Draco Malfoy and the Mirror of Ecidyrue

Part 7: Draco Malfoy and the Bastard Dragon

Summary:

Draco has seen and done terrible things to protect those he cares about, Harry Potter most of all. He has made a vow for the sake of his beloved godfather that will test him to the very core. But even he is unprepared for the challenges the war will provide him and those he loves, as he must finally confront the one he fears the most in the world: Bellatrix Lestrange.

On a quest to find the final Horcruxes and destroy them, Draco's path will go awry, and take him on a journey back to where everything began. To the truth of his past. To the legacy of the Daughters' Mirrors and their joining. To the Mirror of Ecidyrue.

Chapter 1: The Will of Albus Dumbledore

Notes:

There is a playlist that updates for each chapter here.

Chapter Text

The Grangers welcomed Hermione and her best friend home for summer break with open arms. They seemed less sure what to think of their unexpected companion, but they were just as warm and welcoming to Gilderoy Lockhart.

"My, what a lovely home," Gilderoy was saying, before alighting upon what Draco too had initially found the place's chief attraction. "And Draco told me about this. It's a sort of- er- shrine to Hermione. How charming." He regarded the display full of pictures of Hermione at various ages with the understanding of a man who had once surrounded himself with pictures of himself.

Hermione groaned while her parents tittered. "For the last time," she complained, "It's not a shrine!"

"You like to tease our girl, don't you," Mr. Granger said amusedly. "It's wonderful to have you here, Draco. I take it you'll be in London for the summer too, with your uncles. Hopefully we can see some of you this summer."

"Of course," Draco lied brightly.

"And this is..." They finally turned with understandable confusion towards the rather outlandishly dressed grown man their daughter had brought home with her.

"Gilderoy Lockhart," Gilderoy said brightly, shaking both of their hands vigorously, before remembering his cover story. "That is, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. I'm a professor at Hogwarts. These two are some of my brightest pupils in, ah, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Just paying a house call, what? Making sure the, er, dark arts are adequately defended against in this domicile."

"Oh, is that a danger?" Mrs. Granger asked, sounding unconcerned.

"Constant vigilance," Draco offered helpfully.

The Grangers did not look as though they thought this long-haired customer in head-to-toe blue fur could defend against a dark hamster, but they were naturally kind enough not to say so. It might have been easier, what they were about to do, if the Grangers were not always so universally kind.

Gilderoy produced his wand, and made a show of waving it about in the air, presumably in the process of detecting dark magic. It was a reminder of the old Gilderoy who had been a Hogwarts professor, always shamming. But the sight of Gilderoy so much as getting out his wand seemed to set a chill through Hermione, who shrank back against Draco's side.

"We don't have to do this, you know," Draco whispered to her, words kept low by his face in her bushy hair. "We can still turn back. There have to be other ways to keep them safe, we just haven't thought of them..."

Hermione seemed tempted by his words for a moment, but then she squared her shoulders and straightened up. "No," she whispered back. "No, this is what we have to do."

"If you like, you can stay for dinner after, Professor... Lockhart," Mrs. Granger filled in after a bright-eyed Gilderoy provided the name. "We have a roast in the oven. Lamb, if you like it. We'd love to hear more about your job at Hogwarts. And I hope Draco will stay as well. You will, won't you, dear?"