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 Ten: Desperation
"Have you informed the Ministry that he cast the Cruciatus?"
"I have not."
"You do understand that it is your duty and responsibility to do so?"
"Yes, as it is also yours."
"We understand each other, then." Elizabeth Masters did not like to flaunt the law but she would not have this fragile soul be required to defend his actions when he was not able to control them. She marveled at how the Ministry, with all of its talk of "forward thinking", was so backward-thinking when it came to mental illnesses. She was surprised to have the Headmaster agree that the Ministry should be kept in the dark. She didn't know, of course, just how many things the venerable Albus Dumbledore kept from the Ministry.
"I will go then, to talk with Draco. Good day, Headmaster." As she exited she saw three children rushing toward the door and up the staircase to Dumbledore's office.
*****
"Professor Snape! Professor Snape!"
Snape bent forward, gently cradling Draco's forehead as he emptied what little his stomach had contained. The boy was still shaking and retching. The Potions Master was trying to ignore the clamoring of a house-elf wandering around the hospital wing. Where was Poppy? Shite! I told her to go to the Great Hall for lunch. The noise continued outside as he realized there were now two hysterical house-elves blithering in the wing.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, be quiet!" Snape irritably snapped in the direction of the closed door. Draco's heaving had stopped and he took a position on the floor. Snape flushed the toilet, picked up a washcloth and ran cool water over it. He handed it to Draco, who, resting his warm face against the cool porcelain, wiped his mouth.
The house-elves now knew where the object of their search was hiding. Four feet were heard slapping across the tiled floor and the pounding on the door began.
"Professor Snape! Please! Flossy is here! Help!"
Flossy? Snape's eyebrows came together. The only person he had ever heard of with that name was—Lucius' house-elf! Jet eyes widening, he reached for the door.
Draco reached the door first. Flossy had been his nanny, after all. Flinging the door open he saw Flossy, wearing clothes? He was momentarily stunned and Snape took over, stepping out of the bathroom.
"What is it Flossy? Is there a problem at the manor?" Snape took his comfortable pose of arms across his chest, peering down his nose at the elf. Draco came up beside him.
"It's awful, Professor, sir. It's Master."
"Father?" Draco swayed a little on his feet and Snape helped him to a nearby bunk.
Dumbledore unfolded his frame from the hospital wing hearth. He saw Snape standing near a bunk where Draco was seated, chatting to a house-elf he had never seen before as Dobby stood in the background. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Masters enter the wing. They both headed to the others.
"Is Father okay?" Draco stared intently at Flossy.
Flossy could not meet his gaze. "Master needs help, young Master. Master sent Flossy to get Professor."
"The other…other house-elves…beat him?" Draco leaned forward toward the elf who took his hands in hers, finally meeting his eyes. "Where was Mother?"
Flossy released Draco's hands and stared at the floor, tears welling up in her huge amber eyes. "She set us free, young Master."
"What?!" Draco stood up quickly, startling the old elf.
"Master and Missus fight. Missus set all the Malfoy elves free."
Snape put a hand on Draco's shoulder and he sat again.
"Professor Snape, I need a word, please." Dumbledore came to stand at Snape's side.
Masters sat beside Draco on the bunk as he bent forward, head in hands.
"I have to go. Father needs me!" Draco stood again, again feeling his godfather's grip on his shoulder.
"Absolutely not. I will not allow it." Snape saw tears well up in Draco's silver eyes. "I will go."
"He's my father!" Draco jabbed his forefinger at his own chest.
Masters stood. "Draco, you aren't even dressed."
Draco looked down at the pajamas. He sat heavily and put his head in his hands, starting to pull at his white-blond hair as a soft whimper escaped his throat.
The Headmaster's eyes were drawn to Draco, who at this moment seemed much younger than his seventeen years.
"Go, Severus. Go to Lucius. I will adjust the Floo to allow you to bring him directly here. Poppy and I will be ready." The Headmaster gently patted Snape's shoulder and they made there way to the fireplace, Flossy in tow. Once Snape and Flossy were gone, Dumbledore threw some more Floo powder into the hearth and called for Lupin. He will have to handle Mr. Parkinson.
*****
Lupin was just settling down for a relaxing cup of tea. This being his only break today, he was going to enjoy it. Leaning back in his chair with his feet on his desk, smiling, he took a contented sip of the warm brew. Life is good. The relaxing mood was broken by the Headmaster's voice calling from the fireplace.
"Professor Lupin. Come to the hospital wing at once."
*****
Snape had never seen the Malfoy study in such a shambles, with chairs thrown aside and bookshelves tipped over with books everywhere. He turned back to the hearth and magically lit the fire, which by the temperature of the room must have been out for several hours. Snape scanned the room, seeing Lucius' prized fireplace poker—that infernal one with the snake's head that he was always bragging about—lying by Lucius' overturned desk. He bent closer to the poker, noting it was caked with brown, dried blood. A dragon paperweight lay abandoned beside it, also with blood caked on it. Shards of glass littered the floor, crunching under his boots.
