The crack of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the halls of the manor, followed by a sharp cry. A son is thrown across the room to slam into a wall with a loud bang. His father stalks towards him, resting his cane on the teen's chest.
"Have you reconsidered?"
"Y...Yes, Father."
"Good," The man turns on his heel and walks away, stopping at the door. "Oh, and Lucius?"
The broken boy looks at his father, too weak to answer.
"No dinner tonight," He walks out.
Lucius lies on the floor for a long while, his head throbbing and his heart pounding. This was certainly not the first time his father had beaten him, and it would not be the last, he was sure. He drags himself to his feet. Bleach blond hair loose from its tie falls in front of his eyes. He leans heavily on the wall and begins to slowly make his way up the stairs to his room.
Black curtains flutter in the breeze coming in from the open window, and he shivers. Lucius slams the window shut and collapses on his bed, cradling his wounds. He would have to wait for his father to forgive him enough to heal him. He'd healed himself once, with accidental magic, and had paid dearly.
"Kippy!" He calls for his house elf.
The tiny, floppy eared creature dressed in an old sheet appears in front of him, antiseptic and bandages in her hands. "Is Master Lucius requiring help?" She asks in a high pitched voice.
Lucius nods stiffly, peeling his shirt off. He winces as dried blood tears and reopens the wounds covering his back. Kippy goes to work disinfecting and bandaging each cut. The Muggle way. Lucius stays silent through the entire procedure, not letting a single sound escape him.
"Is Master Lucius needing drinks?" Kippy asks when she is finished, "Kippy can be bringing water?"
"No," He says sharply, "That will be all." Lucius lies down and Kippy disappears with a crack.
He closes his eyes tightly and tries to sleep, his thoughts invaded by the sound of his father's voice and the stinging on his face.
"I'll get out of here someday," he promises the empty room."And I'll be better than my father."