Meanwhile: Malfoy Manor
Lucius and Narcissa left for home with Draco. Once they were home Draco went straight up to his room and stretched out on his bed.
Narcissa went into the kitchen and began to make a calming but strengthening potion for Draco. Lucius walked into the kitchen and briefly watched his wife.
"What are you doing?" Growled Lucius.
"Making a potion for our son."
"Have Rosie do it. You know the new house elf we have."
"I will not ask Rosie to do it! Draco is my son, I'm his mother and a house elf is not."
"Of course you don't ask a house elf, you tell a house elf what they are supposed to do. It's part of Rosie's job. House elves are here to do our bidding so we can sit back and enjoy the time, as well as to enable us to take care of important things."
"Are you saying that our son isn't important? I will do this my self for our son."
"I've had enough of this! It seems you need a reminder of your place and just whose house you are in."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Lucius said nothing as he made his way over to Narcissa. He spun her around to face him; he then tightly gripped her arms.
"Lucius let go of me! You're hurting me!"
"We do not show weakness of any kind, that kind of shit is beneath us. WE do not ask, thank or show compassion to those that are below us. Only the weak do that. What was that at the school? You had no right to speak to Cornelius and me like that! You acted as though that thirteen year old is equal to us."
"Potter saved our son's soul and very well his life too. What was I supposed to do? Ignore the heroics?"
"You were out of line then and even now."
"Let go of me! I will not put up with this be…"
Lucius slapped Narcissa across the face so hard she spun around and fell to the floor. Narcissa was so stunned she just sat there staring up at him. She placed a hand against her cheek, it still stung and she could already feel the welts forming.
"Go on. Take the damn potion up to Draco. Let him see how it is when you lower yourself to undesirable levels." Lucius turned and left the kitchen.
Narcissa did not want Draco to see that his father had slapped her. She called for Rosie and requested the elf take the potion up to Draco.
Two days later Lucius walked up the stairs and into his son's room.
"Father." Draco said shakily
"We need to talk."
"About?"
"I am referring to what happened at the school."
"Do I have to explain again about the dementors?"
"Not that part. I am referring to Potter."
"He saved me…"
"Of course he did, it's his duty to do so."
"What?"
"He is not like us, he's beneath us. He has a duty to protect pure-bloods"
"Duty? Harry did the right thing. He deserved to be thanked and shown gratitude."
"What did you say?"
"Harry came to my aid when he didn't have to. He chose to do so. I am surprised that he did with how I've treated him and his friends. He could have done nothing and said he was too late to do anything. Honestly I would have deserved it if he had done that, I really had it coming. As far as I'm concerned, Harry's better than all of us."
Lucius inhaled, puffing up his chest. He turned a deep red and took the last few steps to reach Draco's bed. As he physically and magically beat his son he told Draco that no one is better than a pure blood and anyone less than is not equal to them. Lucius also told him how those with less then pure blood and blood traitors alike are to be treated.
Four days went by without Draco being seen. Narcissa was getting tired of asking about he son and being told that he was resting and recuperating so he could return to school on Monday. She was sick of Lucius preventing her from checking on her son. She was biding her time, waiting for Lucius to leave for a while. Finally later that night when Lucius left, she snuck up stairs to her son's room.
"Draco, how are you felling? How about coming down and having dinner with your father and me?"
When Draco didn't answer she gently shook him.
Draco let out a soft cry of pain. Narcissa got up and lit a few candles so she could see he son. When she turned around she gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. Draco was as pale as ever, terror clear in his eyes, he was curled up nearly in the fetal position, his eyes were red and puffy from crying. Narcissa ran back to the bed and gently sat down.
"Draco what happened? What's wrong? Please talk to me."
Draco took a few breaths and quickly told his mother what happened. It took a while for Draco to get it all out, as every movement caused excruciating pain and he was trying his best not to be sobbing but failing.
"R-rest Draco." Narcissa said as she left Draco's room.
Once Narcissa reached the kitchen she broke down. she got into Lucius's liquor cabinet, pulled out a bottle of the strongest stuff and drank nearly the whole bottle. She called for Rosie and instructed the elf to tend to Draco and his injuries.
A half hour later Rosie appeared in the kitchen.
"Mistress."
"Yes Rosie."
"Young master needs hospital."
"W-what do you mean?"
"Young master ribs broken. Has nasty wound, had to give young master a potion so he relax and not feel pain. I's then able to clean and wrap wound. Young master has magical injuries miss. Hospital have what he need. Young master in bad shape."
"Thank you Rosie. Please stay with Draco. Do not leave his side while he is home, unless of course you are summoned."
"Yes Mistress."
