Disclaimer: Now that would be interesting…me owning Harry Potter…that'll be the day.
Disclaim her: Another voice inside my head? The more the merrier.
Note: Again, there is a lot of out-of-character crud going on.
Out of character currently with: Draco, Lucius, Voldemort, and Harry.
"speech" 'thoughts' /Draco's thoughts/
If you reviewed, thank you.
Chapter 6: Remembering the lost remembering
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How nice it would be if all that you had previously believed was a dream, Draco thought to himself as he went downstairs after dressing in his robes. His father had gotten up before him, as usual, but he couldn't have gotten up much earlier because space that he had been laying in was still somewhat warm.
He felt a little better than he had yesterday and not as tired. Maybe he had just been imagining things like his father had said. How could he have gotten poisoned, the very thought was ridiculous. He had acted like an idiot telling his father that he had thought he had. He really was stupid. Poisoned. How idiotic.
Draco went down the stairs and found Lucius in the dining room having tea and reading the Daily Prophet. He sat down on his father's right and took a piece of toast from the stack that was sitting on the table.
"Good morning, father."
Lucius glanced up and tilted his head to the side acknowledging him.
"Father, about what I told you earlier…" Draco paused as he saw his father stiffen. "I was being stupid. You were probably right, I most likely have a cold from not getting out of the clothes I was wearing yesterday."
"Either way Draco, we're still going to see a medi-wizard later today just to make sure you're not going to develop anything more than a cold." Lucius was back reading the newspaper.
"Yes, father."
"Oh, you haven't seen the paper yet, have you?" Lucius looked up again with a malicious smile on his face.
"No, I haven't. Why? What happened?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Take a look for yourself." Lucius' smile became even wider as he handed his son the newspaper.
"But-" Draco gasped as he saw what was on the front page. "On June sixteenth, at the train station of King's Cross, London, Harry Potter was seen leaving the station with an unidentified man who witnesses claim "looked familiar." Other witnesses stated that it appeared that Mr. Potter had gone willingly with the man. This suggests that the young man was under the control of the Imperius Curse, which is also known as one of the Unforgivables.
Usually when Mr. Potter leaves the train he is put in the care of his aunt and uncle but after asking them where they thought the boy had gone, they claimed to have absolutely no knowledge of ever having met anyone named Harry Potter. After further questioning, they still said the same thing. This gives no leads to where the boy might have gone.
Mr. Potter's whereabouts are currently unknown and he is presumed missing. If you have any information of where this boy might be or the man Mr. Potter was seen leaving with, send your information to -" Draco looked up from where he had been reading to turn shocked eyes at his father who had a vicious smile plastered upon his features.
"You know who they're speaking of, don't you Draco?"
"Isn't it-"
"Yes, isn't the Light going to be positively furious?"
"But why didn't Potter know that they were going to find out about this…relationship he has with the Dark Lord?"
"Are you dense? He did this on purpose. It was done just to show that the Light truly is weak if they couldn't even prevent their savior from disappearing from right under their noses in the middle of a crowded train station for goodness sakes."
"Won't they be searching for him now?"
"He returned to them today, just to show them that he's with the Dark side now. They abandoned the plan that I'm sure Harry told you of earlier. It's useless considering the fact that they're going to do a frontal assault now.
"…What?"
"I know you heard me. Oh and yes, that means that I will be going to participate in the slaughter of some of the Light. And, as a change of plans, you will be coming with us this time." Lucius looked at Draco who appeared utterly stunned.
"…Me?" Draco breathed out.
"Yes and right before your birthday. Isn't that just lovely?"
"Oh…my birthday…" Draco dug his nails into his palm under the table at the sudden unwanted reminder. "I'm…going to be…eighteen…" He felt like slamming his head onto the tabletop. How could he have forgotten?
"Yes, and that is a landmark day, for you will be able to do magic without the Ministry hounding over you anymore."
"Father…this year…I don't want to have any guests or a party or anything. Can we just not make this a big deal even if it is my eighteenth birthday?" The nails dug deeper, almost coming to the point where blood would be drawn.
"Hm? Whatever you want, I didn't want to have guests either." Lucius said turning back to his newspaper.
"Really?"
"Yes. The only reason we ever had those events was because she wanted to."
" Are you serious?" He glanced at his father who smirked and Draco looked down hastily. Every time his father looked at him it made his insides do summersaults. "I would…like a cake though." Draco mumbled as he felt his face turn hot.
"That's fine. What kind?"
"Um…chocolate maybe?"
