Chapter 28
Maria came down the stairs and walked into the arms of her fiancée. It was the morning after the night before in the Malfoy house hold and she cupped Lucius' face as he held her about the waist.
"Try and be careful with him today," she advised him.
"I am trying to be," he said to her, not understanding why he was actually willing to listen to someone else when it came to his son. But then he was so tired of not understanding that he was willing to listen to any one - take any advice they gave him. And she was trying only to comfort him he knew.
They went into breakfast together to see Draco was and there with Jane, who had an unhappy look on her face.
"Sir there is something Master Draco needs to tell you, isn't there Draco?" she said to him gently. Hoping desperately that the governess had made a breakthrough he eagerly sat down at the side of his son.
"Well come on then, little man," he said to him. He was looking at his son with longing eyes. He was so full of love for him.
Draco wished it was just the two of them, but he knew he had to be strong.
"Just tell him what you said to me last night," the governess encouraged.
"Draco," whispered Lucius, stroking the back of his son's hair. "I am not going to be cross."
"Daddy... I didn't go near your office," he said to him with his big grey eyes.
"Maria?" Lucius asked. "Is this right?"
She looked at him with her great big innocent eyes and he knew that he was in turmoil and he didn't know who to believe. Why would she lie? But then, why would he?
Draco was also looking at him though and he knew his son. He wasn't lying to him he was sure. He always knew if his son was lying to him. Kissing Draco he smiled.
"Well it isn't that important is it? Daddy over reacted last night and I am sorry for that dragon. Maria, sweetheart, sit down. Today is a new day. All that is over with now isn't it?"
She did as she was told but that morning had proved to her two things. The boy was not as under her control as she thought he had been and she knew now that she had to get rid of that meddling governess as soon as she was Mrs Malfoy. She threw Jane a threatening looking.
"Is there something you wanted Miss Maria?" asked Jane. She was not going to be intimidated by her.
"Nothing," she said as she turned to her fiancée. "I meant to tell you yesterday but I didn't get round to it."
"Oh yes dear, what was that?"
"I booked the vicar for the wedding. I thought here might be a good place to have it. It is large enough and I want to live in the building I was married in for the rest of my life." She explained to him.
"That's a lovely thing to say. When did you book it for my sweet?"
"Next Saturday, the 25th." she said as she took a bit of her toast.
"But dad, we're going to the game next Saturday!" piped up Draco. It was as if it was a light in the darkness for him right now and it gave him something to look forward to. A bit of time with his father and his uncle was the only good thing he had had to look forward to and as he looked at his father, Lucius could see by the look in his eyes how much it had meant for him.
"Is a Quidditch game really more important than our marriage, Lucius?" she asked.
"Draco...." he said to him gently. He had told her to book it soon, and she had obviously just forgotten that he was meant to be going out with his son the next weekend. She had only done what he had told her too.
Before he had had any more time though, his son fled from the room. Draco couldn't stand it any longer. He had known what his father was going to say. He did not need to hear it.
"Sir please! He didn't go in there. And today when I tried to help him get dressed, he wouldn't let me near him! Believe him!" Jane said as got up to follow her master. She was not going to let this go on any longer. She was going to be with Draco day and night until she knew he was ok. No more time off. No more visits out without her.
Lucius listened with concern and shock.
"Sir you can't shut your eyes to this! Just because you don't want it to happen, doesn't mean it isn't happening." Jane cried before following Draco.
He let his eyes follow the nurse out the room and for the rest of the say what she had said and the look in his sons eyes haunted him. There was something so lonely about them and he knew he hadn't been to his office. He had to know what was going on. He did not call after Jane or tell her to be more respectful, as she knew he was telling the truth. She was a good woman and what she was saying to him made sense. He was in the wrong. Not her.
-
Maria had got her dress, she had arranged the guest list, and she had done the seating plan. She was doing the things that every other bride did before her big day. But she knew that generally every other bride had a groom who was interested in their big day. She knew Lucius didn't care for there's. But she told herself things were going to be different after the big day, they really were she told herself. Looking in the mirror she thought of all the good things she had to look forward to. She had her hen night, her wedding night, everything!
It was all going to be fine. It was so close to her now that she could touch it, taste it, smell it.
It was all going to be hers.
-
Draco sat in the corner as he watched his friends play. Pansy... Blaise...Greg...Vinnie...
