Truths Behind Masks
Lucien paused before leaving the office.
"There is something," he said calmly, turning back to Dumbledore, "that's been bothering me."
Dumbledore looked up. "Yes, Lucien?"
"…Why does Draco Malfoy pretend to be a boy instead of a girl?"
The room went very still.
Dumbledore's quill froze mid-air.
Before he could answer, a dry, unimpressed voice echoed from a nearby portrait.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake. At least someone noticed."
Phineas Nigellus Black leaned forward in his frame, eyes sharp.
"Draco Malfoy's real name is Evelyne Malfoy," he said flatly.
"She is the daughter of Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy."
Lucien nodded slowly.
"Lucius," Phineas continued, "did not want a female heir. So he cheated on Narcissa with Lisana Selwyn and produced a son—Cassian Malfoy, née Selwyn."
Phineas sneered.
"After that, he divorced Narcissa. Conveniently, during a period when the Black family was… declining."
Lucien exhaled quietly. "Of course."
Custody and a Rotten Will
"Who has custody of Evelyne?" Lucien asked.
"Lucius," Phineas replied.
Lucien frowned. "Why?"
Dumbledore finally spoke.
"Before Lucius's father died, he wrote a will. It states that Lucius's firstborn inherits the Malfoy wealth."
Lucien tilted his head. "Then Cassian gets nothing."
Phineas nodded. "Exactly."
Lucien's jaw tightened. "Then why force Evelyne to live as a boy?"
Phineas crossed his arms.
"Because several Sacred Families refuse to acknowledge a female heir. Lucius's father—Abraxas Malfoy—was their leader."
Dumbledore sighed. "Lucius took custody to preserve appearances."
Lucien rubbed his forehead.
"…What an idiot."
Phineas nodded. "My sentiments exactly."
A Better Way Forward
Lucien looked up again. "Couldn't Lucius bypass the will? Declare Evelyne unsuitable and pass it to Cassian?"
"To do that," Phineas replied, "Lucius would need to publicly admit Evelyne is a girl—or wait until she turns fourteen and legally amend the will."
Lucien considered.
"The first is difficult. The second… feasible."
Phineas nodded. "That is Lucius's current plan."
Lucien turned to Dumbledore.
"Can the Headmaster intervene?"
Dumbledore shook his head slowly.
"Sacred Families are protected by ancient law. The Ministry itself is restricted."
Phineas smirked. "So? Do you have a solution, boy?"
Lucien met his gaze calmly.
"There is."
The Reverse Trial
"How old is Cassian?" Lucien asked.
"Ten," Phineas answered.
Lucien nodded.
"Then it's simple," he said. "Obtain proof of three things."
He raised one finger.
"Cassian is the biological child of Lucius Malfoy and Lisana Selwyn."
Second finger.
"Evelyne is the biological child of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black."
Third finger.
"And the exact date of the divorce."
Phineas leaned forward.
"Combine those," Lucien continued, "and apply for a reverse custody trial. Claim misrepresentation, coercion, and inheritance fraud."
The room went silent.
"You won't win outright," Lucien added calmly.
"But Lucius won't agree to compensation."
A pause.
"That refusal becomes leverage. Demand full custody of Evelyne and complete severance from the Malfoy name."
Lucien lowered his hand.
"She walks free."
A Gem in the Wrong House (Apparently)
The portraits stared at him.
Several Ravenclaw Headmasters muttered irritably.
"A mind like that—wasted in Hufflepuff."
"Tragic."
The Hufflepuffs, meanwhile, were glowing with pride.
"Our gem," one declared smugly.
Dumbledore leaned back slowly, eyes thoughtful—then smiling.
"…Remarkable," he said quietly.
Lucien bowed his head slightly.
"I just don't like seeing someone trapped."
Fawkes chirped softly.
And somewhere in Hogwarts, Evelyne Malfoy felt—without knowing why—just a little safer.