Title: Time of mending. Chapter one Harry/Lucius
Title: Times of Mending Author: SM Malfoy Pairing:Harry/Lucius Rating: G now NC-17 to come Warnings: None in this chapter Summary: Damage done by the war left many scars and tore families apart, Harry has the chance to save one that many think that is not worth it.
Chapter One
As Harry became aware, he saw a white light.
Was this the white light he heard of, the one that leads to the heavens? As the world around him came into focus, he saw medi-witches around him and the Weasley’s at the door with worried looks on their faces. Was it truly over, was Voldemort gone? He wanted to ask so many questions, but it seemed the weight on him was too heavy and he could not move. It was as if he was suffocating.
Ron and Hermione stood with other medi-witches telling them something of what happened. It seemed he had passed out and had some kind of illness he caught on his travels. The only thing he knew is that he would feel better if a dragon sat on him. He lost consciousness again and fell in to a dream of death eaters, and things in black cloaks.
He woke again this time in a room with white curtains, and in a bed not far from his was Draco. His father sat at his side and watched over him. He felt bad for Lucius, as he could have lost his only son. Also, he felt self pity at the thought that the only ones that cared to miss him where the Weasley’s, not a mom or a dad. He watched Lucius as unaccustomed emotions showed on his face. He did not know that Harry was watching him as he focused his mind on his son. Lucius was looking better then when he saw him last at his manor, the yellow of his skin was returning to his normal ivory completion. He seemed to be gaining his health back; but Lucius did not seem the man he was before Azkaban. The fire of anger was not there or he might not have woken from this. Opportunity was there and was not taken to kill him. Lucius turned his head, and Harry faked sleeping. He heard foot falls moving toward him, then a hand rubbed his brow and words that he could not hear were said.
Then Lucius moved back to his place beside his son. Harry could not help but to feel touched by this. Was the hatred of Harry gone from him? He kept his eyes closed, as a witch came and checked on him, and something was muttered. He felt drowsy and then sleep returned.
The sun shined through a window casting a beam on to his bed. Harry saw that Lucius did not move all night and shadows were under his eyes. He saw Harry move and approached him. “I suppose I must thank you for saving Draco.”
Harry nodded and gave him a grin. His throat was dry and made it hard to form words. Harry moved the bed to a reclined position and reached for the water near him. After a drink Harry asked him, what day was this? “It is Thursday…you have been unconscious for three days.” Lucius answered. Then Harry nodded toward Draco, and Lucius shook his head. “He is suffering the effects of the fall of…him.” It was strange to hear him not willing to even say the name or the famous you-know-who that for so long was said in hushed tones. Did Lucius finally see through the archaic beliefs that he held? Perhaps after losing Severus and almost seeing Draco pay for mistakes made by him, Harry knew he most likely did. Lucius seem to be studying him. “What is the matter Mr. Malfoy?” Harry had to ask. Lucius walked around to the other side of his bed. “You never cared much for my son or my self, but yet you saved us. Looking for a bravo from me Mr. Potter?” That sounded more like the Malfoy he knew. Harry shook his head “No, Draco and I may have never seen eye to eye but I never wished him dead. As for you, the same. I have seen too much death.” He thought of his parents, Sirus, Lupin and too many others that Harry loved. “Maybe you wanted me dead and had your reasons. I hope now that is part of a past that can be forgotten.” Lucius raised a brow and looked at him strangely as if it was not what he expected for Harry to say. “You, Mr. Potter, grew up too fast.” And then Lucius returned to his seat next to his son, and did not look this way when he thought Harry was looking at him.
Harry could not help but notice that Draco’s mother never came to the ward to see her son. Harry could not help but to ask Mr. Malfoy about it. He saw a flush across his face as he at first seemed to ignore the question. Then he turned his head to look at Harry. “She is leaving. She blames me for everything that happened.” Harry did not know why he was stunned: he knew Narcissa was among those that followed Voldemort as much as Lucius had. Draco was doing what he was thought all his life. But then people need to blame someone other then themselves. So Lucius was alone other then his son, and Harry wondered, what he would do with his life now? He had many pieces to pick up to so he could move pass this dark period of his life. He was not trusted by many people and had not much to occupy his time. Harry knew he was an active man and needed things to make him feel that he was important. He had much to think about and plan.
