disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does

Chapter 23: Stuck

Previously:

"THAT BRUTE TOOK MY DAMN GIRLFRIEND ACROSS THE DAMN ATLANTIC OCEAN ON CHRISTMAS, ON THE DAY THAT I MADE HER UPSET AND SHE WAS FREAKIN SICK- BURNING UP WITH A FEVER AND CLOSE TO FAINTING- AND YOU'RE TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN? WELL SCREW YOU!" he yelled with incredible force. "She was the only thing good in my life," he said and left, slamming the door behind him.

Now:

"Malfoy- Professor McGonagall needs to see you," Hermione approached him cautiously.

"What the hell does she want?"

"I don't know, but it's urgent, whatever it is."

"Tell her that it's going to have to wait,"

"It didn't look like she wants to wait."

"Too bad." he spat and continued to walk.

"I know you're ticked off, but she said that it involves your father."

Draco stopped dead in his tracks. "What?" he spun around.

She gulped. Regardless of her Gryffindor bravery, she had never seen Malfoy this upset in the seven years that she had known him. "She said it had something to do with your father, just in case you refused to come." He glared at her and immediately turned in the other direction towards McGonagall's office.

"You better hope you're telling the truth Granger." he threatened and walked faster. Coming to her door he knocked roughly and heard her say "come in" and opened the door.

"Hello Mister Malfoy, have a seat." She set down her quill.

"Please excuse me but I'd rather not- I'm busy,"

"I understand your situation, but at the moment the news I have to tell you is more urgent."

Curious, he consented and sat down in the chair in front of her desk, his expression cool and bitter.

"The Ministry has just sent word- your father has been given the kiss." Draco showed no emotion, no reaction. Continuing she said "Your mother-" he immediately concentrated his attention on her. "Your mother was found. But your father has left you a huge fortune in his will."

"Really now? Now that's extremely out of character," Draco scoffed.

"The Manor has been left with you, as well as a sizable amount of money at Gringott's. I have here the key and legal documents that you will need in order to obtain your inheritance," she said, pushing a file and small bag towards him.

"I don't want it."

"I understand there might be certain memories attached to the place, and you are free to do with it as you wish, but nevertheless it is yours-"

"I don't want it!"

"It's your's Mister Malfoy, it was all left specifically for you and no one else is allowed to have it," she said forcefully.

"What about my mother? Where is she?"

"She is fine, she is being taken care of right now-"

"Where is she?!" he stood up.

"St. Mungo's," she said gravely.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked quietly.

"She's in a terrible condition- her memory's gone, she's-" she stopped and began again steadily. "She's delusional and hurt-"

"You said she was fine!"

"Yes, so that you wouldn't overreact as you are doing right at this moment!"

"I want to see her," he demanded.

"You will, but all their property is left to you and you must take the property. I'm sure you understand how the transfer of a person's property goes,"

"Fine," he said coldly.

"I am very sorry Mister Malfoy, that this has had to happen to you now-"

"I'm sure you are, Professor, but if you don't mind I'd rather not hear how 'sorry' you are and I'd rather see my mother as soon as possible,"

"As you wish Mister Malfoy, but you will not be excused from any work while you stay there. Of course the break has not ended yet, but when it does you are expected to fulfill all your duties as Head Boy." Draco ignored her and left the room.

Meanwhile in the US:

"Hello? Alina? I'm back- I got you your favorite-" David stopped immediately as he saw Dumbledore sitting quite comfortably on an armchair, sipping a cup of tea with Alina, who was laying down, recuperating, on the couch.

"Hello David. Now, if you will, drop your packages and set your wand down on the table," Dumbledore said quietly but firmly, as if daring David to not do as he was told. A bit frightened and now unnerved, he complied and set down the bags and placed his dark brown wand on the table. "Good. I think you already know the reason why I have come and I shall not anger you further by repeating your misdemeanors. You will accompany me to see your HeadMaster Riter and to discuss your punishment- meanwhile I ask that you reflect on the full consequences of your actions," he said slowly, to make himself loud and clear. David stared at Dumbledore and for one moment he felt like diving for his wand and disappearing, or apparating away- but he had a whole life ahead of him and from the look that Dumbledore was returning towards him, he knew not to even try. He was stuck.

"What about Alina?" he asked stiffly.

"Oh, she is quite fine, no thanks to you of course. She seems to have been widely neglected on your part," Dumbledore said.

"It's not my fault- it's only a minor cold, I'm sure of it. She should've been better by now,"

"Exactly. However your Memory charm did nothing to help her, and the potion that I had to give her to restore the memory that was lost has unfortunately, made her quite worse. However she will be taken of, by her real family. In the meantime I expect you to keep a safe distance between you and yourself, for her sake as well as your's." Dumbledore stood and levitated Alina out of the door, carrying David's wand with him, and apparated to her home, with David in tow.

"Now we will leave her here, and you and I will take our trip to the Academy," Dumbledore said and within a moment they were gone, leaving Alina at the door to her house, leaning against it and breathing heavily. She brought her hand slowly up to search for the doorbell blindly as she closed her eyes in nausea. Lilith saw her at the door and yelped in excitement, and rushed to open it for her. When she did, Alina nearly collapsed onto her, but Andrew, the eldest, quickly came and helped her walk into the kitchen. As soon as she was seated, she puked into a bucket that Michael brought, and then passed out.

The following three weeks were hell for Alina. She slowly recovered, but not much. She had stop puking and vomiting because of the side effects of the potion, but her real sickness remained. Alina received a letter from Dumbledore informing her of David's situation. He was to be suspended temporarily, and was not allowed near her within a 25 feet diameter. Along with the news from Dumbledore she received a biting Howler from David's parents, who had long ago used to adore her. They were furious about David's tarnished reputation, and Alina was sure David was wrathful as well.

Sadly, with their newfound hatred of her, the Blakes stopped sending the aid that they had been giving to Alina's family when David had requested it. As a result Alina, while she gradually got better, began to work again with her parents, managing the upkeep of the store since she very well couldn't get anywhere near the customers or their food. She made the bills, cleaned the floors, the windows, and other menial tasks in the household to occupy herself, although her parents never asked her to help. They didn't dare to, after the anger she had shown them after finally recalling that they had once agreed to an arranged marraiged with David.

And so she spent the three weeks toiling away, and although she seemed to fully recover, she only weakened herself further with work, bitter and hateful towards everything, even towards her three younger siblings who had been so glad to see her. New Year's had passed quickly, uneventfully, as she spent the night alone in her room. Although technically Alina had been forced to stay, she didn't regret it at all. Unlike David, she didn't mind being stuck.

To come:

"Well I'm sick of it."

"So am I," she said quietly in response.

"Then why don't you stop?"

"Easy for you to say, when you've got it so lucky. You're just so blissfully ignorant of everything,"

She shoved a box ungraciously at her and replied:

"When you're done being so self-absorbed and ungrateful, let me know."