DRACO

It's almost Christmas now. It's strange the longer I'm here the better I seem to feel. I don't know if that old proverb 'time heals' is coming true or if it's something to do with Padma. We've been spending more time together both in and out the covers. Neither of us want more. I know I've said that before, but this time I know it's true.

The first task is over and it surprises me that the Beauxbatons champion is ahead. She seems to be a timid girl but when it came to the task she proved to everyone how strong she was.

I'm sitting alone in my room when I hear a faint tapping on my window. I turn and look to see an unfamiliar owl. I wonder who it's from I only tend to get letters from Harry or Ginny. I quickly jump up and open the window letting the light brown owl glide in. It lands on my table and nips at my left over toast. I quickly make my way to retrieve the letter as the cold wind fills my warm room. I unravel the letter and the owl takes off again through my window and I close it behind him.

I quickly get back in front of the fire. The icy wind seems to linger even after such a short time. I finally look at the letter in my hands and my heart stutters. I know that writing. It's been a long time since I saw it but I recognise it as my mothers. Something must be very wrong for her to write to me.

I absently sit in my chair and wonder what it could be. It's been over two years since I heard from either of my parents. I take a deep breath and open the letter.

Draco,

I know this letter must come as a shock to you, it has been so long. Unfortunately I'm writing with bad news. It's your father, he's very ill. The doctors at St. Mungo's say he has very little time left. I know that you and your father parted on less than happy terms but he is asking for you. I think he would like to make amends. I hope you will find it in your heart to appease a dying man and grant this wish for him. It would be nice to see you son. I hope this letter finds you quickly. I fear the time of your fathers passing is coming too quickly for me.

Your loving mother.

My father is sick? I read the letter three times over waiting for it to sink in. He is sick and he wants to see me. Do I want to see him? Should I go, even if I don't want to? A tumult of emotions fight within me. I do want to see him, if it's one last time before he dies. I'm not sure I can forgive him. His belief in one man's ideals almost ruined my life.

Despite all this it doesn't take me long to start packing my things away. It only takes a short time, I have very little here. I start the floo and travel to the Bulgarian Ministry. Even though it is very late they are very sympathetic and sort a portkey to the English Ministry within the hour.

Within an hour of leaving Bulgaria I'm stood outside The Manors grounds. I check my watch it's almost two in the morning. I think about going to a hotel for the night coming back in the morning. The thing is I can't seem to move. I'm stood there staring down the path, my mind blank. I think about what I should be feeling right now. It's been a long time since I was here, since I saw my parents.

I'm about to leave when I see a figure moving towards me a cloak billowing around them. I know this must be my mother and a sharp pang of panic springs up inside me and I almost aparate away, but I stand my ground shoving my hands into my pockets to hide my shaking hands.

A few seconds later she is stood behind the gates her face obscured by the hood of her cloak. She lifts it away from her face and I can see the years have not been kind to her. She has a sad look upon her face. She waves her wand and the gates disappear.

"Draco, you came." Her lips twitch as if she tried to smile but couldn't quite pull it off. I just nod. "Your father will be so grateful."

I keep my face as stoic as I can and take her in. Her hair is greying and she hasn't tried to conceal it. I'm shocked at how much older than her years she seems.

"Come." She says turning and walking away. I take a deep breath and follow. "I'm sorry things won't be quite as you remember it. We no longer have any house elves and I find the house rather large to take care of myself so we tend to stay in the one wing."

I walk silently behind her listening. I can't see any of the grounds in the dark only what little my mother's wand lights up. She pushes open the front door and I catch the faint smell of mould and damp. I crinkle my nose and wonder how my mother can cope with it.

"Your room is just as you left it." She turns around to face me. "You can go to your room now or you can see your father now."

"Is he awake?" My voice sounds horse even to my ears.

"He never really sleeps properly. I think he is afraid that he might not wake again." There is that weak twitch of a smile again.

"Might as well get it over with." I shrug and look at her. She seems nervous I've never seen her like this.

"Very well. Follow me." She takes off her cloak and hangs it up.

I watch her shoulders rise as she takes a deep breath. She doesn't look at me as she walks towards the stairs and I follow. She stops at their bedroom door and turns to me. "Just wait here. I'll go tell him you have arrived."

I lean back against the wall opposite as she goes in. I can hear faint voices coming from inside but I can't make out what they are saying. I'm left outside for a few minutes and I'm starting to get restless. Then the door opens and my mother appears.

"He's ready to see you." She says and I push myself away from the wall.

