Note: Well this is a new story I've been working on which is a slight twist on my usual plot style and I just wanted to pilot the first chapter so if you do get around to reading it, please review and criticise. I welcome criticism and if you think this story is not worth it i'll get rid of it. There is a bit of OoC from Draco but it'll work out later on.
Summary: The end of sixth year, the war breaks out early and in a unexpected moment, ends abruptlydestroying the Dark Empire.This seemed all good news to Draco Malfoy until he recieveda strange inheritance from Voldemort. With the seventh and final year approaching, how would he deal withresponsibily, school, life, loveand a five year old?
Warning: Refefrence to violence towards a child.
Disclaimer: All I own for the moment is my plot, Voldemort's heir and his estate...
He'd done it, damn Potter'd done it. One little slip up and Potter grew a backbone. A part of me's thankful that he killed Voldemort. Maybe father was going to ease up on me and stop blaming me for everything… or not. He's probably going to start a new campaign on his own; he always expected to be next. There are still rumors about his heir though. Father could never take command unless they proved those wrong, or found him. Either way, father would probably kill him and take place at the highest power. Damn Potter! Look at what he's done. Not only that but it's probably gone to his head… two egomaniacs on the loose. Potter's probably forming his own empire. Had it been anyone else, it wouldn't have been as bad, but Potter… And at a moment of weakness. I don't know what happened, he just stopped. (I groaned). I can't think anymore. What happened, happened. Voldemort is dead, Potter killed him and a new war is about to begin.
I ran a hand a hand through my hair feeling the thick humidity between the strands. The dirt and mud hung on my clothes weighing me down. A shower would be good.
I changed and fell back onto my bed. It was late, might as well sleep. Damn! Now I'm awake. I stared at the ceiling for a couple minutes before someone burst in.
"Draco, get dressed and get downstairs, there's something that concerns you in his will." I bolted up.
"What!"
"Get downstairs boy." I ran around my room trying to get clothes on and ran down the stairs pulling on my shoes, stopping in front of the door to run a hand through my hair and knocking lightly.
"Come in, come in." I walked in and sat down. The reading was long and boring thanking some loyal followers, berating others and spiting everyone else. I tuned out until I heard my name. "And to Malfoy Junior, I leave…" He probably didn't even know my name… "Of course I do Draco…" The man stopped. "That's what it says in the letter. Anyways, as I was saying, to Malfoy Junior, I leave my entire estate- that is if and when my heir comes to age." The room fell dead silent. "He instructed me to give you these keys." I took the keys and sat back down. "Meeting adjourned." The room was filled with loud 'pop's as everyone apparated.
"Well, I guess you did something right." Father muttered as he apparated away. He'd gotten a couple of books and other dark paraphernalia. But anyone would have killed to get their hands on his estate. And I would have feared for my life had it been for that one factor, his heir. I looked down at the keys and figured I wasn't going to sleep for a while so I decided to apparate.
I apparated outside the front gate, which is as far as the shield around the house would let me apparate. The gates opened and a tiny House Elf stepped forwards.
"Are you young Master Malfoy?" I nodded, "We have been expecting you." He lead me up the long road to the mansion. As soon as we got inside, I handed the House Elf the keys. He showed me around the whole house paying special attention to which key went where. When we got to the last door, he handed back the keys. He was about to walk away when I realized.
"What does this key correspond to?" I asked holding up the smallest key.
"That goes up to the highest tower."
"Why did you ignore it?"
"I did not. We is not allowed to go up there… but the stairs are right there."
"Fine." I groaned and started up the long winding stairs.
It was about ten minutes before I finally got up there. It was a small hall with a huge wooden door with fifteen locks but only one key-hole. I tucked the small key inside and watched all the locks click silently before the door opened. The small room inside looked liked it had just been rampaged. The bed was a pile of rubble, pale green sheets barely sticking out through the broken wood. The rest was in disarray and all other furniture was broken. As the door squeaked open, I became aware of the other presence in the room. Sitting on the windowsill, looking out of a barred window, was a small child; a small girl wearing a white dress with a small scratch running down her face. She had curly brown hair and dark blue eyes that clouded then widened when they landed on me.
"Uh, yeah… I'm Draco-,"
"Whewe's (where's) Daddy?" She whispered.
