Indago:Reborn

Chapter Thirty-one

Draco saw Harry a lot in the following two days. At least he thought it was two days. The lights were left on at all times and it made it hard for him to get any sleep, not that he could sleep well. But Draco was knowledgeable enough in mind control tactics that he knew it was just the beginning. Everything was designed to break Draco. He wasn't allowed to sleep and meals were served to him in dirty dishes, making him not want to eat it. Slight ticking sounds were turned on from an unknown source to drive him out of his mind before being abruptly shut off. He was allowed glimpses of Harry often.

But Draco recognised the strategy and, not being Lucius Malfoy's son for nothing, knew how to combat it. He forced himself to sleep when he could, he ate everything he was given and drank the dirty water. And he smiled every time Harry came near. But Harry never looked at him…not once.

The most disturbing sensation was the loss of his magic. He called for it repeatedly, but it was of no use. He wondered briefly where his wand was, but knew that it was only a tool he no longer really used anymore. He only used his wand for show in truth. It was only a device that made his co-workers feel less unease, making them forget how very powerful he was. It wouldn't give him any more magic than he had at the moment, which was none. He was completely helpless in his cage, which had been reinforced against his Indago strength. Only another Supero could understand what would keep him confined.

Draco figured that he was in a main room or at least one that connected parts of the facility that Muroch and his mongrels used often. Harry would walk through the room from one hallway to the next. Muroch would be with him occasionally. Yet the Supero pheromone stayed in the air. Draco surmised that the bastard was pumping the scent through the ventilation to keep Harry on the leash no matter where he went. The mutts would come through as well, jeering and insulting him as they passed by his cage. He hoped that they would start poking him with a stick so that he could gain a weapon, but either they were smart enough not to do that, which he highly doubted, or they were on strict orders.

There were a few doors in the room. One was a storage closet while another led into a room he couldn't see. The last was a lab and was the room Muroch spent the most amount of time in. The door was often shut, but occasionally it would be left open and Draco would see into part of the room, watching as Muroch bustled about while humming to himself. It made Draco sick to think about what that bastard was doing in there.

"You know, your tactics aren't going to work. You colonials are outdated in your torture techniques," Draco mentioned casually one time as he sat at the bottom of his cage, his elbows resting on his upraised knees.

Muroch stopped crossing the room and stepped closer to the cage, smiling. He halted not far from the bars, but far enough back that Draco wouldn't be able to reach him. "Oh? You Brits figured out more impressive ways?" Muroch asked conversationally as if they were discussing chess over tea.

Draco nodded. "Well, perhaps I was spoiled. My father was quite the torturer in his day and liked to bring his work home with him on occasion. I picked up a few things here and there, you know."

"Yes," Muroch nodded. "I've heard some impressive things about your dad…in certain circles, of course. Not common knowledge or anything."

"I should hope not," Draco scoffed. "My father paid good money to clean our name of any residue his past affiliations may have left. In fact, you got some of that money, didn't you? DLM Company isn't a very …clever name, is it?"

Muroch chuckled and rocked back on his heels while crossing his arms over his chest. "No, not one of my better ideas. But I was pressed for time, you understand." He narrowed his eyes at Draco and smiled. "I had wondered how you'd found us."

Draco shrugged. "It took awhile, but I figured it out. By the way, who was the smartly dressed woman I gave the bank script to at that charity dinner. I haven't seen her about."

"Ah, well, she was a nice girl I found hanging around Knockturn Alley. I gave her a meal and some new clothes, being an orphan of war and all." Muroch shook his head mournfully. "Unfortunate thing, that. Poor girl met with an accident so very soon after giving me the money. Sad."

"Well, witnesses are so hard to keep quiet these days," Draco commiserated.

Muroch looked carefully down at Draco. "You think I'm a madman, don't you?"

Draco shook his head. "No. I think you're a delusional sadist."

"Sadist? What would make you think that?" Muroch asked in honest curiosity.

