milliways_bar | (no subject)

And there is a tall mage staring down at the fox. His wand is out, and he appears to be glaring at it. A swish, flick, and muttered spell, and a deeper frown.

"Draco?"

Lifting his head to the room at large. The spell says he is here, but, the evidence is slim.

The fox lifted his head. Father? Didn't he know? Grey fox eyes peering back up at the wizard. Hmmm... no Rodolphus in sight. But it still might be dangerous to change back right now.

Lucius sighs, finding himself a seat.

"Well, perhaps not. And I did wish to speak with him."

Draco looked around some more.

Hmmm... seemed safe enough.

The fox jumped down and a moment later, there was a wizard emerging from under a nearby table.

"Here, father." He seemed paler again, almost grey. Sallow, and circles under his eyes. His sleek hair seemed more lank than usual.

Kind of like how he was during his last school year, only more so.

Lucius is not an idiot.

"You have become an Animagus? Indeed. So, your lessons with Master Salazar are going well."

Draco nodded, "I have, and yes, very well, Father."

He added, "I've been to his castle a number of times, and we travelled to meet other wizards of his time. So much that's been lost by our time."

"I envy you your adventures."

Indeed he does.

"Although, there is a small matter to discuss. You seem to have come upon me some weeks ago in a state of enscrollment, do you remember?"

Not halloween.

Draco looked smug at that. His father... envying him for once. Excuse him while he revelled in it for a moment.

Which quickly faded at the next part.

His expression calm and neutral, "Enscrollment? You mean the costume? Because I was likewise so, remember?" Sodding Potter.

"I rather more refer to when I was acting as a teenager."

His gaze narrows.

"And I seem to have given you rather more then I intended."

Still neutral expression.

"Oh? I thought you were simply expressing generosity. And you seemed to more interested in cozying up to Mother as I recall." Perhaps more than a bit of sharpness in the latter comment.

"Your mother, is a beautiful woman, as she always has been."

Some wistfulness there?

"Have you spent it all already then?"

Draco scoffed, "Of course not." Some went for a modest gift to the Addams, but the rest he was setting aside. Leverage money for home. Anyway to get backers.

"Smart then. You may keep it."

And Lucius smiles at his son.

He nodded, "Thank you, Father."

And on to the not so smart part.

"Father... did you know about Uncle Rodolphus being here? And about Uncle Rabastan?"

"I knew the first. We met... on Halloween."

He clears his throat.

"What about Rabastan?"

Draco wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't sure if his father would truly defect or not. He debated on the next part. He still feared werewolves. But he wasn't sure. If he spoke, it might ruin everything. And he would die, or worse. And the Dementors....would come for his parents.

"Oh, just that he's here as well."

"Tell me everything, my son."

A parent knows when the child is lying. Generally.

Draco's head lowered, and his body trembled some.

Finally it spilled out of him. What happened to Rabastan, Rodolphus's role in it, his run-in with Rodolphus. And the deal, and the stakes.

"Rodolphus's the reason Rabastan's a werewolf. He set him up, because he wanted to. He came around, and ran into me. Asking me to help him deliver Rabastan."

Grey eyes flickered up toward him, "In exchange to gain favor for me with the Dark Lord. But I know it wouldn't be enough. There was a chance to make up for my mistake, and ensure my loyalty. Redeem our name. Many of the Dark Lord's enemies are here. Including Potter. Deliver them and Rabastan, and we will be his trusted men again. But we have a month, else there will be consequences..." He glanced down again.

He hurriedly added, "It might still work. Either way, things will be better. Had to do something to protect us. Keep our family safe."

Lucius stares at his child. And then lowers his head, eyes closing.

"No."

"I had to. He didn't believe me when I claimed not to know Rabastan. I had to take the chance."

His voice wavering, "For us. To redeem our name."

"A name means nothing if there is no one there to bear it!"

He is clutching tightly onto the edge of the chair.

Draco cowered and whined, "What was I supposed to do? He'd likely would have killed me if I didn't agree to something! He knows I failed before, Father. He knows the Dark Lord wants me dead. Who's to say he wouldn't come after you and Mother as well?"

"Then, let me handle him."

There is iron in Malfoys voice.

"I am not without my powers, and he is not so powerful I could not destroy him."

Draco's eyes flickered up toward his father again.

"But... he can't know what I said. If he knows..."

More trembling as he looked down again.

""

"He will die before he leaves here."

Lucius has no qualms about such things.

"I know. He has to," Draco replied in a firmer voice.

No qualms, unlike his son. Or Rabastan. Why they couldn't be Death Eaters. Cannot kill. Even though his uncle was taking steps to do something about Rodolphus as well.

"I grow weary."

Lucius leans back in his chair.

"It's always something, always a struggle to stay on top, and you can never stay there. "

"But we have to. We have to be on top. There's no other choice." Draco said, remembering how he grew up with that being drilled into his head. How often his family was disappointed with his mistakes, his shortcomings.

"Yes."

Lucius stares at his son. Is this his legacy then? Somehow, it seems so...shallow.

His son was more layered than he seemed, and started to question things. Like people did so at his age.

He remained silent and troubled at the affirmation.

Lucius shakes his head, but says nothing more.