Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or anything you recognize.
Author's Notes: This chapter's a bit long. It's the one I've been waiting to write for some time, and I had to finish it. I hope you like, please read and review.
"Hey dad look at me, Think back and talk to me, Did I grow up according to plan? And do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do?" Perfect, Simple Plan.
Chapter Six
Dementia
"Lucius, Lucius, stop!" Narcissa screeched, jumping to her feet as fast as she could.
Lucius rounded on her, ready to strike, "What did you say to me, woman?"
Narcissa's breathing was fast and out of control. She wheezed slightly, out of breath and in pain from the fall. All her mind was focused on stopping him, stopping her husband from killing their son. Her son lay on the floor, as pale as he had ever been. His eyes were shut and his face was screwed up in pain. Sweat coming from his face was the only sign he was alive other than his shallow, almost nonexistent, breathing.
"Please, please, don't hurt him Lucius, he's your son, he'll die, please," Narcissa said, actual tears streaming down her face.
Lucius looked coldly at his wife. He was confused and slightly amused at Narcissa's display of emotion. Not once had he ever truly caught her crying, out of control of her emotions, unable to display properly the lack of them. Lucius settled for a brief moment of laughter.
"You are weak, Narcissa, it's pathetic. I will allow you this request, but do not question me again," Lucius said firmly.
Narcissa nodded, managing to say between her sobs, "Thank you, thank you."
Lucius strode past his wife as she moved slightly to allow him out the doorway. Immediately afterward she fell to the floor at Draco's side. Seconds later Theodora appeared.
"Help me put him on the bed," Narcissa said, knowing the house elf would be able to perform the talk more gently than she could.
Theodora nodded and used her gentle form of magic to lift Draco to his bed. Wiping away any remains of her tears, Narcissa rose and went to Draco's side, a numb disbelief taking root in her. She saw Draco's condition declining before her eyes, and quickly cast all healing spells she could think of.
There must be something else I could do, Narcissa thought. Then two dark eyes flashed in her mind, Severus. Quickly conjuring a quill, ink, and parchment, she wrote a letter asking for Severus's help. After all, hadn't he been mentioning that new potion he was creating in preparation for finals, the strong healing one? She prayed that it would work, and that Severus would help her…
Severus sat at his desk in his private study. Unable, for the first time since his teenage years, to clear his mind and focus on what the task at hand. He had been trying nonstop to get the Malfoys out of his mind. He tried to concentrate on his essay for his Advanced Potions class, it was his senior year after all, and he needed top marks. But nothing he did had yet to been able to get his godson or his godson's parents off his mind. Frustrated, Severus lashed out at his desk, slamming his fists down upon it.
It was but moments later did a dark brown owl with tiny flecks of grey over it's body appear in his study as well, a letter attached to it's feet. Recognizing the owl as Narcissa's he quickly opened it, while thinking sarcastically, Just what I need.
Quickly reading the letter, he realized that Draco was going to die. Or he would, if Severus did not interfere. Frustrated and angry, he knew what he would have to do. He'd have to sacrifice his final project for his godson. There was no way around it. He knew he'd never live it down to watch as the poor boy died, especially when he had promised Narcissa years ago, when the abuse had started, that he would do what he could to protect the boy.
Rising and taking great strides to the basement where his potions lab was located, Severus found what he was looking for, his prize potion. Sadly, he knew he'd never be able to make another in time. Any potion, he realized, he would not be able to make in time, and his final exam would suffer a failure. Cursing, Severus bottled it up, having had just enough potion for one vial. With a grimace, he left his home behind.
Narcissa waited nervously for a response to her letter to Severus. Able to keep her son on the edge of life, she knew the task ahead would be difficult. Unable to leave Draco's side, she gave the house elf permission to allow Severus entry to their well guarded home. Theodora quickly alerted the guard elf, who allowed visitors entry, so as the Malfoys would not have to constantly be bothered to get their guests past all the precautions.
Soon Severus was at her side, and she had the strong urge to throw her arms around his neck in relief. "Severus, thank you so much for coming, I know what this means to you," Narcissa said, as Severus's well guarded face examined Draco.
