Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the plot.
A/N: Wow, you guys made a real fool of me! Here I am thinking, oh, I only got 13 reviews for two chapters, so 5 for one shouldn't come too quickly'...and I ended up with double what I had!!! I really underestimated my reviewers, so sorry...and I only had Chapter 4 partially written!! So, I sat down all day yesterday and wrote TWO chapters. Chapter 5 will go up soon...maybe ;) More details later...Also, this chapter may be a little mushy, cause I think it's absolutely adorable when a guy has a close relationship with his mom, lol, and I expanded on that. So enjoy!!
The Pain Within
Chapter 4: Calm Before The Storm
It takes a lot to know what is love
It's not the big things, but the little things
That can mean enough*
After fixing his lip with a wave of his wand, Draco trudged up stairs and down hallways until he came to his mother's room. He knocked and waited. A soft voice beckoned him to enter. When he did, he was greeted by the sight of his smiling mother sitting in bed, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by cloth and thread.
Draco! I was wondering when you were planning on paying me a visit.
He smiled. Hi Mum. I would have come here immediately, but Monster Git decided to threaten me for a while, so I couldn't exactly leave.
Narcissa Malfoy smiled sympathetically. Yes, he's been very tense with today's initiation. It's all he's been talking and worrying about.
Draco shrugged and looked at her. She had pale, pale skin and caramel colored hair which fell in long curls around her face. She had the bluest eyes Draco had ever seen, his own being the only possible rivals. Small pink lips rested under a slightly pointed nose, and were always raised in a smile at Draco. He smiled back and sat down next to her on the bed. He realized he only genuinely smiled when in his mother's presence.
So how have things been around here lately?
Narcissa sighed. Well, with the upcoming initiation, there's been more drinking and later returns to the Manor. Other than that, it's been the usual.
Draco fumed. The usual. Lucius would get drunk at home from his plentiful supply of fine wines and then beat Narcissa until he passed out. Or, he would go out and get drunk and do Merlin-knows-what with Merlin-knows-who. Draco figured he cheated on Narcissa frequently, and even suspected he raped her on more than one occasion, but he could never get it out of her. Seeing his mother with bruises from his father made him ashamed to be a Malfoy. It was a fact that Malfoy men thought little of women other than being sex toys or mothers to their offspring, and Draco had never let that bother him. But he couldn't accept his mother being treated like that; it hurt him too much. It just wasn't fair. Especially since he was the reason behind the recent extra abuse.
Honey, it's not your fault, Narcissa said as if she had read his mind, gently touching his arm.
Yes, it is. He was more violent because of my initiation, he said stubbornly. And you don't deserve it.
She looked down and concentrated on her sewing. And neither do you, Draco. But there's nothing we can do.
You could just leave him.
Go live with your cousins in France, they would protect you.
Honestly, Mum! You could do it. I'd help you if you want.
Narcissa looked at her son's pleading face. Draco, I'm not leaving you to deal with him alone. I couldn't do that to you.
Draco squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand through his hair as he leaned back into the headboard. It won't matter. After today I'm bound to Voldemort, and will probably be killed or sent to Azkaban once that dumb arse Potter figures out how to kill him. But you - you can leave! Go to Paris, start your own fashion company. Make something of yourself; don't waste your talent sewing little things here. Mum, please?
He turned his head sideways to look at her. She smiled sadly, pulled him closer, and gave him a kiss on his temple. You know I love you, right sweetheart? she murmured into his hair.
Yes, Mum, I know, he sighed as he rested his head on her shoulder. As usual, his begging got him nowhere. Narcissa always brushed off he conversation, refusing to listen to him. He sighed again.
So how was your 16th birthday? she asked changing the topic.
It was just a normal day.
A normal day? No presents?
I got a few Happy Birthdays from the Slytherins who knew, and Professor Snape saved me from detention with McGonagall, but no gifts.
Well, of course you didn't get any gifts, his mother stated. Because they're all in my wardrobe!
Draco lifted his head and watched as she shuffled out of bed. He could see a few black and blue marks on her neck where her light pink robes didn't cover. Rage filled him once again. Why her? She was nothing less than perfect in his eyes. Her maiden name, Angellette, meant Little Angel'. And that's exactly what she was - an angel. She was beautiful inside and out. She was the sweetest and most generous person Draco had ever known. And the only person to ever love him. She didn't deserve abuse - she had never done anything horribly wrong. The only mistake she had ever made was marrying his father.
She was now walking gracefully back to her bed with a few wrapped gifts in her arms. She moved her sewing tools aside and climbed back onto the bed.
Happy 16th Birthday Draco! she said excitedly, handing him the gifts.
