Name Information:
Star and Constellation: Scorpius is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for scorpion. At the end of Scorpius' graceful J-shaped pattern of stars, you'll find Lesath. This noticeable star is sometimes referred to as the Stinger.
Greek: In Greek mythology, Hyperion was the 'God of the Sun and Light', the name means 'He who watches from above'.
Flower: When given as a gift, the dahlia flower expresses sentiments of dignity and elegance. It is also the symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever. The red dahlia is a symbol of betrayal.
The Bloodborne Child
June 10th, 2005 - 6:30pm
It was the families' bi-weekly dinner gathering, the first one that everyone was present for in a while that is. There was extra stress on the importance of this particular dinner by Draco and Astoria Malfoy in order to assure their parents attendance. These gatherings used to be more pleasant and civil when the newlyweds established them two years ago in the hopes to unite the families. Instead, the entire tradition went downhill after only six months when talk of children became a common conversation starter.
The tension between everyone only worsened as the civility left the tones of their voices when methods of upbringing, where they would attend school, and how they would be conditioned were interwoven into the subject. Naturally, neither side ever wished to truly hear what the couple had to say about any of it, and it virtually ended with a lot of stress and disdain.
Today was going to be different, the pair had a pleasant surprise for their respective families. Though their hope of unifying the in-laws was futile at this point, they could at the very least be happy over the same piece of news for a change.
The appetizers were eaten in relative silence once the standard exchange of pleasantries to one another were given, but the tension was already lingering thickly around the grand table. Everyone was seated in the same layout they always had in place plus an additional guest. Daphne overheard the conversation between her parents and insisted on attending as well, her curiosity of what the secret hype would eat away at her otherwise.
Draco could tell she was uncomfortable. Apparently no one had told her how awkward these gatherings became and marched in blind. She would whisper something to Astoria on occasion, but the silence quickly took back over. He wondered if she would prefer being back at St. Mungo's rather than curling into herself, picking at her food.
After a painstakingly long two course meal, dessert finally arrived. It was accompanied by flutes of champagne that was placed next to everyone's plates. Draco gave Astoria a comforting look as she became suddenly very nervous about what was about to be announced.
The couple decided to tell everyone together, but Astoria seemed to have froze up, leaving the opening of the speech to fall on him. Clearing his throat, he slowly got to his feet and gave a gentle tink of his glass to catch everyone's attention. All eyes were on him now.
"Before we tuck into this fine dessert, I– we have something we'd like to share with you all," Draco spoke clearly, glancing at Astoria to signal her to continue.
Narcissa wriggled in her seat as discreetly as possible - seeming to know what was about to unfold. Helen, Astoria's mother, mimicked the barely contained excitement. Astoria lowered her head, a soft blush colored her cheeks as she slowly stood up and straightened her posture. Everyone's eyes shifted to her.
"Draco and I. . ." she paused, looking down at her stomach, a small smile crept over her face as she rested a hand over it. "We're expecting–"
"WHAT?!" Daphne blurted out, dropping her dessert spoon to the floor.
Astoria could barely get the words out before the couple were smothered with hugs, kisses, and oh's and ah's from their mothers. Narcissa would not stop smiling at her son. The fathers were more reserved to congratulate their children on the wonderful news, but the looks on their faces did not hide their prideful happiness.
"I am very happy for you both, son," Lucius said once things calmed down.
"This is certainly a welcoming surprise!" Morpheus stated, giving his daughter a warm hug.
"A grandchild! Oh, how delightful!" Narcissa all but cheered, not bothering to hide the look of relief on her face.
"Grandchildren actually, Mother," Draco corrected as he approached Astoria and placed a gentle kiss to her temple.
"Twins? Oh, sweetheart!" she squealed, and another wave of hugs from the mothers went around.
Lucius was less than thrilled at the added information, Draco noticed. Daphne had stood up quickly, appearing slightly appalled and put out. Narcissa and Helen spoke over each other, and Morpheus kept trying to give Astoria another hug and offer Draco a hand. There was too much going on around in the dining room that it was difficult for Draco to decide who to address first.
"'Stori! Twins?! Why didn't you come to me to find this out?" Daphne scolded, clearly offended by the lack of involvement.
"Please don't be upset, Daph," Astoria quickly offered.
"We decided to have Healer Hale monitor Astoria's pregnancy. Given the extreme circumstances involved," Draco cut in, allowing the topic to pull the room into silence.
Everyone was ecstatic about the news, but no one wanted to think about the immanent risks that could be involved. Especially when twins were a contributing factor.
"You mean Dr. Hale?" Daphne found herself scoffing, dropping her voice into a hushed, but harsh whisper so the rest couldn't hear. "You're aware he practices Muggle medicine as well, don't you 'Stori?"
"Is that supposed to bother me, Daph'?" Astoria hissed back.
Blood status was not something her parents stressed upon their daughters, but it also was not completely ignored. Astoria never cared for it and made sure to avoid that extremist crowd like the plague in school and befriended peers from the other houses instead. A Slytherin she was, but she never wanted to share the standard viewpoints her blood said she should live by.
Daphne was the opposite, but had grown up a lot and looked past it most of the time. She put a lot of effort and focus on a career as a Healer and even traveled across Europe to train and aid in the recovery of the collateral damage of surrounding countries that was overlooked during the peak of war. However, when her emotions went rampant, things tended to slip out.
Morpheus pulled Draco away from the squabbling sisters, giving the blond a slap on the back. "Congratulations, Drake-"
"It's Draco."
"I didn't think you had it in you to even have one, but two? Blimy, you have my utmost respect."
Lucius overheard the underlying scathing comment as he approached. Before his son could counter, he took it upon himself to do so, instead.
"How dare you insult my son like that, Morpheus."
Draco gave his father a look to tell him to just let it be, but it was too late and went unnoticed.
Morpheus turned to face Lucius, the two stood as tall as they were able while silently sizing one another up. Things were going south really fast and Draco had no idea what to do to prevent it.
"Offering my respect is insulting now, is it?" Morpheus retorted, light brown eyes narrowing.
"Father," Draco began to say, but went quiet when Lucius raised a dismissive hand at him.
"Not only do you mispronounce his name, you all but call my son an incompetent, sterile, buffoon."
"And spineless, apparently." Morpheus added on, taunting both of the Malfoy men.
Everyone went quiet, the rooms tension was as taught as a balance wire. Draco saw his father grip the snakehead of his cane; it was a bad sign. Someone needed to distract them before curses went flying.
