FADE TO BLACK
NB: I own nothing but the plot and a few spells. Rated R for swearing, violence, sexual stuff etc **************************************************************************** ***********************************************
Chapter Two: Choices of sorts
The next afternoon found a more than slightly anxious Draco Malfoy awaiting his 'fate' of sorts outside of Dumbledore's office. Inside, Dumbledore, Snape and his Father were coming to a conclusion as to what would happen to Draco. It had been a lengthy discussion and Draco had now been sent outside until they decided what to do with him.
Finally, the door opened and Dumbledore called him inside, his normally twinkling blue eyes cool and serious as they followed the pale blond youth to the armchair where he sat down. Snape raised an eyebrow, but also chose to remain silent, while his Father glared at him with barely suppressed rage; his slightly twitching lips indicated that he was dying to let loose a tirade at his only son for permanently injuring a member of an allied pureblood family and for bringing shame upon the family name.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, after a long, difficult discussion, we do not consider you entirely responsible for what you did, but that does not mean that you can escape punishment. So, we have come to an ultimatum of sorts for your actions." Dumbledore said, looking over his half-moon spectacles. "Seeing as you are the one that has inflicted this permanent damage upon Miss Parkinson, it has been decided that the only way you can compensate for what you have done is for you are to be her 'guardian' of sorts for the remaining duration of Hogwarts, including all holidays except for the summer break. You will attend to her all her everyday needs such as assisting her at mealtimes, tutoring her during her study periods, and basically being her eyes around Hogwarts. You shall escort her to and from lessons, including those that you do not have together, escort her to and from the bathroom and assist her in note-taking when you do have classes together and attending to whatever else it is that she asks of you."
Draco's expression was not a pleasant one at the thought of this, something which Lucius noticed and was quick to comment upon.
"You should be looking grateful, Draconis." His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the poison just below the surface. "The Headmaster was practically set on expelling you this morning. Professor Snape and I had to work very hard to reduce your punishment for this. If anything, you should be on you knees, thanking us both." Draco's expression barely changed, but he managed a 'thankyou' through gritted teeth. It was bad enough that he and Pansy had already despised each other's company for more than a few seconds, but the thought of the rest of the sixth and seventh year being spent by her side sounded like some sort of nightmare. Pansy knew exactly what buttons to push on him too, and would be having the time of her life being able to use her affliction against him to make him attend to her every beck and call.
"When does this 'guardianship' start?" He asked sulkily. Dumbledore smiled genially at him, and Draco ground his teeth, wanting nothing more than to hex that smile off the old man's face.
"Today, Mr.Malfoy. Miss Parkinson should be out of the hospital wing within the next few hours, and you shall be the one escorting her back to the Slytherin common room, to the dinner table, and to her bedroom."
"Wonderful." Draco replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. If Dumbledore had noticed the tone, he was obviously ignoring it.
"Yes, it is. It's a wonderful chance for you to prove your regret for your hasty actions and to give Miss Parkinson back something after taking so much from her." Draco rolled his eyes.
"May I leave now?" He asked in a mock-polite tone. He was dismissed and relieved, he bolted out of the office. His Father appeared a split second later, his handsome face twisted into an enraged scowl.
"Draconis Consternatius Malfoy!" Draco raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that he was in a lot of trouble. His Father only used his full name when he was really angry, which, surprisingly, was a rare occurrence. And this was one of those occurrences.
"The only reason I'm not going to put you under Cruciatus is because it will land me back in Azkaban." He hissed into his son's ear. "I cannot believe just how ungrateful you are being towards Snape and I. We both put ourselves on the line to ensure that you would not be expelled and you don't even have the courtesy to at least pretend to be grateful."
"Grateful?" Draco sneered, not in the mood for politeness. "Grateful? Because of you two, I'm being forced to become the equivalent to a house- elf. I'm that stupid bitch's slave for the next two years, and you want me to be grateful? If anything, I'm wishing that I had been expelled. At least then I would still have my dignity."
"If you had been expelled" Lucius snarled, his voice barely above a whisper "The press would have had a field day. I would be back in Azkaban before you could say 'Death Eater,' and the Malfoy name would have a permanent black cloud over it because it would then be world-wide knowledge that not only are we involved with Dark Arts, but that we also encourage our children to use them against other Witches and Wizards, even those of pure blood. I would rather see you forced to shed your dignity for two years than have to go back to Azkaban and see the Malfoy name forever tarnished all because you were an idiot and used dark magic that you were not qualified to use in a petty duel." He emphasised his point by prodding Draco sharply in the side with his cane. Draco scowled in reply.
"But what if Parkinson doesn't want me to be her slave?" He questioned. "What do I do then?" Lucius shrugged.
"She doesn't really have a choice. She will need someone to help her out, she knows that, and I hardly believe she will be turning down a chance to make your life a living hell." Draco didn't bother thinking of a smart rebuke this time. He just growled.
"Well, you should be off to the hospital wing now, shouldn't you?" It was more of an order than a question. Draco nodded reluctantly as he began to walk in the direction of the hospital wing. "I shall be on my way then. Goodbye, Draco." Lucius paused.
"Oh, and Draco?"
"Yes, Father?"
"You may be out of trouble with that old coot Dumbledore, but, believe me; your position with me is still far from good."
