Memories

It was the early hours of January 1, 1981. The first day of the New Year, while most of Wizarding Britain celebrated and cheered on the coming of hopefully a better year to come, four hooded figures stood in the shadows, and decided now was the time to make the world they way they wanted it. Alone the spell would never work, they're magic was just not strong enough. But, together they had the strength to cast it. By the time everyone woke, they would have new lives and there would be no trace whatever lives they had before. They had planned for years in secret, and now it was time to act.

'New memories, new lives…Happy New Year.' With this thought, they raised their wands and cast the ancient spell over the unsuspecting Wizards of Britain.

11 Years later…

Lucius sat in his study, a tumbler in one hand while he sat staring into the fire playing with the rings on his other hand. He was a proud man; he always had been, even in school. Very few ever saw the man behind the legendary Malfoy mask completed with the sneer. Turns out it took a stubborn Gryffindor to charge his way into his heart, for anyone to see who he really was. James was had become his world and the day they were married was the happiest day of his life, second only to the day their son was born. But that had been stolen from him. Buried in thoughts that made him angrier and colder then he was before, he did not hear the door open or the soft foot falls of the only woman who called the manor home. One of the few people left that Lucius trusted explicitly.

"Luc… Brother this is not going to help. We are doing everything we can to find him." She said soothingly placing her hand on his arm. She could see the pain on his face even through the perfect Malfoy mask. When the world had turned upside down and she wore the mask of wife instead of sister she did not remember. Only that she had woken one day remembering everything. Her beloved husband and potions master Severus, their son Draco, and finally her brother and his family. She'd watched him from afar break with the realization that his family was gone; his husband and son gone. "I promise you and your son will be reunited, and everything will be put to rights."

"Cissa, it's been too long. My son is probably dead and buried like his bearer. There's no clues, there never has been. Besides even the tramp that dared pretend she was my husband's wife has all but disappeared. Eleven years..." He hung his head a moment and let his worry, grief, and doubt causing his shoulders to fall. He had been a proud man, but then he'd lost everything that was his, everything that once made him happy. He did not know how or why, but the night James had died a spell had been broken and all their memories returned. Something his husband must have done… some magic none of them knew. Because he'd woken that night in a cold sweat looking around the room for his husband, his soul mate, only to find him gone. For months, the world had believed a lie, most still did. For that reason he was forced to have what appeared to be a public marriage with Narcissa, even if they weren't. After all perception was everything. As long as they appeared still affected they could look for his son and the wizard or wizards that cast the spell that changed the memories of all of Wizard Britain. Lucius got lost in his memories again until Narcissa interrupted them once again.

"Do you believe your son is dead and there is not hope?" She already knew the answer, but she needed him to say it, he needed to say it.

"Maybe there has never been hope, and all I have been is a fool to believe it as long as I have." He answered, looking away from her and back into the fire. The doubt that he would ever find his son alive had been slowly eating away at what little hope he had left. There was a part of him that still hoped he would find him alive and safe with the women that claimed his son was hers. But it had been eleven years and there was no sign of Lily Evans, he would never refer to her as Potter now he knew the truth, and Harry Potter.

"Fine… then we will stop looking. I will tell Severus. Really Luc, I don't know what took you so long to let this ridiculous folly go." She forced her voice and mask not to waiver as she sneered her response. The reality was Narcissa was very worried about Lucius' ever increasing despondent behavior. But she was a very clever woman, a Slytherin born and bred, who knew her brother well. She regretted having to manipulate her brother, but she would do whatever it took to force his stubborn hand; if only to stop him from doing something tragic and regrettable. She was just about at the door, when he finally reacted.

"Now see here Narcissa, your will never speak of him with that tone again. Looking for my son was never ridiculous. I will never give up on my son. I would have an answer to the one question that has plagued me since James' death. One way or another, sister mine, I will find him." He was angry that she had dared to suggest that finding his son was ridiculous. On the one hand Lucius knew what she was doing, forcing him to go on even through his grief. Even though he wanted nothing more then be reunited with his family. He would find his son and be reunited with the two most important people in his life one way or another, even if that meant joining his family in death.