Chapter Ten
The Malfoy's

Getting the situation under control wasn't quite difficult. Goyle Junior was caught within the hour of escape by the guards themselves, not far from the prison. His sentence, only a decade and a half, was extended twofold. There was a raging Fiendfyre set off near a remote muggle village that caught the Auror's attention. Ron led a team of the best Auror's to respond to it as quickly as possible. Macnair was caught not far from the scene. He had killed three muggle's on his escape, causing a quick and swift sentencing for the Dementor's Kiss without trial.

It was three days since the escape and Harry hadn't spoken to or seen Draco. He hadn't returned home. He was almost fearful to. He wasn't surprised when Draco didn't ask of his whereabouts, he was certain once the blond heard of the escape he would understand. Harry had slept in twenty minute intervals in the debriefing room or his office. He barely had eaten. He vowed not to rest till Rodolphus Lestrange was caught.

It was nearing the fourth day when a string of small murders and petty crimes amongst muggle towns caught their attention. The circumstances were odd, the muggle detectives were unable to explain half of the events. Harry personally led the next team of Auror's into the last village of attack. The Dementor's proved an invaluable help, locating Lestrange with ease. He fought against the seven Auror's Harry had brought, incapacitating most of them. But Harry fought with a vengeance, the image of Bellatrix in his mind. He threw the same curse he had at his boyfriend all that time ago at Rodolphus. The man lay, sputtering on the ground, his blood slowly draining out. Harry had a half heart to leave him there but allowed Ron to transport him to St Mungo's for immediate intensive care before, after the bleeding and injuries were sustained, he returned to Azkaban for a Dementor's Kiss.

Finally, at long last, without a trail, without a clue, with Lucius still at large but in dire need of sleep, Harry returned home. There was a team of surveillance Auror's that worked round the clock in shifts. Harry knew there wasn't much else that could be done and he found himself torn with the next step to take. Draco was in the kitchen, finishing up dinner for himself. When Harry entered he quickly stopped what he was doing and threw his arms around him, embracing him tightly.

"I knew you would be fine but it's just so nice to see you home," Draco whispered into Harry's hair, nuzzling into his neck.

Harry sighed, hugging him lightly back and stepping away. Draco kissed him lightly but only for a moment, noting his drained state. "Sit. I'm nearly done with Bolognese and then straight to bed with you."

Harry merely obeyed, sitting at the table. "So you heard?"

"Of course I did. Everybody heard. I just don't understand how four nameless criminals were able to escape Azkaban," Draco shook his head.

Harry sighed heavily. Right, of course, the Ministry had yet to release any information on the names of those who had escaped. "It turns out there is a certain sector of Dementor's who remain loyal to a dead lord," Harry muttered.

Draco huffed at that. "Who would figure Dementor's to be revolutionists?"

"Draco," Harry said softly. He knew he had to tell him.

"Do you feel up to some salad, too? A drink? I've been going mad here by myself for the past few days. Maybe we could have a bath together before you go off to-"

"Draco," Harry repeated a little louder.

"Hm? No bath, okay it was only a suggestion but you know what happens when-"

"Draco!" Harry shouted, startling Draco from his work at the stove. He turned to face him, his faced perplexed at Harry's ill look. "Draco, I don't know how to say this but…he was one of them. Your Father is the only one who escaped that we still haven't found."

Draco's face fell immediately but he quickly covered it with a mask, one Harry hadn't seen in quite some time. He turned back towards the stove and silently worked at dinner again. Harry sighed, standing up and making his way over to him. He touched his shoulder gently only to have it shaken off. "I wanted to tell you but I wasn't sure how to. I wasn't sure if you already knew-"

"Or if I was hiding him?" Draco interrupted coldly.

Harry shook his head quickly. Draco had stopped in cooking, he hunched over the counter. "No. I would never think that. Or well, I did but then I thought you would never do that to us."

"Are you sure about that?" Draco asked shakily.

Harry knew he wouldn't contemplate it. Whenever Draco spoke of Lucius it was with certain discontent. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, leaning into his back. "I'm sure. I know you're not him, Draco. I know a part of you is happy that you will never have to see him again," Harry said softly.

Draco huffed, leaning into Harry as he did so. "He's still my Father, you know."

