DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter (and associated characters, likenesses, concepts, etc.) belongs to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic, Inc. AOL/Time Warner, Inc., among others. I make no claim, written or implied, upon Harry Potter. No money is being made and no infringement or disrespect to the creators / copyright holders is intended.
Warning: This story will contain slash (i.e. male/male relationships) and mpreg, although neither will be graphic.
A/N: This story was inspired by the many wonderful stories that I have read and enjoyed here at fan fiction and any similarities to existing stories is not intended. This story is AU, meaning that the events that occurred in the OOTP have not been taken into account and am I in no means suggesting the material described in this story should be considered as a direct interpretation of cannon. Also, I am American so I apologize in advance for any Americanisms.
Thank you to RaNdOm Hp FaN for being my beta, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to review and encourage me to continue this story. It will be finished. I would apologize for the long wait, but there is no real excuse. It was only due to the many emails and reviews begging for the next chapter that I got off my lazy bum and found the time to finish this chapter. The good news is that Chapter 33 is almost finished, it's over 5,000 words right now and I hope to have it to my beta sometime next week. Thank you all for sticking with me. Love you bunches.
Chapter 32
A Father's Struggle
After summoning medical aid for both Matthew and Nicole, Draco started out after his father. Not wanting to take the time to inform anyone from the Order about what had specifically happened, Draco merely left a message with one of the healers to inform Severus very simply that Lucius had taken Evan and that he had gone to retrieve his son.
With the Dark Lord gone, Draco suspected that Lucius was going to try to use Evan as collateral for negotiations with what was soon to become a newly reformed, and hopefully much improved, Ministry of Magic. After all, one of the rules Draco practically cut his baby teeth on was to always have a back up plan ready at your disposal, no matter what. For as often as he heard it, their family motto should have read, 'A Malfoy never is unprepared'. Lucius would definitely be ready for anything.
Setting his worry for Evan's safety aside for the moment, Draco concentrated on what he thought his father would do now. Lucius needed Evan alive and healthy if the child was going to be of any real use to him as a bargaining chip. One would have to be stupid to think that the opposition would concede anything if what they wanted out of the deal was injured or worse yet, dead. And anyone who had spent more than two minutes in Lucius Malfoy's presence knew that the man was far from stupid.
With all these things in mind, Draco realized that his father wouldn't go somewhere no one knew to look for him. Lucius wouldn't want to try to deal with a three year old for any amount of time and now, when the stench of Voldemort's defeat still hung heavily in the air, was the most opportune time for negotiating for his freedom. Someone was more likely to acquiesce to his demands knowing the great bounty that had just befallen them. The more deliriously happy and generous the other side was feeling, the better off Lucius would be. Lucius would be sure to exploit any advantage that he could. Besides, who, with Harry's fate so uncertain, wouldn't promise just about anything to ensure the safe return of their savior's son. Failure was not an option.
There wasn't one person in the wizarding world, that wouldn't go along with practically anything his father would come up with just to not see their name in tomorrow's Daily Prophet as being the one that refused Lucius Malfoy and allowed Harry Potter's son to be murdered. Not only did that person risk being lynched by the entire community, but Harry's most recent display of immense power only solidified his reputation as the most powerful wizard of all time.
Who in their right mind would want a wizard who could wield such fearsome power after you because you failed to protect what was most precious to them? Very simply, no one. Having narrowed down the places where his father was most likely to be, Draco transformed into his wolf form and took off at a brisk pace.
Surprised pale eyes watched the animagus transform and take off in a direction away from Hogwarts. Curious as to why Draco would leave at a time such as this, the lone figure decided to follow the wolf. Determined to find out what was going on, the man glanced around briefly to see if anyone else was nearby. Seeing no one, the man set out alone, easily tracking the undisguised paw prints through the snowy landscape.