"I'll tell the house elves." Lucius turned a page in the paper and took a sip of tea. "Draco?" The older blond set down his teacup and brushed back a lock of hair while he continued to read.
"What…do you want for your birthday?"
Draco's head shot up, as he had just been about to start eating oatmeal. "Why are you asking?"
"I want to get something for you that you'll like."
"I already have everything I could need."
"Really?" Lucius was still looking at the paper but he had stopped reading.
"Yes." The younger Malfoy resumed eating his meal.
"Are you still dating that girl Pansey?"
Draco paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth at the abrupt change of subject. "No, because I never started dating her to begin with. Mother wanted us to, but we never did. Besides, she smelled like fish." The blond looked at Lucius who gave him the impression that he was amused even though he didn't seem to be listening to him.
"Did she now?"
"Yes." The younger Malfoy had the feeling that his face looked exactly like a tomato at that particular moment.
"Did you ever like her?"
"No."
"Well, that's good, because I wasn't ever going to let you marry her anyways."
"Wha-? Why?"
"No one is ever going to take away what is rightfully mine." The spoon that Draco had been holding clattered as it hit the tabletop. The blond boy stared at Lucius who merely gave him a sideway glance. The younger Malfoy's gaze turned to the tabletop as he felt himself turn crimson again.
"You look like such a child when you blush." The blond thought he was going to die from embarrassment. "It reminds of when you were younger."
"…Why?"
"You were such a striking child then, just like you are now. Now, though, I think you've just gotten even more beautiful."
"Um…thank you?"
Lucius chuckled pleasantly. "Come here."
"All right." Draco pushed back his chair and went to his father's side. Lucius tugged him over the side of the chair and Draco was made to sit in his father's lap.
"Father-" It was a wonder he could get any redder.
"Just…don't say anything." Lucius draped his arms around his son's middle and leaned back in the chair, shutting his eyes halfway.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is the matter."
The two Malfoy men sat in that manner for a point and there was no sound except breathing until there was a thunderous slam in what seemed to be the hallway. Draco immediately sat up and was about move when Lucius held him securely in place.
"He's angry."
"Him!"
"Yes. I only hope He didn't break the front doors as He came so close to doing last time."
"What happened last time! Wait, what was last time?"
"He and Harry got into a fight during the school year." Lucius did not elaborate but held his son close to him.
"LUCIUS!" The yell was close to them and Lucius made no move to stir.
There were another few moments of silence until the Dark Lord in all his furious glory burst into the dining room panting. Draco curled into a protective ball in his father's lap, afraid of what the Dark Lord was going to do.
"Lucius!"
"Yes my Lord?"
"Why did you not answer me when I called you a moment ago?"
"When you yelled?"
"Yes!"
"I will not have this conversation with you again my Lord! You need to control your temper." The red-eyed man stood silenced and panting for a few moments when a soft sound, as if something was being pulled across the floor was heard out in the front hallway, which was odd because if you were to slide something across the floor, it shouldn't have been so loud. The sound should have only been heard in the room in which it was happening.
The sound continued and a Basilisk appeared in range a few minutes later. It had slight markings around the eyes and had scales of the darkest ebony. It's eyes were closed but it was almost as if it knew where it was going. It flicked out a forked tongue and tasted the air. No one in the room moved as it hissed faintly.
The Dark Lord hissed in reply after a second and the Basilisk seemed to hiss angrily back. It opened emerald eyes and made to strike out against the Dark Lord who stood in front of it, gazing up at the snake that could kill simply with its eyes. The Dark Lord looked as if he was unaffected by the magnificent creature's stare and reached out and brushed his spidery fingers against the crest of the beast. The creature hissed again and a moment later Harry Potter stood in Voldemort's arms gently being shushed as his hair was stroked. The Dark Lord picked up the boy and he Disapparated with the boy with a loud crack.
Lucius glanced down at his son who was wide eyed with astonishment and laughed melodiously. "It was only Harry, Draco. The Dark Lord must have left him after they fought and Harry was furious. I've only seen him in that form once before and it wasn't a decent sight to behold."
"How the-?"
"Don't worry about it, it doesn't matter." Lucius felt the shaking of the boy and realized he had actually been frightened. "You were really afraid, weren't you?"
"…Yes…" Draco whispered faintly.
"It's alright, I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you dear." The moment that last word slipped out, Lucius could have smacked himself senseless.
Draco's eyes widened in shock at what his father had just called him. Lucius had never spoken in that way to anyone Draco had ever seen in his entire life, especially not him!
