I own nothing.
A/N: Hey everyone! Well, here it is - Draco's story…part of it. Haha. I've had all of this in my head for so long, it's really odd having it ready to be shared with all of you. Like I said, it's only part of it - I'm already at 10 pages, so I figured I'd have to split it, sorry, but hopefully it will start explaining the enigma that is our Draco.
If anyone's interested, the song that inspired me whilst writing Draco is Hearing Damage by Thom Yorke from the New Moon soundtrack. If you haven't heard it, check it out because it's a great song - also, it's like the absolute best scene in the film.
Also, I can't ignore my truly hideous neglect of this story - I realise I have taken an absolute age updating, and I could list a million excuses as to why, however I'm just going to give you the first, second, and third reasons…Love. I'm in love which is absolute cheese-pie, but the fact remains that I've been in a relationship for the past 6 months and I'm insanely happy - not great when writing angst lol. I'm sorry.
Anyway, I hope you all like the chapter. Thank you so much for all of your reviews, and thank you for reading. Enjoy. xx
Chapter 14 - Draco's story - Part 1
"Nice work today, Mr Malfoy." Professor Slughorn repeated for the millionth time that term as Draco exited his lecture. The biology professor had always been fairly fond of Draco, ever since his beady eyes had searched out his surname on the university register - after all, the son of the country's leading cardiologist was sure to be exciting to work with - not to mention the amount of contacts that could be made with such an influential family!
Draco lapped up the attention, regularly using it to his advantage - he hadn't once handed in an assignment on time since he had started at Beauxbaton University, and even rarely did he turn up to class on time. Though, Draco Malfoy was really quite gifted - a prodigy, one might say, and he was effortlessly passing every single class he took.
"Thank you, professor, I always try my very best." Draco drawled, his eyes rolling sarcastically as soon as he was out the door, bored of the professor's constant stream of arse-kissing.
He weaved his way through the bustling corridors, his destination being Pansy's Interior Design lecture that was about to finish a few buildings away. He stepped out into the courtyard and felt a small smile pull at his lips as the warm March sunshine washed over his face. Pulling his shades from his bag and sliding them on, Draco's soft blonde hair immediately fell in wisps over the lenses, and he sighed happily before continuing towards the Art and Design block.
To say Draco loved school would be a massive understatement, even if he did slack off in class. He adored university, adored the lifestyle, the mini-dramas that every student had before his very eyes. But most of all, he adored his career path - every lecture, every paper, every single word uttered about his chosen subject was exciting, mind-blowing!
Medicine. That one word gave Draco goosebumps, had given him goosebumps since the moment he'd been able to understand what it meant. From the age of 8, when children his age had been playing with video games, Draco had been camped out in his father's library learning everything he could about the human heart, and it had only intensified as the years passed.
He had watched his first by-bass at the age of 11, had witnessed a transplant at the age of 13 surrounded by medical students, and he had felt nothing but pride and excitement that both operations had been performed by his own father. Lucius had even asked Draco questions whilst he was operating, and had shone with pride when his young son had answered them correctly - something his students had neglected to achieve.
It had always been destined that Draco follow in his father's footsteps, and now that he was coming closer to that dream, he and Lucius could almost taste the triumph. The white coat that hung in Draco's wardrobe, the one his father had given him a few weeks previous on his 18th birthday, the one that was inscribed 'Dr D. Malfoy - Cardiologist' was like a medal of honour. Draco was his father's protégé, and neither man could be more proud. Neither man could wait for the day that they would roam the same corridors, operate it the same theatres, could call on each other for a second opinion. Draco longed to be as successful and brilliant as his father, and Lucius knew that one day Draco would be better.
The dream was still slightly out of reach though, Draco still had his final exams to pass, and even though he had already been accepted at the hospital by his estimated grades alone, he still needed his actual grades to be allowed to begin training. Which was why he was still sauntering around campus, earning looks from everyone he passed.
He walked with confidence, a superior sneer on his face, an expensive, distressed book bag slung across his expensive, cashmere sweater. Everything about Draco screamed wealth and perfection, from his designer shades right down to his designer shoes. His posture was impeccable, he was one of the most articulated students on campus, and he drove the sexiest sports car in town. Every guy wanted to be him, and every girl wanted to be with him.
And that was exactly how Draco liked it!
"Draco, sweetie!" Pansy called across the courtyard, gesturing madly from between a pair of overly tanned girls. Draco smiled widely at his long time best friend, the girl his parents hoped that he'd one day marry, and walked towards her with more haste.