Lucius leaned back against the hard uneven stone outcropping, trying to get comfortable while he waited for his son. He had no doubt that at this very moment, his disgrace of a son was on his way to rescue Potter's pathetic brat and more than likely the bastard himself would come as well, that is if he managed to survive the confrontation with the Dark Lord. His Lord was gone. Lucius rubbed the spot on this arm where the Dark Mark that he had proudly worn for decades had once been, the pain of its removal as much mental as it was physical. Annoyed at his loss, Lucius sneered down at the small crumpled form lying at his feet. Besides the occasional sniffle, the boy hadn't made a sound.
Lucius' eyes narrowed in scorn as he stared at the messy raven colored locks that contrasted sharply with the cold white surface the child was lying on. How he hated this child's father. Lucius reminded himself to unclench his fists, as small droplets of blood fell from his hands where his fingernails had already cut the sensitive skin on his palms.
Cursing himself for his temporary lack of self control, Lucius took a few calming breaths before allowing himself to once more think about the one who had destroyed what he had worked for so long and sacrificed so much for. Harry Potter was responsible for ruining everything. If only he would have just stayed away or, even better yet, if he would have just died like he was supposed to as an infant, then Lucius would be occupying his rightful place of honor beside his Lord, second only to the Dark Lord himself in all the wizarding world, instead of hiding out in this frozen cave waiting to strike some pathetic deal for his freedom with his own worthless son.
Lucius despaired at what this final defeat would mean to Voldemort's followers and the community at large. Now those damn mudbloods and muggle lovers would once more have the opportunity to rise beyond their rightful place in society. Merlin knows what kind of muggle contraptions they would try to introduce to the wizarding world now that the majority of resistance had been defeated.
The senior Malfoy never understood why it was so hard to understand that the very basis of the wizarding world was founded on family and bloodlines. If these half bloods and mudbloods insisted on becoming a part of this world, then they should have to accept it the way it is or get out. What right did they have to change anything? They would never be able to understand the ties to honor and family that have been drilled into magical society for more than twenty generations.
Vowing to his ancestors, whose very blood flowed strongly through his pure veins, Lucius took an oath to continue to resist any and all attempts to modernize or adapt society for the benefit of those of questionable or inferior pedigrees.
The soft rhythmic sound of paws hitting the snow covered ground broke Lucius away from this musings. A slow smirk crossed his face as the older man prepared to face his son. Oh, the old ways prohibited him from outright killing his own heir, after all, the Malfoy line had to continue at all costs, but it didn't say that he couldn't hurt him, and hurt him he would. It was time to start to put his newly revised plans into effect.
Before long, the stone outcropping which was partially hidden in a small grove of trees, where he and his father had rendezvous during his time while he was still in school, came into view. His father had demanded frequent updates on both Potter and Dumbledore, Draco remembered with a sour taste in his mouth. Lucky for him his father never figured out how vague and misleading his reports had truly been. Merlin had certainly been looking over his shoulder in those days. Now if only his luck would hold, his family would soon be together again.
Skidding to a halt shortly before his destination, Draco gracefully transformed back. He wanted to make sure that this meeting with his father took place on equal footing, so to speak. He couldn't afford for his father to feel that he was in any more a position of power than what he already was. Squaring his shoulders, the young man strode forward, his steps displaying a confidence he didn't feel.
Hiding his fear behind a mask, Draco finally turned to face the man that while participating in his procreation, had failed to fulfill the role of a father in so many different ways. "Lucius."
"Draco. How good of you to come. It is amazing how predictable you have allowed yourself to become." Lucius sneered, looking down his nose at his son as only a generational pureblooded could do. "A disgrace really."
Ignoring his father's snide greeting, Draco quickly scanned the surroundings for Evan. Even with all his training as a Death Eater and more importantly as a Malfoy, Draco couldn't prevent the gasp and the look of concerned anger that flashed a crossed his face when he say the small body lying so still at his father's feet.
Lucius chuckled when he saw what held Draco's attention. Feeling in complete control of the situation, he couldn't help by to taunt his heir. "Your Mother and I had such hopes for you, boy. What a disappointment you turned out to be; a poor excuse for a Malfoy as there ever had been. I am just glad that your Grandfather didn't live to see the pathetic wizard you've become. Imagine: a Malfoy sucking up to a Potter. It makes me violently ill."