Daphne pulled her wand from an inner pocket, using it to get everyone's attention with a Sonorous Charm. "Congratulations to Astoria and Draco! Do we all want to know what they are?"
Astoria looked taken aback, but had been rendered speechless at her father's less than desirable behavior toward her husband. She was utterly mortified at this point; the entire surprise had been tarnished. However, the idea of being able to find out what they were this early was intriguing. It had her wonder why Hale hadn't found out yet, or if this simply was Daphne trying to help distract everyone from the hostility.
"Well, of course I'd love to know," Narcissa spoke up.
Helen quickly overlapped her. "I'd be over the moon!"
Astoria put a hand on Daphne's wand arm, pulling her close so she could whisper. "Can you really do that? It's quite early yet…"
"How far along?"
"Barely two months in."
Her elder sister shrugged her off. "It can be detected that early."
"But, Hale hasn't-" Astoria was cut off.
"He thinks the spell is inaccurate at this stage. I say why not just have fun with it?" Daphne cut in, readying her wand.
Draco stopped her this time, looking very concerned about the suggestion. "I am not comfortable with this."
"Will you two relax? It's harmless, I promise. I thought it'd help ease the tension." Daphne quickly explained. "Besides, whoever doesn't want to know what their bundles of joy are are nutters. And I want to give you two a gift, anyway."
After a long silence of exchanged looks between the young couple, the two accepted the Healer's offer. The squabbling between the in-laws continued in hushed, heated tones behind them.
"Alright! Here we go, everyone!" Daphne announced, moving Astoria to stand in front of her.
Being put on the spot again by the prying eyes of the parents, she barely acknowledged Draco gripping her hand in assurance. Daphne flourished her wand above her sister's head. A shimmering silver trail formed into a ball and lowered toward Astoria's stomach where the colors slowly turned from a red to blue before settling on a plum purple. The mix between the two colors indicated that they had one of each gender.
Everyone had forgotten the drama caused by egos and strong opinions. The congratulatory toast was made and dessert was consumed with a slightly happier air between the small family. Soon after the women gathered to the sitting room to discuss names and nursery decorations while the men retreated to the parlor for after dinner refreshments that would likely result in continuing the insults and degrading remarks from earlier - much to Draco's chagrin.
.oOo.
Draco was unsure how he wound up in his father's office later that evening. His mind was clouded in an almost-drunken haze, and he simply wanted to go cuddle up to Astoria and cradle her and their future children in his arms. However, Lucius was very insistent he speak to him immediately after his wife's family left.
Closing the door behind him, he paced the distance between the mahogany desk and the dead space of the office. He bypassed the Malfoy family tree tapestry that had already budded a new branch out from Draco and Astoria's names, unopened flowers showed the preparation for the new arrivals.
"You wished to see me?" he asked, stopping just behind the large arm chairs placed in front of the desk.
Lucius swiveled the chair around to face his son, closing the book he held in hand as he did so. Getting to his feet, he walked around the desk to stand beside Draco. The silence was making Draco feel really uneasy as he watched his father.
"Draco, what I am about to tell you will not reflect how I truly feel about your new stage in life. However, it is essential that you are aware of every aspect of what it may result in shall you and Astoria continue with this pregnancy." Lucius explained carefully.
He saw the glint in Draco's eye immediately, signaling he was already going to get very defensive and upset - possibly angry - at what was about to be revealed. Lucius hated when he did that; his son used to be more compliant – more obedient in his youth. Not that he disliked Draco's becoming a man and having his own aspirations, beliefs, family, and life that was separate from Lucius'. They were just the complete opposite to what the patriarchs were when he was Draco's age, and the boy who once admired his father and wished to follow in his footsteps had longed faded away with everything else that he once could use to relate to his flesh and blood.
Draco rolled his eyes at the long-winded set up to a lecture. It was worded in the same manner as the one he heard before he got married. It grew quickly tiresome to see that his father felt the need to try and instill his opinions and guidance upon him like he was still an impressionable child lost in the world.
"And here we go again," he scoffed, shifting his weight some and straightening his back. "For once in your miserable life, can you just be proud of me?"
Lucius' eyes narrowed some, Draco did not waste time to voice his opinion. Holding his composure, he decided to ignore the scathing comment and held up the ancient looking tome as he addressed it.
"I strongly advise you read the marked chapters in this book," Lucius offered it to the stand-offish Draco, who continued to openly glare at him. "It has very critical information about our ancient blood curse that could drastically affect your wife's wellbeing."
"What are you talking about? She's the one who has the blood curse not me," Draco countered, folding his arms over his chest as the sarcasm radiated off him.
"Draco."
"We are perfectly aware of the risks I assure you, if they even happen," Draco continued as if Lucius had said nothing.
"This isn't–"
"But thank you for being so concerned about Astoria that you found a book all about a curse she is thoroughly educated in, it will help us tremendously."
"Why don't you stop and listen for a change rather than acting like a haughty stuck-up little brat?" Lucius spat.
Oh, how he wanted to swat his son right upside the head right then and there. Why did he have to be so dismissive of a genuine concern and completely misunderstand it all at the same time? Morpheus had successfully pitted his own son against him, the wretched snake.
The harsh words stunned Draco into an eerie quiet, yet his eyes smoldered like liquid iron with an intense fury that was barely contained behind them.
"It isn't about her curse, it's about ours," Lucius sternly clarified, offering the book once more.
Draco rolled his eyes and released a sigh to indicate his annoyance over the entire situation. He remained quiet; waiting for further information before gauging a proper response as he eyed the worn leather lingering in the deadspace between them. He made no motion to accept it.
"You didn't think we were free of ancient curses, did you?" Lucius added smugly.
There was nothing to be smug about when it came to blood curses. Any ancient family that wound up with one meant something or someone really hated an ancestor enough to tap into such dark and powerful spells. They were capable of snaking through generations of that bloodline, striking when it saw fit, resting dormant unpredictably, and forever kept the cursed on edge. The Greengrass' had an inconsistent curse, but it was still laced with old magic nonetheless.
"Not surprised to learn a myth became true for us, if that's what you mean," Draco retorted. "What makes ours so dire for you to act so superior about it?"
Lucius brushed past his son toward the tapestry that hung on the far wall. Draco turned to watch, subconsciously not wanting his back to his father right now. The patriarch eyed the family tree a moment before addressing Draco.
"When you look at this, what do you notice?" Lucius asked with a level voice – a strange calm that always gave Draco chills.
He barely glanced the tree before half shrugging. "Ninety percent of them are dead?"
Lucius simply stared at Draco. It was slowly unnerving him as he went to observe whatever it was his father wanted to see.