As I go into the room I get hit with the musky smell of sweat and illness. My eyes land on my father. He's propped up with pillows, his usually porcelain looking skin now grey with illness his hair limp and stringy. He hadn't had a shave for at least a few days and his stubble is spotted with grey. I walk and stand at the end of his bed with my hands in my pocket.

"Draco, my son, you came." My father croaked out. I can tell he is suffering and I can't help but think, good.

"I did." I watch my mother out of the corner of my eye sit by my father's side and take his hand.

"I need to make things right with you before I go." He stops and takes a deep shuddering breath. "I shouldn't have chased you away." I can tell he's struggling even with these two short sentences. "Just because you lost your way."

"Fuck. I knew this was going to happen." I run my hands through my hair in frustration. "You don't want to make amends at all, Do you?"

"Son, I was only saying..."

"No, you weren't just saying you had to get one final stab in there." I take a deep settling breath. "I wasn't the one who lost my way."

"Ok I'm sorry." His breathing has become laboured and he holds up a hand in surrender. "Please, let's not argue."

I don't say anything, I don't trust myself.

"One of the reasons I called you here, is to discuss your fortune." He sags into the bed.

"I thought I didn't have a fortune anymore."

"Your father never meant any of that." My mother says still looking at my father.

"I'm sure he didn't." I say with sarcasm.

"You have a fortune Draco." He coughs. "But it has stipulations."

"I'm shocked."

"You must marry and create an heir." His pauses are getting longer his sentences shorter. "Within two years of my death."

"And if I don't?"

"Your fortune will be passed to the next male in our blood line." My mother finished for him.

"And if my wife happens to be muggle born, half blood or even a muggle?"

"Why would think about sullying our line like that?" My father's anger seeps through his weak voice.

"Because I happen to be in love with a muggle born."

My father's hand goes straight to his chest. "My son, and a muggle born."

"Lucius calm down." My mother tries to sooth him stroking her hand over his head. "Draco maybe you should come back tomorrow. Your room is ready for you."

I don't say anything I just turn and leave, slamming the door behind me. It's amazing what only five minutes in his presence can do to me. I reach my room not even remembering my route. I pace a few times before my anger reaches a peak and I punch my wall three times over. I collapse against the wall head in my hands tears running down my face. I wasn't aware I had started crying.

Seeing my father in such a state and still clinging to his idiotic ideals made me angrier that I thought possible. Not just angry, upset. Upset that he was literally on his death bed and was still had pureblood ideology. I probably shouldn't have told him about being in love with Hermione. I probably shouldn't tell him it is Hermione. I think that would really kill him off. I chuckle to myself.

I stretch my fingers out as I stand up. Blood is trickling from my knuckles, I don't care. I feel exhausted and collapse on my bed and almost immediately give in to sleep.

I wake the next morning with a dull ache in my head and in my hand. I groan as I stand up and take in my room. My mother was right, it is just as I left it. Even down to the quidditch posters on my wall. I feel like I've been thrown back in time and shake my head to feel better but it only makes my headache worse.

I summon my things from the front hall and search my bag, I'm sure I have a mild pain killing potion in here. I find it and take it quickly before heading to have a shower and change.

When I leave my room I head to my father. I stand outside his room for a minute before I build up the courage to go in again. I turn the knob and push the door open. When I take in the room he isn't alone. Beside from my mother there is another man in there. I watch as he checks my father's pulse and other vitals. I look over at my mother and see she is shaking and has tears in her eyes.

I walk over to her and take her hand in mine. My father may not be my favourite person but my mother lived for him. She grasps my hand tight and I feel for her.

"It won't be long now Mrs. Malfoy. I believe he will be gone by the end of the day." We both look at the healer. "I will leave a couple of potions with you to help make him comfortable. I'm sorry." He nods and leaves the room.

My mother releases a sob and I take her into my arms and let her cry into my shoulder. I've never seen her so uncomposed. My father releases a moan and my mother breaks free and goes to his side.

"Lucius? Lucius?" My mother strokes his face. My father opens his eyes weakly and looks at her.

"Cissa." My father's weak whisper comes. His fingers twitch but he seems too weak to reach her. My mother notices and takes his hand. She leans down and kisses his lips.

"Draco?" It's barely a whisper but I move forward.

"Yes father?"

"I have…missed you." His chest heaves and I hear his breath wheeze. "Please…forgive me."

His eyes meet mine and in that moment I can only say "I forgive you father."

Sorry for the extremely late update!