Vincula sanguinis, H. Potter

Prologue

                                               
In the heart of the English countryside stood Malfoy Manor, the estate had long been a symbol of the family's grandeur and influence. Its high ceilings and ornate furnishings spoke of centuries of power and prestige. It's history was deeply intertwined with the turbulent events of the past decades, and its walls had witnessed the rise and fall of great powers.

The First Wizarding War, which had raged from 1970 to 1981, was a dark chapter in magical history. Young Lucius Malfoy, hungry for more money and fame, became a prominent Death Eater, despite his wife's protests. He'd aligned himself with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard seeking to subjugate the magical community. The conflict was brutal, and its effects were felt far beyond the battlefield.

Towards the end of the war, Draco was born, giving the young couple light in those dark times. And not long after it ended came a little girl they named Aurora. Her name meant hope and renewal. Symbolizing a new, brighter future for the family while respecting the noble house of Black's tradition to name their children after constellations.

The war was long and devastating, filled with battles and betrayals. By 1981, Aurora's birth year, the tide had turned against the dark Lord, leading to his downfall. The wizarding world began to rebuild, but the scars of the conflict were deep. Lucius was threatened to get sent to Azkaban, and even though he managed to talk his way out of it by saying he was under the imperius curse, the damage on their reputation was already done. It took them years of keeping a low profile to rebuild their pristine image.

Draco, the first born son, was always a serious and focused child, in front of his parents that is. When they were not around, he kept teasing his little sister, as kids do. From a young age, he was required to uphold the Malfoy legacy as their heir with pride. His days were filled with rigorous lessons from tutors and everlasting potion classes with Severus Snape, his godfather. Lucius held Draco to the highest standards, expecting nothing less than perfection. This pressure was a constant presence in Draco's life, shaping his demeanor into one of intense, almost unhealthy ambition to make his father proud.

Aurora on the other hand, brought a different kind of light to the manor. Her bubbly personality and lively spirit contrasted sharply with her brother's. While Draco was often preoccupied with his studies and the weight of his father's expectations, Aurora's days were filled with laughter and play, with etiquette and waltz lesson every now and then, sometimes studying with her brother. As a girl, all she was expected to do was to be polite, cultivated and take care of herself until she married a nice pureblood boy off the sacred 28.

The young girl was adored by Lucius, who saw in her a certain charm and innocence that softened the stern image he presented to the world. The fact he didn't need to have as much expectations for her as he did for Draco also helped. Making her grow up as a noble woman was Narcissa's job, not his. He spoiled her to bits. She was his darling girl, daddy's little princess. From the moment she was born, he devoted nearly all his attention to her and although he cared for both of his children, it became clear who his favorite was and only those who were blind would not have seen that.

Their upbringing was steeped in the values of pureblood supremacy, a doctrine drilled into them from an early age. They were taught that their family's status was not only a matter of pride but also a mark of their inherent superiority. This belief was reinforced in their education and conversations around the manor, leaving little room for deviation from the ideals of their forebears.

July 28, 1988. Malfoy Manor.

It was a hot july afternoon, the sunlight streamed through the windows as a young Narcissa gently combed her daughter's hair while little Draco fiddled with his toy wand, lounging on the sofa. Aurora, who was just 7 years old at the time, seemed lost in thought. Her small face was twisted in concentration as she gazed out the window before speaking up softly.

"Mother, why doesn't Aunt Bella visit us anymore? I miss her."

The young girl looked up innocently at her mother, oblivious to the harsh reality. Bellatrix had been sent to Azkaban 4 months prior for torturing the Longbottoms to madness. But that, Narcissa and Lucius couldn't tell her. Growing up, she was always very close to her aunt, they always plotted pranks against her father together, much to his dislike. She was the one who bought Aurora the biggest Christmas presents, the one who sneaked candy into her room after bedtime... You name it. Draco didn't share his sister's affection for their aunt. He always described her as scary which occasionally led to arguments between the two, often ending up with Aurora in tears and Lucius scolding him for making his little sister cry.

"She was sent to Azkaban with other nutcases like her." Draco said, looking up from what he was doing before his sister turned around to face him her expression a look of confusion. For some reason, Narcissa's expression changed as he spoke.

"Draco, who told you that?" She asked firmly, letting go of her daughter's hair.

"Father did." He replied with a smug grin, proud that his father confided in him rather than his sister. Draco always tried to be the center of Lucius' attention, knowing his sister was their father's forever favorite. Even though he was too young to grasp it, he grew jealous of her. The little boy often tended to engage in a one-sided competition of who their father loved most. She never played into his game, avoiding conflict with her brother whom she admired. Even though it was only by a year and a half, he still was her older brother, her role model. All she wanted was to be like him, following him around, begging him to play dress up with her until he reluctantly caved in. His jealousy of her never stopped him from being a good older brother though. He cared deeply for the girl, protecting her, comforting her when she got hurt, making her laugh when she cried.

"What's Azbakan?" She asked softly, making her mother's attention shift back to her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, her heart aching at the innocence of her daughter's curiosity and mentally cursing Lucius for telling their son her sister's current situation. She slowly turned her daughter around to face her, stroking her hair.

"Azkaban is a place where people who do bad things go, darling." she explained gently, trying to shield Aurora from the harsher truths of their world. "It's not a nice place, and Aunt Bella... well, she made some poor choices."

"Crucio!" Draco mouthed to his sister, waving his toy wand at her as he giggled, taking advantage of the fact Narcissa had her back turned to him, not noticing his antics. Aurora paid no attention to him as she looked back to her mother.

"But why did she do those things?" Aurora's brows furrowed, her small fingers twisting the hem of her dress.

"Narcissa, let me handle this." Lucius interjected as he entered the room, his presence commanding. The air shifted as his gaze fell upon his children. "Draco, I told you this information in confidence, I thought you were more mature than that."

Draco huffed, crossing his arms. "But it's true! She's a villain! I always knew she was crazy father, you did too!"

"Draco, shut." Lucius shot a warning look at his son, putting his hand up firmly before sitting next to his daughter. Like always, he took her side.

"Sometimes, people make choices that lead them down a dark path, my darling. It doesn't mean they don't love their family. It just means... they are lost" Narcissa added, hoping she could understand.

"Like when I lost my doll and couldn't find it?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Not quite." Lucius answered, sipping some firewhiskey as he looked down at her. He was horrible at showing affection and comfort and was quite uncomfortable in delicate situations with his children. Deep down he was glad that Bellatrix got locked away. He always thought of her as a bad influence for his family.

"Well, when is she coming back?" Aurora whispered, looking up at her father, her voice trembling slightly, the thought of her never coming back weighing heavily on her heart.

"Soon, don't worry." Narcissa smiled faintly. Lies. She was not coming back anytime soon.