A/N: Greetings! I'm on a role, so the next one should be done soonish, but this seemed like a good place to stop :) Thank you to everyone who reviewed, especially people I haven't heard from before! I'm assuming that everyone will have seen DH:P.2 at least once by now, so I shall make the little speech I have been saving up :)

It was a wierd moment for me when I realised that I have given Lucius more credit than Jason Isaacs has, particularly considering all the awful things he has inflicted upon Draco in this story. But I found, at the end of DH, filmLucius completely unredeemed- Voldermort shows him complete contempt, Draco no longer has any loyalty towards his father and Narcissa totally shuns him. I have always believed that no matter how much of an arrogant sonofagoblin Lucius is, his one redeeming quality is that he puts his family first, even if what he does (eg. follow the dark lord untill the bitter end) is stupid, ulitimately he is doing it for them, to make a better life for them. But in DH:P.2 it seems like he has given up completely and doesn't know what the hell he is fighting for and still, in the end, seems willing to sacrafice Draco because pride is more important. I loved what Voldemort said to him, "How can you live with yourself, Lucius?" because that just about sums it up. FilmLucius has nothing left to live or fight for and it is only through Narcissa's and Draco's courage that he can pull a live for himself out of the ruins. It was a very interesting deviation from the books, as I always saw Lucius and Narcissa working on the same wavelength- both knowing what is important and working together to find Draco. But as I said, it was weird to think that my Lucius is more redeemable than Jason's, considering he was my biggest inspiration for the way I saw Lucius as a father...

Anyhoo...On to the chapter :)

"He's not going back," I said firmly, refusing to blink as I looked at my mother from across the kitchen table. "Not unless it can be categorically proven, beyond any shadow of doubt, that Lucius will be true to his word."

"He has accepted our help and your place in Draco's life,"my mother pushed, clearly trying to contain her frustration. "Can you not see that this is considerable progress?"

"'Progress' is not enough!" I snapped back. "I cannot afford to let Draco go back if there is any possibility of danger. Not after last time. We will not get another chance and I will not gamble with Draco's life!" Folding my arms stubbornly my chest, I sat back. "I would rather take Draco with me to Hogwarts when I leave-"

"I have already said," Mother ground out, glaring at me from across the table, "that we will have Draco here for as long as necessary. Look, I am not arguing with you Severus. Stop trying to see conflict that isn't there!"

I looked away reluctantly, silenced. She was right of course, a she always was.

"I know that you are afraid of failing Draco," my mother offered, her tone softening, "But so is Lucius. I know that you do not believe me," she continued as I gave a short, cynical laugh, "and you have every reason not to, but I swear to you, Severus, that he is as scared as you are and will do anything to ensure that it doesn't happen again." Sincerity radiated from her, begging me to understand, to believe her. And I did. But that did nothing to reassure me.

"I know Lucius," I said softly, silently apologising for being difficult, "I know that he can have the best intentions in the world and truly want to act upon them, but I know also that when he loses his temper he also loses control of himself. I believe you that he is being honest, that he does want to be a better father to Draco, but that will not keep Draco safe. And I owe it to him to keep him safe."

"Have you spoken to Draco about what he wants?"

I gave a half-nod, half-shrug, "Draco is torn between what he wants and what he expects."

My mother nodded thoughtfully to herself. "Understandable. The bond between a parent and child is complicated; it is almost entirely unbreakable, no matter how undesirable it is to either party," she looked meaningfully at me as she spoke, "Draco will always be compelled to return to his father, even if he knows it is not good for him. No matter what Lucius does, Draco will always want to believe the best in him."

"This is doing nothing to reassure me, you know..."

My mother shook her head as though to shoo away a fly. "Forgive me. A Tangent. Anyhow," she rose and gave me a bright, slightly sardonic smile, "ultimately, it's your call Severus."

"Oh yes," I frowned, eyes narrowing, "And how did you reach such a conclusion?"

"Draco trusts you," came the simple reply. "He values your judgement above anyone else's, even his own. If you tell him that it is safe to return home, or otherwise, he will listen to you and act upon it."