Draco refused to respond to his fathers cutting words; he had heard it all before, many times, in fact.
Annoyed that his son refused his bait, Lucius jabbed the toe of his dragon hide boot sharply into Evan's side. The small boy moaned softly but did not move.
"I just don't see what is so special about this child. The Dark Lord was ecstatic when he learned that he had Great Grandsons, even if they did have tainted Gryffindor blood, he felt that they still had promise to become strong wizards and for one of them to eventually follow in his footsteps as his heir."
Lucius frowned when he remembered his master's apparent recent demise. "However in light of certain events, what he felt really doesn't matter much anymore; your dearly beloved Potter saw to that."
"I, of course disagreed." Lucius said smoothly, his inflated belief in his own self worth dripping from every spiteful word. "Once soiled by Potter, their blood would be ruined no matter how strong the ties to the Dark Lord were." Lucius once more examined the pale boy lying in the snow. "It's a shame really, how the only remaining Heirs to Slytherin are forever contaminated; infected with nothing less than self righteous Gryffindor."
Draco clenched his teeth so hard at Evan's pained whimper, he wouldn't have been surprised if one or more of his pearly whites had chipped under the tremendous pressure. "Well, I came. Suppose we forego the pleasantries and get on with it, shall we? What the hell do you want?" Draco asked, finally addressing his father for the first time.
"Temper, temper, Draco. Although you have seemingly forgotten much that I have tried to instill in you, the least you could do is demonstrate some sort of respectful behavior. I believe that I have earned at least that much from you for the amount of time and money you've cost me over the years, if nothing else," Lucius replied; his eyes as hard as diamonds.
Refusing to cower under his father's ruthless stare, Draco couldn't help but think to himself about how he much hated this man. "Get over it," Draco spat. Leveling his father with his own look that made most men piss their pants, he continued to try to determine how exactly this exchange of sorts was going to work. "What's it going to take to buy your freedom this time? Evan's life? God, you make me sick. And to think, in your twisted mind you actually feel that you are so superior to those that have time and time again defeated you and your perverted master."
Before Draco could continue with that train of thought he, was interrupted as his head was sharply thrown to one side as his father slapped him harshly across the face; the force of the blow making twinkle lights dance in front of Draco's face for a moment or so.
"Shut up. How dare you insult me and our Lord, you whore?" Lucius tried to rein in his rage, knowing that he couldn't kill his son. After taking a moment to look away, Lucius returned to study the man before him.
What neither Lucius nor Draco were aware of at that moment was that there was another set of eyes studying both of them intensely. Watching the heated father and son battle escalate, the owner of those eyes was only concerned with one thing, and that was how on earth he was going to safely remove Harry's son from this potentially deadly situation.
Pushing his temper back once more, Lucius once more addressed his son. "What I can't seem to understand, Draco, is why after I had practically laid the world at your feet, did you betray all that to run after Potter? Of all people to cast your lot in with, why did it have to be him? What could he possibly offer you that you didn't already have?"
Draco was incredulous; surely his father couldn't be serious. What could Harry offer him? 'Try everything you bastard,' Draco wanted to scream but refrained. Taking a deep breath, Draco calmly responded, "There are many things in this life that I will never know, but one thing I am sure of is that if you don't already know what Harry gives to me, then you are a much bigger fool that I had previously thought."
Draco ducked as he father tried to slap him for a second time. "Enough of this bull shit. Just tell me what you want so that Evan and I can leave."
Lucius snarled, wondering if there was any possible way for him to kill his heir and get away with it. It wasn't the Ministry's repercussions that he feared, oh no, there were much worse punishments waiting for him should he willingly destroy Draco than anything those incompetent fools could come up with. So caught up in his earlier rage regarding his own flesh and blood's betrayal, he had of course almost cursed him with the killing curse when he had first seen Draco in his wolf form and the consequences be damned.
