The Scorpions Kiss

Chapter 7- Guilty as Sin



Harry reread the parchment in his hand again, not believing his own eyes.



The Minister of Magic to Mr. Harry Potter



It is on my behalf that Lucius Malfoy has been paroled from Azkaban. He has served his sentence and will become a productive member of the community again. You have this on my authority. Still vacationing and enjoying the vampires’ hospitality immensely.



Kingsley Shacklebolt



“Ron something very bad has happened that needs our immediate attention.” He said to Ron and Ron’s eyes looked up in astonishment.



“Lucius Malfoy has been released from Azkaban on orders by the Ministry.” Harry read the parchment to Ron who stood and gulped hard at the news.



“But..I thought we were the Ministry Harry?” Ron looked at Harry for answers.



“This comes directly from the Minister of Magic himself.” Harry spoke slow and methodical as if plotting out his next move.



“How is it that Lucius Malfoy can get in touch with the Minister from his cell in Azkaban but we can’t get a hold of him?” Ron had a very good question.



“My sentiments exactly Ron,” Harry shivered for a moment and then grabbed his Firebolt from the closet in his office.



“I am going to pay Lucius Malfoy a visit, care to join me Ron?” Without a word Ron grabbed his broomstick from his office and they set out into the crisp autumn night.



The Manor was dark and foreboding as the pair descended on Malfoy Manor. Their brooms sluggishly moved through the thick fog as they made their descent. The gates that surrounded the now decrepit looking house were mounted with gargoyles and spikes along its wrought iron fence of twenty feet high. Draco had not lived here since his mother had died. He now owned the house but he wasn’t ready to sell it, yet he did not want to live there either, so he moved out and just left it as it was. The foliage had grown up all around the house and it looked from the street like it was being strangled by thousands of snakes. The vines converged on each other until the whole house appeared like it could be snapped shut into the mouth of a beast made of briar and vines.



“How are we going to get over it Harry?” Harry had been asking himself the same thing. They surely had a security charm on the perimeter. Brooms would not work either, so after pausing for only a moment Harry suggested they scale the fence instead. Ron looked up and shook his head but started up the fence as well.



“The Boy Who Lived and his friend,” Harry and Ron jumped down from their perch on the gate when they saw a floating metal lock box hovering below them. It was speaking to them with wicked teeth that protruded from the inside of the box as it flapped its jaw.



“Breaking and entering…….tssk tssk….Not very becoming of an auror now is it?” Lucius’s shrill wicked voice was speaking to them through the enchanted box.



“Push the button Potter,” Came the voice again and with that Harry and Ron pushed it and were transported to the foyer of Malfoy Manor in an instant. The house was lit only with candlelight as a clean shaven and healthy looking Lucius Malfoy greeted Harry and Ron. Harry noticed how fit he looked and felt the anger boil inside of him. He had wanted Lucius to live in fear, being tortured for the rest of his life in Azkaban with dementors sucking at his very soul, each day worse then the previous. This was not what he found though. Lucius pounced in Harry’s face but Harry did not flinch.



“To what do I owe this late night visit from the local law enforcement Potter? Malfoy walked around them stalking them like a wild cat in the jungle.



He walked around Ron and then commented.



“Weasley,hmmm. The Ministry must be letting just any one be an Auror now.” And he cackled to himself while Ron glared hard into his eyes unwavering.



“Well the fact that you are here Lucius is why we are here. You see, your parole stinks of foul play and I intend to find out how it is you are not locked in Azkaban rotting away with your Death Eater pals Malfoy. When I do find out how you pulled this off I intend to lock you away again and throw away the key.” Harry Potter spoke through gritted teeth at the vile and venomous scum that stood before him.



“I assure you it’s all on the level Potter. If you see right here the Minister himself signed my release papers.” Lucius handed Harry the parchment and Harry glanced at it before speaking.



“I would keep your nose clean Malfoy because I’m going to be watching you and I will get you. I watched you kill my friends, you are a murderer and I will never rest until you get what you deserve.” Harry stood only inches from his face as he looked him sternly in the eye.



“I’ve been reading the Daily Prophet again. I missed quite a lot it seems while I was away.” Lucius grabbed a newspaper off the cherry wood table in the foyer. A statue of a famous Dark Wizard, who shall not be named, graced the table next to the paper he took in his pale elongated fingers. His long yellow fingernail grazed the front page of the Daily Prophet as he moved it down the page to a picture of his son holding the snitch at the Chudley Canons game against Bulgaria.



“It seems my son is a quidditch player now. Star Seeker it says. Wasn’t that your position?” Lucius grinned in a sinister way.



“It’s not going to work Malfoy. Nothing you can say to me can hurt me. I beat you and Voldemort once and I will do it again, and you will live your life in tormented fear every day of your life with the dementors of Azkaban. As soon as I find the Minister you are as good as gone Malfoy, so don’t get too comfy here, hmm? Harry smirked at Malfoy and then turned to Ron.



“Ron search the upstairs and the downstairs, I will take this floor floor. I know he’s done something to the Minister. Are you hiding him in your basement Lucius?” Harry had a slight snobbish tone in his voice mocking Malfoy.



Harry walked around the main floor of the manor while Ron checked the upstairs and downstairs. Harry was watching Lucius’s face in hopes he would give something away.



Ron bounded back down the stairs and nodded a disappointing no to Harry.



“Says here my son had a child with a mudblood. Disgusting filth. Draco is a disgrace to this family. He ruined our pureblood lineage and for what? To have some filthy mudblood's baby? He never could learn to keep his dick in his pants.”



Harry didn’t like the expression on his face when Lucius said that. It told him Draco was in danger.



“Look here you despicable excuse for a man and father. Your son, whatever he is, isn’t a murderer like yourself. He has a new life now so leave him be. Keep your nose clean Malfoy, you’d do well to heed my advice. Step off that line once and I will take you away faster then you can say death eater!”



“Are you threatening me Potter?” Lucius said with a twisted sneer on his face.



“You better believe it is you piece of shit. I am gong to make you pay once and for all for the people you killed. You can take that one to Gringotts, Lucius.” Harry turned on his foot and exited the door with Ron following close behind.



Harry had been at Lucius Malfoy's trial at the Ministry that fateful day. Draco had taken the stand against his father. He spoke of the dark mark Voldemort branded him with that enslaved him. He spoke of how his father made him do this, and threatened to kill him if he didn’t. He spoke of his mother and her suffering and abuse. Then Harry had taken the stand in Draco’s defense and told the court he saw Draco drop his wand on Dumbledore when he had every opportunity to kill him had he intended to. Draco had been cleared and as he left the court room that day a teary and emotionally drained Draco Malfoy had nodded a thanks to Harry Potter. They would never share sentiments for each other, friends or otherwise, but that day Harry had felt something for Draco that surprised even him self. He felt sorry for him, having to live all those years with the demented and deranged and controlling Lucius Malfoy. Draco had gone on to start a new life; leaving behind most of the things he had known all of his priveleged life. He tried out and got the position of seeker with the Chudley Canons quidditch team and his life started a new chapter. Now with Lucius back Harry felt there would be possible trouble for Draco and he had to warn him. News like this was not handed to someone via owl. Hermione had mentioned in passing to Harry a few weeks earlier that he was teaching at Hogwarts for this year only, and he and Ron set out through the night sky to meet him and tell him of the horrible news.



Okay the powers that be did not want me to write this chapter. Under a heatwave here the power went out and I lost this chapter yet again. Three’s a charm? It was better the first two times I wrote it….You get the idea though.



Review? Let me know people are still reading this! Thanks.