When he saw the flash of silvery light, he thought it would be his large wolf bounding back through the leaves, so it was with surprise that he saw it was a smaller fox instead. "Draco?" He called out quietly, looking through the darkness. "Be careful. They're nearby." Didn't have say what; that much was obvious.
There was something in his hands that looked like a camera, but where there should have been a flash, there was a large crystal instead. "Keep your voice low."
He could feel them near by and shuddered at their presence. To think what seemed years ago he was making fun of Harry for fainting. After the horrors of what his father went through with them, he had regretted later on having done such a thing. Now he was trying to help capture them.
He gave a curious glance at what Remus had in his hands, but didn't ask what it was. He figured Remus would explain in time.
"Okay," Draco replied softly and crouched near by, using his robes to shroud him in the darkness. "Tell me what I need to do and I'll help."
The silvery wolf came over towards the fox, three times it's size but it studied the smaller canine with white eyes as Remus whispered, "have you ever used a Muggle or magical camera? Somehow, they managed to magic this to be able to not capture their photograph, but the very spirit of them. The problem is able to get them perfectly in frame as well as in focus - it's the only way to get this to work. It isn't perfect, but it's the first method we've ever had that successfully captures them instead of just driving them off."
The silvery fox curiously sniffed and looked up at the larger canine.
"I've used the magical version of one." He gave a nod understanding the challenge to it. Especially once the dementors got excited trying to capture them would be tough.
The wolf looked like a wolf but acted with the intelligence of a human, his tail swaying back and forth as he watched the fox, but his head lifted to the wind, watchful of the dark ones.
"I'm not about to make you the bait," Remus said pointedly, giving him a look before he offered the camera over. "That's the game I'm used to playing already. Just do. not. flinch. I need you to take the attempt at least, but I have to hold it as long as possible which means my Patronus won't attack. Understood?"
The silvery fox left the wolf to join his master's side as if it picked up on his unease.
His face paled slightly, but Draco gave a nod in understanding and took the camera. He couldn't be afraid now. He couldn't afford to fail this task. If he couldn't handle this...then he wouldn't much of use for anyone else. He wanted to prove to Remus, that his help wasn't wasted on him.
"Be ready." A small smile, though with no mirth contained within, but attempting to give some confidence to the young man. Remus stepped away and his Patronus bounded away as well, leaving him very much open and exposed. Draco might have caught the way that Remus' hand was shaking faintly at his side despite his apparent bravery, waiting for the darkness to come.
And given his vulnerability, the dementors did come. Five of them brushed through the darkness of the last of the dawn, barely seen. They wouldn't have long - dawn was just about upon them. They would have to try again tomorrow night if they didn't succeed here. Remus was even sticking to the thick wood to make it darker.
One swept right past Remus and he shuddered, his fingers tightening violently on his wand.
Draco noted the hand shaking but said nothing. Watching the silvery wolf bound away did little to quell his own nerves. He kept telling himself not to run and to say where he was and focused more on happier thoughts to keep his Patronus from fading.
His first attempt at trying to capture one didn't go to well. Softly swearing to himself he tried again and again. This time he made sure his hands were steady. He managed to get a hold of one...and after another few tries a second. But it still left three and he wasn't liking how excited they were at this point.
It was probably a good thing to be afraid because after the second one vanished, Remus hit the ground. One knee pressed into the cool forest floor, as did a hand, and there was a flash as his Patronus disappeared completely. He couldn't hold it up. There hadn't been this many all together before. Damn!
Yet while two of them went in after Remus, another came straight for Draco.
Draco sent his patronus after the one coming toward him. He was more worried about the ones going after Remus. Draco shouted Remus's name in an attempt to distract the dementors. Hopefully it would give him strength enough to get away.
The fox then went charging after the ones that sought Remus. He wasn't going to let them get him. His own heart pounded and fear gripped his heart, but his determination to save the older man kept him where he was.
A dementor flared up in Draco's face, the black hood empty and dark and utter blackness. There was a low hissing sound, angry and excited. But Remus wouldn't allow Draco to be hurt and coughed violent before he summoned up his one beautiful happy memory that no darkness could touch - the feeling of Teddy asleep in his arms when he was born, his hair dark and soon to be ginger.
"Expecto Patronum!" He gasped out, and though it was weak at first, his wolf returned, running after at his intended target, the one about to touch Draco.
Draco's own patronus had disappeared forcing him to unable to fight with the dementor in front of him. The camera had had clutched in his hands fell to the forest floor. He felt cold and weak unable to move where he was. Any happy memory he had left was replaced with his own fear and despair.
The wolf had charged at the dementor causing it to release Draco and sending it off. Draco then collapsed where he was.
"Damnit!" Remus hissed low and scrambled over to Draco as his wolf snarled in silence, turning hard and snapping up at the dementor to keep it away before its light grew. Remus though wrapped an arm around Draco and pulled him close, protective and focusing on his happy memory as the dementors finally turned away, leaving them alone in the silent forest as dawn broke.