For an instant, Lucius actually resented that fact that he was of the distinguished Malfoy line, for they were cursed. Not that anyone outside of the family ever knew about it as the tale is only passed on verbally from family member to family member usually at the birth of the next generation's heir. Lucius himself only was made aware of the curse by his own father shortly after Draco's birth. However unbelievable it may be, the truth of the matter is that many, many generations ago the proud line had managed to curse itself.
More than 200 years ago the Lord Malfoy of the age had stumbled onto the fact that his wife of five years was willingly aborting their unborn children, as such, rendering the Malfoy line without an heir. The foolish woman knew that her husband didn't love her and that once an heir was conceived and delivered that her husband would most likely never return to her bed but would continue to seek the comforts of his mistress. In order to keep him with her, each time she conceived, she killed the unborn child before anyone even knew that she was pregnant. She cunningly thought that this way she would succeed in keeping her husband bound to their marriage bed. Despite a plan worthy of most Slytherins, the plan backfired horribly.
At the time of the nauseating discovery, Lord Malfoy flew into a rage and cursed her and all Malfoys and any who were bound to the Malfoy line to eternity, such that if a Malfoy would willingly try to kill the heir to the line, either born or unborn, that the attempt would revert back on them and they would die instead.
Lucius may have even considered taking the chance that the curse didn't take, but for the fact that the brother of his Grandfather had tried to murder his Grandfather in a duel when they were young and had been immediately killed in his attempt. No, killing his son was not a feasible option.
"Fine. I want full immunity and the Malfoy assets released into my sole custody."
Draco didn't even flinch, he had expected nothing less. "I could give two shits about the Malfoy assets; you can take them and shove them up your arse for all I care. But you know that I do not have the authorization to grant you complete immunity. How, with everything you've done, you can even think that you don't deserve the Dementor's kiss or a life in Azkaban is beyond me."
"Well now, Draco, this isn't really about what is deserved, is it?" Lucius punctuated his comment with another not so gentle nudge of his toe into Evan's side. "I believe that I have something that for whatever reason you seem almost desperate to have back."
Draco's attention was immediately drawn to exactly where Lucius wanted it to go as Evan once more whimpered in pain.
Knowing that he had to do something, but at the same time hating to capitulate to his father, Draco tried to think of a way to get Evan away from here. "I can promise you this much, if you surrender yourself and release Evan into my custody unharmed that both Harry and I will do everything in our power to either reduce your sentence or have you released on some sort of restrictive parole."
"So, Potter is still alive then? When he didn't show up here himself in search of his own brat I was hopeful that the Dark Lord managed to off him before he met his own demise." Lucius spat as he delayed negotiations in order to give himself a chance to think before outright rejecting Draco's offer.
Feeling the pain of the uncertainty surrounding Harry's fate swell within him at his father's heartless words, Draco was undecided about how to answer. He didn't want to reveal the possibility that Harry may be gone forever. That piece of news wouldn't help this situation any. Draco's response was thankfully delayed as the bundle at Lucius' feet stirred.
Evan was cold and scared. He hurt all over and he wanted his Daddy. Not sure where he was or who the mean man was that took him away from his brother and Nicole, all he wanted desperately was to go home and see his family again. Not feeling so well, Evan often closed his eyes as he fought a loosing battle to stay awake only to be kicked roughly in the side. For a moment or so before he fell asleep the last time, he thought he might have heard his father Draco's voice. However, he was too weak and fearful to call out to him. He didn't want the big mean man who looked like his father to get mad and hurt him again. Evan winced, still feeling the lingering soreness from where the man had hit him the last time. Before too long, Evan once more lost the battle to stay conscious.
A short while later, Evan moaned as he woke up yet again. Feeling the freezing cold snow under him reinforced his instinct to stay perfectly still and just try to find out what was going to happen to him. As he was starting to focus on the world around him, Evan was sure that he heard Draco's voice. Draco was angry, really angry. Evan shivered in fear when he heard his father's biting comments to the man who had taken him away. Although he didn't understand what all the words meant, he was pretty sure that his father was angry at the bad man and not at him.
