Chapter 19-The Prodigal's Return
"Get off me you great lumbering oaf," Draco spit out reprising his role as the spoilt Malfoy princeling, "unhand me; this is my home!" he continued to protest noisily. By this time Draco had managed to make as much noise as he could, his aim being to alert his parents to his presence in the hope that he might at least find some semblance of support from his father.
"Well, well," Bellatrix crowed, "so the prodigal has returned!" She spouted tapping her wand menacingly against the palm of her hand.
"Draco!" his mother rushed into the room, "where have you been?" Narcissa was smothering him before he had chance to reply.
"Yes Draco," he father's baritone reverberated across the marble floor of the Manor's grand entrance, "where have you been?"
Draco wondered how he should play this, should he just come out with it and tell them he was a prisoner or play it cool and sarcastic. He quickly decided on the latter option.
"Where do you think I've been father? Holidaying in the Bahamas?" his father immediately bristled.
"Do not take that tone with me Draco…"
Lucius was interrupted by the insane cackling of Bellatrix.
"May be the boy has some balls after all, maybe he has more backbone than you'll ever have." She sneered at the elder Malfoy. "Come Draco the Dark Lord is eager to speak with you." Bellatrix motioned for Draco to follow her.
Draco's throat was dry, he tried to steel himself for what was to follow, prepare himself as best he could but the knowledge of what was likely to come, the anticipation of the pain seemed to make it more difficult.
Voldemort's malign presence seemed to chilli the room, there was a tension in the air which pulse with the promise of violence. Draco caught the smirks and sneers of the other Death Eaters, he could taste their anticipation of his pain, their cruelty.
"Draco," the Dark Lord began with false bon homme, "so pleasant to see you again and looking so well," Draco had to force himself not to cringe as Voldemort's red eyes slid down his body and he realised that he might look a little too healthy for a former prisoner.
"My Lord," Draco's genuflexion was perhaps the most deferential he had ever given, he waited his head bowed for Voldemort's next move.
"Tell me Draco," Voldemort spit out his name as if it were something truly distasteful, "where have you been all these long months?"
The room stilled Draco sensed the collective holding of breathe as they all awaited his reply.
"I was taken prisoner by the enemy my Lord," Voldemort eyed him speculatively.
"Indeed," the Dark Lord hissed grabbing Draco's chin with cold corpse like fingers, tipping back Draco's head so he could look into Draco's eyes. Draco felt the intrusion into his thought almost immediately, he had expected it but he was surprised by the sharpness of it. Voldemort did not care what damage he did as he riffled through Draco's thoughts and memories like a blunt knife. Draco bit into his bottom lip in an attempt to suppress the scream he felt rising.
Hermione awoke to an empty space beside her. Disappointed and missing her new husband's warmth she sat up. The sun was bright in the morning sky, how had she slept so long? She wondered smiling to herself as she recalled last night's tryst with her gorgeous husband. Eager to feel his arms and his warmth surround her she rose to seek him out.
As Hermione descended the stairs she heard movement in the Kitchen.
"Morning Hermione," Andromeda greeted even though she had not turned to see who was there.
"Morning Andy, have you seen Draco?" Hermione questioned.
"Not this morning, perhaps he is outside?" Andromeda suggested.
Taking a pair of wellingtons and a warm cloak from the racks by the kitchen door Hermione quickly covered her nightwear and strode out into the garden.
Dew still clung to the grass, beading on the tips of her boots as she forged her way across the grounds towards the apple tree where they had often sat and thought and planned together. He wasn't there. Shrugging Hermione headed towards the stable block rationalising that Draco might be with the horses or hounds.
As she entered the kennels the hounds bayed and keened for her attention but there was no sign of Draco. Neither was he in the stables, the horses were all there enjoying their oats- there was no hint of her husband.
Dismayed Hermione headed back to the main house wondering if he might be ensconced in the library but when she reached the library it was deserted. A small but rising well of panic began to grow in the pit of her stomach. Suddenly she heard raised voices coming from the kitchen.
Draco tasted the metallic tang of blood on his tongue, he knew he had broken the skin and the tender pink flesh behind his lower lip was bleeding profusely as he struggled to hold back his agony.
Suddenly it stopped.
"Bella, the Black family home in London, you know it?" Voldemort demanded.
"Yes my Lord," Bellatrix confirmed
"Expect it to be heavily warded but Potter is there-Go," Voldemort commanded his lieutenant, there were multiple pops of apparition as Bellatrix and several other Death Eaters disappeared and headed for The Order's headquarters.
Draco tried to regain his breath, blood dripped down his chin from his self-inflicted wound. He didn't dare hope that the worst was over. He was right not to hope.
"So Draco," Voldemort hissed, "tell me about yourself and Potter's mud-blood!"
"How could you Remus, he is still only a boy," Hermione heard Andromeda scream at her former professor as she approached the kitchen door.
"He would have gone alone, without my help and been in greater danger," Remus responded suddenly stilling as he saw Hermione enter the room.
"Who are you talking about?" Hermione asked in panic, suspecting she already knew the answer.
"Hermione…" Remus began reaching out towards the petite witch, she ignored him.
"Where is he," she demanded her pitch rising in panic, "where is Draco?"
Hermione watched as Andromeda exchanged an angry look with Remus. Neither of the older Order members answered her. Hermione tried again, this time her voice shrill with anxiety.
"Where's Draco, where has he gone?" fearing the worst she continued, "is he alright!"
"Sit down Hermione," Andromeda instructed, "Draco left you this." Andromeda held out a roll of parchment closed with the Malfoy seal. Hermione took it and crumpled into the chair feeling her knees give, knowing that whatever this was, it was not good.