Summary to date: Draco and Hermione were happily married, or so she thought. Lucius was soon to be married to a young widow, Phaedra Flint. Little did he know that she and Draco longed for each other.
Lucius, disappointed by Draco's lack of motivation in business and at producing an heir with Hermione has decided the Malfoy line must survive by any means possible. He woos Hermione with the intent of getting her pregnant. Little did he realize he would fall in love with her and she with him.
Meanwhile, Draco and Phaedra have decided that any child she bears would be his, not Lucius'. Unfortunately, the two of them are caught. In an attempt to salvage the Malfoy reputation, Lucius invokes an ancient wizarding law that makes Hermione his wife and Phaedra Draco's. Unfortunately, he did not consult Hermione before hand, nearly losing her. At the same time, he disowns Draco and takes away the Malfoy name, leaving Draco with the tainted Black name.
Finally, she comes to realize that she loves Lucius and wants him in her life and wants to raise a family with him.
Draco was given a run down cottage and one year of support from Lucius. After that, he would be on his own. This story begins as that year runs out.
Fallen from GloryChapter 1Draco stabbed at his breakfast. He was growing increasingly irritated. He wasn't sure if his father had formally blacklisted him, but he was having a difficult time finding employment. And the year was nearly up and with it his stipend. They needed money.
Almost everything Phaedra had from her previous marriage to Marcus Flint had been confiscated by the Ministry for reparations after the war. And her parents had been so utterly embarrassed by her behavior that they had cut off all contact and support. They were on their own.
He had no idea what he would do when the money ran out. Leaving the country had crossed his mind, but he had nothing to start over with. Phaedra had not wanted to leave Britain when this had began, and now it was really too late.
Thinking was almost impossible with the baby crying. "Will you shut her up!" he shouted at Phaedra.
"Oh? I'm the one that has to do all the work, eh? Why don't you help out? It's not like you are doing anything productive," she snapped back.
"I'm trying to find a job!"
"You're not very good at it. It's been almost a year, and you still haven't done anything."
"If you weren't blowing our money on frivolous shit, it wouldn't be this big a deal," he shouted back before storming out of the house. He wasn't sure where he was going, but anywhere was better than there. As he walked along the edge of the property, he tried to think of whom he could ask for a job. Who might possibly look out for him?
Snape.
Long ago Snape had vowed to Narcissa to look out for Draco. While that spell no longer held sway over his former teacher, perhaps there was still some loyalty. And Snape had managed to hold onto his standing in the wizarding world, even becoming deputy headmaster at Hogwarts.
Since school was not currently in session, he decided to try to find Snape at his home at Spinner's End.
Nervously he knocked on the door.
Snape cracked the door open before opening it more fully. "Malfoy… or should I say Black," he sneered.
"Yeah, whatever," Draco replied. He had gotten used to his new name, but he still did not like it. He could not believe that his father had taken his name away. "Can I come in?" He did not want to conduct his business on the front stoop. When Snape didn't move, he said, "I need a favor."
"Well, then, by all means," Snape replied obsequiously.
Draco was upset that he was not even offered tea.
"What is it that you want?" Snape asked.
"You aren't a very polite host," Draco said sharply.
"You came unannounced. My time is valuable. What is it you want?"
Draco wasn't sure what he had expected, but this wasn't it. "I was wondering if you could offer me a job at Hogwarts this year."
Snape arched an eyebrow. "A job?"
"Yes. I spoke English, not goblin. A job."
"What even makes you think you are qualified to hold a job at Hogwarts?"
"I was tops in my classes," behind, Granger, he added silently.
"But you never sat your NEWTs. Technically you are not a qualified wizard."
"Then I'll sit them now." He had to have this job. This was his last chance.
"I'm afraid I have nothing to offer for the upcoming term."
"Surely there must be something, anything. I can apprentice, teach History. Surely it's time for Binns to retire."
"I'm sorry. I have no openings."
Draco was getting upset at how calm Snape was. Rising to his feet, he shouted, "Lucius put you up to this, didn't he? Told you that you couldn't hire me?"
Snape also rose to his feet, towering over the younger man. "I will not stand for such accusations in my house."
Realizing he had made a monumental mistake, Draco took his seat. "I'm sorry. I'm just so frustrated that I can't find any work. Do you perhaps know of a job you could recommend for me?"
Snape slowly regained his seat. "Unfortunately no. While many of your year did not finish their NEWTs on time, most chose to sit exams shortly after the war. As you know, without NEWTs most major employment opportunities are not there. Have you perhaps looked into applying at the Weasleys'?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
Scowling, Draco replied, "Never! Not that they would hire me anyway. I need to be something more than a stockboy." He knew not only how much property taxes on the cottage would be, but also how much money Phaedra liked to spend. Even after repeated conversations about their shortage of money, she had not significantly altered her spending habits.
"Well, then, you had best continue your search." Snape's tone indicated the conversation was over.
Draco couldn't leave yet. He needed something, and Snape was the closest thing he had to a friend. He pleaded, "Surely you can recommend something. After all, you pledged to my mother to look out for me."
"Those circumstances have been fulfilled. You will recall it was only for your task to kill Dumbledore. The fact that the war is over and you are still here, not having served a day in Azkaban," Snape said bitterly, "is proof that I did fulfill my end of the pledge. The mess you chose to make of your life in recent years is your problem. I would have expected more from a Malfoy, but I presume that is why you are now a Black. Good day." Snape was now standing at the door, holding it open.
Realizing he had overstayed his welcome, Draco grudgingly left, no closer to solving his dilemma. He had at least hoped he could get some advice, but it seemed that Snape was still firmly in his father's pocket.
Unable to think of anywhere else to go, he Apparated to Diagon Alley, hoping to receive some new job inspiration. As he walked along the quiet street, he made mental note of his skills. He was excellent at Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, as well as the Dark Arts themselves. Snape was right, if he had sat his NEWTs, he might have been able to find employment. He was sure that he could have gotten Outstandings in all the classes he had taken, well, with the possible exception of Care of Magical Creatures, which had been a monumental waste of time.
Realizing he was standing near the entrance to Knockturn Alley, he considered making the turn and seeing what he could find there. After all, he had exhausted all respectable job opportunities. Perhaps inspiration would strike him there.
Just as he was entering the alley, he caught a flash of long blonde hair out of the corner of his eye. Pausing in the shadow, he saw Lucius, Hermione and their baby. He scowled as he watched them, the perfect happy family.
Deciding the time had come to confront his father, he follows them down Diagon Alley, careful not to be seen. He needed to get Lucius alone.
They stopped in front of Madam Malikin's, Hermione cooing over something in the window.
Draco ducked into the doorway of a nearby shop, not wanting to be seen. Peering around the corner, he watched Lucius kiss Hermione before she and the baby went into the shop. He could feel his stomach turning watching their display of affection. Now that Lucius was alone, this was his chance.
Stepping out of the shadows, he quickened his pace to catch up to his father. "Lucius!"
