Fragments of a Malfoy

By Sky

schuywriter@livejournal.com

LJ:

Sequel to Truly a Malfoy by SeverusLucius.

Rating: R

Pairing: LM/DM, DM/HG

Warning: Contains implied, non explicit non-consensual incest. Dark-fic; angst.

Disclaimer: Nothing in the Potterverse is mine, but I did make up this plot without a plot. I don't own the characters or settings and I don't make money off of this.

Summary: Draco reaches his breaking point after being introduced to "the Malfoy Family tradition". He has only one summer for redemption – will one of his greatest enemies be his salvation and help him put the pieces of his life back together?

A/N: This fic is the sequel to SeverusLucius's fic, "Truly a Malfoy"

( ) This sequel is written with permission from SeverusLucius. All facts established in "Truly a Malfoy" will be considered fanon and remain unchanged in this story, though I do expand on some points.

My thanks to SeverusLucius for granting kind permission for me to use their plotline and continue Draco's story.

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Draco Malfoy had been initiated into the "Malfoy family tradition" by his father when he was just turned sixteen years old. Until that time he had craved attention from his parents and had all but given up hope of ever receiving it. How he wished his despair had come to pass; for he did not expect the "affection" he received. His father raped him brutally that night at Malfoy Manor, with promises of more agony to come. It was the worst summer of his life.

Upon his return to Hogwarts for the beginning of his sixth year, Draco was a changed boy—a man now by his father's standards. Even his henchmen toadies Crabbe and Goyle were more afraid of him than usual, choosing to hang back when they walked together and separating themselves from him when he practiced his new hobby of torturing small animals. He was darker, moodier, and crueler than he'd ever been before. During that year he started smoking pipeweed grown on the sly in the Hogwarts greenhouses. Instead of learning to make flowers bloom, he snipped at them with cutters and watched them shrink back in pain. Once, while repotting a baby Mandrake, the plant had nipped his finger and he twisted its stem until it choked to death. To add to his list of newfound troublemaking talents, he made sure to call Hermione Granger a "Mudblood" every time he saw her while sending her a sneer of hatred that left her visibly shaken.

His grades had suffered and he'd passed by the only the slimmest of margins when only a few months before he'd left his fifth year at the top of his class. He'd been kicked off the Slytherin Quidditch Team, something he thought no one would have the courage to do considering his father had secured him the position. After one game too many that ended with players seriously injured due to his recklessness, Headmaster Dumbledore had put a stop to the young Malfoy's sporting activities.

The year dragged on, Draco dreading every moment that brought him closer to going home. He insisted on staying at school over the Christmas break, sending his father an owl telling him an outrageous lie about a Quidditch scout being interested in recruiting him upon his leaving school. He'd impressed upon Lucius the seriousness of being able to train during the break, and was relieved to find a return owl from his mother granting his request with the assurance that since they were having guests over, Draco would probably be a nuisance anyway. No mention was made of Quidditch.

He knew what awaited him at the Manor that summer and he begged Dumbledore to allow him to stay at school. It was the first time he'd ever begged anyone for anything, and it made him more cross than ever. Unable to confide in Dumbledore the truth of why he didn't want to go home, he simply pleaded with the aged wizard. He offered to do extra credit studies, help in the greenhouse – anything. Anything to keep from going back to the madman who was his own flesh and blood -- the rapist who'd taken his sexual innocence and had violated him again and again twice a week until the boy returned to school. The rapes always took place in his father's bed, and always ended with Draco's forced "I love you." Draco almost believed his father; that was the worst part of it all. He very much wanted to believe in love.

"This is highly unusual, Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore somberly as Draco stood before him. He looked into the boy's eyes and pondered for a moment. "But I will allow you to stay in school for the summer months if your parents allow it. My decision is conditional: bear in mind that you are to help in the greenhouse and on the grounds. We've lost quite a few plants this year due to your abuse." He stopped and looked over a scroll on his desk. "Your grades have fallen sharply, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore peered at Draco over his half-moon glasses as Draco felt a wince of embarrassment at his lack of academic excellence. "This surprises me," continued the elder wizard. "You have always been a top student."

Draco tried to keep his expression benign under Dumbledore's scrutiny. His initial reaction to criticism was to lash out, but he was in no position to do so if he wanted to be spared his father's "love". Then he recalled Dumbledore saying he needed his parents' permission. Would Lucius let him off the hook that easily? There was no way he could fake an owl to Dumbledore -- even if Draco tried it and it miraculously worked, Lucius would come straight to the school and abduct Draco himself if he really wanted to. Draco's only hope was his mother.

Dumbledore spoke again. "You will be assigned a tutor to help you in the courses in which you need the most help: Herbology and Arithmancy. Fortunately for you, Miss Hermione Granger is staying at Hogwarts for the summer as well and might be available to aid you—"

"Granger?" Draco spat without thinking, his familiar scowl returning. "What's she doing here?"

