Title: The Well 15/?
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~1,000 (~11,000 total)
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst.
A/N: Many thanks for the comments and support.
Draco rushed toward the fire and pulled his father into a tight embrace, collapsing onto the floor at his feet. He hadn't seen him since he was sentenced to Azkaban 4 years ago. He was thin, the skin of his face and hands wrinkled, his hair shorn. His eyes, however, were still sharp, and his bearing upright. "I don't understand... How...?"
"Ah, yes. I was... liberated from Azkaban by Mr. Potter a couple of weeks ago. I wished to inform you, but decided it better to wait until I was more fit for company." He placed a faintly trembling hand on Draco's head. "I did not wish to leave you and your mother grieving..."
Draco tilted his head into the touch. "Granger is in charge of the Inquest. She told me earlier this week. I told Mother."
Lucius let out a breath and smiled faintly. "How is Narcissa?"
He sniffed and smiled. "Well. Very well, now. Waiting for you."
Lucius' smile grew in reply. "Soon. I am only awaiting the Portkey to come through..."
Draco nodded, his expression falling slightly at the thought of losing his father again so soon. "I expected as much. Where will you be going?"
"Italy. It's not anywhere we have land so not anywhere the Ministry would look for me. But it is also such that it would not be amiss for Narcissa to visit frequently."
A few moments passed in silence before Draco pushed himself up from the floor and moved to the other chair at the fireplace. "I still don't understand. Why did... How did Harry get you out of Azkaban?"
"I believe that part is best explained by Mr. Potter. Kreacher!" The elderly elf popped into the space between them with a deep bow toward Lucius. "Please ask Mr. Potter to come to the study and speak with us." A moment later there was a perfunctory knock and Harry re-entered the study. Draco stared at him in confusion.
Harry glanced between Lucius and Draco, awkward again. "Er, did you need something, Mr. Malfoy?"
Lucius' face took on a smirk as he pushed himself slowly up from his chair. "Only that Draco has questions I feel it best you answer, Mr. Potter. If you would both excuse me, I would like to make use of your owl."
Draco watched his father make his way slowly to the study door, leaning heavily on a plain black cane. He leaned over and murmured something to Harry that caused him to flush before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
"You wanted something, Malfoy?" Harry's expression was tightly controlled, and his hands bunched into fists in his pockets. Draco couldn't tell if it was because he wanted to punch him or grab him.
"I just... Why?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair and stepped to the chair recently vacated by Lucius. "Er, well... It's kinda a long story."
Draco clasped his hands tightly together, staring at them to avoid staring at Harry's face highlighted by the fire. "Well, my flat is currently site of the happy reunion between Pansy and Theo and I have no desire to walk in on them doing anything, so my evening is yours." He grimaced slightly as his words came out in a rush. He sounded like a first year, so bloody eager.
Harry looked confused for a moment before nodding. "Right. Well. I remember what you used to say. About not being able to see your father, him not allowed visitors. And, well, Ron's partner's wife's brother is Warden. So, I asked about getting him visits... bypassing the Ministry, I mean."
Draco frowned, "You got permission for visits? And you didn't tell me?"
Harry shifted in his seat. "I didn't. I didn't get permission. I was going to tell you, but... I... did it anyway."
"What?"
"I visited Lucius. I had been talking to McAllister for a couple months. It was after I went to Romania he finally said no. I thought Lucius would be happier getting visits from you so I used polyjuice."
"Polyjuice? How did you-"
"Your hairbrush. And a couple of your shirts. I... They got mixed in with my things." Harry's face was flushed enough it was a wonder he was still upright, and he kept his focus firmly on the fire. "Well, obviously it didn't work. Lucius could tell the difference, but... we talked. A lot. I went every few weeks. But he was getting sick, and they weren't doing anything, so..."
Draco stood and started pacing. "So you disguised yourself as me and what? Confunded the guards so they'd forget I wasn't supposed to set foot on Azkaban? And then you visit my father every couple of weeks. You don't tell me, and then you somehow remove him from Azkaban and leave the Aurors thinking I'm responsible for his disappearance?" His hands jerked agitatedly, and he could feel tears beginning to seep down his face. "Why? I've spent hours in Granger's office, I've had to turn over all my memories of the day my father disappeared. She's trying to keep the Aurors from arresting me for murder. Do you really hate me that much?"
"No! Draco, no! I didn't mean- I love you."
Draco stopped and looked at Harry, his voice falling flat. "You love me. After all this, everything, you can still say that? You leave me without a word to go to Romania, you almost get me arrested. I can't. When you left, it... I can't do this again. I'm sorry."