure enough, she was sitting with one of the Black family's ledgers open in front of her, writing quick notes about what were probably large-Galleon transactions or investments. She glanced up, saw Draco, and patted the stool next to her without a word.

Draco sighed and slumped down next to her. Mother stroked his hair in silence for a moment, then went back to doing her notes. Draco watched the dance of her quill and wondered about how to phrase his question.

In the end, simple seemed best. When Mother pushed her ledger aside and looked at him, Draco took a deep breath and asked, "Why didn't you let me come into the ritual room with you and Henry and Father?"

"The ritual that your father used is one that is little understood," Mother murmured, and traced a pattern on Draco's forehead. Draco caught his breath when he realized it was in the shape of a lightning bolt. "We didn't know for sure what the consequences would be, especially when Henry is a living Horcrux and that is supposed to be impossible. I thought—I thought it might affect the Horcrux in his scar and make him scream. I did not want you to see your brother in pain."

Draco blinked slowly. Then he said, "Oh," and leaned his head against his mother. Again, she stroked his hair, and this time, he could feel the fine tremor in her fingers.

He had never once thought that might be the reason. He had known that Mother would have left Henry out of the ritual if she could have, but then it wouldn't have worked. Draco had simply been indignant that she didn't seem to consider him mature enough, or hardened enough, or whatever it was, to stand with Henry.

But no.

It was as simple as not wanting him to get upset.

Draco turned his head a little to the side and let Mother stroke his hair and thought, I'm going to make sure that he's in as little pain as possible in the future.

....

Do you want to read ahead by more than 60 exciting premium chapters?

Then join my p*atreon right now.

Link: p*atreon.com/Sonic_Spectre (Remove the *)

Free members can unlock upto 2 chapters.