Draco was walking through the Forbidden Forest, along the edge as to keep away from all the really nasty creature within. His relationship with Dedra was less than sturdy and he didn't know what to say or do anymore. It seemed like every time he was around her that his presence disgusted her, but didn't know why. He quite understood the horrors she faced while under Voldemort's foot, but she seeming distaste for him, he did not.
So, here Draco was, cursing rather loudly at a tree root that tripped him up while he walked mindlessly. Finally aware of his surroundings, he found himself a tad deeper in the Forest than he meant to be. Deciding this tree was as good as any other to sit beneath, he plopped beside the massive root that tripped him. Giving a faint chuckle, he realized that any time he and Dedra fought, he was here in the place they first meet.
But his reminiscing was cut short by the vague burning on his forearm. Roughly tugging up the sleeve of his cloak, he gazed at the slightly glowing Death Mark upon his arm. While it wasn't enough to hurt really, he was certainly enough to not let him forget about it.
How was he going to get to the Dark Lord? Apparating off Hogwarts grounds was out of the question; wards prevented that, so Draco was left with a precious few options. Digging around in his pockets, he found a Portkey that would transport him directly to Malfoy Manor. Perfect! He would Portkey home, then Apparate to where ever the Dark Lord was. Gripping the Portkey, a rust Knut, he muttered the activation word and closed his eyes as the hook grabbed his navel and transported him to Malfoy Manor.
Briefly debating whether or not to inform his parents of his arrival and soon departure, he chose against it. They didn't need to know. Closing his eyes again, he focused on the image of the Dark Lord, since he didn't know where he was going. Only Death Eaters could Apparate directly to him, if they focused on him when doing so. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a entirely concrete place, a cold damp environment, directly before the Dark Lord. Falling to one knee, he bowed his head in acknowledgement, "My lord…" murmured.
Lord Voldemort picked this place simply because his Manor was a too busy for such things. This secret place appealed to him greatly, the surroundings fitting his mood. Patiently he waited for the two summoned Death Eaters to arrive, and when the first one did, he waited for the boy to kiss the hem of his robes and stand before talking. "Mr. Malfoy, how prompt you are. Now, we shall wait for the other to arrive, before we continue." The other did not know how to Apparate yet as she was 1-2 years younger than Mr. Malfoy, so he tolerated her slow arrival.
When Dedra entered the dank concrete place, he was slightly surprised to see Draco standing there in waiting. But, she did not forget her greeting, going to her knees before the Dark Lord, kissing the hem of his robes in greeting. Rising slowly, she kept her head lowered, fearful of him. Wanting to get as far away from him as possible, she backed up until she was against the wall and, consequently, far away from Draco.
"Miss Sinnott," the Dark Lord greeted her promptly, starting to near her. Lifting one hand and jerking down the hood of her cloak, he amused him to see her flinch and cower. "I can't say you're going to enjoy this particular meet," he started, whispering solely to her, but whether or not Draco heard or not was irrelevant and trivial. Sliding his hand into once side of the cloak, he flipped it back behind her shoulders, revealing half of her clothing beneath. Running his hand casually over her chest and then down her stomach, he grinned devilishly before quickly turning around and regarding Draco questioningly. If he didn't know the question, it didn't matter.
Draco's jaw clenched tightly as the Dark Lord walked up to her, touching her. What hurt worse was watching her reaction, the whimper she almost gave. He did hear the Dark Lord's words and he wanted to stop him, but couldn't. Voldemort was closer, could harm her if he made a move. Instead, his hands became fist at his sides as he stood there waiting for the Dark Lord to address him. When he did turn around to face Draco, he looked down to where the hands laid on Dedra. Why had he chosen there? An idea occurred in his mind, a horrible one and his face snapped up to look into the Dark Lord's. "My lord?" he questioned softly.
"I'm assuming you don't understand, young Malfoy, do you?" he inquired, raising a brow and eyeing Draco with a mixture of question and maliciousness. Voldemort still did not move away from Dedra, though he was no longer touching her. "Go ahead, Draco, ask your questions freely. They will be answered. But be forewarned, tones will matter."
Continuing to tremble and shiver behind Voldemort, Dedra remained slouching and cowering, her head lowered almost to where her chin was touching her chest. Gaining a smidge of nerve, she lifted her eyes and looked over to Draco, wondering what he would ask. Taking a careful, quiet step back, she crossed her arms over her chest, and then moved them down over her middle, looking to Voldemort's back cautiously.