"I had to do it," he said quietly yet his voice was still plain yet guarded.
Severus set to work at administering the potion properly, and soon the vial had been drained. In seconds Draco's condition seemed to become better.
"Thank you so much Severus," Narcissa said.
Severus nodded, "He should be better anywhere from a day to a week from now."
"I suppose we shall be seeing you then, Friday?" Narcissa asked.
He nodded, before saying, as though from a distance, "Goodbye Narcissa."
"Goodbye, Severus," Narcissa replied.
Narcissa hardly left her son's side over the next few hours, which soon became a day. By Wednesday evening, Draco's fever had went down, and he was awake and alert to his surroundings. Narcissa thanked whatever god or goddess had made the progress so fast, and whichever one had sent her Severus. By Thursday, Draco was as healthy (if not more so) than he ever was, up and about the house. Lucius had been in fairly high spirits after the incident, and only got angry at Draco once, having caught him running through the halls. He had hit him then, leaving a bruise above his eye, but it was minor. Draco ate dinner with them Thursday, and Lucius gave him a stern talking to about how he should behave the following day…
It was a cold, December day when the little girl with long, straight black hair stood at her father's side outside a huge and unfamiliar mansion. Not even reaching her father's waist she stood uncomfortable in her dark violet dress and warm overrobe and coat.
Standing together, the six figures looked like a dreary gothic portrait. The small girl who couldn't possibly be any older than five was the only one who even appeared to have any life to her. She looked down, shuffling snow between her shoes as they awaited to be greeted.
Soon enough a small figure appeared at the gate, dressed in a white cloth. His pointed face and large eyes appeared formal and well-to-do, somehow, despite his lack of clothes. He opened the gate, apologizing for having to make them wait.
The girl's father just had a look of disgust on his face as his only reply was a nod, his brown hair almost falling over dark brown eyes. He pulled a little on his daughter's arm, before releasing it, as they made their way to the looming mansion. The house elf opened the door and announced the visitor's presence. The little girl's grey eyes rose and met another's grey eyes.
The boy had blond hair that seemed a bit long to her, and it was so pale it seemed almost to be white. But it wasn't as pale as the tall man that stood beside him. The boy resembled the man a good deal, same eyes, same strong features, but the boy's were softer. Glancing to the next figure, she spotted a fine looking woman in an elegant blue dress, who's appearance was obviously the reason for the boy's softer sides. She had beautiful blue eyes, the same shade as the dress she wore.
Another man appeared, stepping from the shadows to stand behind the boy, next to the boy's father. He had dark eyes, and even darker hair. His nose was a bit long, and somewhat crooked from some sort of abuse taken to it. The girl's eyes lit up, recognizing the man instantly.
"Uncle Severus!" the girl cried.
The man smiled a solemn smile that didn't reach his eyes. "What did I say about being rude?" the man standing beside her said. She looked up into his angry face, he was displeased, she always seemed to do that to him, but she couldn't help but smile. It seemed as though it had been a long time since she had seen the man. She knew that he had come to visit, but she had been grounded to her room at the time. "Sorry father," she said.
"Hello, Severus," the man said, grudgingly. "I trust you've been well since your last visit?"
"I have, as I hope have you?"
"I too," the man agreed. "Lucius, it's been too long, friend."
"Yes, Frank it has," Lucius said. "This is my son Draco, and you've met my wife, Narcissa."
"Good to see you again Narcissa. Hello, Draco. Where are my manners?" he said. "This is my new wife, Helen, and her two sons and daughter," Frank said, in a much more friendly tone.
The woman standing beside her had a deep auburn colored hair with light brown eyes. She smiled warmly, and indicated to the tallest boy, who looked to be (and was) thirteen years old. He had dark brown hair, that looked like his a good deal like her mothers without the red tint. "This is my eldest, Thomas."
"Nice to meet you," Thomas said.
Then she indicated to the second boy, who was a good bit shorter than his brother, and looked to be only eleven. He had light brown hair, and light brown eyes like his mother's, "This is Jason."
"Hello," Jason greeted.