"I know. Are you saying you're glad he escaped?"

"Not at all. That man choose his beliefs over his family long ago. He doesn't deserve his freedom, not after everything he did. Not after everything he has put me and my mother through," Draco said coolly. "That doesn't mean I want him to…I reckon I can gather what the penalties of the others were."

Harry nodded slowly, he knew what he was getting at. "Macnair and Lestrange received the Dementor's Kiss. Goyle Junior was one of them, his sentence was elongated but no Kiss."

"Goddammit Goyle," Draco growled beneath his breath. Harry touched held onto him tighter. He knew Draco was a different person but it was still his relatives, his childhood friend.

"I'm sorry. I really wish it had been anybody but Goyle and your Dad."

Draco shrugged. "Not much you can do, you have to do your job. Is there any trace on my father?"

"You know I can't…" Harry stopped himself, what odds. "No, none. The others had easy traces on them. Lucius proves to be elusive."

"The Manor. It's warded against people not of blood. I can get you in, if I bring you as an escort, but nobody can enter without a member of the household. Not ever since the ending of the War," Draco explained.

"You don't have to-"

"I do. The sooner he is arrested the better. It leaves less of a chance for him to do something to receive the Kiss."

Harry nodded quietly. He hadn't expected Draco's help. "When?" Harry asked delicately.

"You need a good night's rest it looks like. Come on, dinner's ready," Draco urged, his mask still firmly in place as he slipped out of Harry's arms. Harry sighed and nodded, sitting back down at the table.

XXXX

Harry didn't like this one bit. But there wasn't any other way. Draco had asked for his Father's dignity of not being dragged in by a Weasley. Harry promised he would do it alone. So the very next evening the two of them set off together for Malfoy Manor by means of Floo. Draco altered the wards for a guest to enter, they closed as soon as Harry was through.

For the first time in years, Harry was underneath his Invisibility Cloak and quietly followed Draco through the eerily quiet Manor. Even the House Elves left them undisturbed. Draco seemed to know where his father would be, despite the vastness of the home. He retreated immediately to his study. The door was ajar, light poured in through it. There were voices, two of them, coming from within.

"Do you really think it wise to stay, my dear?" Narcissa could be heard. Draco stiffened visibly, he hadn't expected his mother to be there.

"Anywhere else I go they will find me, 'Cissy! I can't go back there! I refuse. When the opportunity presented itself, how could I not take it? If I return, or risk it, there is certainly a Kiss waiting for me," Lucius' voice seemed shaken, almost fearful. Draco had never heard his father sound as such but then again Azkaban will do that to a man after many years.

"And you think it is safe to hide here for the rest of ever? What sort of life is that, Lucius?" Narcissa reasoned.

"Better than that of an inmate, I assure you!"

Narcissa could be heard sighing, her tone softened even further with her next words. "And of our son?"

"Draco? What of him, have you seen him?" Lucius hastily asked, a slight bit of excitement behind his words.

"Though I have yet to hear it from him, I still receive the Daily Prophet regularly. He has strange new allegiances, darling. To the Potter boy."

Lucius could be heard growling gutturally. "Don't you lie to me, Narcissa! Draco would never! It's a betrayal!"

"The way he sees it you are the one who has already done the betraying."

Draco turned to Harry ashen faced. "Can you at least give me a few minutes?"

"Of course," Harry hissed his whisper in reply. He trusted Draco. Even though it was three Malfoy's to himself, he knew Draco wouldn't turn on him. He at least gave him the opportunity to speak to his parents first.

When Draco finally stepped through the doorway into the light of the study, both of his parents stilled. Lucius was the first to close the distance, he ran for Draco with arms wide open, enveloping his son who was quick to shove him back. "Father," he greeted coldly, ignoring his mother in the distance watching with pursed lips.

"Draco, why do you deny me my son? I am back, after all these years-"

"You shouldn't be," Draco cut him off. Lucius gaped like a goldfish as his son walked around him, his back to him. He had his wand clutched visibly in his hands. "I meant what I said when I visited you, Lucius. You deserved to pay your dues there. You were not to be imprisoned for life, Lucius, you could have gotten out a decade from now on patrol with magic limiters. But no, you are far too selfish to use any semblance of logic." Draco was spiteful, his words laced with venom. He was beside his mother now who put a small hand on his shoulder.

