Draco was worried. He'd barely had time to return to the dungeons to retrieve his trunk before heading down to the train, much less give his boyfriend a goodbye kiss before leaving for home.
He couldn't find Harry anywhere on the train, and the same with King's Cross Station. He'd sent letters almost daily, but either the owl returned with no letter- replied to or otherwise- or the owl didn't return at all. So far he'd sent almost fifty letters and eleven different owls, and still no response from Harry.
A letter with no address
Burning a hole with words
Writ' in frantic distress
Storming my way through night
Gaze set on the light
Worry gripping my chest
Oh, God, no not my love!
He's no match for her tricks
The games she plays
Stay with me as I ride
He was finally at the end of his rope. He'd informed his father that he was going to Diagon Alley for a gift for his secret lover, and left, glad to have avoided his mother.
But, in reality, he was going to Knockturn Alley to acquire an illegal Portkey, by any means necessary.
With his hood up and a light glamor disguising his features coupled with a mild notice-me-not charm, he was nearly invisible, and unrecognizable. He stopped by many of the shops that he'd visited in the past with his father, but since the death of 'Voldyshorts'- Draco remembered Harry's nickname for old snake-face with a smirk- the Aurors had been cracking down, trying to flush any remaining Death Eaters out of Knockturn Alley; so many vendors had either destroyed or hidden any incriminating merchandise.
And that included Portkeys.
He was approaching the last shop on his list with a sinking heart, when the enchanted mirror that his father had insisted he keep on him at all times in case of emergency, chimed. It worked a lot like a two-way 'seal fone' or something like that- Harry had mentioned it once.
Draco quickly ducked into a darkened alcove, pulling the mirror from his pocket and mumbling a Silencio and Muffliato, silencing his conversation and dulling the chatter and cackling from the other witches and wizards in the Alley.
With a whispered 'astrum' his father's face appeared in the glass, colors coming into focus as though a fog was being removed from the glass.
For a moment, Draco couldn't find words. His father looked terrible. His face was aged, haggard-looking. His perfect, long, sleek hair was slightly mussed, and his eyes. Those silver eyes, so like his own, were filled with sorrow and anguish. A sick feeling settled in his stomach.
"Dragon," His father rasped out, posture slumped. "It's Narcissa. I had to do it… I couldn't be with her anymore…"
"Father," Draco's voice trembled. "What's wrong? What's happened?"
Lucius took a deep breath, expelling it forcefully. "It's Narcissa… Dragon, she hurt… she did- said- terrible things to your lover… To your Harry. She…"
But Draco heard no more of what his father might have said, for he immediately Apparated out of Knockturn Alley, despite the wards, and shattered the glass on the mirror.
Lucius was concerned. Thankfully, not about the Dark Lord. No, young Harry Potter had taken care of that for him. He no longer had to worry that his son would be forced to take the mark, no longer needed to take anti-nausea potions before every Death Eater meeting so as not to vomit at the sight of all the blood crying death.
No, right now, he was concerned, very concerned, about his wife, Narcissa. He didn't love her, and he knew that she didn't love him. It was an arranged marriage, with a clause for an immediate divorce as soon as Draco- their heir- reached his majority.
Also, where as Lucius hated and loathed the Dark Lord- almost as much as his father, Abraxas Malfoy, who'd forced him and Severus to take the Mark- he knew that his wife was the complete opposite.
He knew that she thrived in his presence, tittered and simpered most unbecoming for a pureblood in almost sycophantic glee whenever he acknowledged her. Lucius had refused to sleep with her- even for mutual pleasure like they used to- since the Dark Lord had returned. He didn't want to be inside anything that that monster had been inside of.
So, knowing how much Narcissa adored, worshiped, loved Lord Voldemort, he found it disconcerting that she was almost… happy these last few weeks since Draco had returned from school. No, not happy, more like maliciously pleased. Lucius knew that it didn't bode well.
