Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing of the HP universe, I merely borrow its characters.
"Mr Malfoy, please report to the Headmasters office."
Draco looked up at his head of house and met ebony
black eyes that seemed to have lost any flicker of life that they
had. Draco turned as he walked out of the room; he knew instinctively
that something was wrong. Searching briefly, his eyes found the
comfort zone they had learned to rely on so much.
Silver eyes,
clouding slightly, looked at emerald eyes filled with love and
concern. Harry swallowed deeply, as he stood up from his seat,
wanting to follow, a gesture from Draco making him sit
again.
"Immediately Mr Malfoy" Snape repeated. Draco left
the room, casting a lonely look back as he did. When the door closed
Snape, not really knowing why he was, but knowing it was the right
thing to do spoke up again. "Mr Potter, I think you are requested
in the Infirmary, if you rush, you may be of some use?"
Only
Hermione caught the connection as Harry flew out of the room, just
getting to the headmasters office as Draco was ascending the
stairs.
"Ah, Mr Malfoy, I have some bad news I'm afraid, it's your father. This letter explains everything I fear. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. Mr Potter, I feel your attendance most timely right about now. I will leave you two have some time alone."
Draco took the letter from Professor Dumbledore and stared at it for a few moments.
"Would you like me to?" Harry asked, offering to peruse the contents of the letter for him. Draco shook his head. If it was going to be bad news he had to read it for himself. Opening the letter he was grateful for the warm embrace his lover gave, and as he started reading he leant back in to it.
Draco, my
beautiful son I am writing this as I know it will be the last
correspondence I am allowed to make. I fear that by the time you
receive this letter, you will be the new Lord of the Manor. I
contemplated sanctuary amongst the so-called Army of Light, but that
shade of light would not suit my delicate complexion. I fear they
would not accept me, and I would not want to feel indebted to
mudbloods and half breeds. I learned that your mother is to be given to the Dark
Lords newest ally. I complained and was inflicted by Crucio, the
identity of this ally alludes me. My disagreement has left me with
less access than I had before; I have successfully sent my sweet
Narcissa to where I hope no one will find her. I had no choice with
my actions, when he finds out what I have done I will be punished,
probably killed. The punishment means nothing to me. I am a Malfoy, I
walk in the places where others fear to tread, and I will meet this
new task, this new challenge as I have met all others that have come
before me. With my head held high. For I fear nothing. I want
you to remember what I am doing and gain strength from it, the Dark
Lord fears your generation most of all. Potter's name brings a
shiver to his serpentine form; promise me that the name Draco Malfoy
will make this mad man run for cover. Learn from Potter, stop
fighting with him, and start fighting for him. I know, I have
always known. It is my honest opinion that you will both be
the force to defeat this lunatic and allow normality a chance to
flourish. I ask myself time and time again. War, what is it
good for? I can only find one answer, no matter how hard I probe my
mind that answer is always the same. War is good for absolutely
nothing. My last action in this war will be my attempt to kill the
madness that controls it. My actions will force our name to be
outcast from the dark lords followers, this is my wish. The fact you
are reading this letter will show that in some way I have failed. I
only hope that I did enough damage before I was taken down. Treasure each moment you have with him. Look after your
mother for me; she will need lots of help when I'm gone. Do not
allow the Dark Lord to find her; I never want my precious flower to
be tainted by anything she doesn't love with her heart. I
must end this letter to you with an apology. I am sorry that I never
picked you up all those times over the years when you grazed your
knee, or hit your head, or did one of the many fabulous things you
used to do as a child, every time you held your hands out to me, it
was stubborn pride got in the way. When you rode your first broom I
was crying inside, but foolish ways of old never allowed me to show
my sensitive side. I'm sorry that I beat you on so many occasions
for so little reason. I believed at the time it would make you
strong, make you survive. In a way it worked, I'm sorry more than
anything that I never told you how much I loved you, and how proud I
am that you are my son. And how much meaning you give to your mothers
and my life. I love you Draco with all the pride and
affection a father could; I never want you to doubt in your heart
that I believed in you. Believed that you were destined for great
things, great good things. And that you and your relationship with
the Potter boy, with Harry, was one I approve of and encourage. By
happy my son, for in my death I hope to secure your future
life. You're devoted father Lucius
Ironic, that I have tied my own fate to
one of them.
It is difficult to explain why I will give my life,
to make sure I save yours. But my death will hopefully let you see
that the leader of the dark, my Lord, is nothing more than a monster.
Not the visionary we all once thought. I was promised little; control
of the muggles, was to be my reward when we defeated the forces under
Dumbledore's control. I finally realised, I already have enough
power, but not so much that I am able to just get up and walk away.
Leave the ranting's of a mad man and do what my wife and child want
most of all, be a father, and be a person.I have made my bed so to
speak.
I have
transferred all stocks and bonds under the name Malfoy over to a
joint account for you and your lover. When you marry the name
Malfoy-Potter will be the most revered name the magical world has
ever known. Don't be surprised that I know of your love for the
Potter boy. You have always een as bad as your mother when it came to
hiding your emotions. A blind beggar on a Firebolt could see the way
you look at him. And, although I know not what his opinions of you
are, I have been reliably informed he looks at you the same way.
Draco dropped the letter as tears fell silently down his face. Harry pulled him tighter into his embrace and traced circles in his hair, attempting to 'shush' his lover's pain away.
"Draco, we need to go and see the headmaster, there is still a chance we could save him. If he isn't already dead we may have time."
Harry was optimistic. Lucius Malfoy was the henchman of Voldemort; he didn't get that position without being very resourceful. Harry didn't tell his lover as fears of upsetting him further hung on his slim frame, but he felt this letter had all the makings of an elaborate trap. He would have to watch his back on this one, he thought.
"Harry, he's dead I know it!" Draco said defeated.
"Then let's go and fetch his body back love. It's the only way we will know for sure"
Pulling his lover to the door, they departed in search of more answers, and a possible clue as to, how they could save Lucius Malfoy.
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Beta'd by the lovely DracosMinx. Thank you Laura