"There's a new branch off Astoria and I?"
A soft shake of the patriarch's head only continued to break down Draco's defenses.
"Then what am I supposed to see?" he huffed out, giving a sideways glance to his father.
"How disappointing," Lucius stated, looking to the tapestry.
Placing a finger over his grandfather's name, Lucius traced down the line slowly, then back up until he could not reach the names as he spoke. "The pattern that forms here is prominent, you can see it stretch as far back as the medieval times. The Malfoy blood is cursed to only bare one child per generation once the scared unity of marriage is sealed."
Lucius flicked his wand and small bulbs of white light shot out to highlight the broken branches of offspring that had died in the early days. As the generations cascaded toward the present day branches the lesson was learned and the broken nubs were less frequent. Glancing over at Draco, the look of horror was eminent on his features as realization settled over him. Astoria was, in fact, in more danger than originally thought with not one, but now two, blood curses working against her.
One name in particular caught Draco's eye; there were two offspring that had not been pruned. "What's the explanation there? Great Aunt Beatrix and Great Uncle Nicholas Malfoy."
"The workings of modern magical medicine and a miracle," Lucius stated. "Alas, their mother died in childbirth and the daughter passed away in her early teens. She was always very sick and weak. A product of trying to evade fate."
The Malfoys had a more consistent and terrifying curse coursing through them; it was violent and vindictive to allow only one offspring to be born per generation unless they were offspring conceived unfaithfully. The spark of hope vanished in Draco's eyes as he looked at his father. Swallowing down the forming lump in his throat, he was rendered completely speechless.
"Luckily for us we are blessed to bear male heirs, thus keeping our family thriving despite this hindrance of a myth, as you called it." Lucius concluded.
He met his sons gaze, pleased that he now understood why he called him there so late. Hoping that what was about to be said next would not set Draco off again, Lucius puzzled together words to approach the subject very carefully.
"As you can see my concern for you and Astoria bearing twins is not superficial or as selfish as you seemed to think it was," his tone was a little cruel, but Draco needed to understand. "I worry of the outcome the same as you should be. Twins… they will not be viable in our family."
Draco snapped back to reality, processing the statement and underlying meaning behind it. "Tell me you are not insinuating she should terminate?"
"It is in both your best interests to consider it," Lucius confirmed.
The room settled into a thick silence. His father's words seemed to ring loudly in the air around Draco as the devastation rattled through his skull. The what if's, the why's, the possibility of a workaround for some kind of solution. There had to be one. The thought of losing his beloved wife and children would end him if he did not find a way to prevent it from happening.
Draco slowly shook his head. His eyes re-sharpened with a new wave of anger. This had to be some trick Lucius formulated to try and stamp out his happiness again. No matter what Draco achieved in his life it would never be enough for his father.
"I can't believe you," Draco growled. "Conjuring up all this rubbish just to make a point that you don't approve. Everytime I turn around you want to take away what makes me happy for your own sick benefit to prove you are right. It isn't my fault your life is so miserable and dull."
Lucius' pressed his lips in a firm, thin line, his own eyes ablaze. "You are making a grave mistake."
Before he could put his son back in his place, Draco spoke again with a raw hatred in his tone.
"You disgust me."
He stormed past his father without a second glance, making sure to slam the heavy door behind him. The clap caused Lucius to physically flinch.
.oOo.
December 21st, 2005 - 03:00am
Winter loomed in the early morning air. The wails of an exhausted young woman echoed through the walls of Malfoy Manor. The labor was long and difficult, leaving Astoria's already haggard body more weak and fragile. Her skin was ashen and almost scaly, the veins and bone protruded from her hands and arms. The pregnancy was not kind to her health or beauty.
Healer Hale never left her side. His mediwitch and the Malfoy house elves scuttled about the room replacing the bloodied rags with fresh ones and replenishing the cloth that kept the witch's brow cool as sweat poured from her. Draco was knelt beside the bed, cradling the little boy born seven minutes prior in his arms while trying to offer his very tired wife words of comfort and encouragement to little avail. The little girl was struggling to come, and if she delayed much longer, she'd be lost.
Finally, she decided it was time. The infant came quick and was breached, causing her to inhale fluids that blocked the airway. The Healer quickly moved the child to a nearby table and grabbed items from the mediwitch to clean the infant and aid in clearing out the mouth and nose. The silence from the baby put Astoria in further distress.
"What's wrong with her? She's not crying… I want to see my babies," she pleaded, and Draco offered their little boy to her to try and distract her from what was going on close by.
Hale was performing gentle chest compressions on the infant. She was going blue now; time was running very short. Carefully inclining her head, he pressed his mouth over the child's airway and breathed into her. Draco watched in a silent horror as the man thought on his feet, using Muggle methods he couldn't comprehend as he worked to save the precious life of his daughter. Seconds later, fluid started to drip from her nose and mouth, Hale grabbed his wand and used Anapneo on her. The little body lurched from the use of the spell but he had no choice to use it at that point. The liquid and phlegm were purged from her body. It worked.
The infant stirred to life. A hand was raised in the air and her face contorted into a face ready to cry out her lungs. Hale encouraged the crying to make sure the remaining fluids were completely expelled from her lungs. Her wails were loud and piercing, more so than her brother had been. This was good, or at least to Draco as relief washed over him.
The mediwitch had retrieved a soft, deep plum colored blanket to wrap her in so the little girl could meet her family. The child's immediate calm once placed in her mother's arms and being by her brother surprised the Healer, and the twins fed off the new relieved atmosphere that settled upon the new family.
"What will you call the dears?" the mediwitch asked, smoothing out two pieces of high quality parchment and pulling a quill from her apron pocket.
Draco looked to Astoria who was to transfixed by her children to hear the question. The babies were hungry, and she wished to try and nurse. The little girl wiggled a hand free from the blanket and touched her mother's neck, the sight was beautiful to Draco. Astoria, however, became quickly overwhelmed with exhaustion. She was so tired, but sleep was not in her immediate future – not yet.
"Sweetheart?" Draco asked, not wanting to answer the question alone.
There were too many names still on the list and choosing the wrong ones would not sit well with him.
"Hmm?" Astoria murmured tiredly.
"Names?"
"Mhmm?" Her grip started to slack around the fidgeting children.
"The stars," she whispered. "They are so hungry… so beautiful. But I… just need rest..."
The elves quickly grabbed the infants as Astoria suddenly blacked out. Draco dropped to her side immediately. His concern etched his features as he cupped his hands around her sunken cheeks. Her skin was so cold.
