This whole chapter will be in third person and will cover the important parts of information regarding the Malfoy family. There are a few time jumps because; 1. I don't want to over push the number of words. 2. I'm lazy to recount each and every week in repetitive detail. 3. Some events overlap with others from previous chapters. Hope you enjoy my lovelies comment and vote ❤😘...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Malfoy's were not cowards. At least that's what Lucius always told himself and his son. The truth was Lucius Malfoy was a coward. He had made a mistake in his youth and regretted it ever since. He was however too scared to face the consequences. As a result he never tried doing anything that would risk torture.

Yes Lucius was a coward, but more so he really did care about his family. His heir more specifically. He played his cards close to his chest, as a result everyone thought he only cared for status. He thought it was better that way.

For years it was. He managed to successfully protect Draco from too much scrutiny. Being the son of a former Death Eater, the Malfoy name was what protected Draco.

"Lucius?"

Lucius snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his name. No one called him by his first name except for two people. He sighed heavily after seeing who it was. Shifting slightly in his spot he dropped his hands from under his chin and straightened his back.

"Is there something you need love?" Lucius asked with a small smile.

The most affection he ever showed was always when he was alone with his wife. Now was such an occasion where he allowed his features to do as they pleased. Narcissa walked over to him from the doorway. She placed a hand on his shoulder and he flinched.

Narcissa frowned. "What happened Lucius?"

Lucius sighed again. "He wants Draco to 'enlist' in his service."

"You said no didn't you?" Lucius nodded slightly. "So what is the problem?"

"I had to say yes eventually." Lucius whispered unable to make eye contact with Narcissa.

She knelt down in front of him and noticed, once again, the slight flinch. She took his hands in hers and waited until he looked at her. It took less than a minute for Lucius to give in. He looked at Narcissa in the eyes for the first time since she was there. The pain in his eyes told her everything.

"He used Curcio didn't he." It was a statement. "Where is Draco?"

Narcissa looked around the room expectantly. Lucius closed his eyes and shook his head. The thought of his last real conversation with his son burning his eyelids. He stood up from the bed a little unsteady.

"He must have overheard the last bit of my conversation with him. Draco was gone by the time I came here." Lucius said. "He didn't go to Blaise like I thought he would."

"What would you have done if he did?" Narcissa asked.

Lucius shook his head. "Told him to disappear. Which he seems to have done quite effectively."

Narcissa nodded. "And why have you been sitting in his room for the past 15 minutes?"

Lucius shrugged in a desperate attempt to avoid his wife's probing. She knew why he was there. Only two people knew the absolute truth about Lucius. His wife was number one on that list. Lucius offered his wife a gentle smile before kissing her cheek.

"I have to report back." He whispered glumly.

Narcissa nodded and allowed her husband to leave. She took his place on the edge of Draco's bed and sighed. She mumbled a soft, quick, "Stay safe my baby boy." before standing. Then she froze in the spot at the sound of a short yell of pain. A tear escaped her eye and she quickly removed it. She left the room closing the door and hastily made her way to the library.

*~*

Two weeks had past since the day Draco left. Two horribly pleasant weeks. Lucius had been tortured daily for not knowing where Draco had gone. On the other hand Lucius didn't care much about being tortured, his son was safe and he found that lifted his spirits.

"Where is he?!" The growl came, followed by excruciating pain.

"I... I don't... don't know." Lucius gasped.

"My Lord. It will do no good if he goes mad."

Voldemort sneered at the impostor. "Severus, to what do I owe this interruption?"

Snape bowed. "Mr. Malfoy is a valuable asset sir. Driving him mad will not help your cause."

"Stand up Lucius." Voldemort hissed.

Lucius did as told and gave Snape a look that only they understood. Snape waited until Lucius left then turned to Voldemort. He waited longer to be addressed by Voldemort.

"What is it Severus?" Voldemort finally says.

"I have information that Mr. Potter has chosen to stay with his muggle family for the summer." Snape said calmly.

Voldemort growled frustrated. "Leave."

Snape nodded and left the office. He went straight to where he knew Lucius and Narcissa would be. Once there he tapped on the door frame to make his presence known. Lucius sighed and offered his friend a small smile. Narcissa embraced Snape in a hug.

