Chapter 4
"Now are you sure you don't want to come to the tournament with us? You know that you are more than welcome and I can still get you a ticket for you."
"Lucius, I am going to be fine. You boys go and have fun and Max and I will have a relaxing weekend."
"Well ok."
Ever since Severus and he had had a chat when he had been round to them, Lucius had been a little apprehensive about leaving Jane on her own. It wasn't that she was not a big girl and they both knew she was more than capable of looking after herself but when he knew what was coming...
When he had been told the wizarding world was going to be going back to a start of war.
Well he was like any good friend – he just didn't want to leave her defenceless.
"If you are sure."
"Which I am."
Jane had noticed he had been acting odd for days.
She knew better than to ask him what was up. If he wanted to tell her what had gone on then he would only come to her when he was ready to and the chances were if he did not wish to tell her then she did not wish to know either.
But she was so worried it was getting to him – she knew it had to be bad. He didn't let it show if it wasn't worth showing...
Moments had passed between them ever since she had been let in to the house. Moments when he seemed to know what she was thinking and vice versa. They had one just then.
"It's ok, it's nothing bad - yet."
"You'd tell me – for Dragon's sakes..."
"Of course. It is me being stupid, don't let it both you Jane."
But it was too late for that.
"Well, whatever it is, you be careful. The boy may be a teenager but the job is not done yet." She said to him seriously.
"Why does your mind always leap to the worst possible thing Jane."
"Lucius, don't fob me off. I have been here long enough to know what you are like."
"I'll take that as compliment," he drawled. "When you need to know I will make sure that you do. And I mean that.… just don't worry for now as it is not worth worrying about."
She nodded.
That was what she had needed to hear.
"What time do you think you two boys are going to be back from the game?" she said to him. "I'll get a nice big roast dinner ready for the two of you when you get back?" she added with a smile.
"That would be lovely. I don't think we are going to be hanging about in the morning so how about four o'clock for the roast, though to be honest I think we are going to be back at mid day at the latest." He nodded. "And be sure to pack up for France. We are going to go the day after we return."
"I dunno. Life is just one big holiday for some people isn't it?" she teased.
"Is that a green eyed monster I can see on your back there Jane by any chance?"
"No, it is not!" she giggled. "How very dare you insinuate such a thing Mr. Malfoy." she said playfully shaking her head.
"How dare dad insinuate what?" asked Draco as he came into the room.
"We'll tell you when you're older!" teased Lucius. Draco, with a fourteen year old brain in his head, which of course instantly went for the gutter, pulled a face.
"That's gross."
"What's gross?"
"Whatever the pair of you were talking about. Come on, dad, we are going to be late if we don't leave soon. I said I was going to go see the guys when we get there."
"Did you now? So much for father son bonding time?" said Lucius with raised eye brow.
Jane laughed as she kissed them both good bye for the weekend. "Lucius, if the two of you bonded any more then you would have to carry him around like a kangaroo pouch .Be good for your dad." She said to Draco who sniggered.
"I always am."
()()()
It was the second time that Lucius had taken his son to the Quidditch World Cup. The pair of them had gone only once before when Draco bad been a lad of ten. He had thought he would be taking him when he was six as well but as things had gone the two of them had had bigger things on their minds…
The two of them had a huge tent, quite near the pitch and as they got there Lucius could not help but reflect part of him was glad Severus and Jane had chosen not to be there with them. Despite the fact that he was Draco's only parent, the two of them were rarely left on their own due to the fact he had made sure they did have some family about them most of the time; that was the way he had needed it to be. If it had been just the two of them – well, he did not like that thought much. If it had been then god only knew if his son would have made it to the age he was.
"So, are you looking forward to the match then?"
Draco nodded. "Come on the Irish as far as I am concerned as a lifelong Kestrels' fan," he was looking forward to the Irish winning.
When the game got going he knew some of his favourite players were going to be out on the pitch.
"That is my boy speaking there," laughed Lucius.
Draco gave a smile.
