Harry stayed with Hermione as much as he could stand, but after re-reading the article fourteen times, each time nearly in tears, he could stand it no longer. He wandered up to his dormitory and flopped down onto his bed with a book. He relaxed for a good quarter of an hour before he heard anything from Hermione.

"Harry!" shouted she, her voice sounding the happiest he'd heard it that day. He came quickly down the stairs, and skidded into the common room.

"Where's the fire?" he asked jokingly.

Hermione brandished a scrap of parchment, which Harry knew at once to be Draco's return letter.

"Well? Read it to me."

My darling "Hermione," she read, I miss you, and "I'm glad to hear from you so soon. My father's just gone home, he'll be returning shortly with a carriage. Mother and I are in no condition to Floo anywhere, or else I would have snuck away immediately. She's still very ill, but father's managed to convince them to send her home, the bastard. I am alright, I suppose. My leg is splinted, and doesn't hurt, but seems to have been broken. I can walk on it, though." I'll make this as brief as I can. I know father will kill me when we get home, and I want you to know before I die that I care about you very much. Please look out for Blaise, she needs you more than I.

My love,

"Draco," she finished, awkwardly. Some things she just needed to keep from Harry...

"Is that it?" asked Harry. "A broken leg? No, 'Oh God, please come save me?' or anything like that?"

"No, Harry."

"Disappointing," he sighed. "But, we'd better get going. We have nearly no time at all."

"No time to do what?"

"Get to the Malfoy Manor," answered Harry. He and Hermione went on a rampage around the common room, gathering their wands, cloaks, shoes, the Marauder's Map, and Harry's Invisibility Cloak. Harry also took some gold from his trunk, and stowed it deep in his robe pocket, so as not to loose it.

"Grab a little Muggle money," cautioned Harry.

"Why?"

"Oh, just in case."

He and Hermione, under the Invisibility Cloak, hurried through the school, out through Honeyduke's cellar, and to Hogmeade's train station. Hermione wasn't entirely sure where the Manor was, but she knew that to the untrained eye is resembled a derelict old castle, and was right outside a Muggle town near London. Hermione seemed to remember the name Filgrave, so when the train came close, they got off, took a taxi (thanks to Hermione's Muggle money), and asked the first man, in the first pub, whether there was an old castle nearby.

"Castle, ye say?" he asked.

"Erm... yes, sir," said Harry respectfully.

"Aye, there's one up top a' the hill outta town. Follow the main road out through the wood. If ye think ye're lost, ye'll know ye're on the righ' track. Just keep a'goin'."

"Thank you, sir."

It was a long walk, but they made it quickly, running under the Invisibility cloak.

"What's that sound?" asked Hermione.

"Sounds like... horses. It's the Malfoy's carriage, coming that way," Harry answered, pointing in the direction they were headed. Through the tall, thick trees Harry could see a turret, which he was sure belonged to the Manor. "This way!"

They stood, waiting silently behind a tree as Lucius dismissed the driver of the coach, and he, Narcissa and Draco walked toward the dilapidated castle. Lucius threw open the front drawbridge with a flick of his wand, and inside there was a grand doorway. He unlocked the door and disappeared.

"Now's our chance," whispered Harry, and he and Hermione made a mad run for the door, slipping in just before Draco shut it.

Lucius sat heavily in an armchair, and ignited a fire with his wand.

"Fetch me a drink, Draco," he said, his tone condescending. Draco limped on his broken leg out of the room as Lucius watched and laughed. Hermione and Harry followed, removing the Cloak once they reached the dark hall.

"Draco," whispered Hermione quietly. "Harry and I are here."

"I don't know how you managed it, but I congratulate you. What's your plan?"

"I hadn't thought that far," said Harry. "Just thought we'd sneak out a back way."

"And leave my mother?" snapped Draco, "You're out of you mind, Potter. Besides... there is no 'back way'."

"We'll have to do it the old-fashioned way," said Hermione seriously.

"How's that?"

"Blast our way out," she answered.

"That's my girl," smiled Draco. "Alright, I'll take the bastard his drink, and you get my mother, Hermione, and Potter, you get them out. I'll handle my father."