Then she put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, who was a good deal taller than Frank's child. She had dark brown hair, similar to her older brother's, and had an air of superiority to her. She was about ten in years. "This is my daughter, Regina."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Regina said.
Draco looked at Regina. Her smile seemed overly exaggerated and her eyes seemed to be too sharp. She appeared to be conniving, and there was something he didn't trust about the gleam in her eye, he instantly didn't like her.
"This is my daughter, Dementia," Frank said with an air of what would appear to be dignified pride, but lacked a certain something that Draco couldn't quite place.
"It's nice to meet, you," Dementia said, sounding almost shy, with a large smile, as though she was the only one, other than her father, who had meant what she said.
"It's good to see you Frank, we have much catching up to do," Lucius said. "Perhaps the children should go out and enjoy the winter season, perhaps go out to the stables to have a ride?"
"That seems good to me, any objections?" Frank said, looking over his children. No one said anything. Dementia appeared to be interested in the idea, and somewhat excited. Thomas looked dignified standing straight up, but his face was unreadable as to whether or not he cared if they rode, perhaps he really didn't. Jason looked kind of interested, but wiped the look of his face, to look more like his older brother. Regina looked as though she absolutely despised the idea, but forced a smile. "Good."
"Draco, please show our guests to the stables while your mother, Severus and I talk to Frank and Helen," Lucius said, giving him a look as though to say not to screw this up.
"Yes, father," Draco said, quietly, just loud enough for those around him now to hear.
Draco started walking to the door, saying, "Follow me."
Slowly the four other children turned to follow the little boy outside, and then out the door. After the five of them disappeared onto the snow covered grounds, Lucius smiled.
"Now, you must tell me how the move has been coming," Lucius said. He began leading the five of them off, when Narcissa, as she was supposed to do, suggested that her and Helen get to know each other better, leaving the three men alone. The two of them made their way into another sitting area, where soon drinks and food arrived for them as well.
"It's been going quite well. I'm glad the ministry is finally convinced I deserve to be back in my home. America is a fine place, but it isn't like Britain. I'm glad that our children will be attending Hogwarts. I was tempted, at first, to send the boys to Durmstrang. Good, firm school that is…and that fool Albus being headmaster here and whatnot, I was uncertain. The man tends to be rather foolish at times," Frank said, drinking now from his butterbeer.
"Yes, I know what you mean. I had half a mind on sending Draco there as well, but Narcissa absolutely insists that I send Draco to Hogwarts, it being closer and all. She hates being too far from the boy, you know mothers."
"Yes," Frank said.
The conversation continued on. Severus had made no input on it so far. Frank was perfectly happy with this arrangement. He preferred it that way, able to ignore his younger half brother. When the boys were young, perhaps the age of Draco now, Frank and Severus had been close friends, unaware that their bloodlines differed. Whereas Frank was a pureblood, Severus's father was a muggle. Frank had lived with his father, and out of pity he had allowed Eileen to see her son.
Eileen had not wanted to live the pureblood life. She detested it, and had a fascination with muggles. Of course, she had been pressured a lot to marry a pureblood man, named Henry Thorn. She didn't love him and had no wish to marry him. However, on her seventeenth birthday, lingering on her last few years as an acceptable unmarried woman (purebloods were often married off right after leaving school), her mother fell ill. Pressured from her father, and her friends, she agreed to marry him.
At the last moment, she backed out. She could not stand marrying a man she cared not for. With her mother ill and unable to handle any stress, she felt guilty, as though she herself had caused it. She agreed to continue on her pureblood line, and then leave the family. She had a child by Henry, the man who now sat before Lucius.
Henry had allowed his son to visit on weekends. When Frank discovered that Severus was a halfblood, nearing the age of eight, he pulled away from him, and began despising him. However, on his mother's request, he remained civil with him, though he stopped the visits the year he entered Hogwarts. When he had his child, in Eileen's last years of life, when Severus was twenty and Frank was twenty six, Frank agreed to allow Severus and his mother to visit his daughter. Dementia's mother had died during childbirth, and no one talked of her. Frank avoided the subject at all costs, and few really knew who the mother was, though the most commonly accepted rumor was that she was a French girl, who had insisted on remaining with her family during the pregnancy. Severus began to enjoy the company of his niece, and after Eileen's death, Frank knew better than to take away Dementia from him. Severus knew things that could have Frank sent to Azkaban. Grudgingly, he allowed his half brother to visit, and to his great displeasure, his daughter had grown attached to him.