"I come from a long line of them. You wouldn't meet my family's standards, of course. But you have the knack for it. Harry, I can see, never stood a chance."

Muroch chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment as he thought. "No. But he did put up a good fight. For his abilities, of course."

"Of course. But no real challenge." Draco nodded. "He's soft and trusting. He hopes for the good in all things and people. He's also self-sacrificing and self-deprecating, which were probably your best tools."

"Your little fight was also a great help," Muroch pointed out.

"You were watching the house then...for him to leave?" Draco asked.

Muroch nodded. "Yes. I knew that the introduction of the Supero essence in his system would cause him to break away." He chuckled. "I was quite irritated when he left sooner than we had anticipated for his little foray into town. After that, we had someone on watch around the clock. When the rent boys and whores started showing up, we knew it wouldn't be long."

"And I am assuming he still harbours guilt for his actions due to you not telling him that he was under the influence of a drug."

"Now, that would be giving away my tools of control, now wouldn't it?" Muroch laughed.

Draco nodded companionably. "You do know it is only a matter of time before we are found. My father will figure it out, along with everyone else who has been looking. My disappearance will spur the search in the right direction, you realize."

"Yes, I knew these lodgings were temporary. But don't worry," Muroch replied reassuringly with his stupid smile. "We have an escape route and a new place to set up shop. Not as accommodating as this lovely building, but acceptable."

"You're not only a sadist, but incredibly stupid as well," Draco pronounced. "Everyone is looking for us. They will take note of a large group of people and equipment."

Muroch's eyes narrowed as he showed the first signs of anger. "Well, Draco, you just leave that to me, alright?" Without another word, the other man left the room.

No one came back in the room for quite awhile after that. Finally, the smell of food began drifting down one of the hallways and Draco prepared himself to ignore whatever jibes the mongrel that would bring his food would say. He'd heard things that had given him nightmares, since every one of them had delighted in telling him what they had done to Harry. Draco had forced himself to remain calm and not allow them the ability to keep him off-centre. He had to wait for the time when he could get Harry out of there.

Footsteps resounded down the corridor before Harry walked into the room. He was alone, carrying a tray of food. At first, Draco had thought that they'd actually been stupid enough to have Harry bring his food to him. But no, Harry was walking past his cage and toward the closed laboratory door. This might be his chance.

"Harry!" Draco called. "Harry, love! It's me, Draco, your husband! Harry!" Draco stood at the bars, waving to get Harry's attention. He held his breath as the other man's steps slowed. "Love, remember the time we went to Switzerland and I took you skiing for the first time? Remember when you started to fall and grabbed me and took me down with you? Remember that night we sat and talked for hours in the hot bath? Harry? Remember?"

Draco swallowed hard as Harry stopped completely and slowly turned in his direction. He didn't look at Draco, his eyes instead trained on the ground. But Draco could see the confusion on his face. "Do you remember the day we were married? You were stunning in your dress robes. Remember you didn't like them because they were traditional and you thought they were too old looking? Hermione and Molly Weasley cried buckets and I teased you that it was because they believed you were being consigned to the beast. But you looked very happy and I know I couldn't have been more proud when we said our vows and the incantation. Do you remember the feel of the bond wrapping around us? Do you remember that, Harry?"

Harry's lips moved and it looked as if he were saying Draco's name. "That's right, love. It's me, Draco. I want you to come to me, Harry. I want you to come over here so I can touch you again. Then you can get me out of here. You want to go home, don't you? Maia has missed you so much. She fusses and cries. She needs you."

Harry's throat worked as if he were swallowing. He bit his lip and shook his head. Draco had seen him do that several times and wasn't sure why he did it, but he would fix that. He would fix it all if Harry just got him out of the damned cage. Slowly, as if every movement was weighted, Harry moved towards the cage…one step, then two, then three.

"I believe you have my dinner, Harry."

Harry froze immediately. Draco cursed and looked to his left at Muroch standing in the open doorway to the lab. Harry shook his head again, his eyes still down and resumed his path towards Muroch.

