Dedicated to Rhode withers
I love you so much and hope to see you soon!

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Author's note

Previous chapter edited to fit current story lore
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Draco had barely slept all week. There was no news on his father, no leads, no sightings of him (or a black fox Animagus). Nothing at all. Narcissa basically had to force him to eat. Draco couldn't and didn't want to imagine what would happen if his father wasn't found, if he managed to get stronger, if he came for his family.

Draco was barely at home anymore. He Apparated to the Ministry at 6 AM sharp and left at 8 PM. Of course, his Mum was barely there either. She tried to hide it for Draco and Scorpius, but she left the house almost as early as her son and came home even later. The only ones at home were Astoria and Scorpius. The mother and son understood that Narcissa and Draco were worried. Astoria couldn't imagine if her former Death Eater, leader of the Grimshade Order, abusive father escaped
Azkaban. She would be just as panicked as they were, if not more.

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5th of September 2015
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Of course, that all changed on the 5th of September when Lucius Malfoy was spotted in Cromer. A Muggle named Avolin Branch, a tall woman though not imposing, with long dark hair, had been walking on the beach contemplating the concept of magic existing when she had seen a pale, thin man at the ocean's edge. His white hair unkempt and messy, his once proud and arrogant grey eyes now hollow and empty, the man's face looked gaunt, and he had a long thin white wand by his side.

The man's head had shot up at the sound of life around him. Those cold grey eyes stared at her like he could see her soul inside her, a hint of insanity shining beneath them. She had stared on in horror as he pointed his wand at her heart, ready to strike her dead. Immediately she knew this was Lucius Malfoy.

She had done what she had been told to do if she saw him. Hold her hand up to the sky, hoping desperately someone would pick up the signal. Almost as soon as she had lifted her hand, she had heard loud pops all around her and Malfoy. Aurors. She remembered what she had been told. The magical police. Malfoy looked up again at the pops, eyes still calm and cold, insanity wavering beneath.

As he looked at the Aurors surrounding him, looking at each and every one individually, he laughed coldly. "Do you truly believe you can ensnare me once more? Azkaban may have taken its toll, but the spirit of a Malfoy remains unbroken." He sneered at them, then his eyes turned to Avolin once more. "And you, Avolin." He said that cold sneer still on his gaunt face. She briefly wondered how he knew her name. "Resorting to Aurors to handle your sordid affairs, are we? It seems you've become quite desperate, relying on magical lackeys to do what you can't."

"Well, Malfoy, sending wizards, or 'Grimshades' as you call them, to do what you can't accomplish on your own? I suppose Azkaban didn't teach you any new tricks. Filth like you belongs behind bars, not in civilized company." She smirked, meeting his gaze. With that, he replied, smirking too, a hint of amusement hidden beneath insanity. "Ah, the Grimshades, as you so eloquently put it. Consider them but extensions of my will, my dear Avolin. Azkaban has indeed taught me new tricks - the art of adapting and thriving in the darkest of shadows. As for civilized company, I find it rather overrated." With that, he had disappeared into thin air, leaving his words lingering in the air.

After that encounter, she had told the Aurors exactly this story. After that, it had been posted in the Prophet, and soon enough every witch and wizard in Britain knew the story of Avolin Branch.

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8th of September 2015
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After he found out about this sighting of his father, Draco couldn't stop thinking about it. What would have happened if the Aurors hadn't shown up in time? What will happen now?

On one Tuesday morning, a loud shriek interrupted his thoughts. He ran toward his mother's garden, as that was where the noise came from. When he got there he saw Narcissa Malfoy standing near the shed, a horrified expression on her face. "Mum, Mum! What is it?" Draco asked urgently. "Y-your father." Draco's blood turned colder than a snake's. His Mum was pointing out the window, and sure enough, there he stood, Lucius Malfoy, cold eyes smirking at his wife and son. "Come now, Cissa, is this truly the reception for your long-lost husband? One might think Azkaban left me less than welcome, but the Manor's cold shoulder is a surprise. Family reunions are meant to be warmer affairs, don't you agree?" Lucius sneered, his voice cold and mocking, as he locked eyes with Narcissa.

