Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
Heaps of food were currently occupying the Malfoy's mahogany dining table. It was an array that would rival Hogwarts first day dinner.
Mittsy had gone overboard with the cooking, Draco mused fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose. It was clear from the display that she'd missed the extravagant socials the Malfoy's would host.
It would be impossible for the six of them to finish all the food at the table. Although, the way the kids were eyeing the buffet there was little doubt they'd try their best to tuck away every morsel.
"Everyone go ahead and dig in."
As those words passed Draco's lips, the children did just that. Isabelle reached the sliced turkey first. Thomas soon followed, taking two servings; one for himself and one for his sister. Jasmine's arm passed over Draco's plate bringing the roasted potatoes closer to herself. Max looked anxiously at all the food before he claimed the untouched bowl of vegetables.
Draco looked on in horror as Isabelle regaled the table about her first meeting with him, the turkey half chewed in her mouth.
The older man tried to correct these behaviors. Really, he had.
He told Thomas to move his elbows off the table. For that, Draco received a glare.
"Why don't you make me?" Thomas had replied, deliberately stretching them farther onto the table.
"Isabelle, swallow your food first before you speak, please." An enthusiastic "Sorry!" was the response before more food was shoved in her mouth and another story told.
Jasmine refuse to ask for dishes, preferring to stretch an arm over the plates to reach the food. This didn't change, no matter how many times Draco told her that if she'd asked, it would be passed.
Max was stuck in a continuous loop. Where he would place a scoop of food onto his plate before giving Draco a worried glance, then move the food back. It took many reassurances from Draco for Max to keep a bowl of soup and a sandwich.
Mittsy was no help. In fact, she was an enabler. The elf would say things like, "Master Draco's guests be so good," while patting one of the kids on the arm or "Mittsy be so happy that you all enjoy the food Mittsy made special. Master Draco be always so proper."
And when she wasn't complementing their appalling behavior, she would tell stories from Draco's childhood.
"When Master Draco be your age, Master Draco be wanting only tomato soup and sandwiches," she recounted.
The Nitwiker siblings could no longer contain their snickers as Mittsy told the tale of Draco's stuffed kneazle. The man ignored the two, he hadn't played with Mr. Fuzzles since first year. Besides he refused to feel embarrassed when he was the only one who knew when to use the utensils.
It is never acceptable to eat Shepherd's Pie with a salad fork.
Macy was the only one who had redeemable manners. From this, Draco suspects that Thomas was purposely trying to annoying him with his conduct.
About twenty minutes into the meal, Isabelle stood on her chair yelling, "I got potato hands!" While showing off her hands, which she'd caked in mashed potatoes and gravy. It was at this point Draco wrote dinner off as a lost cause. He painfully ignored the voice in his head, that sounded like his mother, telling him to correct their posture.
Draco stepped to Isabelle's side. "Let me take a look." After inspecting those small hands, Draco let out a gasp. "My goodness, you do have potato hands. Fortunately, I have just the cure."
Draco yanked out a handkerchief from his robe pocket and brandished it dramatically, causing Isabelle to laugh. He then took her hands into his before gently wiping them clean.
"There you go," Draco said.
"Look, no more potato hands!" Announced Isabelle while waving her hands around so everyone could see.
Max clapped his hands and stared in awe, like Draco had cured the young girl of a horrid ailment. Macy let out an explosive laugh, head bent back. Jasmine tried to contain her own giggles with a fist placed at her mouth. Draco even managed to spot a quick smile cross Thomas' face.
For better or worse, this broke the proverbial ice. Although if asked, Draco would say it was for the worse.
Macy took the opportunity to inquire about her new guardian's life, waiting until he was once more sitting with a cup to his lips when she pounced.
"So, what was it like going to school with the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice?"
Choking on his pumpkin juice, Draco shook his head as he coughed, "No, we are not going to discuss Potter. In fact, his name or any other aliases of his are forbidden in his house."
