To Be Seen
Lucius understands.
Trans Masculine Draco Malfoy
Transgender visibility Day, Friday the 31st of March, 2023
To Be Seen
“Papa, look!” The small child dashed away, already out the door before Draco had a chance to react.
“Wait for me!” He called back, then apologised to the witch at the till before hurrying after the youngster who was determined to get a free sample from Honeydukes before they were all gone.
“Easy, young man,” a voice said, and Draco froze, a chill going down his spine.
Just to the left of the door stood Scorpius staring up into the face of the tall man who had stopped the child from running across the busy path.
“Papa?” The boy looked confused as he looked back to Draco, then up at the man again.
Draco cleared his throat. “Father,” he greeted coolly, before scooping his son up, settling him on his hip. “I trust you are well.”
Lucius frowned.
He had been released from Azkaban a year earlier and hadn’t seen or heard from his daughter the entire time.
Adalinda had been a beautiful child. Very much the miniature of her mother, every bit as lovely, every bit as intelligent and sure of what she wanted.
Unfortunately for Lucius she had wanted to dress as a boy.
She stubbornly refused to wear dresses or hair ribbons, and insisted on robes and short trousers. Even going as far as talking the house elves into transfiguring her clothing for her the moment his back was turned.
She could always be found taking things apart trying to learn how they worked, or climbing trees and chasing the peacocks and garden gnomes. Coming back filthy with scabbed knees.
The morning they had planned to take Adalinda to get her Hogwarts supplies, Narcissa had spelled their daughter’s hair into soft curls. Adalinda had disappeared into the bathroom and had promptly cut the shoulder length hair off and slicked it back and then faced them both with a look that dared them to say anything about it.
In the end Lucius had refused to be seen with her so Narcissa had taken her alone.
Much to his displeasure the child had adopted a masculine persona whilst at school, choosing a name that, at least, had a similar meaning to her own.
The professors and Headmaster indulged her, and for Lucius it had made it quite difficult to make a marriage contract when his daughter insisted she was a boy.
But then the war happened.
Voldemort had been immensely amused by little Adelinda Malfoy playing at being a boy, and to his shame Lucius couldn’t stop what happened. The task, the Dark Mark, she might have been spared them had she just stayed in her place.
Then they had lost the war and Lucius had been sent to Azkaban. After eight years he was released and another full year had passed, yet his child never contacted him. Not once in nearly a decade.
He knew from Narcissa that she had married, and had children and still lived as a man.
But to see her now…
It was shocking to see this person who had once been his baby, his lovely little child with the blond curls, freckles and dimples. They were now tall and solid, looking so much like himself that it was like looking into a mirror to the past.
“Papa, who is this?” The child stage whispered and Draco sighed.
“I am your Grandfather,” Lucius said softly, and Draco stepped away, shaking his head.
“No, you’re not.”
“I-”
“No,” he said firmly. “His grandfather is my husband’s father. You are the man who was supposed to be my father, but was never there for me, and I do not care to subject my children to you.” He made to step past him again, but Lucius blocked his way. “I have my wand,” Draco warned.
“Please.”
“Why are you bothering me?”
“I’ve been home for over a year.”
“I’m aware.”
Lucius started looking frustrated, “It’s been almost ten years since we last spoke.”
“We haven’t communicated in far longer than that,” he replied wearily. “You have never spoken to me, Father. you have never seen me.”
“I’m seeing you now, Draco, ” Lucius replied fiercely, “And I have never been more proud of you.”
His father had never called him Draco before. Never.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ve had a very long time to think of things that I should have been focusing on all along. Like what truly would have been best for your mother, and for you. And I’ve come to realise and accept that I have made a great deal of mistakes, and I am determined to honestly make reparations.”
“Merlin help me,” Draco whispered, “I want to believe you, but I can’t.”
“I may not have understood you, my son, but I have always loved you,” Lucius swore. “All I ask is the opportunity to try and show you that.”
“There he is, daddy!” Another voice called out and Lucius turned to see a red-haired girl standing a ways back, holding Harry Potter’s hand.
“Are you ok?” Harry asked cautiously, wand in hand.
Lucius stepped back, putting a touch of distance between Draco and himself.
Draco gave a subtle nod and Harry relaxed.
“Cassie, come here please,” Draco asked of their daughter, and the little girl let go of Harry’s hand, walking to her papa.
“These are your grandchildren. This is Scorpius,” He nodded to the child still in his arms, “And this is Cassiopeia. Children, this is my father, Lucius.”
End
Adalinda means Noble Serpent
@magicaltrans
