Chapter Five –

Lucius Malfoy, Lord of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy, sighed wearily while pouring himself a hefty glass of wine. Taking off his Death Eater garbs, he dropped into his favourite armchair in the study. Though he would staunchly deny any accusations of having such a plebeian thing like… a favourite armchair.

"Dobby," he called. Immediately there was a loud pop and the house-elf's high pitched voice rang excitedly, "Oooh… Master is back. You need something Master?" Amused, Lucius smiled and asked him where his wife Narcissa was.

"Mistress is with Master Draco in his playroom, Master."

Lucius nodded and excused Dobby. Finishing his glass he got up to go to the nursery, his heart lightening as his footsteps carried him towards his wife and their nearly eight month old son, Draconis.

Merlin, I missed them.

xXxXxXxXx

Lady Narcissa Malfoy née Black had been trained since her birth on how to be the perfect aristocrat. Elegant, sophisticated, arrogant, poised, beautiful… she was untouchable. Women wanted to be her and men just plain wanted her. But seeing her now, sitting on the floor of the playroom with her gown carelessly spread all around her, laughing at her son's antics as he played with a fake wand which produced different coloured bubbles every time he shook it; no one would call her untouchable.

Narcissa sighed in pleasure watching her son engrossed in his play. So like his father. For the umpteenth time she wished Lucius was here with her, sharing these precious moments. But he had been sent on a very important mission by the Dark Lord, something to do with finalizing a pact with the Devonshire Vampire coven. It was a risky job but knowing that Severus Snape, Lucius' most trusted ally… and friend was with him, reassured her. But still he should have been back by now…

Hearing Draco's sudden squeal of happiness made her refocus on him, only to find him crawling towards the playroom exit. She looked up and saw Lucius standing by the door and immediately her heart warmed. Lucius smiled at her while picking Draco up, and kissed his forehead lovingly.

xXxXxXxXx

Heaven. Heaven is right here... Lucius thought as he walked into the room and took a seat beside Narcissa on the floor. This was what he worked so hard to preserve. This was why he took so many risks to stop the monster known as Voldemort. This was why he, along with Severus, was a spy for the light.

His mind flashed to the day when he had been forced to receive the disgusting mark, forced to become enslaved by the monster…

Flashback –

Seventeen year old Lucius was sitting on the cold floor of the prefects' bathroom, desperately trying to get the repulsive Dark Mark off his wrist while his whole body shuddered because what he had experienced earlier that day. He and several others had been initiated in the Death Eater ranks as novices. The Dark Lord had marked them each, one by one. At first, the agony of the mark being branded into his skin had nearly made him scream. But the real torture had started after that.

Children, several muggle children captured during raids had been passed around for the Death Eaters' entertainment. He had simply stood in a corner numbly and watched in horror, revulsion and shock as the children were tortured with the darkest of spells and killed indiscriminately.

Their screams still rang in his ears. Their desperate pleas eating away at his soul… Lucius felt the bile rise up his throat again and dry heaved, nearly blind with tears.

'No', he thought vehemently. He refused to live as a slave of that monster.

Looking down at the abhorring mark, he kept scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing…

xXxXxXxXx

Floating somewhere between blessed sleep and wakefulness, Lucius felt the softness and the warmth of the bed he was lying upon. He wondered since when the dorm beds had become this comfortable. An answering soft chuckle drove him wide awake and immediately the horrifying events of the initiation crashed into his mind.

A hand touched his forehead lightly and he opened his eyes to find Headmaster Dumbledore, the Leader of the Light, sitting in front of him. Panicking, his eyes latched to his left wrist where the Dark Mark was, and found it wrapped up in bandages.

'He knows,' Lucius thought.

With a sinking feeling he looked up at Dumbledore who was regarding him with kind, sad eyes. "My child, you had injured your wrist by nearly scrubbing it raw. When Ms. Black found you, it was bleeding quite profusely and you had passed out from the lack of blood. Needless to say, she was quite distressed. She still is."

Lucius bowed his head in shame. Narcissa would never forgive him.