Gathering up his courage, Evan decided to take a chance and make sure that his father knew that he was there and wanted to go home with him. "Fadder….Plweese Fadder help me."
Those softly spoken words had done more than any of the other words that had been spoken that day. Both Lucius and Draco froze, one in disbelief and the other in relief.
Recovering himself in a split second, Lucius grabbed Evan by the back of the neck and quickly hauled the boy to his feet. "What did you say?"
Evan refused to look at the bad man that held him so painfully. Looking instead at his Father through tear filled eyes. "Fadder, I want to go home. I want Daddy."
Draco felt his heart in his throat at his son's cries. Swallowing his own tears, Draco tried to keep his voice as light as possible. "I know you do, Sweetheart." Draco said reassuringly. "Evan, it will be okay son; I promise. I'll have you some soon snuggled tight in bed with your bunny."
Evan sniffled, "And Matty too?"
Draco forced himself to smile. "Of course Matty will be there too, snuggled into bed right next to you." Not seeing any obvious wounds on his son other than a few bruises, Draco needed to know if he was injured. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"
Draco felt his heart break as the sad little face slowly shook his head no. "Hang in there kiddo. You are doing so well and I am so proud of you, but I need you to try to be strong for just a little longer, okay?"
Seeing the misery on his young son's face diminish slightly at his words pleased Draco. However his pleasure didn't last long.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lucius demanded, uncertain and fearful for the first time this afternoon.
"Oh, I assure you, you heard him correctly. Evan is my son. I am his father." Joy was apparent in each and every word Draco spoke.
"What lie is this? You can't be his father; that honor goes to Potter." Lucius sputtered with a great deal of sarcasm.
"Correct as usual, Father. Harry is the twin's birth father, but I am the boys' other biological parent. They are as much Malfoys as they are Potters."
"No." Lucius shrieked in horrified anger completely blown away by this unwelcome revelation. "They can't be."
"But they are." Draco knew that this was his chance and he needed to make the most of it. "Look at him. Just look at him for once and you will see the truth, its there written all over his face."
Lucius gave his son a hard look before turning to the boy he held in his arms. Firmly grasping the boy's chin, Lucius slowly turned the boys face towards him, not sure if he was prepared to discover the secrets this boy supposedly held.
Much too soon Lucius found himself face to face with Potter's offspring. Casting a critical gaze over the terrified features that adorned the young face, Lucius felt his heart begin to race as his eyes traced over the familiar curve of the face, the high cheek bones, the shape of the nose that was practically identical to the one that Draco had as a child. However, his heart soon felt like it had completely ceased to beat when the boy in his arms let out a shuddering gasp and opened his eyes that he had previously screwed shut tight in fright. Lucius had the final confirmation he had been looking for. The eyes, they were piercing in their intensity, they weren't green like Potter's, but there were just as telling, just as unique for this child's eyes were light gray, and not any gray at that. No, these eyes were silver and only one bloodline could produce eyes that color. There was no denying it any longer. This child was a Malfoy. He was born of Draco's blood, which made him and his brother heirs-apparent after Draco.
Seeing the disbelief on his father's face turn to disgust and then quickly back to the familiar blank expression he normally wore, Draco knew that he had won. Although he never completely understood why, he father had always told him that as the Malfoy Heir, he couldn't be killed by members of the Malfoy family. That didn't save him from having the shit beat out of him, but he did survive, and now so would Evan.
"He is a Malfoy Heir. You can't touch him Lucius."
Draco's words didn't even register as Lucius continued to stare at his Grandson. The fact that his own line was now just as contaminated as the Dark Lord's disgusted him. Although, he couldn't help but be hopeful for the future as he looked deep into the innocence that he held. His line would continue, and with it so would the blood of the esteemed Salazar Slytherin. The Malfoys would continue on and being the sons of the 'Great Harry Potter', they would find themselves in positions where they would have significant impact on rebuilding the wizarding world. Perhaps someday his descendents will be able to pick up where he left off and return this world once more to greatness and glory.