"Severus, you've been quiet today, what happened concerning your final exam?" Lucius asked.
"It turns out that Narcissa explained to Albus that I had used the potion for a sick Draco, and he told my professor at university. I get to do a make up exam."
"That's very good," Lucius said.
"What luck," Frank said, an undertone of some dark disapointment that it had turned out the way it did.
"Yes," Severus said. It is going to be a long day, Severus thought, not for the first time that morning.
Meanwhile, Draco, Dementia, Thomas, Jason, and Regina made their way through the cold to the stables. Draco and Dementia walked quietly, beside each other, Dementia on his right, through the snow, heading up the line while Thomas and Jason followed and Regina tailed behind them at the end of the line.
"I hate this weather, it's too cold!" Regina complained, scrunching up her nose in distaste and pulling her coat closer to her chest.
"Live with it," Jason said.
"What do you think I'm doing!" Regina shot.
"Grumbling, complaining, whining, and thoroughly annoying the rest of us," Tom drawled.
"Shut it, Tom," Regina snapped. "Who talks like that?"
"People with brains, sister," Tom said.
As the three of them argued, Draco and Dementia began talking to each other.
"Your house is nice, is it fun living there?" Dementia asked, their voices quieter than those behind them.
Draco thought of what to say to that. He wasn't much used to conversation with anyone, let alone anyone his own age. Dementia was the first person he'd ever met that was his age. "I don't think it's fun…it's ok, I guess."
"What happened to your head?" Dementia said, indicating the bruise above his left brow.
" Nothing," Draco said quickly, too quickly. Dementia gave him a look, one eyebrow raised. "I mean, I was just running through the halls, and ran into something. I was stupid." He half told the truth, hoping it sounded believable.
It was hard to tell whether or not Dementia had believed him, as she looked deep in thought. "Does your dad ever get mad?"
Draco gave her a look at the sudden change of conversation. He didn't like this one bit. "Uh…not a lot, why?"
"Well…sometimes…you know, when dad gets mad, he gets a little out of hand, like when I get caught running through the house…he hits me sometimes…without thinking about it…so I was just wondering," Dementia said pausing here and there, though not uncomfortably.
Draco could feel his face getting red, becoming warm, contrary to the cold outside. He felt a little uncomfortable. He didn't like this line of questioning, and he wondered how much trouble he would get in for Dementia discovering his secret.
Before he could say anything to break the silence, Dementia continued, "I suppose not. I thought it was normal, but maybe not…" Dementia appeared to be thinking again as silence surrounded them again, though the three siblings could be heard in the background, still bickering.
"Well, yeah, I guess he gets angry. But it's ok," Draco said, quickly.
"Oh," Dementia said. "Do you like quidditch?"
Draco enthusiastically changed the conversation, and soon they were in a playful discussion about what brooms were better, and what team seemed the best, and what games they had seen and how stupid quadpot was. The conversation changed again, and they were in another discussion.
"No, no, viper pops are worse! There horrible!" Draco said.
"No, it's Bertie Botts. There fun to eat, but they can be absolutely horrible," Dementia said.
"But there are some good ones - "
"Exactly, so you never know what you're getting. At least with viper pops you know what you're getting!" Dementia said.
They laughed some. "Hey shut up, Dementia, you're too loud!" Jason exclaimed.
"I'm too loud, you're the one who's been arguing the whole way up here," Dementia said.
"At least our conversation was intelligent," Tom said.
"Coming from an idiot!" Dementia exclaimed in mock shock.
"Hey," Tom said, his voice getting dangerously lower than normal. "Say that to my face."
"Ok," Dementia stopped and turned around. "Since you didn't get it the first time, you're. An. Idiot," she said slowly at the last part.
Tom was angry and went to hit her, but Dementia was too quick and stepped back. "Run!" Dementia exclaimed, and Draco grabbed her hand and spun her around, as he ran, leading the way to the stables.