"My child, though it's painful, we understand." Lucius looked up and met the old man's sad eyes. "Let me help you."

Bitterness, hate and anger filled Lucius and he snarled at Dumbledore, "I do not need your pity. You knew this was going to happen, yet you did nothing."

Dumbledore sighed and said wearily, "I am sorry. But I could do nothing till I could be sure that when push came to shove, as the muggle saying goes, you would not choose your father's ideals."

The truth in the sentence made Lucius close his eyes. He had never really agreed with his father's ideals which matched the Dark Lord's, his father being one of Dark Lord's strongest followers. But seeds of doubt had always been present in his heart. He had been confused… how could something he had known for all his life be a lie? But now those seeds of doubt no longer lingered.

Because now he knew.

'There is no cause in this world good or worthy enough, for justifying the killing and torture of children.'

"Yes, my child," Dumbledore murmured, regarding him with a fond smile. "Now you understand."

"Yes, now I do… and from now on, I will do everything in my power to destroy the Dark Lord," he pledged.

xXxXxXxXx

Coming back from his past, he saw Narcissa regarding him with sad, knowing eyes. He smiled to reassure her and asked, "So tell me, did I miss anything in these past few days."

Narcissa's smile immediately turned sly and mischievous. "Do tell me, love," Lucius coaxed.

Instead of answering him, Narcissa took Draco's left hand in hers and turned it palm up towards him, "Do look yourself, Lucius."

Frowning and a bit concerned he looked at what Narcissa was pointing at. Just as he noticed the mark, two silver circles intertwined, in the middle of Draco's palm; Draco stopped waving the fake wand around and poked him in the eye with the stick. Rearing back in shock, he looked up to see Draco's little face scrunched up in obvious anger as he snatched his hand away.

Lucius was speechless. What the hell just happened? He turned to see Narcissa nearly choking with laughter.

"Cissy. Explain. Now."

Wheezing she answered, "Well that is the mark every Veela receives when his or her mate is born. Congratulations, your son has received the Veela genes from the Black line. Oh, and double congratulations, for your future daughter or son-in-law has been born."

Then picking Draco up, she left the room; while Lucius was left sputtering behind.

"Veela… mate… what?"

xXxXxXxXx

Nearly eight months old, Draconis Lucius Malfoy, Heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy; was used to getting whatever he wanted. He hated sharing his things with the other children who sometimes visited with their own big people. Though he did not know such big words yet, the fact was that he was extremely possessive about his belongings.

It had only been a few days since he had the strange mark on his palm, but he already considered it as his. Sometimes it tickled, sometimes it would hurt but mostly it gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling. So yes, it was his. And he hated when other people looked at it or touched it. He would not share it with anyone. Not even his favourite big person (his father).

Pulling his chubby little hands to his face, he curled his little fingers protectively over the mark. Sighing in pleasure at warmth radiating out of it, he fell sound asleep.

xXxXxXxXx

Narcissa watched Draco fall asleep while cradling his palm protectively. Veelas were naturally aggressive, and felt protective and possessive of their mates instinctively. But she had a feeling that Draco would be taking these feelings to a whole new level.

Oh my! Merlin save us all.

xXxXxXxXx

Severus Snape was sound asleep on his bed in the Master Bedroom of the Prince Manor. He and Lucius had returned only a few hours ago after completing the mission on which the Dark Lord had sent them, immediately after declaring that he would kill baby Potter, his son.

He had been withdrawn throughout the mission, thinking of ways to alert Dumbledore and Potter about this latest threat. The Potters had to go into hiding. There was no other way. Voldemort would kill Harry and all those who stood in his path. He had decided to inform them in the Order meeting which would take place later that day, before falling asleep.

Severus woke up when he felt the wards alerting him that someone was flooing him. Groaning, he spied it was four in the morning. Putting a robe on, he went to see who the hell had decided to pay him a visit even before the sun was up. Tired and cranky Severus was ready to tear into whoever had dared to infringe on his privacy… when he saw the very last person he expected.

"Potter," he spat, shocked.

... to be continued!