A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #4 – Lineage Studies - Task 2 - Write about an illness

Writing Club September:

Showtime: 24 - Chant II - (character) Lucius Malfoy

Scamander's Case: 10 - (action) approaching something/one slowly

Film Festival: 1 - (character) Draco Malfoy

Wacky Wand Makers: Wood: Fir - (action/plot point) making it to the end of something

Core:Dragon Heartstrings - Draco Malfoy

Warning: Character death

Word Count: 446

Draco paced the hallway. He had been thrown out of the room again. It wasn't as if him and his father had ever actually reconciled, but he had hoped his father might forgive him now. They both knew he was dying. All the magic in the world couldn't save his father now.

At least he'd been allowed the dignity to die at home instead of at Azkaban. Draco was grateful for that at least. There were sometimes being married to the Ministry of Magic had its perks. He knew he would probably owe her for this, but he didn't care. The door opened and his father's house elf, Peri poked her head out.

"He's asking for you again young master." Draco nodded and stepped back into the room. The curtains were drawn to keep the light out. Light sensitivity was one of the symptoms of his father's illness. The healers weren't even sure exactly what was wrong with his father. There was a lot of that happening now. There were side-effects from the Dark Mark. Death Eaters were dying off at an alarming rate. His father should have had at least another decade, maybe two, left. Sometimes Draco wondered about his own mortality.

Would he have a shortened life span because of that lunatic? He pushed those thoughts from his head and walked slowly over to the bed. He hated seeing his father like this. The once powerful Lucius Malfoy reduced to a near skeleton, a shadow of himself. His skin had become waxen and pale. His hair had fallen out. He was frail, his bones brittle. Draco fought back tears.

"Draco?" his father asked. His vision had started failing most recently. Draco finally found the courage to walk to his father's side. He took his hand.

"I'm here, Father. I'm here," he stated keeping his voice steady. He was a Malfoy after all. HE could cry all he wanted later.

"Draco, my son. Forgive me," Lucius rasped.

"I forgive you Father," Draco whispered.

"It is my fault, Draco. It is all my fault. I destroyed this family. Do not do as I did. Do not let blood dictate things, Draco. Do not fall into that trap."

"I won't Father. I don't care about blood purity. My wife is a muggle born, remember." Lucius made a slight head nod.

"Take care of her Draco, and my future grandchildren. Do not forget me, Draco."

"I won't Father," Draco promised. The tears started falling from his eyes. He didn't care about showing weakness anymore. His father's hand went limp in his. Draco gently tucked it against his father's side.

"Good bye, Father," he whispered leaving the darkened room.