Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Timeline: Book 4, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Pairs: Harry/Lucius

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

Chapter 26 – Father and Son

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given you will renew your son.

Flesh of the servant, willingly given you will revive your Master.

Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken you will resurrect your foe."

Lucius practically pushed the book away from him with disgust. Across from him Severus was looking grave.

"How?" was the only word that could pass through the blonde's lips.

"How did I find it or how did I manage to take this to you?" Severus asked.

"Either of them."

"Sheer dumb luck," the Potions Master replied.

"It could not have been a Muggle then," Lucius muttered. "No matter what he said, it had to be someone who knew the Dark Lord and feared him or the very least hated him enough to be considered an enemy."

Severus gave a terse nod. "I know, that's why I took the liberty of doing some research. That former elf of yours was surprisingly able and fast," he was amused at the grimace of distaste on Lucius face at the mention of Dobby but the matter at hand was much more serious.

"And what did you find?" Lucius inquired.

"There are four people currently missing according to the lists the Aurors have," Snape informed the other man. He pushed yet another paper Lucius' way. The blond hesitated as the previous one had held all the gruesome details of the resurrection ritual the Dark Lord had used. Upon opening it he found a list of names.

"What's the meaning of this?" he asked the raven haired wizard.

"All the missing squibs and wizards, as reported by their families and neighbours. Some, like Quentin Berg, are criminals."

"Not people the Aurors care enough to search after," Lucius realized.

Severus gave a terse nod.

"In the end, it does not matter," Lucius decided. "Whoever that poor soul was, it served its purpose. I'm just glad he was unable to get his hands on Harry." He ignored the look of distaste on his friend's face. "The protection in Harry's blood still holds strong. There's something calming in knowing he won't be able to touch Harry."

"Yes, you would glad to be the only one doing the touching," Severus drawled.

There was a tap on the window that broke both men out of their conversation and stopped Lucius' comeback. An owl came and went, leaving Lucius with a letter carrying news from the Caribbean.

"What is it?" the raven haired man asked.

"A letter from Harry," Lucius replied, to Snape.

"More poetry?"

The blond wizard rolled his eyes at that. "Is being a pain on my neck that amusing?" he muttered, not really expecting an answer. He left the letter on his desk and faced the Potions Master.

"Yes," Severus replied, making Lucius itching to curse the other wizard. "But alas I must cut this evenings entertainment short. I have left my latest potion simmering and I must get back to it. If there is urgent news..."

Lucius nodded. He stood as well and walked to the door, escorting Severus out himself. Then the blond returned back to his office, intending to finish with his mail but he saw his son was already there, standing before his desk and looking curiously at the letter on the surface. Lucius swallowed any surprised response he might have wanted to make but that did not mean he was not apprehensive. That letter was from Harry and for Draco to find it...

The older of the two wizards strode in the room, hiding his thudding heart.

"Father."

"Draco, how are you son?"

Silver eyes that were exactly like his were peering back at him. There was suspicion there. There were times Lucius was proud by how smart his son was, this was not one of them.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

Draco picked the letter up. "Who is this from?"

"Draco, that is rather impertinent of you. I don't go about reading your mail."

"I don't get letters from Potter," the younger wizard stated. "I saw that owl. Don't take me for a fool father. What is going on?" he was holding the letter now.

Lucius stared at his son. "Don't be ridiculous son."

"Don't take me for a fool then. And don't lie to me. Is this another game? A plan?" he opened it and Lucius pursed his lips.

"Son, give the letter back."

"I have a right to know," Draco stated. "I'm not a kid anymore for you to sugar coat things and keep me out. I want to know the truth."

"Draco..."

"Is it about... the Dark Lord? Is he really back? Vincent was saying things in his letters but I thought he was just being stupid as usual. Is he back?"

Lucius narrowed his eyes. The situation was getting out of hand. He knew Draco had a right to know. All those months plotting and planning with people that were not flesh and blood, sneaking around with Harry. He was surprised his son had noticed but also proud of this fact. He had tried to make the boy observe his surroundings; he just never thought all those lessons would come to bite him in the arse now. He supposed it was due to happen sometime, all those dark deeds he had done, karma would get him eventually. He could get out of it too, Lucius knew. All it would take from him was to draw his wand. Obliviation was not difficult for him. But Draco was family and he was not about to attack his son.

"The letter is Private Draco."

"I know." His young face softened a bit. "I don't want to read it, I just want the truth. You have changed father. I wanted to know why. Treat me like I'm a grown man for once, not a kid!"

Lucius sighed. Those last words struck a chord in him. "Sit," he said and went to lock the door.

Draco started. He looked surprised. "You mean you really..."

"Yes, I will tell you," he said. "But first, I need you to make an Oath. Not that I don't trust you, but in these times..." he locked eyes with his son who nodded. Lucius suppressed a smile. Draco, he loved the boy. Even now, seeing him in his teens, close to adulthood, he still recalled that small, red creature the medi wizards had deposited in his trembling hands more than a decade ago. Draco might think he was all grown up, but Lucius would always see him as his little boy. It was why he did not want to do this, but he was tired of lying to his son. If anyone deserved to know was the one who worried about him. Draco needed to know he was happy, that he had plans to make for a brighter future. The name of the Malfoy family would not get dragged through the mud again, not for any crazed megalomaniac. Lucius would not ruin his family; he knew better now.

He did not sit behind his desk but in front of it, in the second armchair, facing Draco, like equals. His son had discarded the letter and was looking at him, worry and pride shining in those grey eyes.

"The oath," Lucius said. Unlike the Unbreakable Vow, Oaths, were not absolute, they were not deadly or dangerous. It was merely assuring secrecy. It depended from the glow the spell produced the degree the one who cast the spell was going to keep the secret.

Draco drew his wand out. "I promise this discussion will stay between us," he swore, using, magic to seal the deal. The wand tip glowed brightly and Lucius smiled.

"Are you sure Draco?"

"I won't like it," the teen realised. "Is the situation that bad?"

"No son, just ... different," Lucius assured the teen. "Yes, the Dark Lord is back. But not for long."

Grey eyes widened. "Father!"

Lucius reached out and grasped one of Draco's hands. The blond wizard's eyes widened some more.

"I have so much to tell you," he told his son. "So much has changed." He started talking. Confessing to his son everything he had been doing since the first reign of the Dark Lord. He did not speak of glory and superiority of the purebloods. This tale was all about horror and guilt and regret. Then he said about the money and the lies that got him out of Azkaban, followed by one last error during that summer trip in Diagon Alley when he had given that damned diary to the Weasley girl.

Draco by then was just gazing at his father, words unable to form.

"That day everything changed," Lucius told his son. "I just had no idea how much at the time," he admitted. Then he narrated the visit to the castle, his first private encounter with Harry Potter and how the relationship between them progressed. It was a long afternoon they spent locked away in that office and by the time Lucius was done talking, Draco had no idea what to say.

End of chapter.