Chapter 4: Deception (By: queenofthearts and Frostie)

Gabriel had always hated his family and his heritage. He had known in the back of his mind that what his mother and father were doing in their free time was horrible, but only when he had been placed in Ravenclaw did he realize how truly awful they were. He had found himself surrounded by students whose parents were Aurors, members of the Ministry of Magic, even Quidditch players, and his fellow students talked about their parents' occupations with pride. He, however, had nothing to be proud of. Even his little brother, Draco had already gotten caught up in that evil Malfoy tradition.

He was ashamed of himself as well. Not of who he was, but who he was expected to become. Gabriel Malfoy was expected to pledge his life to Lord Voldemort directly upon graduation from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Gabriel had been torn between trying to please his family and doing the right thing. What was he supposed to do? If he joined Lord Voldemort's follower's he would be forced to do unspeakable evils, things he could never forgive himself for! He, naturally, had his share of the infamous Malfoy temper, but he just couldn't bear the thought of actually killing anyone. He'd been in his share of fights at school, but he'd never entertained the thought of torturing other wizards and witches!

Gabriel knew what qualities the Malfoy's prized and he knew the sort of traits that he possessed… a controlling nature, a desire for power, calculating intelligence, and enough ruthlessness to make use of these skills in getting what he wanted. Perhaps it was because of these qualities he feared in himself and the fear of what he knew himself to be capable of, that Gabriel Lucius Malfoy chose to defy his family and do what he knew to be the right thing. The day after graduation, Gabriel joined Dumbledore and his band of followers. This decision, of course, had not been without consequences, consequences that still haunted Gabriel…consequences that manifested themselves in Gabriel's nightmares every night.

Gabriel woke with a start, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath! He had been plagued by the same dream now for many nights. It always started the same way; he was standing outside of Hogwarts in his graduation attire, surrounded by his friends and family. On the outside he appeared cheerful and proud, but on the inside he was trembling. Today was the day he had to inform his family on his decision about what he wanted to do with his life. He saw himself walking over to his family, who were standing somewhat apart from everyone else, and looking nervously from face to face.

His mother's face was calm and collected, almost cheerful looking. She was proud of her first-born son. He knew that she had high hopes for him, and yet he felt little guilt at the fact that in a few moments time, all of those hopes would be dashed.

Draco, his younger brother by six years, was leaning lazily against a tree waiting to hear his brother give the only possible answer he could, that he would be glad to join his father in following Lord Voldemort's noble cause. He was disinterested and paying little attention to what was going on around him. He seemed much more interested in watching a lazy caterpillar inching it's way across his palm before he picked it up between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed, then examined the oozy substance that had once been the unfortunate insects insides. Gabriel shuttered and turned his gaze to his father.

His father's face was stern and commanding as it always was. He looked at the boy with his steely gaze, as if daring him to challenge his plans for his son. Gabriel felt no guilt as all about smashing any hopes his father had for his future. In fact, Gabriel felt little guilt at all about anything unfortunate that might happen to his father. In all honesty, Gabriel hated him!

He loathed his father and all that he stood for! He resented the cruel, tyrannical way he ran their home! He despised the way he treated his family and most of all he loathed the way he always called him "boy," in that condescending tone, no matter how old he got or how hard he tried to please him! Gabriel could never please him! No matter what the young man did it was never good enough!

He felt scorned by his father, the person who should have shown him the most love! A father was supposed to play games with you and teach you to do little charms to make your life easier behind your mother's back. Father's were supposed to be your support when you lost a Quidditch match. Father's were supposed to console you when your first girlfriend left you for some other boy. Father's were supposed to pick you up when you fell down and teach how to be strong and how to become a man. Father's were supposed to love you, but did his father? All you had to do was look at the way he treated his younger son, Draco and you saw a mirror image of how he'd treated his older son.

Then the dream would progress. Gabriel would reveal his decision not to join Voldemort's Death Eaters. He left out the small detail that the next day he was going to join Albus Dumbledore and his followers, but the news that he wasn't going to follow in his father's footsteps was enough to infuriate the entire family!

His mother's face would slowly transform itself from the proud, nearly cheerful expression she had worn only a moment ago to one of dismay and disbelief. She stared at him bewildered and stunned. Then she looked at his father and simply burst into tears of anger and disappointment.

His brother had stared open mouthed for a few seconds, then his lips had pursed together in a look of pure disgust. He looked at Gabriel for a few moments, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed, his spiteful gaze burning into his brother. Gabriel expected him to say something, but the younger Malfoy simply turned on his heel and walked away to join some other boys his age, who were present for the graduation of their relatives.

Lucius Malfoy's reaction was quite different from that of his wife and youngest son. His face quickly transformed from stern and commanding to an expression of utter loathing for this creature before him! His breathing was suddenly shallow and his whole body trembled with rage! How dare this boy defy him? How dare he not lend his support to the noble cause of the Master? He grabbed Gabriel by the arm and pulled him roughly towards him. Gabriel let out a small yelp of pain, which was silenced by his father squeezing his arm even tighter. Then Lucius leaned in towards Gabriel, his steely eyes still burning with hatred, and spoke softly, but the lack of volume did nothing to decrease the clarity of the threatening implication given by the tone of the few words he uttered. "We will discuss this at home, boy."

