Creep – Chapter 4

            I found a rather interesting solution to my letter problem. Father had a few Reaction Boxes on his desk. Boxes designed to explode if someone other than him touched them. Luckily, he had willed everything in the house to me years ago and the will, being magic, switched spells designed just for him to be designed just for me. I placed Hermione's letter in the only Reaction Box I had taken to my room. Now I had kept it and burnt it, as if anyone else tried to open that box they would get a nasty shock.

            I took my time replying to her letter. I had more important things to do, really, than reply to such a silly missive.

            I ate dinner, alone as Mother was now in the bath. I didn't mind so much this time as I knew she had eaten earlier in the day. Eating alone in the great hall of Malfoy Manor was strange, even after all those months straight of doing just that. I thought longingly of the great tables in Hogwarts, full of students, full of conversation. I shook my head, regaining my sanity. Hogwarts would never be like that again, not for an endangered Slytherin. Would they destroy the house and divide us up amongst the rest? The thought frightened me. The four houses had always been there, for centuries. But now, could Slytherin survive the change? I truly hoped Dumbledore allowed us to suffer in the tiny numbers we had left. It would be worse to be forced into another house. Eating alone won't be so bad, though. I can always eat in my new Common Room. The plush quarters of the Heads would be a welcome change. The Manor was always too cold and the warm cheer of Hogwarts ached in my heart. Perhaps I could even convince Hermione to eat a few meals with me. At least I would then have intelligent conversation.

            Dinner finished, I rose and headed for Mother's room. By now, she must be prepared to see me. Those damn elves had kept me away for the better part of the day. I would hear no excuses now. I reached Mother's door with no incident, but trying to open it proved a futile effort. After jiggling the handle a few times, I heard a tiny sigh and looked down to see, once again, that purple monstrosity of an elf at my feet.

            "Sirs, one moment please, sirs," The elf panted, why in the world would the dumb thing be out of breath? "Lady is not dressed yet, sirs. Please wait one moment."

            I had enough. Wait for her nap, wait for her bath, wait for her to dress. Certainly she had been traumatized and was still suffering for it but she would not make her own son wait any longer! I turned the full force of my malice upon the elf.

            "I will open this door in ten seconds. Mother will be dressed, or in bed. She will receive me and you will keep me from her no longer!"

            A squeal and a popping sound. The elf was gone. I felt better, but I still would have preferred to test out my football skills on the disgusting thing. My count swiftly completed, I reached for the handle one more time before I blew the door from its hinges. It opened easily and I had to force myself to smother a self-satisfied grin. In her state, Mother often confused me with Father. I know I look like him, but even after taking efforts to look different, even after cutting my hair and leaving it spiked and messy instead of long and slicked back she would still call me Lucius in her worst moments.

            "Draco, darling?" She was lying in bed, parchments scattered across the sheets.

            "Mother, how do you feel?"

            "Simply wonderful, Draco. Look at what I have done today." Today she is a child. Sadly, it's one of her better moods. She picks up a few of the pictures she has drawn and waves them at me. I sit beside her on the bed and gather all the papers into a big pile. The brightest smile I have ever seen is on her face. Her eyes are glassy and vacant, but I try not to notice. Mother is smiling and that's what counts.

            "See, love, what I did? We painted all day today. It was beautiful outside and see, here? I painted the sky and the sun…" She rambled on about each picture. I encouraged her and congratulated her and spent an hour pouring over her great works of art. Then the strength left her and she was tired once more. I kissed her on the forehead and tucked her into bed. She was already half asleep but what she murmured into the pillow shocked me to the core.

            "I love you son, and so will she."

*****

            I refused to think about what she meant by that.

Entering my room, I snapped a quick command at the enchanted muggle music player I had acquired a few months previous. Sometimes, muggles had it better than we did. Think of the luxury, music at the drop of a hat. All the music in the world on radio waves and shiny round circles. Brilliant.

            A slow song issued forth from the speakers. I listened to it for a moment while composing my reply to Hermione in my head.

I've watched you change
Into a fly
I looked away
You were on fire
I watched a change
In you
It's like you never
Had wings
Now you feel
So Alive
I've watched you change
I took you home
Set you on the glass
I pulled off your wings
Then I laughed
I watched a change
In you
It's like you never
Had wings
Now you feel
So alive

H,

            I agree to the truce, but only with you. I refuse to make friends with Potter and Weasley. I do promise, however, to not attack them. I will defend myself if necessary and that is it. Unless, of course, they present me with the perfect opportunity; then you can't blame me for taking it.

            I know things are to be kept secret, but when will you tell the Wonder Boys the truth? Please do so soon, I do not want to spend the year being pitied by you. In fact, I will not. So do us all a favour and keep your sad doe-eyed thoughts to yourself.

            I will see you on the train.

            Your friend,

            D

*****

Authors Notes:             It's been four days since I first posted this story (and four chapters, I'm on a roll!) and I have 10 reviews. It would make me happy that ONE person likes this story and I have 10! You all know what that means. Keep reviewing and make me happy. ;)

                                    The song is Deftones – Change (In The House Of Flies). A wonderful piece of musical angst.

                                    Once again, I would like to reiterate my disclaimer. I am making no profit from this. None of the characters or songs are mine. I'm a university student (i.e. eternally broke), so if you would like to sue me please remember that you can't get water from a stone.