"…Father?"
"Yes, Draco?"
"I don't mind if you call me that." Draco could not fight back a blush no matter how hard he tried so he buried his face in his father's chest. Lucius smiled to himself, something Draco could not see.
"Do you now?" Laughter was in the older Malfoy's voice.
"Um…yes…?" The blond's words came out almost incoherent.
"You're such an odd boy." Lucius' slender fingers ghosted across his son's cheek and the younger boy sighed in contentment. "You like it when I touch you?"
"Yes…" Draco felt his father's fingers slide down his neck to his collarbone and he tilted his head to the side to give his father better access.
"Why?" A hand tangled in the younger's hair.
"I don't know. I just like it when you touch me. It feels nice."
"That's a pleasant thing to hear. She always said I was too…cold."
"Why did she say that?"
"She wanted me to have sex with her after I had seen her minutes before with some other man, someplace else in my house. I suppose that would have been a bad reason not to, wouldn't it?" Lucius stiffened.
"Mother was so fake…but sometimes…she was the only one I could go to since you didn't like having me around."
"I never said that."
"But you never said you did either." Draco shut his eyes.
"You didn't ask me."
"Would you have answered me truthfully?"
"Probably not." Lucius slipped his hands around his son's waist again. "Do you think that I raised you properly?"
"That depends on what you consider raising, father."
"Such impudence, speaking to your father in such a way. Should I punish you like I said I would earlier?"
Draco froze. "Whatever you see adequate father." Obedience was a must at this point since his father changed moods so rapidly as of late.
"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. Stand up Draco." Draco felt his father's arms move away from his middle. He stood slowly and turned so he was facing Lucius. He should have known that this was going to come sooner or later. How could he have been so stupid?
Lucius seemed amused again and was openly smirking at his son who shrank back and hit the dining room table in his fear.
"You're afraid still?"
"Yes!"
"I told you that I was not to hurt you. Have you so little faith in your father?" Lucius moved closer to Draco and his smirk became even more pronounced. "This…punishment…I think you will find…different."
"What the heck are you going to do to me?"
"I'd like you to prove your love to me."
"Wha-?" Draco had to stop in mid-sentence as he found his father's lips upon his own, once again tasting him and mapping out his mouth as one would uncharted territory. Lucius broke their kiss and eyed Draco after a minute.
"Kiss me back, Draco."
"But-"
"You said you loved me. Prove it."
"I don't-"
"Do it."
Draco came very close to tears as he leaned in and brushed his lips against Lucius' and pulled away instantly.
"You call that a kiss?"
"What do you expect from me? I don't know what to do!"
"Dear gods, you're-" The realization struck him like a heavy blow to the stomach.
"Yes!" Draco burst into tears again, sobs consuming his frame like before, and he leaned against Lucius who slid a hand into his hair, vainly attempting to comfort him.
"Is this why you're so afraid?"
"…Yes. And…because…the one time…I came close to doing even that…they…hurt me…" His sobs renewed themselves, and Draco began to cry even harder than he had before.
"What are you talking about? Who hurt you!" Lucius voice rose dramatically causing the younger Malfoy to cringe and to try to pull away from his father's arms. But Lucius wouldn't have any of that. He gripped Draco's arms and looked directly into his eyes. "Who hurt you?" He said in a dangerously soft voice.
"I…it doesn't…"
"Tell me. I will not have anyone hurt you. You are mine."
"Am I just property now, or was I always just a thing for you to exert your authority over?" Draco said through his sobs as he lost all his resistance towards his father.
"Tell me or I'll-"
"You'll do what?" The younger blond said weakly as he didn't even support himself anymore so if Lucius had let go of him, the boy would have fallen to the ground. "Hurt me?"
"That's not what I said."
"That's exactly what you meant." Draco found it oddly hard to breathe and had to pause for a few moments. "You want to know who hurt me? Fine I'll tell you, but this doesn't mean anything! It was the Mudblood Hermione Granger and that weasel Ronald Weasley!"
"I'll kill them!" Lucius roared and let go of his son who fell to the ground with a soft thump. Lucius looked back at the sound and saw Draco on his side looking up at him as much as he was able to from his place on the floor. The younger Malfoy made no move to get up from his position on the ground as Lucius approached him.
"What are you doing Draco? Get up." Lucius frowned as the boy lay there in a pitiful heap and kicked him in the stomach causing a sharp intake of breath from his son but nothing other than that. "Get up."
"What's the point, when you're just going to hurt me again like you did right now? On second thought, why don't you just kick me again?" Draco said softly, his eyes glassy. "Though God knows you can do better."
