Chapter Thirty-Seven – Sins of the Father

Lucius' screams of terror, panic and heartache rang out clear over the grounds of Hogwarts. Students in Hogsmeade had even heard his cries of anguish, and for a moment, the older students believed that a terrible danger had befallen the school once again. That the man who had named himself Lord Voldemort was back. Staring back towards the school, they realised that the Dark Mark was not above it, and that they were safe. They turned back to their friends and groaned when Christmas was mentioned. It was too early to talk about that kind of stuff…

Minerva McGonagall, Reki Kojima and Neville Longbottom were the first three to find Lucius in the grounds. He had sunk onto the ground, curling himself up into a ball. His hands were buried in his hair which had come loose from its usual ribbon. A red flush had crept up his neck and across his face, as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Lucius? Lucius, whatever has happened to you?" Minerva crouched beside him, bringing a handkerchief out of her robe sleeve. She tried to push it into his hands, but his fists were so tightly clenched together that it was no use.

"Lucius? Come on, talk to us, we can help!" Neville surveyed the scene, stopping with a puzzled expression on his face. "Why are the gates open? It's not time yet!"

"He was here," Lucius managed to whisper. "He was here and now he has her. He's taken her away from me!"

"Who?" Neville asked, before turning to Minerva. "Who's missing?"

"Lucius, come along inside. We'll get you to Poppy, check you over and we can go over what's happened-"

Lucius pushed Minerva's hand from his shoulders, lurching upright.

"I do not have time for this Minerva. I do not need to be poked and prodded, and coddled like a child. I am fine – but my son won't be when I get my hands on him!"

"Your son? What is happening, Lucius?" Reki Kojima looked as puzzled as could be.

"He's here?" Minerva asked, her voice no higher than a whisper.

"He was. And he has Hermione."

Minerva's face paled as Lucius told the story. He had been going to check the grounds for some plants that could be dried out and crushed for potions classes. He hadn't even realised the students at the gates didn't belong at the school until it was too late. His own son had used the Imperius Curse – forced him to bring Hermione to the gates, and unlock them. They had gone past the protective wards, wards that would also stop people being able to Apparate or Disapparate. Once he had her, he was gone.

"Let us think about this rationally, shall we Lucius? I understand that Hermione is very special to you – she is going to be your wife and bear you a child." Reki Kojima had started pacing. "Why do you think he has taken her?"

Lucius sighed. Strands of white hair clung to his fingers. He had been an idiot – he had failed his son. He had been such an idiot to pass on his grandfather's teachings, he had been such a fool as to follow a man who had never been able to tell the truth, he had been a coward and a failure! Sins of the father had never been a truer phrase.

"He's been in prison. Convicted of killing Muggles – in the early days of his imprisonment and trial he would always say that it was because he was supreme, that he was more powerful than Muggles could ever hope to be. The Dark teachings had been ingrained in him more than I had ever thought. And Hermione worked with the case. She did some digging – shared her feelings with me. She thought that she was a target, that he wanted revenge on her for her parentage. Oh Merlin's beard, Minerva, he has her and she's pregnant! She could lose the baby…" Lucius trailed off, his words running dry.

Reki Kojima started to pace once more, fiddling with his glasses as he stomped across the grounds. "Where would he have taken her?"

"There's Hogsmeade, but that's way too close for comfort. My son used to be in the top ten of his classes when he was here, but he wouldn't risk going back into the village. I think it's where he's been holing up – it makes sense after all."

Minerva held out her wand and called forth her Patronus. She sent the silver tabby cat into the village, urging anyone that had seen them to come forwards. "We should call the Auror's too. Potter will have the whole force out looking for them."

Realisation hit Lucius like a hippogriff. He knew exactly where she would be.

"My son always spoke about returning home. How he would rule the Manor one day – turn it over. It was the place where his aunt tortured and scarred Hermione, and learnt magic under someone else's tutelage. It was the place he was born, and it was the place where he was arrested."

"Isn't he smarter than that though? Returning home? Wouldn't it be the first place you would inspect?" Minerva asked, adjusting her robes.

"That's what he's planning. He might be a smart wizard academically, but he is ruled by his emotions. It was part of the reason he was chosen to kill Albus. Not only would it hurt myself and Narcissa, but it would also cripple him to the point of breaking down. Committing suicide... He is ruled by his heart, not his head in circumstances like this." Lucius brushed the dirt from his robes. "Minerva, contact the Auror Office. Tell them to get to Malfoy Manor as soon as possible. People are in danger."

His fellows called out to him as he strode out of the open gates, turned once on the spot and thought of home. Home where his witch was waiting for him to rescue her. Where his unborn child continued to grow like flowers in the gardens. Where his son was raging war upon his own family.

Lucius landed within the grounds, striding up the gravel driveway. The white peacocks kept well away, and his magic crackled like static around him. He could hear bangs and crashes from inside the Manor and a feminine cry.

Flinging open the Manor doors, he could see the disaster zone. His son was flinging curses left, right and centre, aiming for Hermione all the time. She looked to be in one piece, but he wasn't risking anything her safety or the child's now that he was there. He flung out a shield charm at the right time, using his free arm to cradle Hermione close towards him.

One of his favourite vases smashed. That was a pity, but it was replaceable. Human lives were not.