"It is good to see you, son," she whispered, a small amount of affection audible in her voice.

Harry felt unnerved as a spectator. It was such a private moment amongst a family and he felt he was intruding. "If that is truly what you think than I have no choice but to-" Draco was more intent on his mother than the movements his father was making. Somehow he had gotten hold of a wand, perhaps the House Elves assisted in the matter. Harry, thankfully was trained to be quick and act when necessary.

From beneath his cloak he didn't even need to speak as he disarmed Lucius. Lucius blinked a few times, confused. "What the devil is the meaning of this?" he hissed.

Harry threw off his cloak, revealing himself not far from Lucius, his wand raised at him. "You are under arrest, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, for restricted release from Azkaban Prison."

Lucius' hair curled at the sound of the voice, his body chilled. He turned to face Harry, a deep scowl on his face. If Narcissa was surprised of his presence she didn't show it. "Harry Potter, you loathsome, meddling fool of a boy!" Harry merely held his gaze unmoving, he wanted to give Draco his time. "What Narcissa said was true then, boy? You are in allegiance with this – this pathetic excuse for a wizard?!" He turned back to his son, finger raised.

Draco lowered his wand and stepped forward from his mother, approaching his father with a thorough look of disdain. "That pathetic excuse for a wizard just happens to be my boyfriend and he is ten times the man I have ever seen from you." Draco spoke lowly but his words hit like punches. Lucius looked appalled, disgusted, distraught and disheartened all at once.

In any other circumstance, Harry would be pleased with the compliments, but in comparison to Lucius Malfoy it didn't hold as much merit. "Draco, my dear Draco, you cannot be serious. We are your family. Your own flesh and blood!"

"I know. And yet, I love Harry more than either of the two of you." Draco said those words and Harry was certain both he and Lucius were going to fall apart at the same time.

Draco had never verbalized it. Harry had on a few occasions, usually after a long intimate evening, but Draco wasn't the sentimental type to put words to his feelings. Harry felt a warmth spread inside of himself, despite the situation he had to bite back a happy grin. Lucius was rambling again, about the impossibility of it all, when Draco shot Harry a saddened look and nodded his head ever so gently.

Harry conjured the binding cuffs. Lucius leaped in slight surprise as his hands were wound together behind his back. "And I shall repeat. You, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, are under arrest for restricted release from Azkaban Prison as well as the pending crimes held against you-"

"And for abandoning your family. For putting yourself above your own child, your own wife," Draco added bitterly. It had been a long time since Harry saw as much hate in his eyes as Draco was directing at his father at that moment.

Lucius was on the verge of tears as Harry grabbed his lower arm forcibly. The old man was so weakened from Azkaban Harry could have easily carried him from the residence. "I would like to make a plea deal. With the Head Auror. A plea, for sensitive information regarding the whereabouts of any unknown Death Eaters," Lucius said hurriedly, realizing he didn't have many other options.

Draco scoffed, following as Harry continued to escort him out towards the foyer. They would need to leave the grounds to properly apparate to the Ministry. "Lucius, considering the Head Auror is currently the one detaining you, I see that as highly unlikely," Draco was now alongside Harry, shooting glances every so often behind his back at his mother who followed elegantly, void of emotion as she watched her husband arrested for the fourth time in their marriage.

"Any information you think you have available for us is useless," Harry added evenly. Lucius continued to protest, he yelled all the way out of the grounds. Once they reached passed the wards Harry turned to Narcissa, studying the woman. "I will have to bring you in as well, Mrs Malfoy-"

"Black, please," Narcissa said softly.

"Ms Black. It is only for procedure and you will need to be questioned under Veritaserum to ensure you were not in any way involved with the break out or hiding of Lucius in anyway."

"I understand, Mister Potter," she nodded, linking her arm through her sons. "It has been so long since I have apparated there, Draco darling, do you mind?"

Draco nodded deftly, his eyes still focused on the man he once called his father. Harry steadied Lucius on his arm, getting ready to apparate when Narcissa spoke again. "Perhaps once this is all sorted out, the two of you could join an old woman for dinner." Draco looked about to protest but Harry attempted a small, sporting smile.

"Of course, Ms Black, we would be delighted."