Lucius' eyes narrowed so far that they turned to slits and he heaved his son to his feet. The boy would have fallen again, but Lucius firmly supported him up. "Do you really want me to hurt you?"
"There isn't any choice in how I decide whatever you do, so why are you even asking?"
"I'm being serious," said Lucius angrily and he shook Draco sharply.
"No, I don't like being hurt. But if that is your way of doing whatever it is you do, I shouldn't care, should I?" Lucius said nothing and his face remained impassive. "I'm only telling you what I think. And I'm being truthful, so that should count for at least something. Then again, nothing I do counts for anything. So we're back to square one, right?" Draco's voice was so faint so only Lucius would have been able to hear it, had anyone else been in the room.
"Don't twist my words around."
"Why not, you do the same to me?"
"Damn you boy, will you just shut up and listen?" yelled Lucius as he barely restrained his irritation with his son. "Just be quiet, I don't want to fight with you anymore." The older Malfoy voice had lowered to a whisper his frame shook very slightly as he gathered his son into his arms and buried his face in his hair.
"Father…" Draco began hesitantly as Lucius made no move to move away from him. "Father…don't do this…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to bother you so much. Don't be mad." Draco hesitantly put his arms around his father and laid his head against his father's shoulder.
"I'm not mad," came the mumbled response from somewhere in Draco's mane of blond of hair. "Just…frustrated, Draco."
"With me?"
"Yes, with you." The older blond said after a pause that had stretched on for a while.
"I'm sorry."
"Stop saying that, you're wearing out the use of that word."
"Can we please move out of the dining hall?" He asked softly, as to not raise his father's temper again
"Yes…Where to?" Lucius sounded so old and weary in that moment that Draco grasped his father tightly, almost pulling the breath out of his lungs in the process. "Ah…Draco…I can't breathe…let go…" The younger released his father immediately and cast his gaze downwards.
"Draco, I'm tired. I've been tired…ever since she died…and I haven't been able to sleep…but one night sleeping with you made me sleep better than I have in a long time even though I really need to sleep how I did yesterday every day.
"Then go to bed father." Draco whispered after a second.
"I don't really feel like it."
"What do you want me to say then?"
"Nothing…nothing at all…just stay quiet so I don't have to recognize anything for what it is…" Lucius pulled his son to him and placed a chaste kiss upon his forehead.
"You don't need to kill them…Harry already did…he didn't want them to hurt anyone else…" said Draco very quietly, but Lucius did not stir.
"Let me thank him later then." A hand tangled itself into Draco's hair.
"Right…"
"Do you want to go and see the medi wizard now?"
"Later…it's still too early in the morning."
"Alright, we'll go later then…" With a sigh Lucius sat back into the chair that he had been sitting in earlier and settled the younger Malfoy into his lap. "Do you want…to know why I didn't come to your graduation yesterday?"
Draco opened his eyes suddenly and attempted to turn around to look at his father but couldn't, since Lucius' face was enveloped in shadow.
"Why then?" Draco said halfheartedly, as he was prepared for the answer.
"I was…afraid to see you graduate because that would mean that you had grown up and would soon go off and get married and then later leave me…" All this was said barely above a murmur and Draco was shocked as he was completely unprepared for this answer.
"Father, I would never leave you…" said Draco, astonished that his father was saying this. Was he being serious?
"How am I supposed to know that when you never tell me anything unless I use brute force?"
"If you had just asked then maybe I would have answered truthfully."
"I have raised you wrong."
"You raised me how you saw fit. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I'm…sorry."
"Father!"
"I'm serious…I have mistreated you so much…"
"It's okay, it doesn't matter anymore."
"How I wish it didn't…"
"It's okay, I don't care what you did. It's alright."
"Draco," Lucius knew it was going to be hard to make out the words but he hadn't imagined it would be this hard. "Don't ever leave me…I don't think I would like that much. I don't…want to be alone anymore…so please…stay here…with…me." His voice broke off.
"As you wish father." Draco said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Always as I wish." Lucius' eyes glittered slightly as he buried his face in his son's hair once again.
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A.O.T.I.F.: (cough) That went…well, yes?
1. I know there were people wanting him to get beat up by Lucius but…too bad.
2. I'm not going to even try to explain Lucius' behavior so I'll stick with something simple. It's really just because Narcissa is gone and he's realized Draco's the only one left. I know he's kind of breaking down now, right?
Please review. I like the fact people actually enjoy this story. (smile)