"'Stori?" He whispered, barely feeling the puffs of breath from her mouth escaping.
Hale was shouting at the mediwitch, and the cries of two hungry children sent the room back into a spiraling chaos around him.
"She's hemorrhaging!"
Blood soon pooled around her. The mediwitch jumped to her other side to force a replenishment potion Astoria barely drank down. Hale scrambled to try and stop the bleeding, his wand flourished above her and many shades of spells cascaded over the witch's dying body. The blood stopped, and he shoved Draco back to perform the same strange practice that had saved his daughter. He didn't care what method of medicine was used as long as it could save his beloved.
.oOo.
December 21st, 2016 - 8:00am
"Come on, you two! It's breakfast time." Draco hollered down the corridor before descending the stairs.
He could hear his children bickering at each other as they approached the stairs at a run. Soon the thudding of footsteps clambered down the carpeted steps. Draco proceeded toward the dining room, preparing for the tornado that was running rampant right behind him.
"Hey! Don't push!" a girl's voice hissed.
"Well you pushed first," the boy replied, annoyed. "Ow! Daaad, she did it again!"
"You are such a tattle tale," the girl accused, bursting through the dining room with a proud smirk on her face. "I win!"
The boy emerged seconds later, holding his arm. "Only because you cheated."
Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was surprising he hadn't gone grey in the span of eleven years raising twins virtually alone. He had his parents, in-laws, and house elves always willing to help, but even with them it was still difficult to handle. Today marked the best and worst day of his life, and it was always a struggle to maintain composure the entire time. His children were the brightest light at the end of the darkest tunnel, and it was them he tried to keep focused on in order to trudge through another year.
"Leseth, what have I told you about hexing your brother?" he scolded, putting on that signature Malfoy look of intimidation.
The girl refrained from rolling her bright hazel eyes – her mother's eyes. Instead, she let out a reluctant huff.
"To not do it."
"Then don't. Scorpius, stop egging her on. Your arm is fine, and get that smirk off your face," Draco recited for the countless time. "Now hug it out and get to your seats."
The pair exchanged the awkward sibling hug, but when Scorpius went to pull away, Lesath restrained him for a second longer.
"Tattle again and I'll whack you."
She released him and Scorpius immediately spoke up. "Father! Les' - OW!"
Lesath planted a hard punch to his shoulder. Her eyes narrowing at him. "I wasn't bluffing."
"Oh, for Merlin's sake." Draco pinched the bridge of his nose in a poor attempt to stave off an oncoming headache.
He jabbed a finger toward the table. "Go. Sit. Now. No, Lesath you sit there. Don't move. Now just... Just behave."
One would think that, since it's their birthday, it would make the kids want to be on their best behavior and be kind to each other, but it was always the exact opposite. Any other day the twins got along fairly well, having their moments of course – they are only children after all. But on their birthday Lesath became a menace and Scorpius was a huge antagonizer toward her that it often resulted in fights.
Draco already foresaw the two serving detention for fighting on this day at school. He would have to send a letter to the Headmistress with clear instructions to keep them apart to avoid them killing each other.
His parents entered just as he took his seat beside Scorpius and the twins immediately forgot they needed to stay in their chairs. The pair bolted to give their grandparents hugs. They were definitely unexpected to be present this morning since Narcissa told Draco they were going on holiday to Russia. His father was the last thing he wanted to deal with on top of everything else right now.
"Grandfather! Grandmother!" the pair shouted at the same time.
Draco clasped his hands together in silent prayer and closed his eyes. 'Astoria love, please grant me your patience and strength.'
Draco stood back up to greet his parents. After the two were thoroughly ambushed by Scorpius and Lesath, Narcissa gave her son a warm embrace.
"Good morning, Mother." He barely gave Lucius a glance while kissing her cheek. "I thought you were on holiday?"
"Your mother had forgotten something and insisted we return and retrieve it," Lucius spoke in the tone used for business meetings rather than to his son.
The father and son relationship shattered a long time ago; the two could barely stand being in one another's presence anymore. Other than the obligatory family gathering for Christmas and the twins' birthday dinner, Lucius and Draco never saw nor spoke to each other.
"Stop it, Lucius," Narcissa chided, shaking her head with a hint of disappointment. "We felt so terrible leaving before celebrating the twins' birthday that we postponed our Portkey until tomorrow."
Seeing them this morning was definitely not the norm. Draco had perfected a schedule to keep balance and peace between everyone for his own sanity's sake. It had not changed even the slightest for ten years, and today of all days, his parents had to ruin the entire routine.
Breakfast was for his children and himself to spend together, and after they had their fill, they went to visit Astoria. Lunch was reserved for the Greengrass' to visit and spend the early afternoon with the twins. His parents had dinner and the evening to be with the kids to close the very exhausting day.
"Grandfather, will you sit by me? Please? Please?" Lesath begged, tugging on his arm.
Scorpius was busy with Narcissa, mimicking his sister. His mother could tell that Draco was perturbed by their sudden arrival. It left her feeling a little guilty in thinking it would be fun to surprise their grandchildren for their eleventh birthday before the pre-arranged time.
"Oh, sweethearts we weren't going-"
"Pleeeeaaase?" the twins asked in unison.
Narcissa looked to Draco for help. Her eyes silently pleaded with her son to allow them to stay, she never could say no to them. He quietly argued with her with is own gaze, a subtle shake of his head further established his disagreement to the request.
Lucius did not pay attention to the silent battle of wills being exchanged, he was busy speaking to the twins. Only when he saw the look on his son's face did he decide to take matters into his own hands.
"I don't see why we couldn't stay for breakfast Scorpius, Lesath," Lucius stated a little louder than necessary.
"Oh, yay! Come and sit by me," Lesath squealed, grabbing his hand to lead him back to where she was forced to sit.
Draco looked livid. Narcissa mouthed a quiet "sorry" as she was led past him by Scorpius. The headache came throbbing back behind his eyes; today had turned into a nightmare.
Finding the need to sit beside his son moot, Draco took the seat at the head of the table. The impulse was intended to bother Lucius, but it made Draco feel strange taking the position of patriarch. Even when it was just his children and himself, he never sat in that spot. It never felt right.
Strangely enough, Lesath was to his right and Scorpius was at his left. Both looked at him for a second before they became engrossed by the appearance of their favorite breakfasts. He normally was placed in between the two during meals, treating them as equals, so having them on either side soothed the discomfort some. It was considered a punishment to have to sit alone, something his daughter got out of this time for being mean to her brother.
Draco ate in complete silence while the twins chattered away on either side.