He asked his question while looking into her eyes before turning back to him. Draco wondered if requests counted as questions, "Could you allow her to stand beside me sir, she looks cold." Pausing in consideration of his tone and how to phrase what he wanted to ask, "Why were we both summoned, my lord? Why do you need us?" Breaking for a moment he looked back at her, smiling encouragingly.
"She's no colder than you or I," Voldemort retorted quickly, shrugging his shoulders and considering that request denied and dismissed. "It is no factor whether or not you are needed, you were wanted," the Dark Lord began, taking a step backwards towards Dedra as he sensed she had done. "You will see as much in due time. Are there any other questions?"
"Why do you want her here? Surely I could fulfill whatever want you have?" Draco asked boldly, yet in a decidedly respectful tone. Remembering how the Dark Lord had touched her, he took a moment to calm himself before asking him, "And why did you touch her stomach like that? Did you mean something by it?" His voice a touch of anger in it, but not enough to make the Dark Lord upset, he hoped.
"Perhaps blondes are brighter than given credit for, eh, Malfoy?" Voldemort rotated around once again, but this time on his left heel, looking to Dedra once again intimidating. "Indeed. It wasn't idle." Voldemort extended his hand once more, running it down her shoulder, arm, and over her stomach again. "Why do you think that is, Draco? Hmm? Offer a guess? Ask another question?"
I'm much smarter than you think... Draco thought while watching in disgust as Lord Voldemort felt up his girlfriend. Watching him again, Draco wondered why he would such a thing, "From the touches, one would think you're attracted to her, which I cannot say I disagree. But that wouldn't be it, would it?" Suddenly Draco was reminded of this girl in Ravenclaw, a seventh year who's name he'd never taken the time to memorize. He remembered people fawning over her stomach, touching it, and cooing ridiculously. But, she was... "No... she isn't...." His grey eyes dashing up to Lord Voldemort's questioningly.
"Isn't what?" he pressed, trying to get Draco to say it. Of course, Voldemort wasn't just doing this to perhaps save Dedra telling him, there was a reason for it. "Where as your first assumption might correct, it wouldn't at all be the sole reason. Come now, Draco... " Becoming impatient, Voldemort grabbed her by the back of her cloak and drug her up against the wall, separating her cloak as he'd done before, only lifting up some of her black shirt to reveal her stomach, which didn't exactly look like it had a month before Draco'd been assigned his task to become a Death Eater, though it wasn't obscenely obviously.
Gasping and going to curl up in a ball when Voldemort first reached for her, she didn't resist his grip at all and when exactly where he led her. Instinctively going to cover her stomach when he lifted up her shirt, she didn't, wishing for him to let her go so she could run away, or at least curl up away from him. He repulsed and frightened her, and she didn't want to be anywhere near him.
Taking a couple steps forward when the Dark Lord slammed her against the wall, "Please....don't hurt her!" Draco practically shouted in fear for her. When she recoiling and flinched so, he worried for her safety more. As he reached down, his silver eyes followed the movement, his body wanting to jump and rip that hand away from her. Watching intently as the black shirt was lifted and the smooth skin was exposed, he noticed the slightly rounded look of her stomach. "She is then...she's pregnant...." The thought shocked him and the surprise on his face showed. "Is it.... is the child...mine?" He questioned both the Dark Lord and Dedra.
Voldemort thought about it for a moment. Were he to lie and tell Draco it wasn't, it'd be even worse. What a splendid idea! However, if he got the urge to hurt Dedra during this little event, it would be much worse if he knew she child she bore was his own. Decisions! Oh's well, he would tell the truth. "Indeed, young Master Malfoy, 'tis. What do you make of it?"
Draco almost felt dizzy for a second.... Dedra was having his baby and he was going to be a father...oh Merlin.... Would he be ready for such things? Putting his hand up to his face, he looked down, he muttered, "Oh Merlin...oh Merlin..." How did this happen? Well, he knew about the birds of the bees of course, but when. The last time they made love was at the last summons...shit! With a startling realization, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't used a contraceptive spell! But, that was then and having the baby was later, he needed to focus on the now. Looking up, he looked past the Dark Lord to Dedra, just now smiling warmly, "I think...that...it's wonderful..." he stated, finding no other words for how he felt.
"That's splendid. And now you're not going to find this so splendid." Moving over to the young Death Eater, he glared intensely at him, grabbing either of his wrists and dragging over to where Dedra was, slamming him against the wall. Whipping his wand in Draco's direction sending a simple spell, he smirked as two snakes shot out of his wand and immediately attacked Draco's ankles, constricting around them and binding them. They followed suit with his ankles, and soon two more snakes appeared from out of no where and constricted around Dedra's ankles and wrists as well.