Pansy Parkinson was as beautiful as Draco was handsome, and she was equally as gifted. Her eye for design and detail was impeccable and she was doing just as well at university as her friend. Pansy's future was just as bright as Draco's, even if their chosen professions were so very different.
There was one drawback to Pansy and Draco's shining futures…they were going to be forced to share it.
The Malfoy's and Parkinson's had arranged many years prior that their two heirs were to be betrothed, and both families were still fully intent on going through with the joining. Even if Pansy had recently met the love of her life in the form of a dashing trainee teacher, and Draco had a complete distaste to all females in general.
"Hello, Beautiful." Draco smiled as he drew level with his friend, leaning forward and kissing her forehead, "Forget the rest of your classes - I'm treating you to lunch!" He announced, pulling her book bag from her arm and shouldering her burden. He wondered idly if Gucci had decided to start lining their luggage with concrete because the bag weighed a ton.
"Well, I only have a colour and lighting lecture which will be as boring as hell - I mean, really, what kind of idiot doesn't know how to pair light and colour correctly..." Pansy asked, genuinely baffled as they made their way through the school grounds towards Draco's car.
Draco rolled his eyes at the girl beside him. He loved Pansy dearly, her earnest honesty and, at times, shallowness being a flaw as well as a quality, but he wouldn't have her any other way. Sometimes he wished he could love her in the way their families wanted, because it would be very easy to love Pansy - he just didn't have the right feelings.
"Where are we going for lunch then?" Pansy asked when she realised Draco was paying her slightly less attention then she'd usually expect. "I hope it's not the hospital canteen again, I know you love that place but really - their salad is as limp as an old man's…"
"We're not going to 's!" Draco interrupted, before Pansy could display how very unladylike she could be at times, "Father has already informed me that he isn't operating today, so I'm not all that inclined to stop by," He assured his friend. Pansy had already made her feelings about blood and organs quite clear - she preferred for them to stay inside the body at all times! Catching the relieved sigh that escaped her, Draco couldn't help but tease her, "Maybe we'll go there tomorrow instead." He said, flashing a grin.
"Fantastic." Pansy laughed sarcastically, shoving the blonde as they walked. "Such an appetizing thought - Hmm, we'll have a 3 day old sandwich and then watch someone have their brain ripped out - can't wait!" She clapped her hands together in false enthusiasm and then immediately let them fall to her sides as she gazed pointedly at Draco.
"You know full well that I'm only interested in the heart, silly girl." He muttered, catching sight of his shiny red convertible in the car park and towing his friend toward it. "And the sandwiches are fresh everyday; it's a hospital not a prison."
"You say tomato…" She smirked as Draco dumped her bag on the back seat and they both slid into the car. He ignored her teasing and pulled out of the car park, driving at speed that would make normal people cringe.
"So, how's Blake? Told mummy and daddy about him yet?" Draco drawled, keeping one eye on the road as he turned to smirk at the girl beside him. He laughed to himself when a small rosy blush spread across her cheeks.
"You know full well that his name is Blaise - don't act like you don't know him, you spent 7 years at Durmstrang with him! And no, I haven't told them about him - as you well know. Do I look suicidal to you?" She hissed, pushing her fringe out of her eyes in irritation.
The whole betrothal situation really was a lot more stressful for Pansy then it was for Draco and the blonde felt slightly bad for bringing up the subject of her new boyfriend. After all, for Draco it was fairly easy to live with at the moment - he was single and that status didn't look much like changing anytime soon - he could carry on the charade and keep the secret of his sexuality under wraps effortlessly, whilst Pansy had to struggle with lies and deceit on a daily basis.
"Sorry, I didn't mean…how are things, really?" He asked gently, his eyes flicking back and forth between the road and his now statue-like best friend.
Pansy shrugged one of her shoulders, her head shaking slightly causing her glossy hair to fall from behind her ear and onto her face, hiding her expression. "You know what my parents are like, they suffocate me - all I want to do is introduce a guy whom I really…like, and I can't. I haven't even told Blaise that you and I are…! I just…don't want to talk about it; I'm tired of the politics and stuffiness of it all." She sighed.
Draco swallowed nervously, his hand moving from the steering wheel and sweeping through his hair. He had no idea Pansy felt that way, he'd neglected to realise just how difficult it was for her.
