Draco's jaw dropped but he regained his posture and ran to meet his dad. He hugged his father but found Lucius's posture rigid. He stepped back and spoke with his father.

"Father! I thought you wouldn't arrive for three days?" Lucius finally smiled and said; "Well your mother simply wanted to come so much so we apparated to Hogsmeade about ten minutes ago, she's just catching up with Severus at the moment."

Draco nodded and stepped back to look at his father as Lucius scrutinized him. Lucius was thinner and he did look a bit ill but still the same old man.

Draco looked happier, fuller, and certainly healthy. Lucius started to head up towards Draco's dormitory with Draco at his heels. Then Narcissa came in. All three headed upstairs.

Suddenly Lucius was raging as he ran to the light blue sweater that Ginny had left lying on a chair nearby. "What is this?!?!?!" He yelled

All the color drained from Draco's face as he lied; "its Lila's she's dating Roger, she must have left her sweater here this morning when she came to ask Roger about an assignment."

Narcissa's lip curled, she knew he was lying but didn't say. Why wasn't she saying that she knew he was lying?

Lucius made no notion that he didn't believe Draco so he dropped the sweater and resumed inspecting the room.

But once Draco had calmed down Narcissa cleared her throat and motioned for Draco to take a seat. He looked from his mother to his father and sat down on his bed.

"Well" she clasped her hands together; "You're going to Durmstrang!" Draco almost fell off his bed as he yelled; "No! I will not go!" As Draco realized what he was saying he shut up.

Narcissa looked confused; isn't this what Draco wanted? Draco sighed and began; "Mother, Father I don't wish to go to Durmstrang, I-… I want to stay"

Lucius stood up suddenly and headed down the stairs followed by Narcissa. Draco; confused and bewildered was right at their heels.

"Where are you going?" Draco asked weakly. Lucius whipped around and said: "Draco if you don't wish to attend Durmstrang no one will force you to. If that is your final word, we may see you at Christmas."

And with that last statement Lucius turned on his heel and headed not toward the exit but Dumbledore's office.

Exhausted Draco collapsed into this favorite arm chair. But then four red headed boys and a boy with untidy black hair trouped through the portrait hole.