"You shouldn't have tried something as stupid and sadistic as that," Muroch sneered, throwing Draco's earlier words at him. "Now Harry must be punished."

"No! Don't touch him!" Draco rattled his cage door hard and watched as Harry never faltered as he moved closer and closer to Muroch. When he reached Muroch's side, Harry raised the tray and lowered his head.

"Put it down on the table," Muroch instructed and followed Harry inside the room, out of Draco's view. But he left the door open. There was a loud crash and several non-descript items rolled out of the room.

"I'm sorry, Master! I'm sorry!" Harry cried out, which was the first time Draco heard his voice since coming there.

"Leave him alone!" Draco shouted while banging at the bars. Harry screamed again and the sickening sound of something striking flesh could be heard. "You fucking bastard! Come do that to me! Coward!"

Another crash and Draco could make out the sounds of muffled weeping. Then all was silent. Draco stood at the bars for a long time, straining to hear any sound from his Harry. But no more was heard.

Draco didn't try to talk to Harry again.

*-*-*

"I think I have enough samples, really. He irritates me. He has no real breeding."

Muroch slumped back in his chair and petted Harry's hair as the younger man sat next to him on the floor. Most of the others were also in what had been deemed the sitting room. The few missing were out prowling the forest.

"Then kill him," Jonathon stated matter-of-factly. "Having to feed him is not as much fun as we thought it would be. He doesn't rise to the bait."

"No, he's quite wily, that one," Muroch smiled. "Too much so. He learns quickly and counters everything I do and say. What did you call him, Simon?"

"A Slytherin. He was a Slytherin in school. That type is always fast on the uptake," answered one of the wolves who was sitting on a settee, a mug in his hand. "Devious, too. I don't trust him at all. His whole family is a bunch of nasty snakes. Bad blood and all that."

Muroch nodded and continued stroking Harry's hair. "Yes, I've discovered that. I would have liked to harvest from him alive. But I suppose the Muggle way of doing things will have to do in this case. We can't get to him while he's breathing anyways, so I suppose we'll carve into him at the moment of death." He sighed. "Not what I wanted, but it'll have to do."

"Well, those two doms from Africa seemed interested. So, you should have enough to have a good starting, right?" Jonathon asked. "Then there's us. You still want to try the complete intermixing, right?"

"Mmm. Yes, I do. A new species born...I'll have to think of a new name for them," Muroch mused.

"How about Weredago?" one of the others quipped. A smattering of chuckles greeted the suggestion.

"Amusing, but not very clever. I've been accused of a lack of cleverness recently and I'd like to improve upon that," Muroch answered with a smile. He sighed again. "Well, I suppose we'll kill him off tomorrow night. I'll need the day to prepare for his body parts and the freezing process will have to be ready for his …donation." Muroch chuckled then stood up and stretched. "I'll see you all in the morning. Come, Harry."

Harry quickly stood and followed the other man out into the hall. They moved into the room that Muroch had claimed for his own and Harry sat and waited on the bed as Muroch took a shower. When the Supero returned, Harry laid down on his stomach as he was instructed and made no sounds as Muroch made use of his body. Later, while Harry lay on his pallet, he stared up into the darkness, blocking out the sounds of snoring coming from the other side of the room. His mind raced with what he should do, torn between his desire to save his husband and the desire to please Muroch and stay safe.

We can't. We can't.
/They're going to kill Draco! He'll be dead by tomorrow night!/
Draco. Draco, my husband.
He doesn't care for us! He doesn't love us!
But I still love him.
We must obey our Supero!
/Draco is our Supero! He came for us! He came to get us out of here!/
But we will be hurt again if we disobey!
/We can't stay here with that psycho! He'll hurt us all the time! If we help Draco, we can get out of here!/
Maia. My daughter. My sweet daughter.
But Master said we will have more! More young will come!
/Yeah, but he'll take them from us! Draco would never do that! We have to do something!/
But we can't. Our Supero has told us that we must stay here!
Draco needs me. Draco came for me. I can't let him die.
/No, we have to do something./
Our Supero said to stay here!
Draco is my Supero!
/That bastard Muroch is not our Supero! He is not our master!/
Draco is our Supero. Draco is our Supero.
/We can't let him be hurt!/
Draco is going to die.
We must save our mate! We must save him!
I have to save Draco.
/We can save him! We can get him out of here!/

I have to save Draco!

