Kingsley Shacklebolt had just settled himself for the evening into his leisure robes, a brandy in hand and a roaring fire at his side. The wizarding wireless played soft classical music, and he closed his eyes in bliss. For once, there were no demands, no unexpected visitors, no obligations to fulfill past duty hours, and everything was in hand.

For about two minutes.

Arthur Weasley's face appeared in his Floo.

"Kings, are you home? It's urgent! I need to speak to you right away!"

Kingsley scowled, a great annoyance bordering on anger, suffocating him for the barest moment before he arrested his emotions, set down his brandy and knelt beside the Floo.

"What is it, Arthur? I was just retiring for the evening."

There was a brief hesitation, then a sigh. "I'm beginning to think my life is not my own."

"What?"

Kingsley's startled response prompted the ginger man to get to the point. "Do you have any knowledge of Lucius Malfoy's whereabouts?"

Kingsley frowned deeply. This was highly irregular. "Of course not, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to discuss it with you without proper reason."

Arthur nodded once, carefully. "Thank you. Sorry to have bothered you."

Before Kingsley could utter another word, the flaming head disappeared. He gesticulated helplessly, rolled his eyes and grabbed his brandy. Before his bum hit the chair, his Floo flared to life again.

"What in Merlin's name is it now, Weasley?" he snapped with irritation.

Messy hair and rimmed glasses greeted him with surprise. "Were you expecting someone else, Deputy?" Harry inquired.

Kingsley tossed back his drink and slammed it onto the side table as he knelt once more. "No, of course not. What can I do for you, Harry? And please, call me Kings. We're off duty."

"Right, erm…" Harry took a moment to clear his throat. "You just mentioned Weasley. Did you mean Arthur?"

The great black man squinted at Harry. "Possibly."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, great! I mean, I was looking for him. What did he want?"

Kingsley deliberated for a long moment, chewing on his thoughts like so much gum that had lost its flavor. Something was going on, and he wasn't going to let it drop this time.

"He wanted to know if I knew of Lucius Malfoy's whereabouts."

"Shit, shit shit," Harry muttered. "Uh, sorry," he grinned sheepishly at Kingsley's raised brows. "He's going after him. I mean, he swore, made a vow to kill him. I have to find him."

"You mean we, don't you?"

Harry grinned and nodded affirmatively. "The more, the merrier."

"Give me five minutes."

"Floo to Grimmauld when you're ready."

"Will do."

HGAW

"Haven't seen you in ages, young man," Ollivander admonished to the elder Weasley.

Arthur scratched his balding head lightly, tossing the stub of his burnt wand onto the countertop.

The wandmaker grimaced at the state of ruined wood. He clucked his tongue in annoyance. "Such a fine specimen, such a shame, yes yes…" His muttering continued as he wandered away from the counter, shuffling through boxes. He began levitating a number of them to the counter, heedless of the dust billowing around him.

Approaching the stack, Arthur began trying out the various lengths of wood, being shocked by one and having no effect with another.

"My, you've changed a fair bit from your youth," Ollivander commented, simultaneously sending every box back to their places. "I'll have to go to the back to get you something more suitable."

Arthur just nodded, tipping forward then back on his feet. He was anxious to be on with his little hunt but knew better than to hurry the older man. Finding a new wand was a finicky business.

After many pressing minutes, Ollivander returned with three lengths of beautifully wrapped wood. The first was almost pure white, the second almost pure black, and the third a burnished tan. He immediately gravitated towards the tan but pulled his hand back sharply when the wand stood straight on end and shook negatively.

Ollivander chuckled decisively. "That's a no, for sure."

Arthur shook his head, never having seen a wand act in such a manner.

"These are my newest batch," Ollivander explained. "They are semi-sentient."

"And extremely expensive, I imagine," Arthur quipped, reaching toward the black wand. It, too, raised on end and shook a profound 'no' at him.

"Yes, but they are well worth the price. If they are damaged in any manner, as long as there is a piece left, it will regenerate when safely in the presence of its intended owner."

Arthur was a bit perturbed by the thought of a sentient wand, but he really needed to be about his business. "Third time's the charm," he breathed, reaching for the white. It flew into his hand, sparking brightly, a beautiful rainbow flair filling the small room. "Brilliant."

"Indeed, it seems made for you."

"Price?"

Ollivander tapped his chin consideringly. "I'd normally charge five hundred galleons for this one," he chuckled as Arthur blanched visibly, "but for you, three hundred. Fifty, minimum, up front, and the other two hundred and fifty as you are able to pay."

Arthur shook his head but pulled out his purse. He put it on the counter, counting out forty-eight. "It's all I've got on me."

"It will do." The galleons were scooped up and deposited into a hidden till.

Arthur fingered his new wand a bit apprehensively. As he walked out the door, he was startled when Ollivander shouted, "Merry part, good gentleman, and be careful of that Malfoy. He's a tricky one."

HGAW

"Where do you think he went?"

"Probably straight to Malfoy Manor."

"He'd be crazy to go straight there."

"He seemed pretty determined when he made the oath."

"He's your father-in-law, can't you predict what he'd do?"

Harry scratched his head. They'd checked the Burrow, the Leaky, and asked discretely around a few shops, but no one had seen their target. "I dunno, Kings. He's a pretty direct guy. I really think he's a bit old-school when it comes to these sorts of things."

"I would not bet my wand on Arthur winning a wizarding duel against Lucius."

"I've sparred with him. He's damn good."

The two looked at one another. Kingsley made up his mind. "Alright, we'll head there, but a bit away from the Manor, and Disillusion ourselves going in. I don't want any trouble if he isn't there. Lucius won't take kindly to trespassers after I've placed him on leave. He's destroyed his office."

If Harry was surprised by this bit of news, it wasn't evidenced in his expression. He side-alonged with Kingsley about a half-mile from the great manor.

HGAW

The heavy brass knocker rose and fell many times before a house elf answered the door. It looked terrified, rumpled and abused. It cowered at the man standing just outside.

"M-may P-p-patch h-help y-yous?"

Arthur nodded curtly. "I'm here to see Mr. Malfoy. Is he in?"

The little elf skittered backwards a step, its pathetic head bobbing and then retracting, shaking its head. "The –the – M-m-m…" it began, shaking so hard the words would not come out right. "The –the-the M-m-m-master i-is n-n-not…"

The door jerked further open, ripping it from the small elf's grasp. The pitiful thing was flung backwards onto its bony backside. It curled into a ball at the sight of the elder Malfoy standing imperiously over him. "You are excused, Patch."

Grateful to be spared, the elf skittered away in a heartbeat.

Lucius's full frame seemed to encompass the entire opening, even though it was much larger and wider than his own generous stature. There was a pretense of politeness on Malfoy's end.

"You have five seconds to piss off, Weasely."

Arthur drew his wand, instantly at odds with Malfoy's own slender length.

"I challenge you to a duel, to the death."

Lucius chuckled, smirking nastily down his nose. "You never did possess any common sense. Do you really wish to die so pathetically?"

"I think you'd better be asking that of yourself, Lucius."

Rage flitted through the aristocrat's eyes, and they seemed to change from icy, steel grey to black for a fraction of a second. Then, the effect was gone and that damn sneer was back.

"Let's end this like civilized wizards, shall we?" He gestured towards the gardens a fair distance off.

"What guarantee do I have you won't turn your wand on me before reaching the garden?"

That infuriating sneer graced the cruel lips once more. "You don't."

Arthur disapparated just before Lucius' silent Stupefy blasted the space where his enemy had been moments before.

"Dammit!" he swore, disapparating after him.