Impatiently pulling at his arm, Flossy led him to her Master, sprawled in a most unnatural position. His legs have to be broken, Snape mused, frowning. Kneeling beside his old friend he ventured, "Lucius? Can you hear me?" Snape placed two long fingers of one hand on the clammy skin of his friend's throat and felt a weak, thready pulse.
"Severus?" His voice was raspy and as he tried to move he winced, falling back to the floor. His tongue flicked out to try to moisten his cracked lips.
"Lie still, Lucius. I am going to take you to the hospital wing at Hogwarts." Snape conjured a stretcher and levitated Lucius onto it, conjuring a blanket to cover his large form.
"Draco?" He appeared to be having difficulty drawing a proper breath. "Is he alright?" Lucius started to cough deeply and a scarlet stain appeared on his lips. The elder Malfoy attempted to raise a hand to Snape, but the movement pulled at the swollen tissue causing it to burn and he lowered it quickly, letting out a small groan from his parched lips.
Snape carefully moved him onto his side to prevent him from being choked to death on his own mess. He continued to talk to him, trying to ease his discomfort. "He's worried about his father, but he's doing fairly well." Snape, Flossy and Lucius left for Hogwarts.
*****
Dumbledore had called Pomfrey back to the ward and the two prepared for their new arrival. He put up a curtain at the end of the ward as they wished to keep the stay private. She brought out a tray table and on it arranged a myriad of potion bottles, not quite sure of what she would need, but having everything ready just in case. She was really in her element now.
Dumbledore slowly paced the ward, looking to the fireplace then to the doors. It seemed he was forever waiting and worrying over when his friends would return from their dangerous assignments. He hoped Lupin would be able to handle the irascible Parkinson. There was just something about Pansy's father that always put the Headmaster on guard. Something is hidden there indeed.
Masters had taken Draco to the private room to talk, after promising him that when his father arrived they would visit with him.
*****
Lupin scanned the Slytherin common room, brushing cinders from his robes. The room was in total chaos. People were scrambling here and there and rushing to the exit. He noticed two first-years hiding behind an overturned couch, occasionally stealing a glance toward the sleeping quarters. He approached them, clearing his throat. The two jumped and faced him, wands drawn. When they saw that it was their professor, they quickly pocketed the wands.
"Where is Mr. Parkinson, Heller?"
"He…He…He's trying to make Pansy leave with him."
"Where is he?"
"AAAHHH!" Mr. Parkinson had made a run for the girl's dorm door forgetting that the stairs would not allow a male to enter. The stairs sloped flat like a slide and he slid to the bottom, cursing loudly.
Lupin dropped a bag of Floo powder at Heller's feet. "If things get bad Floo to the hospital wing for the Headmaster." Lupin then crossed the room to Pansy's father.
"I must ask you to leave now, Mr. Parkinson."
"I'm not going anywhere without my daughter. I know she's in here! GET DOWN HERE, NOW!"
Pansy could clearly hear the arguing downstairs from her vantage point in Draco's dorm room. She had just given Dobby some clothes for Draco and her letter, when she heard her father raging downstairs. She silently thanked Merlin that no one else had been in the room to see that she was there. Her father assumed she was in her own dorm. She sat on the bed unsure of what to do. I'm not leaving with him. Mum is gone for another week and I won't stay there alone with him! She heard the raised voices again.
"She leaves with me, the little whore! I saw her come in here. I KNOW she is in here!" Mr. Parkinson lashed out, knocking a chair over a desk.
"LEAVE NOW!" Lupin realized that the other man was not listening to his polite requests. This was going to get very ugly indeed.
"Out of my way, werewolf! Pansy, come down here at once!" He again tried to make a run for the dorm rooms once again landing in a heap at the bottom. His frustration reached its zenith as he drew his wand, a stream of white light flashed from his wand, blowing apart the door to the girls' dorm. "GET DOWN HERE NOW, WHORE, OR YOU'LL WISH YOU HAD!"
Lupin pulled his wand and they faced each other, wands at the ready.
Upstairs, Pansy cringed. How dare he call me a whore? After what he has done to me! I won't go back! I won't. I'd rather die! DIE! Hugging herself tightly she glanced to Draco's trunk, remembering what he told her when he got back from Christmas break. His mother had given him a potion and he had said that the potion was neon green. She rummaged through the trunk searching for the vial, tears obscuring her vision. I cannot go home with him! I'd rather die!
*******
Next Chapter: Lupin and Parkinson square off. Snape helps Masters gain control of a vision.
Author's Notes: Please review!
CuriousDreamWeaver: Thanks for your unwavering support!
ManicReversed: I guess this would be considered DM/PP but for this story the romance is secondary.
SheWolfe7: Thanks for the kind review!
Dark phoenix magic: Thanks for following the story!
Ar-Zimraphel: Thanks for the kind review!
Catmint: I guess I thought Pansy and Draco were more of a couple in the books. Thanks for the review and the fantastic beta-ing!
Sinical-Sarchasm: I loved the headline also. Just last night I think I came up with a better revision
Bare Boy Becomes Bonkers Biting Boy-who-lived! It keeps with the whole "B" thing better! Oh well!
Sue Falkenkralle: Thanks for the kind review!