Tom, Jason and Regina had the longer leg advantage, but Draco and Dementia were well accustomed to running, and being only five, they were gifted with boundless energy. He ran, holding her hand the whole way as they ran faster and faster, each simply trying to manage keep up with the other.
By the time they reached the stables, the other three were a good bit behind.
Dementia approached a saddle, and swung it onto the horse as best she could, then turning and saying to Draco, "Come on!"
She had only ridden a horse once or twice before, and she had never had to saddle the thing. Draco looked at her incredulously. "Are you kidding, we'll get in tons of trouble for leaving them behind, and running off with the horses!"
"Do you do everything you're told? All I know is I don't want to be here when they get here! Come on, where's your sense of adventure!" the small girl said, a smile lighting up her face.
"Alright, alright," Draco said, running over to her and helping her put the saddle on right, and then going to his own horse, that was only for his use, and saddling him, too. Dementia had a girl horse, and she had to have Draco help her on, and then she helped Draco, almost falling off of her horse.
Less than fifteen yards from the barn, Tom, Regina, and Jason were quickly approaching. Dementia said frantically, "Come on!"
They charged out of the stable, nearly trampling the three older children, as they jumped out of the way just in time. Draco was ahead, showing Dementia the way, as she struggled to keep up with him, leaving the protesting, angry kids behind. Freezing cold wind whipped their faces, shocking them and exhilarating them, too.
They were a good deal away from the stables when they reached the woods, taking an easy path to follow, slowing down. They began to laugh from relief and excitement.
"That," Draco said between laughs, "has to be the dumbest thing I've ever done! Did you see the looks on their faces?"
"Yeah" Dementia laughed, then imitated their looks of shock and horror. They laughed some more. Draco's sides began to hurt.
They were talking for a good amount of time when the faint sound of hooves could be heard. They stopped and looked at each other, a little fear showing.
"You don't think -" Dementia said.
"It couldn't be - " Draco said.
The sound became louder and louder, and through the gaps in the leafless trees, three horses with riders abroad could be seen.
"It is," Dementia said, as they both took off, taking the horses at a run.
They were going fast, but the others were catching up. Urging to get the horses to go faster, suddenly a deer jumped onto the path. Both horses reared, knocking the riders into a snow bank, before they took off running again.
"Not good," Dementia said.
Fear welled up in Draco. He couldn't lose the horses! He couldn't!
"Will they come back?" Dementia asked.
"Yeah, probably," Draco said.
The horses would find their way back. With their saddles on, they were magically kept warm. His father, however, would be furious that Draco had been so careless, and so rude. Scurrying as far off the path as possible, Draco and Dementia just barely escaped being trampled by the three horses.
The two boys were laughing at them, and the girl, looking a good deal rattled by the whole thing, jumped off her horse before she joined in.
"Who's the idiots, now?" Tom asked.
"We were coming out to teach you a lesson, but I think we'll just leave you to it now, have fun on the walk back," Jason said.
"Come on Regina," Tom said, and Regina got onto her horse, struggling because of her height and dress.
They galloped away, back toward the house, leaving the two young children alone in the woods. "This isn't good," Dementia said.
"No, really?" Draco said, his voice a little higher than normal. Silence followed this response.
He was terrified of his father's reaction to what had all just happened. He wished that Dementia and them would never leave. Certainly his, or their, fathers wouldn't punish them until they were apart, not more than a yelling to or stern talking to for now. It was when they left that the real punishment would begin.
"Well, we better head back," Dementia said, and they started heading back to the manor.
Dementia began talking as though nothing had happened, but when Draco didn't respond, Dementia looked at him, "What's wrong?"
Draco looked at her incredulously, "What's wrong? We just lost two horses, ran off into the woods, almost trampled your brothers and sister, disobeyed our fathers and you want to know what's wrong? Aren't you afraid of how they're going to react?"
Dementia appeared to be thinking, "They'll be angry."
"Yes, yes, they'll be angry," Draco said.
"So?" Dementia asked.
"So? What do they do when they get angry?" Draco asked, shocked that she didn't seem to realize the situation they were in.