"Aww! But your interactions are still so famous in the house. Mr. ex-Prince of Slytherin," Macy gave a snide remark. "According to the older years. You were the only one who would, and I quote, 'show that righteous prick what's what.'"
"Forbidden." Draco hissed, pointing a finger to punctuate the word.
"Fine, then tell me how you were able to stay the leader of the Slytherin house. I hear you were the head snake since your first year," Macy pressed excitedly. "You are a legend in our house for having the longest reign for centuries. Come on, I need tips."
"Well," Draco started, enjoying the way both Macy and Thomas leaned forward to catch his every word. Merlin, he missed being the center of attention, "it's because I'm a Malfoy," he finished.
Macy sat back with a huff and Thomas rolled his eyes with a drawn out "lame."
Draco nodded his head sagely. "Yes, my father had money, so they all waited on me."
He paused before saying, "If you really want my advice, I'd say don't bother. It's lonely and stressful at the top. There are only a few people that you'll be able to trust. You don't know the number of times I wished I'd just enjoyed my time at school without all the pressure to be the biggest and baddest. It's not worth it,"
Draco stared at the opposite wall, head in one hand. The room fell quiet save for Max and Isabelle as they continued eating, having lost interest in the conversation. The silence continued until Jasmine decided to break it.
"There's a rumor in Ravenclaw that Harry Potter had a parchment that showed everyone's exact location within Hogwarts. Is that true?"
"What'd I say about mentioning Boy Wonder." Draco said giving her the side eye, but Jasmine didn't waver, her gaze steady on Draco.
Pursing his lips, Draco gave in. "I wouldn't know. Potter and I weren't exactly friends. But it would make sense, he had an uncanny ability of finding me anywhere and avoiding trouble with the professors." He mused with a thoughtful expression.
"Well," Jasmine said. "It's too bad you know nothing of it. A few of my fellow Ravenclaws and I were trying to recreate it, but we were unsuccessful. The most we figured out was to see Hogwarts layout and everyone inside. Just not their movements."
"Wait, what did you mean that Harry Potter would find you?" Thomas asked, an eyebrow raised.
"During 6th year, Potter would always show up at the worse times."
"So, he stalked you." Jasmine chimed in giving Macy a knowing look and getting a similar look back.
Glancing between the two, Draco said, "I saw that. What was with that look?"
Thomas was the one that answered. "That look says if a teenage boy is going out of their way to follow another, he's done so because he has a crush."
"Impossible. Potter hated me." Draco argued, his tone dark as he thought back to a cold, wet bathroom.
Once everyone had their fill of dinner, Draco called Mittsy for dessert. With a snap of her long, bony fingers six slices of chocolate cake appeared on the table, one in front of each person. The cake was drizzled with fudge and decorated a red cherry on top.
Before taking the first bite, Draco cleared his throat. "I think it's time to discuss your situations. As I said before, you all are welcome to here. But if there is another place you'd rather stay, like a friend's place, I'd help make the arrangements."
Silence blanketed the room. Even Max and Isabelle were quiet. After a few beats Thomas spoke up.
"We don't exactly have any friends out of our house. And we're pretty much blacklisted in Slytherin." A bitter laugh followed this.
"It's not exactly good for a family's social standing to associate with us, if you know what I mean. Most Slytherin families who wouldn't join He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named are still carefully watched. There's no way they'd worsen it by taking in Death Eater kids." Thomas finished.
"Blood over water." Macy muttered, avoiding Draco's eye.
"I want to stay here. Draco's my friend." A chocolate covered Isabelle declared a hand in the air, fingers splayed.
In a more subdued tone Max agreed, "I would rather stay here then to get sent somewhere else."
"I don't really have friends I can stay with," Jasmine told, straight faced. "Those I mentioned earlier are just classmates. So, I doubt they'd let me stay with them for an extended period."
"Than that settles it." Draco says, picking up his fork, "You all will stay here, at least for tonight. If you change your mind later, I can help to find a stable place to live."