He forgot his anger as he smiled over her eagerness. She always acted like this when it came to gift giving. It proved her genuine selfless nature.
He unwrapped the first gift, and his eyes lit up. It was this year's edition of Quidditch International, a book that gave statistics and records of every Quidditch team in the world as well as highlights from the last season. He grinned at his mother; he was going to enjoy reading that immensely. The next gift he unwrapped was a small rectangular velvet box. Inside was a silver chain with a strange charm attached.
You don't really have any good necklaces to wear all the time, so I thought you might like that. It's the Chinese symbol for dragon'. I thought getting a chain that said Draco' would be too girly, she chuckled.
Draco laughed. Thank you.
She smiled. Your welcome. Open the last one.
The last gift turned out to be another box, but much larger than the first and made of cardboard. When he opened it, he found a sketchpad and a brand new box of Aloyarc's colored pencils. Aloyarc is a wizarding company famous for making drawing, coloring, and painting products. These colored pencils could change tones depending on what the user desired. For example, after coloring with the blue pencil, one could decide to make it sky blue or navy blue.
I figured you were running low on drawing supplies by now.
Draco nodded, I was. I draw a lot at night when I can't sleep.
Draco was a very talented artist. It was probably his biggest secret. Ever since he was younger, he liked to look at things and then try to duplicate what he saw on paper. Of course, they started out like many preschooler's drawing - scribbling - but had progressed into real talent. He had drawn and painted constantly, and his mother had many pictures of different household object or rooms. She had kept every single one of the pictures he had drawn through the years. Well, except the portrait of the house elf he tied to a chair that had been painted on the dining room wall. Now, at sixteen, he was a very detailed and precise artist. He mainly drew in his sketchpad at school, but painted when he was home.
Thank you, Mum. I think I'll start a new picture right now, since I have a little while.
Narcissa smiled. Your welcome dear. She started to sew again but frowned when Draco gathered his belongings and moved off the bed to a chair across from her. What's wrong? I don't have cooties, do I?
Draco flashed her a boyish grin, but it's hard to draw someone when they're sitting right next to you.
About a half an hour later, a house elf knocked timidly on the door.
Lolly is here to tell young Master Malfoy his bath is ready. Whenever he is ready, sir.
Draco glanced at the creature. I'll be there in a minute. You may leave.
Yes, Master Draco, sir, the elf squeaked as she left.
Narcissa watched her son collect his things. He then turned to her. She couldn't be more proud or heartbroken at the sight. He stood like a soldier, valiantly straight and tall, his face set in stone, ready to accept his fate. But then his eyes, those bright blue eyes. They were filled with fear, anger...and defeat. Lucius had won out over him as he had over her. As Draco leaned down to embrace her, she caught sight of something else in his eyes. Tears.
Don't be scared, baby, she whispered.
I'll try, he said smiling as he blinked the tears back. I love you Mum.
As Narcissa watched the door close behind him, a tear slid down her cheek. Her son's future had been destroyed. And she had been powerless to stop it. Absolutely powerless.
~~~
*Lyrics from the Backstreet Boys' The Perfect Fan
Okay, well, Chapter 5 is 100% written, so all I have to do is type it, and I'm sure all of you are dying to read it to find out if Draco becomes a Death Eater...but there's a catch. In order to get the chapter someone has to answer the following question correctly: How did I come up with the name of the wizarding company that makes Draco's colored pencils? It's not too difficult; just think of companies that we have out there today. That's the only hint I'll give. Good luck!! ;)
Slytherin Psyche: Thank you so much for the reviews! It makes me feel really special that someone thinks I'm talented. Yes, I think J.K.Rowling should give a little more exposure of Draco's life, or Slytherin life in general, to the public, but whatever - if she doesn't, we'll just have to do it ourselves, won't we? :) I will definitely read your story once I've posted this; it looks very interesting from the summary. Once again, thanks so much!!
twin: Danielle, you have discovered the art of cliffhangers. Hate them all you want, but they're a writer's best friend. The act of leaving ppl begging for more; sucha great tool. LoL, thanks for the review!
randomLore: You have an iMac too - how cool!! LoL, mine's purple :) I love Appleworks, it's so much easier than Word. I was trying to explain to someone else how to do the bold & italics, but thanks for taking the time to explain it too. And of course I recommended your story - it's awesome, and on my Favorites. Thanks for the review!!
Rei.K: Sorry about the short chapters, I'll try to make them longer but I can't guarantee anything. Thanks so much for the review!!
And muchos gracias to all the rest of you awesome ppl that reviewed chapter 3: Akina, Mac n' Cheese, Airna, INSANE1, shrev, jessi, and lecanda chan!!!