"Do you have an objection to my requirements, Mr. Malfoy? Remember, I am doing you a service. It was you who asked my help."

Draco bit his tongue so hard he could taste blood. How he wanted to rip the man's throat out! How dare he lay down such conditions? A voice in the back of Draco's mind whispered to him that Dumbledore was being kind; that even spending a summer with Granger was better than what lay in store at his home. Draco didn't want to hear that small voice, but he did. Impossible to ignore the reasoning, he obeyed the whisper grudgingly and painted a blank look on his face once again. "Yes, Headmaster. I apologize, Sir."

"Of course all of these plans depend on your parents agreeing to the terms. You are not yet considered an adult in the wizarding world, Draco. You will need this form signed and returned to me within one day." Dumbledore held out a scroll but Draco didn't move to take it. He shifted on his feet, his body language giving away his apprehension.

"Will there be a problem, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes, Sir," answered Draco truthfully. "My parents -- they might not want me to stay. But I'm..." he paused and looked down at his shoes.

"Afraid to go home?" Dumbledore finished for him.

Draco nodded. He didn't want to go into all of the disgusting details of why he was afraid.

Dumbledore sighed sagely. "I feared as much." He paused, thinking. "Very well," he said. "If you are dedicated to your work here, you may stay and I will keep you from harm. I cannot with a clear conscience send one of my students into --" he stopped then.

Draco was relieved that the Headmaster didn't finish his sentence. Just the fact that Dumbledore had acknowledged the possible danger at Malfoy Manor was more than enough. Draco wasn't about to volunteer any details.

Dumbledore took his quill and filled out a scroll that lay before him on the desk. When he was finished, he held it out to Draco. "Give this to Professor Snape. It is a pass that allows you to occupy the Head Boy's bedroom during your stay."

Draco took the scroll. Puzzled, he asked Dumbledore, "Why, Sir?"

"Why what, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Why are you letting me stay in the Head Boy's bedroom?"

"If you are able to bring your grades in Herbology and Arithmancy back up – and by that I mean you must pass your end of summer tests with perfect scores, you will be the seventh year Head Boy."

Draco was so shocked he couldn't speak. He opened his mouth but only a tiny squeak issued forth.

"Mr. Malfoy, I am well aware of your radical behavior this year. You have harmed a great many people in ways unknown to you before. I suspect that something has happened to cause this and I believe it can be remedied..."

Stupid Dumbledore, thought Draco. Doesn't he know I can't ever be redeemed? Not after—not after being tainted like that. I'm filthy now and I'll never be clean.

"...I am giving you a chance, Draco. One chance. If you cannot believe in yourself, I will believe in you until you can. Use this summer to work out whatever it is that has caused this incredible downturn in your behavior among the students and Professors."

"Why are you doing this?" Draco managed in disbelief.

"Because it is down to this, Draco," said Dumbledore, standing and approaching the boy. He moved to put his hand on Draco's shoulder but Draco instinctively jumped back. Dumbledore surveyed him carefully before folding his arms in front of him. "You are capable of more than just this. If you are not able to rise to the rank of Head Boy, then I seriously believe your behavior will deteriorate and I will be forced to expel you from this school. Do you understand?"

Fear struck Draco like a bucket of ice water being splashed all over his body. He broke out in a cold sweat as he realized Dumbledore was right; he was getting worse and worse. The fires of his hatred were glowing brighter and stronger than ever in his life, and the one he hated most was the one whose love he most desperate for. Lucius. Not "the Malfoy tradition" – love. Pure and unconditional as it should be between parents and children.

The panic that overtook Draco was not borne from the thought that he might never receive that love, though that was a small part of it. No, the fear rose because Dumbledore was the one giving Draco the thing he craved. Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard in history, who could easily have crushed Draco like Draco crushed the plants in herbology, was giving him an opportunity for redemption and Draco hated him for it. He hated the pity, the kindness, the gentleness. And he almost cried out with the agony of his hate because he realized that within that ball of hatred lay a seed of love.

He nodded numbly that yes, he understood the terms. Dumbledore bowed his head and stared hard into Draco's steep gray eyes. He felt like Dumbledore was reading his soul. What if he could see all that had happened? Surely he couldn't, Draco thought as a new wave of panic washed over him. If Dumbledore could see it, his face didn't register the knowledge. He tilted his head back up, then turned back to his desk.

"Snape will give you your instructions tomorrow on helping in the greenhouse and he will also give you your summer class schedule. I suggest you move into the Head Boy's bedroom as soon as possible. I will speak with Miss Granger tonight. If she agrees to do this, your first tutoring session will be tomorrow afternoon. You are dismissed."

Draco stood still for a moment, absorbing everything that had just passed between them. Dumbledore went back to work at his desk and did not look up again, so Draco slowly turned and walked out of the office as silently as he could. Once in the hallway, he collapsed against a marble pillar, sank to the floor and wept his first tears of gratitude.