"You are kidding, right?" Thomas blurts out as Draco lifted his fork to his lips now heaped with warm cake. "Your family is one of the, if not the most, well-known supporters of He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named. And you think by staying here our situation will improve?"
"You are a child of dark wizards who supported that evil and insane man. Your lives are never going to be easy." Draco said, looking straight into Thomas' eyes.
"It's not fair but that is the truth. So, staying won't help your social standing but I'm offering a place to live free of abuse and suspicion that you all experienced." He continued. "Now, once you all are finished with dessert, I'll show you around the Manor."
After dinner, Draco lead the group through the Manor introducing the different rooms.
The kitchen was first up in the tour because of its proximity to the dining hall. It was a large room, with an excessive amount of counter space. Draco informed the group that Mittsy kept a tight ship in there, so to stay on her good side they shouldn't make a mess of the room.
Once he had shown the kids the entire first floor, Draco took them outside to catch the last rays of light. Macy and Max were both enamored with the floral garden. Using a pruning tool he'd summoned, Draco presented the five with a white rose each.
Macy tucked hers behind an ear before doing the same for Max. Jasmine carefully placed the flower in her pocket planning on pressing it later in a book. Isabelle preferred to keep her rose in hand twisting and twirling it admiring how "pretty" it is.
Draco considered giving Thomas one, despite fully expecting a rejection from the boy. Giving in, the blonde handed the final flower over the boy. Thomas' face was guarded as he accepted the rose, but later the flower could be seen protruding from Thomas' front breast pocket.
Thomas showed interest in the outdoor broom closet, as the tour continued. Draco had great fun watching Thomas' face as he detailed the brooms located within. He only had the latest and fastest brooms one could find on the market.
Draco then led the group up the stairs to the second floor and into the final room on the tour, the library. Most of the minors showed little interest for the room.
Isabelle preferred to run between the bookcases jumping out at people. Max kept close to Draco's side, while the siblings looked around, bored. Though judging by the gleam in Jasmine's eyes, he'd found a kindred spirit when it comes to his love of books.
"You all will be staying in my wing of the Manor. I suggest you avoid the east and west wings," Draco says gestured down the aforementioned parts of the Manor. "I haven't gotten them renovated yet, so they're still dark and cold. And the portraits refuse to be reasoned with."
Draco knocked against an oak door when they'd reached the second floor of his personal wing.
"This is my room just in case I'm needed. The rooms on both the first and second floors have been prepared for guests, so you can take your pick. Each room has its own washroom and I had Mittsy pick out some old clothes that will fit you, should you need clean clothes."
With those words, the three teenagers left the group to find a room of their own. Isabelle ran to the room directly to the left of Draco's, calling out behind her, "I want this room."
Max tugged on Draco's robes and pointed to the door to the right of his and asked, "Can I have this room?"
Draco ruffled the boy's hair and nodded.
"Thank you," Maximus responded quietly, giving the man a small smile and disappeared into his new room.
Macy and Thomas chose rooms on the first floor. Thomas explained, quite unnecessarily, that he wanted the room farthest from Draco, and Macy followed to stay close to her brother. Jasmine decided to claim the room that was closest to the library.
Figuring the three older charges could look after themselves for a while, Draco went to grab a salve from his potion's lab.
Draco created this ointment specifically for the scars that slashed across his torso. Although it hadn't removed the marks, they were hardly noticeable anymore. A person would have to be up close or knew what to look for.
Other than healing scar tissue, there was the added benefits of pain relief and increased healing of small wounds. He actually had a booming side business selling the vials to pharmacies.
Draco headed over to Max's room and knocked on the door.
"Hey, I'm going to get Isabelle ready for bed. I'll come back to help you next if you don't mind waiting." Draco told the boy once he opened the door.
"I can wait." Max answered meekly. Draco set his hand on the smaller's head, noticing the slight wince at the contact. He took a mental note to continue with small, caring contact. From what he has seen, Max hasn't had many affectionate gestures directed toward him in his short life.
"Thank you. I'll be back soon."