"Well, I don't think this is going to be but can I go and find Ron and Harry?" it was then that it clicked in Lucius head why he was so anxious to go and find them. He knew Draco had most likely sent a letter to them to tell them what had happened when he had had his little guest over but there was no doubt in Lucius' mind that his sons' friends were going to want details. If he himself had been involved in something like that when he had been there age, then he would have wanted to tell them, that was for sure. "And I want to go and find out where Andy and Ted are camping as well." He added on, to make it a little harder for him to say no. "We are going to be sitting with them during the game aren't we?" he doubled checked.
Lucius nodded. Despite the fact that his son well knew of the hatred that existed between his aunt and his father ever since he had been a young lad, Quidditch games were generally the only times Draco could get the two of them together without having to cut the tension between the two of them with a knife and so when he had an opportunity to do so he took hold of it by the scruff of the neck and took it for all it was worth.
And ever since he had seen Sirius, Draco had wanted to talk to his aunt about him as well. The two of them had sort of avoided the subject for the last year. He had got the feeling she had not wanted to talk about him, and that had been fine by him – when he had believed him to be guilty.
But everything was different now he knew he was innocent.
He had to know so much more about the past and who his mother's family were. It was funny. When he had been growing up his dad had made damn sure he knew who the Malfoy's were and where they had come from but it was as if he had forgotten that he was very much part Black and that went more than ever now he had met Sirius. He had to know who they were as well. It was not as if Andy had been proud enough of her heritage to tell him.
But he did have to go and see his friends before he worried about his family. Harry had got his letter and after all they had been through to get Sirius free, it was not going to be enough for him to just read he was ok and so he set off in search of them hoping they were there already.
When Ron had written he said they were going to be leaving very early in the morning so they got into the camp site in good time for the match.
He had to say there were times when it paid to be rich.
It was a good twenty minute walk for him to get over to then camp where they were staying and it reminded him very much of his birthday when he had met Ron. He had been so distracted by everything that had been going on for a while that he had got lost. He did not think he was ever going to be able to forget the look on Dora's face when they had found him and he knew his father had been rather unpleasant to her.
He was a lot older than he had been there then.
The Weasley tent, despite the fact there were many more of them in there, was a lot smaller than the one he had with his father inside. The money difference did bother him... he knew his friend was living only just above the poverty line...
Harry and Ron were waiting outside for him, expecting him as they had arranged in their letters.
"How you doing buddy?" said Ron as the two of them embraced.
"I am doing good – glad to be out of the house." He said to them. The more he spent time with the adults that summer the more he had seen how weird they were.
"And you can't wait for the game?"
"As if any of us can."
But to all three of the boys it was soon clear they were skirting around the issue they really wanted to talk about and so when Hermione came out go the tent and suggested the four of them go for a walk, the others nodded in fervent agreement.
"Can I come?" they heard a voice ask just as they were about to go.
Draco turned to see Ginny there. No longer the scared young girl he had taken he diary from, it was quite clear that Ron's little sister wasn't that little any more.
But that did not mean they were going to let her in on what they knew about Sirius.
"No, buggar off." said Ron as they turned away from a scowling Ginny.
"You really shouldn't talk to your sister like that; you know that, don't you Ronald?" Hermione said with raised eye brows.
"Yes mother."
The three boys laughed together and Draco knew this was what he was missing at home. Kids his own age. He had to agree with Hermione deep down though - Ron shouldn't talk to Ginny as he did.
He didn't know how lucky he was to have a sister.
"So come on tell us how he was?" said Harry as soon as they were in the crowd. They knew they were not going to be over heard whenever one was buzzing about them. And no one would guess they were talking about the supposed mass murderer from the word, 'he'.
"He was ok I think. If there was something up then he did not let it on," he admitted. In truth he had seemed not that different to how he had been when they had been at the Shrinking Shack that night.
