Fearlessfreak - Bint is a British slang term for a woman. Let's just say it's not a compliment. I believe it is derived from the Arabic word for daughter.
Professor Snape lowered himself into the chair behind his desk but did not invite Draco to take a seat.
"That was quite a show you put on, Mr. Malfoy," the Potions master said dryly, "Whatever possessed you to threaten one of your housemates?"
Draco would not meet the professor's eyes. "It was just an argument that got out of hand, sir. It won't happen again."
"A lovers' quarrel?" inquired Snape, his tone mocking.
Draco scowled and continued to avoid Professor Snape's gaze, "Something like that, Professor."
Snape took a deep breath. He had not been looking forward to this conversation although he'd known for quite a while that he would have to have it. The boy was obviously not coping well with the events of the last several months.
"Mr. Malfoy, I expect you to look at me when I am speaking to you." Lazily he motioned to the chair opposite his own. "Sit. There are some things we need to discuss."
The blond teenager sank into the chair and glared at his Head of House. "What is it you wanted to talk about, sir?"
"Your abysmal attention to yourself and your responsibilities, Draco," Snape replied. "You are not keeping up with your classes. Several of your teachers have spoken to me about your lack of effort. You walk about looking half dead with great dark circles under your eyes. You ignore your prefect duties. As I understand it you have even skived off Quidditch practice. And today you threaten a girl from your own House – in front of the entire school no less! Explain yourself!"
"I already told you, sir," Draco explained, "Pansy and I just had a disagreement that got a bit heated."
"Do not toy with me, Draco. I am speaking of a larger issue. Explain why one of my best students has suddenly become an embarrassment to my House."
Straightening in his chair, Draco met the Potions professor's eyes and spoke with deadly calm.
"As I'm sure you are aware, sir, things have been difficult for my family since my father's incarceration."
"Yes," Snape said sadly, "I imagine your mother has had a hard time…"
Draco interrupted in a cold fury, "I doubt very much you've only imagined it, Professor. I expect every male in the Dark Lord's service is intimately familiar with the hard time my mother has been having."
Professor Snape stood suddenly and raised his hand as if to strike the boy sitting across from him. He seemed to gain control of himself at the last moment and returned his hand to the desktop. Leaning forward slightly he spoke quietly, carefully enunciating each word.
"It is unwise to speak of such matters at Hogwarts, Draco. However, I feel I must correct your assumption. While I cannot claim ignorance of her situation, my interactions with your mother have never been of the nature you are insinuating."
"You must be the only one. Even my aunt's husband has come to visit my mother, the bloody bastard. HOW LONG IS THIS TO GO ON? WHY IS HE DOING THIS?" Draco's voice was bitter and increasingly desperate.
Snape returned to his seat and looked at the angry young man with sympathy. How much of the truth could he tell him without causing him additional anguish? Draco had hero-worshipped his father almost since birth. Lucius' arrest had been very hard for the boy to swallow. The reasons for his mother's current torment would certainly cause Draco to become more disillusioned with his father. That in itself was not a terrible thing but Snape would have preferred not to be the one to deliver the blow.
"Draco, surely you have deduced the reason for the ill fortune that has beset your family in the last few months. The Dark Lord is punishing your father for his failure at the Ministry of Magic. It will continue until he is satisfied with the punishment. He spent months trying to lure Harry Potter to the Ministry and Lucius was the leader of the group sent to retrieve the prophecy that night. As you well know, the Dark Lord's plan was thwarted and the prophecy was destroyed. He does not forgive easily; it is unlikely that your mother's situation will change in the near future."
Draco stood and began to wander restlessly about the room. "Why is he punishing my mother for my father's mistake? She hasn't done anything to deserve what's happening to her! Surely the Dark Lord could get to my father if he wanted to!"
"Of course he could. There was no need for that. Narcissa is Lucius' greatest weakness."
Standing now next to shelves housing an incredible array of strange objects in jars, Draco snorted. "That's very sweet Professor but you don't have to tell me fairy tales. I have no illusions about my parents' feelings for one another. Love was not a factor in their marriage."
"Indeed not," Snape replied, "I am not telling you fairy tales, Draco, I am stating facts. Lucius wanted your mother from the first time he saw her. Not, as you pointed out, because he loved her but because she was beautiful, rich and pureblooded. He wanted her in the same way he wanted the finest robes or a top of the line broomstick." The Potions Master paused. "Your mother, however, would not accept him and her parents were unwilling to force her into a marriage she did not want. It was only with the assistance of the Dark Lord that he was able to persuade Narcissa to marry him."
"What sort of assistance?" Draco asked darkly.
Snape waved his hand noncommittally, "I'm sure you can imagine the sort of persuasion the Dark Lord would use on a reluctant bride."
"What sort of assistance?" he repeated.
Wearily Snape closed his eyes and massaged his temples as if these recollections caused his head to ache.
"Narcissa was in love with another man, Gideon Prewett. Gideon came from a respectable, although not wealthy, pureblood family and your mother's parents approved of him. Your father was obsessed with Narcissa, he could not bear another man laying hands on the woman he already considered his. Lucius knew that Narcissa would soon marry this other man if something was not done. He went to the Dark Lord, swearing his allegiance and begging for assistance in convincing your mother to marry him. He convinced the Dark Lord that a marriage between two wealthy purebloods would be beneficial, particularly when one was so devoted to the Dark Arts. They could produce heirs and raise them to serve the Dark Lord. Their combined fortunes and connections would be valuable in the war against mudbloods and blood traitors. Together Lucius and his master went to your mother's home. Gideon Prewett was there. Narcissa and her parents watched as the Dark Lord tortured him. Before Gideon was killed, Lucius cut off his hands and presented them to Narcissa. None but he would ever touch her, he proclaimed. She belonged to him and they would marry. The Dark Lord made clear that any refusal would guarantee their deaths in a manner worse than they had just witnessed. Of course, no refusal was made and your parents were married shortly thereafter."
For a moment, Draco just stared at his teacher. He could not remain still though; the anger boiling inside of him caused his whole body to tremble. His hands itched to damage something – anything. With a fierce guttural scream Draco cleared the shelves. As the jars rained down Draco turned and fled the room, leaving broken glass, spilt liquids and strange slimy things strewn across the floor.