The winds of Normandy howled against the walls of the great keep of Rouen. In a modest chamber, tucked away from the grandeur of the ducal hall, a child was born into the shadows—Armand Malfoy. His mother, a woman of mysterious origins, had once been a healer in the court of Duke Richard II, though whispers surrounded her heritage. Some said she was of an old magical bloodline, a daughter of druids who once roamed the land before the coming of the Franks. Others believed she had once served an ancient order that protected the rulers of men, wielding powers unseen and feared by common folk. Regardless of speculation, it was the Duke himself who saw to the safety of the child, taking an interest in his future.
Richard II had long been aware of the existence of wizarding blood among the Norman elite. Though he was no sorcerer himself, he was not blind to the power wielded by those with magic. He recognized it as a tool, one that could protect or destroy, and it was for that reason he ensured that Armand, who showed signs of unnatural perception from infancy, would be nurtured rather than feared. What Richard did not know was that this child was no ordinary wizard—he was the reincarnation of Sun Simiao, the King of Medicine, and countless lives before him. Armand carried within him the memories and knowledge of centuries.
From his earliest years, Armand was raised under the quiet protection of the Norman court. He was given access to the finest scholars, both mundane and magical, though his education was conducted in secrecy. Richard, knowing the fragile balance between the Church and the old ways, took great care to ensure that the boy was trained in discretion as much as sorcery. By the time he was five, Armand was well-versed in both Latin and the arcane tongues, his knowledge extending from the strategies of war to the hidden wards that protected noble bloodlines from unseen dangers.
But all things must end, and so did the rule of Richard II. In 1026, the Duke fell ill and passed, leaving behind a court divided by ambition and uncertainty. Armand, now a young man, found himself without the protector who had shielded him from those who might have feared or sought to use his gifts. But he didn't mind, as no one realized what Armand was truly, Armand continued to deepen his knowledge, learning all the changes in the magic since his last time. It was not until decades later, when a new force rose in England, that fate called him forth once more.
When William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England in 1066, he brought with him a new age—one of fire, blood, and a reshaping of the old order. The land of the Saxons was now under the rule of a foreign king, and with that came both opportunity and danger. Though William was a formidable warrior and strategist, there were those who sought to undo his reign before it had truly begun.
It was in the winter of 1067, barely a year after his victory at Hastings, that William fell prey to treachery. One of his closest advisers, a Saxon lord who had bent the knee too readily, conspired with remnants of the old regime to rid England of its new ruler. Poison, the tool of cowards and the desperate, was slipped into the king's goblet during a feast. The effects were swift—William collapsed, his breath labored, his skin ashen.
Panic spread through the court, but one man remained steady—Armand Malfoy. Though no longer a boy, he had kept watch from the shadows, ever aware that such betrayals were inevitable. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, invoking ancient counter-curses and drawing upon the knowledge he had spent lives cultivating. The poison had already begun its work, and no simple remedy would suffice. Armand whispered an incantation of a spell.
The court watched in stunned silence as the Norman king gasped, his body convulsing before settling into exhausted stillness. William lived, but the act had not gone unnoticed. Rumors spread, whispers of a sorcerer in the court, a man who had defied death itself.
When William awoke days later, he summoned Armand to his chamber. "You have done me a great service," the king said, his voice still hoarse but filled with renewed strength. "You have preserved my reign when treachery sought to undo it. Tell me, what is it that you desire?"
Armand replied. "I expect nothing, I helped you out of gratitude to your grandfather. With this, my debt is repaid and you owe me nothing"
William, a man who had seen much but never the likes of this wizard before him, nodded. "I believe you have given me more than you received and I am not a man to leave debts unpaid." He rose and gestured for a map to be brought before him. "Wiltshire," he declared, pointing to the land that lay between Wessex and Mercia. "It is yours. There, you may do as you wish, build as you see fit. Let no man question it."
And so, with a single decree, Armand Malfoy became the lord of his own domain. It was on that land that the foundations of the Malfoy legacy were laid. A place where the prominent house of Malfoy will rise.
But Armand's service did not end with the granting of land. Recognizing that William's reign would always be threatened, he gathered a select group of wizards—men and women who followed their king. Armand taught them and shared some of the knowledge he acquired overtime to help them protect the grandchild of Duke Richard II.
Time would pass, and history would remember William as the first Norman King of England and his close friend Armand Malfoy who rendered his magical services to the court.
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By the age of 40, Armand Malfoy had established himself as a formidable figure in the wizarding world. The Manor of Malfoy, a grand and imposing structure, stood as a testament to his power and influence. Nestled in the heart of Wiltshire, the manor was more than just a home—it was a sanctuary for magical knowledge and a bastion of power. Armand, ever mindful of the continuous changes in the world, wanted a place he could return to in future lives, a place that would grant him the power and resources he needed to navigate the challenges of each new era.
To ensure the longevity of his legacy, Armand sought out a child who bore a striking resemblance to him. He adopted the boy, naming him Septimus Malfoy, and declared him the next head of the Malfoy family. Armand's intention was clear: he wanted someone to carry on the Malfoy name and maintain the house in his absence. Septimus, though young, showed great promise, and Armand took it upon himself to train the boy in magic.
