The Secret Hidden Inside

Chapter XXXVII

"An Act of Love"

…

Draco glanced around the ring of death-eaters, his gaze fixing on his mother and Hermione, who were tied in chains and held back by a number of Voldemort's followers. In the middle stood the Dark Lord himself, his vermillion eyes glowing, and behind him stood Draco's father, in the situation Snape had been in when Lucius became a death-eater.

"Join me, Draco…or watch these women die," Voldemort hissed, his eyes merciless.

Draco glanced at his father, but his cruel, silver eyes returned with mere disappointment and loathing. "I…I will join you," Draco answered, his eyes fearful as they focused on Hermione and Narcissa, both whom looked relieved by his reply.

"And it's right you should…following in your father's footsteps," the Dark Lord laughed wickedly. "Your mudblood will live as long as you are faithful. However, if you turn against me, she will die." He then pulled from his pocket a knife, the same knife that was used to carve the Dark Mark into every death-eater's left forearm. "You will never be rid of me, and you will obey my every command."

"Y-yes, master," Draco replied, his eyes glued to the knife that inched slowly towards his exposed arm. "I-I…will always obey you, my lord."

When he felt the knife stab his forearm, he released a loud scream, which continued as Draco sat up in his bed, waking from the nightmare. "What? W-what happened?" he glanced around his room, but there was no trace of Voldemort. "Just…just a dream. Ha! Voldemort doesn't even know about Hermione," he chuckled weakly, glancing down at his left forearm. "Nothing…nothing happened. Just a dream."

He stood and walked to his mirror, putting on an unbuttoned collared shirt. He proceeded to wipe the sweat from his face and fix his hair, his silver eyes still fearful. "Calm down, Draco…nothing is going to happen…dad said not to worry about it…everything's going to be fine…."

From the entrance hall he heard what sounded like an explosion and he quickly fled from his bedroom, rushing down the long corridor until he came to the top of the staircase. He knelt on the floor, glancing down at the hall, trembling uncontrollably. In the doorway stood Voldemort, his wand held firmly in his right hand, giving instructions to the surrounding death-eaters. They stood atop the door they had blown off its hinges, the cause of the noise that roused Draco's attention.

"Just a dream," he thought to himself, turning away from the entrance hall and closing his eyes. "Nothing's going to happen, dad said…right…?" He pinched himself, but nothing happened. He could feel it perfectly and did not wake up in his bed. "Not a dream," he thought, his eyes wide, and he ran from his position before any spotted him and he quickly headed past the tapestry to the hidden corridor. "Dad!" he cried, rushing toward the closed doors. He slammed his fists against them, screaming, "Help, dad!"

The doors flew open and behind them appeared Lucius Malfoy. "What is it, Draco? Is-" but before he could finish the sentence Draco flung his arms around his father and pushed them both inside the study, slamming into the desk and knocking everything off. "Draco, what is it?!" Lucius demanded, pushing his son off of him and rising to his feet.

"Death-eaters…Voldemort…in the entrance…they blew up the door!" Draco yelled, staring up at his father in horror, not realizing he was still on the ground. "I think they mentioned something about looking for us, and Voldemort was standing there giving them orders…and I had this dream that I became a death-eater!"

"Just calm down, Draco," Lucius ordered, patting his son on the head. "You're not going to become a death-eater, alright? Listen to me very carefully," he said, and waited for Draco's nod to continue. "I am going to go figure out what is going on…you hide in here! Do not leave; stay here until either a death-eater or I comes for you! If a death-eater does come, do not struggle, simply do as they say, do you understand?"

"Well…y-yeah, but…what's going on?!" Draco asked anxiously. "Tell me!"

His father merely sighed, muttering, "You know I can't tell you." Lucius then shoved Draco farther in the study, nearly pushing him into the desk again, and slammed the doors shut, before quickly making his way out of the secret passage. He pulled the tapestry aside, only to be greeted by Voldemort's glowing, red eyes.

"The time has come, Malfoy," Voldemort hissed, his evil smile visible. He jerked the tapestry from its place to reveal the hidden passage. "Open the doors to your study…I know that's where Draco is."

"…I will not," Lucius said firmly, and he felt his right arm burn.

"Open them or your wife will die…and you will not be here to stop it," the Dark Lord ordered, glaring up at him. "Lead Goyle's group there and afterwards, before your son is able to see you, apparate in front of your Manor. We shall be waiting."

"…Why must I not allow my son to see me?" Lucius asked with a casual smile, ignoring his burning arm.