"It's over Father. Your Master is dead, the Death Eaters are decimated, its time to give it up. Let Evan go."
Lucius raised his head confused, just now realizing that Draco had continued to talk to him while he had not been paying attention. As he tried to gather his wits, he was forcefully shoved from behind. As he teetered off balance, Evan was snatched from his grasp.
Startled, Draco moved a second too late as he watched his father stumble forward unexpectedly. Someone moved quickly between him and Lucius and removed Evan from his Grandfather's clutches. That same someone, once making sure that Evan was secure moved to stand next to Draco never taking either his wand or his eyes off of Malfoy Sr.
"Weasley?" Draco asked in disbelief as he quickly secured his father's wand.
"Yeah. I have something that I think belongs to you, Draco," Ron managed to gasp, still breathing heavy from his adrenaline rush before handing Evan over into Draco's grateful arms.
"Did you follow me?" Draco couldn't get over his astonishment that Ron had actually rescued his son as he embraced his son tightly.
Ron nodded, his attention still focused on Lucius. "And it was a real bitch too with this leg and all." Ron frowned as he rubbed at his leg with the permanent injury that caused his limp. "You took off so fast that I knew that there was no way I was going to keep up with you. I was just grateful that you didn't go too far, or I would still be trudging through the snow." Ron added ruefully.
"Nice move back there," Draco said with a smile, "I didn't know you had it in you."
Ron shook his head, not sure if Draco was teasing him or insulting his courage. Deciding that the he was only teasing, Ron chuckled at himself. "Yeah well, I couldn't use magic with him holding Evan like that. I couldn't risk him falling on top of the kid and hurting him. There really wasn't much that I could do, so I had no choice but to rush him from behind."
Satisfied with Weasley's answer, Draco nodded as silence enveloped them as they both thought about how close they had come to losing this precious child.
"Thank you, thank you for this," Draco said solemnly in a shaky voice. Now that the immediate danger had passed, Draco felt intense relief that his son was going to be alright.
Knowing how much it cost his former rival to express his gratitude, Ron just nodded. "Come on, we need to get this piece of shit back to Hogwarts, so that the Ministry can figure out what they want to do with him. Besides, they may have some news about Harry."
Hearing the hopefulness in Ron's voice when he spoke about Harry made Draco realize just how much Harry still meant to this man. Ever since their return to Hogwarts, Ron and his family had tried to reconcile with Harry to no avail. However, they were persistent and never gave up trying, even when Harry gave them no indication what so ever that he would ever be able to forgive or forget what they had done to him. But despite all that, they still cared, and from the looks of it, cared very deeply.
Feeling as though something important had changed between the two of them, Draco gave Ron a small grin. "Let's go, before Severus and Sirius kill themselves looking for us," Draco said, half in jest and half seriously.
Pleased at seeing Draco's friendly grin, Ron smiled in return. He had been so scared when he realized that Lucius was holding one of Harry's sons captive. Being the Gryffindor that he was, he knew that he would never forgive himself if he didn't do something to help the child. Regardless of how Harry felt about him and his family, Ron had come to think of the boy as his nephew when he had seen him around the castle, and he was going to make sure that the boy was returned to his proper family.
As they started their slow march back to the castle, Ron couldn't help but reflect on the events from earlier that day. The battle had been horrifying, the worst that Ron had ever experienced. Since his old injury, he had been removed from combat and delegated to strategy and behind the scenes work only, but as everyone knew that this battle would be the defining moment in this war, Ron and Hermione had convinced Albus to allow them to participate. They needed to be there and see it with their own eyes. Listening to other people recount the day's events just wasn't going to be enough this time.
Ron swallowed hard when he remembered how it felt when he realized that Hermione was no longer standing by his side. In a panic, he looked for her for what seemed like hours, only to find her lying still in the snow a few minutes later. Terrified that he was too late and that his wife had passed on, giving her life in the ultimate sacrifice like so many of his family had already done, Ron threw back his head and let out an ear piercing scream, unlike any he had ever done before.
