Travelin' Soldier

Draco was anxiously pacing the study in the manor. He could hear them down the hall. His mother screaming. Begging. Pleading. Her cries we're muffled by his fathers heavy hands and harsh words. Spinning making his fist collide with the wall he couldn't see an out. With blood trickling down his arm slowing dripping onto the white carpet he gripped the wall. His world was spiralling out of control. His mother could no longer protect him. His father didn't understand what he needed protection from.

Two days past 16, Draco was waiting to side along-apparate to the meeting point, waiting to go and meet the others, to take the mark. His mother had cried for his soul the day Lucius gleefully strode into the room announcing a way to ascend his family back into greatness.

'No, no, no, no, NO! Not my boy, not my baby, not mine nononononotmybabymyonlybaby…' Narcissa moaned in horror unable to breathe. 'Cissy', hissed Lucius 'it would serve you well to remember with whom our family is aligned.' Lucius furrowed his brow before continuing, 'there is only one way out of this war for our family. We will not survive taking any other path. We must give our complete devotion. We must make sacrifices.' A hiccup escaped Narcissas throat as she started to sway. After years of taking the cruciatus curse she would not break. She would not fall or scream. She would not let him have the satisfaction. Draco had cleaned her up one too many times. After the beatings, the floggings and the forced splinching. Her mind drifted back to waking up on the stone-cold floor of the manor, teeth cracked mouth bleeding, hair matted from blood and a little pair of hands belonging to her 3-year-old stroking her face with silvery grey eyes crying comforting her 'its ok mother, I'm here.' The same words she used to comfort him every other night.

From the study Draco could hear bones being broken. Narcissa and Draco had made a pact on his 11th birthday to always love and protect each other. Knocking back the remaining firewhiskey in his fathers forgotten glass he cleared his mind and schooled his features. Magically cleaning the blood from the carpet Draco paused remembering the last time he had run into his parents' room.

'Son' Lucius bellowed from the master suite. 'This is it. I'm going to cop it now' thought Draco as his heart raced just that little bit faster. Running down the hall to his parents' room he was knocked off his feet the moment he entered the room. He didn't hear a single word his father uttered as he felt blow after blow strike his head. He did as his mother was teaching him. He cleared his mind. He brought the mist. He thought nothing. He felt nothing.

Draco was getting ready to take the Hogwarts Express to school for the first time and had sought out his mother to say a proper goodbye before he had to pretend in front of his father that she didn't mean a thing to him. When he found her she could barely move. His father had hosted a dark revel the night before, bringing the party back home in the wee hours of the morning. Of all the sick evil things his father did he drew the line at gang rape. After all, she was his pureblood flower. But his mother was unclothed and shaking. Not knowing what to do but guessing what had happened he went and got a blanket and healed her wounds the best he could, calling for his mother's house elf to help him get her in the bath. 'It's ok mother, I'm here' said Draco lovingly as he sponged dried blood off her body. 'You should have left me there' said Narcissa in a panicked whisper. Realisation dawned on her beautiful face. Turning to Draco she reminded him of their promise weeks earlier. His mother's version of protection was to have him stop intervening, stop caring for her, in a hope this would lessen the punishments for her son. The two sat and talked in a hushed whisper agreeing to be on their best behaviour and to stop fighting what was coming. If Lucius wanted a dark wizarding family that's what they were going to give him. Draco was revived by his fathers wand and sat immediately not daring to look at his mother. He remembered their hushed words hours before. 'You promised.'

Hearing her bones crunch made memories come flooding back. 'Fuck the promise' Draco muttered aloud. Blowing open the door Draco came face to face with his swaying mother and his impassive father. 'Father.' Acknowledged Draco with a slight tip of his head. Lucius stood back to regard his Heir looking between him and his pureblood flower. 'Your mother still does not want you to join our ranks Draco.' Said Lucius ignoring the door hanging from its frame. Draco, using all of his willpower responded in a slow drawl to match his fathers 'perhaps war isn't the place for women father.' Lucius' chuckle echoed throughout the room. 'I suppose you are right. Your mother has been known for fits of hysteria when the time strikes.' At this Draco mimicked his fathers chuckle. Wanting nothing more then a stress-free afternoon Lucius turned to Narcissa who had stopped swaying and told her to clean herself up. Before walking out of the room Lucius reminded Narcissa of their mid-morning engagement with the Notts.

