Love Remembered Too Late

Words 781


Lucius sat in his cell and stared down at his hands. He could feel the last of his sanity slip away as he lost the last of his hope. The first time he had ended up in this cell, the Dementors had only taken his most present memories, the ones that had sustained him. Those memories had been inconsequential. They were memories of his victories over other families, and against other politicians. But now... Lucius was glad no one was watching as he had curled himself up in the fetal position two days ago. The memories that the Dementors were taking from him were memories he had forgotten. But he was forced to relive them one last time before they were ripped away.

The sensation of losing his wife and parents had been painful, but losing his son was leaving damage he didn't think he could recover from. He let the despair take over him, he knew he did not have very many memories left. He groaned as he felt a new memory begin.


Lucius kept his face calm even as inside he wanted to growl. How a small group of Death Eaters could mess up so bad that the Dark Lord had to find a new home to reside in was beyond him. Now he had to clean up their mess and find a suitable location that his Lord would approve of.

Lucius did end up growling slightly when someone had the audacity to knock on his office door. "Enter." The word sounded hardly human as it ground it's way out of his throat. The door opened slowly and the family doctor walked in.

Dr. Tilman was hardly fazed by the anger that Lucius knew was rolling in his eyes. "Mr. Malfoy, I am here to update you about your wife." Lucius gestured for the man to continue, although he had no idea that the family doctor had been summoned. "Mrs. Malfoy has contracted a weak version of Dragon Pox typically called Salder Pox. Your wife will be fine, but your son, Draco, cannot be around her. Salder Pox is potentially fatal for young children."

This caught his attention. Draco was his heir and needed to be protected. "How long?"

"At least two weeks." Lucius sighed and waved the man out. The moment the door shut Lucius let his head fall into his hands. Who could he possibly trust to care for his only heir. He closed his eyes for a moment before he realized that he didn't trust anyone else. He would have to care for the child. Perfect.


Lucius felt the Dementors retreat and he took a breath of relief. Moments later it became clear why as Lucius heard a howl of anger rip from a recognizable throat. They must have captured Fenrir. Lucius knew that meant he had a few days relief as the Dementors would find the temptation of new memories distracting. But he knew it wouldn't be long before they would come back.

It was less than 24 hours later that they came for the rest of that memory, or at least the juiciest part.


Lucius glanced over to the corner where he had tucked the toddler into. He was surprised that even 7 days in, the child had never cried for more than a moment. At the moment his perfect son was sitting on the floor staring up at him. Lucius turned in his chair and watched as his son opened his mouth. "Fa... duh." Lucius lifted an eyebrow and watched as his son's face grew aggrivated. "Fa.. duh." Suddenly Draco's face lit up. "FADUH!"

Draco reached both of his hands toward Lucius and clutched his fists again and again. "Faduh faduh faduh!" Lucius stood up and looked down at his son who continued to clutch his fists. Cautiously Lucius bent towards his son and picked him up. Draco clutched at his robe and moments later curled into Lucius' arm. Lucius slowly sat back into his chair and Lucius looked down at his son's face. A strange warm feeling filled his chest and Lucius made a note to ask the doctor about it next time.

Suddenly, Lucius realized that his son had fallen asleep. That warm feeling spread and Lucius realized with both disgust and surprise that he was feeling affection for his son. Lucius leaned to the back of his chair and stared down at his son. He decided that he somewhat liked the warmth in his chest, and he would protect his son. From everything.


Lucius felt the memory slip away, and the for the first time since he was five years, Lucius Malfoy let a tear slip out of his eye.