Three Kinds of Death Eaters

Blubber seemed to have been expecting them, for when they Apparated into the reception hall of the Manor, he stood before them like popped out of the ground, bowed down to the floor and greeted them in his pompous manner:

"It is a particular pleasure and a honour to the House of Malfoy to welcome you as its guests. The family has already been deeply worried ..."

"Worried?" wondered Albus. "How can they already know what happened?"

Blubber was about to reply, but a cry of joy silenced him:

"Al!" James came storming out of one of the adjoining rooms and the brothers hugged each other.

Victoire came after them, beaming with joy and relief, and hugged Rose first, then Albus. "Thank God my Patronus reached you in time!" she called. Then she paused. "Where are the others?"

"In Azkaban," Roy replied, his voice almost breaking.

"Unfortunately, your Patronus actually came too late," Scorpius explained. "The Aurors were already at the door of the Slytherin common room. When our friends tried to flee, they ran straight into them. They tried a Stunning Spell, but the Aurors were wearing magic armours. So they couldn't knock them out, but were themselves overwhelmed with Stunners."

"How did you get here?", Roy demanded.

"We were at Hagrid's when the raid started," James replied. "We escaped into the Forbidden Forest, scared the Dementors away with our Patroni – thanks again for teaching us that. Victoire then had the idea to Disapparate here."

"Which was an excellent idea," someone was heard calling from the background. Draco joined them, followed by his wife and parents. "Scorpius, would you please introduce your friends to us?"

"Of course, father," Scorpius replied in the formal tone that was usual in the Malfoy family.

"Roy MacAllister, Prefect of Slytherin." Roy was not at all in the mood for formality, but of course he politely shook hands with his hosts, who looked at him with a certain curiosity.

"Rose Weasley of the Gryffindors. Her mother is the Minister for Magic. – Bernard Wildfellow, Slytherin. The Prime Minister's son," he added, as if to reassure his grandfather in particular that he hadn't brought just any Muggle, but a high-ranking visitor. "You already know Albus, and I assume Victoire and James have introduced themselves?"

"Indeed they have," Lucius Malfoy replied. "Three Gryffindors at once in the Manor – I think that's something completely new to us, isn't it?"

"No, it isn't," James replied cheekily. "My dad has been here before with his friends, but we don't bear grudges."

Lucius' expression darkened. "Well, I don't think," he hissed, "that you're in a position to bear grudges!"

"Father, please," Draco murmured to him.

"Mister Malfoy," Victoire interjected, turning to Lucius. "Be assured that we are very grateful to your family and appreciate your hospitality very much."

With her beauty and charm, it was easy for her to take the elderly man in. Lucius immediately regained his good manners. "We are honoured to grant it," he replied politely. "Still, I'm afraid we'll have to accommodate you elsewhere ..."

"One moment please," Roy interjected. "Before we talk about anything else, we need to inform Walden Macnair that his son has been arrested! He himself has to go into hiding immediately, we need him and his old comrades. Please allow him to Apparate here!"

"Walden Macnair?" Lucius Malfoy looked as if he had bitten into a lemon. He looked questioningly at his son, and Draco nodded.

"Thank you," Roy said; it took a load off his mind. "Expecto Patronum!" Immediately his bear appeared on the scene. "Go to Walden Macnair," Roy told his Patronus. "Tell him that Ares has been arrested and taken to Azkaban. If no one else is listening, also tell him to Apparate to Malfoy Manor at once. Oh yes, one more thing," he added hastily, as the bear was about to leave. Goodness, where is your head today? he snapped at himself in his mind. "Go then to William Malagan and Rodolphus Lestrange, they too must come. Hurry up!" The bear made a huge leap and was gone.

Only now did Roy become aware that the Malfoys were staring at him in consternation.

"Did you say Rodolphus Lestrange?" asked Narcissa, as if she feared she was suffering from hallucinations.

"Yes, ma'am, your brother-in-law is alive, Julian has managed to track him down. I apologise, I should have asked your permission."

"Not at all, Rodolphus is family after all, and Mister Malagan is an outstanding artist who is welcome here," Draco reassured him. "I am pleased to welcome him. Nevertheless, we will have to host all of you, including Rodolphus, elsewhere. For the MSO, we are highly suspicious anyway, if only because we got Harry a lawyer. I guess we'll get some unwanted visitors tomorrow, maybe even tonight, especially now that Scorpius has also disappeared from Hogwarts – which will be noticed by tomorrow morning at the very latest."

"Scorpius will return, of course," Astoria interjected, "and Miss Weasley – she nodded at Rose – and Mister Wildfellow as well. They are not being sought and shouldn't put themselves in danger."

"Mother," Scorpius said earnestly, "I'm staying with Albus. I won't return to Hogwarts until he and his parents are out of danger!"

"Kid," his mother scolded, "you don't know what you're saying!"

Scorpius looked at Draco. "Father?"

Seeing her husband hesitate, the energetic Astoria moved close to him.

"Our son is just eleven!" she hissed at him, though so low that no one else could hear. "You can't tolerate him risking his life!"