Harry held his breath as he silently slipped out from under his blanket and slowly crawled towards the door. He paused and stared into the darkness, not knowing what to do. Fear ate at him, but he knew he needed to get Draco out of there before they killed him. The need to go back to his pallet and stay where he was told was nearly overwhelming. If he was able to get out of the room, it wouldn't take long for the others to find him. Muroch would be angry. He couldn't think about that though. He had to plan...he had to plan.

Suddenly, Harry knew exactly what to do. If he could make it to the lab, he knew which bottle to use. Once he had it, there was nothing that could stop him. Muroch had laughed when he had told him all about that bottle.

"A few drops of this, pet, and you'd be strutting about as if you owned the place, with no heed to me," Muroch had said. "But, we don't want that, do we? No, you have become absolutely perfect now."

Harry wanted to gag at the pride he had felt when Muroch had said that. But, Muroch had finally made a mistake. Jonathon had been wrong and Muroch had let loose one of his secrets. He had treated Harry like mindless furniture one too many times. Now all Harry had to do was have the strength to get to that bottle.

He took a deep breath in and counted the inhales and exhales that were coming from the other side of the room. On the next noisy inhalation, Harry opened the door. He sidled out on his knees and waited for the next loud snore, using the noise to cover the click as the door shut. He was out! He just had to make it to the lab!

The hallway was dimly lit and the shadows seemed to hold the others within their depths. But Harry held firm to his plan. Get to the lab...get Draco out. He had to save him. Harry took another deep breath and climbed to his feet, slowly sliding along the wall. His ears strained to catch any sounds while his nose was twitching in an effort to scent the air and alert him to anyone in the area.

It seemed like hours before he finally made it to the centre room. He held onto the doorway and tried to take shallow breaths. He desperately wanted to return to his pallet, to do as he was ordered.

We must save our mate! We must return to our young!

/Don't leave Maia an orphan! We can do this!/

Harry nodded his head and pushed away from the wall. The room was still lit and he could see some blurry movement in the cage. He wanted to move toward it, to go to Draco, but he focused on getting into the lab. With a few quick steps, he got to the door and put his hand on the handle. With another quick breath, he turned the knob and slipped in. In the dark room, Harry quickly moved toward the table that held the bottle he needed. With his hands out in front of him, he felt his way through the tables and workspaces. He was almost where he needed to be, he was sure of it. A blinking light caught his attention though just as he reached the table he needed.

It's a warning! Muroch knows we're in here!

/Get the bottle and get out!/

Harry reached out and snatched at the bottles, scooping all of them up into his arms before racing back to the door. He slammed hard into the edge of a table, but was soon out in the lit room. Scanning the labels by pulling them close to his face so that he could read, he sorted out which one he needed.

"Harry?"

His heart twisted at the familiar voice of his husband. He would get Draco out of there. He would make sure that he wasn't hurt. Pulling the stopper out of the glass neck he quickly brought it to his lips.

"Harry, wait! What are you doing?" There was panic in Draco's voice but Harry ignored it as he quickly swallowed all of the tasteless liquid he could. The sound of doors slamming open had him scrambling to get to Draco. He was a sitting duck in that cage! He had to get Draco out of there! Where was the key?

"Where are you, pet?"

Harry trembled at the voice as it came closer down the hall.

"Harry, go down! Go down and be good! Now, Harry!" Draco ordered, fear making his voice sharp. Harry threw all the bottles towards the corridor, wishing that one of them would be an acid or explosive or anything! Then he ran to Draco's cage.

