AN: Oh, I'm so speedy! I had a lot of down time again since I missed school and I felt like leaving you guys with a little more action-filled chapter. This should make up for the long delay before the last update. :]

Draco

For the next few days, little changed. I went to Tony's shop during the day, and in the evening Father and I would discuss our options.

The man with the Phoenix still seemed to be our best bet, but it was a narrow chance. The price he was asking was immense. I had to wonder whether he was aware of our recent lack of funds.

I pored over the numbers several times. I'd have to work for years to pay it off- or we'd have to sell our house and all our remaining assets. And what if he demanded the entire payment at once?

The best choice would be for me to pay it off by working, but the thought of spending years in that cramped back room descended upon me like an iron cage and I could feel my heart quicken with trepidation.

It wasn't until that Sunday that anything changed.

Father and I were once again in the middle of a deep discussion- he thought he could return to work as well once Mother was cured. I didn't have the heart to tell him that though he was capable of working, he wouldn't find a job.

Night had fallen thickly, like black paint over the houses, and through the window the trees looked very still. My father was pacing back and forth almost feverishly, his neatly tied hair loosening into disarray.

There was a noise outside, then. A soft noise like the rustling of cloth followed by a tap-tap-tap reminiscent of a dog walking on cement.

My father stilled, looking first at the door and then towards me.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, and his tone was wary.

Dragon

It is time.

I know.

In the cover of darkness,

I answer the call that has been singing through my blood

Like fire.

I know what I must do-

With the pale one,

Hope.

Lucius

I froze, eyeing the doorway. One can never be too wary, especially when one has so many enemies as I. It would not be the first time my home was under attack. I motioned Draco away from the door with a movement of my hand before closing it on the soft, worn wood of my wand.

There was a soft thump and the door creaked quietly. Then all was still.

Too still, I thought, and the night too dark. The street lights were out.

I drew in a deep breath, and in the quiet I could hear it rattle into my lungs. Draco wet his lips, his wand also drawn and his eyes focused on me and waiting for a cue.

Without further ado, the cue came. The door gave another creak before exploding into splinters and shards with a deafening crunch, taking a chunk of wall with it. I narrowly missed receiving a handful of plaster to the face and I could hear Draco yell in surprise. My thoughts immediately flicked back to Narcissa, asleep in her room. We would need to keep whatever this was away from her, keep it from entering any further into the house.

I raised my wand, eyes narrowing. And what exactly was it? All I could see was a hulking black shadow looming in the doorway, and the gleam of two fierce eyes.

It put one leg into the room, and I could see the vicious talons and the scales that sparkled like shards of obsidian. A dragon.

I could feel my fear subsiding and a low, burning hope take its place. A dragon.

It stepped forward, taking more of the wall with it as it entered our living room. It had always been a cramped space, but the dragon was like a black hole that seemed to expand to all corners of the room. I felt, for the second time in my life, very small.

Draco's wand was still raised towards the dragon, a wary expression on his face. We both watched, unsure of what next step to take.

The dragon lowered itself down as if in apology for its size, but made no other movement. It seemed to be gathering its strength for something, but I was unsure what. I backed away further and motioned for Draco to do the same.

The dragon looked from me to my son, the ridged spikes framing its face catching the light. And when it opened its mouth, I was braced for the cruel heat of fire or the sight of its teeth closing on flesh. I was not prepared for the low rumbling- of words.

Draco

A dragon. In the middle of Muggle London. In my living room. Of all the ridiculous answers I had dreamed up to our situation, this had not been one of them.

And it wasn't just any dragon, I noted. It was a Norwegian Ridgeback- dangerous from its ripping claws to its mace-like tail. I tightened my grip on my wand. If Potter could defeat one of these in fourth year, then I sure as hell can as an adult.

It opened its mouth and I crouched low, ready to spring away from a column of flame. It was not fire, however, but words that came from the dragon's mouth.

"I have… what you need…" It said, its voice like rocks tumbling against each other. I could tell speech was difficult for it. Its lips rippled in an attempt to frame empty growls into vowels and its tongue slipped around its teeth like a snake- but it was clearly speaking.

