52Chapter 28
Chapter 28:
Lucius's POV
Lucius had sat in his library all night thinking over what he had learned. He couldn't believe that Draco was in a different time. Let alone far enough back to being going to school with a young version of himself. It was almost maddening to think about and a bit worrying, there were things in his past he would rather his son not know about it. He had spent a few hours after leaving Gringotts talking to people in places of power, a few Ministry workers and an Auror he knew was loyal to Dumbledore, hoping to learn anything about the Boy Who Lived disappearance , but he had found nothing. It seemed that like him, someone was hiding the fact that Potter had gone missing.
For now that was a good thing. It meant no one was looking to blame Draco for whatever imagined slights he might have done to Potter. Lucius was relieved that only a small group of people knew about Draco's disappearance. He wasn't sure about the Weasley twins but they seemed to care for Potter, so he imagined they would keep quiet. As for Sev he trusted the man with his life and that of his son, he knew his old friend wouldn't tell anyone. His wife didn't know, Narcissa would cause problems if she found out. So he let her believe that Draco was fine at school.
As for the school, luckily it has been Sev, that had noticed Draco missing. His son had missed Potions and Sev had gotten worried and had gone to look for him. When he couldn't locate him he sent an owl straight away informing Lucius that his son was gone. Then he told that fool of a headmaster that the Malfoy heir had been sent home for a family emergency. For now the lie was believed. Lucius just hoped that the two boys returned before the truth got out.
He would have to think of contingencies for if it somehow got out that either boy was missing, and it was strange to him to be worrying about Potter, but his son, young and foolish had gone and befriended him, perhaps even loved, so for now he would do as his son asked.
Which meant he had a werewolf to track down and a meeting to attend. He wasn't sure which made him cringe more a meeting with a werewolf or stepping foot into a Weasley home. Though he had to admit the twins had surprised him, they had joined him in the circle even before Sev. Which meant they held a great deal of loyalty and trust in the young Potter.
He sighed and stood from his chair, he couldn't hide in his library forever.
"Jexa," he called out. A soft pop sound and the house elf appeared. She bowed her head. "Yes Master?" she asked quietly. Her shy manner irritated him but she was Draco's favorite, for some reason, so he never yelled at her for it.
"I need you to find Remus Lupin." She looked up at him. "Yes Sir," and with another pop she was gone.
While he let her search, he took a bath and changed.
While he was getting dressed, she appeared. "Found him, Master." He nodded.
Hoping he didn't regret this, he summoned the letter "Take me to him."
Jexa took his arm and did the house elf version of apparition. He found himself standing just outside a small worn down building with a dark sign hanging over the door. It was a cafe he had never heard of, with a sigh he waved the elf off and entered the building. It took him a second of scanning the surprisingly crowded inside before he spotted the sandy haired man he was looking for.
The look of fear that crossed the man's eyes as he approached the table made him feel uneasy. He held up his hand. "I'm here because of my son. I mean no harm. I swear." There was a gentle hum in the air as he made the promise. The wolf must have felt it because he relaxed and gestured to the seat across from him.
Instead of saying anything he reached into his coat and pulled out the letter, then slide it across the table to the other man. Lupin looked unsure, but he picked it up and read it. It didn't take long before the man looked up at him clearly confused, though it seemed the man was as smart as Lucius remembered because instead of demanding answers, he stood up and grabbed his coat.
"Maybe we should talk somewhere else," He said and waited for Lucius to stand. He nodded and got up. Once they were outside he turned to the man, "we can not go the the manor." Lupin scoffed, "I know a place. If I may?" he asked raising his hand leaving it hanging just about Lucius's arm. He didn't like it, everything in him told him not to go with a potential enemy somewhere unknown, but he trusted his son, he nodded, not missing the surprise in the wolf's eyes.
Lupin placed his hand on his arm and appreciated them. Lucius was surprised to find himself outside a small hut, on what looked like an empty beach. The smell of salt heavy in the air. He hated beaches the salt in the air tended to impact magic, making it harder to work, and when the door opened and a very confused Sirius Black walked out, he understood why.
On instinct he grabbed his wand. He saw Black do the same, but before either of them could cast a hex, Lupin placed himself in the middle of them, his back to Lucius, facing his lifelong friend.