I considered this; it certainly was the case that I had the power to make Draco's mind up for him, and perhaps it was also the case that Draco was too young to make such a decision on his own, that I, as his acting guardian, should make it for him...

But it wouldn't be right. Draco deserved more credit than that.

I shook my head. "No, this is something Draco has to decide for himself. He must do what is right for him."

"Hmm." My mother pursed her lips disapprovingly, then said snidely, "Are you sure it isn't just a case of not wanting the responsibility of making a wrong choice, Severus?"

I flinched, shocked and hurt at the callousness with which she spoke. "I will support Draco with whatever he chooses to do," I snarled, rising to stand a whole head above her, my hands clenched in anger by my side. "Of course I do not want the responsibility of encouraging him to do something that isn't right, but if I didn't think that Draco was capable of knowing what he wants I would make that decision for him!"

My mother scowled up at me, then shrugged and said flippantly, "Fine. If you insist."Before turning her back on me.

"But I don't know what I want!"

It wasn't as easy as I had hoped, letting Draco take the reins of own life; having never really had opinions taken into account before, he was extremely reluctant to voice them now.

"No one else can know what you want," I reminded him gently, making the boy scowl. "Everyone will respect your decision, Draco, no matter what that may be."

Draco chewed his thumb doubtfully, pondering it all over in his head.

"What I want..." he said slowly after many minutes of contemplative silence, "If I could have anything, what I want is for Father to come here, so's I could talk to him, and then I'd know wouldn't I?"Grey eyes flicked up, anxiously seeking my approval.

"If that is what you want, that is what we shall do."

"Mmm..."

He didn't seem particularly convinced.

"Draco?"

Never for a moment ceasing the nibbling of his thumb, the boy raised his head. I could see nervousness threatening to overwhelm him; his movements were becoming stiff and his eyes seemed twice as big as they had been only minutes ago.

"Draco, if you don't want to... if you aren't ready-"

"No, I do...I am." He gave a decisive nod, as much to convince himself as to convince me, "I'll reply to Father's letter and say that's what I want to do." Not seeming at all reassured, Draco stood up looking slightly dazed, then murmured, "I'll go do it now..."

Father,

Forgive me for not replying to your letter more quickly. I wanted to wait until Sir came back so it would be easier to work things out and he has and it is a bit but not very because I don't know what to do at all really, I feel all torn into two. Sir says I ought to decide it all for myself, but it's hard to because I don't want to bother anyone or get it wrong, so I was thinking maybe if it's all right and not inconvenient, could you come here perhaps? I don't mind when, whenever's convenient, but I thought it might help.

Yours sincerely,

Draco Malfoy.

Allowing the breath he had held in as he wrote to be released, Draco laid down his pen and, before he could lose his nerve completely, slipped it into the envelope Sir had given him and sealed it.

Maybe Father wouldn't reply, he thought hopefully. But really, he knew that that wouldn't make him feel any better. This was something that Draco knew he had to face and the less he avoided it, the easier it would be to do so with courage.

Pushing his glasses back up his nose, Lucius read his son's letter with more relief than he would ever care to admit. He had been so sure that he would not get another chance, that Draco would never want to set foot in this building again... Understandably, too.

Lucius had never believed in any kind of god but, as he prepared to reply to Draco, he thanked whatever being there was out there that he had been granted one more chance.

July 28th 1988

We all agreed that it would be best if Draco was left alone with his father- Well, my mother took a lot of convincing, but she saw sense eventually- and so, when the agreed time arrived, my parents and I retreated to the garden, far away enough to them privacy yet close enough that we might step in should the need arrive.

Draco was nervy and skittish for the whole day before, despite our assurances that it was all being done on his own terms. He never once, however, voiced any desire to back out, although I could see many instances of just that in his eyes as the time drew nearer.

"It'll be ok," I promised, hugging Draco close. He clung on for a few seconds too long and, for a moment, I was worried that he would call it off. But he didn't.

Gathering his wits, Draco pulled away and nodded silently.

As I opened the door to the back garden, the bell rung out the front and I prayed that I had told Draco the truth.