Chapter 11 - Broken

Ivie sat in the warm sunroom on a large, plush couch sipping on her tea. Draco had insisted she rest as he covered her in a fur blanket. She stared silently out into the gardens as she thought about recent happenings. Ivie often did this, staring blankly into the gardens, she felt numb since her attack. She would not talk to anyone and she would not let Draco touch her. She felt him watching her always, he hovered around her so that she never left his sight. It made her feel comfortable when he was around.

Ivie closed her eyes slowly as she remember the minutes after she lost her son. She remembered the vision of his beautiful blonde hair, she remembers reaching for him as her vision blurred and she blacked out. She remembered the excruciating pain as her baby was destroyed in her womb.

After she blacked out Ivie only remembered Draco, she remembered his strong arms holding her telling her to hold on, that he would save her. She held onto his soothing voice as the light had tried to claim her. An angelic voice beckoning her to walk into the light, that she would find peace. She walked towards the light when she couldn't hear Draco's voice. She just wanted to sleep, she was so tired.

Ivie was jolted back to life by the Healers at St Mungo's who had worked hard to stop the internal managed to save her womb they explained to her that it might be harder to have children in the future.

Ivie felt sorrow for Draco when she finally saw him again. He held her as she cried, mourning the loss of their son. The Healer's had confirmed it was a boy. It was the only time she cried, the only time she felt any emotion. Now she felt nothing, she couldn't remember what it was like to love Draco the way she had. She didn't cry for her son, she didn't cry when Dimitri could not be found. She didn't cry when she knew she couldn't marry Draco.

Her friends and family visited her every other day. Joining her in the sunroom they chatted idly, Ivie didn't join in, she enjoyed watching the vibrant gardens in the distance. She smiled at her parents to let them know she was listening to them speaking, but she did not interact.

She only spoke to Draco about trivial matters such as what was being served for dinner and what he would be doing for the day. She made sure that someone was always working back at the club, it wouldn't run itself now without Crabbe and Goyle.

Narcissa kept her company most days sipping tea with her and not speaking. Ivie like it that way, she enjoyed her company.

Draco had asked Blaise to oversee management at the club while he was away. He would not leave Ivie's side, even in the safety of the Manor. He watched her intently, still waiting for her to talk to him. His heart ached as he watched her blank face staring out into the gardens everyday. He missed her touch, he missed her love. Draco often found himself unable to breathe, consumed by his grief not only had he lost a child but he had lost his soulmate.

Draco struggled to keep his grief at bay when Ivie reached out to touch him, he longed to hold her, to make love to her again. He would not waste anytime giving her another baby.

Draco busied himself with finding Dimitri and destroying him as he had helped destroy Ivie. Astoria was locked away in Azkaban awaiting parole. Ivie's father had kept a lookout, notifying Draco of any movement. He had sent Theodore Nott and Blaise out to check out a lead on Dimitri's whereabouts. He would not leave Ivie alone.

"Draco" Ivie called from their bedroom that afternoon. She had the strength to walk the Manor freely by herself now.

Draco rushed into the bedroom. "Yes love" He said softly as he entered their spacious bedroom suite.

Ivie was standing at the glass double doors that opened to their large balcony overlooking the gardens, she wore a beige coloured shift dress, the hem line barely grazing her upper thigh.

Narcissa had decorated the room to look much like Ivie's apartment. Not very Malfoy like at all. The kingside bed was covered in crisp white sheets and quilt covers, the bedhead and base made of a dark grey fabric. The flooring was a pale coloured wood with a large black rug covered most of the room. Silver plush couches surrounded the open fire place on the far side of the room. The grand bathroom just off to the right. She had insisted on creating a large enough walk in robe for the pair. Next to the entrance of the room was another door leading into the large walk in robe. The walls lined with white glass cabinets filled with Ivie's shoes and elegant gowns. In the middle a large white cabinet filled with drawers of jewellery and handbags. White, plush chairs off to the side.

"Will you take a bath with me" Ivie asked softly, still staring out of the window.

Draco gaped at her for a moment, eyeing her bare thighs that poked out from her short dress.

"Please" She pleaded, looking into his grey eyes.

Draco snapped out of his daze. "Of course" He answered as he walked over to her. Placing his hands gently on her waist and resting his forehead to hers.

Draco closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, drinking in her scent, she smelt of wild berries and jasmine.

His breath hitched as Ivie traced her fingers over his chest and along his jawline, eventually cupping his face in her hands. Desperately wanting to close the gap between them, Draco kept incredibly still and let Ivie lead the way, he wouldn't push her. He felt Ivie tilt her head up towards him, her warm breath washing over him smelt of mint and berries.

Draco opened his eyes and his molten grey orbs met with dazzling green, they reminded him of emeralds sparkling in the sun. Closing her eyes slowly Ivie breathed in deeply as she rested her forehead on Draco's chin. Suddenly she pulled away, grabbing his hand and lead him into the grand bathroom. Ivie flicked her wrist towards the large marble bath, turning on the gold taps with wandless magic.

As the bath filled with steaming hot water Ivie turned to Draco, unbuttoning his shirt slowly without saying a word.

Draco watched her intently as she undid the last button of his black shirt, her face still showing no emotion but he noticed her eyes flicker with sadness. His breath hitched as her hand moved to his belt.

"Stop" Draco whispered as he grabbed Ivie's hands with his own. "Stop it please. Please talk to me I can't take it anymore" He pleaded, his hands moving to her face, making her look at him.

"I can't" Ivie whispered closing her eyes.

"Why?" Draco asked.

Ivie exhaled as she pulled away from Draco, he watched her as she walked over to the basin and placed her hands on the marble benchtop. She leant forward, dropping her head below her shoulders, breathing in deeply so that Draco could hear her rasping breaths.

