Sinful Delights
Chapter 3: The Mother
AN:
Harry Potter is not mine, never was, never will be.
This is my first HP fanfic, please be gentle.
English is not my first language, I apologize in advanced for any mistakes you might find here.
Pairing: Hermione Granger & Draco Malfoy.
Timeline: True to HP series. Completely ignoring the epilogue.
The Malfoys spent the month after the Battle under strict house arrest in the Malfoy Manor. Ordered by the then temporary Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Draco remembered going back to the Manor and had felt that he did not belong there. The place hadn't felt like home for a long time; ever since the Dark Lord resided there, ever since his father himself had invited evil to their doorsteps.
The Aurors who chaperoned them to the Manor had demanded Lucius to explaining in detail the extend of its ancient wards. With Lucius' assistance, they then proceeded to alter the Manor's wards to keep the inhabitants from venturing out without permission from the Ministry. The Malfoys were told that they would be summoned when a trial date was set.
Narcissa and Draco witnessed the altering process and was there to see the Aurors out. Once the doors were closed and she could feel through the wards that they were finally alone, Narcissa Malfoy turned in haste to embrace her son.
"I am glad you're not hurt," she told him in hushed tone. Draco's right hand instantly went up to return her embrace. "Go and have some rest. I will have some food delivered to your chamber momentarily."
Narcissa released her hold on Draco and turned to talk to her husband when the unexpected happened.
"Why did you do it, mother?" the question slipped out of his mouth before it could be stopped. He realized that he could no longer put up with the way it used to be. Draco had been accustomed to never question his parents' decisions; it had been the Malfoys' ways. His parents had set the course of his life because that was the way it was supposed to be. He had abided by their rules. Until the very end, he followed them to the edge of the cliff, because that was what was expected of him.
There were lots of questions never uttered between the three of them. Their answers were assumed — at times, guessed — from the actions they've taken. Lots of words were left unspoken. No more... He refused to let things progressed as they were before. Changes must be made. His interaction with Hermione Granger was the turning point for Draco. He no longer had the option of going back to the same hateful boy he used to be. He couldn't even if he wanted to.
His mother stared at him with a sad expression. It was the kind of question that shouldn't be asked because the answer should be obvious enough. Narcissa was debilitated. What kind of a mother had she become when her only son must resort to questioning her action that was obviously done out of her love for him? Oh how she had failed him.
Tenderly, with all the love she could muster, ignoring all the breeding she was taught about showing no emotion, her right hand rose to cup his left cheek. "For you, my son," she answered with finality, her tone brooked no argument "I did what I did, for you."
Draco let out a breath he did not know he was holding.
From the peripheral of his glistening eyes, he saw his father moving closer to where Draco had stood frozen. Lucius held out a hesitant hand to grasp Draco's right shoulder. No words were exchanged between the two Malfoy men; Lucius Malfoy was not yet ready for more, but it didn't matter to Draco. For the first time in a long time, he felt a semblance of peace.
For all his parents' faults — and there were many — they really did love him ... and that was more than enough. They would weather the consequences of their choices together. Come what may, the Malfoys would stand united.
It was the summer Draco turned eighteen that the Malfoys were pardoned by the Ministry of Magic.
His road to redemption starts now.
AN:
Too short?
I've planned to write longer chapter. But planning and execution are two very different animals.I felt the need to write chapter like this. Got to give the lovable version of Draco a chance to get out of his shell. And I think it's appropriate for it to start with his family. We'll get to Hermione, I promise. Or better yet, he'll get to Hermione. Ehehehe.
Let me know what you think of this chapter, pretty please?
Keep the muse fed?
Acknowledgement:
ankitapaswan (I hope this is still believable. I swear in my head they do! Super excited to read your review),
kabg01 (glad u thought so. Thank you for your continuous support in reviewing)
Alicia (thanks for catching that! I've made some alteration. I'm so embarrassed),
Guest (thanks for reviewing. Glad u liked it).
Thanks for reading, liking, following, and reviewing this story (o''o)