Chapter 4- Piper!

Disclaimer: Same old stuff. It's not ours. "Catalyst", isn't ours. It's Anna Nalick's.

L.A. lights

Never shine quite as bright as in the movies

Still wanna go?

Cause something here

In the way that we're constantly moving

Reminds you of home

Draco awoke to the sun shining through his bedroom window. Groggily he stretched and wiped the sleep from his silver-blue eyes as he sat up. It was two days before the beginning of his sixth year.

As he sat thinking about what he was expecting for this year he imagined it would be the same as always. He would have to put up with "Harry Potter: Savior of the Known World" and all his do-gooder friends. Dumbledore continuing to prove his belief that he was completely off his rocker. And of course he would get ample opportunities to mock Granger. And then with his Prefect privileges he would be able to wreck further havoc on his class-mates and generally the whole school. Not to mention he was now captain of the Slytherin quidditch team.

Feeling suddenly like getting out of bed, he pushed the covers off and stalked over to his wardrobe. Examining himself in the mirror he found his platinum-blond hair to be a mess.

'No matter', he thought to himself as he grabbed his wand. 'Quick charm and everything will be in place.'

Now with his hair was in impeccable order he turned his attention to his outfit for today. He felt like being comfortable and laid back today.

'Nothing is happening today, so I can dress casual.' he thought to himself.

He settled on a pair of baggy khaki jeans and a plain black fitted shirt. With his clothes in hand he headed for his bathroom door.

Draco stepped through the bathroom door and swore. Nothing was done as it should have been. Ever since losing Dobby to that filth Potter, the Malfoy household had relied solely upon Piper, an aging house elf, a willing but slow worker.

"Piper!" Draco thundered, staring at the empty towel rack and lack of shampoo on the shower shelf. "Get up here this instant!"

At that he heard a soft 'pop' from behind him, signaling the arrival of the unfortunate house elf.

So you're taking these pills for to fill up your soul

And you're drinking them down with cheap alcohol

And I'd be inclined to be yours for the taking

And part of this terrible mess that you're making

But me… I'm the catalyst.

"You called Young Master Malfoy, sir?" he said with a wary smile.

"Would you care to explain what my bathroom is lacking and why?" Draco drawled dangerously.

"Well, let's see here. Um, well, huh, there doesn't seem to be anything amiss to me. There's the shower and the sink and the loo, everything seems to be in working order…"

"I don't mean that Piper!" Draco interjected "Where are my towels and my shampoo, as well as my toothpaste and brush?" he inquired, outraged.

"Oh, oh dear. Young Master Malfoy, Piper told Mipsy to make sure it was all here, he did. Told Mipsy very important to have everything in place. Told Mipsy exactly how to do it, Piper did." Piper cried, pleading with his extremely angry master.

"And why did you give the job to Mipsy when I specifically gave it to you?" Draco said inching menacingly closer to the terrified house elf.

"Piper had soo much else to do. Piper never would have left it for Mipsy to do if Piper wasn't so busy. Piper is soo sorry Mipsy failed. Piper will go now and get Young Master Malfoy his things." Piper said readying himself for apparition, but Draco caught him by the top of his sack.

Raising Piper to eye level he whispered dangerously in his ear,

"It is not Mipsy who needs punishing it is you." At this Piper began to shake violently. Scared for his life Piper begged, "Young Master Malfoy, please spare Piper. Piper was wrong, but Piper make it right. Piper never make a mistake again. Please don't hurt Piper."

When you say love

Is a simple chemical reaction

Can't say I agree

Cause my chemicals

Left me a beautiful disaster

Still loves all I see

"No, that would be merciful to hurt you." Draco said coldly as he lowered the house elf to the floor.

"Thank you Master… kind Master… benevolent…"

"Shut your mouth and go get my things!" Malfoy yelled, nearly kicking the house elf out of the bathroom.

"Of course, Master, right away…"

"Now!!"

A pop signaled the house elf's departure, and Draco sighed with disgust of the incompetence of the house elves.

'You leave them a simple task and yet even that is too difficult for them to do. And then instead of taking the blame for their shortcomings, they blame it on someone else. It's pathetic, truly pathetic. Why, without us they'd have no idea what to do.' He thought to himself as he waited for Piper's return.

Finally Draco heard a soft 'pop' from the other side of the door. There stood Piper carrying all of Draco's things. Draco stood and walked slowly, deliberately towards the now trembling house elf. Slowly, one by one Draco took his things all the while remaining silent and glaring at the house elf.

Soon the last item was removed from the trembling arms of the distraught house elf.

"Now you know, Piper, that what I say is law. And should be treated as such. Next time you fail me I will not be so forgiving. So I suggest that there be no 'next time.' Do you understand?" Draco drawled coldly.

So I'm taking these pills for to fill up my soul

And I'm drinking them down with cheap alcohol

And you'd be inclined to be mine for the taking

And part of this terrible mess that I'm making

But you… you're the catalyst

"Piper understands, Master. Piper will not fail again. Piper promises." Piper replied shaking violently.

"Why would I want a lowly house elf's promises? What are they worth to me? I'll tell you what they're worth, less than nothing. All I want from you is your actions. Now get out of my sight before I do something rash!" yelled Draco menacingly.

Piper wasted no time at all. He disappeared without another word. And Draco was relieved, now he didn't have to look at that sniveling, worthless piece of trash any more.

Finding himself alone, finally, he turned his attention back to his original reason for being in his bathroom. Taking a shower. 'Hopefully, after my shower my day will go little more smoothly. Merlin's beard, please let it get better, please.' With a sense of hopelessness he stepped into the shower.