As the Patriarch left the room Draco stepped towards his mother who immediately stepped back. 'No', she said looking at Draco with a soft smile. 'I'm not going to let you worry about me today. Tonight, you will be joining the ranks of the dark lord and your father and I will be occupied until the ceremony. I'm going to go and change and clean myself up, then I'm going to apparate you somewhere to spend the day away from all of this. One last happy memory my Son.'

~X~X~X~

Draco looked around at the foot traffic. His mother had brought him to a place she heard one of the muggle parents talk about on platform 9 ¾ . She had left him a purse of muggle money she had secretly changed for him, instructions on how to use the knight bus that evening ensuring he knew he had to be back at the manor before his father came home to collect him.

Draco jumped out of the way just in time to avoid being bumped into by a lady carrying trays of drinks. Curiosity was getting the better of him. He has never been allowed into the muggle world before and he had to step back and take a moment over whelmed at the prospect that no one knew him and today, just for a few hours he could be who ever he wanted to be. Glancing back at the girl with the drinks Draco knew he needed a plan. If he didn't move soon he would be standing there all-day muggle watching. As he turning he saw a group of kids his age laughing and joking while the two at the back stood kissing with pure abandonment. A pang of regret filled his heart. He wouldn't have any of those things.

Draco didn't want to stray far, worried he would get lost, with the trace still on his wand a fleeting thought passed through his head. He was where the bus would collect him. Maybe he should just go now. Maybe this is happy memory enough, seeing people his age happy and free of fear and torment.

He looked down at himself waiting for the bus in his army green. The colour of war. Of segregation. But then he noticed the muggles around him. Colour here seemed to be nothing. No one would look at his muggle clothing and see them as battle clothes. Shaking his head, he stepped away from the curb. The group of muggles were walking his way. Panicking he leaned back against the nearest shop front wanting to hide in plain sight from what he didn't know...

'Shes no fun!' exclaimed the one in red laughing as the one in yellow jumped on her back. 'She's spent most of the last week with us guys, give Hermione a break!' said another. 'When she goes back to boarding school in a few days I don't want to hear you guys complaining about how you wish you had convinced her to come tonight' exclaimed the first. Dracos ears perked up recognising his classmates name. Before he could hear more the streets noise drowned their conversation leaving Draco unsure of what to do next.

Feeling his stomach growl he decided nothing could be decided on an empty stomach and followed his nose down the street and around the corner. It was only 11am but today he had taken in more information in the last hour then he had in years. How could a world be so similar yet so different?

Casually strolling into the café he sat down at a booth in the corner. It was clearly a much-loved establishment. All around him people were smiling and happy but relaxed. The last of the breakfast diners were clearing out, slightly emptying the place. Not paying attention Draco was startled when a waiter gave him a menu with a big smile and told him to sing out when he was ready. If only he knew. Malfoys don't sing… Not knowing how to tell him this Draco accepted the menu. Scanning the list for a few minutes he wasn't sure what he wanted but sure as hell couldn't concentrate because the waiter who gave him the menu was too busy telling someone they could finish in an hour. Trying to get his attention, Draco finally gave up and resigned himself to the fact that if he starved to death at least he wouldn't have to go tonight.

He could see the back of another waitress a few feet away. Speaking loudly with slight hesitation, he gave his order to a girl with a bow in he hair.

'Excuse me miss, may I order a pot of tea please.'

Spinning mid laugh to acknowledge him the girl stopped eyes wide looking him dead in the face. Time seemed to pass them by. Looking around Hermione gauged the situation. He was alone. He was in muggle England. He was wearing muggle clothes. He looked like a deer in headlights. Using her intuition and intellect Hermione concluded he was just as shocked to see her as she was him. As he looked at her she couldn't help but notice he looked, dare she believe it shy. So she gave him a smile.

AN~

This is my very first fic, so please be nice! I've got no idea how long it will be but I'm aiming for 10 chapters. I don't have a BETA so hopefully there's not too many mistakes… I'll try to pump this story out because I have the whole thing in my head waiting to come out!

Let me know what you think 😊