CHAPTER 22 Malfoy Manor

"Welcome home Mr. Malfoy" Fibby bowed her elf-head to her master, the small strap of her sack-liked clothing hanging limply on her shoulders. Ever since Dobby had left claiming that he was free, Fibby immediately entered their lives. She was okay, minus the emotional attachment she has towards his family- for Merlin's sake, that elf has gotten devoted to them. And plus, he misses Dobby, he had been his guardian ever since his mother gave him life.

He nodded mindlessly as he stare right ahead. He could feel and sense death just by the aura of the dark and eerie house-that somehow, had gotten darker ever since the dark lord came.

"The dark lord is already waiting for you along with your parents, Draco sire" she added fidgeting with the dirty strand from her dress. Draco nodded, again mindlessly. He strode off, ignoring his luggages for the elf to carry them. There were voices right to the Dinning Room, his skin appearing goosebumps as he counted his steps.

"Ah there he is, truly worth the wait. Come and let us celebrate your father's return" He stood frozen on his spot, his eyes automatically set to build up his walls. He obeyed without any second thoughts, whether it was the fear for his own life or the fear of getting punished, he doesn't know.

"Now you see my brothers, faithful followers are often rewarded with a lovely-" his voice was filled with shallowness and a hint of malice in them. As if he was controlled and truly manipulated, his ears were glued to him. He can sense his eyes were on him, looking for any signs of fear that he wishes he would not show "-reward" the dark lord smirked and turned his eyes towards his father.

I'm still alive, but the dark lord is hiding something.

"Oh yes my lord, my family would do anything for you" He lifted his gaze when he heard his Aunt speak, the annoying cheery voice was lifting herself again for the attention of the dark lord. On the side of his aunt was his father, who was looking right at him in return. For a moment, there was sadness on his father's part, as if asking for him to return them, but he was afraid he wasn't ready to forgive just yet. Yes, even if his father wasn't the perfect fatherly type, he wishes that someday, he might actually forgive him.

"Draco?" the soft voice of his mother made him turn his head to look at his door, he laid straight to his bed, with his arms wrapped on the back of his head. "Come in" he replied, and immediately, his mother waltzed her way inside his chambers.

He sat on the edge of his bed with Narcissa sitting straight next him. She stared warmly to her son, her soft hand scooping his cheek inside her palm, cradling his skin as if he was a child having a nightmare again. "I'm so sorry for being a coward" she whispered, her head bowing with shame.

It was a rare action to witness, to see his mother so vulnerable, so not herself-it made him frown. He wanted to blame her for not protecting him enough but he found himself melting. For seventeen years, his mother tried to be the perfect mother. She was there when he needed her, she had been his crying shoulder, and the only one who understands, and right now, she was also trapped.

"You did nothing wrong Mum" he wrapped both of his arms around her, and she burried her head to his shoulder. Narcissa nodded weakly against his shoulder, the tears dropping from her pale face.

At some point, as if by role reversal, he found himself remembering how his mother would always hug him like this when he cries.

"I love you, son. Lucius and I, we love you" he scoffed from the mention of his father's name. Everyday, he tried to believe her, he tried to understand. But how could he believe in his mother's words when Lucius never did made him see that he truly cared?. Everyday of his seventeen years of living, his father would answer him by shaking his head disappointingly. He never did have a real conversation with him, always for the dark lord, for the pureblood shit, the fuck with the Malfoy reputation.

"I'm getting tired listening to 'your father loves you' lies Mum. That never did worked on me" he unwrapped his mother from him to show her his trademark smirk. His mother unfolded her napkin from the pocket of her cloak and dried her eyes. He stood up, walking towards the balcony to look down to the Malfoy grounds. She followed him with her eyes, a smirk forming on her face. "Does that making you win some hearts?" she asks playfully, the drama awhile ago completely forgotten. He lifted the ends of his lips, somehow, his thoughts landed on Luna Lovegood's smile. Bittersweet, it truly was. To have the opportunity to taste those sweet pair and let let them go was a little bit unfair for him.

"-So there is a girl then?"

"What? I didn't say anything" He replied blankly, never wanting to turn to look straight to his mother's eyes- she knows him too well to see behind his walls, she was the only one who can- not until Luna-stop.

"You didn't have those mischievous glint inside your eyes and that heartbreaking smile, that's why" he found her standing next to him with a big smile on her face. He rolled his eyes and turned sideways to see her clearly.

"Yes, yes I did Mum"

"Was she lovely?" she asks giddily, both of her hands clapping excitedly with his news.

"Yes, she was lovely indeed" he replied, the sorrow in his eyes reflecting his words. There came a time when he used to imagine his life with Luna-he never did share this knowledge to anyone. His mother would've loved her. Well, at first he can say that she would be hesitant, but then Luna would grow to her as much as she did to him. They would've be good friends and talked about plants and he would've earned a smile from his mother saying that Luna was indeed a beautiful girl.

"Did you get her?"

He smiled bitterly back at his mother and with a weak voice he said "Well, I used to".

This is more of a fil. chapter though.

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