"Malfoy, do as I say!" Voldemort ordered, as Goyle appeared behind him, his face expressionless. "Open the doors, and then apparate! Is this so hard?!"

"Why does it matter? Am I not supposed to do as you say, no matter the risk?" Lucius inquired, a smirk forming. "Very well, Voldemort, before you have to answer, I will do as you instruct…merely because I must."

Voldemort disapparated before anymore could be said, and Lucius proceeded to lead a dozen death-eaters to his study. The smirk had vanished and was replaced with a scowl as he glanced behind at his former colleagues. "Open the study, Malfoy," growled a voice he recognized as Fenrir Greyback.

Lucius nodded curtly before knocking thrice on the left door. "Password?"

Draco's silver eyes looked up fearfully when he heard three knocks. "They're coming," he muttered, backing against the wall, hugging his knees to his chest. "How do they know how to get in, though?" he wondered, before he heard indistinct shouts from the other side of the doors. "Maybe…they don't know how to get in," he whispered hopefully, a faint smile forming.

'So…dad lied. Voldemort wants me to become a death-eater, just like Snape and Barty said. What am I supposed to do? Where's dad?!'

"Here you are, gentlemen," Lucius drawled, taking a knife from Goyle's robes and cutting his hand. "This will open the doors. Do try to keep our master from making too big a fool of himself." He wiped his hand on the door and all fell silent.

"Lucius…I'm sorry…I-" but before Goyle could finish his sentence, Lucius disapparated. The knobs turned and the doors opened slowly, revealing a frightened Draco sitting against the wall. "Our master has ordered us to fetch you, young Draco," Goyle stated, drawing his wand. "Get him!"

Greyback was the first to listen, rushing into the study and grabbing Draco by the neck. He smiled, revealing his bloodstained teeth, and Draco crinkled his nose in disgust. "C'mon, you lazy fools, help me grab this brat!" Fenrir snarled, and the rest of the death-eaters hurried to drag Draco out of the room. As they did so, the doors slammed shut behind them.

"Let go of me!" Draco yelled, rising to his feet and attempting to pull away. "I can walk by myself just fine!"

"Shut-up!" Greyback snapped, slapping the back of his head. They led Draco out of the passage and dragged him down the stairs into the entrance hall, where three death-eaters waited by the destroyed doorway.

"Ah, young Malfoy," one scoffed, ruffling Draco's hair as he passed. "So nice of you to join us."

"Our master is waiting," another said in a hushed voice.

"C'mon, then, Draco," Goyle said in a dry tone, grabbing him by the shoulder and pulling him out of the Manor. He could now clearly see a large ring of death-eaters surrounding Voldemort, but death-eaters were not the only ones present. There was a mist that circled the Manor and in this fog there were white figures, Inferi that the Dark Lord had forced to do his bidding. Overhead, dementors floated above the ancient house, called by their master as well.

"For such a small mission, there is a fair amount of back-up," Fenrir muttered to a death-eater beside him, who Draco immediately recognized as his uncle, Rodolphus Lestrange. "What does he think will happen? Lucius'll try to kill him? And we death-eaters could handle that on our own!"

"One can never be too careful around Malfoy," Rodolphus replied simply.

Draco swept an eye across the many death-eaters in search of his father, but when he spotted him his heart sank. Lucius stood in the center behind Voldemort, held back by a number of death-eaters, each staring at him fearfully as if he were some sort of time bomb, ready to explode any second.

"Draco…," Voldemort hissed, a wicked smile forming. His crimson eyes were glowing, as he continued, "No doubt you already know my reason for being here, as your father found some way to inform you. So, what is your decision? Will you join me?"

Draco glanced around nervously, finally realizing that he had known this all along. He had known exactly what his father had not been able to tell him. In the back of his mind, he knew this moment had been closer than anyone expected. However, he had been ridiculous enough to not accept it.

'No,' Draco thought with a scowl, 'I refused to accept it. I didn't want to think that I would become a death-eater. I didn't want to have to accept that kind of responsibility. And I especially didn't want dad to see that I was too weak to say no to Voldemort. Oh, why did this have to happen? And why now? What should I do?!'

"It would seem," Voldemort hissed presently, "that our dear Malfoy is too stunned to accept such a mighty offer. Perhaps he needs some persuasion." Draco merely stared up at him, completely dumbfounded, still racking his brains for the right words. "If you do not join me, Draco, I will kill you."

"…Oh…?" was all Draco could manage, still too shocked to find the right answer.

