This was written for Divination in the Hogwarts forum I'm in.
Write about a father figure who has betrayed a person who depended on him, thus causing a great calamity.
The Request And The Fallout
"You said you would never-"
"YOU said you would never even think about it!" A door slammed, in the distance. "And… How do I know that you're not lying to me, even now?"
"Why would I even think of doing that?"
"Because you're someone I'm not!"
There was another slam, of a different door, and Lucius looked up, his face darkening. "You don't know what the Dark Lord was going to do, Narcissa." He hissed, lowering his voice. "You. Don't. Know."
Narcissa looked up with tearful eyes and a shake of the head. "It's no excuse." She murmured. "Lucius, you promised. That above all other things. That Draco would never have to deal with the Mark. That the Dark Lord didn't need him."
"The Dark Lord is unpredictable." Lucius muttered, gritting his teeth. "I couldn't let Draco be, especially after the Dark Lord named his price."
"What was his price then?" Narcissa almost screamed, throwing a hand to her forehead. "What WAS IT? A promise that… I don't know, that the Malfoys will always be the most powerful family there is? That the Mudblood Granger will never again beat Draco in classes. What was it? WHAT WAS IT?"
Lucius regarded his wife levelly for a few moments. "If I did not respond to the Dark Lord's demands," He began, blinking. "Then, Narcissa, you were to die."
"Better I die then my only son be brought into your lies." Narcissa sighed, turning away from her husband. "Tell me one thing Lucius, just one thing. He isn't even of age yet. What does the Dark Lord need of Draco?"
"I understand that there is… A request, of sorts."
A sigh, and Narcissa was turned towards Lucius again. A single step forward, and a creak as she stepped on a squeaky floorboard with her heeled boots.
"Please tell me that it is safe for Draco." She said calmly, trying to brush the clamminess off her palms. "Whatever this request is; is it safe? Will Draco still be able to live his life as…" Narcissa swallowed. "As we haven't had a chance?"
Lucius's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists. "I could do nothing." He said hoarsely. "Narcissa, I could do nothing. Please understand why… Why I couldn't place you so selfishly in danger-"
"Better I die than my own son." Narcissa repeated, voice shallowly dangerous now. She was almost nose-to-nose with her husband, her feet rising to tiptoes so she could square him down. "I love you Lucius, but I will not stand by and idly wait while Draco walks headfirst into the danger."
"'Cissa," Lucius grabbed Narcissa's arm before she could walk away, and rested his other hand on her shoulder. "Remember what I promised you. As soon as I can-"
"We will get away from this mess." Narcissa echoed hollowly, halting her efforts to pull her arm away from Lucius's grip. "But you know what you did, Lucius. You lied to me."
In the end, she didn't have to pull away, because Lucius let go limply, and watched his wife stalk out of the room, nose in the air, and the grey strands in her blonde hair escaping from her bun.
When he started punching the wall, he couldn't stop. His knuckles were bloody, leaving streaks on the pale green paint, and the indents in the plaster were more than visible.
Why?