"I just came to tell you that Draco is in fact in the muggle world. Where I don't know, but no one in the Wizarding world knows anything of his whereabouts." Narcissa and Lucius nodded their acknowledgement. "When he returns to Hogwarts I will ask him where he was. I doubt he will give me a location or name, but as long as he has been okay. I have to get back now. Rest well Luc. Goodbye Cissa."

"Do you think Draco will ever come back?" Narcissa asked.

Lucius hugged his wife. "He doesn't know the truth love. And we must not tell him until this war is over."

Narcissa nodded. "I miss him Lucius."

Lucius sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. When he opened them he gently pushed his wife toward the door of the room. They closed the door and made their way to their own room to rest for the night.

Lucius laid on his back with Narcissa laying on his chest. His mind running back to the thoughts he'd been hiding. He wondered if Draco would ever forgive him. More importantly he wondered if he'd survive long enough to ask his son for forgiveness.

He was young and stupid and wanted to impress a girl like most boys that age did. If only he knew sooner he might have made a different decision. His life, and that of his family, might have been very different.

Now knowing that his son was safe from the mad man he used to believe, was the only thing that was pleasant about this situation. The conversations he had with each burning his mind. He sighed as he thought to the moment Draco had addressed him.

~~~~~

"Father I don't mean to be rude, but I won't take the mark." Draco bluntly said.

Lucius wanted to smile and possibly hug his son. Instead he simply raised an eyebrow. Draco seemed to have taken it as an invitation or rejection. He stepped towards Lucius' desk, placed both hands palm down and leaned forward.

"I will not do the bidding of a mad man who just murdered one of my schoolmates. I refuse to accept that as my fate. Leave me out of your war. Promise me you will consider it. I don't want to have to fight my parents or my schoolmates. I would prefer to remain neutral." Draco rushed out.

Lucius thought he was afraid he wouldn't get another chance. He didn't say anything as Draco continued. Until finally he raised a hand to silence him. Draco stepped back, what little courage had spurred his rant seemed to be gone.

Lucius wanted to tell Draco how he really felt. He wanted his son to know he would rather die than allow him to take the mark. He wanted Draco to know that he was very very proud and happy to hear that Draco didn't want to take up such a burden.

Instead Lucius simply closed his eyes and nodded. "I'll consider it. Now leave."

He didn't open his eyes till he heard the door. He hadn't moved from his spot, slumped in his chair, until Narcissa came to call him for dinner.

*~*

The day Lucius had been anxiously waiting for finally arrived. The day students returned to Hogwarts. He had left the manor early in the morning, trying his best not to get caught by that blasted snake. Nagini had been torturing his life. She never left him alone and always reported everything to her pasletongue master. It usually resulted in hours of torture and blood curdling screams of pain.

That day Snape had shown up had saved Lucius from daily torture, but it didn't save him from twice or three times a week of up to ten hours. Lucius shook his head and the thoughts that came with the eerily quiet station.

Yes that's where he was now. Waiting at Kings Cross Station, on platform 9¾. The plan wasn't to talk or be seen. No, his plan was simply to make sure that his son was okay. More importantly healthy and had everything he needed.

Lucius waited for a good few hours since the train only started boarding closer to late afternoon. People only started arriving in the afternoon and Lucius had been there before anyone woke in his manor. He kept in the shadows so that if Draco did come early he wouldn't be seen.

~~~~~

"Where is the boy?"

"My Lord?" Lucius cursed his voice for faltering.

"Where is your son Lucius." Voldemort said with an ominous twist in his voice.

"His room my Lord." Lucius responded tentatively.

"He shall receive the mark today." Voldemort ordered.

"I cannot allow that. He is a ch- AHHH!" Lucius feel to his knees.

His sentence cut off by the pain surging through his body. Voldemort demanded he bring Draco. Again Lucius refused and again he cried out in pain. The door was locked and a silencing charm placed on it. Voldemort shot the Curcio curse at Lucius over and over. Repeating his demand and each time Lucius refused he held the curse longer.

"Draco will take the mark today. With your permission. Or you will die and he will still take the mark." Voldemort growled.

