Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury books, Scholastic books and Warner Brothers have that pleasure. I am merely borrowing them
Chapter Nine: Repercussions.
"I demand to see that bloody little bastard!"
Madam Pomfrey was clearly flustered. William Parkinson would not be deterred. She was the only other adult currently in the ward. Harry sat with Ron and Hermione on his bunk at the other end. She had been readying him for discharge when Mr. Parkinson had burst in. She glanced back to the private room, hoping that Draco still slept.
"It is simply not possible, Mr. Parkinson. If you do not leave I will have to alert the Headmaster." She assumed her most intimidating pose, fists on her hips, eyes narrowed.
The door swung open and Pomfrey was disappointed to see Pansy. The girl ran to her father, pulling at his arm in an attempt to remove him from the ward.
"Father, what are you doing?"
"Let…Go!" He swung his arm out causing Pansy to lose her balance and fall into a crumpled heap on the floor.
"MR. PARKINSON!" Pomfrey was not about to let this man harm any of her students. Action must be taken!
Harry, Ron and Hermione watched the display, mouths agape, unable to turn away.
Draco came from the room in back, dressed in green silk pajamas, hair disheveled, having heard angry voices. Seeing Pansy he began to run to her. "Pansy!"
The elder Parkinson stood in front of his daughter, who was beginning to rise. "STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!"
Draco froze. He had always had a good relationship with Mr. Parkinson and was surprised by the sudden change. His eyebrows came together in confusion.
Pomfrey moved surreptitiously to the hearth.
"Mr. Parkinson? What is wrong?" The man looked wild to Draco, his face beet red, his hands clenched at his sides and his teeth bared.
"HOW CAN YOU EVEN ASK THAT?! WHAT IS WRONG? …WHAT IS WRONG? I WILL NOT HAVE A LUNATIC DATING MY DAUGHTER!" White foam gathered at the corner of his mouth.
"What?" Draco remembered an odd dream that he had had last night and was a little confused about how he ended up in the hospital ward. There must've been a spell backfire, yes that was it.
"Have you seen the paper? Or can you even read?" Mr. Parkinson shook the Daily Prophet in front of Draco. "It's all in here, in black and white." He tossed the paper at the Slytherin's feet. As it fluttered to the ground the headline caught his attention:
Bare Boy Becomes Bonkers, Biting Harry Potter!
Draco's eyes narrowed in confusion as he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't…understand."
Mr. Parkinson stormed toward Draco stopping directly in front of him. "Don't play games with me, you little bastard! My daughter is forbidden to see you, or even talk to you anymore!" He was so close Draco felt spittle pepper his face and could smell whiskey on the man's breath.
Pansy again made a run for Draco, hot tears dampening her cheeks, but her father roughly snatched her arm, jerking her to him.
"Stop that at once!" Draco could not bear to see Pansy mistreated.
"What are you going to do, boy—bite me?" Mr. Parkinson cast a glance at Harry, a smug smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
Draco's eyes followed the path of Mr. Parkinson's gaze to rest upon Harry Potter, seated with his friends. Harry unconsciously rose a hand to his throat.
It all clicked suddenly for Draco and he swayed on his feet. "Oh Merlin! It can't be? It just can't!" He cradled his head in his hands, grimacing and squeezing his eyes shut.
"It's true, all right! Stay away from my Pansy or you'll truly be sorry." He jerked Pansy toward the door. She twisted her head, mouthing, 'I love you' over her shoulder.
Draco seethed and his hands fisted at his sides in frustration. "You can't do this! It's not right!"
They stopped. Mr. Parkinson roughly shoved Pansy toward the hallway. "Get out and wait for me in the hall." She stood her ground, crossing her arms over her chest, fear for Draco evident in her violet eyes.
Mr. Parkinson slowly crossed to where Draco stood. He pulled his wand and pointed it at the younger man. "Maybe you need a little incentive to stay away from my daughter?"