"Ivie" Draco said softly as he walked towards her.

"Don't" Ivie snapped. "I can't Draco" She whispered.

Noticing the water getting close to full Draco waved his hand towards the bath, magically shutting off the water. He grabbed Ivie gently by the arms and pulled her to face him.

"I'm not letting you go Ivie" Draco pleaded. "I want to help you."

"Draco" Ivie whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Every time I look at you it kills me. Every time I look at you I see our son. I couldn't save him Draco, I failed you. I failed him" She cried.

Draco held her as sobs wracked her body, her tears leaking onto his bare chest. He carried her to their bed and lay her down gently. Laying down beside her he wrapped his arms around her as she cried, letting out all her emotions she had held in for weeks. His heart ached as she sobbed into his chest, he caressed her hair and cooed soothing words into her ear until she fell asleep.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ivie woke up with Draco's arms around her waist and her legs entwined with his, her head resting on his bare chest. Inhaling deeply she breathed in his intoxicating scent, they had not been this close since she had come home from the St Mungo's.

She tilted her head up to look at him, his chiseled features relaxed and peaceful as he slept. His platinum blonde hair resting against his forehead, Ivie's heart began to ache. Silent tears fell down her cheeks as she watched him sleep.

Ivie knew that Draco was hurting just as much as she was but she could not cope with his pain as well as her own, she was just not strong enough. Seeing his pain, feeling his desperation in the bathroom earlier that day had made her come undone. The sorrow she was holding in for weeks came to the surface and now she couldn't stop it, she felt like someone was stabbing her heart repeatedly and she longed for it to stop.

She slowly untangled herself from Draco's limbs, placing a soft kiss on his lips she grabbed his wand from his pocket.

Ivie could barely breathe as she held in her sobs so that she would not wake Draco, she placed his wand to her throat and clamped her eyes shut.

Time seemed to slow down as she inhaled and began to breathe the words, tears slowly fell down her soft cheeks. A tear dropped on Draco's arm causing him to stir.

"Ava-"

"Ivie no!" Draco cried as he shot up from the bed and grabbed her wrists.

"-da Kedavra" She whispered.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Draco's eyes were wide as the jet of green light hit the ceiling. He pulled his wand roughly from Ivie's hand and pinned her to the bed as she cried.

"I'm sorry" He whispered as he pointed his wand at her. "Stupefy"

Ivie went limp underneath him as she was rendered unconscious from his spell, he couldn't risk her trying to harm herself again.

Moving from the bed Draco buttoned his shirt back up and grabbed his jacket, knowing he did not have long before the spell wore off he disapparated.

He landed in a dimly lit room with a thud on bare wooden floorboard.

"Severus!" He bellowed.

"Draco" Snape drawled as he turned the corner into the room facing Draco.

"I need your strongest calming draft now" He ordered. "I have not had the chance to brew my own"

Snape strolled past Draco to the wall behind him, opening a draw and riffling through its contents. He thrusted several vials towards Draco.

"I'll explain later" Draco said as he grabbed the vials and disapparated back to Malfoy Manor.

Draco arrived just in time as Ivie began to stir, he sat down gently beside her and held her head to soothe her. He stroked her hair soothingly as she woke slowly, he whispered soothing words against her lips.

"Draco" She whispered, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

He shushed her quietly. "It's ok baby" He whispered as he pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly as she cried.

"Take this" He said as he offered her the vial. "It's a strong calming draft, it will ease your pain."

Ivie took the draft with shaky hands and took a large gulp. She put the cap back on and placed it on the bedside table.

Draco watched her intently as she began to relax, she exhaled and sat back against the pillows her emerald eyes never leaving his.

"I love you Draco" Ivie whispered as her eyelids fluttered shut. The calming draft sending her into a deep sleep.

"I love you Ivie" Draco whispered as he kissed her forehead.

Draco pulled the covers over Ivie and left the room, closing the door with a soft click. He rest his forehead on the large oak door and exhaled. Not giving himself a moment to feel any emotion he disapparated to the club, deciding to focus on work than dealing with his problems at home.

Draco longed to have Ivie back in his arms, to kiss her soft lips passionately as they once did so often. He would give anything to have her naked beneath him, her blonde waves splayed out over his pillow.

Shaking the thoughts from his mind Draco strolled towards his office. As he opened the door he noticed Blaise and Riley fucking on his desk, casually closing the door again Draco walked to the bar. The bartender poured him a glass of fire whiskey and handed it to him.

"You look a wreck Boss" He said.

Draco nodded, throwing back the entire glass of his firewhiskey in one gulp.

"Another" Draco ordered.

The bartender nodded pouring Draco a double shot of firewhiskey this time.

By this time Blaise had joined him at the bar, nodding to the bartender to get them another drink.

"I'll need you to buy me a new desk" Draco said smirking at Blaise.

"Ahh mate, the amount of dirty whores you've had on it, I just made it cleaner for you" Blaise chuckled.

Draco laughed lightly. "True" He said as he downed his large glass of firewhiskey.

"I'm taking things aren't so good?" Blaised asked.

"Where's Riley?" Draco asked.

"She'll be along in a minute. Why's that?"

"I need her help" Draco said glumly.

"That bad huh?" Blaise said.

Draco nodded as Riley joined them. He ushered them towards his office and sat them down and explained his eventful afternoon with Ivie.

Tears glistened in Riley's concerned eyes and Blaise remained stoic as usual.

"Draco, we need to get her out of the house and do the things she loves." Riley said.

Draco nodded and they agreed on a plan. Riley and Mina would stay at Malfoy Manor and have a girls weekend while Blaise and Draco stayed at the club.

Draco hoped it would work and Ivie would come back to him. He would give her space to heal and be with her friends.