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The Burdens of Lucius Malfoy

Lucius watched Lucilla as she wandered further down the hallways, her wand lighting the way in front of her. He stood there for a minute longer, breathing deeply, leaning on the doorframe. "Oh Lucilla, what have you done?" he said into the darkness when she was out of sight. Finding his way back to his desk Lucius sat down took out a piece of parchment and a quill. His hand wavered over the parchment as he sought to begin to write, he lowered his hand and sighed.

Now he was aware of Lucilla's situation he really had no idea of what to do to help her. But Lucius had promised, and while he did on occasion break promises to certain individuals, he certainly did not break a vow to Lucilla. Julius Malfoy was a terrifying man to behold, and when one saw him it was no surprise that the name Malfoy was affiliated with the dark side. Lucius had very rarely questioned his father, and on the occasions which he did he did not make this known to Julian. Lucius was however the first to admit that he was rather hard on Lucilla, she was after all a young woman and a very good student.

Now that Lucilla had left her father's home Lucius supposed that she had left without Julian's knowledge, because like many others, he knew that had Lucilla tried to leave she would not be seeing the light of day for some time.

Lucius couldn't help but wonder at his father's motives for trying to engage Lucilla to Severus Snape, after all, Snape was too old for her, and far out of her league- Lucilla could do better. And with this new surge of annoyance Lucius picked up his quill again and began to write.

Dear Sir, I am writing to inform you that I sent a letter immediately to Lucilla this very night requesting her presence here immediately. Please don't be angry with her as it was I who insisted. Apologies for not notifying you earlier. Sincerely, Your son, Lucius Malfoy.

"There" said Lucius half proud of himself, "That should satisfy him until I can become better acquainted with the situation, perhaps talk to Snape myself." Lucius just hoped that he had not disturbed the plans of something bigger; perhaps it was his intuition of the mischievous Lucilla was more innocent that the rest of the family, but a part of Lucius remained firm that the girl would stay out of that business.

He attached the role of parchment to the leg of the owl which always waited in it's cage and released it out the window. Lucius' worry soon turned back into the eerie air of calmness that he had resumed previously that night, and he did not think on it any longer.

ooOOoo
Draco Malfoy had managed, and quite smartly (or so he thought) snuck out of the manor without either his mother or his father's knowledge. Coming up the back garden path of the manor he spied some of the lights on in the house. He feared the worst. He contemplated whether infact he should go straight into the house via the front door and confront his father, who is supposed had figured out what he had been up to, or whether he should just sneak back through the back window and take the passages like he had done so many nights before.

He decided on the latter. Slowly he made his way to the landing on the second story of the east wing of the manor. Making his way along as quietly as he could he heard soft footsteps making their way up the nearest staircase. There was faint light coming from the tip of a wand. Draco reached the landing and leaned against the banister. The sight he saw however was not one which he had expected. A hat was tipped over the face of a witch in dark travelling clothes. Seeing him, the witch gave a slight laugh. He now knew who it was. Aunt Lucilla.

He liked Aunt Lucilla, however sometimes he felt that she was a little too renegade, she had a reluctance to practise dark arts and in the eyes of this particular family, it was not a good thing. Leaving this aside he loved his aunt, she was the closest person to a sibling that he had. And he was annoyed that she had finished Hogwarts the year before he started.

Draco was sure that Lucilla would not bust him for being out, and lucky for him she didn't, however it was arranged between the two that they would proceed to Diagon Alley to buy his school things for seventh year.

Close one, thought Draco but all the same, he was glad that his Aunt instead of his Mother and Father would be with him, perhaps he could then pick up a few extras along the way.