Malfoy Flavor

-43-

Harry was curled up with Draco on a sofa in Dumbledore's office when Severus reappeared with Lucius. Once the pleasantries had been taken care of, it was time to get down to business.

"Lucius, I understand you have information to share with us?" Dumbledore questioned.

Lucius gave him a curt nod. "I was summoned late last night."

Something finally clicked in Harry's mind. "Were you at the Dursley's house? Did you kill them?"

If Lucius had been there . . . well, fine, but Harry wasn't sure how he would deal with that news. He knew even if Lucius had been involved, he really wouldn't be feeling any guilt for killing the Muggles.

Lucius was shaking his head, however. "No, Bella led the attack on your relatives. I was in attendance, however, when he sent them. It would seem that the Dark Lord became aware that the protection wards around the residence had slipped."

Everyone looked to Dumbledore for an explanation. The old man nodded gravely. He gazed solemnly at Harry as he explained.

"Harry, from the time you were placed in their care, there have been protection wards surrounding the Dursley's home. They were wards that were directly tied to you and your blood," Dumbledore said.

Harry nodded his understanding.

"Yes, well, those wards have been weakening for the last year. I suspect that when you removed the charms placed on you by your mother, the wards at the Dursley's were weakened further."

"So, they had no wards up, no protection?" Harry asked incredulously.

"There were wards protecting their residence, but they were not nearly as strong," Dumbledore clarified. "One of the main differences is that while you were in residence, Voldemort's followers could not access the property. I've spoken today with the Aurors doing the investigation and it would appear that the Death Eaters captured Mr. Dursley and had him lead them onto the property. The wards that would have prevented this have gradually weakened until they became non-existent. Unfortunately, I was not aware of this."

The room was silent for several moments as everyone processed this news. Harry wondered if his mum had had any idea how far reaching the effects of her charms would be. He was sure she hadn't planned on that being one of the consequences of her protection charms.

As he thought about it, he tried to decide if his mum would have been mourning the death of her sister and her family if she'd been alive today. Harry snorted softly to himself when he realized that Petunia and Vernon certainly hadn't mourned Lily's and James' deaths.

Harry looked up to realize that all eyes were on him. Severus in particular was watching him intently.

"Are you all right?" Severus questioned. "What were you thinking?" he asked after receiving Harry's simple nod.

Harry smirked lightly. "Just wondering if mum would have been mourning her sister's death or not, and finding it ironic that she indirectly played a part in it."

"I think she would have been feeling vindicated that she'd been able to do something to . . . repay Petunia for how she's treated you all these years," Severus said, with satisfaction coming through in his tone.

Harry's eyes widened fractionally. "You're disappointed not to have been called last night," he said, awareness dawning on him.

His eyes widened fully when not only Severus, but Lucius also nodded, both of them silently admitting that they would have been happy to participate in the Dursley's punishment.