After the End
Blonde Dragon
Summary: After certain events in HBP, Draco has not had a very good time dealing with his actions. When he stumbles into Harry once again and seeks help, how will the other react? (A bit AU after 1st chapter, HPDM Slash eventually, SPOILER WARNINGS! Draco P.O.V.)
Disclaimers: I do not own the characters used, nor the recap plot used in this first chapter. All are © of J.K.Rowling. It is by her grace fanfictions writers are allowed to write about her world and characters.
Author Notes: This chapter is where things pick up. WARNINGS: Draco torture and implied mentions of rape.
Reviews:
Spork Princess: Thank you for your review.:) I'm sorry this story wasn't updated very quickly, but I hope I can continue this in the future!
Lone Wolf55: It's true about that chapter; I just wanted to get the first chapter up. I hope that this chapter will also be more to your liking. Thank you for reviewing:)
Dieu Anonyme: Thank you so much for the luck, and the review:D I'm hoping to make this story more interesting for everyone.
I couldn't remember the date anymore, nor could I remember the actual day of the week. For two months, I scratched the dirt floor in the corner of my dudgeon cell with lines to indicate sixty days. I ran out of room shortly after that, and then the days started to blur together. I only knew it was a day when my meals came. They came twice a day – I'm pretty sure that's when the sun rose and set. There were no windows in the dungeon, so I couldn't be certain. They weren't anything special, but they were enough to keep me alive. I'm pretty sure that's all they needed.
I had to laugh at the irony of the place I found myself after disapparating from Hogwarts that final night. I was taken to Malfoy Manor. Where else to hide but out in the open? The Dark Lord chose to use the Manor as the perfect place to conduct his atrocious acts of evil. Contrary to popular belief, no, I am not evil. I'm just a Slytherin through and through. We will use any means to achieve our ends, and if that includes staying alive, then who knows what that may be. And I was a prefect, and thereby embodied all of what my House stood for. It's amazing to think so fondly of the days of Hogwarts and realize they really didn't mean anything.
I shook my head slowly, running a trembling hand through my lanky once-blonde hair. It had dirtied up now to a nearly brown color. Like the color of caked blood over my side. I rolled onto my currently uninjured side and watched the world through the familiar Malfoy Manor dudgeon.
Malfoys do not fail. Follows of the Dark Lord do not fail. There are always repercussions to those who fail. And, lucky me, I'm classified as both. Throughout my time in the dudgeon that I already knew too well to begin with, my body was taken, beaten, broken, and repaired. Being repaired was the worst part of my -- year? - Two years? -- spent down here. My body was repaired only to be broken again the next day; I knew failure would be bad, but I never thought it'd be this bad. All my father's beatings when I was younger were merely slaps on the wrists compared to this torture.
Footsteps came down the long hallway, echoing ominously along the empty cells. I tensed, but I had learned that to show fear meant a harsher punishment. The footsteps grew louder and I looked up into the cold, silver eyes of Lucius Malfoy. His cold mask was pulled even more taunt as he looked down at my form. "Hello, Draco." His voice was cold and as stiff as his features, which didn't surprise me. My father and I were alike for once – holding the Dark Lord's wrath, despite the different variations. My father had angered the Dark Lord when he gave the diary of Tom riddle to the Weasley girl, throwing away the Horcrux in the process. I had failed in my assignment to murder the Hogwarts' Headmaster.
"Hello, father." I almost cringed at the weakness in my voice, but I couldn't help it. I was exhausted and in pain. I slowly pushed myself up on the cot, barely containing the grimace from the pain stemming from places I'd much prefer not to think about. I tilted my head to the side in what I hope looks like a respectful manner. I'd lost sight of what respectful and what the Dark Lord wants a long time ago.
I opened my mouth to speak, but he spoke first. "Draco, He wishes to see you." I blinked. That was rather uncommon. Throughout my entire time sentenced to this miserable existence in the dudgeon, I had only been requested in the Dark Lord's presence once. I nodded and pushed myself to my feet. I managed to stand without falling and was proud of myself, until he shoved some clothing and robes through the cracks of the bars into my arms, making me loose my balance. "You are to take a bath and put on these clothes." His lip curled up into a snarl. "You will not look like common filth. You are a Malfoy, and you will look like it."
I couldn't help but smirk at his request. Naturally, he would think about his legacy of the Malfoy name than the true well-being of his son. Touching, really. I nodded and made a small bow. My hair fell to cover the wince of the pain I felt break through my mask. Lucius nodded to two Death Eaters standing beside him and they opened the cell door for me, grabbing me by my arms and leading me towards the bathroom. My father was very specific when he had the Malfoy Manor built, I will give him that. Aside from the lower level dudgeons holding torture rooms (yes, plural) and cells, there was also a bathroom installed. It was installed shortly after I turned 6, so I could clean up properly after any discipline lessons.
The Death Eaters turned on the bathroom lights, blinding me for a moment from the florescent lights and mirrors. They flung me inside with a healthy shove, before shutting the door shut behind them. I could hear the lock turning, but I was beyond caring. I already knew from experience that this bathroom only had one exit: the doors just closed behind me. The clothes I dropped on the closed toilet lid, stripping my rags off with a scowl. I was already half afraid to look at myself, so I let my hands feel along my stomach where ribs are surprisingly hidden through my bruised skin.
