The day Lucius almost had a heart attack
Lucius is sitting with his pregnant wife and a very quiet son for lunch at his dining table. Draco is home for Halloween. On his request, they have finally broken the long-standing Malfoy tradition of having one child and he'll be getting his sibling in February.
Merlin only knows what the matter is with this boy now. It's his first year at Hogwarts. Now, Draco is a hyperactive child. He has always been. Lucius doesn't know where he gets it from. Maybe, there's some extraordinarily crazy ancestor that Blacks have. From what he has heard, Sirius Black was like Draco when he was young.
So, Draco doesn't stay quiet and he's a very happy child. So, it's very worrying to see him so quiet.
Lucius knows that he has done something.
Draco sneaks glances at Lucius between small bites. He's barely eating anything. The only other time, he had behaved like this was when he had set Rowle's clothes on fire. He had not given any explanation for it, saying that it was handled the way it should be and that Rowle was lucky to be alive.
The boy takes a few more bites and then stands up. Being Draco's father is sometimes very difficult. He's a very mischievous boy. Maybe, that's why he wanted a sibling.
"Draco, why are you not eating your food? Dobby has made all your favourites," Lucius asks.
"I'll eat it later. I'm not hungry," the boy says before rushing towards the stairs.
"Draco wait," Lucius calls and then turns to his wife, "I'm telling you, Narcissa. He has done something."
They stand up to follow their son. Even Narcissa is worried.
Draco is sitting on the floor of his room, crying bitterly.
Lucius' heart thunders in his throat.
"Draco what's the matter?" Lucius asks, kneeling in front of his adorable son.
"I love you and mother," the boy sobs.
"We know that. Why are you crying? What have you done?" Lucius asks.
"Draco darling, look at me," Narcissa says, stroking the boy's hair, "what's the matter? You can tell us. We won't scold you."
Lucius' heart continues thudding mercilessly. He wonders if Draco has finally murdered one of those Slytherin seventh-years who mock Lucius.
"I was sorted in Gryffindor. You'll surely disown me now," the boy sobs.
Lucius stares at him. He stares. All this crying is due to a stupid sorting.
He glares at Narcissa who is trying to restrain her laughter.
"He gets it from you, I'm telling you. One of these days, I'm going to have a heart attack because of him and it will be for nothing," he snaps at his wife who breathes deeply so that she wouldn't laugh.
Draco is looking warily at him.
"You'll not disown me," he asks.
Lucius stands up before pointing his cane at the boy, "all this because you were sorted in Gryffindor. I thought you murdered someone."
Draco stares at him, gobsmacked while Narcissa gives in and starts laughing. She laughs until there are tears in her eyes.
"But, I was sorted in Gryffindor. No Malfoy was ever sorted in any house but Slytherin," the boy mumbles in a small voice, "I thought you'll disown me."
"Who disowns their children due to their sorting?" Lucius snaps at him, "I am not a fool."
"But-" Draco starts but Lucius cuts him off with a snap, "we have always known that you're a bloody Gryffindor. For Merlin's sake, you punched Nott in his eyes just because he insulted me and you are the only Malfoy who takes the Dark Lord's name. Short of you killing someone, Draco, nothing is ever going to make me angry at you. Just don't kill anyone. Restrain your temper."
Draco stares speechlessly at him, completely stunned.
Lucius walks about, grumbling to himself about overdramatic boys.
"Disown! Why will I disown him?" Lucius mutters, rolling his eyes at his father's portrait who mocks him for having a Gryffindor, muggle-loving son.
"Who cares where he's sorted! I'm just happy that he has not murdered anyone yet," he snaps at his father, "be quiet, father. Let me calm down. I'm going to have a real heart attack one of these days. I just am. He takes after Blacks! It's all good mother's fault!"