The classy, flashy restaurant they had been heading to suddenly seemed far less important to get to, and he slowed the car down as he quickly ran through other dining possibilities. Spotting a fast food place across the street, Draco was struck by inspiration. "How do you fancy a carb-fest?" He asked with a grin, "I might even treat you to a chocolate milkshake." He promised as he pulled the car into the car park, Pansy's face lighting up at the prospect of empty calories and sugar.
They sat in a booth in the corner of the restaurant, both holding trays full of junk food and smiled in anticipation of the happy hormones that would be unlocked by the greasy burgers and fries. They kept the conversation light, Draco even allowing Pansy to prattle on about her lectures in the hope that she would rise out of the little bout of misery that she'd sunk into in the car.
Draco found his attention wavering though, his eyes flickered around at the other customers and employees wandering around. One employee caught his eye as he swept passed their table, his strong, heavenly aftershave washing over Draco and causing his head to spin.
It was like the scent alone was enough, it had captured Draco's attention and was holding it firmly in place - and he hadn't even seen the guy's face yet!
"Hello! Are you even listening to me?" Pansy's annoyed voice hissed through his reverie. Draco shook his head slightly and focused on his irritated looking friend, a guilty expression sliding across his face.
"Sorry. Did you smell that guy? He was hot!" He whispered, his eyes once again roaming the room. He was disappointed when he didn't spot the mystery, fantastic smelling stranger at once, and found himself focusing on a couple across from them who seemed to be arguing instead.
"Erm, no, I don't go around sniffing people." Pansy smirked, shaking her head at Draco's blatant minute attention span. "What are you looking at now?" She asked not expecting an answer, concentrating on her burger when he, as predicted, ignored her.
Draco's eyes remained fixed on the arguing couple, his sense of smell ready to catch the stranger when he re-appeared. The woman looked to be harassing the man, who Draco now realised was pretty much gorgeous except for the odd green tinge to his skin. He looked as though he were either coming down with or just recovering from a bout of illness, and perhaps should be at home in bed rather than eating junk food. Draco wondered if that was why his lady friend was hassling him. The blonde didn't really find it necessary to analyse her, except for the cursory 'Frizzy hair, terrible dress sense, slight buck tooth' judgement. He quickly went back to studying the man, who was now leaning tiredly against his fist. His flimsy looking glasses were slightly askew, revealing thick dark circles beneath his dull green eyes. His hair was totally tragic, completely limp and lifeless and so dark it made his skin so pale he looked like a drowned person.
Draco leaned slightly toward them in the hope of catching their argument, and was pleased when small snippets carried over to him.
"I'm fine, 'Mione, I'm just a little tired, that's all," The weary looking man sighed, his voice sounding strained, as though it took great effort to speak. Even Draco could tell that the man was lying, and that in fact he was far from fine.
"Oh, please," The frizzy haired woman replied, shuffling through some papers in front of her, "You've been like this for weeks now, and you're getting worse. You're going to a doctor!" She ordered.
"I don't have time to go to a doctor; I don't have time to be ill! This case is going to pivotal to us having success with our own practice - we need this…"
"Stop that. We need you to be fit and well!" The woman interrupted, pointing her un-manicured finger at him. Draco suddenly felt a rush of sympathy for the man opposite, he knew what it was like to want something so bad that a bout of illness wasn't going to stop him from getting it, but the woman seriously had a point - Draco was surprised the man hadn't collapsed yet.
He took an even closer look than before; looking for any obvious signs of illness now that he knew the man had yet to be diagnosed. He was swaying toward it being a virus or a bug, some unseasonable weather causing a little trouble with that recently. Or perhaps the man was just stressed? Draco was almost inclined to go and ask, the mystery fascinating him - after all, Draco lived for medicine, this was like sex for him. He felt himself begin to rise from his seat, his eyes still locked on the oblivious, deathly looking man. He heard Pansy's curious voice question where he was going, when all of a sudden there it was, that smell again.
He had only meant to glance at the stranger who smelled so good, still fully intent in going over to the couple. So when his eyes landed on the wearer, the most stunningly handsome man Draco had ever seen in his life, every other thought flew from his brain.
He paused, hovering over his seat, torn. He couldn't remember why he was going to stand, and automatically fell back into a sitting position. The man, who's name badge read Theo (Theo, what a gorgeous, unusual name!) stood by their table, his expression beautifully expectant as he gazed at Draco.
It occurred to Draco that perhaps he should say something, that judging by the way he was being studied he was supposed to be replying. "I'm sorry, what?" He asked, mortified by the pitch of his voice. He sounded as though he had just hit puberty.
