Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and all affiliations, not I. Dashboard Confessionals own the song, Slow Decay, again, not I.
Slow Decay
Stand down son, start resting easy
You've done your service, I am proud to have you home and see you safe
It's so good
You look so strong in that picture on the mantle you sent your mom
When you were gone
But you look scared now, hollow eyed
"You've done well, my son." This was one of the few times Lucius complimented his child.
"Thank you, Father." This was a standard reply from Draco.
"However, you don't seem pleased. I am hoping that with the death of Dumbledore I will regain my former position among the Death Eaters."
"Yes, Father. The Dark Lord rewards the faithful," a concept that had been drilled into his mind.
***
When are you coming
When are you coming back were you belong
I swear that it's safe here, there's nothing to fear at all
Come on back were you belong
The pressure releases if you just let down your guard
The Dark Lord applied more force to the boy's mind.
"Open your mind!" The hiss broke Draco's control and Lord Voldemort raced inside his conscience.
Stillness.
"Ah, Draco, you are a very talented boy; no, a man. Yes, Draco, you are the man for the job. Ah, Draco, you are the one who must kill Dumbledore."
***
Everything rests on you
You know that feeling well
The ball is falling falling falling
So far from a close call
"Draco, if you kill him, I will be in disgrace no longer! If you do this, we will be great once more! But if you fail, we die."
"I can't kill him." Draco muttered to the floor.
"What was that, boy?"
No response.
"You said you can't kill him. You don't wantto kill him? WHY? He is nothing – NOTHING! You hear me? NOTHING! Damn you! CRUCIO!"
Draco collapsed to the floor, screaming. Lucius laughed as the spell threw his son across the room.
"You FOOL! Wanting to save that mudblood lover!" He cast another spell, and Draco clutched his torso; blood dripping onto marble tiles.
***
Your injuries aren't mortal wounds
The only thing that's killing you is what you must do
What you can't stop
But you're not the one I blame
It isn't your mistake
Narcissa Malfoy found her son propped against the wall, still bleeding, "Ahhh- Draco. You know you mustn't anger your father,"
"Yes Mother." He managed a gasp.
"This isn't your fault. But you must be the one to fix it, Draco!" She sighed, starting to mutter spells over his wounds.
"Yes Mother. I realize that, now. I must kill him. I have no choice."
Narcissa looked into her son's eyes and saw that he knew there would be more than just one death, the death of the headmaster.
***
Back where I belong
Back where I belong
Take me back where I belong
Back where I belong
Yes, I'm back where I belong,
You swear that it's safe here
There is nothing to fear at all
Take me back where I belong
Draco was back at Hogwarts. His true home. But now it was more like a prison than a sanctuary. He was "safe", sure. Safe from everything, except Dumbledore himself. Dumbledore, the man whom he must kill.
***
You're safe now so come on back were you belong
I swear that it's safe here there's nothing to fear at all
Come on back were you belong
The pressure releases if you just let down your guard
"Draco – you can tell me, I can help." The voice was persuading.
"Look here, Snape, I know what you're doing!"
"Oh, and what is that?" The voice was silky now, and dangerous
"You want to steal my glory!"
"You are acting like a child, Draco! I can help!"
There was a pause, and silence reigned.
"Stop it! Stop trying to get inside my head!"
"Just give in you silly boy! I can make you succeed!"
***
It's the simple things, dad, I'm not hurt, I'm not dead
I just should be where my friends are lying
And I didn't hate those that I killed, but they're all dead now
And I'm here alive with quiddich and Friday nights
And no one to judge me for the things that I've done at all
So how can I live with that?
Draco clenched his jaw, effectively smothering a scream and snapped his quill. He crumpled the note and threw it in the fire. He had succeeded. He had succeeded in ending Dumbledore's life, he had succeeded at the only thing he had ever wished to fail.
***
The pressure releases if I just let down my guard
"Who killed Dumbledore? Who? WHO?" The Dark Lord hissed.
"Milord, I tell you, the Malfoy boy did!" Snape insisted.
"LIES!"
A/N: I didn't want to use the song title for my song fic titles, however I really felt like that's what is going on inside Draco, a Slow Decay. Thank you for reading! Reviews are very welcome, flames as well. Blessed Be - Jo