He didn't even hear the curse that hit him in the back, but he sure enough felt it. Only having been the recipient of the Cruciatus Curse only a few times before, the pain cut through him like a hot knife through butter. Thankfully the curse didn't last long at all before it was ended. Collapsing on the ground next to his wife, Ron was grateful that amidst all the chaos and turmoil on the battlefield that a small group of healers found their way over to them. Relief sweeter than any he had previously experienced swept over him when the healers told him the Hermione would be fine with some bed rest and additional treatment. Swallowing some Pepper-Up and restorative draughts that the healers had given him, Ron returned to the battle, knowing that his wife was in the best care possible.
Thinking about those terrifying moments once again, Ron could have sworn he saw a flash of purple right before the pain curse ended. It could have been his mind playing tricks on him as its sensory were overloaded, but Ron felt fairly confident that he had yet another debt to repay to Harry.
Thankful that his blasted leg or any lingering affects of the curses he had taken that day didn't hinder him too much and that he was able to assist in the boy's rescue made him almost giddy with happiness. The war was over thanks to Harry and now when Harry returned, he would find his family waiting for him, as it should be. In all honesty, it was the least that Ron could do for his oldest and dearest friend.
With a huge sigh of relief, Ron looked ahead to see how Draco and Evan were faring after the aborted kidnapping. Under Ron's watchful eye they slowly continued to retrace their steps back to Hogwarts in a single file line with Draco carrying Evan in the lead, followed by an unarmed Lucius with Ron bringing up the rear. They were headed back to whatever was waiting for them now that the clean up from the battle was sure to be mostly complete, news of the wounded, news of the dead.
They had only traveled a short distance when the most chilling of all words where heard.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Ron froze as he saw the sickly green light streak towards the very spot where Draco and Evan stood. He felt sick to his stomach when he realized that was too far away and with his bum leg there was no way that he would be able to get there in time. This had all been for naught; Harry may lose his family after all.
Hearing the killing curse, Draco turned sharply towards the sound and just as quickly fervently wished he hadn't when he saw the curse on course to hit both him and Evan. At the last moment he closed his eyes as he tried to turn away to shield Evan with his own body, hoping that the curse would only hit him and not touch his beloved son.
His thoughts were filled with his loved ones as he braced himself to feel the effects of the curse that only his mate had ever lived to tell the tale of. He silently prayed that Harry would survive the burning, if only so that Matthew wouldn't be left alone. Before his thoughts had a chance to wonder much farther, the soft thud of a body hitting the ground reached his ears. Draco knew that sound, having heard it so often during the war. Opening his eyes, Draco found himself staring into the lifeless silver eyes of his father; for whatever reason the curse had not found its intended target, but has taken Lucius' life instead.
Prompted to move quickly and not wanting to take any more chances, Draco threw himself and Evan down face first into the snow, just as another shot of green light passed overhead, barely missing them.
The aggressor never had a chance to fire off a third shot as Ron had cast his own killing curse at the Death Eater. Ron didn't miss and the Death Eater had no one to sacrifice them self for him.
Draco rolled over in the snow, stunned from what had just happened. A crying Evan slowly brought Draco back to reality and after making sure that his son was once more alright, at least as alright as one can be after undergoing an ordeal like this one, Draco sat up unaware that he was shaking.
Knowing that Draco would need a moment or two to compose himself and Evan, Ron gingerly sat down in the snow next to him. "I can't say that I'm sorry that he's dead, Draco." Ron started cautiously. "But I will tell you this much. Lucius willingly took that curse. It wasn't some fluke that it missed you and hit him. I saw him jump in front of it."
Draco ran a tired hand over his eyes, the stressful events of the day catching up with him. "I appreciate the thought Ron, thanks. Don't worry, I can't say that I am sorry to see him dead either. Things are actually simpler this way I think. It would have been harder on everyone had he been tried and either given the kiss or sent to prison.
Deciding to leave Lucius where he lay and to send someone back for his body later, an exhausted Ron, Draco and Evan rose to their feet and cautiously made their way back to Hogwarts.
To be continued.