Theo smiled mischievously, his hand signalling the empty tray in front of Draco, "I asked if you would like me to take care of that for you?" He said, his rough voice the sexiest thing Draco had ever heard.
He licked his lips at the innuendo, quickly clearing his throat so that when he spoke he sounded seductive rather than awkward. "I'd like that, thank you." He replied thinking of the erection that had just sprung to life beneath the table.
He could almost taste Pansy's disgust from across the table, "Oh my god, I just threw up in my mouth," He heard her mumble under her breath, and he hoped that Theo hadn't heard her too. Judging by the small smirk on his face as he walked away, he had.
"Thanks so much for that." He hissed at her as soon as Theo was out of earshot.
Pansy simply shrugged, uncaring that she might've embarrassed her friend, "That'll teach you for ignoring me, what was so interesting about those tragic nerds anyway?" She asked, glancing at the now empty table where the couple had been sitting. Draco, who had forgotten about the ill looking man until that point, glanced around, his curiosity once again piqued at the unsolved mystery. He found himself slightly disappointed that he'd never know what was wrong with oddly beautiful, but deathly looking, stranger.
"I don't know, the guy looked ill, I wanted to know what was wrong." He replied to Pansy's question, turning back to find her expression incredulous. "What?" He asked.
"You can't even sit in McDonald's without acting all Dr Draco; you seriously need to get a life!" She quipped, shaking her head at her weird friend.
Draco thought his chances of actually getting a life would be a little better if she didn't go around embarrassing him on the one occasion a hot guy actually spoke to him.
When they were done, they decided to head back to University and wow their professors during the last lectures of the day rather than slacking off home. Besides, Draco really wanted to start knuckling down with exams being in a few weeks.
As they made their way out of the restaurant, Draco felt a soft, warm hand close around his elbow, and he turned to find Theo standing close enough to make Draco's erection make itself present again. Pansy had continued out the door, not even noticing that Draco had stopped, for which he was grateful. He swallowed as he felt Theo's breath against the side of his neck, and he got the sudden urge to pull him forward and kiss him.
What felt like a napkin was shoved into the back pocket of Draco's jeans, the hand that made the transaction sweeping suggestively over his arse, cupping it slightly. "Call me." Theo whispered, before his presence disappeared, and Draco stumbled out into the car park with a dazed grin spreading across his face.
Maybe he was about to get a life after all, he thought in disbelief
Life turned around swiftly from the point Draco met Theo, and the blonde man certainly wasn't complaining. The confident, out-going fast food waiter was so different from anything Draco was used to that he felt himself being swept away in a tide of excitement and naïveté.
Theo was quite possibly the most delectable male to ever walk the planet - his tall muscular frame and cropped brown hair being the polar opposite to Draco's distinctly feminine form - and he often wondered if he was dreaming. Surely this ruggedly sexy and happy-go-lucky guy wasn't interested in stiff, snobby, nerdy Draco - but he was, Theo found Draco's interest in science and medicine fascinating.
Their first date was supposed to take place at the posh restaurant that Draco had planned to take Pansy the day he met Theo, but as soon as he found out that Draco was obsessed with the hospital and all things medical, Theo insisted that they go there and that the blonde man give him a tour.
To say he was over the moon was an understatement, and as soon as they stepped through the automatic doors of 's, Draco transformed from suave and sophisticated, to nerdy and mesmerized, and Theo laughed at the change.
Draco worried as they made their way to Cardio that Theo was bored, but he worried even more that his father would question why he was with the gorgeous man in the first place. Theo certainly didn't look like the type of person a Malfoy would befriend, and he was sure that Lucius would notice the spark between the two young men, even if they weren't flaunting the fact that they were on a date.
Fortunately, the date went well, and Lucius was no where to be seen. The fact that Draco and Theo ended up in a supply cupboard that the blonde knew to be completely abandoned having the most exciting sex Draco had ever had was surely a good sign that the date was a success.
Pansy took to Theo like oil to water, her instant dislike aggravating Draco beyond reason, but the funny thing was that Theo was equally disenchanted with her. The few occasions that they had met in the beginning of their relationship, Draco had noticed that Pansy and Theo would exchange measured, challenging looks, and would at times begin a war of words that Draco found almost impossible to keep up with.
Pansy wasn't shy about expressing her dislike for the newcomer, outwardly telling Draco that she felt something was amiss, that Theo wasn't good enough for her friend and should be disposed of quickly.
