Lucius and Draco

[Draco Malfoy]

"Not since you've arrived," Draco remarked off handedly. His gaze flicked over his Father "Are you in deep trouble with the Dark Lord?" Normally he wouldn't ask anything so bold, but he really did need to know, and those infernal twins kept implying that they were both hanging onto a ledge with very little room to hold on.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The smirk vanished in an instant, and Lucius held in the sigh he could feel wanting to escape. His own stare faltered, drifting to the side, as he could scarcely bring himself to look at his son now that he was instantly reminded how much Draco had been forced to endure because of him, because of his failures. They were in this whole mess because, following one wrong choice after another, Lucius had led them here.

He answered dryly, "Yes, you could say that. He's very...," he trailed off, searching for the word that would best convey his meaning, "displeased."

[Draco Malfoy]

The candid (for him) answer surprised Draco as he looked at his Father with a small frown. "So the twins have said... are you working to curry his favor once more?- Or is it a lost cause?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius glanced back over at Draco, catching the frown that had overtaken his features, and forcing a scowl of his own back when he saw it. "Well, I'm...certainly doing what I can," he informed the boy, his tone listless, "but...I'm not entirely convinced anything can be done at this point."

[Draco Malfoy]

The boy averted his gaze and nodded "Mother..." his gaze flicked back to Lucius. "Aunt Bellatrix says she was left at the Manor... is *he* still there?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

"He...comes and goes," Lucius returned a bit darkly, "whatever suits his fancy."

His own mind flashed to his wife when Draco mentioned her, and he could feel the concern building up once again, as it had on more than one occasion since the Dark Lord had sent him to this school. However, he was determined to think that since she was, in fact, Bellatrix's darling baby sister, and since the elder Black sister was practically floating in a sea of Voldemort's good graces, no harm would befall her. Even so...the very thought of Narcissa being left there, alone (now that Bellatrix had arrived on the grounds as well), with the Dark Lord...it was very...unsettling, to say the least.

[Draco Malfoy]

"I see..." Draco responded in a non-committal fashion. "Are you- have you, spoken with her? You know, since you've arrived? I'm planning on writing her tonight myself, just to... say hello." And check on her, though he supposed he couldn't ask much more than 'how are you' and she couldn't respond much further than 'well' or 'fine' even if that was not the case. He wasn't stupid enough to think that post was coming and going freely from the Manor with the Dark Lord in and out of attendance.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius nodded his head, telling his son, "Good. You should, she's worried about you." To the question Draco probed, he answered simply, "And I have spoken with her a little, but...I can't say I know much more than you do."

[Draco Malfoy]

The boy nodded lightly, though after that he fell silent, unsure what- if anything, to say next to the man he'd spent most of his life so busy idolizing that he'd never realized how distant they were...

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius remained silent a moment, before musing, "In any case, regarding what you said earlier...not since I've arrived...," he fixed a pointed stare on his son, "what happened before then?"

[Draco Malfoy]

His gaze flicked over his Father "Just stuff... anyway, I should go... I have to get to class soon."

(Getting ready to reboot to post bathroom in a few posts or so)

[Lucius Malfoy]

(Yeah, that's a good idea *nods*)

Lucius held in the sigh, relenting to simply offer the boy a slight inclination of his head. "Very well, Draco," he replied. "I suppose you'd best be off."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco stood inclining his head "Good day Father."

[Lucius Malfoy]

"And you," Lucius returned. "Have a good day, son."

It seemed no one was overly inclined--neither Draco nor his persecutors--to fill him in. It was becoming rather frustrating. But, he would let it rest for the time being. Eventually, the truth would out.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco inclined his head before turning and heading out of the room.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius lingered in the room a bit longer, his silver stare resting on the fireplace as he allowed his mind to wander. After a time, however, he rose to his feet and turned his back on the small room, pulling the door open and closing it gently behind him as he made his departure.

[Draco Malfoy]

You reboot As in my head I see Lucius coming in first with Draco behind (or helping Draco it's up to you really)

[Lucius Malfoy]

(Yeah, good call )

**REBOOT**

Lucius pushed the door open, an arm around Draco as he led him into the room. He promptly shut the door behind them and then led his son over to one of the armchairs, where he carefully helped him to a sitting position.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco collapsed into the chair with a wince, his gaze on the ceiling and focusing on keeping his breathing somewhat normal instead of the pain or embarrassment of this situation.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius racked his brain for some sort of spell to help alleviate the pain, but, of course, healing had never been his area of expertise. After a brief moment, though, one came to mind, and he drew his wand, giving it a slight spin, before casting the spell. It should offer a slight relief, anyway, enough to lessen the pain a little.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco looked over in surprise as some of the heaviness in his chest suddenly disappeared. However, upon making eye contact he quickly looked away. "Thank you..."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius offered a slight inclination of his head in turn, as he stowed his wand away, before staring down at his son in silence a moment. He deliberated, before asking, "This isn't the first time this has happened, is it?"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco's gaze flicked to him, then away again "... no ..."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius heaved a sigh, his eyes shifting to the fireplace as he fought the glare. "Which one?" he asked, referring to the twins.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco frowned even more "Both.... but mainly him..." he finally looked at his Father again. "I'm sorry."

He pretty much failed at life didn't he? Considering the whole dumbledore thing, the botched attack that his Aunt tried to take him on, being a hexing bag for lower level D.E.'s- he wasn't exactly the best representation of the Malfoy name.

[Lucius Malfoy]

"You're sorry?" Lucius questioned, returning his gaze to his son in perplexity. "For what?"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco closed his eyes, resting his head against the back of his chair, though his body was taut with tension. Both from some lingering pain and injuries and from having to have this conversation right now. "For embarrassing you... again..."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius chuckled bitterly at that. "Draco...," he shook his head, "at this point, you honestly think something like that is embarrassing? I've done a fine enough job botching things up for us all myself lately--I can't imagine anything you'd do could compete with it."

[Draco Malfoy]

That... confused him. Frowning Draco looked over at his Father "So... you're not upset?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Oh, he was upset. No doubt about it. He was livid. But... "Not at you," Lucius informed the boy simply.