"Are you truly challenging me, boy?" the Dark Lord asked calmly, his scarlet eyes laughing. "Is such a threat not great enough? Whose life could you possibly value more than your own?!"

Draco could only stare back up at him, his hands trembling at his sides. 'Say something, you idiot! Say no! Refuse him! You would probably be better off dead, as it is! No need for dad to be weighed down by your stupidity any longer…and Hermione can move on without you in the way! Maybe this is better….'

"Very well, boy," Voldemort spat, drawing his wand and pointing it at Lucius, "if you do not join me, your father shall die!"

"Huh?!" Draco exclaimed, snapping out of his own thoughts and taking in the scene before him. "But, why?! He's your best death-eater! Why would you kill him?! I could never replace him as it is!"

"I leave that decision to you, Draco," Voldemort grinned wickedly, flicking his wand as if the mere motion was a threat. When Draco simply glanced back from his father to the Dark Lord, Voldemort proceeded to yell, "Crucio!"

The death-eaters who held Lucius quickly released him, giving up on the attempt to hold him still through his torment. He writhed in pain uncontrollably, and many who looked upon him turned their faces away, feeling quite traitorous. Voldemort never once turned his gaze from the young Malfoy, who watched in horror as his father attempted to suppress the scream that threatened in the back of his throat.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Draco pleaded suddenly, before Lucius lost control, and Voldemort released him with a twisted smile. "Please, no more…just leave him alone! I…I will…."

"Continue, Draco," Voldemort ordered, his eyes glowing with malevolence.

Keeping his eyes on the power-hungry wizard before him, Draco forced his voice calm as he said, "Lord Voldemort, as long as you promise to not lay another finger on my father, I will-"

"No!" Lucius shouted, forcing his feet to support him as he straightened himself. "Draco, don't you dare succumb to such a worthless bastard!"

"Shut-up!" Voldemort screeched, slapping him across the face as he did so, and Lucius proceeded to snicker. "This is no choice of yours, Lucius! This is Draco's decision!"

Draco glanced at his father, seeking an answer, and Lucius shook his head once. "V-Voldemort…I apologize, but…I…c-cannot join you," he stammered, staring down at the icy ground. In an attempt to distract himself, he realized that the dementors overhead had turned the rain to snow, and that his bare feet were quite cold.

"Is this your final answer, Draco? Or is this influenced by your dear father?!" the Dark Lord asked mockingly.

"It is as I said, Voldy…Draco will never join you now," Lucius chuckled behind him, earning him another slap to the face. "You are quite a ridiculous fool, my master. That temper of yours…heh."

"Silence, Malfoy!" Voldemort screamed, hurling another curse at him, which caused Lucius to have a bloody lip.

"Was that because you are too weak to do that without magic?" Lucius inquired with another chuckle. "You really are a very amusing little man. You believe you have such power, but without that wand you are all too vulnerable."

"What is your decision, Draco?!" Voldemort exclaimed, ignoring Lucius altogether. "Join me, or he will die!"

"I can't join you! My decision is made, and it will never change!" Draco snapped back at him, not intending to raise his voice, and instantly regretting it once he realized he had.

"Very well!" Voldemort retorted, turning back to Lucius. "You may remember this one…I believe an old friend of yours taught it to me. Sectumsempra!"

Lucius fell back onto the frozen ground, his blood tainting the snow beneath him. Draco turned his face away once more, not wishing to witness his father with that curse on him again. He winced when he heard Lucius choke on his own blood, and knew he could not stand another moment of it when he heard Voldemort release the curse.

"Draco, take a moment to discuss the matter with your father and then give me your decision," Voldemort hissed, kicking Lucius in the side. "You have five minutes, understand?"

"Y-yes," Draco nodded feebly, rushing to where his father lay.

Voldemort signaled for the death-eaters to stand behind him, and he backed away several meters. "Lucius, I forbid you to disapparate anywhere!" he ordered, remembering he had not yet given that order.

"Dad!" Draco whispered, shaking him. "Dad, I'm sorry! Don't worry, I'll join! You won't have to go through anymore, I swear-"

"Are you an idiot?!" Lucius snapped, coughing up blood as he sat up. "Do you honestly think I would go through all this just so you can accept now?!"

"Well, I figured…that Sectumsempra was enough to change your mind, and-"

"No!" Lucius rolled his silver eyes in exasperation. "That's ridiculous! Even…if it hurts like hell, that doesn't mean I want you to follow some heartless creature!" He winced, pressing his hand against the wounds in his chest. "Draco, I want you to promise me that you will never become a death-eater, unless Voldemort threatens Narcissa or Hermione—do you understand me?!"