They were all there and they were all playing together but he did not want to be there. All he wanted was his father. All he wanted was to go to the Quidditch game ... but he couldn't. Because of her...
"Do you not want to play Draco?" asked Mrs Parkinson and he quietly shook his head.
"Ok..." she said as she looked at the other children just in time. There was a whack, then a cry. "Vincent you do not so that," the two of them had just looked over in time to see Vincent hit Gregory. Mrs Parkinson went over to them quickly and put her arms about the crying boy. "You don't do that. It is not a nice thing to do."
The wheels in Draco's head begun to turn as he saw what was going on. It wasn't a nice thing to do. Getting over from where he had been sitting, he wondered over to them.
"Mrs Parkinson?" he asked.
"Yes dear?" she said as she came over with Gregory in her arms. "Friends don't hit one another do they?"
"No dear, they don't. They don't hit or hurt one another, that's for sure."
By the time that he had got home that night he had played the scene over and over in his head. Something wasn't fitting together. Night fell and by the time he got into bed he was ready to tell. Relaying his account of the story to Jane, he waited for confirmation of what he had been told.
"That's right. Draco if some on hurts you then they are not your friend. They are a horrible person." She said as she gave him his drink.
"But what if you lie to them, or you hurt them first?" he asked.
"Well then,-" She struggled for the words. She had to answer carefully, for she didn't know whether this was a hypothetical question or not. Her guess was not. "It wasn't right, but if you tell people why then they can help." She said to him. "I'm sure if you hurt someone, or lied Draco, you had your reasons, sweet."
She was so kind he thought to himself. And she understood.
"Jane?"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to be sent away." He confessed to her. It was constantly on his mind, all the time. He kept seeing himself in a carriage being taken away. His father was allowing it and he didn't care anymore. In his visions Lucius just turned away from him.
"Draco, you won't ever be sent from this place. It is your home and you are well loved here my dear." She knew she was being informal and she knew she shouldn't be so motherly towards him, but she had never known him to need her so much. "I won't let anyone take you away, and neither will your father."
He nodded and allowed himself to be held.
-
Friday night came all too quickly for Draco's liking. It was the day before the wedding. He did as he was told for the rest of the week. He did not disobey his father or Maria once. He did not cry and he did not rush out of rooms. He stayed with Jane. She was a new safe haven.
But on Friday night, a new and terrifying prospect arose - of a night without his father at the manor.
"But why do you have to go?"
"Because it is tradition. I cannot see Maria the night before the wedding, so I am going to go and spend the night with Severus, and then I am going to come back in the morning with him," he said to his son.
"Dad, can't I come?" he asked him.
"Not tonight son, it is for big boys. But I'll see you tomorrow, I promise." He said to him.
Crawling into his father's lap he hugged him tightly.
Lucius felt his heart melt. "I love you, and I am so proud of you, baby Dragon." He said to him.
"Love you too daddy." Lucius realised that lately he had been allowed to call his son baby once more, when hat time last year he would have rejected the name as if it was poison. He also noted how reluctant he was when he let go of him. Kissing his baby boy again on the forehead, he turned from him to the fire. Draco felt as if he was losing him forever.
As Lucius left the house he gave his son a final wave and then winked at the door. Turning to see his step mother, he felt his chest go tight once more but before she could speak Jane was behind her.
"I need to get the Young master ready for bed. Is there something you wanted?" she asked.
"You want to watch your tongue." Maria warned Jane.
"No, really, I don't." Jane told her boldly. "Come on Draco, let's get you ready for bed. I'll give you two stories tonight if you want me too." She said and Draco beamed. Running away from Maria he jumped into Jane's open arms.
"Watch yourself Jane. You may soon need a new job." Maria threatened. Jane continued to walk.
"I'd watch your own affairs Miss Maria and let me worry about mine." Jane's confidence renewed Draco's. Letting her kiss his forehead he relaxed. Jane was the best women he knew. She was not beautiful, or thin. She wasn't what woman should be. He didn't even think she was that smart, but she was exclusively his. H
-
"Butterbeer? Starting soft aren't we?"
"We'll work our way up to the stronger stuff."
Lucius had said no to a stag night. He had had one before. As far as he was concerned he might as have just as well stayed at home, but Maria had pleaded with him, so he had made it clear to Severus (once again, his best man) all he wanted was a chat and a drink. Just the two of them, nothing dodgy. He didn't want to wake up with a Goblin for company. Again.