Armand's teachings were rigorous and comprehensive. He spent years imparting his vast knowledge to Septimus, covering everything from basic spells to advanced enchantments and protective wards. By the time Septimus turned 23, he had become one of the greatest wizards of the era, a testament to Armand's skill as a mentor and the boy's natural talent. Armand was proud of his adopted son, but he knew the time had come to prepare for his own departure.
One evening, Armand summoned Septimus to his study. The room was filled with magical tomes and artifacts Armand had written and created. Armand handed Septimus a ring, its design intricate and imbued with powerful magic. "This is the family symbol," Armand said, his voice steady and solemn. "You shall pass it down from one head of the family to another. It will grant power to the wearer, and one day, if I am reborn, the ring will reveal my true identity."
Septimus accepted the ring with gratitude, his eyes filled with respect and admiration for the man who had given him so much. "Thank you, Father," he said. "For everything."
Armand nodded, his expression unreadable. He had done what he could to ensure the Malfoy legacy would endure. With Septimus ready to lead, Armand felt a sense of closure. At the age of 60, he left the Malfoy Manor for the last time, disappearing into the world to continue his path.
Armand's departure marked the end of an era for the Malfoy family, but it was also the beginning of a new chapter. Septimus, now the head of the family, wore the ring with pride, knowing it was a symbol of his responsibility and the legacy he had inherited. The Manor of Malfoy remained a place of power and knowledge, its halls filled with the echoes of Armand's teachings and awaiting the return of its master.
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Armand Malfoy spent the years following his departure from the Malfoy Manor scouring the land, seeking out wizards and observing the changes in the world. The tension between magical and non-magical communities had grown significantly, fueled by the rise of the Church and its fanatical crusade against anything deemed heretical. Wizards, once integrated into society, began to distance themselves, forming smaller, hidden communities to protect their way of life. The most prominent advancements of this era were in defensive and invisibility charms, as wizards sought to shield themselves from the growing threat of persecution.
One day, while traveling through a small village, Armand came across a grim scene. A group of Church priests had gathered a crowd, preparing to execute four children accused of practicing evil magic. The children, bound and terrified, were labeled as heretics, their only crime being their magical abilities. Armand's eyes narrowed as he watched the priests incite the crowd, their cheers echoing in the square.
Without hesitation, Armand stepped forward. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed bolts of lighting, striking down the priests and scattering the cheering audience. The crowd fled in terror, leaving the four children unharmed but shaken. Armand approached them, his expression calm but firm. "You're safe now," he said. "Come with me."
The four children—Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Gwyther, and Rowena Mac Alpin—were all under the age of 10. They had been caught by the Church while playing, their magical abilities marking them as targets. Armand saw something special in them, a spark of potential that reminded him of his own past lives. He decided, for the first time in a long while, to take on the role of a teacher without any hidden agenda or ulterior motive. He reached out to their families, who, recognizing Armand's immense skill and reputation, gladly entrusted their children to him.
Under Armand's tutelage, the four children flourished. Each of them showed a unique aptitude for magic, and Armand tailored his teachings to their strengths, drawing from the knowledge he had accumulated over his many lives.
Godric Gryffindor inherited Armand's knowledge of charms and transfiguration, skills honed during his life as Tertius. Godric's bold and adventurous spirit made him a natural leader, and he quickly became a master of combat magic and protective enchantments.Salazar Slytherin was drawn to the darker and more complex aspects of magic, particularly magical transfiguration and the study of magical creatures, knowledge Armand had gained during his life as Herpo. Salazar's cunning and ambition set him apart, and he became a skilled manipulator of both magic and people.Helga Gwyther showed a deep affinity for healing and potion-making, inspired by Armand's life as Sun Simiao. Her kind and nurturing nature made her a natural healer, and she excelled in creating remedies and protective brews.Rowena Mac Alpin, Armand's favorite student, delved into the mysteries of the soul, the mind, and runic magic, knowledge Armand had acquired during his life as Odin. Rowena's intellect and curiosity made her a prodigy in theoretical magic, and she quickly became Armand's most trusted confidante.
As the years passed, the four students grew into powerful wizards, each carving out their own path. At the age of 13, Rowena married and changed her name to Ravenclaw, while Helga, who married at 12, became Hufflepuff. Godric, ever the charmer, moved from one romantic entanglement to the next, while Salazar remained solitary, his focus solely on his studies.
Tragedy struck a decade after Helga's marriage when both her and Rowena's husbands died in accidents. Helga chose to remain alone to honor her late husband, while Rowena, now a widow, had a daughter named Helena Ravenclaw. Armand took Helena under his wing, doting on the little girl who affectionately called him "Grandpa Armand."
After nearly four decades of teaching, the four students approached Armand with an idea: they wanted to create a school of magic to teach other children. Armand supported the idea wholeheartedly, recognizing the long-term benefits of such an institution. As their teacher, he selected the location for the school and named it Hogwarts, a name that held deep personal significance for him. While the others didn't understand the meaning behind the name, Rowena, who had learned the truth of Armand's existence, smiled knowingly.