"Y-yeah, but…I can't let you die!" Draco shrieked in a high-pitched voice. He cleared his throat, trying to calm himself, and blinking back the tears, before continuing, "Dad, I won't let you die! Not after all you've done for me!"

"It would disappoint me more to know that everything I have done was in vain!" Lucius snapped, awarding Draco with his harsh, silver glare. "Do you still not understand why I joined him in the first place?! I wanted you and your mother to live freely—to actually live, not under Voldemort's command! That is why I cannot allow you to join him, even if it costs me my life!"

"But, it's my decision, and I want you to live!" Draco shrieked, a frustrated tear escaping the corner of his eye.

"You don't think that's a little selfish of you? To throw away everything I suffered for, for the last sixteen years?!" Lucius challenged, arching an eyebrow. "Look at me, Draco! Now, I want you to promise—aah!"

"What's wrong?!" Draco demanded nervously, subconsciously grabbing his father's shoulder.

"Voldemort just shot Severus's stupid curse at me, what do you think is wrong?" Lucius forced a chuckle in spite of his condition. "Draco, promise me that you will never join him…promise me!"

"I…but, I…well…I p-promise, dad," Draco sighed miserably. "I…don't want you to die…I don't want to lose you. Dad…why does it have to be like this?" he asked through a sob, pulling his father into a tight embrace.

"Ow," Lucius winced, but patting Draco on the back nevertheless. "Just be strong…tell your mother that I love her, won't you?"

"Yes, sir," Draco sobbed into his shoulder. "I love you, dad! I'll miss you…I-I…goodbye, father."

"I'm proud of you, Draco," Lucius whispered, ignoring the pain the curse had caused. "I love you, too. Please remember that when I am gone. I never meant to hurt you." He took a small pendant from his pocket and handed it to his son. "This will bring you to your mother. Go there once Voldemort is finished with me, alright?"

"You say that so lightly, as if it doesn't even matter!" Draco scolded, taking the portkey from his father. "How can you take death so carelessly?!"

"I am not afraid to die, Draco," Lucius said with a small smile, giving him an encouraging pat on the head. He winced, for even this slight action caused him pain. "As long as I know you and Narcissa are happy and safe, I can die in peace. Now, you had better tell our dear Voldemort…he's looking pretty anxious. I think our time is up."

"Your time is up!" Voldemort snapped angrily, rushing to where they sat and pulling Lucius to his feet roughly. "What is your decision, Draco? Will your father live or die? Will you join me, or lose one so dear to you?!"

Rising to his feet and standing beside his father, Draco answered, "My answer has not changed…I will not join you."

"Then you leave me no choice," Voldemort hissed, averting his wand to Lucius again. "Crucio!" The elder Malfoy lost his footing instantly, and was unable to hold back the cry of pain. As he lay there, twitching, the death-eaters formed the ring around them once more, and a number of them stepped forward to grab Lucius when he was released from the curse.

His gaze still fixed on Draco, Voldemort lifted the curse, while signaling for the death-eaters to pull an exhausted Lucius to his feet. "I give you one last chance, Draco," he said, inhaling deeply. "Join me, and Lucius can live…and I will even release him from my service. Not a bad deal, is it? I fear I am being too merciful, though."

Draco considered this, his gaze glued on his father's determined expression. Just as he was about to agree to these terms, he glimpsed a vague shake of the head from his father. With a defeated sigh, Draco replied, "As tempting as that sounds…I cannot—I refuse to accept. I will not join you, Voldy!"

Lucius chuckled, his piercing silver gaze fixed on an enraged Voldemort. "It is as I said…Draco will never join you now," he repeated rather breathlessly, a smirk forming at the corner of his bloody lips.

"If that is your choice, Draco," Voldemort nodded, stowing his wand away, and everyone stared at him in confusion. However, as he approached Lucius, he took from his robes the knife he had used to carve the Dark Mark into his arm. "I will enjoy the absence of your improper choice of words and behavior, Lucius Malfoy," he whispered only loud enough for Lucius to hear. "I shall finally be rid of such an annoying burden." He lifted the dagger and thrust it into Lucius' chest, muttering, "Goodbye, you foolish weakling." He then pulled the dagger out, and the moonlight revealed the scarlet that dripped to the snow beneath them.