"Grandmother, why do you want to go to Russia? Isn't it cold enough here?" Scorpius inquired.
Narcissa smiled at him. "Well, we were invited by a good friend of mine to attend a Christmas Ball. I haven't seen this person in a very long time and thought it would be lovely to reconnect."
"Oh," he said, not finding the answer as interesting as he'd hoped.
"I'll be sure to bring you back a souvenir, how's that sound?" she added to perk him up.
"Okay! I love foreign presents!"
Lesath made a face at Scorpius' simple excitement over a gift. She caught a glance of something on Lucius' arm when the sleeve got pulled back while he reached for his glass.
"There's a strange smudge on your arm, Grandfather." Lesath pointed out, leaning closer in an attempt to see it better.
Draco's heart stopped. He watched as Lucius pulled his arm away from her curious eyes and wandering hands that reached for his sleeve. Her behavior always changed when she was around him, and oftentimes it was not a good change. She became unpredictable, asking countless questions about touchy subject matter, and even got abnormally more mouthy. A heavy feeling settled in the pit of Draco's stomach every time she sparked interest in something Lucius said or spotted a scar and asked of its story. When he indulged her with answers she would hang off his every word.
He often caught them alone somewhere in the manor. Lesath would be engrossed in a story Lucius was telling her. He hated knowing he was filling her head with things he would rather keep buried and hidden away. So far, the material he talked about was mostly innocent that contained spells, locations, and magical objects.
"That's nothing, dear; just an old tattoo," Lucius dismissed.
"Like the one on your neck?"
"Do not pry into things that don't concern you, Lesath," Draco snapped out suddenly.
The topic was getting dangerously close to the past he had strived to bury deep into the darkness. He was not going to allow his father to ruin yet another thing he was forced to fix. The least Lucius could do was glamour the damned Mark and serial markings from view like Draco did to conceal it from the children.
"No need to be so harsh with the girl, Draco," Lucius defended his granddaughter. "It is a lot healthier to nurture the curious mind rather than snuff it out."
The other two grew quiet, observing the three in an uncomfortable silence. The tension was troubling Narcissa, but she was at a loss of words to stop them. The guilt of wanting to stay settled in her eyes as she looked over at Draco. Scorpius appeared bored and oblivious. He instead focusd on finishing his breakfast so he could get on with the day.
Draco sent daggers Lucius' way, not agreeing with the comment at all. "Not in this manner, it isn't."
Lesath cut in in that moment, ignoring her father's disapproval of the subject matter.
"Will you please tell me their stories? I am old enough to know now, I think. I am going to be getting my wand soon! That must count for something, right? Please, oh please? After breakfast, perhaps?" the young witch pleaded, clasping her hands together and giving her best puppy-dog eyes at him.
Lucius chuckled, amused his granddaughter wanted to hear more stories from him. He purposely took no notice of the outraged look that was plastered all over Draco's face.
"You are only eleven once and are right to assume it is a very important and special age to be." Lucius sent a smug look Draco's way. "I would be delighted to share some tales with you after you're finished with breakfast."
His son set sharp eyes back on his daughter who now bounced in her chair with excitement.
"Les'," Draco warned. "You are busy after breakfast so it will have to wait."
The girl let out an annoyed huff. "But I want to spend time with Grandpa. I hardly ever get to see him because of you."
"Les-"
"Besides, I can visit Mother later. It isn't like she is going anywhere, anyway."
"Lesath Dahlia!"
She looked at Draco with narrowed eyes. "Well, she's not-"
A hard, resounding slap echoed in the room.
"Draco!" his mother shouted with utter horror.
Scorpius' jaw dropped open at witnessing such an action coming from his father. His fork hovered in the air in front of his mouth, a large bite of sweet cream and pancake hung from it.
The look of pure shock struck Lesath's visage as she stared up at her father. Her pale cheek quickly changed several shades of pink in the shape of his own hand before his eyes. The furious look on his face quickly dissipated when he saw the tears start to well up in those hazel eyes of hers. She attempted to flee, but Draco had grabbed her arm before she could get far.
"Les', I am so-"
"Leave me alone!" she shouted, grabbing Draco's left arm to rip his hand off her own. "I hate you!"
A sudden intense burn seared at his skin where her hand tightened around his forearm. Lesath became transfixed with it as she felt the dark magic radiate from the hidden Mark through the fabric. She unknowingly gripped harder, drawn to the feel of the magic that pricked against her hand. It was as if she was absorbing its evil essence by touch alone. The action startled and scared Draco enough to quickly release her and jerk his arm free from her grasp. The Mark continued to tingle uncomfortably as she refocused her glare back at him, a hint of confusion ticked passed her features before she turned and disappeared through the door.
.oOo.
September 1st, 2017 - 10:45am
The scarlet train sounded its warning horn to alert its passengers that its departure was closing in. Lesath and Scorpius already had their trunks stowed away in the luggage compartment and stood on the platform giving their grandparents from both sides countless hugs, kisses, and goodbyes.
Narcissa and Helen were wiping away tears every few seconds. The grandmothers had showered the twins in last minute gifts and treats that were starting to weigh down their book bags, and Draco finally tore them away from his kids with just enough time for him to give a proper goodbye.
He knelt down and pulled the pair into a tight hug. He loathed this day, the day where he had to let his children loose into the world without him. The loneliness that awaited him at home was a demon he never wanted to face.
"You will write to me as soon as you're able," Draco stated, a request rather than a demand.
"Of course," Scorpius said and pulled away to look at his father. "I'll miss you, father. I am so nervous to leave that it is making my skin crawl."
Lesath rolled her eyes in disagreement, she couldn't wait to get away from her father and the Manor. "Oh, please. Grow up, Scorpius."
"Don't start, Lesath." Draco warned.
Ever since their heated encounter on the twins' birthday she had not been the same little girl Draco thought he raised. She purposely disobeyed every chance she got and practiced magic when she knew she wasn't allowed.
"I am a pureblood, so what if I practice magic at home, Diagon Alley, or at school? It's not like I'll get in trouble for it."
She consciously – not accidental like it used to be – hex Scorpius every time they had a disagreement or fight. The questions soon became demands.
"What's the thing you and grandpa have on your arm, hmm? It's seeping with dark magic, I could feel it flowing through my fingers."
He refused to answer and forbid his parents to tell her anything, this only escalated her anger toward him. Narcissa, as always, spoke reason to her son about it all.
"She is going to learn about our part in the war sooner or later, Draco. It would be better if they both heard it from you first before they even set foot in school."