With Armand's guidance, Hogwarts became a beacon of magical education, a place where young witches and wizards could learn and grow in safety. Godric, Salazar, Helga, and Rowena each contributed their unique talents to the school, shaping it into a place of wonder and knowledge. Armand, though he remained in the background, watched with pride as his students carried on his legacy.
But even as Hogwarts flourished, Armand knew his time in this life was drawing to a close. Armand Malfoy stood at the edge of the Hogwarts grounds, gazing out at the sprawling landscape he had helped create. The school was thriving, a testament to the hard work and dedication of his four students—Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw. But as he watched the students practice their spells and explore the halls of Hogwarts, Armand realized he had nothing left to teach. His students had surpassed even his highest expectations, and the time had come for him to move on.
When Armand shared his plans to explore the rest of the world with what little life he had left, his students were visibly saddened. They had grown to see him not just as a teacher, but as a father figure. Yet, they understood his need to continue his journey. Each of them wished him the best of luck, their voices filled with gratitude and respect.
Godric, ever the bold and spirited one, stepped forward with a mischievous grin. "Before you go," he said, "let's have a magical duel. All four of us against you. One last challenge, old man."
Armand raised an eyebrow, amused by Godric's audacity. "A duel, you say? Very well. Let's see if you've truly learned everything I've taught you."
The battle was set to take place on a nearby mountain. Armand, with a wave of his hand, transfigured the mountaintop into an enormous arena, its surface smooth and its edges marked by shimmering wards to contain the magic. Helena Ravenclaw, now a young woman and Armand's beloved granddaughter, was chosen as the referee. She stood at the edge of the arena, her eyes wide with anticipation.
The duel began with a burst of light and energy. The four founders of Hogwarts, each a master in their own right, unleashed a barrage of spells, their magic intertwining in a dazzling display of power. Godric's fiery charms clashed with Salazar's dark transfigurations, while Helga's protective enchantments and Rowena's intricate runic spells added layers of complexity to the battle.
But Armand was in a league of his own. He moved with a grace and precision that defied his age, his magic flowing effortlessly as he countered every attack. He conjured shields of light, redirected spells with a flick of his wrist, and even transformed the arena itself to his advantage. The four founders fought valiantly, but it was clear that Armand was clearly overwhelming them.
Helena watched in awe, her heart pounding as she witnessed a level of magical prowess beyond anything she had ever imagined. She had always known her mother and the other founders were powerful, but seeing them face Armand—a man who fought all four with ease—was a humbling experience. In her mind, Armand was no longer just a wizard; he was a force of nature, a being whose power transcended the boundaries of what wizards could ever hope to achieve.
The duel ended with Armand standing victorious, his students sprawled on the ground, exhausted but unharmed. He extended a hand to each of them, helping them to their feet. "You've come far," he said, his voice filled with pride. "But remember, true mastery lies not in power, but in wisdom and restraint."
The four founders nodded, their respect for their teacher undiminished. Helena approached Armand, her eyes shining with admiration. "Grandpa Armand," she said, "you're incredible. I don't think I'll ever reach your level."
Armand smiled gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to reach my level, little Helen. You just need to be the best version of yourself. That's all anyone can ask for."
With the duel concluded and his farewells said, Armand prepared to leave Hogwarts. He had spent decades shaping the lives of his students and building a legacy that would endure for centuries. But his journey was far from over. The world was vast, and its mysteries were endless. Armand Malfoy, the reincarnation of the oldest wizard in the world, would continue to walk the path he had chosen, no matter where it led.
As he disappeared into the horizon, the four founders and Helena watched in silence, their hearts filled with gratitude and a touch of sadness. They knew they would never see him again, but his teachings and his legacy would live on through them and the school they had built together. Hogwarts would stand as a testament to Armand's wisdom, a beacon of hope and knowledge for generations to come. But the true meaning of its name and the man that stood behind the four founders shall be kept a secret.
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After the duel with his students and the heartfelt farewells at Hogwarts, Armand Malfoy set out on his final journey. This time, he decided not to seek out Frigg, the ghostly remnant of his wife from a past life. He had visited her in previous incarnations, but now, with the weight of centuries pressing upon him, he chose to focus on exploring the world with the time he had left. The memories of Frigg and Baldr remained etched in his soul.
Armand traveled far and wide, visiting lands he had never seen before. He marveled at the beauty of untouched forests, the majesty of towering mountains, and the vastness of endless deserts. He encountered new cultures, learned new languages, and studied the unique forms of magic that had developed in different parts of the world. For Armand, this was not just a journey of discovery—it was a way to honor the lives he had lived and the knowledge he had accumulated.
As the years passed, Armand's body began to weaken due to age. His once-boundless energy waned, and his movements grew slower. Yet, his mind remained as sharp as ever, filled with the wisdom of countless lifetimes. He continued to explore, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a desire to leave no stone unturned.
At the age of 135, Armand Malfoy's journey came to an end. He passed away peacefully, his body finally succumbing to the passage of time. His death was not noticed by anyone, for he had chosen to spend his final days in solitude, far from the eyes of the world. But though his physical form was gone, his legacy endured.