Draco returned home via the port-key later that afternoon, landing in his own bedroom at the manor feeling lighter and less anxious than he could remember feeling for a very long time. It still was wrong, this 'thing' with the Dark Lord, but he felt less like he was just a toy that would be cast aside, and more like there was a real chance that this 'thing', whatever it was, meant something to Voldemort too. This was a strange idea and he mulled it over in his head.
Suddenly his conscience prickled him. He should look for his mother. She would have returned here alone last night and he needed to comfort her in his father's absence. Making every effort not to think about the events of the night before, he ventured downstairs to find her, hoping to the Gods that Aunty Bella wasn't there too!
She wasn't. He was in luck. He found Narcissa sitting alone in the drawing room.
He pushed the door open and crept in almost silently. The room was in near darkness as the curtains were pulled, despite it being a gloriously sunny day.
Narcissa sat with her back to the door, her hand resting on a small table, clutching a glass containing a liquid Draco did not recognise, the bottle of which was on the table also. She did not move. Draco had opened the door so quietly Narcissa had not heard him.
'Mother...?' He said gently.
Narcissa jumped and spun round in her chair. She had been crying, her face was red and lined with tear stains. Draco was almost used to seeing her like that these days, since Lucius's arrest.
'Draco!' She cried and stood up, grabbing onto the chair to steady herself as she swayed a little.
Draco ran to her and encouraged her to sit back down. He knelt beside her holding her hands. The smell of drink on her breath was overwhelming!
'When...' She began, then thought for a moment and changed her question. 'How did you get back here?'
'Umm... I err, have a port-key.' Said Draco uncomfortably, feeling this was leading to a conversation he really did not want to have with his mother!
'You have a port-key?' She echoed almost in disbelief.
'Yes.' Draco confessed. 'He gave it to me. It takes me to the house where we were last night.'
'My poor baby!' Narcissa wailed and began to sob violently. Drinking didn't suit her at the best of times.
Draco flung his arms around his mother, actually relieved that she was as drunk as she was. It would make the next part of this conversation mildly less excruciating.
'It's not...' He began, then paused. 'He's not...He's usually not 'unkind' to me...' He stopped. There was no right way to say this, especially not to his mother! He would never have wanted to discuss his sex life with his mother under any circumstances, surely no one would! And there was certainly no acceptable way to tell her that, yes, he was being fucked by the Dark Lord, but he really was ok and actually quite enjoyed it.
No, she certainly didn't need to hear that!
'He doesn't really hurt me.' He decided was more than enough information.
The shock seemed to break Narcissa out of her convulsive crying.
'When did it start?' She asked. Draco froze.
'It doesn't matter, does it?' He almost snapped. 'The point is, I'm ok and you don't need to worry about me!' 'Please Gods, don't ask me any questions...'
'The time he saw you in the study...' Narcissa continued. 'He touched you then, didn't he? You were only just 15...' She began to sob again.
All of Draco's feelings of lightness began to evaporate. THIS was the consequence of his actions, it seemed, having to deal with the devastation he had bought to his mother.
'He kissed me then.' Draco said, trying to remain as calm as possible. 'He was trying to seduce me. 'The first time was the night he came and took me away with him, and yes, I was 15, but, he took care of me...' Draco paused. 'It's not like you are imagining. I am ok.' He touched her face and looked imploringly into her eyes. 'Please, don't ask me to talk about it.'
Narcissa nodded. She didn't want more information, more details, of course she didn't. She was far from convinced that Draco wasn't simply lying to comfort her, but this was the only comfort she was going to get, and she would take it.
'You look like to need to sleep.' Observed Draco.
'Yes, probably.' Narcissa confessed. 'I'm sorry darling, I shouldn't have let myself get like this...' She gestured towards the bottle of liquor.
Draco gave her an understanding smile.
'It's ok.' He said and helped her to stand up. 'Let me help you upstairs.' He offered.
'It should me be looking after you, Draco.' Narcissa said softly as her son helped her up the stairs and sat her down on her luxurious bed.
Draco pulled back the covers and helped her to get underneath.
'We can look after each other.' He whispered, laying the blankets gently over her.
'My lovely little dragon...' She whispered as she fell into a deep sleep.
Draco returned to the drawing room and drank several glasses of the unknown liquor himself, before returning to check on his mother. She was sound asleep and he decided to sit beside her, just for a moment... within minutes he was asleep at her side.
Narcissa woke hours later and saw him there. She wrapped a protective arm around him and prayed to whoever may be listening that at least for tonight, her son would not be taken away from her. Her prayers were answered, it seemed, as Draco was still there in the morning. They took morning tea together and then walked in the garden, blessed as they were with the gift that is given to most aristocrats: The ability to pretend that all is well even when the world feels like it is falling apart.