"He's well, he's kind of…"
"Dead?" She asked quietly. I nodded trying not to let the confusion reach my face. "Awe (are) you hewe (here) to kill me too?" My heart stopped for a second.
"No! No, no… no. Your, um father left you in my care." I took a step towards her holding out my hand. Her eyes shook for a second before she stood and backed up.
"How do I know you'we (you're) not twying (trying) to huwt (hurt) me?" There was a small trail of blood running down the wall of the window where she was sitting.
"Are you bleeding?" She looked down, then up.
"No…"
"You are, come on we need to get you to St.Mungo's." I took a step forwards.
"No, go away!" She waved her hand and a line of fire appeared. It died just as fast and she fell, panting. I walked over and picked her up. She struggled weakly.
"Never attempt a spell when weak. It'll either backfire or drain you, hopefully the latter." I kicked open the door and walked back down the stairs.
"You'we (you're) letting me out of my woom (room)?" She asked quietly.
"Sure. I mean we do need to get you to a medi-wizard."
"Why?"
"Because you're hurt and you need medical attention. Now, who did this to you?"
"…"
"Who did it? I need to know if I'm to help you." There was a silence as I quickened my pace down the steps. It was hard holding her and going down stairs. "Do you know who did it?" She nodded. "Then why can't you tell me?" She shook her head. "Who was it? You have to tell me. I can't help you if you don't…"
"D…"
"What?"
"D…"
"One more time."
"Daddy…" She said finally giving up and hanging limply in my arms.
"He did this to you?" I asked more to myself than her. I knew Voldemort was ruthless but to take it out on a child, his daughter no less… She laid her head on my chest. "It's err… okay now?"
"You'we wawm (You're warm)" She said dazedly, her eyes starting to close.
"Oh god, wake up-," It was then I realized I didn't know her name. Wait (Car screeches in the background) that's not important. "Wake up! Wake up!" My walk turned into a run as I finally reached the fireplace. "St.Mungo's"
I toppled out of the fireplace into a crowded hallway. I stood there for about a minute, unnoticed.
"Will someone help her! The kid's about to die…" The rush stopped and a couple of medi-witches and wizards crowded around and levitated her away. The rush was restored and they disappeared into the crowd. "Where'd they go?" I only got myself more lost in the crowd. I ran a hand through my hair. There was a soft tap to my shoulder.
"Mr.Malfoy, please follow me to the waiting room to fill some forms." I followed her since she was the only one leading me somewhere. "Here." She handed me a clipboard. "Fill these out." She walked back out. I was about halfway done when it asked me about her… Damn… I stopped and stared at the page.
"Mr.Malfoy…" A voice called. I looked up and found two men standing there. "We need to talk." I grew a worried look on my face.
"W-what about?" I tried.
"We understand that you have just come to inherit a mansion with all that is within, am I correct?"
"Yes…"
"It comprise the elves and the little girl?" I thought I was the only one to know about her.
"Yes…" I gulped. He cracked a smile.
"Well then, we just have some deeds, ownership and guardianship forms for you to sign. They won't let you in without legal guardianship." I relaxed as they handed me the forms. I was just about to sign the last one when I realized what it was. The guardianship papers for the girl… The quill hovered over the dotted line as I contemplated it. If I signed this, I would be responsible for a live human being, not some fish you could just flush down the toilet if you grew tired of it… And somehow, it didn't matter. She'd already become my responsibility whether I'd wanted it or not it hadn't been a legal responsibility but I'd been responsible for her for what? The past hour? That and the trouble I went through to save her, she's not going anywhere. I signed the paper, reading every line, and handing it back. The man closest to me waved his wand at the parchment I handed to him and new parchment appeared. "Here you go, the deed to the estate, map of the grounds, birth certificate and other information you might need."
"Th-"
"Draco!" Right then, my parents came into the room.
"Mother…" I muttered.
"Where have you been and what's this about a child? Did you get some girl pregnant!" I pondered the thought for a moment. "Draco!"
"No, no!"
"Then what? And why are you in the hospital?"
"It's the inheritance, isn't it?" Father asked.
"He had a child, was dying when I got there, had to go to St.Mungo's. I don't know…" I ran a hand through my hair. I was seriously going to start losing hair if I kept that up… (Draco twitches and checks his pocket mirror…lol) I looked down at the birth certificate. Lillian Emilyn Brianne Riddle. Cute, I didn't think the man was capable of it. Her mother probably named her.
