The Secret Keeper
Chapter 1: Home. Sweet .Home
Draco Malfoy left the room in a fury, stomping all the way back to his room in the west wing. All the servants knew not to cross him by the fowl look on his face. He let out a string of curse words and kicked a wall, sorely regretting it after. This cannot be happening! He huffed and threw open his bedroom door muttering merry Christmas to himself. He looked around numbly. Now What?
He launched himself onto his bed, burrowing his head into his pillow moaning. He realised he just threw a tantrum and cursed himself for being so childish. He shut his eyes feeling a migraine come on. He reviewed the situation.
He knew there was no love in the marriage of Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy. It was a typical pureblood arranged marriage like his betrothal to the Greengrass girl...what was her name? Well whatever, he'd only met the girl twice and probably wouldn't see her again until their engagement party. But even so, he had never imagined his parents with somebody else. Hell the thought itself was revolting. Especially walking in to them...
Draco couldn't let his mind think any further as repulsion and anger boiled up in him. He wondered just where his father was that made his mother feel it safe to be kissing another man in the middle of the family library. He wondered how long it had been going on. He even wondered if his father knew and turned a blind eye to it.
There was a light knock on his door and he turned his head to glare at it. He remained silent and hoped they'd leave. No such look. The knock came again louder. "Draco?" said the timid voice of Narcissa Malfoy. "Can I come in?" She waited for a response. Draco groaned but could never be mean to his mother. "Yes" he grumbled.
She opened the door and let out a sigh. "Draco" she stopped unsure how to continue; The only word that felt natural to say was sorry but Narcissa wasn't sorry that she found love in someone. She thought about it "I'm sorry you saw that."
Draco let out a huff. He could safely say this was the most embarrassing moment of his life. He didn't want to think about what he saw let alone talk about it. "It doesn't matter mother."
"No Draco you need to hear this. Your Father and I have never been close. Never loved each other but did what we had to in order to continue the family line."
"How Long?" Draco interrupted somewhat harshly.
"We Dated just after Hogwarts and then last year we... but whatever you think about Severus and myself, just know that we love each other. It's not just a fling. We truly do love each other. We have for a while. Please don't be angry."
Draco sighed, "I'm not angry mother. I was just, shocked, that's all. Does father know?" He dreaded the answer.
"No of course not; I think he may have suspicions but it's not like he can judge." She said implying Lucius' adultery. Some more things that Draco did not want to think about.
"Okay." That was all he said. It wasn't acceptance but it was enough for Narcissa; for now.
"Dinner will be at 6. Severus will be joining us." With that she left the room.
Great! Because that's not going to be weird at all! Draco had only been home 2 weeks and now growled at the prospect of having to put up with this for the rest of the summer.
Home. Sweet. Home.
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Hermione smiled as she left the small colourful building. She looked around and holding her wand arm out.
BANG!
She got on the bus quickly and smiled at Stan as she handed over some coins. Having been on the bus every morning and evening Hermione had no reason to tell the driver where they were going as they already knew as they had started a routine. She quickly sat down and grabbed hold of a bar as the bus pulled away at top speed.
Even though she hated the transport to and from work, she loved what she was doing. She had been on a summer programme which, like an apprenticeship, tutored her and paid her at the same time. She could now learn about what she wanted and have a job at the same time. It even turned out to be fun.
She was working in a community centre with kids with problems or kids that needed someone to talk to. They had trained councillors and even a few healers just in case. Hermione loved it seeing all the people and learning of their stories. There were so many...colourful people in there. She smiled absentmindedly as the bus came to a crashing stop right in front of her house.
She hoped off and quickly ran to the front door to let herself into the dark house. She held the door open so that Crookshanks could follow her in. The cat meowed in thanks and jumped through the door. The cat ran towards the kitchen door and meowed again; waiting for Hermione to feed her.
She took of her boots and laid them in the hall way slowly making her way to the kitchen. She opened the door and heaved a sigh as she saw the mess that awaited her. She had stayed late at work to filling some papers hoping to delay the cleaning but knew she could delay no longer as her parents would be home soon.
She then ran upstairs into her room and grabbed her IPod out of her bag before throwing it on the bed. After gathered her docking speakers into her arms she slowly and marched down stairs thanked the heavens that she could use it again. It had been horrible in Hogwarts not being able to use eclectics. She plugged it in, pressed play, tied her hair back and set to work.
An hour and a half later she trudged up the stairs and collapse on her bed. She lay there exhorted for a few minutes before deciding to get into her new night clothes. She then crawled into bed, pulled the furry night blanket around her and heaved a huge sigh falling into a dreamless sleep after a hard first week at work.
Home. Sweet. Home.
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Draco trudged down the stairs at precisely 6.05. He had deliberately left dead on 6 and took the longest way he knew to the dining room. He stopped at the door to compose himself and heard a giggle from inside that made him feel sick to the stomach. Do I really have to enter? I could turn around and-
A house elf suddenly opened the door allowing him entrance to the meal he'd been dreading.
He cleared his throat and entered silently taking his usual seat opposite his mother muttering an apology of sorts for his tardiness. As he ate he kept his head down thinking, If I can't hear him, he isn't here. Right? WRONG. Draco could hear him breathing, chewing and moving. His very existence could be sensed in one way or another. He hated the situation but couldn't bring himself to hate either of the adults sitting with him. They were his family. But mom and Uncle Severus? His brain kept on repeating to him. He finished his meal quickly wanting to get it over with. Once the house elves had cleared the table Draco finally worked up the courage to speak about what he had discovered.
"I won't pretend to like what's going on. If you want my blessing you won't get it. But you're my family and so I guess I'll have to just accept it. Please don't let father find out." He finished, silently praising himself on how grown up he had been.
"Draco," Severus spoke for the first time, "I know we've broken your trust but just know. I..." He cleared his throat, "…care deeply for your mother. I hope to soon regain your trust and I hope eventually you will accept us."
With this said Draco stood excusing himself and quickly walked away from the dining room and towards his bedroom. Once there he let out a huge sigh he didn't realise he had been holding. He looked round his room for a distraction and that's when he saw a letter addressed to him lying on his bed waiting to be opened. He recognised his father's writing immediately.
Dear Draco,
I have been absent for a few weeks now but you can expect me home tomorrow. 10pm sharp. Be ready and waiting for breakfast as a family.
Do not disappoint me,
Your Father.
Although Draco didn't agree with what his mother was doing, he recognised that if his father found out, then his mother would be dead. He deliberated whether or not he should inform his father. But then decided No, he shouldn't. So he immediately sent his house elf off in search of his mother to warn her of Fathers immediate return. I'm not lying, I'm protecting her.
Draco then reread the short letter and the picked up the envelope to tidy it away. As he picked up the envelope he noticed that is wasn't empty. Opening it up again he pulled out an information leaflet. The Title read: The Magick Centre. Diagon Alley. The tag line: A place for troubled teen witches and wizards to seek refuge.
Draco flicked through the leaflet and learned all about the Magick centre – a place he had never seen before. It was apparently a community centre to help young witches and wizards who had troubles and included a medical centre attached which dealt with teens that who had severe mental health problems. The centre helped using a variety of different therapies. As he read thought the leaflet he became increasingly confused. All he could do was wait for his father to clue him in.
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