Draco had become blinded; Pansy had decided a month into his infatuation with the rough, uncultured plebian. She had tried her best to show Draco just how murky Theo's true colours were, to no avail.
What was worse was that Draco was neglecting his studies, his exams were practically on top of him and he had yet to be seen with a book. Of course Pansy blamed the McDonald's lacky, and knew that if she could speak to Draco's father, he'd soon get his son's focus back on his career. Obviously that was something she couldn't do as Lucius had no idea as to Draco's sexuality, new boyfriend or the fact that he was currently walking a tight rope that could jeopardize his entire life. And as selfish as it sounded, Pansy couldn't risk the fall out that would come if Lucius discovered Draco's secret, the implications for her were unbearable to think about.
So, it continued, and Pansy watched in horror as Draco and Theo moved in together - completely under the parental radar - and began spending every single second in each other's company. The blonde continually dropped out of plans he had made with his friends and missed important gatherings with his family, and it was Pansy who was having to pick up the slack, lying for him when his parents asked where he was and how he was doing.
And when the time came for their exams, Draco looked completely unprepared, dark shadows ringing his eyes as though he hadn't slept in weeks, and any conversation he had was always about Theo - who to Pansy, it seemed, only ever sat around playing video games whilst drinking beer.
Pansy wanted nothing more than to shake some sense into her best friend, to scream at him that Theo was a loser and that he was dragging Draco down, that if he wasn't careful he'd lose his entire future and there would be nothing he could do to rectify it. But she didn't, she kept her silence with great difficulty because she didn't want to pile a ton of stress on top of her friend whilst he was sitting the most important exams of his life. There was no way that she'd be the one to wreck his career, apparently that was Theo's aim in life.
The night of their final exam was when things took an almighty turn for the worst.
The Parkinson's and Malfoy's had arranged a small party to celebrate the end of their children's university career, inviting top professionals in Pansy and Draco's chosen fields to give them a taste of what lay in store for them.
Draco had neglected to invite Theo, something Pansy was thrilled about. She knew this was her chance to drum some sense into the blonde without his shadow looming over him, and she was going to grab it with both hands.
Things were going well, and for the first time since he had met his unworthy partner, Draco actually looked excited about medicine again, and Pansy hoped that his passion for the science would somehow overthrow his passion for his lover. It couldn't be about balance, the scales were already laden down enough as it was, Theo was tipping it too far out of sync and something was going to give - it would either be Draco's future or Pansy's that was going to suffer, and neither sounded appealing.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Draco teased in a cheerful voice, an hour or so into the soirée. He looked so relaxed and stress-free that Pansy debated whether she should bring the subject up or not, it was sure to cause tension, and that was last thing she wanted. But it had to be done, she thought as she took in the changing expression on the blonde man's face, he had to be told - and judging by the hard look in his eyes he knew exactly what she was thinking about.
"Pans', I hope this isn't going to be one of those conversations where you tell me I'm an idiot for staying with a man who makes me insanely happy…because I think you know what my response will be." He warned, swirling a flute of champagne around in his hand, his silver eyes leaving hers to concentrate on the liquid. Pansy hated it when he did that because she could no longer read the emotions flitting through them. Draco had always had expressive eyes, even when they were young. Pansy could always tell how he was feeling simply by glancing at them, something Draco was highly aware of and did his best to avoid. Like now.
She sighed deeply, battling with herself to keep her cool and maintain civil conversation. "I would never call you an idiot, Draco. However, I do think you're being incredibly foolish-"
"Foolish?" Draco quipped, shaking his head exasperatedly. "Oh, forgive me for falling for the man of my dreams." he whispered, his tone turning sharp. "I forgot that it's only you that's allowed to be happy!"
"What you're forgetting is that we're supposed to be getting married in a year's time! Have you told Theo that?" She sniped, spitting Theo's name as though it tasted bad.
"Have you told Blaise?" He retorted, his eyes narrowing. Pansy recoiled slightly, glancing around to see if anybody had heard. Mercifully they were standing in a deserted corner and their conversation was private.
"Blaise understands our customs, he knows that we have no choice - I doubt Theo will be as understanding!" Pansy exclaimed, her temper flaring at the cold reception she was getting from her friend.
Draco's eyes widened, anger flaring in their depths "Surely you're not still intent on actually going ahead
with this shambles!" He whispered harshly, gazing around at the people surrounding them, "I think people will notice the fact that I prefer my boyfriend to my wife-"
"Don't you dare do this to me, Draco Malfoy!" Pansy spat, fear washing over her, "Don't you dare pull out of this marriage, you selfish prick."