Draco strode to Isabelle's room giving it a knock before entering and found her jumping on the bed. From the state of the bedding, she'd been at it for a while.
Dropping the container in his hand, he rushed to the bedside and snatched Isabelle midair causing her to let out a shriek of laughter.
"Draco my bed is so big!"
"I know Kiki," Draco said, letting out the breath he was holding, "but please don't jump on the bed you could fall and hurt yourself, OK?"
"OK. Are you going to play a game with me?" She asked with a bright smile.
"Not right now. It's time for bed and you need to a bath," Draco said, tapping a finger on her nose and setting her back on the ground.
He waved his wand, levitating the dropped item and held a hand out, waiting for a small hand to slip in his.
Draco nodded to himself after a short scan of the washroom revealed that Mittsy had thought of everything. A stool stood in front of the toilet and the sink, a kid's toothbrush was in a glass cup with strawberry flavored toothpaste lying beside it, stickers of fish fastened around the tube to prevent slipping, and towels hung on a rack magicked to keep them warm.
Draco placed the glass container of salve on the sink counter. Then knelt on the ground beside the bathtub to block the drain and start the water flowing. Adjusting the temperature as needed.
"Isabelle how does the water feel?"
Isabelle leaned over the side to feel the water pooling there.
"It feels nice." She says moving her arm back and forth, so her hand trailed through her fingers.
"Good, now let's take off those dirty clothes." Draco said eyeing her robes, "Those need to be destroyed too, so they may never see the light of day again."
As she did so, Draco's breath shuddered when he caught sight of the bruises, cuts, and burns on the small body. If the others had just as many wounds and scars, he'd need a second bowl of salve.
Draco placed the girl into the half-filled tub, the water coming up to her lower chest.
He squirted a generous amount of body wash onto a square cloth and handed it to Isabelle, instructing her to clean her body while he rinsed her hair. Draco ran his fingers through the wet strands inspecting the girls scalp for any insects. Not finding any, he lathered her hair with shampoo and conditioner.
Throughout, Isabelle had been playing with the water but as the bath wore on her eyelids began to droop.
Draco pulled the plug from the drain and lifted Isabelle up, wrapping her up in a warm, fluffy towel. Rubbing her back and arms to dry her off.
Once dried, Draco helped her into some of his old pajamas, silently thanking his mother for hoarding his things. The outfit was slightly too big on her small frame, but it would work for now.
Isabelle climbed on the stool in front of the sink and started to brush her teeth. As she was doing this, Draco used the towel to dry her hair, then proceeded to comb out the tangles.
Now with clean teeth, Isabelle was placed on the bed. The blonde began to smear the ointment over every injury he found on her body.
He tucked Isabelle into bed when he was sure every cut and bruise was looked after. The exhausted girl was asleep before her head hits the pillow.
Entering Max's room, Draco saw the small boy sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, twiddling his fingers.
"Wouldn't you be more comfortable on the bed?" Draco asked, making Max jump.
"I didn't want to get it dirty," the boy answered, picking at his grimy clothes.
"Well then let's fix that." Max trailing behind him as they headed to the washroom.
Repeating the same routine with Max, Draco let Max test the temperature of the water and cleaned Max's hair as the boy washed his body.
The older man eyed the wounds that littered the small body as he worked.
Max didn't have many fresh cuts or bruises, Draco figured the kid kept quiet, so the bullies hadn't noticed him. But, a plethora of scars laid across his limbs and trunk.
The worst of it was on his right forearm, it had both scars and cuts crossing each other. During his bath, stray fingers would occasionally brush along the wounds before they were jerked away causing waves in the water.
Once Draco finished washing the boy's hair he asks, "Are you done in the bath, Max?"
The boy clambered out of the tub in answer. The water splashing against its porcelain prison as he did so.
Max stood to the side arms crossed at his chest, a puddle forming at his feet. Draco quickly pulled the towel from where it hung and wrapped it around the shivering boy, ensuring everything was dry.
