Cyrusys 7
Another Saturday morning dawned with Draco admiring his handy work on the canopy of his bed…it had been removed. After being so engrossed in his own mental thicket with its vines of negativity, trees of looming darkness and shadows filled with danger, he decided that stimulating his physical senses would aid, and if nothing else, improve his surroundings.
So he started with the place he started his days: in his bed. Cutting the canopy open allowed him to fully view the window above and see the lake's water overhead along with its creatures floating and swimming so carelessly.
Yet he did not envy their carefree lives. He had become content with being an observer of these water-creatures. Rather, he had taken a liking to comparing the positive things in his life with those of the beings in the lake. He was graceful, enjoyed the free feeling of swimming, and was at peace in the ambiance of the underwater light.
He was however interrupted in his smooth awakening into consciousness with an unnaturally vigorous knocking on his dorm's door.
"Come in" He said with a very cowboy-like smooth draw.
"Draco. Your father is here." Goyle said with a heightened tone of fear, awe and questionable curiosity.
'Shit.' Draco rose and composed himself with the speed and agility of a cat jumping off a refrigerator after his master came into the kitchen yelling. His father being here…in person…meant all sorts of wrong. "Tell him I will be out there quickly."
"But that takes time, Draco, my son." Came a steely tone from the doorway.
Draco had been facing his closet, getting ready to change out of his Pajama's when he registered the voice. As such he had the feeling of an ice-cube rolling down his neck when realizing his father with right behind him. "Why wait when I can control the time line of events?"
"Father, please, you will be much more comfortable in the common room." Draco could tell his voice was pleading and weak. He never had the upper hand when dealing with his father, but being in his Pajama's left him feeling even more the inferior.
"Draco, you know I hate repeating myself: when one can control the time line, then to not do so is not acceptable." His father's form was just as tall, stone-like and broad-shouldered as Draco remembered; however seeing him fill the doorway of his room was just…intrusive. Draco was trapped and felt completely vulnerable. "Now, my Son, sit down."
Draco's eyes never left his fathers as he moved away from the closet with as much portrayed confidence as possible. He sat on his desk, not the bed to avoid feeling even more like a small child being pressed into submission. But before Draco could say anything to take back some control of the situation his father took control of the field.
Lucius Malfoy started very slowly, in very deep tones, with deadly and aggressive assertiveness. "Your plans are behind schedule. Your methods have been crude and clumsy. I can't help wondering if you are really committed to this assignment, to your family or to the Dark Lord. I remind you that as my son you are to carry on our family's honor now and as long as you live. Our Lord is not pleased with you. Our Lord does not think our family very capable, committed or loyal because of you. Your failure is our failure. Your failure is my failure and I will not be a failure because of you. Do you understand this, Draco?"
The words were short; the statements brutally efficient, their meanings carried fearsome consequences. His father had spoke barely louder than a whisper but it might as well been a magnified shout.
Draco was lost in anxiety, intimidation and raw fear. Apparently this delay in response carried its own separate consequence from his overall punishment. Lucius walked across the room to his son and paused momentarily. Anything could have happened next, but Lucius was in complete control, thus only his will existed in the room.
He lifted his cane smoothly in his hands and looked over the wooden handle, and then quick as lightening he swung the cane at Draco where it collided solidly against Draco's head with a sickening crack.
Draco fell to the floor on his hands and knees. Only at this time did he realize the door to the room was still open and his housemates were looking fearfully into his room at him bleeding on the floor from a gash on his left temple. But he would not let out a sound no matter what cruelties were inflicted upon him. It was the only means of control he had in such encounters as this.
Lucius picked Draco up by the skin on his shoulder only to jab his cane deeply into his ribs and again across his face before kicking him in the knees and slamming Draco onto the stone of the floor.
"If you control the timeline, than it is wrong to not take responsibility for the chain of events at hand. Draco, I will not be the one who reminds you about the repercussions of failure next time. Count yourself lucky that it is me standing here and not someone less forgiving and concerned about you."