Over the days Draco gained awareness, and Lucius spoke in whispers to him. Some times his eyes was looking at Harry. He wondered what was being said. Harry did not want to be anyone’s pawn again if that was Lucius’ plan. He did not trust them with good reason, but at the same time he felt drawn to Lucius with his melancholy state, and it made Harry see a side of him that Harry had a feeling that not many saw. It made Lucius a three dimensional person then the two dimensional mad man that he was accustomed to. Draco seemed angry about something, and rolled away from Lucius. Lucius became cross and left for the first time in days; it made Harry want to jinx Draco for not appreciating what lengths his father had take for the wellness of his son. He hoped Lucius would go to his manor and get some sleep, so he may think with a clearer mind then face Draco again to finish what ever dispute they where having. Draco said nothing to Harry thankfully and that was fine with him. But in his mind it left the nagging question of what was said between them.
Draco was discharged after a week, and Harry was still there dealing with the illness as it slowly took its course. Harry was wondering where his friends were, and what became of the Weasley’s. None of them visited, or even sent an owl. Harry thought maybe it was due to who his room mate was. But even after Draco left he heard nothing from them. Harry knew they have many losses and had their own problems so he just dealt with being alone.
It was a surprise when Mr. Malfoy showed up to Harry’s room. He handed him a copy of The Daily Prophet and sat in a chair beside him. “Mr. Potter, as you saw Draco and I are not--seeing things the same way at this moment. He is blaming me as much as his mother. You wonder why I am telling you this. Because he blames you for the fact that his mother is now ending our marriage. He never has matured as he should of. That I can be blamed for, he was my only child and became very spoiled.” He looked far away as if seeing a happier time when he had a son that worshiped him. It also answered the question of what the discussion was about that Harry was concerned about. Harry sat up in his bed and faced Lucius “Mr. Malfoy I don’t want to be rude but what does this have to do with me?” Lucius turn back his attention to Harry “I want to know what Narcissa said to you in the field?” Harry just shrugged and plainly said “She just wondered if Draco was alive in the castle.” Lucius nodded. “Mr. Malfoy if I may speak freely, they need time to heal. Give Draco time to think thing through. I know he is smart and can come to terms with what has happened. In the last 3 years lives turned a full circle and were torn apart. This is not going to be mended overnight.” Lucius looked far away again and knew he was right. Lucius fingered his cane and looked murderous. “Mr. Potter, they blame me for the same doings as her. She willingly handed Draco over to him! Willingly!” Lucius said between clinched teeth. “She told him it was for me and my protection—No” He stood up and began to pace along the side of the bed. “She did it to save her own skin, not even a thought to what would happen to our ONLY son! She did not have me to hide behind. When I was first out of Azkaban, she still wanted me to take the fall for her wrongs. Oh she was there for the praise but cared little when my wand was taken by him, leaving me unarmed and a puppet to his distorted whim.”
He hit the floor punctuating what he said with a loud tap of the cane. He was holding back much of his anger which was a good thing. Harry knew what the man was capable of doing. It was then Harry realized Lucius came to him due to the face he had no one else to turn to. “Mr. Malfoy, it is over the war—that is—but during it, people did much we wish we did not have to do—no matter what side we took. Circumstances and fear made us make hard choices and ones we have to live with for the rest of our lives. I know that it will be very long before the nightmare of things I had to do will fade but it brands me a hero, and I don’t feel it, due to the losses of some of my friends I could not be there for. Your wife did what she was forced to do by a man that cared not for the life of nobody but his own, and Mrs. Malfoy is blaming you for what she could not control when you were in Azkaban --and she turned to the only other person—Draco. I can’t say it was right at all: Draco is the only child you have. But Draco just needs time to heal and come to terms with what happened. Like me, he carries many scars from watching death and destruction, just give him some time and don’t push him. He is an adult now and has to make this choice on his own. I would not worry, Draco has always worshiped you and loved you. He will come around to the right decision. He only did what he thought was right at the time.”
Lucius sat back down. “I wished Narcissa made the right decision instead of handing Draco to be sacrificed. She was saving her own skin not caring who took the fall.”
Lucius’ face was red with anger of the thought. Harry thought he would use an unforgivable on her before the ink dried on the divorce papers. “Mr. Malfoy she is not worth getting sent back to Azkaban over. Think of Draco; no matter what is happening right now he needs you.” Lucius looked at Harry as if he read his mind but he nodded and a swift wince crossed his face. Harry believed maybe Lucius was regretting what he did with his life, and how it carried over to his son. In a voice close to a whisper: “He thought he was saving me—but in truth he was being lead to his death. He is lucky you were there and can’t except that you saved him from his self. I don’t know why he believed her, but then he just followed my foot steps. He doesn’t remember the nights in the first war of how I had to watch my every move and sleepless nights. Just to protect my family and the pureblood way of life. I don’t want to see the purebloods become something written down only in history books.” He said this and left. He had much on his mind and Harry realized very few people to tell this to. Harry was touched Lucius felt he could confine in him.