Draco looked thoughtfully past her at his son. Then he fixed his wife again.

"He's just eleven," he confirmed, "but he's about to do something he'll be proud of all his life ..."

"... if he survives!"

"... and I'm not going to spoil that for him," Draco finished his sentence without answering Astoria's objection. To Scorpius he said aloud: "All right! But you'll obey Mister MacAllister when I'm not around, understand?"

"Yes, I'll do so."

"From the hideout where Blubber will take you, send me an owl writing that you are following Albus underground out of friendship. That way I've something to show the Aurors and can pretend I have nothing to do with it. But you," he turned to Rose and Bernie, "return to Hogwarts immediately so no one can say you were kidnapped."

"I won't do that," Rose said firmly. "My mother had the whole family arrested and I'll do anything to get them free! I'm going to write to my mother that I'm joining Albus of my own free will, and that she won't see me again until she's set everyone free, including Harry and the Incorruptibles, and withdrawn her damned Emergency decrees!"

This sharp statement commanded Draco's respect. "Wow," he said after a moment of amazement. "You remind me of your mother, as she used to be."

"Is that really a compliment from your mouth?"

There was a note of doubt in Rose's voice; after all, Draco and Hermione had been spitting enemies all through their school years.

Draco laughed. "Today I can admit it – I only kept insulting her back then because I couldn't admit to myself, let alone to anyone else that ... well, I had a soft spot for her. So yes, it was a compliment."

"As far as I'm concerned," Bernie now let himself be heard, "I basically write the same to my dad. When I asked him to urge the Minister, he refused, so now I'm trying this!"

At that moment there was a bang. Rodolphus Lestrange had Apparated.

"Good evening, Narcissa," he said to his sister-in-law first. "Lucius, Draco ... Er ..." He looked at Draco questioningly.

"Uncle Rodolphus, may I introduce my wife Astoria and my son Scorpius to you?"

Rodolphus shook hands with both of them.

"Why," asked Draco, "did you never give any sign that you are alive? Until just now we thought you were dead."

"I was in hiding and thought it useful to be considered dead. Besides, I knew I wasn't your favourite relative."

You could tell from Lucius' expression that this was indeed the case.

Now Walden Macnair also Apparated.

"Hullo Malfoy, hullo Draco, oh, hullo Rodolphus," he said casually. "Long time no see, eh?"

"Indeed," Lucius murmured, who visibly wished he could have left it at that. After everyone had said hello to each other, an awkward silence followed while the three old Death Eaters eyed each other. The memory of their shared past was something that obviously kept Lucius, Rodolphus and Walden apart more than it united them.

The silence was broken by the appearance of Roy's Patronus. "I haven't been able to make contact with William Malagan. He is under house detention," he said and disappeared.

Roy's lips formed a silent curse.

"Well, so we are complete. I've asked you to come here with the permission of the Malfoy family," Roy explained, "because the Minister for Magic in a sweeping blow has arrested the Incorruptibles, including Julian and Ares, and almost the entire Weasley clan. There's a total of thirteen people we have to free from Azkaban and we are just seven of us." He introduced Albus, James, Rose, Scorpius, Bernie and Victoire. Lestrange and Macnair frowned.

"It's going to be a Children's Crusade," Macnair finally mocked.

"Not really," Draco objected, "I'll be there too. So we are eight."

"Which, in fact, seems to be pretty much the average age," Macnair quipped in his dry manner. "Well, a few more adults really couldn't hurt."

"That's right," Roy confirmed. "Are you in?"

"Sure."

"Me too," said Rodolphus Lestrange.

"Excuse me," Draco now interjected. "You are not safe here, we are expecting a raid by the Aurors soon. I think you'd better have the further discussions in a safe hiding place."

Macnair raised his brows. "Rockwood Castle?"

"Rockwood Castle."

"Still secret and safe?"

Draco nodded.

"Rockwood Castle," he explained to the others, "is an old Death Eater lair, protected by confusion spells, and to outsiders it looks like an old ruin, much like Hogwarts. Unlike at Hogwarts, however, the protective spells work not only against Muggles, but against everyone, including Aurors. The Ministry still has no idea of this hiding place. I will lift the spells for you now."

Draco raised his wand and pointed it at Roy, Bernie, Scorpius, the two Potters and the two Weasleys in turn, each muttering something.

"That's it," he finally said. "Since you don't know the place yet, you will Apparate there alongside the house elves the first time. Blubber," he turned to his chief elf, "you take our guests there with your subordinates. I count on you that they will lack for nothing at Rockwood Castle."

"Very well, my lord." The elf bowed and called for more house elves.

"I'm not going to join you today", said Draco. I will continue to go to work at the ministry, as always, so as not to arouse suspicion. Honorius Greengrass will keep me up to date on everything. He will also come to Rockwood tomorrow morning to give you the latest news. I recommend that you wait for his report before making any decisions. It's been an eventful, rather unpleasant day, let it die down, sleep through it all. Tomorrow you will be rested. Well – all that remains to do is to say goodbye to all of you for now."