Just because they agreed to let me stay didn't mean there wasn't a Weasley staring me down at ever turn. Hermione, being ever so knowledgable, was outraged to find nothing in the books about our cheerful situation. Whenever she wasn't treating me like her personal pack mule, she ignored me. With this being said I could have kissed Snape when he came through the Floo, black robes billowing behind him as if he were the star of a vampire movie. I'd been craving some good ole fashioned Slytherin conversation since I woke up and was more than heart broken when I barely received a curt nod of acknowledgement before he swept off to speak with Dumbledore.
"Draco dear," I turned to the sound of Molly Weasley calling me. Ever the do gooder she tried her hardest to make me feel welcome in this run down estate, but her movements were choppy and her smiles forced. I tried avoiding her in an effort to keep the awkward interactions to a minimum, but she always found me somehow.
"Yes?" I raised an albino eyebrow. It never ceased to amaze me how she always insisted on finding me and talking me to death. I could feel honey brown eyes melting holes in my back, just begging me to disrespect mama weasel.
"Would you grab a jar off of the shelf for me?" I couldn't help the eyebrow that disappeared into my hairline. She could just as easily wave her wand to get whatever jar she wanted down, but Hermione's blazing eyes urged me forward. In the kitchen it seemed everyone was waiting anxiously for dinner to begin. I noted how the youngest male Weasley was an inch or two taller than I was. I'd known it was a trap from the beginning, but I did as she asked regardless. She kept me busy weather I was helping her dice onions or peeling carrots. When the last dish was on the table she called the house to a meal and no matter how hard I tried to slip away she made sure I didn't go anywhere. In the end I was sandwiched uncomfortably between Hermione and one of those weasley twins.
"So Draco," Arthur started, he shoveled another spoonful of potatoes into his mouth before continuing, "I heard about your situation." After another embarrassingly loaded spoonful he continued, "how do you know so much about it?" I took the time to clear my mouth of any potential residue, hoping that my words didn't come across as condescending. I'd been sure that every pureblood -dirt poor or otherwise- knew about bonding.
"Well...everyone knows about it." I said finally. I kept my eyes on my uneven slices of carrot, "my father actually bonded with my mother when I was young. She died trying to give birth to my sister, but my father wouldn't let her go. I recognized the symptoms; the pain, the blinding light...the iridescent string connecting us together…"
"So what does it mean?" Arthur pressed, a piece of steak dangling from his teeth. I grimaced.
"What do you mean? It means we're bonded. It means...her life is in me and our souls are connected. What else is there?"
"No, not that. What does it mean for you. Where do your loyalties lie?" The table fell silent, not even the clinking of cutlery on china could be heard when the question was asked.
"I already told your son what I was planning-,"
"Being bonded with Hermione is a privilege you prat-" Fred snapped. He was up and glowering in moments, "and if you're going to share her life and her soul you can't be neutral!" The other twin continued. "You galavanting on both sides of the line will get her killed!" Fred roared, "and I'll be damned if you kill our 'Mione, because you can't grow a fucking backbone you inconsiderate git!"
I sighed before standing abruptly. I wouldn't cower behind my wand or my name today. It was no longer who I was and they probably wouldn't care either.
"So what do you want from me?" I asked finally. I didn't like to be cornered and both Weasleys were stepping into my bubble. I could feel Hermione watching me with feigned indifference as they tried to intimidate me.
"We want you to pick a side!" they both shouted.
"I'm no longer in the Dark Lord's ranks. He probably thinks I'm dead and I don't have his mark anymore. I'm on no one's side cousin. So back off," Fred flinched only barely before I spun on my heels and stormed out of the room. Pick a side they say...I was pureblood supremacist Draco Lucius Malfoy for eighteen years. Now on my nineteenth they wanted to turn me into free love Drakey just because I had the bad luck of being bonded to that bushy haired freak. If I could have it my way I'd be marching along side my family in an effort to bring about a new world. I had nothing against Mrs. or Mr. Weasley, but it seemed that every child they popped out was loud and insufferable. Those twins cornering me were simply asking for trouble, they could have just as easily left well enough alone. I'd found myself outside of the wards, wandering. I wasn't sure where I was going or how long I'd been gone, but a crippling pain in the back of my head forced me to my was the downside to the bond, I couldn't get away from her without putting both of us in unbearable pain. I turned back hoping the walk back would be quick, but the stars had come out to play by the time I even recognized my surroundings. I was drenched in sweat and every step was agony. My soul was being torn atom from atom, there was no foreseeable escape. Her screams dragged me forward, I could hear it in the back of my mind guiding me to the only escape from my agony. When I finally found Grimmauld place I tore the door open, following my instinct up the stairs and down the hall to the left. Her internal screaming was loud enough now to make my ears bleed. She lay writhing on the bed, her dainty hands gripped the sheets, with blood pouring from her nose and mouth.
"Draco," she gasped. Another wave of pain brought us both further into our on desperation. She forced herself up and barreled into my arms. I could hear Pothead and Weaselbee screaming at me from somewhere far away, but I didn't pain was replaced with euphoria and for a moment it was all okay. Then she was ripped from my arms and replaced within the comforting confines of Potter's embrace.
"What's it going to take for me to never see that again." Weasley growled. I tried to maintain my composure, ignoring the emptiness left in her wake.
"I told you what I wanted." I said coolly, "I want my mother here and safe from harm."
"What does that include?: Potter asked. By the looks of it I'd already won. His green eyes were rimmed in red as if he'd been crying and his skin was flushed.
"I want the best protection money and magic can offer, I want a disguise and no contact with the outside world. No owls, no Saturday afternoon tea. I want around the clock guards and then and only then will I stand by Hermione and keep her safe." Weasel looked about ready to argue, but before he could Harry said, 'done.'
"We'll stage the capture of Narcissa Malfoy tomorrow at noon, just promise us to never leave her side."
"On my honor," he nodded, letting Hermione settle herself into my arms once more. It wasn't hard to tell that the young Gryffindor hated me, every time her honey gaze landed on me it was filled with malice, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy having someone trust me with their lives.
Seeing my mother again was nothing short of an interrogation. She fired question after question at me, hoping to understand why she was abducted by two thirds of the golden trio. Instead of answering I had her locked in her quarters and sealed in. The only one allowed in was Kreacher and Kreacher wouldn't disobey me if Merlin himself ordered him too. She didn't put up a fuss when Weasely slung her into her room, preferring to face the inevitable with grace. It didn't go unnoticed that Weasley manhandled my mother, but that was a fight for another day. Today would be the hardest day of her life and I fully intended to miss every second of it. My father was a liability -and though I loved him- I loved her more.
Dun dun dun...thanks for all the reviews! Please continue! Suggestions, hopes, disappointments….all is welcome!