"Mr.Malfoy, you may come now." I finished up the forms and handed them to her before walking down a hallway. "This way." (No… I was just following the rainbow to the pot of gold)... I followed her down a longer hall where a medi-wizard was waiting for- me I guess.
"So… what happened? Diagnosis?" He looked down, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Before I start, I have to ask, are you in any way responsible for her injuries?"
"No, I barely found her, she did fall back at one point, but no, I didn't hurt her." I said running a hand through my hair (again). (See now even I'm getting tired of writing it…) The medi-wizard and the nurse both looked at each other before he sighed heavily.
"She's been underfed, starved even, beaten, several times, some old and new wounds to the arms, legs and torso, bruised tracheal muscles due to strangulation or something of the sort. There are several scars from unidentified spells. There is a lesion to the back of her head from repeated t-,"
"Stop. Just, never mind. I don't want to know anymore. Just…stop."
"I'm sorry. She's been through a lot… Strong little girl…" There was a silence.
"Can I… see her?"
"Oh! Of course." He opened the door, and there she lay. Her hair creating a halo around her pale face and her eyes a dull blue.
"Hey…" I said quietly. She looked up shocked and hung her head low.
"I'm sowy (sorry) Dwaco (self-explanatory), I shouldn't have done that, you wewe (were) only twying (trying) to help."
"It's okay Lily, y-,"
"What?"
"Hm?"
"You called me Lily. No one evew (ever) called me Lily."
"He kept you up there all your life, didn't he?" She nodded.
"It gets scawy (scary) and lonely up thewe (there)."
"I won't make you go back… unless you want to." She shook her head no and I sat down on the edge of her bed. She lay back down. "I'm closing down the estate and you'll come live with us. Mum's always ranting about how much she wanted a girl in the house. Do you have anything back at home you might want to go get?"
"Daddy nevew (never) got me anything" I felt compelled to do something for her… I didn't know what but I felt bad, I don't know. All these emotions are new to me. In one day, she's managed to make my teaspoon emotional range spread. I almost felt overprotective… I stopped myself.
"Well he's gone now and it's going to be different… I won't let anyone hurt y-," She grabbed me around the middle and hugged me. She then looked up at me with big teary dark teal eyes. "It's, err, okay?" I said patting her head. She was sweet. Mother and Father burst into the room.
"We've been looking all over for you! Don't you dare ever leave your parents in a waiting room!"
"Now where is he?"
"Who?"
"His Heir."
"Oh, Lily?"
"Lily? You mean, it's a she?... where is she?"
"Right here." I pulled back my arm and showed Lily who was cowering at my waist.
"She's what? - She can't-," Father stormed out, frustrated. The door slam made Lily jump and she held on tighter.
"Shh, it's okay?" I said trying to calm her down… and maybe loosen her grip so I could feel my toes again… Meanwhile, mum just smiled at me. "What?"
"Oh nothing my sweet, sweet little boy."
"Huh?" She looked at my hand, which was gently stroking her head. Lily sniffed lightly. I pulled her out of her embrace and sat her on my lap. "What's wrong?"
"He scawes (scares) me… weminds (reminds) me of daddy." She leaned her head against me once again and saw mum. Mum smiled.
"Hello." Lily blushed and buried her head in my shirt. It seemed to have become her new favorite place to hide. "Shy, isn't she?" I nodded. The medi-wizard came back in and told us it would be okay to take her home, though she would probably get some cold-like symptoms.
"Okay. Come on Lily, let's go." She held her hands up towards me. I looked at mum.
"It means she wants you to pick her up." Lily nodded. I made a face but ended up picking her up. There was a fireplace in the front hall.
"Close your eyes and don't breathe in the smoke." She closed her eyes peeking slightly. I chuckled lightly. She looked up at me.
"What?"
"Nothing." She gave me a questioning look before closing her eyes. I stepped in, throwing down the floo powder and saying. "Malfoy Manor, den." This was going to be a long year.
This is only a pilot chapter to see if its worth posting. Hermione isn't coming into this for a while. I have to develop Draco and Lily a bit more that and I'm sure you noticed that Draco is OoC a bit but he'll fall into character soon enough I just need a bit more Draco practice. Review...