Chapter 3

The Siesta

Draco Malfoy was in pain. He writhed and tossed in his sleep. His eyes snapped open as he felt a sharp pain in his head. He gasped and fell out of his bed. He had been taking an afternoon nap, a siesta of sorts, but had abruptly started feeling pain. He grabbed the edge of his big bed, pale shaking hands grasping the black silk sheets. With a tremendous effort, he pulled himself up and with the aid of his nightstand and dresser, made his way to the full-length mirror that hung behind his door.

Ice blue eyes looked back, slightly dulled by pain. His white-blonde hair was hanging limply and slightly damp with perspiration. He searched his reflection, frantically looking for any visual sign of his pain; he found nothing but pale, sweaty skin. He pulled open his door and leant against the doorjamb, waiting for his head and vision to clear again. He pushed off from the doorway and started to stumble down the hallway. Somewhere, he knew, in the vast Malfoy Manor, was his mother. His mother would help him, get him to the hospital. He cried out. He couldn't keep his balance any more and fell to his knees. He gave one final cry before he passed out.

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On the first floor of the Malfoy Manor there was a sitting room that belonged to the woman of the house alone. Unlike the rest of the house, the sitting room was done is soft pastel colors, with no mention of the Dark Arts anywhere. Lucius had given her this room has a wedding gift and she had enjoyed decorating it. The rest of the house, on her husband's orders, was furnished in black, green, and silver.

Narcissa sighed and continued reading her book. Ever since Lucius had been cleared of all charges (i.e.: he gave a lot of money to the right people), he had been in and out of the house, constantly coming from and going to meetings with other Death Eaters. She had thought after her husband's disastrous visit to the Ministry, He would be furious. 'I guess Lucius is just trying to make amends,' she thought with a smirk.

She didn't know and she didn't care. When her husband was out of the house, Narcissa was free to read her romance novels that Lucius so despised. 'They're just a waste a time,' he says. 'Stupid books to amuse simple minds.' She frowned as she thought this. 'I hate how he treats me like a child, like I was no older than Draco!' So, when Lucius was away, she was free to read; but when he was home she was forced to conceal the books has harmless old cookbooks.

She was just about to read how the count was to sneak his new love into his house when she heard it. A slight noise coming from upstairs. She stared up at the ceiling then out into the hallway, listening intently. When she heard nothing, she shrugged and wrote it off as her imagination. The only other person in the house, besides those house elves, was Draco and he wouldn't be up from his nap so soon. She had barely read three words, when she heard it again. This time she was sure she heard it.

She set her book down and cautiously went out to the stairway. 'Damn it!' she thought, 'I left my wand back in their.' She looked back at her sitting room and debated on whether or not to go back and get it. She decided against, reasoning that when she got to Draco, he could use his. She continued up the stairs and when she reached the landing she gasped in shock. A crumpled figure was in the middle of the hallway and the head of white-blonde hair could only mean that it was…

"Draco!" Narcissa ran to he son and knelt down. "Son! Wake up! What's wrong!" She laid a cool pale hand onto Draco's flushed forehead. "You're burning up! I have to get you to the hospital!" She looked around and noticed for the first time how empty the manor was. "Where's you father when we need him!" she snapped.

She stood up and bent down to gingerly gather her son in her arms. She'd have to get him to the hospital quick; she wasn't very strong and she couldn't hold her son for much longer. She held him closely to her and apparated.

The Manor was dark and empty when Lucius Malfoy cam home hat night.