Growing up Pureblooded

Expelled From The Family

Sirius stormed like a raging hurricane into his father-in-law's office. Abraxas was advising a seventh-year Slytherin on his prospects for a career in the Ministry. "Get the hell out," Sirius snarled, and the unfortunate seventh-year practically stumbled over himself in his quest for the door. "What is going on here, Sirius?" Abraxas asked indignantly. "This is not civilized behavior."

Sirius slammed the diary on the wizard's desk. "This diary belonged to Tom Riddle," he spat. "It contains his memories and thoughts, and my son has been merrily making friends with him since Easter." Abraxas turned slightly green. "That's how he managed such advanced work on the Cruciatus Curse," he murmured. "A schoolboy ought never have come into contact with such a dangerous object. He could have been killed, or worse."

Sirius nodded. "And guess who gave my twelve-year-old son this cursed diary? None other than his best friend, Draco Malfoy." "But how would Draco...?" Abraxas trailed off, and horror dawned on his aristocratic features. "Good God! Surely not!" "You've been very good to me, Dad," Sirius said coldly. "I thought you had the right to know that I'm on my way to send your good-for-nothing son straight to hell."

Abraxas was unable to speak as he watched Sirius leave his office. He opened his mouth to ask him to wait, not to be so impetuous, but no sound came out. Only after Sirius had left could he recover his composure enough to lock the diary in his desk drawer, leave the office and seek out Remus Lupin.

Lucius and Narcissa were sitting in the dining room of Malfoy Manor, enjoying a sumptuous dinner. The food in general was excellent, though of course Lucius was always able to find flaws. "The pork loin is a bit underdone," he said to Dobby in a languorous voice. "You mustn't forget to punish yourself most severely for it later this evening." "Yes, Master Lucius," Dobby replied reluctantly.

Suddenly, a chime sounded, informing the residents of the Manor that the Floo had been activated in the drawing room. "Who could that be?" Narcissa wondered as she took a sip of wine. "I don't know," Lucius replied. "Perhaps your mother has decided to come over for a visit." Narcissa frowned. "I don't think so. She and Grandmother were planning to visit Father's cousin Araminta Melliflua this evening."

The doors of the dining room flew open, and Sirius barged in. "Sirius!" Narcissa exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise. Won't you join us?" Sirius did not respond to his cousin, but rather strode over to Lucius's seat and punched him across the jaw, knocking the blond wizard out of his chair. "What are you doing, Sirius?" Narcissa demanded. "Ask your filthy bastard of a husband," Sirius snarled. "Ask him why he thought it appropriate to manipulate his own son into giving Aries a diary that had been cursed by Lord Voldemort." Narcissa gasped, then glared at her husband. "Is this true, Lucius?" Lucius struggled to his feet, nursing his bleeding lip. "And if it is? I was acting under the orders of the Dark Lord himself, Narcissa. He has decided that Aries is too arrogant to be permitted to live."

Sirius drew his wand and fired a Bone-Breaking Curse at Lucius. The blond wizard barely blocked it before shooting off a Cruciatus at Sirius. Sirius jumped out of the way onto the table, sending the china and silver scattering. "Reducto!" Lucius snarled, and the table blasted to bits, hurling Sirius to the far side of the room. Lucius smirked. "Avada Ked-"

"CRUCIO!" shouted Abraxas as he ran through the dining room doors, Remus Lupin close behind him. Lucius fell to the floor, writhing in pain. After half-a-minute, Abraxas lifted the curse, and Lucius stared up at his father, hurt and betrayal etched on his face. "How dare you?" Abraxas snarled. "You have betrayed the trust of our entire family, Lucius." "The Dark Lord..." Lucius began to protest. "Is irrelevant," the older wizard interrupted. "Family must always come before all else, but you have abused the faith of your own son and placed your nephew in great danger. At first I thought there might have been a misunderstanding, but now I find you ready to kill your own brother-in-law!" "Father..." Lucius began. "Silencio!" Abraxas cast, and his son fell silent. "I have never been so disappointed in you as I am tonight," he continued. "And, as you well know, that is saying a great deal. You have betrayed us all, Lucius, and I will put up with it no longer. Get out of my house."

Lucius frowned, but made no move to leave. "I mean it, you filthy blood traitor," Abraxas snapped. "From this point forward, I no longer recognize you as my son. You will receive no part of my estate, your name will be blotted out from the Malfoy Book of Names, and you had best pray that I never see you again." Lucius narrowed his eyes at his father, but was still unable to speak. He rose to his feet and gestured for Narcissa to follow him. His wife shook her head angrily. "Not this time, Lucius," she said.

Lucius blinked several times. At length, he turned on his heel and left the room, but not before silently lighting the draperies with Fiendfyre. It took Abraxas, Sirius and Remus all working together to get the flames under control, and by the time they succeeded, Lucius was long gone.
Late that night, Remus collected Aries and Draco from their dormitory and led them to his office. Sirius, Narcissa, and Abraxas were there waiting for them. As soon as the boys entered the office, Sirius grabbed them both into a tight hug and wept. They hugged him back nervously, not sure whether he was going to yell at them. Eventually Sirius let go and told the boys to sit down.

"I trust you both know by now that the diary Aries has been writing in for these past several months was created by Lord Voldemort," he stated. Aries and Draco both nodded hesitantly. Sirius took a deep breath before continuing. "It appears that Voldemort ordered Lucius to give Aries the diary, in the hope that it would kill him." "I'm so sorry, Uncle Sirius," Draco sobbed. "I had no idea." "I know that," Sirius replied. "And I forgive you. But I want you two boys to understand the seriousness of what we're talking about here. The Dark Arts are very dangerous. They are not fun and games, and they can cause irreparable damage to your souls. It's the Dark Arts that can lead a wizard like Lucius to betray his family to a miserable fiend like Tom Riddle."

The boys nodded. "I have expelled Lucius from the family," Abraxas said sternly. "He will never harm either of you again." Draco looked up at his mother, tears streaming down his face. "Why did he lie to me, Mum?" he asked. "I thought he wanted to help Aries." "I don't know," Narcissa said quietly. "I don't know at all." "But I do know this," Sirius said, drawing himself up to his full, impressive height. "Tom Riddle has made himself some very powerful enemies today." "That half-blood bastard!" Aries growled. Abraxas raised an eyebrow. "A half-blood? Really?" Aries nodded. His grandfather snorted. "Figures," he said with an angry snarl. "I swear on my father's grave that Tom Riddle will ever rue the day he decided to attack the Houses of Malfoy and Black."