Author's note: This is the first aside in the story and has the potential to be only one of two. This story is supposed to be completely from Draco's perspective for many and various reasons which all boil down to: I am hiding what the other characters are thinking. However, there was a request to see the reaction of Lucius Malfoy when he found out his actions had caused his son to be attacked by the basilisk. Since I see no reason to hide the conversation and we would not see it anyways, I am granting the request of DarkAngel90111 to see Lucius' reaction.

What's this mean? Two things: one, you don't have to read this chapter for story progression; two, perspectives from other characters can be requested, though I do not promise to include them. If the scene is interesting enough to write and does not directly impact Draco's decisions, I will write an aside for it.

That being said, there will be another aside after this for when Harry, Ron and Hermione find out about Draco being petrified due to several comments expressing their curiosity. Both that one and this one will be short...I think.

Too much explaining; story now.

Lucius was in his study when he heard the chime that alerted him to a visitor. By the tone, they'd come by floo and at this hour it could only be urgent. Narcissa was sleeping, so he wasn't surprised to see the House Elf by his desk in the next moment.

"What is it, Dobby?" Lucius asked coldly. "I am busy."

"Yes, Master," the creature whimpered, wringing his hands, "Dobby is knowing and Dobby is being very sorry, sir, but, sir, it is Master Snape. He is insisting on Dobby fetching you immediately. He is saying it is about Master Draco, sir."

Something cold slid down Lucius' spine, but he dismissed it as paranoia. Perhaps the boy had hurt himself, or been involved in a school yard duel, but it would be no serious than that. Something severe, enough that Severus felt the need to personally deliver the news, but not insurmountable. This was his son, after all, the only Malfoy heir. Nothing could happen to him.

"Tell him I will be down shortly," Lucius replied and stood even as the House Elf vanished. Knowing his footsteps could be heard down in the parlor, he kept his steps measured and even as he descended to the first floor. Yes, he was concerned; yes, he was afraid for his boy; no, he would not allow anyone to see either emotion. Not even Severus, his oldest friend.

At the door, he paused with his hand on the door knob and steadied its shaking with sheer force of will. Only then did he turn the handle and push it open, gliding inside and fixing his gaze on the Hogwarts Professor. Immediately he had to suppress the panic; he had only seen Severus look like this once before, the night he had come to inform Lucius of the Dark Lord's demise.

"Severus? Is Draco alright?" he asked, the only question that mattered.

The grim set of the man's lips gave the answer before he shook his head. Lucius had known that, but he had had to ask. Had to be sure.

"What has happened? Is he at St. Mungos?"

"He remains at Hogwarts," came the curt reply. "Lucius, Draco...he has been petrified."

"How?" Lucius didn't recognize the voice saying the word, choked and rough as it was. It must have been his own, though, because there was no one else here. Blindly he searched behind himself for a chair and collapsed into it, his gaze never leaving Severus' face. This couldn't be happening.

"You understand that this cannot leave this room," Severus drew his robes about himself, "I came only because you are a friend and Draco-"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Lucius snapped, "I swear to tell no one, now what has happened to my son?"

"The Chamber of Secrets has been reopened. The message the Heir left was...Draco was attacked as a lesson to all blood traitors."

The words reverberated in Lucius' mind, the world spinning and spinning around him. His son, petrified by the creature inside the Chamber of Secrets; the monster HE had unleashed to teach that meddling Arthur Weasley a lesson.

"But he's...his blood is pure."

Now his voice was a whisper, barely audible even to himself, but Severus seemed to know what he was saying as his look turned pitying.

"Pure blood, yes, but best friends with a mudblood and known muggle rights supporter's son."

"You would condemn him for this?" Lucius demanded, suddenly having a fixed point for his anger that wasn't himself. "He is a child!"

"Lucius! Gain control of yourself," Severus snapped. "You know better than that. He is...I have always cared for your son, but the facts remain. The Heir of Slytherin singled him out as a lesson to muggle sympathizers. Side with with them and die."

The anger that had briefly given him strength vanished. Lucius slumped in his chair and covered his face with his hands. This was not supposed to happen. The diary should not have targeted his son, a Malfoy.

"My son," he whispered to no one, "I should never have let you go back to that place."

"It is not your fault, Lucius."

He wanted to laugh at the fallacy of that statement, but he couldn't. Severus did not know of the diary and it would be foolish to tell him now. Narcissa, on the other hand...

"Merlin, what am I going to tell Cissy?"

The silence told him Severus couldn't answer that question for him. Lucius would have to deal with her on his own. She would want to know how he had allowed this to happen. Then she would demand he fix it.

"What is being done for him?" Lucius asked, sitting up and focusing on Severus again. He could wallow in his own shame later. Now, he had to ensure Draco recovered. Petrification was not, necessarily, permanent.

"Mandrakes are already being grown at the school," Severus replied, "When they are mature, I will personally make the cure to bring Draco back to us."

Lucius' relief was short lived. His plan to destroy Arthur Weasley and remove Dumbledore as headmaster had completely backfired. He couldn't even comfort himself with the knowledge that he could not have seen this coming. A Malfoy should have been safe from the Heir of Slytherin. Draco just had to be exceptional and - he forced himself to admit it - a blood traitor.

"Thank you, Severus," Lucius said thickly, "Please...if there is any news..."

"I will inform you at once, Lucius," his friend promised, dipping a short bow. Then he had scooped up a handful of floo powder and was gone, leaving Lucius with the unenviable task of telling Narcissa that her baby had been petrified. He did not know if she would ever forgive him for doing this to the boy, inadvertent or not.

It didn't even occur to Lucius that all this meant his plan was, indeed, working.