"If we lift together, I…I think we can get the door off!" he said breathlessly. His head was starting to swim. Oh no! Did he get the wrong bottle? No, no he got the right one, he was sure of it. He gripped the bars. "Now, Draco! Push now!"

Warm hands moved to above his on the bars and in silent agreement they both pulled up hard. There was a rusty squeak and the door came up off its hinges, the lock breaking. The magic barrier had worked in their favour: no magic-welded cage could be forced opened.

"Move back, Harry!" Draco ordered as the heavy door started to come back down.

"Harry! What are you—? Stop him! Kill the dom if you have to!" Muroch ordered. Snarls and running feet were heard next coming from behind Harry. He waited a moment longer and then quickly jumped out of the way, allowing the enormously heavy door to come crashing down on top of his attackers. Two werewolves went down under its crushing weight, but that wasn't enough. They had hurt him. How dare they hurt him!

Harry stepped up on top of the bars, relishing in the mutts' groans and cries. He revelled in the feel of flesh and bone slowly becoming slick with blood through the metal under his bare feet. He grinned in pleasure.

"Damn it! He's taken the pheromone! Take him down but do not kill him!"

Draco burst through the cage door opening and leapt at the two werewolves who were jumping at Muroch's order. He went down with them, quickly taking one out with a jab to the throat and then went after the other one. When he realised which one he had to still deal with, he couldn't have been more pleased. It was the big one that had enjoyed telling him in excruciating detail all of the extraordinarily hurtful, painful things he had done to Harry. He was thrown off the big bloke but rolled away before the fist could connect with anything vital. They both got to their feet and began circling each other, snarling and showing their teeth. Draco attacked and took the mongrel down again, then went for the throat. As the wolf went to block him, Draco dropped his fists down to the large man's groin, causing the beast to scream in agony.

"Try to hurt my Harry again, you piece of filth!" Draco hissed as he squeezed and pulled, mutilating the man. Draco made sure that he would never harm another person with what was between his legs. He rolled to his feet and kicked the screaming man hard in the head, making him fall silent. Draco turned to go after Muroch and was arrested at the sight he saw.

Harry and another man were circling each other slowly. Harry's face, arms, and neck were covered in welts, but the welts had not been there before and seemed vaguely familiar in their pattern, especially around his cheeks and temples. Finally, Draco knew what he was looking at. It was the silver markings that would adorn a Supero's body in battle, but Harry's body had not been able to produce the correct pigment and had instead created the lines by raising them out of his own flesh. Harry's face was that of a beast as he growled and showed his teeth. But most disturbingly of all, he appeared to be enjoying himself whole-heartedly.

But then everything exploded in pain as Draco was sent flying across the floor, the metal bars of his cage stopping his flight. His entire back radiated agony as he tried to turn and meet his attacker. He scrabbled for purchase on the bars and turned himself over.

"You thought you were so much better than I," Muroch snarled as he closed in, his face lined in silver. "You, a brat of a thing of pure-blood and a hoighty-toighty family, thought you were so much better than me. Me, who has been trying to create more than just a measly family, no..." Muroch's eyes widened and Draco could see the insanity in them. "No, I wanted to create life itself! I have the right to have my own pack! Do you know how hard I worked?! The sacrifices I made?!" Muroch stood over him with a metal pipe. "The things I have had to endure for a better future!"

"A delusional sadist is all you are," Draco gasped out as he tried to regain his feet. The pipe came down, slamming into the side of his knee and taking him down.

"It is not a delusion!" Muroch screamed. "I worked so hard!" He brought the pipe down again on Draco's other knee. The blond cried out as it burst into pain and bone. He was crippled now. He had lost. He hoped that Harry could make it out. Merlin, please get Harry out!

"You're nothing but a madman who took it into his head that because he had a bit of special blood in him that it qualified him as a god!" Draco spat out through the agony he was in. "I know! I've been there! But gods are always toppled by their own delusions, their own mistaken belief in themselves!"