Loyally, that was what Snape had given him. Lucius knew what he wanted. Why should he force a bunch of drunken fools on him? Any way, it was high time they had a catch up.
"So how's business?" he asked.
"Boring," Lucius replied as he drunk. He didn't have a mind to even talk much. He just wanted quiet and peace.
"Home?"
"I don't even know any more." he said to him. "Take a look, if you will."
Severus browsed his best friend's memories of the last few weeks. He was shocked at the violent and sudden change in Draco.
"What's going on, because to be honest, Severus, I am beggared if I know?" He run his and through his hair. "He isn't the same boy. Even when he calmed down, when he found out the game was cancelled he was so quiet. He so wanted go, he needed it. I denied him for the first time in his life. I feel so sick over it. And every time I hug him he clings on as if it the last time I will ever be able too." He hadn't ever been this honest. Not even when he had spoken to Tonks had he been this honest. Or at least he hadn't felt he had been. His emotions were kept in lock down usually. He didn't want to talk about it even then. But as the image of his son crying under the table sprung to mind, his barriers broke. "I need her here. I need her to hold me, tell me how to handle this. I need her to hold my hand and tell me I'm doing a good job. And I need her here to tell her tomorrow means nothing. It's still me, her and our baby. She'd know what was wrong. She'd comfort him so much better and more than I can. She'd be a better mother than I am a father."
Snape looked at him and he saw a mirror. Everything he had ever felt for Lily Evans – he refused to think of her by her married name – He knew in that moment his best friend had felt for his wife. He supposed he had always known. He had seen it in the way that Lucius had looked at her, how he spoke to her or touched her as if she was wonderful and everything about her was special and magical. He had idealised his wife. For two short years they had had their happily ever after, which was more than he had ever had. But they had deserved it, just as he had. Him and Lily.
"After all this time? You are still in love with Narcissa, aren't you?"
"They say that absent makes the heart grow fonder, and I assure it does. My memories of her sustain me through every hour when I am not with our beautiful little son. And when I am with him, I see her in him... her wisdom, her spirit, her beauty and her passion – or I used to anyway. Now I don't know what I see. I love that boy with everything I am Severus." Severus had not realised he was going to get so emotionally so easily. He didn't mind but – he just hadn't known. "He is slipping further and further from me. And if I don't get him back, I think I am going to go mad. But I can't help him because I don't know the cause of his troubles. I have asked, time and time again. I've got angry, upset, I've held him, hugged him, told him what he means to me. But I'm up against a brick wall. Who built that wall? Did I?" he asked. "I don't know anymore." Then something that shock Severus to the soul of him happened. A single tear dropped from those deep grey eyes which conveyed with such great emotion the loss he had suffered and the fact he still struggled to live from day to day. "I need him. And that is why I am going against my pride and my head and I am going with my heart. Severus, as soon as you see my boy tomorrow, you check his memories. You search for something, anything which could have caused this sudden change. And if you find something, you tell me. Please my friend. You really are my last hope."
"Of course I will, of course, Lucius. You have my word."
-
"Can I have another drink?" a small voice asked from the bed.
"You should be asleep by now," Jane's returned.
"I can't." He complained.
He heard a sigh. "One more Draco. Then sir you really must try to sleep sir." she said as she got up and left the room.
He had thought that when she had only left the room for such a small space of time that he was going to be ok.
But it seemed Maria had been waiting for her to leave him all night.
He sat up in bed and he felt he that for the first time in her presence, he could keep his nerve and stay defiant. Jane had given him the courage he had needed.
"I want to talk to you about tomorrow." She said haughtily.
"Very well."
"Draco, let me make myself clear to you. If anything goes wrong, I am going to hold you responsible. And you won't like that I assure you. Suffice to say if it does, then this is going to be your last night here."
"I won't let anyone take you away, and neither will your father."
"No, it won't be. My father won't allow that." He said to her though it was obvious he wasn't sure if he really believed that. "You are not my friend. I think you do bad things, and I don't want you here. You won't send my Jane away. You're nothing but a bully."
"Am I not?" she chuckled. So he was fighting back now? Damn the foolish child.
"No."
"You over estimate you relationship with your father, let me assure you of that."
"No, you don't." A familiar voice told him.
Draco looked over to the corner to find someone there who he could not have predicted being there in a hundred years. Maybe because he had not heard that voice since – since the day he was born....but he knew who she was. Indeed, he knew her by heart.