Lucius made no motion for a moment, his eyes wide in shock, before he spat blood onto the ground. His footing wavered, and he fell to his knees, covering the wound with one hand, using the other to support himself. He coughed and gagged on the blood that was spilling through his mouth, his eyes shut tight.

'I need to get mom! She needs to be here! She needs to say goodbye to dad!' Draco thought desperately, squeezing the pendant firmly, and he appeared outside a fancy hotel room. He pounded his fist against the door, not bothering to realize how late it was or how many people he was waking up with such racket.

The door flew open, and Narcissa stood behind it in her nightgown, quite surprised by the intrusion. However, it did not seem as though she had been asleep, for her eyes were quite focused and she was aware that what she beheld was not simply a dream. "Draco, what are you doing here?" she asked in confusion, glancing around the hall. "Where is your father? Is everything—why is there blood all over your hands?!"

"Apparate us back to the Manor!" Draco shouted, grabbing her hand forcefully.

"But, why-"

"There's no time, mom!" Draco rolled his eyes. "But you have to hurry before it's too late! He doesn't have much longer!"

"Draco, what are you-"

"Mom, please! Just take us back to the Manor! Please, take us back now!" Draco pleaded, staring up at her, holding back the tears that threatened once more.

"Alright then," Narcissa sighed, apparating in front of the Manor, where Draco found that Voldemort and the death-eaters had disapparated, leaving Lucius covered in blood, laying almost motionless in the snow.

As the woman glanced around her, taking in the setting, her sapphire eyes widened in astonishment, "What in-?"

"Dad?" Draco whispered, falling to his knees and shaking his father. "Dad, please don't be dead yet!"

"Draco? Heh…such a…stubborn boy," Lucius breathed through a raspy cough, turning onto his back in order to face his son. His eyes met Narcissa's shocked expression, and he merely sighed, but it only caused him to wince.

"I…am so…so sorry, C-cissy," he managed, as she knelt beside him as well, now quite frightened.

"What happened?! Who did this?! Why didn't you come sooner, Draco?! I could have prevented this!" Narcissa shrieked in a trembling voice, staring at her son, too shocked to even know how to react.

"It was Voldemort…h-he threatened to kill dad if I didn't become a death-eater," Draco answered, his voice matching his mother's. "I couldn't come sooner, I had to say no! And then, he…h-he…stabbed dad."

"Lucius…damnit, Lucius! You stubborn bastard!" Narcissa scolded through a sob, taking his hand in hers. "I know that you told Draco to do this! He wouldn't have made this decision if it wasn't for you and the stupid ways you always go about things!"

"Cissy," Lucius breathed, releasing her hand, and bringing his own to gently stroke her cheek. As a slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth, he shifted his hand to instead twirl a dangling, golden curl around his index finger. "…I love you."

"Oh, Lucius, no…please, tell me you won't die! Please, don't die!" Narcissa cried, tears rolling down her pale face. She held his hand to her face as she rested her head in his shoulder. "I love you so much! I know I always will! So please! Please! Don't die!"

Lucius turned to his son, who was in a simply wretched state, but he never once turned his gaze from his father. He stared at him directly, as if wanting to savor every last moment he had with him, not wanting to miss even a second.

"Draco…," Lucius said weakly, his breath now coming short and raspy, and he coughed over more blood. He lifted his hand from its hold on his wound to ruffle Draco's hair. "Be safe. And…be happy."

"Dad…I will…I swear, I will," Draco answered, giving his father's hand a tight squeeze. "I will…take care of mom…f-for you…She will always be safe, too. We both will. A-and, I…I…," unable to hold back the sob anymore, Draco buried his face in his father's chest, crying dismally. "I love you, dad!"

Lucius stared up at the sky, which was now clearly visible with the departure of the dementors, and he winced as he felt the falling raindrops sting his open wounds.

"I…am sorry th-that…you will be alone…but, please…live," he whispered, his voice barely audible. His vision was darkening, and the pain was worsening, but he continued stubbornly, ignoring his aching body, "I…love you…and w-will…see you again. That…i-is…a promise…."

"Dad…," Draco sobbed.

"Damnit, sweetie," Narcissa tightened her firm grasp on her husband's cold hand.

Lucius managed a slight smirk at this, replying simply, "I'm sorry."

He watched the dark sky, each breath growing more painful than the last. He could not imagine a better way to die than in the arms of the ones he loved, and the smirk morphed to a distant smile. His head fell from its forced position, and his piercing, silver gaze faded forever, leaving his lifeless eyes staring ahead blankly.