Warning: This chapter includes depictions of child abuse.
Draco tried to slip to his bedroom. He knew he didn't want to be around his father right now. Unfortunately, Lucius caught him before he left.
"Draco, where do you think you're going?"
"My bedroom."
"Did you leave something up there? You and Sandrine were up there a very long time."
Though Lucius had asked a question, Draco knew he wasn't supposed to answer. He just stared at the floor.
"Tell me, Draco, what do I always say is the most important rule in our family?"
"Private matters are private."
"Yes. Very good, Draco. You are capable of learning after all. Now, answer this, Draco. Is Sandrine, or anyone else who works at the Ministry, meant to be involved in our private matters?"
Draco was terrified. His father's worst abuses never came during his fits of rage. No, the worst Lucius did to Draco was usually after a speech like this. Lots of questions, all spoken in a much too calm tone. Draco knew his father would soon strike him.
"No, Father."
"You're right. She's not. I trust you remembered that while speaking to her."
Draco was trapped. No matter what he said, he knew a beating was coming. If he denied telling Sandy anything, he would be accused of lying. If he told the truth, he didn't know what would happen to him. He had always been threatened with death if he told anyone the truth about Father.
"Of course, Father. It's the most important rule."
"So, you didn't tell her anything about our private matters."
Draco was silent. He looked at his mother, hoping this would be the time she helped him. As usual, she left the room. He was alone. While he was looking away, he felt his father's hand strike his cheek.
"Why do I always have to remind you to face me while I speak to you? Answer me, Draco. What did you and Sandrine talk about?"
"She asked me about my room. She asked me what I do for fun. I told her toys weren't dignified. I told her a Malfoy doesn't run and play."
Lucius smiled at the boy. It wasn't a kind smile, of course, but it still filled Draco with a flicker of hope. Perhaps Father would change his mind. Perhaps he wouldn't beat him more.
"Good. Very good, Draco. I see you're learning your rules. But explaining that to her couldn't have taken the whole time."
Draco hesitated. He didn't know what to say. Sadly, hesitating wasn't the correct answer either. He felt his father's hands gripping his shoulders. He felt his back slamming against the wall. Lucius lowered himself to look Draco in the eye, further intimidating him. With one hand still on Draco's shoulder pressing him against the wall, Lucius raised his other hand and smacked it against Draco's face.
"Answer me, boy. What did you tell Sandrine?"
"Nothing! I didn't tell Sandy anything!"
Lucius yanked Draco forward and snapped him back, slamming him into the wall again, this time with a hand pressed on Draco's neck, choking him.
"That's another thing, you stupid boy. What have I told you about calling adults by their first names? A child like you should address her as Madame Aleksia. When will you ever learn?"
Draco squirmed behind his father's cruel hands. He couldn't breathe. He didn't even know what Father was saying. He was too distracted by his fear and pain. He didn't care what Father was saying. He only cared about the pain stopping. Lucius knocked Draco to the ground.
"Father, please, I didn't tell her anything. I didn't tell Sandy anything!"
Lucius kicked Draco in the stomach and used his foot to pin him down.
"You stupid, stupid child! You dare mock me? I just told you not to call her by her first name."
"She told me to! She's my friend. She's helping me."
Another kick hit Draco in the stomach.
"Helping you? With what? Did you tell her you need help?"
Draco stayed silent. He felt trapped. He always felt trapped in his home. He had learned there was never a correct answer to his father's questions. Or at least he had never found one. He knew it had been a mistake to talk to Sandy, but it would have been a mistake to not tell anyone. He knew his father would have hurt him again anyway. Lucius landed one more kick to Draco's stomach.
"Stupid boy. You're lucky we Malfoys are so important. I will be able to take care of the problems with Sandrine at the Ministry. But let this be a lesson, Draco. You are not to talk about our private matters to anyone outside this family ever again. Understood?"
"Yes, Father."
Lucius bent down, grabbed Draco's hair, and jerked him up.
"Stand up, Draco. Dobby! Dobby, get in here!"
Dobby came into the room immediately. He tried to keep his attention centered on Lucius, but he was distracted at the sight of Draco. He saw a trickle of blood running down Draco's chin and bruises forming on his neck and face.
"Yes, Master Lucius?"
"Dobby, as I'm sure you can see, Draco has wounds that need attending to. Clean him up. He can't look like that. We're having company over tonight. And Draco will look and act dignified."
Dobby nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Good. And be quick about it, Dobby. He still needs to get dressed."
Dobby nodded again. "Yes, sir."