"He knows where Harry is," the wolf said. Lucius wanted to roll his eyes, that was not the smartest way to start this conversation. Black growled, apparently getting the wrong idea.
"Padfoot. No." Lucius head spun at the power of the command coming off the werewolf. Surprise didn't cover how he felt, he had always assumed Lupin was a submissive wolf. The man was reserved, quiet, and shy in the way he seemed to like to disappear into the background and let people forget he was there, but it seemed Lucius was mistaken, Black let out a whine and lowered his head.
"Interesting," he whispered, Lupin looked over his shoulder at him, eyes amber and narrowed. He understood the warning and bowed his head slightly. Respect not submission. Lupin nodded.
"Let's take this inside," Lupin said, moving forward shoving his friend back into the hut. He followed them inside, wondering how the truth spell would react. He had been given permission to tell Lupin but not Black.
"He might not be able to stay," he said once he found himself in a sitting room. Lupin shoved Black down onto one of the chairs and pointed to the other, telling Lucius he could sit. He thought about not doing it but the place seemed clean and it would be impolite not too.
"Can't stay for what?" Black asked, glaring at him.
"From what I can gather," Lupin said sitting down next to his friend, "Harry and Draco are somewhere together, as friends," he stressed looking at Black. "They sent a letter, and I am assuming you were only allowed to read it after stepping into a Truth Circle." Lucius nodded.
"Somehow Draco placed in an expectation for telling me. Which is incredible," the man grinned, "I wish I could have worked with him more. Brilliant student." Lucius let himself smile.
"Anyways, I believe I should be able to read the letter out loud to Sirius. Then he can go make lunch in the kitchen while you give me the rest of the details," he agreed that it would work, he thought about saying no, just because Black hadn't been named in the letter, not as friend or enemy, but Lupin seemed determined and he could always wipe the man's memory later, if needed.
So, he nodded then sat and listened as the werewolf read out the letter. Grateful when he left the last bit unsaid.
"Fuck," Black cursed. "This is my fault. I told him not to trust that old coot." Lucius leaned forward curious as to why, but Lupin smacked his friend upside the back of his head. "You didn't send Harry off, Merlin knows where. Now please go make lunch." Black groaned but got up.
As he walked out of the room Lucius ears caught him muttering about pushy werewolves, manipulative old men, and hating cooking. He tried not to find it amusing but failed. It seemed Black reminded him a bit of Severus which given the animosity between the two shouldn't have amused him, or perhaps that's why it did.
"The past," he said when Black was out of earshot. Lupin looked at him, at first he could tell the man wanted to say bullshit but he seemed to be thinking about it, then he placed his head in his hands. "Tell me everything."
So, he told him about the meeting at the bank, the circle, and the meeting at the twins later that day. It took a little over an hour, before he had finished and Lupin called Black back into the room. Lupin was faster about telling the story as he filled in the other man while they ate.
Lunch went by surprisingly well right up until Lupin told Black he couldn't come with them to the meeting.
"Why the hell not," the man shouted bouncing to his feet.
"Siri, You're wanted." Black growled and Lucius was curious about the canine smell that filled the air, he hadn't known the Black line carried a creature, in fact, he was sure they didn't. Narcissa would have told him, if only because of Draco.
"Fucking ridiculous," Black yelled. "I'm innocent. I should be able to be there for my Godson!" Then Black dropped down in his chair. "I lost 13 years, Remy I just want to protect him." Lucius found himself feeling bad for the man, if he wasn't able to protect Draco, he wasn't sure what he would do. If Sev wasn't as well, it was unthinkable. Though how no one knew the small fact about Black being Potter's godfather was astonishing. Surely someone in the ministry would have stumbled across the paperwork about it by now.
"I know," Lupin whispered kneeling down in front of his friend, feeling that this was personal, Lucius quietly got to his feet and walked out of the hut. He didn't have to wait for long for Lupin joined him.
The sandy haired man wore a frown.
"Is he truly innocent?" he couldn't help but ask. He had heard the rumors about it, even about Pettigrew's supposed involvement but the Dark Lord didn't seem to want to fill anyone in on the details and it wasn't like he could ask at the Ministry.
"Yes," Lupin said low, and Lucius could hear the growl buried beneath the word. "Dumbledore knows. We have been trying for years to get him to call an emergency hearing, but he kept giving reasons on why the timing wasn't right." The man sighed. "Now I'm thinking it's because if Sirius was cleared, he would get all rights to Harry and it seems Dumbledore doesn't want that."