"Me, selfish?" Draco asked nastily, using a tone he had never used with the girl before him, "I don't think wanting to live my life the way I want is selfish!"
"Yes it is! You know what will happen if you pull out now, you know they'll find someone else - they'll make me marry a complete stranger! And I doubt I'll be fortunate enough to get another guy who finds me so distasteful!" Pansy snapped, flinging her hair over her shoulder in aggravation. She couldn't believe that he was going to do this to her, he was going to wreck everything.
Draco gazed at Pansy's face for a long moment, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down from behind his tie as he nervously swallowed. What was he saying? Of course he would still marry her, he wouldn't back out now. They had a plan - get married, have separate lives together and then divorce after a year.
"Pans', I'm sorry, of course I'm not pulling out -" He began to reassure her.
"Well, well, well, didn't think I'd find out about your little party, huh?" A rough voice called out, and Draco's blood turned to ice. No, no, not now!
Theo paced across the room, a butler trying to restrain him with little success, his expression looking completely put out. Draco panicked, could feel Pansy begin to panic beside him, and his eyes immediately searched out his father in the hopes that he had been called away. Silver met silver, and Draco's stomach dropped.
"I can't believe you, is this how little you think of me - you sneak around and have secret parties without even informing me!" Theo asked, glaring at Draco with such a devastated expression it broke the blonde man's heart.
He glanced at Pansy who looked furious at their interruption, her chocolate brown eyes boring into the side of Theo's face as though she could glare him into non-existence. He could see his father from the corner of his eye making his way over to them, a hard, threatening set to his eyes. Draco could feel himself shaking, champagne from his flute sloshing over the rim of the glass as he tried to figure out what to do.
His father was going to demand to know who Theo was and what he was doing there, dressed in a tracksuit, no less! And Draco didn't know how he was going to answer the questions, because either way he'd be screwed. If he told his father the truth as to who Theo was, he'd be disowned and Pansy would be married off to god-knows-who. But if he lied and denied any relationship with Theo, he'd lose Theo.
Pansy watched helplessly as her life crumbled down around her. Watched as Lucius descended on her best friend, as Theo bullied Draco into confessing the truth, as Lucius looked away with disappointment and Draco fled the room with the obnoxious Theo following close behind.
That was the last time Pansy saw her best friend, the last time she would see Draco Malfoy - the person who she had grown up with, who she'd admired and respected, and who was so full of ambition and life that it made her brain hurt just trying to keep up with him.
At first she was furious with him, hated him for siding with a man he'd known for such a short time, leaving her to have to fight for her freedom against her parents. Pansy's parents were no longer speaking with her, her relationship with a man they had not chosen seeming to be a disgrace in their eyes. She blamed Draco, but part of her ached for him, missed him beyond comprehension.
She called Narcissa regularly, the blonde woman giving her updates about her estranged friend whenever she enquired. Narcissa was more than a little disappointed that she wouldn't be getting Pansy as a daughter-in-law and frequently expressed this in their many conversations. She wished on more than one occasion that she and Draco would begin speaking again with little success. As much as Pansy missed him, she could not forgive him. Ever.
Still, she enquired, and found that he had passed his exams as expected, began training at as expected, and spent a very large portion of his life in the company of his father at the hospital. This pleased Pansy for two reasons. The first reason, the reason she'd admit to, was that - if Draco spent so much time at the hospital then he was spending little time with Theo. The second reason, the one Pansy would admit to no-one, was that if Draco was spending time with Lucius, it meant the older Malfoy had accepted his son for who he was - something that Draco had feared for many years wouldn't happen.
As the months stretched on Narcissa's updates began to change, and when it hit the year and a half mark, they became frightening.
Pansy dreaded each call she made to her friend's mother because the news was rarely good anymore. Draco had begun to withdraw, had been seen sporting bruises that came with unlikely excuses, and was constantly on edge, jumping at the smallest of sounds and cowering from anyone who came near him. He was messing up at the hospital and going for days without sleeping or eating, and Lucius was on the verge of signing him off - something that apparently scared the hell out of Draco and had caused him to physically beg his father to reconsider.
The thing that scared Pansy the most was that, if things carried on the way they were - with Draco taking such poor care of himself - the next phone call she might receive would be that Draco had somehow managed to harm himself…or worse.