"What?" My father asked, clearly surprised.

The dragon closed its eyes and took a deep, hissing breath before talking again.

"I have… what you need…" It said simply, "…The cure."

My father's arm dropped to his side like a puppet with a cut string. I could see the hope bubbling over into his eyes. He wanted this to be true too much- he was blind to the potential dangers of the situation. First of all, the dragon might have the cure, but no dragon had ever given anything away for free.

Before I could ask the dragon's price, it was speaking again.

"I have… what you need… I will bring you… perfect health… and great fortune. Your luck… will change." The dragon swung its head towards my father in a direct address, "All I need… is your son…"

Lucius

The words hit me like bolts of lightening, too good to be true. I could see my hopes coming to fruition before my eyes and I could have laughed with the joy of it- Until the dragon named its price.

And then my hopes came crashing back down into nonexistence, sucked into the blackness of the dragon's scales.

My son.

I did not speak. I could not, not with the anger drying my throat and thickening my tongue.

The dragon's fierce eyes fixed on mine for a long moment without blinking, and then, thinking I hadn't answered because I had not heard, it repeated itself.

"I will bring you perfect health," it expelled in one teeth grinding attempt, "Great fortune… Your luck-"

I found my voice again quite suddenly, flooding into my mouth like bile.

"Absolutely not," I said, my voice low. I did not need to raise it for it to vibrate across the living room. "You can not have my son."

The dragon reared up as if hit, and took a step backwards. It had clearly not been expecting a refusal.

"Father," Draco said quietly, "Let me decide."

I turned towards my son slowly, surprised by his sudden rebellion. His expression was stubborn but open. More open than I had seen in some time.

"It is out of the question. I will not trade one family member for another."

I could not. I had sworn to keep Draco safe at his birth. I had sworn that no one would ever steal or manipulate him. I had failed that promise once, but never again.

Draco gave me a soft look and I could tell he had a waterfall of words waiting to be spoken. Explanations, probably, rationalizations as to why I should sacrifice him for his mother.

But he chose his words carefully, and they were simple:

"Father, let me go."

"No. It is not even a topic of discussion," I said, my voice harsh. I will not fail you again.

The dragon grunted, as if to remind us of his presence. It was true, I had momentarily forgotten it was still in the room with us.

"I will … return," it rumbled, backing out the door, "One week… For your answer."

Isildre

It is furiously unfair, but at least it is amusing. My father is yet King and so can decree what he wishes- but I will find a way. He so enjoys these games and that is his weakness. I will win.

He will die, and I will be in charge. And everything I desire will be mine. As it is meant to be.

But for now, I will have to play this game. The human boy he has enchanted into a dragon will yet be mine. I desire him, and so I will have him.

He has already found the young man the magic has chosen, but I do not think this young man will go with him. And if he does, he will fail.

The boy will be mine. As he is meant to be. After all, the world is but my oyster.

AN: What? Isildre? Who could that be!? *mumbling*

So a lot of you have been leaving pretty insightful comments over the last three chapters. So much so, that I've decided to host my first-ever REVIEW RESPONSE CORNER DELUXE! I will now respond to the all of the chapter 3 reviews I've received thus far.

Deva- Well, you're about to find out. ;]

Thewriterwannabe- Haha sorry you found it boring. I do try.

Fragonknight- That would be fabulous...;]

MiseryluvsDeath- Your pen name makes me a little bit sad. Sorry for the delay. n_n'

TRose23- I love your reviews! And you caught me on the whole Terrence and Bianca thing- it was sort of last minute. It's not totally random, though! It's kind of foreshadowing / amusing to the author. Draco finds the situation between them so trite. Little does he know… :D

Ams71080- *hands over doll* Thank you. :] It's been a few years since Hogwarts, so I'm glad Draco's grown up!

Ranchan-Akari- Thanks! I was kind of nervous to write it this way at first. This is my first time not using 3rd person, too.

Simply Anonymous- Thanks! Hope you like this chapter. :]

And that concludes REVIEW RESPONSE CORNER DELUXE!!!! and the longest AN ever. Leave a review and you might be featured on the next RRCD! Should I have another one.