Chapter 9: A New Beginning (Malfoy and Snape's Discovery)

The atmosphere in **Malfoy Manor** was thick with tension. Draco had been growing increasingly frustrated, his patience wearing thin as the days passed without any word from Saber. It had been weeks since he had sent the letter, hoping to begin repairing the rift between them, but there had been no response. The family owl had returned empty-handed several times, and Draco had begun to fear the worst.

He sat in the drawing room, staring into the fireplace, his thoughts swirling. His mother, **Narcissa**, sat near him, watching her son with a mix of concern and quiet understanding. She knew how much this meant to Draco, though neither of them could quite understand why Saber hadn't responded.

Lucius paced by the window, his sharp gaze focused outward, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. He, too, was beginning to suspect that something more had happened. Their godson wasn't ignoring them—something was preventing the letter from reaching him.

Draco was about to voice his frustration again when the door opened, and **Severus Snape** entered the room. His dark eyes scanned the gathered Malfoys, noting the tension in the air. As always, Snape's expression remained unreadable, but there was a slight arch to his eyebrow as he approached Lucius.

"Severus," Lucius greeted, his tone formal but tinged with curiosity. "We were just speaking of an important matter regarding our godson, Saber Howler."

Snape's expression didn't change, though the name clearly caught his attention. "I was under the impression his name was still Potter," he said, his voice as calm and controlled as ever.

"Not anymore," Narcissa said softly, standing up and walking toward Snape. "Things have changed, Severus. We recently discovered his true identity through a formal inheritance test conducted by Gringotts."

Snape's eyes flickered with interest, though he said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"Saber Howler is the rightful heir to the **Pendragon family**, as well as several other powerful magical legacies," Narcissa continued, her voice steady. "He was never truly a Potter—he was adopted by them after his parents were killed. And there is more."

Draco, sitting forward in his chair, added, "It turns out that you, Severus, are one of his **godfathers**."

The news hit Snape with the force of a bludger, though his external composure barely wavered. His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information. "I... was not aware of this."

"We weren't either," Lucius added, stepping toward the center of the room. "We only learned of it when Gringotts sent us the inheritance test. It seems Dumbledore kept many things hidden from all of us, including your role in Saber's life."

Snape's jaw clenched, though his voice remained cool. "Dumbledore was always adept at keeping secrets. I should have expected as much. What more does the inheritance test reveal?"

Draco stood and crossed the room to retrieve a folded piece of parchment from the side table. He handed it to Snape, who unfolded it carefully, his sharp eyes scanning the contents. As he read, his normally calm demeanor faltered for just a moment—a brief flicker of surprise crossed his features before he regained control.

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**Godfather(s):**

- **Lucius Malfoy**

- **Severus Snape**

- **Sirius Black**

**Godmother(s):**

- **Narcissa Malfoy-Black**

- **Bellatrix Lestrange**

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"Pendragon?" Snape murmured, his voice barely audible as he read further. "And all this time, he believed himself to be James Potter's son."

Narcissa nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Yes, and as far as we know, Dumbledore ensured that no one—least of all Saber—would discover his true lineage."

Snape's grip on the parchment tightened ever so slightly. "Dumbledore's manipulations are deeper than even I suspected."

Lucius moved to stand beside Snape, his eyes cold with the anger he had been holding back since the revelation. "We believe Dumbledore kept Saber in the dark deliberately, preventing him from accessing his full inheritance and power. If Saber had known the truth earlier, his life—and our own—would have unfolded very differently."

"Dumbledore's betrayal is unsurprising," Snape said, his voice a low growl. "He plays with lives as if they are mere pieces on a chessboard."

Draco couldn't contain himself any longer. "I sent him a letter weeks ago, Severus. Trying to reach out. But there's been no response. We think... he might have left Britain."

Snape glanced at Draco, his dark eyes thoughtful. "If he has learned the full extent of his heritage, it's possible he has sought refuge elsewhere. If Dumbledore has been manipulating him for this long, he may wish to distance himself from those who were once in the Headmaster's sphere of influence."

Draco's frustration spilled over. "But we're his family! His real family. Why wouldn't he reach out to us? Why hasn't he responded?"

Narcissa placed a calming hand on her son's arm. "Draco, you must understand... Saber's entire life has been turned upside down. We cannot know what he's thinking or feeling right now. He may not know whom he can trust."

Snape remained silent for a moment, considering their words. His thoughts raced as he contemplated the gravity of the situation. Saber—Harry Potter—had always been a complicated figure in his life. The son of Lily, the boy he had sworn to protect, and now... his godson. The weight of that realization settled heavily on him.

After a long pause, Snape spoke again, his voice quiet but firm. "If Saber has truly left Britain, then he must have a reason. He may be trying to protect himself from further manipulation. But I will make inquiries. The goblins at Gringotts may know of any financial movements that could indicate where he has gone."

Lucius nodded, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "We must find him, Severus. He is vulnerable, and if Dumbledore learns that we know the truth, he will do everything in his power to regain control over Saber."

Snape's expression darkened at the thought of Dumbledore's reach extending once more into Saber's life. "I'll not allow Dumbledore to twist him any further. I'll find out what I can."

Draco's frustration turned to determination as he stood up straighter. "We need to make sure he knows we're on his side, that we want to help him—not use him. He's been manipulated enough."

Narcissa smiled softly at her son, her pride evident. "We will, Draco. But we must be patient. Saber will come to us when he is ready."

Snape turned toward the door, his dark robes billowing behind him as he prepared to leave. "I will return as soon as I have information."

As Snape exited the room, the tension that had been building slowly began to ease, though Draco still felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. They had uncovered so much about Saber's true heritage, but now they needed to find him. He was out there—somewhere—and they had to make sure he knew the truth before Dumbledore could sink his claws into him again.

"We'll find him," Narcissa said softly, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "And when we do, we'll ensure that he knows he has family who cares for him."

Draco nodded, though the knot of uncertainty in his chest remained. Wherever Saber was, they needed to reach him—before it was too late.