Draco filled a thick tumbler with bourbon and Firewhiskey and stalked back into the room.

"What took you so— Oh... I see you have friends. Think this will all be a big party, do you?" Lucius asked, his voice rising with rage.

Draco threw the glass in his father's face, the alcohol stunning him for a moment.

"It's time you got what's been coming to you, boy," Lucius snapped furiously, raising his wand into the air.

"Lucius, no," said Narcissa, breaking free of Harry and Hermione and stepping in front of Draco. Her voice was firm, but her body was shaking. She was obviously still very sick, and frightened for her life.

"Get away, you stupid woman," he said, blasting her away with his wand. She flew across the room, hitting the opposite wall heavily and falling to the floor with a thud.

"Mother, no!" Draco screamed, running to his mother and picking her up into his arms. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, and her body was light but limp. "Please hold on, mum. Please don't die... I love you."

"You mother didn't even want you, boy," spat Lucius. "She didn't want children, she didn't want to be married... but the Dark Lord prevailed in the end, as he always does. 'I must have an heir.' he said, and eventually, your mother conceded. He has not yet achieved immortality, and if he should die, there must be someone to take his place. Of course, should I not be able to fill the position, it must surely be my son..." his voice was venomous; his eyes were filled purely with hatred. Draco put his mother's body down and stepped back.

"No... no, that can't be," stuttered Draco, nearly too stunned for words. How many times had he joked about that, and now it was all falling into place. It can't be true, he thought. But didn't that explain so many things? Especially his father's hatred of him. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named trusted Lucius's mortality so little that he instructed him to have a son, one to carry on should he become too old, or die.

"But, of course, I never intended to let you get old enough to replace me..." continued Lucius, almost absently. "And I was sure this time it would kill you. Imagine how upset I was to hear of your accident, Draco."

"Don't taunt him like that!" shouted Hermione suddenly. "Don't even pretend for a moment that you weren't there the whole time, that you didn't cause every moment of pain he's ever experienced, you bastard!"

"Silence, you filthy little mudblood!" bellowed Lucius. "I would have liked to have killed you the moment I laid eyes on you, but I've waited. I think this is long enough..."

There was a vibrant flash of green light, the words 'Avada Kadavra' rang through the empty room. Then all fell silent. Draco was sitting on the floor, confused and shocked. His eyes were filled with tears.

"Potter, what did you do?" he cried, looking over his father's body. It was as unmarked and peaceful as though he'd been sleeping, except for the look of extreme horror on his face.

"Draco... Harry didn't do that," said Hermione quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder. "You did."

"No!" Draco shouted, ripping himself away from her. "I wouldn't, I'm not like him!"

He was more furious then Hermione could have ever imagined him. His eyes were wide and wild and his hair was flying as he turned, so utterly confused.

"Draco, your mum," interrupted Harry, who was now on the floor next to Narcissa. "I don't know if she'll make it."

"Harry's right, we can't hang around here, we have to get her to a doctor or something," said Hermione. She stunned herself with her own calmness as she put her hand on Draco's arm and led him from the room. He seemed to diminish with her touch, becoming more calm. Harry picked Narcissa up in his arms and began to walk with them.

"No, Potter... erm, Harry. Let me," said Draco quietly, taking his mother into his arms. He was surprised by how light and tiny she was, how childlike she looked. He'd never been more worried about her.

"I don't know where to take her," he said. "After what happened to my father, we can't take her to St. Mungo's, or anywhere else connected with the Ministry. We'd have to explain what happened, and I'm not sure what to say."

"Dumbledore," said Harry thoughtfully. "We'll take her to Dumbledore. Madam Pomfrey can look her over, and Dumbledore can help us figure out what to do."

"Great idea, except for a few small flaws," said Draco sarcastically. "How do we get on the train, through Hogsmeade, and into the castle with my mother like this?"

"Easy," said Harry, taking his invisibility cloak out from under his robes. It was a pinch to let Draco know about it, but Harry knew it was worth it. He might be saving a life.

"You get under the cloak, and Hermione and I will walk on either side, so no one accidentally knocks you over or trods on you."

"If I didn't hate you so much, I say that's bloody brilliant," said Draco approvingly.