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He heard the sniffling.
Lucius paused; the scratching of his quill immediately ceased as he stared at the open door of his study.
More sniffling.
Was one of the house elves weeping again? He told them to do that in the servants' quarters. He sighed and began working on the ledgers again.
The sniffling grew louder. Lucius groaned as he set his quill down less gently this time. He rose from his seat, the chair scraping against the floors. Adjusting his waistcoat, he stormed out of the study. As he peered down the hall, he saw nothing but portraits and decor. He followed the sound of sorrow.
Once he passed an opened window, he immediately ceased his stride and took a few paces back. The whimpers were coming from outside.
Lucius saw him immediately. His son, Draco, a boy still too young to attend Hogwarts. He was kneeling in the gardens, choking back sobs, trying to be brave as he wiped his nose with his sleeve. Lucius's first instinct was to call for Narcissa/ because it was her duty to handle delicate matters/but then he remembered she was away visiting family.
Dobby is adequate with consoling, Lucius thought. Perhaps he could...
No. Lucius knew this was a parent’s job.
He exited the manor through the veranda, passing a clutch of peacocks as he made his way to the gardens. He approached his son carefully. Lucius straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "Draco?"
The little boy stiffened and then he scrambled, quickly hiding whatever it was he was crouching over.
Lucius quirked a brow, "What do you have there, son?"
"Nothing," Draco answered hastily. He sniffled again.
"Why are you crying?"
"Malfoys don't cry, father."
Lucius scoffed, approaching his son gently. "That is not entirely true... take your grandfather for example."
Draco snickered weakly.
Lucius smiled then knelt beside Draco, "Tell me what is bothering you."
Draco nodded, shoulders trembling as he moved his robes over the object he was hiding. Lucius's eyes widened at the sight. Lying in the ground, pale and unmoving was Draco's pet Firedrake; a magical creature Lucius insisted that Draco did not need, but Narcissa could not turn down her son's hopeful pleas.
"It's Salazar, father," Draco whispered. "I... I found him like this in his terrarium this morning. I...I thought maybe he just needed some sunshine. So, I took him out here and put him on the ground. But he wouldn't fly. Why won't he fly, father?"
Lucius felt the lump in his throat. He swallowed it down, but the sensation turned into pain that spread across his chest. He carefully took Draco by the arm and pulled him into an embrace. His son broke down immediately. Shattered sobs tore from his throat as he trembled uncontrollably.
"Why won't he fly?" Draco asked again.
Lucius closed his eyes, his hold becoming tighter. "He is flying, son, we just cannot see it. He is flying somewhere far more beautiful than this place."
Draco whimpered, "You said nowhere is more beautiful than Wiltshire."
Lucius chuckled softly, "I suppose I can be wrong sometimes. But I promise you, I am not wrong about this."
Draco pulled back slightly, looking into his father's eyes through blurry vision. "Can we bury him in the Malfoy cemetery?"
Lucius nodded, "Of course. Wherever you would like."
"On a hill," Draco stated, his bottom lip quivering. "Where the sun can reach him. He liked the sun. And I want flames etched on his gravestone."
"It will be done," Lucius promised. He stood up, offering his hand, and Draco took it. "Shall we write your mother? So she does not miss the funeral?"
"Yes," Draco sniffled.
Lucius nodded, "I will write her now then. Why don't you find your grandfather? I am certain he will have a sweet for you."
Draco scrunched his nose, "Pappy will start crying. You tell him."
Lucius groaned and rubbed his face, "Very well. I will tell your grandfather after I write your mother."
Draco gave a weak smile then scooped Salazar into his arms. "Father?"
"Yes, son?"
"You comfort better than Mother and Dobby. Mother kisses my face and it's gross, and Dobby bounces around and tries to be funny."
Lucius smirked as he led Draco back into the manor, "We will keep that between us, understood?"
Before Draco could answer, a surprised shriek echoed throughout the corridor. Lucius and Draco both froze, and their eyes slowly drifted towards the sound of the voice. Lucius groaned as he saw his father, frozen in the hallway, eyes on the limp Firedrake in Draco's arms.
Abraxas's eyes began to water, "Is that... Salazar?"
Draco shoved Salazar into Lucius's arms and dashed down the hall, "Thanks, Father!"
Lucius sighed, staring at the miniature dragon in his arms. He took a deep breath and prepared himself to console another weeping Malfoy.