"Punish us," Dementia said simply.
"And you're not afraid of that?" Draco said, his voice almost a whisper.
"They would do it anyway. I can't live my life in fear, it'll hurt, but at least I had some fun this time."
Draco was quiet after that. He was stunned at her response, and her bravery. She was right. Draco feared his father, but despite what had happened today, he would have found a reason to punish him. And he'd had fun, the most fun he could ever remember having in his life. He couldn't live in fear of what his father would do. Of course, fear would be there, but he couldn't let that fear control everything he did. He'd suffer, but he'd survive. He wanted to live, to really live, for the first time in his memory. To live his life, not his father's, not to be a character in his father's book, but the main one in his own. He smiled.
"Yeah, it was fun," Draco said.
They talked, though not as enthusiastically as before. It was dark by the time they left the woods, and Draco and Dementia followed the path very carefully and very slowly so as to not get lost. Timidly, they both entered the manor.
Their fathers were instantly alerted when they reached the doorstep. The house elves took their slightly wet coats and outer layers, until Draco was in his pants and shirt alone and Dementia was in her dress. When that was done, their fathers, Narcissa, Helen, and Jason, Tom, and Regina appeared to greet them. It was not a happy greeting.
Lucius and Frank looked outraged. Narcissa simply looked worried and relieved at the same time, while Helen looked disgusted at her stepdaughter. Tom and Jason looked smug, and Regina was smirking at them.
"What, pray tell, do you think you were doing young lady?" Frank said, his voice strained in an attempt to keep in control.
"I…I'm sorry father, there was no excuse for my behavior," Dementia said softly. Draco looked at her, he could see the fear now. They were standing close, Dementia's hands were held behind her back. He reached back out of instinct and grabbed one, squeezing it in reassurance that it was all ok.
"And you, don't think you're are exempt from blame, young man. What do you think you were doing, just gallivanting off into the woods without any supervision, and being incredibly rude to our guests, I thought I taught you better than that," Lucius said.
At first Draco thought that he would be unable to respond, as he normally was, but he found his own voice replying, "I'm truly sorry father. I was foolish, and stupid."
"You bet you were," Lucius said, his voice threatening to become a growl.
"I think," Frank said as though he had an idea, "That it be best if they were separated. I think we'd best move back to America, as we discussed after hearing of their little escapade."
Draco and Dementia looked horrified at one another. Draco dropped her hand.
"Father - " he said in protest, before he realized it.
"Be quiet, boy, your opinion is not welcome," Lucius said, reprimanding him.
"Dad, please," Dementia said.
"No, I think it best. I'm sorry Lucius, I hope to keep in touch with you, but until my daughter has learned some respect for my authority, I believe it best that she be separated from your son. Things cannot continue on like this, and we do not need them influencing each other to be so foolish."
"You're right, friend," Lucius said. "Say goodbye to Dementia, it is the last time you will be seeing her."
Draco's voice was caught in his throat at first. How could everything have gone so terribly wrong? He wondered. Finally he was able to choke out, "Goodbye, Dementia."
"Goodbye," she said quietly. Then, unexpectedly, neither was sure who initiated it, perhaps they both had, they hugged. Dementia's head away from other' view, she whispered, "Write me."
Barely moving his lips, "I will."
They let go. "You are to have absolutely no contact with each other, is that understood?" Frank asked.
They nodded. "You will be punished severely if we find any evidence to the contrary, you get that, don't you?" Lucius continued.
"Yes, father," Draco said.
"Yes, sir," Dementia said quietly.
"Now, it's time we leave," Frank said. "I'm truly sorry it turned out this way, Lucius, until we meet again."
"Until we meet again," Lucius said.
Helen and the three made their way to leave first, the houselves having hung their coats by the door. All three gave Dementia a look of triumph before leaving. Her father turned her around, and put a hand on her back, guiding her out sternly, "Come on."
She turned and grey eyes met grey eyes. Both seemed pleading and lost a little. "Bye, Draco."
"Bye, Dementia."
Author's Final Note: I hope you like this. It won't be the last time you see Dementia, as you'll soon find out, though time changes people. Please review, what's left of my sanity is depending on it!