Draco's feet reluctantly climbed the stairs that led to the apartment he shared with Theo, his body relishing in the last few moments of peace before he was thrust back into the reality of his life.
He ached all over, and he was tired - dog tired. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept well, couldn't remember eating a meal or just taking the time to think. He hadn't thought for himself in such a long time - he wasn't all that sure he could even do it anymore.
But then that wasn't altogether true, because he had been thinking, thinking long and hard, and he'd finally come to a decision - was finally going to put his foot down, and even though that thought terrified him, even though he still had bruises littering his body from other times he'd tried to put his foot down, he was going to stick with it this time. This subject was far too important to be ignored any longer.
He entered the flat with slight apprehension, steeling himself for the fall-out that was about to occur. He dropped his bag by the door in the hall and made his way through to the lounge where Theo was sat in front of the T.V.
Draco cringed as he realised how bad his timing was, his resolve faltering a little as his eyes followed the syringe Theo was filling at the coffee table.
His mind flew back to the first time he'd witnessed such a scene. When he'd bounced his way through the flat after another thrilling day at the hospital, surprising Theo by coming home early after he had traded a shift.
His world tumbled down around him as he took in the sight of his boyfriend, slumped against the couch with a belt around arm, inserting a needle into his veins with shaking hands.
Draco had been devastated, and after Theo had beaten him for coming home early, the apologetic man had pleaded with Draco to stay with him and to help him.
So it was then that Draco had started trying to save him, and had started destroying his own life in the process. He had begun replacing the heroin Theo had be using with Methadone, stealing quantities of it from the hospital pharmacy by flirting with the girl that worked there, and administering it to him in a controlled way.
But then, that soon spiralled out of control too. Theo demanded more, demanded that he shoot up himself, and it was left to Draco to try and maintain his new habit. He worried constantly that he'd be caught stealing, that his father would find out and have him dismissed.
But he wouldn't have to worry much longer, because it was going to stop, before Draco lost his career and Theo lost his life.
He watched as Theo expertly filled his syringe with his sacred poison, and a torrent of self-loathing crashed over Draco. He had done this; he had caused this ritual addiction that had turned the man before him from a lovely, caring human to a desperate, dirty junkie.
It was Draco's fault, and now was the time to fix it. Now was the time to start setting things right, because he wasn't going to do this anymore, he wasn't going to steal, and lie, and continue to wreck people's lives. It was going to stop. Right now.
"That's it, that's all you're getting - I'm not getting anymore Meth." He whispered, his eyes now fixed on Theo's face, bracing himself for the fall out.
At first Theo looked as though he hadn't heard him, he just continued preparing his fix, his intent eyes gazing reverently at the liquid, and Draco began to tense in anticipation. Calmly and silently, Theo lay the needle down on the coffee table, before he turned and looked at Draco - his eyes dead.
Theo's fist connected with Draco's jaw before he even had a chance to blink, and the blonde tumbled to the ground with a shocked yell of surprise.
The surprise quickly morphed to terror when Theo's foot swung out and slammed into Draco's chest, before it disappeared only to repeat the action again and again. Draco cried out, disbelief overshadowed by pain as each blow of his boyfriend's foot left a cracked or broken rib in its wake, and it was all too soon before Draco began coughing, blood flying from his mouth as errant kicks to his torso connected with his face instead.
"You think that hurts, you fucking ponce? You think that's pain?" Theo yelled, delivering more enraged blows, "You don't know what pain is, you haven't got a fucking clue! I'll show you how it feels, how much it hurts to be without it!" he bellowed, sending one last kick into Draco's gut before crossing the room, heading toward the coffee table.
Draco's brain understood what Theo was going to do, made the connection with sickening confidence, but he couldn't move, couldn't begin to imagine how he was going to stop the inevitable.
"You're gonna get me more!" Theo whispered menacingly, and Draco cringed as he felt his lover's body hover over his own. "Promise me you'll get it or I'll kill you, Dray. There's enough in here to kill a little twat like you!" he breathed in Draco's ear, and the blonde felt the sharp end of a needle dragging against the skin of his arm, not quite piercing it but threatening to at the slightest movement. "Promise me!"
Fear and horror and desperation crashed into Draco because he had no doubt that Theo meant what he was saying, and his body felt as though a lead weight was pressing down against it, crushing him completely. He knew he'd only have a split second to act, his only chance of getting away being to knock the syringe from his boyfriend's hand and making a run for it, and with that thought in mind - and a shot of pure adrenaline racing through his veins- Draco threw his body to the side sending Theo rolling across the floor, the syringe flying from his hand in the process.