The figure shone as if she was the same colour as the moon, all but the eyes. Her bright blue eyes were expressive and they called out to him. A smile was spread over her gentle features.
"You don't. She just underestimates it." The figure explained.
He knew that Maria was screeching at him. But he didn't care and he didn't hear her. The only one who mattered was that soft, willow like woman in the corner. She had come to him...
"Are you listening, Draco?" Maria asked, and he was only aware of her again because she was coming towards him. She was going to hurt him, he was sure and he begun to shake, but it was that moment Jane returned.
"Maria, get the hell out!" she said. She had absolutely no time for this. Draco heard them continue the fight, but with his protector back in the room he knew he could focus on the women the corner, who was the only one he could really see. Jane wasn't going to let him be hurt. The figure walked over to him and as he sat on the edge of his bed, she knelt in front of him.
"Courage baby, summon it, though you have been so brave already. This has to end. I can't watch this any longer. My heart is broken in so many places."
He reached out and touched her face. She was real to him. He didn't care if she was in actual fact a figment of his imagination, she was real to him!
"I'm here. It's me." She said answering his unspoken question.
"Why have you only just come back? Why not sooner?"
"I have always been here. There has not been a moment I have not been with you and papa. I never left." She explained. As there forehead touched together, she kissed his nose. "Promise me you'll do something for me tomorrow."
"Anything." He said smiling at the sensation of her touching him with her gentle lips. The end of his nose tingled.
"Put yourself in Severus' way, or tell daddy what has happened. Either one baby, but do something. I can't watch him marry her. I especially can't watch you suffer any more." She said as she kissed his forehead. "Please my love."
He nodded. He would do one of those things, he promised!
Satisfied, she kissed his forehead and rose.
"I don't want you to go." He begged.
"Son, I am never so far away. I'm not leaving." She said to him. "You might just have to look a bit harder for me."
He nodded. He fell quiet for a moment before asking the question that had tortured him. She would know the answer. "He won't send me away, will he?" Draco whispered.
"No, Draco. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you are the great, the only treasure of your father's heart. He cherishes everything about you. You are his home. He wouldn't cope if you were taken from him. He could not live, breathe without you."
The little boy nodded as his grey eyes met the bright blues ones.
"I miss you and I love you mamma."
"I know baby, and I love you too. I wish I was more present in your life, but I never forget that I am always here." She said. "Courage Draco. Summon your strength and by this time tomorrow, it'll be over."
"Promise?"
"I promise, my love."
-
Draco awoke in the morning with a sense of hope. He knew what he had to do. Last night had been for real he told himself. It had happened. She had come to him and she loved him. Narcissa had been the person who understood his father best in the world. What she said was right.
Sending Jane out the room to hide his bruises, he put his new dress robes on, which matched the ones his father was going to wear. Together, he and Jane took their breakfasts in the kitchen as the dining room was being prepared for the wedding meal. She saw in his eyes he had come to a resolve.
"Are you ok?" she asked. She knew when she had thrown Maria out of his room the night before that he had not seemed worried by it. He had been focusing on something else.
"Yes, fine." He dismissed the question n. "Are daddy and Uncle Severus here yet?"
"Not yet sir, but they will be here by half eleven, why?"
"I need to talk to them."
Jane felt her heart burst with pride. He was going to tell his father everything. She knew he was.
"Draco, there you are?" said Cecilla Parkinson, Mrs Parkinson sister in law. "Maria needs to see you sweetheart." She said to him.
"Why does she need him?" said Jane defensively.
"Because she does," she said to her, unbelieving that Malfoy would keep staff who spoke to their betters so badly. "And she needs to see him by himself."
"That isn't possible." Jane told Cecilla.
"Yes, it is." Draco piped up. Taking Jane's hand he smiled up at her and look into her eyes. "I can do this."
Sinking down to his level, she drunk in the image of her young master.
"What if something happens to you? I'd never forgive myself."
"It won't. Just go to the Hall. I'll see you there," he said as he went to Cecilla's side. Whatever had happened to the boy the night before it had given him an extraordinary amount of courage.
He gave her a wistful look and walked away.
-
Maria looked at herself in the mirror. She had chosen the most expensive dress in the shop, of course. It resembled the dress she had worn to her engagement party. Though this one had sleeves, it had the same corset back and flared out at the bottom. Her hair fell down her back in soft ringlets and her natural make up set of her cheek bones. But she still felt uneasy, no matter how good she looked.
