Brief Lesson: The Skele-Gro Potion is a potion that can heal broken bones and even re-grow disappeared ones. We've seen evidence of this in Chamber of Secrets, when Lockhart vanquished the bones in Harry's arm. It is also rather painful, I'd assume like going through the regular healing process except accelerated magically. And it tastes terrible!
Assignment: Like Life, Skele-Gro is painful and unappealing sometimes, but if we make through it, it'll be fine. So your task is to write about someone dealing with the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts. It can be anyone, but the trio would be kind of cliché, so it's unadvised.
Prompts Used: (Object) Gavel; from September Prompt Bank: (Quote about Family) "When everything goes to hell, the people who stands by you without flinching - they are your family." - Jim Butcher; (Word Set) Towering, Alarm, Frighten, Shallow; (Phobia) Necrophobia (Fear of Death)
Dealing
1)
The last time he has seen his father look so frazzled was after his stint in Azkaban after the Department of Mysteries debacle. Although the prison is no longer guarded (or so they say) by Dementors, the prisoners (supposedly) receiving better care under the temporary post-war government, Draco can see Lucius Malfoy take quick, shallow breaths as the Aurors lead him away. He himself has narrowly escaped his father's fate. Although many wanted to toss him into the deepest bowels of the prison, a narrow majority of them also conceded that the crimes he committed were done under duress and when he was under-aged. Instead of becoming a resident of the infamous prison, Draco is placed on house arrest. He quietly submits to his fate, not wanting anyone to know that he prefers Azkaban to the place that was once his home.
2)
The banging of a gavel causes Draco to flinch, unnoticeable to most, when he hears Ron not so quietly state –
"Ferrets frighten easily, don't they?"
Draco wants to hex the prat but knows such an action would be ill-advised in a public forum. However, he still has to fight the urge to do so; the only outward reactions to the Weasel's statement are the narrowing of his eyes and tightening of his right hand into a fist underneath the table. Draco hears Hermione hissing her disapproval and a muffled 'Bloody hell, Harry,' from the Weasel after the sounds of a brief scuffle.
Yet despite what is happening behind him, Draco's only concern is his mother. Narcissa blindly reaches for her son's hand and he takes it, holding it firmly as the sentence for his father is finally given.
"It is the decision of this court that the accused, Lucius A. Malfoy, will be sentenced to no more than twenty-five and no less than ten years in Azkaban. Court is adjourned!"
The courtroom explodes into chaos and Lucius hangs his head down in defeat. Draco offers his arm to his mother and she takes it as they exit the courtroom. Draco and Narcissa keep a cool, calm and collected expression on their faces as they pass the numerous photographers as they make their way to the Floo Network in the Ministry's atrium. It is only when they reach Malfoy Manor that Narcissa allows herself to shed the tears she has been holding back since Voldemort commandeered her home.
3)
A piercing scream awakens him and he jumps out of his bed in alarm, wand in hand. Draco hasn't slept well anywhere since the summer after his Fifth Year, always wary and alert, always ready to fight if necessary.
He makes his way to Narcissa's wing of the manor and with well-practiced motions, removes the wards to the bedroom. Narcissa started placing the wards after a very close call that involved both Greyback and her own brother-in-law (who was still at large), Rodolphus.
"Mum, Mum, wake up, it's just a dream," Draco states in a low, firm voice as he hugs his mother closely and tightly to reassure her that she is safe.
"Just a dream," Narcissa mummers as she awakens and the sleep recedes away from her eyes. No further words are exchanged between the two as Draco calls for Narcissa's personal house-elf Lolly.
"A cup of Irish Breakfast tea with three lumps of sugar and a smidge of cream, please."
"Lolly hears and obeys, Master Draco."
Lolly soon returns with the tea and also an assortment of finger sandwiches for the two of them.
"Thank you, Lolly. That will be all," Narcissa says and the elf disappears.
Narcissa and Draco eat and drink in silence and once the light refreshments are gone, Draco climbs into the bed beside his mother and holds her hand until she falls asleep once more. It is dawn when Draco seeks his own bed for a few hours rest.
4)
Despite the numerous missives (which he has ignored) requesting him to do so, Draco had avoided visiting his father. He justifies his avoidance to being afraid of the Dementors (which he wasn't, since he had actually lived and survived his worst memories) that had returned to their post at Azkaban, to having to study (he decided against returning to Hogwarts despite a personal visit from the acting headmistress, Professor McGonagall) so he would be prepared for his N.E.W.T.S.
The true reason for Draco's evasion is simple – he is simply not ready for confrontation. Instead, he immerses himself in preparing for N.E.W.T.S. and learning the necessary things so he can be a better head of house than his recent predecessors.
Another of Draco's priorities is reconciliation. Although there are some that will never forgive the Malfoys' for their part in the Second Wizarding War, surprisingly those individuals are far outnumbered by those who do forgive Draco and Narcissa. As one witch explained when asked why she forgave them –
"We have all done something we are not proud of in the name of survival during the two wars against He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, including myself. How can I withhold my forgiveness when I have been forgiven?"
5)
A year and a half passes before Draco faces his father for the first time since the trial.
Despite the presence of the Dementors (which returned to their duties after the war), Lucius doesn't look like he has suffered the ill-effects of being exposed to them. A pitying look crosses Draco's face as he realizes why.
"Weak as ever, I see," Lucius says when he observes the look on his son's face.
Ignoring the condescending tone, Draco addresses his father.
"You have always been a towering figure in my life, the standard I held myself up against. I always wanted and needed your approval and most importantly, your love. You withheld both from me and sometimes I wonder why I struggled for something that you were never going to give me."
"Don't you dare –"
"Oh, I will dare, and more. I wish that I would have done so sooner. You would have cast me out of the family and stripped me of the Malfoy name, galleons and properties, but I wouldn't have been a slave to a half-blood fraud that suffered from an acute case of necrophobia. I wouldn't have this abomination of a brand on my forearm that will forever remind me and the entire wizarding world of my mistake of trying to emulate and please you. When everything goes to hell, the people who stands by you without flinching - they are your family. My mother is my family. My godfather – may Merlin and the Bright Ones bless his soul, was my family. You are not. You taught me throughout my childhood that 'Malfoys bows to no one,' yet you kissed the hem of Voldemort's – "
"You're not worthy of speaking –"
"- robes. You allowed him to Mark me as punishment for your mistakes. You didn't protect your wife, my mother. You didn't protect me."
The atmosphere between father and son is hostile and each look for the other to break the tense silence.
"Draconis –"
"Never again will you speak my True Name. Never again will you acknowledge me as son and my mother as wife. I cast you out, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, for failing your responsibilities as head of house. I cast you out, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, for failing to uphold the vows you made at your Bonding Ceremony to your wife."
"You know not what you do, boy," Lucius exclaims in a last attempt in preventing the Disowning yet Draco continues, unperturbed.
"I cast you out, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, for failing to uphold the vows you made at the Naming Ceremony of your child and heir. You no longer have a House. You no longer have a home. You no longer have a last name. You will forevermore be used as an example of what happens when you place blind personal ambition over family. Beyond the example you will provide, I recognize you not."
With a flourish of his robes that the late Severus Snape would be proud of, Draco leaves the prison, never to cross its threshold again.