NB: I own nothing but the plot and a few spells. Rated R for swearing, violence, sexual stuff etc **************************************************************************** ***********************************************
Chapter Two: Choices of sorts
The next afternoon found a more than slightly anxious Draco Malfoy awaiting his 'fate' of sorts outside of Dumbledore's office. Inside, Dumbledore, Snape and his Father were coming to a conclusion as to what would happen to Draco. It had been a lengthy discussion and Draco had now been sent outside until they decided what to do with him.
Finally, the door opened and Dumbledore called him inside, his normally twinkling blue eyes cool and serious as they followed the pale blond youth to the armchair where he sat down. Snape raised an eyebrow, but also chose to remain silent, while his Father glared at him with barely suppressed rage; his slightly twitching lips indicated that he was dying to let loose a tirade at his only son for permanently injuring a member of an allied pureblood family and for bringing shame upon the family name.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, after a long, difficult discussion, we do not consider you entirely responsible for what you did, but that does not mean that you can escape punishment. So, we have come to an ultimatum of sorts for your actions." Dumbledore said, looking over his half-moon spectacles. "Seeing as you are the one that has inflicted this permanent damage upon Miss Parkinson, it has been decided that the only way you can compensate for what you have done is for you are to be her 'guardian' of sorts for the remaining duration of Hogwarts, including all holidays except for the summer break. You will attend to her all her everyday needs such as assisting her at mealtimes, tutoring her during her study periods, and basically being her eyes around Hogwarts. You shall escort her to and from lessons, including those that you do not have together, escort her to and from the bathroom and assist her in note-taking when you do have classes together and attending to whatever else it is that she asks of you."
Draco's expression was not a pleasant one at the thought of this, something which Lucius noticed and was quick to comment upon.
"You should be looking grateful, Draconis." His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the poison just below the surface. "The Headmaster was practically set on expelling you this morning. Professor Snape and I had to work very hard to reduce your punishment for this. If anything, you should be on you knees, thanking us both." Draco's expression barely changed, but he managed a 'thankyou' through gritted teeth. It was bad enough that he and Pansy had already despised each other's company for more than a few seconds, but the thought of the rest of the sixth and seventh year being spent by her side sounded like some sort of nightmare. Pansy knew exactly what buttons to push on him too, and would be having the time of her life being able to use her affliction against him to make him attend to her every beck and call.
"When does this 'guardianship' start?" He asked sulkily. Dumbledore smiled genially at him, and Draco ground his teeth, wanting nothing more than to hex that smile off the old man's face.
"Today, Mr.Malfoy. Miss Parkinson should be out of the hospital wing within the next few hours, and you shall be the one escorting her back to the Slytherin common room, to the dinner table, and to her bedroom."
"Wonderful." Draco replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. If Dumbledore had noticed the tone, he was obviously ignoring it.
"Yes, it is. It's a wonderful chance for you to prove your regret for your hasty actions and to give Miss Parkinson back something after taking so much from her." Draco rolled his eyes.
"May I leave now?" He asked in a mock-polite tone. He was dismissed and relieved, he bolted out of the office. His Father appeared a split second later, his handsome face twisted into an enraged scowl.
"Draconis Consternatius Malfoy!" Draco raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that he was in a lot of trouble. His Father only used his full name when he was really angry, which, surprisingly, was a rare occurrence. And this was one of those occurrences.
"The only reason I'm not going to put you under Cruciatus is because it will land me back in Azkaban." He hissed into his son's ear. "I cannot believe just how ungrateful you are being towards Snape and I. We both put ourselves on the line to ensure that you would not be expelled and you don't even have the courtesy to at least pretend to be grateful."
"Grateful?" Draco sneered, not in the mood for politeness. "Grateful? Because of you two, I'm being forced to become the equivalent to a house- elf. I'm that stupid bitch's slave for the next two years, and you want me to be grateful? If anything, I'm wishing that I had been expelled. At least then I would still have my dignity."
"If you had been expelled" Lucius snarled, his voice barely above a whisper "The press would have had a field day. I would be back in Azkaban before you could say 'Death Eater,' and the Malfoy name would have a permanent black cloud over it because it would then be world-wide knowledge that not only are we involved with Dark Arts, but that we also encourage our children to use them against other Witches and Wizards, even those of pure blood. I would rather see you forced to shed your dignity for two years than have to go back to Azkaban and see the Malfoy name forever tarnished all because you were an idiot and used dark magic that you were not qualified to use in a petty duel." He emphasised his point by prodding Draco sharply in the side with his cane. Draco scowled in reply.
"But what if Parkinson doesn't want me to be her slave?" He questioned. "What do I do then?" Lucius shrugged.
"She doesn't really have a choice. She will need someone to help her out, she knows that, and I hardly believe she will be turning down a chance to make your life a living hell." Draco didn't bother thinking of a smart rebuke this time. He just growled.
"Well, you should be off to the hospital wing now, shouldn't you?" It was more of an order than a question. Draco nodded reluctantly as he began to walk in the direction of the hospital wing. "I shall be on my way then. Goodbye, Draco." Lucius paused.
"Oh, and Draco?"
"Yes, Father?"
"You may be out of trouble with that old coot Dumbledore, but, believe me; your position with me is still far from good."