Draco instinctively reached for his wand but had none.
The older man leaned in bringing his face close to Draco's ear. "I suppose I could just put you out of your misery. I think your mother would appreciate that." Mr. Parkinson slowly trailed the wand over the silk covering Draco's chest, stopping directly over his rapidly beating heart.
"Mother? What are you talking about?" Draco was feeling all out of sorts and more than a little dizzy. What did his mother have to do with all of this? He stood dumbstruck, causing Mr. Parkinson to grin maliciously.
"Your mother, you ask?" He chuckled deep in his throat and said the next part very loudly, reveling in humiliating the child in front of his classmates. "Well, she was just telling me this morning how ashamed she was of you, how you ruined her life, how she wished you had never been born, her usual really."
A feeling of swelling magic filled the air, causing everyone to look towards the back of the room. The Headmaster stood wand at the ready with Snape and Pomfrey flanking him.
"William Parkinson? Put the wand away at once!" Dumbledore's eyes flashed and his blue robes slowly swirled along the floor as he approached the man.
The object of his scorn had never been so terrified in his life. The pulsing energy in the room caused the hair to rise at the nape of his neck. Mr. Parkinson quickly pocketed his wand and tried to leave; unfortunately his legs were rooted to the spot.
"I would have a word with you in my office?" Dumbledore said, words clipped. He motioned his wand and the man moved forward, not of his own accord and the two exited the ward.
"Wait! Why are you saying these things about my mother?" Draco made to follow him but was waylaid by Pansy flinging her arms about his neck.
"Draco!" They clung tightly to each other. "I won't let my father keep us apart! I won't! I'd rather die! I love you!"
"It's okay, sweetheart, I love you too."
Snape approached the couple. "Pansy, I would like a word with Draco. You may come back and visit him after classes. I believe lunch is ready in the Great Hall."
Squeezing Draco tightly Pansy kissed him, then glided into the hall, her face wreathed in smiles.
Pomfrey discharged Harry and the three Gryffindors moved toward the doors. Draco's eyes were again drawn to Harry. Their eyes met, gray eyes questioning and green ones apprehensive. Draco glanced at Ron, who was studiously avoiding his gaze. As Hermione passed him she gave him a pitying smile and the three exited the ward.
He felt so empty, numb. His eyes were again drawn to the newspaper on the floor.
Bare Boy Becomes Bonkers Biting Harry Potter!
Snape bent forward, snatching up the paper and throwing it into the nearest wastepaper bin. He deftly changed the subject. "Draco, let's have a talk in your room. Healer Masters will be here soon." The professor's onyx eyes searched his godson's face. Draco made no movement. Snape repeated his request, causing Draco's head to swivel toward him.
"Did I attack you?" Draco's silver eyes bored into Snape's dark ones. "Twice?" Draco swallowed heavily.
Snape broke off the gaze, staring at the floor. Taking a deep breath he looked back into his godson's searching eyes. "You didn't know what you were doing, Draco."
"I used an Unforgivable?" Draco shook, blanching. Bringing his hand to his mouth and bending forward slightly, he said, "I feel sick."
*****
Not bothering to sit at the table Pansy grabbed an apple and piece of cheese. She glanced at her watch. I have just enough time to write him a nice note, then I'll have Dobby take him his clothes and Draco will find the note! Oooh, it's so romantic! She exited, heading for her dorm, face beaming with joy.
Harry, Ron and Hermione noted Pansy's sprightly exit as they headed down for lunch. Harry and Ron exchanged a grin, shaking their heads. Ron picked up the pace saying, "We'd better hurry if we want to eat!"
Hermione stopped, crossing her arms over her chest. "How can you think about food at a time like this?"
"I'm hungry," was Ron's simple reply.
