Chapter 28: Bitter Rivals
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
Two loud cracks of thunder filled the air as both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy landed on the Malfoy family estate still gripping each other's collars as well as their respective wands. Draco had a look of murder in his eyes as he tried to decipher what Harry had done to his family and his apparent plot to place them in Azkaban despite their efforts in saving his miserable life during the second wizarding war.
The crashing of their newly arrived bodies, got the attention of Lucius and Regulus whom had come rushing out of the manor followed by Narcissa Malfoy whom had been surprised to see her son and Harry Potter of all people locked in what appeared to be combat.
"Draco!" shouted Narcissa upset about what was happening to her son.
Harry had been about to fire off a spell when he found himself sailing through the air a few feet away from Draco. The Junior Malfoy looked up confused and then quite terrified as a younger version of his deceased godfather arrived in time to stop Potter.
"S-Snape?" he said scrambling to his feet with a look of sorrow filed across his face.
Regulus said nothing as he glared at Harry Potter.
"No." he said. "I'm his kid."
"Kid?" asked Draco not at all understanding why this younger version of his godfather had a North American accent.
"He's Severus' son." replied Lucius looking over the Junior Malfoy. "As much as you are mine."
Draco could hardly believe what he was being told despite the proof right before him.
"Uncle Severus had a child?" he said completely blown away by this news. "A son?"
Narcissa nodded.
"It's true." she said being honest with her son. "He kept Regulus and his mother hidden in North America during the war."
Draco's gray eyes widened in recognition of the name.
"Regulus?" he said meeting the obsidian gaze of Regulus before he turned his attention back to Potter.
Harry shook off his dizziness and got to his knees.
"What did you go and do that for?" he asked glaring up at Regulus.
"You've got some nerve geek boy." replied Regulus.
"I'm in the middle of an investigation." said Harry in his own defense.
At that moment Hermione Granger-Weasley appeared and rushed over toward both Draco and Regulus.
"What's happened?" she asked.
"Potter's lost his bloody mind." replied Draco. "Going so far as to frame me and my parents."
Hermione looked over at Harry.
"I told you not to go after Draco without sufficient evidence." she said. "I should have known your old prejudices would get in the way."
"Malfoy is a swine." replied Harry glaring at the Junior Malfoy with his emerald eyes filled with hate.
"Same could be said about you Potter." replied Regulus glaring just as murderously.
"I never tried to kill Katie Bell or hunt Muggle-Borns." Harry fired back.
"But you hexed Draco just the same in the boys bathroom at Hogwarts and then tried to again without any knowledge of guilt." said Regulus with his obsidian gaze never leaving the green eyed wizard.
"I was right about him before." insisted Harry. "He did hex Katie Bell."
"Believe what you want Potter, but I am not going to let you threaten my family any longer." said Draco gripping his wand.
"No Draco." said Narcissa.
"He's threatened to put us all in Azkaban just because we loved Uncle Severus." said Draco glaring at Harry. "I don't know who the hell these new fanatics are but it's becoming increasingly hard to deny that they may be on to something with the wizarding world's treatment of Severus Snape...somebody out there want's justice and I say let him have it."
"See." said Harry glaring at Draco. "He'll jump at the chance to spread their propaganda...once a death eater always a death eater."
"I take it that's your opinion of my dad as well." said Regulus seemingly unimpressed by Harry's words.
"Snape's different." said the green eyed wizard.
"Allow me to offer another turn of phrase then." said Lucius. "Once an idiot boy always an idiot boy."
"What's that suppose to mean?" asked Harry bitterly.
"It means, idiot boys like you never truly grow up." replied Draco just as bitterly.
"Charging after a Malfoy without proof again Geek Boy?" asked Regulus with his arms folded across his chest.
"Who else would be so bold?" asked Harry bitterly.
"Try someone who is actually comiting the crime idiot." muttered Lucius annoyed.
Hermione sighed.
"That's enough Harry." she said meeting Regulus' gaze. "It wasn't Draco."
"How do you know?"
"During the last attack Draco was dropping his son off at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall had spoken to him." said Hermione her expression turned to one of sadness. "I'm sorry about your wife."
Draco looked away from the amber eyed witch not at all use to having someone feel concern for him that wasn't family.
"I-Thank you Hermione." he said.
"What happened to his wife?" asked Harry looking at Hermione with a confused expression on his face.
"She was killed you..." began Lucius only to be silenced by Narcissa.
Upon hearing this Harry Potter froze. He had no idea of the troubles any of the Malfoys faced given their choice to assist him during the second wizarding war.
"She was killed by death eaters looking for revenge." replied Draco bitterly meeting the sorrowful emerald eyes of his arch-nemesis. "I made a formal report with the ministry of magic only to be told you'll get back to me...my son Scorpius was injured as a result of the attack but survived, not that you care."
"I-I honestly didn't know Draco." said the emerald green eyed wizard.
"Of course you don't...you're the bloody chosen one, aside from losing your parents before you could even stop drooling, nothing bad ever happens to the chosen one." said the angry junior Malfoy.
"Let's go Harry." said Hermione noting how unwelcome they had been in the wake of the skirmish.
"Yeah geek boy." said Regulus narrowing his cold obsidian eyes at the green eyed Auror. "Listen to your friend."
Draco walked toward his parents noting Regulus for the first time.
"Y-You look just like him." he said stunned.
"I take it you mean the old man." said Regulus. "Been getting that a lot."
"He's a yank?" asked Draco turning his attention to his parents.
"Long story." replied The raven haired wizard. "I suppose we can talk over tea, you English like tea I'm told...the old man certainly did."
Draco nodded in agreement.
"I'd like that." he said his skirmish with Potter already forgotten as he and his parents turned toward Malfoy Manor.
Regulus and Hermione shared a final look before the son of Severus Snape accompanied the Malfoys back to the manor. She had hoped that whatever animosity he had toward Harry might have subsided but it only seemed to intensify.
With a crack of thunder they disappeared in search of another suspect to peruse, little did they know...The Serpent Brother's Of Destruction were just getting started.