Some Things Never Change

Ch. 01 Introductions

As the First-years entered the Great Hall, it seemed as though they were the focus of every person in the large dining room. No one noticed the two sets of eyes glaring daggers at each other from across the room. Their owner's attentions were only dragged away from the other set of eyes when Headmistress McGonagall stood to give start-of-term announcements.

Lucas Malfoy was so confident in his superiority that he didn't bother to avert his gaze from the headmistress when he felt the other boy's eyes fix on him again. His lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk and he let his eyelids drift closed over green-flecked sliver eyes, knowing his nonchalance would infuriate his observer even more.

Without opening his eyes, Lucas spoke quietly to the person seated on his left. "His face has gone red, hasn't it?"

"Oh, yes," murmured the amused girl. "His head looks like a tomato."

"You're just saying that, Rienne," Lucas muttered with a pleased look on his face, as though he'd just received a compliment. Then he opened his eyes to check for himself. "Wait, no. You're right."

Both were rather surprised when food appeared on the gold platters in front of them; neither had noticed that McGonagall had finished her speech. Lucas pilled his plate with chicken and mashed potatoes and then turned back to the girl beside him.

"So what have your parents been up to this summer?" he asked between bites. "I haven't read anything about any of their cases in the Daily Prophet lately, and Harry wouldn't tell me anything in his owls either."

Rienne tossed her shoulder-length blonde hair and took a sip of pumpkin juice before answering. "Well, Dad will only give me vague hints, so I can't be very sure. I think they've tracked down the source of some powerful dark magic to Switzerland, though. Mother won't tell me anything of course." Rienne affected a very realistic French accent. "Why do you ask me zees theengs? Eet ees none of your beezneess." She rolled her bright green eyes. "What about you? What have your parents got planned for this year?"

Lucas' eyes darted up to the Head table subconsciously. "Oh, I don't know," he replied, "but it's sure to be hellish. You know how they are."

Rienne grinned, mussing Lucas' blonde hair, playfully tugging at a few of the sporadic black streaks. "I don't know," she laughed. "I rather enjoy their classes."

Lucas' parents were Draco Malfoy, the Potions master, and Brynne Malfoy, the Transfiguration professor. Rienne was correct in her judgment of them; neither was as harsh as their predecessor. However, Lucas wouldn't drop the subject so easily.

"You'd like their classes less if they were your parents," he grumbled, molding his mashed potatoes into a small hill on his plate.

"Lucas Michael Malfoy, stop your whining," Rienne said sternly. "You are not the only one with parents on the staff." She glanced at the girl seated opposite her. "Isn't that right, Ophelia?"

Except for her hair colour, Ophelia Snape shared none of her appearance with her father. Her black hair was cut in a chin-length bob, and was sleek and shiny. Other than that, her facial structure, skin tone, and frame all resembled that of her mother. She had high cheekbones and a creamy, pale complexion. She was short and slight, her whole body seeming very delicate. This was merely a mask, however. Her personality could very much mirror that of her temperamental father.

Ophelia nodded, her grey eyes glittering with mirth. "And you know everyone thinks my dad's worse than yours," she said in a soft, silky voice.

At this, Lucas laughed. "That's right, Auntie Ophelia. Your dad's a right evil git who wouldn't pass his own daughter if she weren't in his house," he said with a smirk.

"You know I don't like you calling me that," Ophelia said in the same sweet voice, now laced with irritation, as though they'd had this conversation numerous times before. "You're two years older than me."

"Doesn't change the fact," Lucas said with the same smirk.

Rienne swatted him in the back of the head. "Quit picking on her. Make eyes at Weasley or something. He's staring at you again."

Lucas' eyes drifted across the hall to the Gryffindor table and automatically found the person he was looking for. Michael Weasley was tall, with the typical red hair all Weasleys seemed to have, and brown eyes that were currently burning with hatred and jealousy. Now that his face was no longer inflamed, the multitude of freckles was clearly visible. Unlike his father, Michael was not gangly or awkward-looking in the least. His body was well proportioned and slightly muscular, the perfect build for a Quidditch Keeper.

Lucas narrowed his eyes at the other boy, and then deliberately glanced at Rienne. The blonde girl noticed none of the exchange, immersed in a discussion with Ophelia. A smirk spread across Lucas' lips and he inched a little closer to her, watching Weasley's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

The boy had gone red again and looked as though he wanted to jump over the four tables separating them and strangle Lucas to death.

Lucas sat back, a grin on his face, looking the picture of self-satisfaction. The school year had hardly started, and already he had one up on Weasley. He was startled from his thoughts when he felt Rienne tap him on the shoulder. "Who's not here?" she murmured in his ear.