He hummed in agreement. He wondered just how much power the old fool had over Potter, and why he was afraid of losing it. He had always assumed Dumbledore's fascination with the Boy That Lived was because he was a beacon for the light side, but it seemed he was missing some information.
It was infuriating.
"I can apparate us to the twins' I have been there before," Lupin said, not noticing his frustrated mood. He nodded and moved closer to the wolf. Lupin gave him a strange look, like he didn't believe this was real. A feeling Lucius understood all too well.
When Lupin pulled out his wand before taking his arm, he tensed, the wolf saw it and froze. "Disillusionment," the man muttered.
"Alright," he replied relaxing. Surprisingly it wasn't hard to trust the wolf at his word. He shouldn't, but he remembered enough about their years at Hogwarts to know Lupin wasn't vindictive or cruel, he had a sense of nobility that Lucius had always felt in awe of, not that he ever said it. To anyone, ever.
After Lupin cast the he took Lucius's arm and appreciated them.
Lucius found himself in a small alley behind Weasley's Wizard Wheezes joke shop. Lupin still holding his arm, lead him around the front of the store and around the small crowds of shoppers, up the staircase and then through a door he hadn't seen and up a smaller more narrow staircase. At the top of those stairs stood another door. This time Lupin stopped before it and looked back at him. The wolf seemed to realise then that he was dragging Lucius around because his eyes widened and he let go. He turned back to the door and knocked.
Twin's POV
George was starting to wonder two things, how far he and his brother could push flirting with the young Slytherin sitting on their couch before Snape snapped and murdered them, and if they should just assume that the elder Malfoy wasn't coming and start.
Of course as he thought it there was a knock at their door. He heard his brother sighing before he pushed himself off the couch and went to the door.
Fred was only slightly annoyed at Malfoy's timing, he tried not to frown as he opened the door. Though he shouldn't have worried because he gasped in surprise to see not only Malfoy standing there but Remus.
"Umm," he looked between the two, confused. Remus smiled at him and handed him a piece of parchment. Still lost he took it and started to read it, he froze before looking at Malfoy to make sure it was okay when he saw that it was the man's letter from the bank. The blonde nodded and he went back to reading. When he finished he handed the parchment to Malfoy and showed them both in.
"Hey Remus," he said smiling.
"Hey Fred." The werewolf grinned, Fred groaned. Him and his brother had been trying for years to confuse the man, but always failed. Somehow during their fourth year it had become a game. One the older man seemed to enjoy because he never put a stop to it.
"Lupin," Severus said as they walked into the room, he did not look happy.
"I brought him, Severus," Malfoy said moving past Fred and Remus to stand by his friend.
"How?" Blaise and George asked together, gaining a grin from Fred, an amused look from Remus and a groan from Snape.
"It seems," said Fred. "That the younger Malfoy is quite talented, he wrote in an exception for Mister Malfoy to tell Remus." There was a chorus of questions, but Snape stepped forward "Enough."
The power in the word hummed around the twins. Their inheritance had surprised them, meaning that they hadn't been expecting one. Their mother swear her family, the Prewett, wasn't from one of the Descendant lines nor held any creature blood, and the Weasley family according to their father hadn't had a member manifest any abilities from an inheritance in generations.
So, on their 16th birthday when they woke up heads pounding, ears ringing, and the strongest itch to cause more mischief than ever before, they had been astonished. They had kept it a secret slowly figuring out their new abilities together and enjoying the perks that came with them. One of which was not being submissive or dominant. While Fred was more laid back and George was a bit of a control freak, that was all them no inheritance needed.
Meaning that Snape's command had no effect. Even if they could feel it's power.
Nor did it seem to affect Blaise who just looked at his Professor in surprise. The elder Malfoy's eyes narrowed at his friend, probably irritated, but Remus growled. Causing the hair on the back of their necks to stand, and thick tension to fill the air.
Fred, who was still standing close enough to Remus to feel the wolf's power react, took a step away, because as much as he liked the man, standing next to an angry werewolf didn't seem smart.
"Severus," Malfoy commanded and then more carefully said, "Lupin."
George shivered as both men turned to glare at the blonde.