A few meters from the door Hermione saw Mr. Parkinson purposefully striding from the Headmaster's office. She alerted her comrades, who followed him with their gaze. They watched him stop at the top of the stairs leading to the doors out the castle. He then continued on, mumbling to himself. The Gryffindors were just starting to move again when BOOM! A sound reverberated in the air coming from the bottom of the stairs. It sounded like cracking wood. They saw Mr. Parkinson bolt back up the stairs.
"That old bastard will not intimidate me!" He ran for the Slytherin dorms.
The three looked at each other. Hermione and Harry took off in the direction of Dumbledore's office and Ron, giving one last longing glance to the Great Hall, shook his head and followed his friends.
*****
Lucius Malfoy gingerly opened his right eye, his left swollen shut. He lay on his back in the study. The light streaming in from the windows told him it was morning, maybe noontime. He lay there for a moment watching the dust particles dancing in the sunlight. He could move very little and his legs ached terribly. They had all moved so quickly, like they had rehearsed what they were going to do. He had had no time to react.
They had all ran at him at once screaming like banshees, using their elf magic to hurl him against the wall and then to disarm him. He remembered Dinky, once faithful house-elf, had taken his prized snake-handled fireplace poker and repeatedly whacked him in the legs, screaming, "That one's for me! That one's for my brother, Dobby!" When he had reached for the implement Duddy had smashed his hands with a rolling pin. Dilly had laughed and kicked him in the face repeatedly. Duffy had contented himself with wrecking the room that he had always taken such house-elf pride in keeping immaculate. He had then cackled in glee as he overturned the antique mahogany desk. Derry had leapt on his chest, raining punches on his former master's torso. Not satisfied with the damage his small form could inflict he had grabbed a heavy dragon paperweight from the overturned desk and begun beating Malfoy with it, grinning as he heard the cracking of a rib. Flossy had stood back, horrified, wringing her hands, tears in her amber eyes.
That was simply all he remembered. He groaned and attempted to move his fingers, which were split and brown with dried blood, swollen to a grotesque size. He was in bad shape. He felt a hand to his arm and instinctively cringed.
"It's okay, Master, lie still." Flossy bent her large head close to him, her huge amber eyes wide with concern. This house-elf would not leave her master, free or not. She had been nanny to the young Lucius Malfoy and also to Master Draco. Her Master was not kind to house-elves generally, but he had always treated her well.
"Flossy?" His voice was hoarse and slurred and speech caused his split lower lip to burn.
She bent to him and lifted his head enough so she could give him a drink of cool water.
"Are the others gone?" Flossy nodded and he tried to sit up with Flossy's assistance but his body would not cooperate so they abandoned the effort after a few seconds.
He twisted his neck to peer into those huge eyes. "Flossy? I need your help. Will you help me?"
*****
Next chapter: Mr. Parkinson clashes with a professor and Flossy to the rescue!
Author's Notes: I appreciate every review! Thanks so much.
CuriousDreamWeaver: I'm glad you have been following my story. It means a lot!
Daintress: Narcissa has Narcissistic Personality Disorder in my story. It is a very complex pattern of learned behaviors. I just thought it would be interesting since her name IS Narcissa! Hallmark symptoms of someone with this disorder could include: grandiosity, fantasies of unlimited success, power or brilliance, lacking empathy, arrogant, takes advantage of others, needs to be admired and a sense of entitlement.
Catmint: Thanks, as always, for cleaning up my errors. Thanks also for your unwavering support! I love Rain in Rivendell. It is such a funny LOTR story!
Ar-Zimraphel: Thanks for the compliments! I wanted the story to be a little different. You're Draco/Hermione story is just great!
Arafel2: Thanks, as always for your support!
Sinical-Sarchasm: Narcissa is more messed up than either of the two guys, in my story. The problem is, she doesn't see it!
Trina: A good depression story is hard to find. It has been done quite a bit, really. Thanks for reading.
I give it all to Mr. Black: I love the insanity quite a bit myself! I have always been fascinated by the illnesses that have hallucinations and delusions as a component.
Friend of a Friend: I love that screen name! Potter is in this but is in no way the focus of the story.