The dream changed scenes yet again. Once the Malfoys got home, Lucius was even more furious than he had been at Hogwarts. Immediately he exploded at Gabriel. "Are we not good enough for you, boy!" Lucius walked forward and again grabbed Gabe by the arm. This time Gabe was ready and he drew his arm away, making his father even madder.

"You call following Voldemort a noble cause? Do you realize what you're doing!" he screamed. "Killing innocent people! Killing muggles and wizards and witches alike! And you call that noble?"

"You'll follow the path that has been set out for you, boy."

"You've never approved of anything I've done in the past seven years! Why should I do what you say? I don't think you realize that I'm free to do whatever I want now. I'm seventeen, aren't I?"

"You'll do no such thing."

"So what'll you do to stop me?" Gabe drew his wand unconsciously. "Kill your oldest son?"

"You put that thing away," Lucius said as he drew his own wand.

"Lucius! No!" Narcissa screamed as she stepped between her son and her husband. "Now you two stop all this arguing…"

"Tell your son to behave then! Tell him to follow the noble path!"

"How much has Voldemort blackmailed you, Dad?" Gabe asked, calming down a bit as he walked towards the stairs, wand still drawn.

"You be quiet."

"You don't know his style then, do you? You don't know that he honestly doesn't care for anyone but himself. Voldemort operates alone."

"I am a loyal follower!"

"Yes, follower you say…follower, not friend. He operates based on fear! There's no other way he'd be able to have so much power. People follow him in fear for their own lives, for the lives of their families, for their bank accounts even! I would have thought that you'd be able to figure that out by now."

"You stop talking back to me!"

"You won't have to worry about that much longer. I'm leaving this place. Dumbledore would accept me for who I am rather than who someone else says I should be."

"Dumbledore! He won't be able to protect you! He gives people false hope, and a noble cause…" Lucius sneered again, but Gabe didn't hear as he jumped up the stairs of the Malfoy mansion three at a time. Quickly he gathered up the few possessions that he wanted to keep from his room: his broom, his owl, and the schoolbooks that he had been studying in secret in order to eventually become a teacher for other younger witches and wizards. He piled what he could in his trunk, shouldered his broomstick, and walked down the stairs. His father glared at him, eyes stony.

Gabe took out his wand again. He said nothing to his parents and turned towards the door, heart breaking as he heard his mother began to sob behind him. He turned into the entryway and towards the door. The only person who got in his way was Draco. "You're too soft, Gabe," he taunted as he stepped in between his brother and the door. "Has Ravenclaw turned you after all these years? Mum and Dad aren't too happy, I'll bet. Not too happy at all."

"They know I'm leaving. Listen, Draco, I'm your older brother and you should really be paying me more respect," Gabe replied calmly. He wasn't about to let a little pest like Draco get in the way of him doing what was right by moving out. "Now get out of the way."

"No…I don't think so," Draco said as an evil grin passed over his face. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"Since when have you listened to anyone?" Gabriel's patience was dwindling. He slowly drew his wand. "Draco, get out of the way."

"You wouldn't dare," his brother sneered.

"Don't underestimate me. I'll do anything it takes to get out of here. Now move."

Finally, slowly but surely Draco stepped aside. Gabe stepped through the door, happy he had not had to use his wand to curse any of his family members. As he walked down the sidewalk, he heard Draco's voice yell, "Crucio!" from behind him and he fell to the ground as a searing pain ripped through his body. Fortunately, there was not yet enough malice behind the curse to do any extensive damage. He stood up, bracing himself against his trunk. He glanced back to see his little brother, only just completing his second year at Hogwarts still pointing his wand at Gabriel, a look of immense hatred in his eyes. "That's what'll happen, Gabe! That's just a taste of what the Dark Lord can do to traitors!"

Gabe looked up towards his brother, still standing on the top stair and started to slowly walk towards him. Once they were at the same level face-to-face, Gabriel towered over Draco by a full foot. "I have never considered myself in a league with Voldemort. And never will I ever want to join him. Which means…there is no way that I can betray him. Understand me?" Gabe gruffly grabbed Draco's robes and shook him slightly.

His eyes newly filled with fear, Draco nodded his head. "Good," Gabe said and let his brother go, turning his back on the life he had known for seventeen years…

Gabe woke with a start, reclined in one of his armchairs with the book he had been reading (Violations of Vampires by Cindy Murkside) holding his place as it sat face down on his chest. He checked the clock, knowing he couldn't have been asleep for long. Sure enough, it read 9:36. He had only drifted for fifteen minutes. But still, the dream had come back to him yet again, haunting his sleep. Draco brandishing that wand at him and using an Unforgivable Curse at the age of twelve years had haunted Gabe's memory ever since he left his home behind. Of course, now his family thought he had changed his ways…