Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning(s): References to off-screen child abuse, angst, fluff, non-H/D character deaths mentioned in the epilogue.
Additional notes: This was written and posted as part of the 2013 hd_smoochfest fic/art exchange on livejournal, prompt #83. Seerstella, I fear I may have inverted your preferred angst/humour ratio; if so, I apologize! Also, Betas and Mods deserve ALL the chocolate.
EWE (Most of the story takes place only a few years after the war.)
Originally posted for the 2013 hd_smoochfest on livejournal; posted on FF 13 Oct, 2014
The Bravest Man
Sev had been asked to stay in his room, which was what he'd expected. His parents liked it best when he was out of the way as well. They usually told rather than asked though. And when his Guard asked, Sev thought he might even have had him do something else if he hadn't wanted to stay in his room. But he didn't know whether the something else would have been better or worse, so he agreed to stay here.
It was a much better room than his old one. Mr. Malfoy — Draco — had filled it with interesting looking toys and books, and there was a large window with a seat that overlooked the garden, and a large bed with thick blankets and a pile of pillows. It also had curtains that could be pulled all the way around the bed! That last was his most and least favourite thing.
Inside with the curtains surrounding the bed, it was dark and quiet, and he felt very safe. At least until he remembered how much space there was between the bed and the door. It was enough that he might not hear the door open. The curtains were thick, too, so he might not hear anyone approaching the bed. When he remembered that, he didn't like the curtains as much and couldn't bring himself to close them all the way.
Mr. Draco had closed them when he said goodnight, and Sev was able to enjoy it for a few minutes. When Mr. Draco left, Sev opened them a bit, on the side by the window. He lost that lovely dark, but he could see if... something was there.
Mr. Draco had made the door so that he and Sev's Guard would come if he touched it. He would ask later if they would know if anyone touched it.
With Mr. Draco at work, and Sev's Guard in his office, Sev thought he wouldn't risk the curtains right now. He amused himself for a while with the things in the toy box, but it wasn't long before he missed his mum. She'd play with him sometimes, if his father wasn't at home. He thought they might have had fun playing with such treasure as Mr. Draco had provided. It wouldn't be possible, he knew: the Lady with the pretty red hair had said he wouldn't see his mum again, when he came here, but he would be safe from his father.
The Lady said he could trust his Guard and Mr. Draco, that they would protect him and raise him. The Lady had also said they would love him, but he didn't expect they would. But it might be a nice thing to pretend sometimes. Like when he pretended he was Seth and belonged to them.
It would be enough that they could protect him.
But he thought he'd feel safer if they weren't so far away.
He picked up the book about animals that looked interesting and made his way down the hall. He stopped before the open door where he heard his Guard writing, and he sat on the floor next to it. He pulled the book onto his lap and began to read the story — inside his head, so he wouldn't draw the attention of his Guard.