All Lucius did was nod. He walked to the door and opened it a bit. The silencing charm breaking. A flash of blonde caught his eye but he brushed it off. Voldemort called out to him and he bowed responding with what he knew would please the man.

Lucius walked into Draco's room. The first thing he noticed was Draco's "on the go" bag was gone. The second thing he noticed was the faint sense of magic radiating from the side. He knew then he had to make a choice.

He could; A. Let Draco know whatever charms he was using didn't work and take him to the mad man waiting in his office. Or B. He could ignore Draco and let his son leave to the safety of a friend. Then maybe he could talk to Draco without the loom of the Dark Lord.

He wanted his son to be free of his own wrong choices. So he chose the second option. Chewing the inside of his right cheek he turned away and walked out. A silent "I'm sorry. Please be okay." resonating in his mind as he walked towards the library. There he found Narcissa buried in a book. A few seconds later the familiar pull from his wards signaled that Draco was gone.

~~~~~

Lucius shook away his thoughts again as he noticed the station slowly filling up. He hadn't seen Draco yet, but Blaise, Pansy, Vincent and Gregory weren't there either. He continued to scan the growing crowd of wizards, witches and children. The he spotted something slightly odd. Almost 5 seconds after Harry Potter walked through the barrier Draco appeared. They didn't acknowledge each other and Draco instantly made a beeline for the train.

The only reason Lucius found it odd was because he knew he raised Draco to at least acknowledge those around him. He thought it seemed to be a rehearsed reaction. He quickly brushed it off and went on observing his son. Draco, in fact, had everything he needed. A quick cast, undetectable spell told Lucius that the only thing Draco didn't have with him was his broom. Which he figured was left behind at the manor.

Satisfied with the knowledge his son was fine, Lucius left Kings Cross the same time as the train. He quickly removed the memory and placed it in a vial which he banished. He got back to the manor expecting some sort of uproar and punishment. Instead it seemed no notice of him was taken. Grateful for the opportunity he went to where Narcissa was.

"Here. Keep it safe." Lucius said handing the vial to Narcissa.

Narcissa wanted to ask, but Lucius disappeared around the corner almost immediately. She sighed and took the vial to their bedroom where they had a pensive. She poured the memory out and viewed it. Her heart beating at an easier rate knowing her baby was okay. She quickly put the memory back and tied the vial to a chain.

*~*

Two weeks since Hogwarts had gone back. An owl swooped into the kitchen as Narcissa was making tea. The letter attached to the owls foot was addressed to Lucius and Narcissa. She took the letter and the owl flew off.

Dear Cissa,

     You will most likely be the one to read this first.

     Draco is back at Hogwarts. He has requested I pair him up with Potter. I have done so seeing as they are a better team than they realize.

     I asked Draco where he had been. He openly admitted to running away and living in the muggle world. He refused to give me the name or location of the person who he stayed with. He insisted that they are left out of things seeing as they housed and fed him.

     I made madam Pomfrey give him a once over and he is in "impeccable health". I know how worried you and Luc must be, therefore I sent this letter. Whoever he was with has sufficient knowledge of the Wizarding world and enough money to buy all Draco's supplies.

     I plan to do a little digging into the matter myself.

Severus Snape

Narcissa sighed as she held the letter to her chest. She knew Draco was okay already, but the letter put all her other worries at ease. She folded the letter and tucked it into her robes. She didn't care who helped Draco. She just wanted to thank them and offer whatever favor they would want. After all she owed them for looking after her son.

Not long after she put the letter in her robes Lucius walked into the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Narcissa for a brief moment before grabbing a piece of tissue paper. Narcissa looked at him and gasped. Lucius' lip was busted and a welt was forming on his left cheek.

"Why didn't you just heal it?" Narcissa asked.

"He took my wand." Lucius stated.

Narcissa nodded understanding now how he got the bruise and bleeding lip. She assumed he was hit with the sake part of his cane. The handle of his wand. She wasn't off with her assumption either. She cast a quick healing spell at Lucius. The mark remained but it looked to be a month old.

"Sev sent a letter." Narcissa said. "He said Draco is refusing to give up information about who he was with, but he is healthy."

(2585 words)