"I am a whole lot more than a god!" The pipe came down again, slamming into Draco's chest. "I am a creator, a destroyer, a unifier! I know what this world needs!"

Draco gasped out a laugh. "Oh, brother! You should have come to this country about eight years ago. I could have introduced you to someone. But then, I suppose you would have cancelled each other out, both being 'the One' and all!"

"I will create my world, Draco. And you will be nothing but a stain on this floor!" The pipe came down again and Draco could only pray that Harry had gotten out before the blow landed, making everything black.

"Ah, little one, show me your fire!"

Harry grinned at Jonathon. "Show me your neck first," he taunted. He launched himself at the larger man, using his momentum to take the werewolf down. He had his fingers around the other's throat, clawing at it and drawing blood before he was thrown off. They were both on their feet again in a heartbeat. Harry licked at his bloody fingers. "Sweet."

Jonathon growled. "All you have is liquid courage, you know. A bit of a tussle and you'll be back to that mewling babe you were just minutes ago. Then we'll see which one of us is sweet." The words were barely out before Harry attacked again by going low and ramming into the other man's stomach, his momentum sending them both barrelling into a wall. Jonathon grunted as he took the full impact, but quickly grabbed Harry's arms and threw him off, using his grip to switch their positions. His bigger hand went around Harry's throat, lifting him off the ground. "Can you imagine what Muroch is going to let me do to you for this little rebellion? Personally, I can't wait."

Harry gagged and choked, but then was able to free his leg enough to knee Jonathon in the stomach. The other man's grasp loosened enough for Harry to ram his head forward hard into the bridge of Jonathon's nose. Blood spurted out and fell onto Harry's face, matching with the rivulets that had already dried on Jonathon's shirt. "Bastard!" the wolf gasped out as he flung Harry away from him. But Harry held on, his grip tight on the other man's arm. He swung around and bent that arm back and up, then laughed at the satisfying crunch he heard in the man's shoulder. He swung it back down across his own shoulder, breaking the elbow. Jonathon screamed and tried to pull away but was thrown down to the floor. He cradled his destroyed arm as he scooted away until his back was against the wall.

"Do you even know who I am?" Harry asked with a smirk with blood splattered across his face and red welts tracing patterns around his eyes. "I am Harry Potter. Did you really think that you, a piece of shite, could possibly win against me? Did you actually think that all the stories they tell about me were untrue?"

"You weren't all that mighty when you were screaming and crying underneath me and my pack!" Jonathon spit out and blood fell from his lips and down his chest. "Just a fancy piece of tail!"

"Well, I guess you caught me at a bad time, yeah?" Harry brought his foot up and kicked straight out, crushing the other man's windpipe and spine against the wall. Jonathon's head fell forward and his entire body slumped to the floor. Harry stared down at him, licking the blood that had fallen on his own lips before a scream caught his attention and he looked back toward the cage.

Muroch! Harry snarled and started toward the bastard that had created this, that had dared try to hurt and subjugate him. A glint of light grabbed his eye for a brief moment and Harry smiled as he veered toward it. Just what he needed...this was going to be fun. He bent down and picked up a sliver of glass from a broken bottle, turned, and moved on Muroch from behind.

"…but a stain on this floor!" Harry heard the bastard shout and watched as he swung at something with a weapon of some sort. As he swung back up to hit the object again, Harry struck. He smoothly slid up behind him, wrenched his head back, and dragged the glass across the man's throat, not too deep, but just enough to get his attention. He wanted to play, after all.

Muroch gasped and swung the pipe around toward Harry, but Harry punched at the bigger man's inner forearm, forcing the muscles for the hand to release. The weapon fell, making an awful clatter as it hit the floor. Muroch stared in disbelief at Harry, his hands at his bleeding throat.

"I've been informed that I only have a little bit of time before whatever this is begins to wear off," Harry commented nonchalantly. "So, let's get started, shall we?"

*-*-*

It was dark. Very dark. Not even the light from the sliver of the waxing moon gave him much to see by. He didn't know where he was and wasn't quite sure where he was going. He just knew that he had to find help. He hefted Draco up higher on his back and kept moving through the trees.

