Warning: Mild language. Full credit to JKR and WB. This was written before OotP. No spoilers but I guess this is AU now. Not beta, English is not my native Language.

Loyalty

By Tracev/Wittchway

Lucius Malfoy POV

I emerged from the mist that was slowly settling around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I don't know how long I stood there in the shadows of the nearby trees that surrounded the school. I looked up at the towering castle, the trivets and spinals, stairways and hallways, passages and classrooms, grounds and gardens of a castle so old. A castle I had failed to appreciate when I was a student here, a castle I'm was sure my son failed to appreciate.

I remember when I had been a student here, I had been a horrid of a child when I had attended. And was quite sure my son was following in my footsteps. A smug smart-ass. I ran a hand threw my blond hair, shivering as the night fell deeper around me. I glanced up toward the castle again, up the path that lead to the front doors, I knew that this walk was about to be the longest of my life. And most likely I was the least welcomed person that had walked this path in years.

As I neared the gates another was coming threw them, Severus Snape, he apparate just outside the boundary of the gates. I knew where Snape was headed, knew he was going to rejoin his master, Voldemort. Snape had always been an active member of the Death Eaters, always had useful knowledge, supplies. I'm sure Voldemort had been most disappointed when Snape had failed to reappear at the first Death Eaters meeting in nearly 15 years. But there would be a price to pay for being late.

I grasped the cold steel of the gates that opened to Hogwarts, peering through them. The castle seemed smaller then I remembered. It had seemed larger than life when I had been a child. The Gargoyle's atop the gates hissed at me, it just reiterated that my presence at the school was not going to be easily welcomed.

The first step is always the hardest, I took that first step through the gates and up the long path leading to the school. I like to believe I took my time wandering up the path, but really I was running to see my son. I had to make sure he was all right. I wasn't sure how Headmaster Dumbledore was going to react, to my being here. I'd probably get thrown out on my ear but I had to see Draco, had to see that he was ok, I had to tell him the Death Eaters were wrong, that Voldemorts lifestyle was wrong. I had to see if 15yrs of telling my son the Death Eaters were the only way of life could be reversed.

"Don't move Death Eater", Hagrid growled pressing the tip of his crossbow to the side of Malfoy's temple. I stopped dead in my tracks, I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even realized that anyone had been coming toward me. I had dropped my guard not that I would have done anything any ways.

"State your business," the giant towered over me. So the precautions had already gone into effect. I stiffened, "I'm here to see my son". The giant lowered his weapon slightly "he's safe here," Hagrid cocked his head slightly.

"I know that… Hagrid, I'd simply like to see him."

The giant seemed to think a minute, as if he had never encountered this before and was unsure what to do with out direct orders.

He led me to the castle, we came through the front doors as Minerva McGonagall was coming down the main hall stairs. She stopped her already stern face tightened. I felt the tip of the crossbow in the space between my shoulder blades. McGonagall froze, when she saw me. I think I would have to, less than two hours ago Lord Voldemort had rose and his faithful Death Eaters returned to him with out question, mar one.

She looked me up and down, She's a smart woman that one, she must have seen it in my eyes, in my stance, the defeated look on my face, she didn't say a word just beckoned me to follow her. Hagrid was behind me not lowering his crossbow and Professor did not ask him to lower it. I knew that would be up to Dumbledore to decided. Really it was kind of a relief in a way to have it pointed at me. Who ever saw us wouldn't know that I was about to surrender or that I was about to drag my son from school in order to go into hiding.

Professor lead us up the spindle staircase to Dumbledore's sitting area and office, She led me to a side door, that was a make shift conference room. A round table, with six chairs circled it, a window looked out onto

the school grounds.

"Lucius, I hate to ask this but enlight of all that has happened tonight, I ask that you hand over your wand as a good faith effort," she held out her hand. She said it sternly enough that I knew it wasn't a request, yet with enough force that there was no other option. I pulled my wand and looked at it, her wand was already in her wand hand, when had that happened. I tried to think, my head hurt, I handed her my wand, relinquishing all control, to her, to the school, to Dumbledore.

She left with my wand, Hagrid stood by the window, crossbow resting on his hip. I sat in one of the chairs, finally resting my head on the table, I suddenly was so tired, if my thoughts had been coherent I would have sworn I was drugged.

But my thoughts were anything but coherent, I was lost between wanting to run through the school looking for my only son. I wanted to take comfort in an Hogwarts beds, pull the curtains and sleep for days. My thoughts jumped back, to Voldemort, I could beg his forgiveness and even the Crucio curse didn't look so bad now, surely Voldemort would welcome back his once faithful servant, surely he would forgive my one moment of weakness, we the Death Eater were willing to forgive his.

I don't know when I fell asleep or how long I was asleep, but I woke to Dumbledore gently shaking me awake. "Lucius, you wanted to speak to me" he kindly sat down next to me, Hagrid was not in the room, thought I suspected just right out the door. I felt like a child small, helpless, I felt ill of what I was about to say to him, of what I was about to confess, thought I suspect he already knew most of it. I held my head in my hands, tears came to my eyes. I didn't want him to see me like this, though I suspect I would not be the last crying soul to cross this threshold.

He gripped my hands pulling them toward him causing me to sit up. "Lucius, you must understand my hesitation toward the situation, I have a potion that you must drink it will allow me to see if you are under the Imperio curse, to see if you are being..." Dumbledore waived his hand as if I should understand and of course I did. I took the potion that was resting on the table, a nasty bitter potion I'm sure, Snape had brewed in large quantities.

"What's suppose to happen?" I whispered as I gulped it down.

"Nothing if you're not under the Imperio, yet it is also a verstium, So if you don't mind I'll ask some questions also."

I shrugged and rested my head on the table again. The cool surface felt good.

"Why are you here Lucius?"

"To see my son".

Dumbledore stopped at that questions, that apparently was all he need to know. He rose from the table and opened the door, and there he was my only son.

TBC

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