Draco stood with bated breath as the dungeon doors creaked open. He ran his hands over his clothes, desperately wishing that his wand was in his pocket.

Quick feet pattered down the steps, and Constantine emerged from the shadows.

"Cousin! You're awake! I'm so glad you've finally come to join us."

"Constantine, stop this now." Draco demanded. "Let me out of here! Where are my friends?"

"Oh, you mean the blood traitors?" She gave him an impish smile. "Don't worry! They're all fine. My master would never waste pure blood such as theirs, no matter how traitorous their behavior."

"What have you done to them?" Draco barked. His mind swam with visions of the Reviver, of how pale and deathly Hermione had looked when he'd gotten her out –

"That's not important." Constantine waved her hand. "Now, I've got to ask you. Are you going to come with me willingly, or shall I imperio you? I've gotten a fair bit of practice, I'd say, but I would prefer if you come yourself. It might convince my master to show you some mercy."

"Who is your master?" Draco growled. With bravery he most certainly did not feel, he raised his chin haughtily, "The Dark Lord? Tell him to face me himself."

Constantine threw back her head and laughed. The ringing made his blood boil, and Draco realized he was gripping the cell bars.

"You are funny, Cousin." She wiped a tear from her cheek. With that same deranged smile, she pointed her wand at Draco.

For a second, terror ran through Draco. Then, he felt so, so very calm.

Constantine opened the cell door and Draco meandered out. He followed her to the dungeon doors, casting a glance toward the unmoving body from earlier.

Harry Potter was on the ground. His eyes were closed, his face pale. Draco could not tell if he was breathing.

Draco should have been terrified, or angry, or worried, or at least concerned for Potter – but all those thoughts floated away as he took the steps to the dungeon doors and followed his cousin down the halls of his childhood home.

She took him to the ballroom, and Draco idly remembered that the Christmas Ball had been a smashing success. His mother had been pleased, after the entire scene with Baby Granger had calmed down.

His mother! There was something that he should be worried about…something to do with his mother…the thought floated away.

How odd – there was a large chair in the center of the ballroom. If Draco didn't know better, he would have thought it a king's throne. He wondered if his mother had bought it as a decoration for the Manor.

He stood in front of the throne, waiting. A moment later, Narcissa Malfoy wandered out as well, standing on the left side. She didn't even spare a glance toward her son.

"Close your eyes." Constantine ordered and Draco did so. He heard a rustling sound, and footsteps. Constantine called out, "Kneel before your master!"

He was on his knees in an instant, eyes still closed. He wondered what she meant by master – and then that thought disappeared too.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Constantine shouted. The spell hit him square in the chest, and he felt all his muscles seize up. He was frozen in place, his body an unmoving tomb.

This didn't bother him in the slightest – not until the Imperius was lifted.

The second the control flowed back to him, he fought against the body-binding curse and struggled to open his eyes. He tried to scream, though it came as a whimper, "You bloody bitc –"

His voice died in his throat.

Lucius Malfoy was sitting on the throne.

"Hello, son." His dead father said, looking as alive as ever. "I've missed you."

Draco couldn't speak. He tried to summon something – anything – but he couldn't even describe the emotions that were exploding through his brain. Confusion blasted through his mind – how could this be happening? Lucius Malfoy was dead! Fear coiled around his heart, echoing through – no, no, no, not Father, not Father. Rage boiled his blood, I'll kill you – I'll kill you don't you touch Mother – I'll kill you

The cacophony was muted by disbelief. He was completely numb.

"Stupefy!" Constantine shouted.

Draco winced, expecting to feel the spell reverberate off him. Instead, he heard a gasp and movement behind him. He tried to turn his head to see what was happening.

"Oh," His father exclaimed, in a voice that sounded far too unbothered. "Someone's here with us! How exciting! Constantine, my dear, send the guards. I am not up for too much excitement."

Constantine seemed to swell with pride. She gave his father a wide grin and then narrowed her eyes, concentrating.

Blaise, Theo, and Weasley materialized into the ballroom.

"Mates –" Draco croaked, trying to catch their attention. He couldn't lift his hand, shake his head, or do anything to signal them. A sob caught in his throat – he couldn't even cry.

He'd expected his friends' shock, surprise, horror, or even terror. He hadn't expected utter silence. He stared at them, but they looked perfectly normal; as if they were standing around a table in Potions.

Constantine shouted directions, and all three sprang into action, shouting spells and curses in the direction of the movement.

They were all under the Imperius.

Let them go! Draco tried to demand. Unfortunately, all that came out was "Gah!"

"Chase the intruder into the gardens." Lucius ordered. "The animals can handle it. We need to move. The aurors will be here soon, and now that I have my son, it's time for a proper family reunion, don't you think, Constantine dear?"

Constantine's smile was dazzling. "Yes, of course, Uncle."

It took Constantine a bit of concentration to get everything in order. She had Narcissa levitate Draco's body, forced Draco's friends to continue to hunt the intruder, and then set up the floo in the next room.

In the meanwhile, Draco simply floated in the air, unable to comprehend anything. How could his father be here? Where was the Dark Lord? Who were Blaise, Theo, and Weasley chasing?

How was he going to escape this?

"Wondering how I'm here, eh?" Lucius asked silkily, eyeing his petrified his son. "I can see the wheels turning in that Malfoy brain of yours."

Draco said nothing, not that he could if he'd wanted to.

"You'll understand soon enough, my son."

Congratulations to those of you who figured out that Lucius was Constantine's master right from the start! I am ONE HUNDRED PERCENT impressed. I tried really hard to make it seem like it was Voldemort, but I didn't want Lucius to be totally out of left-field, so I tried to foreshadow that, too. Y'all be detectives, I swear!