Lucas looked around, though he knew already whom she meant. "How can they be causing trouble already?" he sighed. "I swear I was only made Head Boy because someone had the ridiculous idea that I might be able to control the Terrible Trio." He stood up. "Rienne, if I'm not back before the feast ends, could you show the First-years the way down to the common room? The password is carpe noctem." Rienne nodded. "Thanks." Then he left the Great Hall, raking a hand through his hair with frustration.

He paused just outside the large doors and gazed around. "If I were three hellions with no supervision, where would I be?" he murmured to himself thoughtfully. He sniffed the air and caught the faintest of scents. Thanks to his parents, Lucas' senses were much sharper than those of a normal human, and so he was able to follow his nose all the way up to the fourth floor and to the door of the Charms professor's office.

The door was ajar and Lucas peered in through the crack. Three students were huddled over a drawer of the teacher's desk, speaking in hushed voices. All three had strawberry blonde hair flecked with black, and if they had been looking at him, Lucas would have been staring into reflections of his own eyes.

"What do you three think you are doing in Professor Weasley's office?" Lucas boomed in his deepest, most authoritative voice.

Connor, Flynn, and Britton Malfoy all jumped and wheeled around, their faces pale and frightened. Connor and Britton visibly relaxed when they realized who it was, but Flynn flushed at the sight of her older brother, trying surreptitiously to shift behind the other two.

"Oh Lucas, it's only you," Britton said calmly, a cocky smirk on his lips. "For a minute we thought it was someone important."

Lucas was about to reply when he heard a muffled voice behind them. He crossed his arms over his chest with a smirk of his own, causing Britton's expression to falter slightly. "You know, if you're going to be pulling pranks, you could at least be a little less obvious about it. First of all, the three of you disappearing all at once? Dead giveaway. Secondly, always have someone stand watch. Preferably someone to whom you are not related. Last, and most important of all, don't use snakes. Do you want the prank to scream, 'A Malfoy did it!'?" He strode past them and lifted a large black snake from the drawer and then closed it.

"Come on, out in the hall. I really don't want to be caught inside a professor's office if it doesn't belong to one of our parents."

Lucas leaned up against the wall a short way down the corridor and stared at each of his siblings in turn. "So whose brilliant plan was this?" he murmured to himself out loud. He stroked the snake thoughtfully. "Not Flynn, of course. I would expect a Ravenclaw to come up with an intelligent plan." Lucas' gaze drifted from his sister to one of the nearly identical boys. "Not Connor either, as his ideas are nearly always original and involve at least a small amount of cunning. So that leaves Britton." Lucas' eyes fixed on the third of his triplet siblings.

Britton, the tallest of the three, blushed furiously, his ears turning bright pink. "It would've worked," he argued. "If you hadn't found us so quickly. How'd you do that, anyway?"

Lucas tapped his nose. "And no, it wouldn't have worked. Mother could easily ask the snake who the culprit was, and then actions would have to be taken."

Flynn looked at Lucas hopefully. "Does that mean..."

"Yes," Lucas said sourly. "I'm not going to punish you. Consider this a warning, and I hope you all learn your lesson," he told them severely, though a smirk was teasing at the corner of his mouth. "I won't be so lenient next time."

Connor and Britton grinned widely, catching the real meaning behind Lucas' words. He didn't really disapprove of their pranks. On the contrary, he'd taught them nearly everything they knew. He just didn't want them to get punished, and definitely did not want to be the one to have to do it.

"Come on, you lot," Lucas said finally, pushing off the wall and trying to look gruff. He failed miserably however, and starting laughing at them. "You three are just lucky I like you, or I could make this year hell for you."

Lucas began leading them back towards the Great Hall, hoping the feast hadn't ended yet. As they walked, the four of them fell easily into their typical pattern, Connor and Flynn on one side of Lucas, Britton on the other.

Lucas was easily the tallest of the four; about three inches taller than Britton, who was 5'8". Not too surprising, considering he was two years their senior. What was surprising was how Flynn was dwarfed by her three brothers, none of whom were exceptionally tall by any standards. The top of her head barely reached Lucas' shoulder.

Aside from height, Lucas had few differences from his brothers, and those there were, were very subtle. Lucas' features were more angular, his jaw and cheekbones sharper, while the angles of Connor's and Britton's faces were softer, more curved. Lucas' face was almost severe in comparison, except that the severity was downplayed by a smattering of butterscotch freckles his brothers didn't possess.

Also, their frames were quite different. Lucas and Britton were slim, with lean muscle. None of the three had much body fat, but Connor's muscles were more built and less stretched than those of the other two, giving him a more burly appearance.

Despite their subtle differences in face and body, all three boys were nearly mirror images of their father. Flynn, however, was her mother through and through. Except for her colouring, which was very much her father's, Flynn's face and body could just as easily have belonged to Brynne. The oval face, almond-shaped eyes, full lips, small waist were all identical.