A while later Draco woke up, feeling disorientated. His body trembled slightly, as he still felt cold and clammy. It took him a while to remember why he was here outside in the forest with Remus.
"I'm sorry," he replied in a weak voice. "I tried to stop them from getting you."
"You did well," Remus said honestly, looking up at the pink sky. Narcissa was going to end him for this. He reached into a pocket of his jacket and tugged out a chocolate bar of all things, snapping off a large chunk and breaking it in half, offering Draco a piece.
"Eat. It helps." A flash of a smile that was weak, but he stood up and offered his hand down to the young man. "Not many men can stand up to a dementor at all." Before he popped his piece of chocolate into his mouth.
He couldn't help but give him a strange look at the idea. Reluctantly he did as told, eating the piece of chocolate. Strange enough he did find the chocolate helping.
He gave a weak smile at the compliment. "We got two of them at least." The smile quickly turned into a frown when he realized how much time had gone by since he left the house.
"And now I'm going to be in trouble...I thought I was going to be back sooner.
My mother will probably be furious when we get back. I kind of just left the house not telling them where I was going. I didn't want them to tell me I couldn't..."
He was a dead man. The look on his face changed to dread and he realized two things at once - either he was going to get one very angry mother hen who could hex him into next week, or though an unfair thought perhaps, he could get a very angry once-Death Eater who did or previously despised Mudbloods and halfbreeds.
Either way, he was in trouble. "Please tell my wife that I did not die in vain," he muttered in his somewhat pessimistic joking way, dusting himself off. "We shall have to face your mother's wrath."
"This is why my father dealt with most things....if my mother had her way most of the time...it would have been a lot worse," Draco replied with an amused expression. Warily he got up and picked the camera up and handed it to Remus. He only hoped the camera didn't get damaged when he had dropped it. "Maybe if you show her that two of them got caught...it might calm her down a bit."
As soon as they reached the house they were met by a very angry mother. Narcissa stood at the door way with her arms crossed and wand in hand. She was still in her night clothes with a robe draped over her.
"I should have known that you went out there to go looking for him!" She immediately rounded on her son while glaring back at Remus.
At the commotion going on, Lucius stepped over and whispered a few words to her in an attempt to calm her down. What ever he said seemed to do the work as she led Draco inside leaving Lucius with Remus.
Lucius appeared to be in a better state then he was in the other day. Unlike his wife, he was dressed for the day. He gave a nod in Remus's direction and ushered for him to follow him.
Somehow he was still alive and he wasn't certain how. He looked to Lucius, uncertain if this was the better option as he came inside. Honestly, he needed sleep and he was feeling damn peckish with no breakfast in him either.
"I didn't know he'd come out, considering," Remus said after a few moments, "but he acted bravely. Thought quickly. I know wizards twice his age who would have run."
Lucius led Remus into the kitchen where he closed the door to keep out the arguing. He then went about reheating some of the left overs from last night's meal knowing that no breakfast would be made right now.
He could still hear his wife and son arguing in the other room. Attempting to make a meal right now would not be wise considering yesterday's disaster.
"My son has come a long way and for that I am proud of him. And it seems that you've gotten through to him. Not many people make an impression on him. I haven't seen him this determined in a long time."
"I didn't intend to upset everything when I came into your home. Maybe theres still some of the teacher in me that doesn't want to see him sounding... helpless. Or maybe it's because I became a father I can understand better." A half of a smile and he came over, silently offering to help out with the meal.
A part of him missed the microwave though. Tonks had fallen in love with it and it was some of the Muggle items scattered throughout their home.
He gave a silent nod, and allowed Remus to help. "She was already upset from the start. Anything at that point would have started something. Draco had mentioned you had some ideas....of what could help us..."
Lucius looked at Remus unsure if he wanted to know what those ideas were. He did know he was tired of living this way and simply wanted to see his family whole again. It was putting a strain on all of them.
"I did have a few suggestions," Remus started cautiously, knowing this could rapidly go downhill as it had earlier. "Draco could have a bright future ahead of him, and his actions out there only proved it more so."
He hesitated, hands pausing as well. "Frankly, Lucius, I think he is the way that the Malfoys will be accepted more in society. Given a chance to prove himself, along with knowing why you all were pardoned, I think is your best chance. Not a perfect one, but even if it doesn't succeed for the family as a whole, I am certain it will for him, provided he is willing to learn and perhaps change as well."
"I never wanted my son to take the blame for my mistakes, let alone carry the weight of it. I can accept what I have done. If you think that Draco can be saved and bring respect back to the Malfoy family I would be willing to hear everything out and persuade Narcissa that it will be okay."
While the left overs were reheating, Lucius went about preparing some tea. It was more or less to keep busy. The conversation was difficult for him, but he wanted to hear things out. And if Remus was their only opportunity he didn't want to loose this chance.
