Malfoy Family Grown Up

Chapter 3

**Chapter 3**
The birthday party was in full swing. Guests mingled, laughter filled the air, and the smell of delicious food wafted through the garden. Lucius Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange, the proud fathers, were busy making sure everything went smoothly. Their children, Emmy and Adam, played nearby, their laughter mingling with the joyful chatter of the adults.

Rodolphus rested a hand on his round belly, feeling the familiar flutter of the baby moving inside. He was seven months along now, and every kick reminded him of the little life growing inside him. The joy of expecting their second child filled him, even as fatigue crept into his bones. His energy wasn't what it used to be, but he pushed through, wanting to make this day perfect for Emmy and Adam. Today was their day to celebrate.

Despite his best efforts, Rodolphus found it increasingly difficult to hide his fatigue. His eyes felt heavy, and his movements were slower than usual, though he tried to mask it with smiles and laughter. As he watched his son and daughter play, his gaze softened. He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

“You okay?” Lucius asked softly, concern evident in his eyes.

Rodolphus managed a small smile, nodding. “Just a little tired. You know how it is.”

Lucius squeezed his shoulder, understanding. “You’ve been through a lot. Take it easy. This is our day to enjoy.”

Before Rodolphus could respond, they were joined by Rabastan Lestrange, his face alight with a mischievous glint that Rodolphus recognized all too well. “Hey, Rodolphus,” Rabastan greeted, his voice low and conspiratorial. “Do you remember the old Slytherin prank book?”

Rodolphus’s eyes brightened at the mention of the book. He exchanged a look with Lucius, who raised an eyebrow but smiled knowingly. “You mean *the* prank book? The one we kept hidden in the dungeons for special occasions?”

Rabastan nodded eagerly. “Exactly. I’ve been thinking... what if we bring it out for some nostalgia? Just to relive the good old days.”

Rodolphus's fatigue seemed to melt away at the idea. He shot Lucius a questioning look, and Lucius, ever the practical one, smirked and shrugged. “Why not? We could use a good laugh.”

With a flick of his wand, Rabastan summoned the infamous Slytherin prank book from its hidden place in the manor. The thick, leather-bound tome appeared in his hands, its dark green cover worn from years of use. The edges of the pages were frayed, and the silver snake emblem on the front gleamed ominously.

“Here it is,” Rabastan said triumphantly, holding the book up for everyone to see. “The source of our best pranks and the reason for countless detentions.”

Rodolphus laughed, reaching out to take the book from his brother. “I never thought I’d see this again. Let’s see what we’ve got in here.”

The brothers moved to a quieter corner of the garden, their eyes glinting with mischief as they flipped open the book. They quickly scanned through the familiar pages filled with handwritten notes, sketches, and spells. The memories came flooding back as they recognized old pranks they had pulled, each more elaborate than the last.

“Ah, the disappearing ink charm,” Rodolphus said, chuckling. “Remember when we enchanted all the ink in the Gryffindor common room to vanish? The look on their faces when they tried to do homework was priceless!”

Rabastan snickered. “And the time we bewitched the suits of armor to sing the school anthem off-key in the middle of the night. Professor McGonagall nearly had a heart attack!”

As they continued flipping through the pages, their laughter grew louder. They paused at a particularly detailed entry and shared a mischievous grin. The note was written in Rodolphus’s handwriting, outlining a prank that had become legendary among the Slytherins.

"Remember this one?" Rabastan asked, nudging Rodolphus. "The Vanishing Clothes Charm?"

Rodolphus snorted. “How could I forget? We charmed everyone’s robes to disappear in the middle of dinner in the Great Hall. That one earned us two weeks’ detention and a stern lecture from Professor Slughorn.”

Rabastan laughed, shaking his head. “Worth every second! The way everyone scrambled to cover themselves up was hilarious.”

Their shared laughter caught the attention of Abraxas and Harden, who approached with curious smiles. “What are you two cackling about?” Abraxas asked, glancing at the book in Rodolphus’s hands.

“The old prank book,” Rabastan replied, holding it up. “We were just reminiscing about some of our greatest hits.”

Harden’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Ah, the infamous Slytherin prank book. I remember hearing about that from your professors. They said it caused them more headaches than any other group of students.”

Abraxas grinned, looking over Rodolphus’s shoulder. “Let’s see what kind of trouble you got yourselves into.”

As they turned the pages, they came across the most notorious prank they had ever pulled, one that even they had tried to forget. The page was covered in scrawled notes and diagrams, detailing a plan so outrageous that it had been the talk of the school for months.

“The Mass Hallucinogenic Charm,” Rodolphus read aloud, his smile faltering slightly. “We charmed the pumpkin juice to make everyone see their worst fears come to life.”

Rabastan chuckled nervously, scratching his head. “Yeah, that one might have gone too far. We had half the school in tears, and Madam Pomfrey working overtime.”

Abraxas and Harden exchanged a look, both their expressions turning serious. “I remember that incident,” Abraxas said quietly. “You boys got into quite a lot of trouble for it. Some students were too scared to leave their dormitories for days.”

Rodolphus and Rabastan’s laughter died down as they looked at the page. What had once seemed like harmless fun now carried the weight of unintended consequences.

“Yeah,” Rodolphus admitted, his voice softer. “That one… that one was a mistake. We didn’t realize how much it would affect everyone.”

Lucius stepped closer, sensing the shift in mood. He placed a comforting hand on Rodolphus’s shoulder. “We all did things in school we’re not proud of. The important thing is that we learn from them.”

Rodolphus nodded, closing the book and holding it close. “You’re right. We’ve come a long way since then. Still, it’s good to remember the fun times too.”

Rabastan smiled, nudging his brother. “And we’ll always have those memories. The pranks may be behind us, but the laughter is something we’ll always carry.”

Abraxas and Harden smiled at their sons, pride and love in their eyes. “We’re proud of the men you’ve become,” Abraxas said, pulling them into a hug. “The pranks were just a part of your journey. You’ve both grown into incredible people.”

As they stood together, the sounds of Emmy and Adam’s laughter ringing through the garden, the past and present blended into one. The prank book, with all its memories, was a reminder of how far they had come and the joy they had shared.

The family’s laughter filled the air, and for a moment, the worries of the world faded away. Together, they were stronger, bonded by love, laughter, and the promise of many more happy memories to come.