Just as the four got to the Great Hall, they heard the thundering of feet from within that signified the end of the feast. Suddenly Flynn began tugging frantically at Lucas' sleeve. She pointed at the snake, eyes wide. It was draped loosely across his shoulders.

Lucas nodded and hastily shoved the snake up one billowing sleeve, hoping it wouldn't bite him and muttering an apology in Parseltongue. He relaxed somewhat as it coiled around his bicep and attempted to look natural as the large mahogany doors opened and students came pouring out into the entrance hall.

Using his better judgment, Lucas pulled the triplets with him behind a suit of armour. It would be better than people seeing all four of them together waiting outside the Great Hall and arousing suspicions further than they probably already were.

He pulled Flynn aside. "Go and find Clara or Ainsley to walk back to your common room. Otherwise, you won't know your password." She nodded and Lucas pushed her into the fray, where she was almost instantly swallowed into the crowd.

Then Lucas turned to his brothers. "I want you two to try and find Rienne or Ophelia, though they may have already gone ahead with the First-years."

"I thought that was your job," Britton cut in quickly.

"Yes, well, I had to go hunting, didn't I?" Lucas smirked. Britton turned pink. "If you don't find them, the password is carpe noctem. Stay together. People will be more suspicious if you're apart."

"What about you?" asked Connor.

"Oh, I'll be along after everyone's gone. I can't just join the crowd now, as I should be escorting the First-years down to our common room." He tapped his temple lightly. "You understand now what I mean about superior planning and thinking ahead?" he asked Britton, who grinned sheepishly. "Now get going, so you can blend in."

"A Malfoy's not meant to blend in," Connor and Britton recited, identical smirks on their lips. "We're meant to stand apart."

"Yes, yes. I know," Lucas said impatiently, trying not to laugh. "Just go, would you?"

Britton and Connor made fists with their right hands and clapped them over their hearts while simultaneously bowing, in a sort of salute. "You wish is our command," Britton said seriously. Then both he and Connor burst into laughter and, half-supporting each other, walked away and joined the crowd, which had begun thinning.

"You three are quite the act," came an amused voice from behind Lucas. "Are you sure you shouldn't just leave Hogwarts and go on tour?"

Lucas replied without turning, a smile stretching across his face as he spoke. "But we're nothing without the fourth member of our troupe, and she won't leave 'til she's graduated, ruddy Ravenclaw." Then he wheeled around, his eyes lit up with excitement. "What are you doing here, Harry?" he asked, hugging his Godfather. "Does Rienne know you're here?" Only once Lucas had pulled away was he able to get a good look at the man.

Harry Potter looked utterly exhausted. His glasses were smudged, his hair messier than was normal, and his robes rumpled as though he'd been wearing them for a week. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily before answering.

"I'm here to speak with your parents, actually. And no, Rienne doesn't know, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her. I can't stay long. I need to get some sleep eventually." Harry stifled a yawn and then forced a smile. "So what were you and the Terrible Trio up to?" he asked. "Nothing too deviant, I hope. Can't have the Head Boy and two Prefects getting expelled, now can we?"

Lucas smirked and pulled the black snake from his sleeve. "I caught the three of them trying to stick this in a drawer of Professor Weasley's desk."

Harry laughed and petted the snake. "Ooh, I can't imagine Hermione liking that too much." He shot Lucas a look. "I don't suppose you mentioned how obvious a prank that was?"

Lucas nodded. "Walk you down to the dungeons?"

"Sure."

The entrance hall was now completely empty, so Lucas didn't bother trying to be sneaky, even though that was nearly impossible anyways due to the fact that he had company.

"So what sort of case are you and Fleur working on?" Lucas asked eagerly as they treaded the familiar path down to the dungeons. Harry had married Fleur Delacour twenty years ago after being partnered together as Aurors at the Ministry of Magic and had worked together ever since.

"You know Fleur and your parents would wring my neck if I told you," Harry chided, his green eyes glittering mischieviously.

"And so they'll never know you told me," Lucas responded with amusement.

"Well, I've just discovered a breakthrough on my oldest case," Harry murmured quietly, his tone excited. "I've been tracking a dark wizard for more than twenty years now, and I've just received a tip that he might be hiding out in Switzerland."

Lucas' eyes lit up. "Oh? Who is it?"

"You wouldn't be familiar with the name," Harry answered quickly. "Now I've got to speak with your parents, and you should get to your common room. Goodnight." Harry turned down a side corridor, which Lucas knew led to his parents' private chambers.

Lucas stared down the corridor after Harry's retreating back, unable to hide the hurt in his eyes. Harry had never been so abrupt with him, and Lucas didn't know what to think.

He was so wrapped up in his hurt feelings, he didn't notice when a person came up behind him. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the person grabbed his waist.

"Gotcha!"

~~~***~~~