"I think its a chance, not a promise, but I can only leave it all on you as a family to decide if you want to take it. I think he needs to get out, be with people, and learn where he wants himself in life. He can't do that here. ...Tonks and I would be willing to have him with us."
There, he said it. A big statement. Offering his home to someone who had once been a student and an enemy.
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There was something in his hands that looked like a camera, but where there should have been a flash, there was a large crystal instead. "Keep your voice low."
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He gave a curious glance at what Remus had in his hands, but didn't ask what it was. He figured Remus would explain in time.
"Okay," Draco replied softly and crouched near by, using his robes to shroud him in the darkness. "Tell me what I need to do and I'll help."
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"I've used the magical version of one." He gave a nod understanding the challenge to it. Especially once the dementors got excited trying to capture them would be tough.
"Should I try to distract them while you use it?"
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"I'm not about to make you the bait," Remus said pointedly, giving him a look before he offered the camera over. "That's the game I'm used to playing already. Just do. not. flinch. I need you to take the attempt at least, but I have to hold it as long as possible which means my Patronus won't attack. Understood?"
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His face paled slightly, but Draco gave a nod in understanding and took the camera. He couldn't be afraid now. He couldn't afford to fail this task. If he couldn't handle this...then he wouldn't much of use for anyone else. He wanted to prove to Remus, that his help wasn't wasted on him.
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And given his vulnerability, the dementors did come. Five of them brushed through the darkness of the last of the dawn, barely seen. They wouldn't have long - dawn was just about upon them. They would have to try again tomorrow night if they didn't succeed here. Remus was even sticking to the thick wood to make it darker.
One swept right past Remus and he shuddered, his fingers tightening violently on his wand.
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His first attempt at trying to capture one didn't go to well. Softly swearing to himself he tried again and again. This time he made sure his hands were steady. He managed to get a hold of one...and after another few tries a second. But it still left three and he wasn't liking how excited they were at this point.
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Yet while two of them went in after Remus, another came straight for Draco.
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The fox then went charging after the ones that sought Remus. He wasn't going to let them get him. His own heart pounded and fear gripped his heart, but his determination to save the older man kept him where he was.
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"Expecto Patronum!" He gasped out, and though it was weak at first, his wolf returned, running after at his intended target, the one about to touch Draco.
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The wolf had charged at the dementor causing it to release Draco and sending it off. Draco then collapsed where he was.
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"I'm sorry," he replied in a weak voice. "I tried to stop them from getting you."
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"Eat. It helps." A flash of a smile that was weak, but he stood up and offered his hand down to the young man. "Not many men can stand up to a dementor at all." Before he popped his piece of chocolate into his mouth.
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He gave a weak smile at the compliment. "We got two of them at least." The smile quickly turned into a frown when he realized how much time had gone by since he left the house.
"And now I'm going to be in trouble...I thought I was going to be back sooner.
My mother will probably be furious when we get back. I kind of just left the house not telling them where I was going. I didn't want them to tell me I couldn't..."
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Either way, he was in trouble. "Please tell my wife that I did not die in vain," he muttered in his somewhat pessimistic joking way, dusting himself off. "We shall have to face your mother's wrath."
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As soon as they reached the house they were met by a very angry mother. Narcissa stood at the door way with her arms crossed and wand in hand. She was still in her night clothes with a robe draped over her.
"I should have known that you went out there to go looking for him!" She immediately rounded on her son while glaring back at Remus.
At the commotion going on, Lucius stepped over and whispered a few words to her in an attempt to calm her down. What ever he said seemed to do the work as she led Draco inside leaving Lucius with Remus.
Lucius appeared to be in a better state then he was in the other day. Unlike his wife, he was dressed for the day. He gave a nod in Remus's direction and ushered for him to follow him.
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"I didn't know he'd come out, considering," Remus said after a few moments, "but he acted bravely. Thought quickly. I know wizards twice his age who would have run."
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He could still hear his wife and son arguing in the other room. Attempting to make a meal right now would not be wise considering yesterday's disaster.
"My son has come a long way and for that I am proud of him. And it seems that you've gotten through to him. Not many people make an impression on him. I haven't seen him this determined in a long time."
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A part of him missed the microwave though. Tonks had fallen in love with it and it was some of the Muggle items scattered throughout their home.
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Lucius looked at Remus unsure if he wanted to know what those ideas were. He did know he was tired of living this way and simply wanted to see his family whole again. It was putting a strain on all of them.
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He hesitated, hands pausing as well. "Frankly, Lucius, I think he is the way that the Malfoys will be accepted more in society. Given a chance to prove himself, along with knowing why you all were pardoned, I think is your best chance. Not a perfect one, but even if it doesn't succeed for the family as a whole, I am certain it will for him, provided he is willing to learn and perhaps change as well."
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While the left overs were reheating, Lucius went about preparing some tea. It was more or less to keep busy. The conversation was difficult for him, but he wanted to hear things out. And if Remus was their only opportunity he didn't want to loose this chance.
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There, he said it. A big statement. Offering his home to someone who had once been a student and an enemy.
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