Smiling Draco emptied the tub and gestured to the clothes, "Go on and get dressed."
"These aren't mine." Max pointed to the clothes, confused.
"They're mine, and I'm giving them to you to wear." Draco handed them to Max, who then began to dress in the shirt and shorts that Mittsy had been able to find for the child.
Draco then, dried and combed Max's hair while the boy brushed his teeth. Once done, the two found themselves on the bed.
Draco had the salve ready and treated the abused skin with the mint smelling medicine. Leaving Max's forearm for last, the potioneer grasped the thin wrist and gently pulled it forward, palm up.
As Draco spread the healing salve across the cuts, he asked, "Why do you scratch at your arm so much?"
Max shrugged, "I don't know, When I'm scared or worried it helps." This was said in a voice so small and quiet that Draco was lucky to be close enough to hear it.
"Hmmm, I see. It calms you." Draco murmured, more to himself then to Max.
In periods of high stress, the child used pain to distract himself from the cause of anxiety. A bandage was wrapped around the area to protect the healing wounds.
Grey eyes met brown, "I understand that life can get bad and stressful, and you need a way to escape, but this," Draco ran a thumb across the edge of the bandage, "is not a healthy distraction. Can you promise me if you feel like that again to come find me, it doesn't matter what I'm doing or what time it is, OK?"
Max nodded, "I promise".
"OK good, Now let's get you to bed."
Draco pulled up the covers to the boy's chin, tucking him in. Both said goodnight to each other before Draco walked out, leaving the door open upon request.
Draco checked the time using a Tempus charm, sighing at how late it had gotten. He went in search for his other three charges.
Passing the library, a light caught his eye. There, sitting in one of the lounge chairs was Jasmine. In her hand was one of those old, cheesy romance novels that his mother snuck into the Manor behind Lucius' back.
Draco will deny it to his death bed, but he'd read every volume that had found its way into the Manor.
As Draco approached the girl, the image on the front of the book became clearer. It depicted a half-naked Adonis, Janus Rosier, posed proudly in front of a grand stone castle, in his arms Beatrice Whitby swooned.
He wondered if the teenager should be reading those books, knowing they could get a little raunchy. But the thought was quickly dismissed. After all, he read the same books at a younger age and he'd turned out fantastic.
Besides, Jasmine seemed more mature than most kids her age.
"That used to be my mother's favorite novel." Draco spoke up, nodding to the book in her hand. Which Jasmine set aside as the older man sat in the chair across her, obviously he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
He explained the purpose of the salve to the Ravenclaw, and she covered the few bruises she'd collected at the orphanage with the cream.
"I know that reading those books attracts criticism, but I like how everyone ends up with a happy ending. The bad guy is who you expect, and the hero will always win. And despite the heroine's tragic past she is able to find happiness in the end." Jasmine said, not looking at Draco as she worked.
Draco hummed in agreement. Surprised to find a Ravenclaw with such a fanciful view. Though he supposed after everything life has thrown at her, she needed to believe in a happily ever after.
"This potion is amazing. I can't even feel this." She said, while poking at an unusually large bruise on her shoulder.
Draco slapped the prodding hand away. "If you keep that up you'll start to feel it soon. I could show you how to brew it, if you're interested?"
"No, Potions aren't really my area of interest." Jasmine stated haughtily, picking up the discarded book. It was then opened, and Jasmine began to read once more, a single finger tracking her spot on the page.
The man stood at the clear dismissal and waited for some type of gratitude. Receiving none, he turned on his heel, muttering about the rude behavior of teenagers.
He was half way down the stairs when he realized how his grumbling resembled that of Filch. Shuddering at the thought, Draco continued his hunt, head high and lips shut.
He found Macy in her room with the door open wide. She sat facing the mirror combing her damp hair. Weird Sisters latest hit single played in the background with Macy singing along, off key.
Draco wrinkled his nose. Unlike most people, he disliked the music that the Weird Sisters produced. Every shop in Diagon Alley seemed to play their songs on repeat. He could never escape the voice of Myron Wagtail pelting out the words to Magic Works.
