Title: Each Other
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Narcissa, Draco
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 458
Summary: Draco finds out what happened to his father after his fifth year.
Notes:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Defense Against the Dark Arts - I want you to write about a witch or a wizard who has experienced emotion so strong that they are paralyzed for a short period of time. Prompt Used - Petrificus Totalus
365 Days of Drabbles Challenge: Prompt Used - Royalty
Draco stared in shock at his mother, his body frozen from the sheer disbelief that this was actually happening. There was no way that his father was going to Azkaban. His father couldn't go to Azkaban. The Malfoy family was royalty and didn't get locked up, no matter what they were accused of.
Finally, his body followed his brain's commands, and he moved into action, flailing his arms at his grief-stricken mother. "Mother, you can be serious! You can't just allow this to happen!"
"There's nothing I can do," she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
Draco screamed his frustration and started going around the sitting room, throwing things across the room. "It's not fair! Father doesn't belong in Azkaban! He needs to get out!"
He continued to trash the room, but he was stopped when his mother got her wand out and stated somewhat shakily, "P-Petrificus Totalus."
Draco became as stiff as a board as he fell to the ground. He didn't land on the hard floor, but a soft cushion, and he knew that his mother must have conjured something to soften the fall.
Narcissa knelt down on the floor as Draco struggled to move, even though he knew it was useless. "Draco, you need to calm down. I know what happened is horrible, but you have to be strong. If you have to don your Malfoy facade to get through it, then do it. If you show even a hint of weakness, the Dark Lord will hurt you, and I can't lose you too. Now, I'm going to unfreeze you head." Narcissa did so, and then she asked, "Can you be strong? For me?"
Draco stared into his mother's eyes and for the first time, he noticed how broken she looked, like the slightest wind would be able to knock her to the ground. "It's hard, but I'll do it. I'll be strong for you, protect you from him no matter what," he promised, his eyes shining. Not for the first time, he wished he didn't have to be the strong one; he wished his father was here to be strong like he was supposed to be.
Narcissa nodded and unfroze the rest of his body. They sat together on the floor, ignoring the fact that Malfoys shouldn't sully themselves like that.
Draco took Narcissa's hand and gave it a strong squeeze while Narcissa allowed herself to cry for everything she lost. She knew they wouldn't escape the Dark Lord, that he'd probably have some impossible task for Draco to make up for his father's failure. She just hoped she could find a way to protect him like he was going to do his best to protect her. All they had now was each other.