He knew if it had something to do with the Dark Lord, that Narcissa would tell him soon. He'd been perfect, immaculate, in keeping his overwhelming disgust of the snake-faced bastard a secret, and so he was often able to assist in certain situations or missions that the Dark Lord had assigned Narcissa; and either rescue or give an easy death to the poor victims. Because if it was one thing Narcissa loved, it was a good gossip, and she could never keep a secret for long.
He decided to find out what was happening today. He'd given Draco permission to go to Diagon Alley, to buy a gift for his 'secret lover'. Lucius had allowed Draco to keep his secret, knowing that it wasn't fear of him that he didn't tell, but fear of Narcissa. He hadn't informed her of Draco's plans.
"Dearest Narcissa, you've been looking uncommonly pleased lately. Perhaps you're a little bit… too pleased, given the death of our Lord." Lucius drawled, not looking up from the Daily Prophet, but the false warning and threat lay beneath the words. If there was anything Lucius could do, it was manipulate with his silver tongue.
"Oh no!" Narcissa sincerely, vehemently denied. Just as he knew she would. "Of course not! How could you think that?"
Lucius raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Hmm… then perhaps you might elaborate. For the life of me, I cannot understand, if that were true, what could explain your current mood."
Narcissa seemed to contemplate a moment, then, "I'll show you. I know that you'll appreciate what I've done to keep the bloodline pure, but I'm just not certain how you'll take the knowledge of our son's… dalliances."
Lucius just continued to look at her, silently prompting- commanding- her to continue. He didn't allow his features to show his shock and curiosity. Narcissa just sighed, before smirking.
"I found Draco's journal, and I decided to read his most recent entry, to see if he had a significant other, and if I'd be planning a wedding soon." Lucius nodded, motioning for her to get on with it, even while he inwardly winced in sympathy for his son. No boy should have to go through the humiliation of having their mother read their secrets. "But what I found… disturbed me."
Lucius was shocked, though he showed nothing. "What did you discover, Narcissa?"
She sighed again, before meeting my eyes. "Draco's been dating Mr. Potter, that filthy half-blood bastard," Lucius almost flinched at the vehemence and hatred in her voice, "since about the middle of fifth year. And they've been close friends since their first."
Lucius blinked in shock, unable to hide or needing to fake it. He had not seen that coming. "When did you discover this? And how would that explain your recent mood?"
This time, she grinned, and Lucius inwardly shuddered. "I found this all out a few days before end of term, when I'd visited Slytherin Dungeons to see how Draco was holding up since the death of our Lord. But, dearest, that's not all that I discovered. The half-blood has told quite a few secrets to our son, and I can only guess that Draco was collecting information to give to our Lord in time." Lucius highly doubted this. He wondered how Narcissa could be so blind, before deciding to count the small blessings.
"It turns out the great 'Harry Potter: Gryffindor Hero, Golden Boy, Savior of the Light, Boy-Who-Lived' was nothing but a common whore, who couldn't even defend himself against a Muggle."
Lucius froze, throat dry, heart heavy. It couldn't… she couldn't mean what I…
"And how are these claims founded?" Lucius managed to ask, amazed that his voice didn't waver or crack.
She chuckled, a horrible, evil sound that gave Lucius the feeling of being drenched in ice cold water- or walking through a ghost. "That muggle family, the one that the old decrepit fool put him with for his protection? He's been beaten and whipped and tortured since he was left there. Oh, and raped. I think Draco's journal said that the first time was at seven years old. And the icing on the cake, he didn't even know he was a wizard until his letter, and lived in a cupboard under the stairs until that point too."
Lucius couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe. It couldn't be, someone would have noticed, helped, no one should be able to treat a child like that, not a wizard child, and most certainly not Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Saved him…
But Narcissa was standing, talking again, and Lucius had to forcefully bring himself back to the present.
"So, like a true Black, I planned revenge. Cruel, dark, untraceable revenge. I retrieved one of our spare polyjuice potions, gave Draco special permission to visit Hogsmead, snuck into the school, and, well… come, let me show you."
It was with stiff, robotic motions that Lucius followed his wife, down down down into their dungeons and behind a secret wall. There, was a dark crystal pensieve with memories floating in the clear, sparkling liquid. Lucius knew that this was all he would need to incriminate Narcissa with the Aurors. He subtly pressed a warning button in his pocket to alert the Head of the Auror Department. Knowing them, they'd be here in about a half-an-hour. More than enough time to find out what Narcissa had done to Harry Potter.