Unfortunately, Pansy was a huge fan. So, he had been dragged to enough of their concerts to know every word to their older works. And boy, do those songs get stuck in your head.
Groaning, Draco knocked on the opened door, "Don't tell me you're a fan of that group."
Twirling in her seat, Macy graced Draco with a smile, "They are literally the only band with decent music. Which is why I'm going to start my own band, to bring some actual good music to this dreadfully boring world."
From what he'd heard earlier, he wasn't too sure that the music she'd made would be much better.
"Oh, you want to be a singer?" He asked slowly, testing the waters.
Macy laughed, "Merlin no, I know exactly how I sound and with Thomas as a brother I never hear the end of it. But I love composing with a piano or guitar. Plus, I'm not that bad of songwriter, if I do say so myself. Which reminds me, I noticed a Grand piano in one of the rooms." She said fluttering her lashes up at him.
Amused, Draco answered her unasked question, "Yes, you can use it. My parents believed that it would benefit me in some way to know how to play an instrument. It's going to need a good tuning, though, it hasn't been used since the…" Draco voice trailed off.
"I can do that; I was blessed with perfect pitch." She said, her voice soft with understanding. He gave her a grateful nod.
Inspecting the few injuries Macy had, Draco applied the medicine onto her wounds.
The teenagers seemed to have less injuries compared to Max and Isabelle. He assumed it was because the older children fought back while the youngest only defense was to hide from their tormentors.
Draco knocked on the wooden door across from Macy's that Thomas had chosen as his room. Entering when he heard a grunt.
The teen was laying on the bed, above the covers. He was tossing a small golden ball in the air, one that Draco immediately recognized as a golden snitch.
"My parents got me a quidditch set on my 12th birthday. This was the only thing that I could bring with me when Macy and I were on the run. When the Aurors found us and figured out who we were we weren't allowed to go back to our house for our belongings." Thomas recalled and sat up, staring at his golden reflection in the shiny surface.
"This is the only thing I have left of my life before the war. It only activates with a specific phrase."
He brought the snitch close to his lips and whispered, "Thomas Franklin Nitwiker." At the uttered words, delicate wings unfurled, and the ball darted into the air.
Thomas ignored the rest of its flight, but Draco's expert eyes followed it around until Thomas demanded his attention once more.
"Macy hates our parents for what they did and who they are, but I can't. I want to! But every time I try all I remember are the birthdays spent together, or my father teaching me to fly, and my mother's soft voice." He turned to Draco, his eyes sad and confused.
"I'm supposed to hate them. They are the worst kind of people. I should hate them, right?"
Merlin how was Draco mean to deal with this kind of emotional turmoil. Hell, he hadn't even confronted his own feelings about this.
He doubted an answer of 'I don't know, I tend to shove it all down where I no longer have to think about such things' would satisfy the boy.
"You know who my parents were," Draco started, trying to find the right words.
"They weren't good people, their beliefs extreme and ridiculous, but I have no doubts that they loved me. I believe you can hate what they've done and still mourn the loss of the parents you love."
This hung heavy in the air, Thomas kept his eyes trained on his lap thinking over what was said. The golden snitch kept drawing Draco's attention, with a flash of gold or a fluttering of wings near his ear.
It'd been quite some time since he had played quidditch and the snitch seemed to be provoking him, causing his body to tense in annoyance.
"I have some salve that'll help with cuts and bruises if you have any that needs to be treated." Draco said trying to once more ignore the rapidly moving ball.
Thomas waved him off. "I don't need it. Not many people felt like messing with me once they caught sight of me. The few scuffles I did get into were to defend Macy, but they soon knew better and left her alone."
"If you're sure." Draco said before his hand shot out, fingers closing around the small instrument. He tossed it back to its owner, "Goodnight."
As he turned to leave Thomas called out, "Draco. Thank you, seriously."
Draco quickly drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the long day. He enjoyed a night uninterrupted by the usual nightmares.