Narcissa, maintaining a composed exterior despite her fear, retorted with an icy tone. "Family is a term you've tarnished, Lucius. Your presence is neither a surprise nor a welcome one. The Manor is better off without your lingering darkness. Leave now before your trespassing becomes a more regrettable decision." As Draco held his hand in the air, summoning the Aurors.

As loud pops surrounded him, he looked at Draco in mock surprise, a cold sneer playing on his lips. "Draco, my dear boy, summoning Aurors on your own father? How unexpected. One would think familial loyalty runs deeper, but I suppose Azkaban has a way of distorting perceptions, doesn't it?" His smirk reappearing, Draco noticed a few teeth missing. "You're no father to me!" Draco spat, and with that, Lucius disappeared, leaving nothing but a note in his wake.

I

t was written in a thick red substance, blood, Draco realized with a jolt, but what's, or...who's.
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Lucius Disapparated from the skirmish with the Songbirds Order. An insufferable name, chosen by Hermione Granger and her motley crew. The discomfort of Apparating lingered briefly before Lucius materialized at the Grimshade Order's hidden headquarters beneath the sea, nestled between England and Ireland. Those who couldn't Apparate had to find an alternate route to the depths, and those who failed this last loyalty test faced a swift demise, their knowledge too perilous to let linger.

Each Grimshade, bound by the Unbreakable Vow, understood the consequences.The Dark Lord had taken too many chances that had been his downfall in the end. Lucius wasn't so stupid. He knew that if he was caught, that would be the end of it. They knew about his Animagus form; he couldn't escape again. The building, a round dome in the ocean, one-way glass all around. They could see out, and no one could see in. remained concealed by a Fidelius Charm, with Lucius as the Secret Keeper.

Inside the dome, a labyrinth of rooms lacked labels, requiring every Grimshade to memorize the layout. Lucius entered what he knew as the hostage room, where only a handful of captives were guarded by vigilant Grimshades. A man lay bound on a table, short sandy hair, hazel eyes, and a pale complexion. Lucius plunged a knife into the man's hand, collecting a vial of blood. As the man stirred, Lucius whispered, "Hello, Lupin. So...nice of you to join us."

Lupin remained silent, prompting Lucius to continue with a smirk. "I won't kill you...yet, I merely seek information. I ask, you answer. Simple." Lupin stayed mute. "Now, Lupin, this is no way to treat old...friends." Still, Lupin didn't speak. "You dare to ignore me! CRUCIO!" Lupin cried out, locking eyes with Lucius's smirking face. "Hmm, that hurt, didn't it? Where is the Songbirds Order headquarters located, huh?" Lucius asked coldly, wand ready to aim another blow at Lupin "I'll never tell, Lucius." Lupin whispered weakly "Such a shame, such a shame. CRUCIO," Lucius replied with a cruel sneer, cursing him again, Lupin screamed. Then, something strange happened; his prisoner's stabbed hand started growing hair. Lupin's eyes sharpened, turning into slits, and claws grew in his hands. Lupin's scream turned to a howl, and before Lucius knew it, he was standing in front of a strong, angry, full-grown werewolf.

The werewolf broke out of his cuffs with ease, advancing on Lucius. It pounced, pinning him to the ground and kicking his wand away. Lucius was left undefended and vulnerable. Suddenly, the werewolf jumped off, realizing this was its chance to escape. It bounded through the headquarters, its wolf strength acting as an advantage for once. Grimshades tried to immobilize it of course, failing miserably. The werewolf made for the exit, bounding into the water before anyone could do anything. It swam furiously through the ocean, finally landing on the shore and bounding into the forest. It knew no one could find it there before passing out from exhaustion.