Theories

He looked into his mothers eyes, so full of questioning.

He looked away, thoughts spinning around his mind, "I didn't do anything, but I think I know what's happening"

Anticipated silence filled the room. Miriam starred at Draco, worry evident on her face, she was lost.

"And? Please Draco, anything, any idea would be good at the moment because I wish I hadn't got up this morning" She slumped in a chair, "In fact there's a lot of things I wish I'd never done, I wish-"

Draco cut her off "Father can't touch me, he… he can't hurt, can't- can't get near me"

Narcissa listened with what could be described as bated breath if she wasn't so exhausted.

Miriam spoke up "And?"

Draco's face was alight with ideas and theories, a feeling of safety coursed through him, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"He gets hit with pain, like the crutiatus"

He started to pace. As Narcissa watched him she felt a slight smile creep across her features, he looked happy, finally.

"And that's what stops him"

Miriam spoke up. "Yes, but why?"

Draco looked at her, his face looking like he was about to give her the answer to one of the worlds unknown mysteries.

"Me"

Miriam was unsure "You? How?"

"I-I don't know! Something I can do, something that's developed, something I've learned, I don't know!"

Realisation had dawned on Narcissa as Draco gave his excitable theories, a kind of calm feeling you get when you remember something that's been praying on your mind for all to long.

"Draco"

"Maybe I've always had it but never knew!"

"Draco!"

He looked up, with obvious shock on his face that his mother was in fact in the room. "Hmn?"

"Its not you"

He looked slightly abashed, "oh, then what is it?"

She stood up. "Have you noticed that mark on the side of your fathers face" Draco thought, yes, he had seen it. "Yea, what about it?"

"It's that, it's the mark of a spell, someone has cast a spell on Lucius which, well, you've seen the results"

Draco nodded. "Draco"

He looked up. "Did you cast it?"

"No, I didn't do anything" Narcissa's face was nothing but disbelief.

"What? I didn't, really mother, it wasn't me!"

"Draco, I don't want my son casting hurtful spells on people, especially your father"

Draco frowned, "What about him? What has he done my whole life, hurt me! And I've had enough!"

Narcissa paused. She walked over to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, looking deep into his eyes, he starred back. She spoke with nothing but kindness.

"Draco, a spell isn't going to make this go away"

He broke her gaze, defeated.

Miriam looked at the exchange between mother and son and slipped quietly from the room.

"This is very serious, it's wrong, and difficult and it's frightening, but."

He looked up at her emphasis on the word "but"

"I can see in you that its gone on long enough, its time to stop bowing down and taking the hits, your father has always had such power, and a belief that being a father means he can hurt you, control you anyway he wants, he doesn't see the wrong in giving his son a black eye, he see's it as a lesson, I've been letting this go on, but why? Abuse, that's what it is, abuse, isn't creating respect, its creating something you haven't had in you your whole life, rebellion. Your growing up, and I can see your ready to fight back, what this spell has given us isn't release, but strength, and time"

Draco watched and listened with growing excitement and awe at his mother's speech.

"Time to make a change."

Draco smiled.

"Right".

Miriam ran as fast as her small elf legs could carry her, she had been summoned by the other house elf's. A visitor has arrived, all she could think of was this really wasn't the time.

What she needed was answers, an explanation, anything!

She never knew that the moment she entered this manor to become house elf of the Malfoy family, that it would be so much grief!

She needed someone to explain to her what was going on, she needed,

"Severus!"

All I can say is SORRY FOR THE INSANE WAIT! I have been a bit busy and have had a writer's block that went on for to long. But its here now!

And sorry if things aren't matching up or things don't make sense, I haven't looked at this story for a while.

Sorry, the sneak peak didn't quite match the chapter.

HUGE thanks to my reviewers!

Catstaff, IceAngel89, Breannatala, LadyLilyMalfoy, MarcellaJole'Mercilee, Writertje and Hidden-notes.