I sighed softly before letting my hands take control over the bathtub knows – after all, they knew what they were doing. As the tub filled with water, I sat myself on the rim, staring down into the liquid depths of the tub. My mind was racing – why would the Dark Lord want to see me now of all times? I've had the bloody Dark Mark on my arm since I was 16, yet I'd only seen him enough times to count on my hands. Had I done something wrong? I couldn't think of anything I'd done differently recently. That question went dismissed. Had something happened in the outside world (amazing how captivity makes you think of even your home as the outside)? That was a rather distinct possibility. Something that he'd want my help on? That'd be wonderful. I'd be able to leave and do something more than sit on the cot!
With that happy thought in my mind, I turned off the facets and slide into the tub of warm water. It was a little too warm, burning the wound still unhealed on my side, but it felt so good. I moaned softly with pleasure, before I set about the task of cleaning off the dirt and blood from my body. I dunked my head in, reveling in the feel of my clumped hair freeing itself of the sunken in dirt. I smiled happily as I saw some shampoo and conditioner sitting alongside the tub. 'Aww, they don't like me smelling like something the cat dragged in,' I thought with a smile. After rinsing the conditioner out of my hair, I was quick to climb out. I laughed hollowly looking at the near black color the water now resembeled. I drew the plug, letting all the filth travel down into the pipes.
Grabbing the towel off the rack, I set about drying myself. I winced as I hit my side, but it was a good kind of pain this time. I was in a far better mood about everything at the moment – I had a bath! My thoughts took a downward turn as I thought that. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin Prince, and the blood rich git thinking that of a simple bath as a luxury was depressing.
I shook my hair, damp strands of platinum blonde hair sticking to my face, and looked at the clothes Lucius had shoved at me. My smile came back as I saw my favorite outfit. Though all the clothes were black, I could tell by the fabric and style it was what I liked. I took the boxers and put them on, slowly putting on the rest of the clothes. It felt so good to have the quality material against my skin once more. I took a look at myself in the mirror and smiled slightly at my results. True, my face was far paler than it had even been in the past, and I had lost quite a bit of weight, but I could actually see my reflection smiling back at me.
With small hesitancy, I put on the hooded robe of the Death Eaters. I was a Death Eater, but being in their company was something I couldn't bare very well. Everyone put me on edge these days, including him, though I rarely saw him. After getting myself prepared, I put my head up high. It took a lot more than I was used to – I could do it without thinking last time, but I had fallen a few pegs down in my mind from then. I walked to the door and knocked on it, letting them know I was ready.
The oak doors parted and the two Death Eaters outside the door once again grabbed my arms. They lead me back to where my father was waiting. He nodded approvingly at my appearance, before turning on his heel and heading up the staircase. I was forced to follow, struggling to swallow the lump in my throat. Lucius lead us down familiar pathways to his once-wonderful study. The imposing wooden doors were cast darker than I remembered them, and even more frightening. I stopped short right before the doorway, eyeing the door with fear. Lucius looked back at me, before he smirked cruelly. "You're right, Draco. It would be rude to walk in without knocking." His voice was cold, but there was some dark humor glinting in his eyes.
I swallowed down the growing lump in my throat, before I took his hidden hint. I walked up to the doors and raised my hand to knock. Before my hand hit the doorframe, they opened up widetoshowthe darkness within. "Come in, Draco. I've been expecting you." Lord Voldemort's voice hissed out at him through the shadows.
I barely suppressed a shudder as a cold chill overtook my body, before I obeyed his commands. My feet moved on their own accord into the room, my eyes watching their path. I vaguely heard the footsteps of the others walking into the room and the doors shutting with an ominous sound behind me. Surpressing another shiver, I walked towards the middle of the room, bowing down the way I was taught by my father. "Ah, very good. You have taught him well, Lucius."
I looked up through the hood, not daring to raise my head. I saw my father standing on his left side, his head held high in pride. "Thank you, my Lord." He bowed in appreciation of his praise. I took a glance over to Voldemort's right side, catching a gasp as I saw my godfather … ex-Potions Master of Hogwarts … Severus Snape. He caught my gaze and narrowed his eyes in a warning. Hastily, I looked back down at the ground, waiting to do his bidding.
"Now, Draco …." The snake-like voice of the Dark Lord hissed out to me. "There is much we need to discuss…"
A/N: I'm sorry about the time frame for the updating; things happened outside the wonderful computer world I needed to take care of. Also … I'm evil:) I couldn't help but leave this at this point. I had a small break-through in what I wanted to do with this story half-way into making it. They'll be more explanation (and hopefully action!) in the next chapter. Some stories help right themselves.
I also have a request to anyone reading: Would someone please be so kind as to help beta this story for me? (Puppy dog eyes) I'm reading this and wondering how it sounds to someone else and my grammar and finally decided to break down and puppy dog eye people for a beta. Please? Anyone? I'll … um … write a story dedicated to them!