Narcissa sifted through the memories with her wand, until she found the correct one. She enlarged it, before beckoning Lucius closer. And, with no further ado, they both sunk into the pensieve. Narcissa, gleeful, but unknowing of the trap, the betrayal, that awaited her when she returned. And Lucius, uneasy, worried, and oblivious to the fact that he'd return with a heavy heart and an urgent, un-Malfoyish urge to be sick.
There was the sick, swirling motion of too many colors not in focus around them, before they steadied and were back on solid ground. Lucius looked around. They were in Hogwarts, around the corner from the Library. Everything was a little brighter, a tad sharper, the properties of a memory.
And there, with a journal in his hands, reading fervently, was Draco Malfoy. No, that glint in his eyes told otherwise, that cold, unfeeling, calculating stare and cruel, unmistakable smirk. It was Narcissa, masquerading as his son. As Harry Potter's secret boyfriend… Lucius suddenly had a sick, sick idea of what Narcissa had done.
"Now watch." Narcissa whispered, forgetting that no one could see them, eyes alight with the same insane glee that was so reminiscent of Bellatrix that Lucius took a step back. Narcissa didn't notice.
Lucius could only watch as Draycissa pocketed the journal.
Your words may have swayed him before
But I'll fight to help him ignore
Every word that you say
That masks your intent to betray
Every word of poison that dripped from the bitch that held his son's face was like a mortal wound to Lucius. When he'd asked her, he'd never thought it was something like this…
"Stop moping around already! So what, you killed the Dark Lord, and now you think you can just go around putting on airs? Stupid worthless whore!"
The other students could only watch in shock in gleeful interest- damn gossip mill- as a horrified, pained, breaking Harry Potter could only watch his boyfriend spew such vitriol.
"The great 'Harry Potter', Boy-Who-Lived-to-Kill-His-Family. Or, rather, Boy-Whore-Who-Lived."
"B-but… I've never… we've never… wh-what…" Tears, agony-filled crystalline tears welled up in those emerald orbs, and Lucius thought his heart might burst.
Then, the damning, crushing, shattering words…
"Of course not me, famous Harry Potter wouldn't dare let his own boyfriend fuck him… but apparently he'll let his uncle. Hey, maybe I should ask him for tips."
Any doubt that this might not be his Draco vanished in the wake of knowledge that only the two of them possessed. As the whispers and gasps began, Harry's broken sob echoed through the near-silence of the library as he took off down the corridor, his pain and agony and defeat running in twin rivers down his pale face.
Lucius turned, eyes slightly misted, believing the terrible memory to be over and preparing to exit the pensieve. But Narcissa grabbed his arm, malicious gleam in her eyes and a cruel smirk upon her lips.
Lucius didn't think he'd ever seen a more hideous creature.
"It's not over." She, again, whispered. "Listen now, for the icing on the cake. My brilliant plan might not have worked, had his 'friends' not have already done half the job for me."
Draycissa, with the same smirk upon its face, just turned and exited the library. But as it was preparing to leave, the other two/thirds of the Golden Trio stopped it.
Lucius watched as his son's doppelganger tensed in preparation for a fight, but they just halted in front of it and gazed at him in contemplation.
"Was it true?" Ron asked, surprisingly calm. "Everything you said, was it true?"
It nodded, a confused look in its eyes. "Every word."
Shockingly, Weasley snorted. "Knew it. Fucking slut. Bloody fag enjoys it up the ass."
Draycissa's mouth was open in surprise. "Wh-what?"
Granger nodded. "We're glad you got through to him Malfoy. We've been saying much the same thing, but he's being an attention seeking bitch again and it's been nigh impossible to get through to the bastard. And to hear that he's a fucking fag as well, well, let's just say, we have no reason to befriend him anymore."
