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Chapter 53 – One of These Days His Luck is Going to Run Out
Draco looked at his father in curiosity. Lucius was on his knees, in front of his throne, screaming in frustration. "Potter! I will have you."
Draco realized that his father was coming back to himself, so he sighed and changed the expression on his face to one of concern. He helped his father stand and then sit on his throne. "Father, are you all right?"
He gasped at the pain that coursed through his body. "I have to find a way to stay. He has such power, Draco. I want that power…I want his power…permanently."
Draco shook his head. "Father, with what you are going through, is it worth it? I hate to see you suffer." Draco almost choked on the last sentence. "We can do other things to stop Potter, Father. We can do it together."
"No son, I want Potter dead, and I want him to die knowing that he destroyed everyone that he loved. What sweet revenge that will be." Lucius sighed deeply. "But right now, I need to rest. Help me up, Draco."
Draco helped his father stand and steadied him until he got his balance. Then Lucius waved him off. "I am fine. Go to bed, Draco, tomorrow will prove to be a very fruitful day indeed."
Draco nodded once and bowed slightly, then watched his father walk haltingly toward his suite of rooms.
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As soon as Lucius was out of sight, Draco ran to his room, quickly cast a silencing charm and a locking spell on the door to his rooms. Then he cast an enchantment on the room to leave his magical signature and slipped out through a hidden panel.
As soon as he was outside the hidden Malfoy complex, Draco apparated to the grounds outside of Hogwarts, then quickly made his way to the old castle via a secret passage that Dumbledore guaranteed him no one knew about.
He went straight to the office of the Headmaster. At the gargoyle guard, Draco whispered the password that Albus had set up specifically for him, and ran up the moving stairs two at a time. At the top of the stairs, he stopped to get his breath, then stepped through the door after knocking.
He looked around the room but didn't see the professor. Draco opened a door directly behind the large desk and started up the steps there that circled the tower. At the top he knocked at the door.
The door was yanked open as the old man was tying the belt on his dressing gown. "Draco, what has happened?"
"Albus we have a major problem. Harry is in grave danger."
Albus stepped back to allow Draco to enter. "How so, son?"
Draco paced in nervous concern. "My father has found a way to possess Harry, through the dark mark. He is trying to take over his body completely. What's worse, he has access to Harry's power while possessing him. As it stands right now, he can only stay for a short period of time, and the pain that it causes him is considerable. Albus, I know my father. He will find a way to perfect this…this…invasion into Harry's mind. When he does, Harry will cease to exist. He has already threatened to make Harry kill all of those he loves. He says that Harry will know all that he will force him to do.
"Albus, I don't know how to stop him. At least not without blowing my cover. Perhaps it's time to do just that. I am worried about the idiot."
Albus Dumbledore held up his hand to stop the distraught wizard. "Draco, calm down. There is a way out of this."
"And just what is that Albus?"
"As soon as I figure it out, I will tell you. In the meantime, do not, under any circumstances, blow your cover. You are an Auror after all, Draco."
"I know, I know. I don't know what I was thinking, but Albus…"
The headmaster put out a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder. Thank you for this information, Draco. You had better return before you are missed. I will get someone to accompany me and we will go to the Potter's castle. Don't worry. Harry will get through this one too."
Draco just shook his head. "One of these days his luck is going to run out!" Then he sighed. "All right, I'll go but you need to keep me informed."
"I'll do that, son. Now go." Draco nodded and left the office and returned to the apparition point.
"Before I do…is Moira…is she alright?"
"She is quite well, and so is the baby. It's a boy, I believe."
Draco sighed. "Tell her…tell her that, I love her." With that, he quickly left the room.
