Draco made a point of ignoring Hermione and anything related to her. As soon as he got out of the hospital he moved in with his mother.

It was early morning when he got home, startling Narcissa when he came flying into the house.

,,Draco!" she breathed out, lowering the teacup she was holding. ,,What happened?"

,,I'll tell you later, mother. Now I have something important I have to do. Where is he?"

,,Upstairs, in his study." Narcissa replied calmly.

As soon as Harry Potter sent her an owl, telling her what has happened, she knew Draco would come asking questions. Therefore, she knew exactly who Draco was referring to. After learning of Lucius's death, she'd ordered for a real sized painting to be placed upstairs in his study, while she kept a smaller one in the sitting room. Even though they hardly expressed their feelings for each other, Narcissa loved her husband and she knew he loved her in return. Therefore, it was only natural to want him there with her.

Draco jumped two steps at a time, reaching his father's study in a few seconds. He pushed the door open and entered the room, instantly looking up. On an empty wall hanged a painting of his father, portraying him just as Draco remembered: proud, arrogant and intimidating. Despite that, Draco noticed the sleeping figure in the painting was looking calmer and more peaceful than Draco had ever seen him before. He took a deep breath and took a sit, facing the painting. He cleared his throat loudly, hoping it would be enough to wake his father. This whole thing made him feel nervous. It wasn't the first time talking to a painting representing a known family member, he used to do that a lot back at the Manor, but it felt somewhat strange to be doing that with his own father, especially after all that has happened between them.

Lucius's form stirred in his majestic leather armchair, his eyes fluttering open. He saw Draco lounging in a chair in front of his painting, arms crossed and a crease between his eyebrows.

,,So you're here." he said slowly.

Draco simply nodded. He felt his throat tightening, making it difficult to speak.

,,What do you want to know first?" Lucius asked matter-of-factly.

Draco thought for a moment, his emotions battling inside him. Eventually he decided his priority should be catching McKinley and avoiding anyone else getting hurt by the surviving Death Eaters. Personal questions must wait until this was all over.

,,Tell me what you know about McKinley and his followers. What did they want with Granger and why were they using you?"

A flash of surprise crossed on Lucius's face. He surveyed his son for a while with his cold grey eyes, before answering slowly, in a low voice.

,,He wanted to use the girl in order to get to Potter and the rest of those who helped defeat the Dark Lord. He also blamed us, blamed me, for betraying the Dark Lord. You see, he was unhappy that, unlike the others, we were not arrested." At this Lucius smirked viciously. ,,McKinley saw himself the equal of us. Even though, he had been a low-ranking follower, he somehow believed that following in the Dark Lord's footsteps now that he was gone made him superior."

,,What a load of shit." Draco spit out, disgust all over his face.

,,Yes, my thoughts exactly." Lucius drawled, looking down at his son intently. ,,That is precisely why I decided to get rid of him. But, for that, I had to get him to trust me."

,,Is this why you left me that note?" Draco asked despite himself.

,,Yes." Lucius frowned. ,,I knew that if you found out what they were planning you'd probably do something stupid. In order for my plan to work I had to gain their trust, and for that I had to bring her to them. That's why I used that Caleb man to get her to me first. I never expected her to be so feisty, though." Lucius finished with evident displeasure.

Draco let out a snort, before transforming it into a cough. The image of Hermione fighting off his father somehow amused him.

,,Bet she put up a hell of a fight." Draco finally said smirking.

,,That girl destroyed my plan and because of her McKinley is now on the run." Lucius said in a nasty voice.

,,Don't you dare blame that on her!" Draco shouted, his smirk disappearing in an instant, being followed by a grim expression. ,,It's your fault. This whole thing is your fault. If you had talked to us, to me, none of this would have happened. Why didn't you tell me? Why did you try to do this on your own?"

He almost added 'why did you save me' but stopped himself just in time. He didn't think he could handle the answer to that question right now.

Lucius remained silent, slightly taken aback by his son's strong reaction. He could see Draco's barely controlled fury behind his eyes, his fists clenched tightly. With a deep sigh he closed his eyes. He was tired and telling Draco the truth would have to wait. For him, it was good enough that he had managed to protect his son.

Seeing his father's expression, Draco realized with a pang of disappointment that he wouldn't get anything more out of him, not then at least. He took a deep breath and got to his feet, slowly walking towards the door, when his father's voice stopped him with his hand on the doorknob.

,,They have a hideout up in the north, in Scotland. McKinley told me about it the night he came to get me to join him. That's where I was supposed to bring Hermione Granger. Some of his followers might still be there."

Draco remained still, barely breathing, his fingers clutching the doorknob.

Scotland? I have to tell Potter about this. We might be able to catch both McKinley and the others.

He slowly turned his head to look at his father.

,,Thank you." he said simply, the emotions making it difficult for him to say more. He hoped his father knew he was also referring to the fact that he saved his life. After all, Malfoy men didn't show their emotions openly to anyone, not even their own family.

Lucius simply nodded, eyeing his son in a curious manner. Something flickered in his grey eyes, like he was contemplating whether to say something or not. Finally, he decided to risk it.

,,And Draco" he said, placing an impenetrable mask on his face, ,,do hurry up and show her what your true feelings are, would you? A girl like her won't stand for a stupid man and would hate to see her slapping you... again."

Before he realized what he was doing, Draco was gaping at his father, eyes wide in pure shock, his mind stunned.

What in Salazar's name is he talking about? My feelings? My feeling for whom?

Then, realization dawned upon him. His father was talking about Hermione. His mouth opened slightly, remembering something else his father just said.

And what did he mean by again? How does he know about that?

,,You like her, Draco." Lucius said calmly, seeing his son was too shocked to reply. ,,And from what I have seen in her memories..." but at this Draco found his voice again, interrupting Lucius.

,,You're crazier than I thought!" Draco spat, opening the door and almost running away from his smirking father's portrait. He stopped only when he was back inside his mother's sitting room.

He took a sit on a small sofa, catching his breath.

,,Draco, dear, what's the matter? You look startled and your face is flushed." Narcissa said very observantly, looking perfectly calm.

,,N-nothing. Everything is alright." Draco mumbled, still panting slightly.

,,I take it your conversation with your father went unexpectedly well?" Narcissa continued probing her son.

,,What? Ah, yes. It went well. He told me everything I needed to know." Draco said distractedly, brushing a hand through his hair.

His unusual attitude made his mother raise her eyebrows. She looked at him attentively and was just about to ask him more, when Draco suddenly jolted upwards, taking Narcissa by surprise.

,,I better be going now. There are a lot of things I have to tell Potter."

With a crack he disappeared from the room, leaving his mother looking curiously at her teacup. Eventually, she raised her eyes and glanced at the small portrait that faced the fireplace. The frame was empty.

,,You just had to tell him, didn't you?!" she said with a deep sigh, frowning slightly at the empty painting.

,,I have no idea what you are talking about, Narcissa." a low drawl came from the small frame on the wall, its owner still out of view.

Narcissa could feel the smirk in her husband's voice and decided to drop the subject. These Malfoy men gave her such a headache sometimes.