Disclaimer: It is with deep sadness that I inform you... I do not own Harry Potter and I make no money off this :-(

'Draco, you are very fortunate, your father and I have decided that you will not become a death eater.'

Almost choking on his salmon Draco quickly swallowed and tried to regain his composure. Taking a sip of his wine he tried to hide his embarrassment, 'Mother, how can you make that decision, wouldn't he just…'

Draco drifted off mid-sentence, 'Draco, your father and I know where your interests lie.' Narcissa lifted a hand to stop her son interrupting, 'Let me continue, you are our only son and we're proud of you, the Dark Lord is not in favour of same sexed relationships and besides that, kneeling at anyone's feet is beneath any son of mine.'

'Thank you mother, what happens now, I can't stay here.' Draco looked down at his plate.

'You will be under Dumbledore's protection,' again Narcissa held up a hand to stop her son interrupting, 'Draco, you forget yourself. As I was saying before I was rather rudely interrupted. You will be under Dumbledore's protection, this does not mean you have joined the Light, only that you have not joined the Dark Lord.'

'When do I have to go?'

Narcissa knew her son would miss home but his safety was everything and both her and Lucius would give their lives over and over again in order to protect him. 'Draco, I had your things packed the moment you sat down for breakfast.'

They sat there and finished their meal in silence.

Lucius stood out in the hallway and listened in on the whole conversation, Draco would be safe that's the important thing. He knew he may never see his son again and that pained him greatly. Wiping his eyes and taking a few deep breaths he walked into the dining hall.

'Draco, say good bye to your mother. We have to go.' Lucius knew he positively radiated an image of aristocratic strength and controlled power.

Getting up Draco walked around the table and kissed his mother on the cheek, 'Good bye mother.'

Narcissa's throat closed up and she would not let herself reply lest she start to cry.

Lucius had a house elf toss some flew powder into the fireplace.

Both father and son stepped into the green flames and turning around they faced Narcissa. Lucius spoke, 'Hogwarts, Office of Albus Dumbledore.'

Draco and Lucius gracefully exited Dumbledore's fireplace. 'Draco I do not have much time, the flu will only be opened for a short while yet.'

'Yes father,' Draco could see whatever his father was going to say it would be important.

'Do not stop practicing Dark magic, Dumbledore has agreed you may as long as you keep quiet about it. These are terrible times and I may never see you again so I've decided to give you your coming of age present now.'

Draco watched as his father reached into a pocket of his cloak and pulled out what he was looking for.

'Give me our wand Draco.'

With out hesitation Draco passed his wand to his father.

Lucius turned his back to Draco, un-shrunk the gift and after about a minutes spell casting he turned back.

Draco's heart skipped a beat, his father held a walking cane almost identical to his own except that instead of a snakes head on the top, it had a dragon. 'Father it's beautiful.'

'Draco, every Malfoy male since time immortal has carried a cane and so shall you, not only is it a convenient way to carry your wand, it can also be used in a duel to block certain curses and the best thing yet is that you can appear to use wandless magic simply by holding it in your left hand and saying whichever spell you wish to use, unfortunately it doesn't work like that for the killing curse.'

Draco grasped his cane with two hands, the moment he touched it he felt different – more in control. 'Thank you father, I won't disappoint you.'

'Draco even though the Malfoy line will die with you I have never been disappointed by you. You make me proud in everything you do.'

Lucius stepped back into the fireplace and in a flash of green he was gone.