Chapter sixteen:
And the eyes go cold
I know I made a lot of stupid mistakes in my life but the worst one was thinking the person who hurt me the most wouldn't hurt me again.
Draco reclined in the Slytherin common room. It was about two weeks after Christmas holidays. A week since Hermione had kissed his cheek. He still didn't know what to think of it. It was a simple kiss, not even on the lips and yet it proved deadly. It could cost him everything.
The air seemed to get a little colder, as if a ghost had brushed past. Draco looked behind him and out of the shadows stepped his father.
"What? How did you get in?" Draco stood up quickly.
"I have my ways," his father shrugged off the question. His eyes settling on Draco, "So, how have you been lately? I haven't been getting letters from you."
"I have been busy," Draco explained.
"To busy to send letters to your dear father?" Lucius sat down on the chair Draco had just previously raised from.
"I was… well. Yes."
"Oh, I see. You were to busy hanging around with that Mudblood! Do you think I would not hear about it! I mean you can't go around kissing the filthy things and expect me not to find out. I have my spies around here you know! Well, you should know. You used to be one of them. Now, I don't know what you are. Is she not grieving? I killed her parents for that sole purpose. You know what else, Draco, I laughed while her mom screamed as my men raped her. Then, I killed her. While, the Mudblood's father watched to his death. They're such a piteous species, those Muggles. So worthless,
"And you, insisted on continuing to mess around with one. Do you know what that does to the Malfoy name!?"
For the past few minutes, Draco had paid attention to his father's ramblings. In horror and in shock, he listened to his father describe what he had done to Hermione's mom and dad. It was inhumane.
"You had no right-" Draco began.
"WHAT!" his father interrupted. "How dare you ever speak to me that way? I am your father! Do you understand that! I do everything for you!" His eyes went cold, lifeless just like a doll's.
He raised his wand, focusing it on Draco.
~
Hermione ran through the hallway, searching for Draco. At the end of the hallway, she saw him talking to Pansy and Liam. She dashed up to him with out thinking and tapped him on the shoulder.
Draco turned around and his eyes focused on hers. They were different somehow, Hermione noted as she began to talk, "Draco, I need to speak to you later today."
"Granger," he drawled, "why would I ever speak to a Mudblood?"
"Excuse me?" Hermione gasped out.
"Is there something in your ear, Mudblood?! I said I do not want to talk to you or any of your filthy kind."
By this time, Pansy was gasping for air between irritatingly sugar-coated giggles. Draco turned his back on Hermione; planting a kiss on Pansy's overly lipstick coated lips. Hermione gasped for the second time.
She turned and ran from the scene, darting across the field to settle on the grass underneath the same tree she had cried under when her parents died. There she finally let the tears go. She had thought Draco had changed. She had thought he had become someone else. She had seen a sweeter, almost nice Draco come out.
Now he was Malfoy again…
~
Present day…
"DAD! That was horrible!" Chloe exclaimed, bolting up from the floor. " How could you do that to mom?"
"Chloe, darling, I was under a curse. I had no choice," Draco tried to explain to his daughter who seemed to be losing it over the story.
"Chloe, I don't see why you are getting so emotional. I mean we know they end up together," Haley rationalized.
"But, I could never imagine my dad doing that. It was horrible."
"Dad, I'm hungry," Haley stood from the floor. "Can we get something to eat?"
"Well, it is lunch time. I guess we will continue the story later. That is if you want to?"
"If we want to?!" They both exclaimed. "Are you kidding? Of course we do! This is the best romance story ever! Well, at least better than the books we have been reading."
Hermione smiled, "Come on girls." And they all filed into the kitchen to cook lunch.
Once they were all in there, Draco conjured a nice lunch for them and the sat down at the table, "So, dad," Haley began. "What are your thoughts on all that has happened?"
"Well, obviously I do believe people can change. I sure did. My thoughts on what has happened… I would not have it any other way. I don't know where I would be today if not for your mother."
"Sure, dad, we all know where you would be," Chloe exaggerated.
"Where, pray tell, would I be, young lady."
"You would be in Azkaban," she whispered.
"Why do you say that?"
"Do you think I have lived in your house, bearing the Malfoy crest on my robes we wear, having people constantly ask what if I believe what happened was right and not research what the heck everybody was talking about? God, all I have to do is go sit in The Leaky Cauldron. They're still talking about it down there," Chloe stated as she picked apart her sandwich.
"What happened?" Draco questioned his daughter.
"Granddad was on the bad team, wasn't he? It wasn't that long ago, dad. Only a few years ago did Voldemort loose the dark throne and Granddad fell with him. He was on the dark side. Had mom not convinced you during seventh year not to join, we probably wouldn't be here."
"How do you know your mom convinced me?" Draco watched Chloe as she shrugged.
"Why else would you not join the dark lord? I know she convinced you not to; we just haven't got to that part in the story, yet." Chloe took a bite of her sandwich.
Draco laughed, "Well, you do have some of your mom in you."
"So, dad, when do we find out who has the ring?" Haley butted in.
"When I get around to it, the part is coming up. Just be patient."
"Dad, I want a brother," Chloe looked up at him.
"What?" Draco looked over at her.
"I want an older brother," Chloe smiled.
"Me too," Haley interjected.
"Well, you are both out of luck," Hermione stood, placing her plate in the sink. "You won't be able to have an older brother."
"I know and that sucks," Haley placed her plate next to Hermione's. "Do you want to continue the story?"
Draco stood and put a spell on the dishes so they would wash themselves. "Come on then," the four made their way back into the living room.
"How about we go outside," Chloe suggested. "We can get fresh air."
"That's a good idea," Hermione walked towards the French doors, pulling them open. She sat down in one of the patio chairs. The rest followed suit.
"For a month, I went back to being who I was, Malfoy, not Draco. I made fun of her, pushed her around, criticized her heritage, every possible evil thing you could do to a person. One day we had a confrontation…"
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. ~ Henry Ward Beecher
NOTE: Christian, will not stay a missing person forever. I am sorry about not really bringing him up. BUT, he has a reason for being missing. Believe me. And, I will talk more about Draco's curse next chapter.
Umm, I would like to ask for 330. Please. I am sorry the ending to this chapter was kind of weak. I do not feel good. I have a sore throat, a headache, and I just feel sick. I'm falling apart. Also I am sorry I took so long to post this.