He kept his mind focused on getting Draco to safety and not on what he had done back there. He had already had to stop and throw up twice when his mind had drifted and given him images he didn't want to see. He was up to dry heaves now and his body was shaking badly whilst his vision was even more blurry than usual. He was starting to lose feeling in his feet and hands, but he plunged through the underbrush, making sure that Draco wasn't snagged on any branches. He had to get Draco to safety. He had to get Draco to help.

Harry knew that this would be the last thing he could do for Draco, the least he could do. He wouldn't go back with his husband. No, he had failed his husband and was a danger to his child. Harry would not forget that. Draco had come for him, but it was probably obligation anyway. And this way he knew that Maia would be safe. Draco loved their daughter more than anything. Harry never again wanted to see Draco's anger over Harry hurting their child. It was all just too much…not right. But he would get Draco to safety. It would be his last "I love you."

There was something up ahead. A huge tree, much larger than any he had seen yet. Maybe he could rest there, just for a bit. He moved closer and was surprised to find a plaque nailed to a post. Harry drew close to read it, barely making out the words in the gloomy darkness and his worsening vision. His nose was nearly touching it before the words became clear.

"King of the Limbs.
One of the largest oaks in Britain
Savernake Forest"

Savernake Forest? He knew where that was! That wasn't far from Silbury Hill, which meant he wasn't that far from Malfoy Manor! Lucius would help Draco! Draco needed to get to safety! He was going to get his mate help!

Harry found the trail just in front of the plaque and began following it. He had to move west. He wanted to Apparate, but his body was telling him that that would not be very smart at the moment. He wouldn't endanger Draco like that. Nothing seemed stable currently. But, he would get his mate to safety...no matter what.

*-*-*

Lucius Malfoy was not asleep when his study clock chimed six in the morning. Nor had he slept at all the previous eight hours. He was pacing his study, waiting for Severus to arrive along with whoever else could be gathered for the early morning raid. If the opened property books in the vault pointed correctly to where his son and son-in-law were, he would never forgive himself. He just hoped they would be in time. Lucius was not one to ignore facts. If this savage had kidnapped Potter for breeding purposes, there was not much reason to keep Draco alive.

Why had Draco run off without telling anyone!? Lucius slammed his hand down on the window sill as he watched the sun make its way above the horizon. The stupid boy! He should have notified everyone and they could have moved in quickly, efficiently. By rushing in like an idiot bent out of shape with worry, he had perhaps ended his own life!

Lucius closed his eyes briefly at that thought and almost went rushing out of there without waiting for anyone else either. Ah, so that's what had spurred his son on.

Not being able to stand and wait, the elder Malfoy stalked out of the room and into the main hall, intent on collecting his cloak and cane. He didn't want to waste one second once the others arrived. He was tying his cloak's laces when he heard a sound at the door. Finally, Severus was there! A house elf appeared but Lucius waved him away as he went to answer it himself. Propriety be damned! He wanted to leave immediately!

Lucius flung the door open and nearly tripped over the body on his doorstep. "The devil!?" He stepped back and looked down. "Draco!" His son! His son was right there! He knelt down and saw the damage. "You!" he shouted at the house-elf still in the hall. "Contact the healer immediately!" He turned back to his son without waiting for confirmation. A soft sound grabbed his attention and he quickly raised his wand and stood.

Through the ornamental hedges he saw movement and recognized the unruly hair. "Potter!" The head disappeared and Lucius stepped over his son, intent on finding the boy. "Potter!" Another quick advance and he could see Potter shuffling away quickly. Even from where he stood Lucius could see the blood covering the boy. He moved faster to catch him. "Harry!" he called out. He rounded the hedges just in time to see Harry disappear amidst the crack of Apparition.

"Draco! My Draco!"

Lucius stared at the spot that had last held the sorry figure of his son-in-law then quickly pocketed his wand and went back to his son and wife.