Draco almost didn't bring them to the station because the words from his mother echoed through his mind about telling them the truth all morning. He put so much effort into shoving it aside for the past six months – for their entire lives – it was difficult to have to retell it all over again. He tried to find ways to bring the sensitive subject to light and tell his kids about their family's dark past to no avail. But then Lesath would lay into him about it and the urge to deny her insufferable demands were satisfying at the time. Now it was too late, and he can only hope that he can get to the topic before it was given at school.
"You will be alright, Scorpius, Lesath is here with you. Don't be afraid to make friends, either. They always make school fun," Draco comforted his son, pulling him into a single hug.
The boy shifted his heavy book bag around, making a face of discomfort in the meantime. Draco pulled out his wand. "Here."
He gave the hawthorne wand a wave and Scorpius felt the bag grow much lighter and bearable to carry. He gave his father a bright smile. "Thank you. That's much better to handle all the stuff that got shoved in there."
The horn blared its final warning horn at five minutes till eleven. All of the other kids had already boarded, leaving the two light haired children standing among countless parents who started to take notice of who they were.
"Go board before it leaves you behind," Draco instructed.
The pair turned and made for the closest passenger compartment, but Draco was not quite done with his daughter. "Lesath, wait a moment."
She stopped in her tracks, feeling all eyes from every direction were on her now. If her father could pick the worst time to embarrass her it was then. She whipped around to regard him, the black school robes billowing around her ankles.
"What?" she snapped. "I am going to miss the train. Wouldn't want that now would you?"
Draco knelt down in front of her, Lesath kept sharp eyes on him as he did so. He once felt comfort looking into her hazel eyes, they were exactly like Astoria's in shape and expression. But the last several months they were twisted into harsh daggering glares. They judged and accused even when words were never spoken. No longer did they reflect the softness and care they were once capable of.
Despite her resistance, he pulled her into a hug. "Please, will you try to be on your best behavior while at school? If not for me, but for the rest of your family?"
Draco felt foolish to all but plead with his own daughter, but he wanted them both to have the best experience they possibly could without the added stress of her causing trouble. It was going to be an essential tool for them to learn how to socialize, answer to authoritative figures, and learn how to use their magic. He denied them to be socialized in their early childhoods, a selfish act of choice he now treasured, yet it was a key part needed to aid in their growth.
"I will gladly behave," she said with a malicious smile and a glint in her eye. "if you tell me what you're hiding on your arm."
Draco's heart dropped at her request. He could not give up on her, he just couldn't. She was creeping down a dark path he would do anything to sway her away from, but for now he was rendered powerless to stop her descent.
"I can't. Not here." He finally responded.
"Then I can't make any promises," she stated. "Goodbye, father. See you at Christmas."
Lesath bolted for the train, scrambling on with the aid of a ticket checker just as the train released the brakes and slowly started to roll out of the station.
Draco watched as the scarlet engine pulled away. The whispers and stares could suddenly be heard and felt all around him, and despite his best efforts to ignore the judgement, the words could be heard as clear as day.
.oOo.
Lesath found her brother in an empty compartment in the rear train car they boarded. She shut the door and took a seat across from him. "You found an empty compartment. I am genuinely surprised considering we were the last to board."
Scorpius shrugged. "Sort of. The kid that was here ran off when I asked if he'd mind if we joined him."
She raised a brow at the comment, not finding it very shocking that the other child fled. "So it's already starting."
"What is?"
"Everyone being afraid of us."
Scorpius looked disturbed by the off-handed comment. "Why would anyone would be afraid of us? We just got here and hadn't done anything to anyone."
"Not yet," Lesath said with a smirk.
Drawing her wand, she quickly went for the door and started to open it before her brother slammed it closed. "What are you doing?"
"What everyone expects us to do," Lesath snapped back. "Move aside, Scorp."
"No. Father said to not cause trouble, not purposely engage it," Scorpius recalled only to receive rolled eyes in return.
"Always the naive one," she scolded. "You know our family name used to have a lot of influence on the wizarding world."
"So?"
"So, aren't you at least a bit curious as to why our family lost it?" Lesath pressed on.
"Not really. That's more your weird, obsessive thing," Scorpius dismissed, picking off some lint from a sleeve.
"Well, Grandpa Lucius told me all about it the other day. He went as far back as before the first war and what his grandfather used to do," she continued on like her brother had shown interest. "I want that respect back. Imagine what we could do with that influence again."
Scorpius yawned, clearly bored out of his skull by his sisters rambling. "If father heard you talking like that–"
"He's not here, now is he?" Least snapped back. "Listen, Scorp; the name Malfoy has been established as bad blood to these other kids that we might as well be a curse or a swear to them. We are already the outcasts whether we like it or not, so I am very doubtful we will ever make or have any friends. We will only have each other in the end."
"But–"
"We can only be one of two people: pushovers, or instigators. I don't know about you but I am not going to be the former." Lesath tried shoving her brother away from the door, but he resisted.
"No, Lesath! Why can't you just listen to father for once?" Scorpius shoved back, keeping her away from the door. "What good will it do to make them hate you more?"
"I've been listening to father my whole life. This is me taking control and changing the pathetic future he has carefully laid out for me," she hissed, shoving Scorpius hard enough that he stumbled into the seat behind him.
Lesath slipped through the door and strode down the corridor of the train car with a goal set on her mind: find the Potter kids. She glanced in every compartment as she passed, moving up from the tail end of the train car where they sat to another. Naturally, the Boy-Who-Lived's children parked themselves closest to the scarlet engine as they could without being in the Prefect and Head of House train car. It was like a subtle superiority complex they wanted to flaunt.
She knew Scorpius was on her tail so she needed to make this straightforward and quick. Hand gripped her wand at her side and was at the ready. It was just her luck Lesath spotted the oldest Potter kid in the corridor, a smirk formed as she approached him and his friends. She tapped him on the shoulder and was met with a confused expression as the boy attempted to puzzle out who she was.
"Are you the eldest Potter?"
"Yes? And you're-"
Lesath struck in that moment, not allowing him to finish. With a skilled wave of her wand, she hit him with a nasty singing jinx to the face. He stumbled backwards and into his friends with utter shock, she watched as the skin of his cheek swelled from the direct hit.
"What the bloody Hell!" He snapped, scrambling back to his feet and drawing his own wand. "Who do you think you are you wretched little firsty!"
Lesath's eyes narrowed. Her wand still trained on him even though three older students were pointing theirs back at her, she did not show any fear.
"I am Lesath Dahlia Malfoy, and I want you to stay out of my way." She went to cast another spell as a warning, but her brother got to her before she could and yanked her wand arm down.