Not even checking to see if Theo had retrieved the dose of poison, Draco jumped painfully to his feet and flew into the hall, slipping on the rug as it slid across the wooden flooring, but he didn't stop, he couldn't stop. Theo was close behind, the slight head start Draco having being the only thing keeping the enraged man from closing in. The bathroom door loomed in sight, the only room with a lock, and Draco upped his pace, ignoring the searing pain that tore through his ribs. He was willing to bet everything he had that a number of them were broken.
"You think you can get away from me, Dray? I'm gonna fucking kill you!" Theo roared from behind him as Draco tripped into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Without pausing for breathe, he fumbled clumsily with the lock, sliding the bolt across and leaning against the wood.
Theo wasted no time in taking his anger out on the door, his fists slamming against the wood and beating against Draco's back. "Open this fucking door, you fucking idiot!" He screamed as he upped his tempo, kicking as well as punching now.
Hot tears pooled in Draco's eyes, and he squeezed them shut as he desperately tried to think of a way out. A sob ripped through his body as he slid down the door, and he fell to pieces in a heap on the floor. Everything hurt, his entire body hurt. He was afraid of what he must look like, the damage Theo had done to him, but more afraid of the damage he was yet to endure, because he fully believed that the man on the other side of the door had every intention of fulfilling his promise - Theo was mad enough to kill him.
Draco's swollen eyes connected with the hamper that was filled with fresh towels beneath the sink, and it was like a lifeline had been thrown to him - because in that hamper was the mobile phone Draco had hidden in there when he had found Theo shooting up heroin. Disgust tore through him when he realised he'd been expecting this all along, had been expecting Theo to turn on him - and he'd stayed anyway.
With Theo still abusing the bathroom door, the wood trembling dangerously, Draco knew it was time to act. Throwing himself to his feet, ignoring the pain tearing through him, he dove towards the hamper, upending it, spilling towels all over the floor. He searched desperately through the linen; sobbing harder the longer it took to locate the phone.
A small black device fell from the middle of a rolled up washcloth, and with a shuddering gasp of relief, he grabbed it with shaking hands.
The door rattled loudly, the wood vibrating dangerously, and Draco's eyes flashed up as the screws holding the lock in place began to give way. Terrified that Theo was going to kick the door open, Draco crossed the bathroom and slammed against it, hoping his weight would keep it held shut.
He began fumbling desperately with the mobile phone, and he sobbed as he switched it on and found that the battery was low - there would barely be enough life to dial anyone.
Without thinking, his fingers flashed clumsily across the keys, dialling the only number he could think of as the door once again crashed behind him.
"Please, please, pick up, please." He begged desperately as the ring tone stretched on, and he felt vomit rise up his throat as an answer machine kicked in. The low battery alert bleeped in his ear and he knew he only had this call; he'd have to speak to the machine and hope it was answered.
"Pansy…Pansy, please, if you're there, please answer me." He pleaded, his voice breaking as the slamming of the door increased.
"Who the fuck are you talking to? Get out here NOW!" Theo bellowed savagely.
Draco felt his heart sink when he was greeted with silence at the end of the line. She wasn't going to answer. He was alone, and it was his own fault.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I hurt you, you were right…you were right. I love you, Pans'-" He cried, his hands shaking so badly he was in danger of dropping the phone.
"What are you doing in there? I'm going to fucking kill you!" Theo screamed again. He threw himself against the door and this time it gave way, and Draco cried out as he uselessly tried to push it closed again. The phone fell to the floor where it bounced off a towel and fell out of sight behind the sink, and Draco's life practically ended before his eyes. He was done for, this was it.
"Help," He cried uselessly, "Please, someone help me."
The door finally smashed open, an animalistic roar mingled with the splintering of the door frame as it gave way to the savage beating it had endured.
Draco flew across the room as the door burst open, sliding across the floor as he slipped on a towel, and he cried out as he began to fall. There was nothing he could do; no way he could brace himself up as he came closer to the sink basin. He saw it happen before it actually did, but that didn't make the crack of his scull against the porcelain any less painful, didn't stop his vision from flickering, or stop his brain from immediately shutting down.
The last thing he heard as he crashed to the ground, before Theo grabbed a fistful of his hair and dragged his unconscious body out of the room and towards the lounge, was Pansy's desperate voice screaming Draco's name before the battery bleeped and died.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Thank you for reading xxx