"Severus, I have recently learned that Lupin is quite dominant, it is unwise to give him orders." The room watched as Snape's eyes widened in surprise. Then shocking everyone the Potions Master lowered his head slightly, the tension in the room dissipated.
"Well," George said, "I'm surprised." Blaise snorted then tried to cover his mouth to hide his laughter, but it seemed like it was the right thing to do because Remus chuckled.
There was a sigh from Snape, "What I was trying to do was to quiet down the room so we can discuss what we are going to do about Potter and Draco."
"Lucius told me that Draco and Harry have a plan? A Ritual?" Lupin asked, the people in the room nodded. He looked at Severus. "Do you have the supplies for it?" The potions master thought about it, "All but thorn-apple but I have been assured the twins can get some, and the items needed to tether both boys."
Both twins snorted, "have some."
"It's great for our Dragon treats-." Fred said. Getting a startled look from just about everyone other person in the room.
"While poisonous to most it animals-" George added.
"Dragon's are drawn to it," Fred went on.
"Charlie hates it," They said together, grinning. They had a habit of sending some in the packages they owled their brother. They told him it was because they knew the dragons enjoyed it but the truth was they loved how irritated his brother seemed to get. They always pictured him getting ganged up by the dragons as they tried to get to the treats.
"As for the teather," George said looking at his brother eyebrow raised, thinking about Harry's cloak. It was something that mean a lot to their young friend, slash brother.
"We think we know what to use for Harry," his brother said understanding him.
"It won't work," said Remus. Both twins turned to look at him, heads tilted to the side with questioning looks. "You're thinking about his father's cloak?" the werewolf asked to make sure. They both nodded. "It won't work, because it is there in the past as well. With James. Using something in both times would confuse the spell."
"Oh," they said, looking back at each other trying to think of something else.
"What about Horntail?" Fred asked.
"What is Horntail?" Snape asked sounding exasperated.
"His dragon," George said, as if that answered Snapes question. From the annoyed look on the professor's face all it did was irritate him more.
"His mini dragon from the tournament," Fred said. "He kept it. It normally flies around the dorm causing little-"
"-sparks, trying to scare his doormates," George said excitedly
"It's kinda cute."
Snape sighed at their twin speak but nodded. "I believe that would work. How about for Draco?" He asked looking back at Malfoy and Blaise.
"I actually already thought of that," Blaise said, sending a questioning look at Malfoy. The elder blonde man looked curious and nodded.
"In second year, he found a black quartz out along the end of the forest. It took us months but we charmed it into a bracelet. He normally wears it everywhere, but I saw it in the dorm a couple of days ago. Would it work?" he asked both Professors.
The two adults look at each other. "It should," said Remus.
"We have a week," Remus said, "for you three to get the correct items, and for us to sneak into the school and set up the ritual. Severus, you have seen it, do you think it will work?"
"For such a powerful ritual it is surprisingly simple, Draco did well. It will work." There was a relieved sigh from most in the room.
"So, " Fred said, walking over to Blaise. "How do you feel about sneaking around Hogwarts with us?" He grinned over at his new friend, who blushed a little before grinning back, "sounds fun." There was a groan which caused Fred and George to look over at their old Potions Professor. The man didn't say anything just glared at the three of them.
It was Remus that started chuckling. "I think he fears you have corrupted one of his Slytherins."
This got a snort from Malfoy, "I've known Blaise since he was a child, he does not need to be corrupted by the twins, he seeks trouble enough on his own."
"Really?" they said turning to grin at the other boy.
"Now you have done it," Snape muttered. "Blaise, we are leaving, I need to get you back to the school before anyone notices you are gone." George watched as Blaise frowned, then dropped his shoulders resigned.
"It's okay," Fred said.
"You will see us tomorrow," George added. Blaise gave them both a questioning look but his arm was grabbed by Snape and then they were gone.
"Gred," his brother whined.
"Yes Forge?" he said turning to look at his twin.
"I want one."
There was a snort and a chuckle from the two other adults. Then the elder Malfoy bowed his head and apparated out. Remus however dropped down on their couch, looking exhausted. Fred rushed to the kitchen and grabbed him a cup of tea.
While George sat down next to him. "We have a lot to talk about," he said, using his wand to summon to two pieces of parchment that hadn't been sent with his brothers.