"Les'! What did you do!" He looked at the Potter kid with trepidation and a silent apology.
Lesath rolled her eyes.
"I told you already, Scorp; either you be the predator or you become the prey." She shot a glare back at the Potter boy and his friends. "I am a predator, don't you forget it."
Scorpius looked completely embarrassed by his sister's actions that he lingered behind after Lesath brushed by him. He shifted his weight some as he regarded the older kids before him.
"I am so sorry, my sister, she–she can be a little eccentric."
"She's ruddy insane!" The dark-haired boy shouted.
Another boy stumbled out of a compartment and right into Scorpius. He appeared just as bewildered at what unfolded as the blond was.
"Sorry!" He rushed out before focusing on the others.
"James! You need to calm down. Retaliating is only going to get you into trouble," the new kid quickly attempted to reason with the older kid.
Scorpius quite liked him already just by the mere fact he had to play damage control with a sibling as well – or at least he assumed, anyway. The two had a lot of similar characteristics – just like he did with Lesath. The kid his age spoke for several seconds. The words were hushed and quick, but whatever he said seemed to snap reason into the older boy. The look in his eyes when he glared Scorpius' way gave him a feeling it will not be the last time he saw him.
The boy turned to the blond after he shuffled the older kids away, the one Lesath attacked grumbled under his breath as he slipped into a compartment. Scorpius knew that his sister was a marked enemy, and by extension, he was now, too.
Both boys spoke at once – awkwardly and unsure of what to say exactly.
"I'm sorry–"
"I apologize for–"
The two went silent. The dark-haired boy nervously ran his fingers through his tousled hair.
Lesath returned to the compartment she claimed at the back of the train. Looking out the window, she saw her reflection smirk wickedly back at her. She was quite proud with that she did, it would make anyone think twice to cross her once the word spread she attacked a Potter. She didn't even care that when she arrived at the school hours later she was slammed with a month's detention and had a letter written to her father by the Headmistresses herself at what happened on the train.
All that happened before her sorting and supper, she must be doing something right.
.oOo.
October 31st, 2020 - 7:45pm
Leath was seething, the Halloween festivities had dragged on for ages and finally supper had just been cleared. She was tired and wanted to turn in for the night and was extremely bothered to feel obligated to stay late for it. But as soon as her plate vanished in front of her and she got to her feet to leave, the Headmistress herself approached. Her intense calculating eyes observed her to the point where it had her bristle, but it wasn't enough to tame her sharp tongue.
"Can I help you, Headmistress?"
Scorpius was closeby, already knowing what was unfolding, he prepared himself to be taken along with his sister to be given a months detention for what Lesath did this time. Albus Potter was right beside him, and the smile that graced his lips vanished when he saw the Headmistress in such close proximity.
"Yes, I need your cooperation, Miss Malfoy. I will be escorting you to my office immediately," Headmistress McGonagall sternly replied.
The young witch narrowed her eyes, sending the daggers at Albus rather than the Headmistress or her brother. Even though everyone feared her, she was still only a child, so disrespecting the authoritative figures was unwise. Minerva was also quite intimidating and was no match for her to challenge.
"Naturally,, Headmistress." Lesath finished packing her book bag and stepped over the bench to be lead from the Great Hall.
Students watched as they headed for the exit. Some Slytherins and Ravenclaws avoided her eye contact as she passed them, and when she gave Albus one last piercing scowl across the Hall, she vanished. Albus relaxed upon her departure, he knew what she was being taken in for, he just wondered how many times will be too many? She was sure to be expelled.
Lesath said nothing as the two made the trek up to the Headmistress' office, she had a good idea as to what she was in for this time, and already prepared for her father to be waiting for them behind the all to familiar door they approached. Sure enough, Draco stood beside the chairs in front of the large ornate desk as they entered.
Minerva gestured for Lesath to take a seat so she plopped heavily into the firm cushion. She tried her hardest to not have the piercing grey eyes of her father to crumble her to pieces as he remained standing beside her. It was an intimidation tactic he clearly adopted from Lucius; using his height and superior demenear to frighten her.
Minerva took her place behind her desk and immediately pulled a piece of cloth from a drawer and layd it out. "Miss Malfoy, could you explain this to me, please?"
Lesath barely glanced the home made mock-up emblem laid out in front of her. She knew the symbol by heart: the poison green colored background, the white fanged skull at its center, and two thick, pointed black lines placed at an angle behind it. One of them had a snakes head on the top, baring its fangs just above the skulls face. It was something she found herself sketching regularly in her notes when she was bored, and she once even inked it on her arm so she could match her grandfather. The ink still stained her arm some from the attempt that she had to glamor it until it was gone.
"I have no idea what that is," She lied, but her avoiding to look at anyone had the two adults in the room know she was fibbing.
"So this was planted in your belongings from someone else, I suppose?" Minerva probed.
Draco just loomed over her, rendered silent by the eerie similarities this design was to the one that branded his arm.
"Seems like it," Lesath retorted. "You should have the person rummaging through others things up here and not me."
"Lesath Dahlia Malfoy!" Draco shouted suddenly, effectively startling his daughter enough to look at him.
He grabbed the small banner from the desk and gripped the fabric hard in his hand as he held it in front of her. "What in Merlin's bloody name do you think you are doing making this!"
Seeing the situation going to get out of hand very quickly, Minerva cut in. "Mr. Malfoy, do not escalate the situation, please." She looked to Lesath now, the young witch met her gaze, and the haunting fear echoed from the elder witch's eyes. "Miss Malfoy, this sort of imagery can be considered sinister to others who may come across it."
"I said I didn't make it!" Lesath snapped back, growing defensive.
"Lying will not help your case," Draco scolded.
"I'm no-"
Before she could stop him, her father withdrew a small roll of parchment from her bag and unraveled it. Its edges were littered with the same emblem of various sizes. Lesath swallowed hard and looked away, her fury dripping from her very person.
"It's a stupid harmless drawing," she growled. "I suppose creativity is no longer acceptable anymore, then?"
"You are not understanding the severity of this–" Minerva began before Draco cut her off.
"Trust me she understands perfectly, Headmistress." He explained, seething with his own contained fury. "She knows things like this is completely unacceptable!"
Lesath's fists gripped tightly at her sides. The temptation to draw her wand was overwhelming, but what good would it do? She'd for sure get a lashing already from provoking this meeting, but to draw her wand would only fuel the fire.
"You act like I am stalking the halls torturing students and setting evil creatures loose on them just for kicks. It's a drawing I turned into a banner, so what?" She hissed, regaining her nerve enough to now openly glare at the Headmistress.