Weasley confirmed this. "We've got all the fame out of the whore that we could, and now our job is done. He's killed the Dark Lord, and any further contact with the man-bitch will just be detrimental to our futures. Besides, he's risked our lives nearly every year, and it's a bloody hazard to be around the bastard."
"We're getting out while we still can." Grang- the Mudblood agreed, a calm, unrepentant look upon her face, as though she hadn't just spent the last five years of school manipulating and using her friend.
Weasley clapped Draycissa- who was still stupified- on the shoulder. "Nice work Malfoy. Don't get used to it, this is the first and last time I'll complement you." He gave a grin and a wink and make Lucius sick to his stomach, no remorse or sorrow upon the bastard's freckled face.
They both waved and headed down the corridor, missing the blooming, evil grin on Draycissa's face. A cold, dark chuckle echoed down the corridor, chasing Lucius as the memory ended and everything faded into swirls of black, gold, and silver.
There was a whooshing sound and a sharp tug, and Lucius slipped out of the pensieve. He collapsed to his knees and promptly lost his lunch all over the shoes of one Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Kingsley scourgified his shoes and the floor before kneeling down beside Lucius, holding back his hair and helping him out of the room, the shrieks of the ambushed Narcissa and the yells of spells from the Auror troop fading behind them.
After Narcissa was stunned and bound, it took five glasses of brandy and three broken tumblers before he could tell the whole story to the Head Auror.
It was a green, sick Shacklebolt that left Malfoy Manor, incriminating pensieve shrunk and preserved in his pocket.
And it was a haggard, haunted, remorseful Lucius that pulled out his two-way mirror, and contacted his son with a hoarsely whispered laurus; though he didn't feel very victorious. *
In this letter I hold from true beauty untold
Sealed and coated with fear
Love, she's here for my soul, come
You're my only hope
I will save you, my dear
After an hour explanation, a half-dozen interruptions and denials, and a trip into the copied memory, Lucius was sitting on the floor holding his sobbing son.
He couldn't help thinking it had been to long since he'd held his child, and wishing that it were under different- better- circumstances.
"I couldn't… I didn't know… Merlin, that'll kill him… and his uncle… his uncle…" Draco sobbed brokenly.
Lucius grabbed both sides of his son's face and turned it to face him, using his sleeves to wipe the tears from Draco's face. "What about his uncle, Dragon?"
Another shuddering cry. "H-harry said that… that his u-uncle was gonna… gonna s-start sell-selling h-him this s-summer… and I can't contact him and all the owl aren't returning and I can't get to him and all the Portkeys are gone and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"
Draco cried/screamed this last part and buried himself into his father again, missing the horrified look upon his face.
Lucius could only hold his son and rock them back and forth in front of the dwindling fire. And, not for the first time in his life, Lucius didn't know what to do.
Oh, Father, my task I may dread
But as ransom, take me instead
Take heart now, my son
Fear not my dragon, for we shall overcome
In the following weeks the two of them did everything that they could to find and gain custody of the Boy-Who-Lived. But even though it was proven that Lucius was a spy for the light, no one was willing to just forget decades of prejudice, and the two blonds were thwarted at every turn.
They had no choice but to wait for school to start again, hoping that Harry wouldn't be too broken, hoping that Draco could find and explain everything, hoping that they weren't too late.
Lucius planned to accompany his son to Hogwarts and assist in the explanations, in case Harry tried to make a run for it.
Neither of them could have been prepared for the drama that would enfold on that night… nor what they would find at the end of it.
Your words may have swayed him before
But I died so he could have more
The life that he now finds in me
Is the tale of the dragon's defeat
* laurus is latin for 'victorious'
A/N: Thank you so much for the encouragement for this story. I had no idea that it would garner such an enthusiastic response. So, just for you, my wonderful fans, I'm going to continue this story. There will be at least two more chapters. I hope that everyone enjoys this explanation. No one commented on the fact that I'd mentioned Draco being willing to wait for Harry, yet later in the same year completely shattering him. The best explanation was a Draco doppelganger. I decided to go with a good Lucius this time, since it's not all that common, and I like him better than Narcissa. Keep up the reviews! They feed the steadily burning fire of inspiration within me! xD