Disclaimer: See the other chapters.

Draco was gone from Azkaban as quickly as he had come. He was not, however, headed back home. Instead he used the now slightly modified Portkey to get to the Scottish city of Glasgow. He wandered down a back alley, looking for what he was after. He needed a replacement body for that of his father, and a drifter that no one would miss would suit his purposes perfectly.

He found one a few minutes later. The man was dead before he knew what had hit him and gone along with his murderer in a few seconds. Now came the hard part; Draco had to make sure that no one, Ministry or otherwise, questioned the identity of the man on the cot. Still, the man was about the right height and build. With a few modifications… one of the prison guards groaned. "Stupefy," Draco muttered distractedly, pointing his wand at the wizard. He had little time to do this in before the Ministry officials got wind of the breach and came here; he certainly did not need any complications.

Finally the spell was complete. Draco looked over the body one last time. If he didn't know better he would say that it was his father laying there; if he couldn't tell the difference there was little chance that anyone else would be able to. He fixed the Portkey yet again and then set down the Healer's wand that he had been using. Then he was gone to Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa was already bent over Lucius' bed when Draco arrived. "Can you take over here?" she asked. Draco nodded. The Ministry officials would be arriving soon to inform the family of Lucius' "death". Narcissa had to appear appropriately shocked and unprepared.

Draco took a good look at his father after his mother had left. Lucius looked as though he were in agony, with the rash so characteristic of smallpox covering his face and arms. He was in the dangerous phase of the disease now, at least for wizards. He needed a professional Healer immediately if he was to survive.

Downstairs, the doorbell rang. It was Ministry officials, their faces somber. A House Elf showed them in; Narcissa waited with her customary haughty expression.

"Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Yes?"

"I – that is the Ministry – regret to inform you that your husband was murdered this morning in what appears to have been a Death Eater raid on Azkaban." Narcissa stared at them for one long moment and then closed her eyes. When she turned back to them her eyes were wet. She had always been able to summon tears when it was necessary and now it was helping her to conceal what she knew. She appeared the very picture of the shocked, grieving widow.

"I- I see." Her voice was somewhat shaky.

"We wish to speak with your son, Draco, as soon as possible. Is he at home?"

"Yes- yes, I'll ask him to come down." She rose shakily from her seat and went to one of the bell pulls. A House Elf came running. "Inform Draco that his presence is required in the parlor."

Draco came down the stairs slowly, gauging the situation before he spoke.

"Mr. Malfoy, I assume the Elf told you about-?"

"Yes. You wished to speak with me?"

"Merely to tell you that in light of your father's death and the circumstances, the Ministry has decided to drop the investigation into his affairs. Minister Bones cautions you not to follow in his footsteps. Good day, Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy." With that the men were gone. Draco waited until he was sure that they had left before letting out a relieved sigh. The dropping of the investigation was more than he could have hoped for.

He turned to the fireplace. "I'll be gone for a few minutes," he said. Narcissa frowned. "Dad needs a Healer, one who can be trusted to keep his mouth shut about who he treats." With that he was gone in a burst of green flames.