"It's not the drawing that is the problem, Lesath. It is what it represents and means to you that is," Draco explained in that cold, chilling voice.
She knew very well that this entire thing was ripping him to shreds emotionally, so he did what he was best at doing in such distress; he grew cold.
"What do you think it represents to me?" Lesath turned her wicked glare on her father.
"Your disciplinary record for fighting and using some rather unpleasant spells is appaling in and of itself already," Minerva explained. "It is something I needed to consider when I was presented with this, Miss Malfoy. You're actions and behavior are quite troubling to us."
"So just expell me already! I never wanted to go to this bloody school, anyway." She snapped, slamming a hand on the desk. "Here, I'll make it easy for you, Headmistress."
She threw the ebony wood wand carelessly toward Minerva, its tip pointed right at her. Her hazel eyes taunted the witch in front of her to snap it, but somehow she kept her composure.
"Despite the evidence stacked against you, Miss Malfoy, that option would be an appropriate fit as your disciplinary action. However, to mark such assumptions on you to be seen as an unfit student that risks showing signs of a darker purpose is something I will not do.
"With this in mind, I feel like you need to still be removed from the school for at least the semester," She continued, silencing Lesath and her father before they could speak with a single raised finger. "Clearly you need time to sort through your personal troubles between your family and you rather than use the school as an outlet. I will not tolerate it any longer."
Minerva pulled some documents from a file and presented it to Draco. The blond reluctantly read and signed the temporary suspension agreement on his daughter before shoving the parchment back to the Headmistress. Lesath just sat in silence, picking at a thread on the chair while ignoring them.
"I will have a house elf gather your things and get them to you shortly, Miss Malfoy." Minerva stated before grabbing the young witches wand and offering it to Draco. "I'd hold onto this for now, Mr. Malfoy."
The elf appeared after several long quiet minutes and Minerva prepared the Floo Network and Lesath went first without a single word. Before Draco followed, the Headmistress placed a hand on Draco's arm.
"I apologize that I had to come to this decision, Mr. Malfoy. Please do understand there was no malice linked to my choice, and I do sincerely hope to have Lesath back with us by next semester." Though her words were professional, they held a gentle kindness in the tone. "She is a brilliant young witch full of promise, but I do fear she is wandering down a dangerous path if it is not handled or corrected soon. Take care."
Minerva patted his arm before she released the clearly upset wizard. He gave a curt nod to acknowledge his old professors statement before he stepped into the Floo.
.oOo.
Lesath threw her trunk as hard as she could muster across the drawing room and rounded on the fireplace once Draco came through. Her eyes burned an icy fire as she held out her hand. "I want my wand back, and I want to go live with Grandpa and Grandma Malfoy!"
Her father laughed a cold, bitter laugh as he ran his hand through the silver tinted hair. His daughter aged him greatly from stress since she started school, and he expected twenty more silver hairs by morning already.
"You are forbidden to ever go near that– You are never to see him ever again! Forbidden! Never again!" Draco shouted back.
"You need to stop this recklessness!" He shoved the small cloth banner in her face before throwing it into the fire behind him. "Dare I ask where did you even see such a screwed up emblem?"
Lesath swallowed hard. She hated it when he yelled, it only made her more angry. "Knockturn Alley."
A hysterical, humorless laugh escaped Draco again. "Of course you did. Do you want to be labeled as a Dark Witch?"
"I already am feared, so why not take the title with it!" She yelled back, hands were fists at her side now. "I want my wand. Now!"
"And who's fault is that?" He snapped, ignoring her demand. "You're one step away from being expelled and you've barely started your fourth year!"
"Good riddance, then!"
"If you can't stop down spiraling on this path they will detain you and lock you up behind bars! Is that what you want?!"
She said nothing, but her piercing glare did not falter.
Draco deflated some, planting his hands over his face and breathed out heavily before his fingers knotted in his hair. "What is wrong, Lesath? Why do you do this? Why won't you tell me what is bothering you?"
Lesath just glared at him, hands going from white-knuckled fists to flexing them out, and back to fists. He could see the static of magic coming from her palms. They always did that when she was mad. "My. Wand."
"Not until you can talk to me on what the Hell is going on," he snapped.
"You always want to know!" She hissed, eyes narrowed. "'What's wrong with you, Lesath? Why did you hex that kid, Lesath? Setting fire to someone's book while you shove their face in it is not okay, Lesath!'
"What's wrong is that you don't believe me when I say I like doing those things. I enjoy causing pain. I love hurting people! Maybe they deserved it, maybe not, I stopped caring when it became more fun not to." She snarled, holding out her hand again. "Wand!"
Draco had an inkling reaction to reach for his own wand, but he stalled. He had already raised a hand to her once before after swearing to never do such thing, now he nearly drew his wand on his own daughter. Instead, he retrieved hers from his wand pocket, but did not offer it to her. "You do not mean those things, Lesath."
Lesath was beyond furious at his response now. When she went to snatch the wand from his hands, Draco pulled away. He did not expect how she was going to react. A menacing snarl emitted from the back of her throat. Her magic-static hand violently grabbed his forearm and, with the aid of her wandless magic, Lesath forcibly threw her father across the room. His back hit hard against the wall under some windowpanes that promptly shattered upon his contact. The sharp glass rained dangerously down upon him. Despite his dazed state, Draco managed to deflect the worst of them. Lesath loomed over him when his vision stopped spinning. She bent down and plucked her wand from the ground in front of him. Twirling the black wood in her fingers, she turned to walk away.
Pausing a few paces from Draco when she heard the glass shifting around – indicating Draco moved – she looked over her shoulder with daggers in her eyes. "I like causing pain. Do you believe me now?"
She left the room and her injured father with the words lingering heavy in the air. Draco's labored breathing settled some as he processed what just happened between him and his daughter, and the cold reality settled over him like being doused in ice water.
'So this is the curse… my curse to bear. The selfishness of my actions has manifested the next Dark Lord right under my nose… and I allowed it to happen.'
Written for the Bingo Challenge - Set 6 - Card 9 - Generic Mix C (Expired)
Written for The Winter Challenge of The Houses Competition (Expired)
Written for the Crayola Color Challenge from the HPFFC Forum
Winter Category: Trope Challenge
Trope: 1. Good/Evil Twins
Color Prompt: Plum
Winter Random Prompt:
- Purple
- [Emotion] Hatred
Bingo Prompt(s):
4A - Legend/Myth
5A - Marriage/Union
Word Count: (Per Google Docs) 10,939
Cheer Squad: Blue Rose