Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it

Author's Note: Written from Draco to Lucius.

Father,

I want you to know that I am no longer a child or a teenager who follows you blindly like I used to. I want you to know that I have learned since then.

When I was younger, I admired you. Not because I thought you were a good person. I knew better than to think that. I thought of you as someone who did his best to do what he thought was right, trying to help the Wizarding World and his own family simultaneously. I know now mistaken I was.

When you got Dumbledore sent away from Hogwarts when the Chamber of Secrets was opened, you told me that was because he would get in the way since the muggle-loving fool knew nothing. I know now it's because you didn't want the attacks to stop.

For that matter, you told me muggleborns were awful, that they didn't deserve magic. I know now that that isn't true. The best witch in my year was muggleborn, and I'm no longer afraid to admit that like you tried to make me be.

When you bought the brooms to get me onto the Slytherin quidditch team, I thought it was because you wanted to ensure I got to do what I enjoyed. I know now that you did it to protect your own reputation. You needed to have somebody to beat Potter for you, no matter if it was in life or in a quidditch game. I didn't though. He was a better quidditch player than I was. Perhaps that's because he earned his way onto his team.

Every time you used the Cruciactus, it wasn't really to help me learn like you said it was. I didn't truly hate you for it then because I thought you only did it because it was the best for me. I know now it's because you're a sick, sadistic man who enjoys causing pain and anguish. Do you think I would ever use that curse on my son? I'd never do to him what you did to me.

When you got yourself captured at the Ministry, I didn't blame you. I blamed Potter. I thought it was his fault you were in Azkaban. I know now it was yours, not his. You were the one who chose to become a Death Eater.

When I had to attempt to kill Dumbledore, I thought I was doing what was right because it was the only way to save you and Mother. I know now that there was no right choice in the situation I got stuck in because of you.

After the Second Wizarding War, I thought you came looking for me because you cared about me. Because it mattered to you if I lived or died. I know now that you only did that to ensure you got sent to Azkaban. As always, it was yourself you were worried about.

I no longer respect you. I no longer look up to you. You are no longer the man I see as doing what he thought was right for the world and his family. You are just the man who did what was best for himself. That was the only person you cared about, right father?

I still cannot bring myself to hate you, though. After everything you've done, I should, but I do not. My love for you is now out of dedication to my family and nothing more. I don't suppose you'd understand the concept of loving your family. Just because you don't doesn't mean I can't, though. I know now that I do not want to be like you.

Your son,

Draco Malfoy