Her conversation with the boy the night before had unnerved her.
Draco looked at her with no emotion what so ever when he came to her. He was blank.
"Doesn't she look perfect?" asked Cecilla. He merely shrugged.
"Leave us." Maria demanded.
Cecilla looked at her resentfully but turned, and walked out.
"You want to be careful boy."
He said nothing. He was not going to give her the satisfaction.
"You insolent little –"
"Daddy doesn't love you and he never will. My mamma – he loved her." He told her. He wasn't going to let her go into her marriage not knowing. "You'll never be my mother."
"No, I realised that when you failed to follow your father's instruction. And so did he." She replied. "He is displeased with you."
Courage, think of mamma, courage, think of mamma.
"He never tells me if he is."
"Should he have too?"
Her cold eyes gave nothing away. She was so cool, he hated that fact. There was nothing to her; there was nothing attractive about her in any way. She was a horrible, ugly person. Why had his father brought her into their lives?
"I HATE YOU! I HATE WHAT YOUR DOING!" he broke down. "I DON'T WANT YOU FOR A MOTHER." He told her as he hoped that his courage held. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE MY DADDY FROM ME, YOUR NOT!"
He ran to the door, he had to find him and tell him while he still could. He had to get to his father. But just as he reached the door handles, Maria caught him and her freshly polished nails sank into his shoulders.
-
"Why isn't here he yet?" Jane had been summoned into the ceremony room by Lucius. The guests were taking their seats. On the end of each row there was soft pink flowers, which also punctuated each side of the alter.
"Maria said she wanted to see him sir." Jane told her master.
"Is this Draco you're talking about?" Cecilla butted in their conversation. "Because if it is then Maria told me to tell you that he is going to come into the ceremony with her."
"Is that what he wants?" asked Jane disbelieving.
"I think so." She nodded.
Lucius didn't know why, but the thought of Draco wanting him over her over him stung him, and it did not ring true to his son. Lucius was used to being the only one his son ever wanted.
But Draco was going to be there one way or another. And as it was so close to beginning, he could not very well go and check this with his son.
Severus stood in black robes by his side.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"Not at all. Why should I be?"
"Because I remember you nearly throwing up last time. You tried to hide it brother, but I knew."
Lucius did not reply.
"Don't do this to yourself. You don't love or want her."
No reply.
When all the guests had taken their places, the orchestra begun to play and the door opened. He saw his bride and she was undeniably beautiful. In one of her hands she had her flowers, and by her side, Draco held her hand. He was pale. More pale than usual. And his eyes... they were haunting once more. Maria's smile didn't hide the fact there was something wrong and the only one he had eyes for was his son.
"You cannot do this." Said Severus. Lucius turned to him. Severus' face was suddenly a picture of grief and anger, pity and rage. "I won't let you." Severus knew what was wrong Lucius realised. He knew what had happened to his son. He had done what he had asked him too.
Leaving the grooms side he walked down the aisle to met her head on and in a heartbeat he picked up the grooms son into a protective embrace.
Opening the jacket of Draco's small dress robes, he saw the physical evidence from everything he had just seen in the boys head. There was blood on his shirt. Her nails had drawn blood from him.
He continued walking and soon he was out of the room with nephew in his arms. He would not waste one word of explanation on that woman.
As soon as they were out the room, he felt Draco cling to him in the manor which Lucius had described to him the night before. Severus planted a kiss in his hair. "It's ok, Draco. I know what's been happening and I swear to you this is the end of it. There is going to be no more pain." The door opened once more not thirty seconds later. Severus kept his hand on the back of his nephew's heads till he knew who it was. He would defend him from her if she had come. However, it wasn't Maria. Lucius, Jane and Eliza who had been sitting just behind the best man and groom came rushing out. They arrived just in time to hear Severus inform Draco: "It's ok now, my little one. You're safe."
An: Ok, wow. Done. That was a hard chapter to write.
I know some reviewers had had enough with the abuse plot, so I decided to put what would have been broken into two chapters up in one. I am really sorry if the story was upsetting some of you, I didn't mean too. However, I always knew I wanted the truth to come out at the wedding, which always just felt an appropriate end in my head (that Maria should lose everything in her wedding gown was just too perfect). This is the end of the Draco being abused, the next chapter will be the Lucius finding out the truth and the consequences of that (there are plenty of them). After that, I promise plenty of fluff.
Please review!