Lucius gracefully stood up from crouching over Draco and straightened his robes. He looked around the room a few times then back down to his son who was unmoved on the floor. "It is the goal at hand that is more important than anything else, even our lives. Do not forget that, and do not fail." With not so much as a look back Lucius turned and exited the dorm. The wind from his cloak was like a tornado in Draco's face.
Draco slowly did a physical inventory to find two deep wounds cress-crossing the left side of his face and possibly a cracked rib and kneecap. It was amazing how little his father had to do to cause so much pain and injury. 'Death Eater through and through.'
He slammed the door in the questioning faces of his housemates and rounded on his dresser. After nearly ripping the essentials out of the drawer he darted out of his room, through the common room and out the enchanted wall. He walked straight up to the hospital wing without catching anyone's eye.
"Of for Merlin's sake! What happened to you Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Pomphery asked ushering him into a chair.
"Really need to watch my step on the spiral stair case…hit a railing on the way down by accident." He followed quickly when she gazed superciliously at the abrasions on his face.
Draco walked into the Great Hall for dinner that night and for the first time ever felt like he was being examined and scrutinized. He could not pull off his normal air of supremacy if it tried.
It wasn't until he caught Harry's eye that he felt ashamed of himself.
Whatever Harry was thinking Draco knew he wouldn't just trace across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table to ask how his 'mortal enemy' was doing.
Well, at least that's that Draco thought.
Harry stood up roughly and bumped the table hard with his knees causing him to recoil into his seat. Draco had to suppress a laugh at this. Harry however just glared at the offending furniture and turned around in his seat to stand in the aisle with no obstacles.
After outright stomping down the Gryffindor aisle, past the Ravenclaw Table and down the back wall of the Slytherin table where Draco was sitting Harry had amassed numerous questionable stares from all houses. But he was firmly focused on Draco.
"Potter? May I ask what you are doing at our table?" Draco said with a feigned coyness.
"I need to talk to you…NOW" Harry stated, grabbing Draco by the collar and hauling him to his feel.
"What the HELL is wrong with you, Harry!" Draco froze in his tracks when he realized what he had said. It was the reason his housemates were staring at him. Using 'Harry' instead of 'Potter' was a world of difference…and everyone knew it. By using 'Harry' and not 'Potter' Draco had given more then leeway or insight into their relationship, he had opened the floodgates.
The sudden onslaught of girls cooing, 'aaawwww' -ing and just giggling of all girls within earshot of his slip-of-tong defended Draco.
"Shit." Draco couldn't think of anything that would make this worse, so he grabbed Harry's sleeve and towed him into the corridor.
Once securely hidden behind a column and a statue Draco had only the echoes of the giggling to remind him of their recent transaction.
"Okay, Potter, What?" Draco said in a huff not looking Harry in the eyes.
"Don't 'What' me! You look mauled! What the hell happened to you?" Harry said in anger and concern.
"What? Mad you didn't get to do the honors yourself? Wanted to rough me up a bit more!" Draco shouted in Harry's face.
"I said I was sorry. I don't want to hurt you. I just want to know who did so I can have a go at them myself."
"You have a go at my Father? Good luck!"
"Your FATHER did this to you?"
"Yes, aren't you glad you don't have one now?"
"Draco, that's low." Harry said recoiling his tones and lowering his gaze.
"Sorry. Look, it's been a long day and I just want to forget it." Draco said as he started to walk towards the Slytherin dorms.
"What? Are you kidding me? Why did your Father beat the shit out of you?"
"Its not your business!"
"YOU are my business!"
After Harry shouted his declaration there was a long silence. Draco turned towards Harry and pulled him into a hug. While in the embrace he whispered into Harry's ear longingly. "And you are mine. But this is about the families pride and this is how it always is. Please just drop it so I can have some peace."
Draco pulled away slowly and searched Harry's eyes for an answer.
"I just don't know what's best for you. I want to help you, but you never let me in. Do you even know what's best for you, and what YOU really want?" Harry said in a low whisper.
They started at each other for a long time in silence before hearing the thundering of students approaching from the Great Hall. After looking one last time into Harry's eyes Draco just grabbed his hands twice in reassurance and then disappeared into the growing crowd.
'Damn it' Harry cursed. Another night of un-resolved issues.