He emerged several minutes later, wet and still feeling quite hopeless. Pushing his hopeless, dreary thoughts to the back of his mind he dried off and dressed.

Emerging from his bathroom he looked around the room. His bedroom was almost a mirror image of his emotions.

With its elegant and regal furnishings it was unmistakably a part of the Malfoy household. The walls were painted shades of deep forest green and black trimmed with silver molding along the ceiling and gray molding on the floor. His floors were made of finely polished wood. On the wall opposite the door and to the right of his bathroom was a large paneled window with a breath-taking view of the front of the Manor grounds. His curtains were a lavish, black velvet material with silver trimming along the edges. His four poster bed took up a large portion of the room from its position in the middle of the wall across from his bathroom. His bed hangings matched the curtains and his bed was covered by a black, silk, goose-down quilt with forest green silk sheets.

Some of his other furnishings included a dark mahogany writing desk with matching chair, armchair and bookcase. The chair was covered in a dark green velvet material and the bookcase was full of various books ranging from volumes of dark magic to wizarding novels. The armchair was large and expensive looking which matched the smaller chair. The wardrobe occupied the space directly to the right of the bathroom door, in front of the large four poster bed. Sharing the wall with the window were the writing desk and chair on the left and the bookcase and the armchair on the right.

You'll be the vein, you'll be the pain, you'll be the scar

You'll be the road rolling below the wheels of a car

And all of your thoughts on God…

Don't know if I'm strong enough… No

You'll Be the vein, you'll be the pain, you'll be the catalyst

Draco looked about him and nodded with satisfaction. The room reflected him, reflected his status. Highborn, pureblood, heir to Malfoy Manor. It was, in any case, better than any of his companions', never friends, rooms. Speaking of his companions, they were supposed to meet in London at noon.

Not feeling particularly excited or enthused about seeing any of them he strode down to the breakfast nook. The table was laden with a great assortment of foods; eggs, muffins, breakfast meats-everything. With a roll of his eyes, Draco took two sausages and an English muffin, wrapping them up in a cloth napkin and heading to the door in hopes of avoiding his mother.

"Leaving so soon, love?" called his mother from the door behind him. "I was hoping I would at least be receiving a 'good morning' or at least a 'hello' before you left."

Turning around slowly to face his mother he reminded himself to be courteous but restrained. In his eyes, women were only useful for one reason- producing heirs. All things considered, his mother had done poorly at that, too. Draco had no other siblings. No brothers to gain the wealth if Draco should die.

Draco looked straight into his mother's pleading, loving gaze unfazed and unflinching. Coldly, and with no emotion he said "Good Morning, Mother." Then he strode to her and pecked her curtly on the cheek as he exited the nook.

Mrs. Malfoy stood completely still until she heard his footsteps trail up the staircase back to his room then and only then did she finally wilt into a sobbing, shaking mess on the floor where she remained until Piper came to usher her into a chair.

"Why does he have to be so much like his father?" she sobbed into her hands, as Piper rushed to and fro trying to find something to comfort a weeping, distraught Mrs. Malfoy. Quickly he rushed to the fireplace and called for a good friend of his mistress's, Severus Snape.

"Professor, please. My mistress is in need of your assistance. I can not calm her." Piper called desperately

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Piper, pray tell, what upset her?"

"It was Young Master Malfoy, sir. He's in quite a foul mood this morning."

"Now, now Piper. Don't speak poorly of you're superiors."

"Of course, Professor. Piper apologizes."

Then a soft 'pop' sounded behind Piper. Snape turned to him, "Where is she, Piper?"

"In the nook, Professor." He replied.

"Narcissa, what's the matter?" Snape asked, seating himself next to her.

"Severus, when did you get here?" she asked shocked.

"Piper called me. Now tell me what happened."

"Oh, Sev. Where did I go wrong? What kind of mother have I been to allow my son to stray so far from me?" she pleaded. "How did this happen?" Narcissa moaned. "How did I let it happen?"

"Let what happen, Cissa?" Snape asked gently.

"How did I allow Lucius to make my son, my only son into his bloody prodigy?"

"Cissa, look at me. Draco is not Lucius. Draco is his own person."

"Oh, Severus, help me. I need solace and comfort."

"Cissa, you've done everything in you're power to bring Draco up properly, but you've had to fight Lucius the whole way and you know Lucius won't lose to anyone. You've done an honorable job with what was given to you to work with."

'Yes, but I should have stood up to Lucius. I should have tried harder to bring Draco up in such a way that he would look at those around him by their works and deeds not their lineage or wealth. I should have been a protector of my only son not his sacrificer." She sobbed again; she cried so hard her whole body shook.

"No, no, no! Narcissa, please stop this nonsense! It is better for Draco to have a mother that he doesn't understand than no mother at all. You doubt your worth to much. If it were not for you there would be no mercy at all left in that boy's body. Lucius would have beaten it out of him. The boy has good in him yet. All is not lost, Narcissa. He has yet to finish growing. We are not finished growing. He is not dead, he still has a chance. All he needs is someone to be a catalyst to him. Someone to show him how to love. And he still has many years to learn. You have planted the seed and cared for it as much as was in your power; now, Cissa, you must let someone finish what you cannot. Please, Cissa, do not lose faith in him just yet! I have many good feelings about this school year." Severus pleaded with his only friend, knowing that if she did not take his words to heart he could do no more for her.

These L.A. lights

They don't shine quite as bright as back in Frisco

Do you wanna though…

Still wanna go?