"Where was he heading?"asked Harry, hungry for any news he could get about his newly found god father. What he had said to him about the two of them living together was burning bright with in him. He had to believe there was still a chance that they were going to be able to be together as they had briefly planned.
If he had to tell the truth then he had always been jealous of all of his friends for the fact they had a home with a parent who deep down they knew loved them.
And somehow that went for Draco more than any off the others. He had always known what a genuine lad he was from the day the two of them had met and he had never hid the relationship had with his father.
He was jealous of it and he knew if he could get what Draco had with Lucius with Sirius then he was going to be a lot happier than he had ever been when he was living with his aunt and uncle.
But then he was thinking as if it had already happened and it had not... it might not ever.
"He did not say. He wants it to be a secret so it can't get any of us in trouble. It was just like he said in his letter. If we need him, the best thing we can do is owl him."
Harry nodded. He had known that was going to be the answer he got from his friend but that did not mean he had to like it.
"I know we can't but I do wish there was something more the four of us were able to do for him," Hermione angrily shook her head. "It is just not right that he can't be here with us right now."
"It is not us you have to tell," Ron shrugged.
Draco had decided to keep the comment about his family between his cousin and himself until he knew what he meant for sure. That the others did not need to know.
Elation was what Draco felt when he and his father got back to the tent – his second Quidditch world cup and his second victory for his team.
The Irish had got their pride on – and so had he! The normally sore loser was so delighted by the outcome of the game he had had to admit the catch by Krum was incredible!
"I think that might have been the best game I have ever seen!" he said as he flopped down on one of the arm chairs.
"Certainly one of the best I ever remember," his father agreed.
Lucius being older, and despite himself a little on edge, could not get as excited over the game as he would have liked to have been... things had been peaceful... that night... so far.
"Can I head over to see Ron and Harry?"
"Not this late son. Let's just have a drink the two of us – we are surely not done dissecting yet?"
Draco had been about to argue, but then he knew he had pushed it as far as he was going to for one day. They were just going to have to settle for meeting up when they got back as they were bound to be gone before he caught them in the morning.
"How about a butterbeer?"
"I am sure we have some round here-"
"What was that?" his son said to him the score of them game forgotten in as heart beat.
Dumbledore had briefed Lucius on what he was to do in such a situation. He had to join in with those he had called his comrades when he had been a young man if he was going to keep face.
This was the first test he had to face.
"You are to run to the woods and you are to stay there until I come for you, do you understand Draco?" Lucius said as he drew his wand. He did not dare let his sons eyes met his. He had come here when he had known he was going to lead his son in to trouble.
They should never have come to the game.
But then that would have been suspicious in itself as Dumbledore had also pointed out to him. No, the one thing he had been very clear on was the fact he had had to make both himself and his son visible.
This was in essence the introduction to the new life they were both going to be leading now he was a spy for the order.
"Dad, what is going on?"
"Son, I do not have time for this at the moment. Will you please just do as I ask? I swear when I am done I will come to you directly."
"But dad..."
There was a real alarm on his face and he knew he had put it there when he had said to the boy that they were going to have to go there separate ways to ride out this storm.
Putting his hands on his son's cheeks, Lucius sighed and he wished there was a way for him not to do this but then he knew there was not.
"Please just trust me as you did when you were a boy. Draco."
Diving in to his arms for what little comfort Lucius knew he was able to give to his son for just a moment, he could feel Draco shaking.
He had to go soon if he were going to be able to leave him.
"You remember what I said to you prince, all those years ago. I will come for you; I will always come back for you. But for now, you have to the woods – now, Draco."
()()()
Draco run at all speed. Not knowing what was going on but seeing that whatever it was, it was able to alarm his father was somehow worse than if Lucius had told him he was clueless as to what was happening.
But even as he did as his father had told him, he knew that not be the case.
He knew just what was going on and yet he had not been able to tell him.
It had to be something bad. He knew it did.
"Draco!"
