Chapter 3
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Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped through the floo with Luna Lovegood right behind him. He had a bad feeling in his gut. Whatever caused Lucius Malfoy to call him and Lovegood was bad. Very Bad.
"Ah, Kingsley. Luna. Glad you could come so quickly. Thank you."
"Lord Malfoy, its a pleasure, but I don't think you meant this as a social call." Luna nodded at the Malfoy patriarch. She may have seemed a ditz, to many people, at one time, but of course it was all an act. Harry had always said to never underestimate her in a duel. Those who did, well they ended up paying for it.
"No, most definitely not... a social call. My son... Draco... has done the most horrendous thing imaginable." Lucius stopped to take a breath, trying to compose himself. "He has hurt--beaten his bonded... Harry... nearly to death." The last word came out as almost a whisper, as the Lord of Malfoy Manor turned as white as his hair, the full impact of the days events finally hitting him.
Kingsley closed his eyes. Harry Potter, the strongest man he had ever met; the most powerful wizard, beaten by his husband. Now he knew why they'd called him, "I swear that nothing will leak out and for some reason, goddesses forbid, news leaks out, I will hunt the bastard down, myself."
"As will I," Luna promised with steel in her voice, the huge blue eyes snapping in anger.
"Please follow me. I will take you to Harry's rooms. Healer Blunt cast Stasis Spells over the area we found Harry... to...to preserve evidence." Lucius turned and led the Aurors out of the library and up the curved staircase.
Following behind the older man, "Lord Malfoy, do you have any idea where your son might be?" Kingsley asked.
"I am not certain at the moment. There are several possibilities. I'll have a look a the family clock and see if tells us anything. Barring that, I can provide a list of all of our properties, and any acquaintances of Draco's."
"Minister Weasley will ensure any legal proceedings are kept secret as well, Lord Malfoy." Luna kept pace behind Kingsley and Lucius, as they ascended the stairs.
"That will be greatly appreciated, Auror Lovegood. Harry still loathes both the press and the public eye."
They rounded the top steps into the hall and Lucius noticed immediately that Cissa and Remus were no longer outside the door. The door stood open just a little, and Lucius reached out to slowly push the door open, revealing Harry's bedchamber.
They found Cissa crying, near the door, holding papers against her chest. "Luv!! What's wrong?" Lucius asked as he rushed to her side.
"Oh, Luc, I went to Harry's desk to bring him some of his music that he loves so. Neville said it would be good for him... and I found these!" She held out Wizarding photos.
Lucius found himself looking down into two sets of pale blue eyes and blond hair the color of sun-ripened wheat. Two beautiful laughing babies. He read the familiar scrawl of his son-in-law,
'Twins, orphaned nine weeks ago. All recourse to find wizarding relatives exhausted. Look like Draco. Blood Adoption. Ask Draco. Albus has agreed to do the blood adoption if Draco agrees.'
Lucius brow creased in pain. "Oh Cissa, poor Harry. He must have suggested this as an alternative--very acceptable by Pureblood tradition. But... it would have angered Draco. This must have been what set him onto Harry." He handed the photos and papers to Kingsley.
Tbc…