He wished Jane had come with them. If she was there then he knew he would feel a lot better than he did having been left on his own. He thought of Severus to as the woods seem to become thicker around him. The fact he has been off with him seemed silly now. He didn't know why had been so mad; Sev had just been being Sev and he did not know why he had expected any different.
"Draco..."
He wished he could say sorry to him suddenly.
"Draco's it's me," on the third time the voice attracted his attention at last. And as he saw who had come to him his racing heart slowed. He felt secure once more in a heartbeat.
"What's going on?"
"The Death Eaters are rising up once more – and yet this time your father has gone to fight against them - not for them," the blue eyes danced with pride and the women turned to the edge of the forest, a longing, pained expression written all over it.
"If only I could speak with him... just once. Fourteen years seemed suddenly like a very long time, my love."
Whether she was speaking to him or his father Draco was unsure but he felt warm. To know he was as missed by her as was vice versa. It warmed him.
"I could tell him something if you wanted me to mum."
Cissy shook her head. "You are too innocent to hear what I would tell him," suddenly, he remembered how young she had been when she had died for an expression of desire came over her for her husband. "but the price I paid was worth it in your father's eyes as well as my own."
He nodded his thanks. From time to time he had to hear that.
"Now come on let's find your friends, shall we?" she said and he knew that was why she had come at that moment.
As ever, she was the bridge to safety.
"Do you know where they are?"
She always seemed to know everything. Within a nod she confirmed she did know there whereabouts and they were soon of to find them.
()()()
Meanwhile for the first time in years Lucius found himself in his Death Eater's robes and he had to say to himself how easy it had been for him to put them back on, even if he knew it was not for real this time for as easy as it to do it he did not want to be there. He wanted to be with his son and even when he had had a lovely young wife waiting for him at home last time he did not ever remembering wishing he was not where he was then.
It was a new sensation and it showed him to himself – he had changed. Beyond recognition from who he had been when he had really been nothing more than a boy playing at a man's game.
Now he knew the price of war and now he knew what he stood to lose in it he was not half so eager to play it.
But he had no choice. Dumbledore and Severus had been preparing him for the longest time for this role and if he did not play it then he knew he was going to be letting his son down as well. No, there was only one thing for him to do and that was to go ahead.
He had to fight for the Order, covertly.
And so with his wand up he chanted and marched with the others knowing who was about him. Crabbe and Goyle.
The fact he was there he knew was going to help him greatly.
Draco had made his friends at school and the world now knew by the fact he had let him bring them home that he approved and that was going to take some explain. Especially when the Dark Lord heard he had had Harry Potter under his roof and he had done nothing to destroy him for he knew it was going to have to come out sooner or later; someone was going to tell him. But he was just going to have to deal with it when it happened.
They had to know or at least think he was still loyal if he had any chance of success and he had to succeed for the thought of not doing so was too terrible to imagine.
He knew if he was discovered then he would die; that did not both him so much. But he knew that his failure would bring his sons future in to question to and he would be harmed. The lord would torture him before his eyes before he let them both die. And that was a thought he could not stand.
Above them the muggle attendances who had been kidnapped were screaming in horror at what was happening to them and in truth it did revolt him. It was then he really knew he did not have the heart for what he was meant to do. Not anymore.
The fact that the muggles they were torturing had a father and his son in it made it no easy for him. He wondered if anyone else in a Death Eater robe that night was thinking of their own son as they looked up at that poor boy and his father who had no chance of escape. And no chance of protecting one another.
()()()
"Well, there they are," said Narcissa as she and her son caught sight of the trio… it had taken them some time it seemed to Draco for a women who knew where they were and he had a suspicion that she had dragged it out.
And once more he knew when he went to them that she would have to go.
He turned to faced her.
"Thank you. For everything. For every time."
She shook her head. "Thank you my darling. Now go to your friends – and I've changed my mind. Tell dad I'm close and how much I love him - how proud he made me tonight."
"I will." he said to her.
Reaching out she caressed his cheek. "And I hope I do not have to say how proud I am of you little one. Now go and join your friends. Only leave them when your father comes for you."
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