Narcissa walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Hearing of her son's condition awakened her and enraged her. She was determined to wait for Lucius to return. As the time ticked away the anger stewed and festered. She had at in the same spot for an hour and a half when Lucius finally returned home.
"Narcissa, darling you didn't have to wait for me."
"Don't you 'darling' me, you bastard!"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Do you need another lesson?"
"Don't you dare come near me! I know what you did to my son! How could you? You could have killed him! He needs to go the hospital."
"Draco isn't going anywhere until Monday when he returns to school. I only taught him a lesson he won't surely forget."
"I am done Lucius. I am not going to sit around here and put up with this brutality. I am leaving and taking Draco with me."
"No you will not!"
"You do not and will not order me around!"
"Let me remind you of our wedding day. You promised to obey me. You promised the Dark Lord and me that I am the one to raise and train Draco how I see fit. Go ahead and try to leave, but just know that you wouldn't get further than one step out of the door before you would be killed. If you try and leave with my son he also will be killed, I'll send you to Fenrir Greyback. For should you survive him I'd have you killed. While you are where ever Fenrir is, I will tell your sister Bellatrix of your betrayal of me and the Dark Lord. I will then go after the rest of your family."
"To hell with you."
"Oh wait, as I think about it, you can't leave. Unless I were to send you away or banish you from my house; but I do not wish that, at the moment. Now get out of my sight! I don't want to see your face!"
Narcissa could barely breath. She couldn't move. At the mention of Fenrir she froze in place as a statue.
"Are you deaf? I said to get out of my sight!"
When Narcissa remained where she was, Lucius slapped her around and used the cruciatus curse on her.
"Get our of my sight! Now! CRUC…"
Narcissa as quickly as she could she crawled into the kitchen to avoid being cursed again.
Unknown to them, Draco had heard them yelling. He managed to get out of bed and out of his room. He heard everything and saw what his father did his mother. At that point Draco hated his father more than he could hate anyone. If not for what would happen to him and his mother, he'd convince her to leave and take him with her. Draco new that in their current conditions they'd be no match against his father and who knows who else could be around. As quickly as he could Draco returned to his room.
"Young master, you's stay in bed." Chided Rosie.
"Don't worry about me Rosie. I need you to do something for me. When I'm not in this house you are to keep close watch on my mum. I want to know everything that happens to her. And you are not allowed to talk to any one about this except me. Do you understand?"
"Rosie understand master."
"Oh, Rosie if my mother needs help find Dobby. You can tell Dobby everything. He'll know what to do."
"Yes master."
Draco spent the next twenty-four hours in his room, mostly in bed. When he felt he could he would try breath normally instead of the short shallow breaths he had been able to do. Breathing normal was proving to be difficult, as it would cause severe searing pain to shoot through his body. Once he figured out what he could and couldn't do, he put his effort into figuring out how far he could push what he could do without it causing too much pain or least without showing it.
Saturday evening rolled around, Draco had worked up the courage to try and go down the stairs and into the kitchen; he didn't want another meal in his room. Draco was relieved that the pain was just barely tolerable as he descended the stairs. He walked into the kitchen, took his usual seat at the table and waited to be served.
"Draco how nice to see that you feel up to dining with us." Said Narcissa happily.
"Draco I told you that I'd be sending Rosie up. Why are you down here?"
"I felt up to it and felt like joining my family for dinner. Is that all right? If not, I apologize. I wasn't aware that the rules and laws of this house had been changed so much. Nor did I think some were in existence and intentions to reinforce them."
"Excuse me?"
"Fine. Since you don't want me…at the table I will go back up to my room. I don't want to see any more violence that disgusts me, I've seen enough this past week to last a while." Draco then got up and returned to his room.
Draco kicked his door shut and flung himself down on his bed. As pain seared throughout his body he winced as tears begun to roll down his face. An hour later Draco had managed to pull himself together and was resting with his eyes closed. He was thinking about what he had said earlier when his eyes flew open and he wondered how much longer it would be until his father came in. He was not looking forward to the consequences. He quickly glanced around his room and spotted his wand. Of course it was laying on the furthest piece of furniture from his bed. Draco got up, crossed the room and picked up his wand. He went back to his bed and gently stretched out on it. He attempted a few spells with his wand but they did not work as well as they had before. The movement required of his right arm to perform the spells caused a lot of pain in the lower area of his ribcage on his left side. Feeling that it would be useless, he tossed his wand across the room.
Not much later the door to Draco's room flew open. A million things went through Draco's head. He couldn't seem to concentrate on one thing. Nothing came to mind to help prevent the inevitable.
"Draco stand up."
"Father, please…"
"STAND UP!"
"I'm sorry for what I said…"
"STAND! DO IT NOW!"
"I've just been frustrated staying in my room…"
"For the last time, STAND UP!"
"Father please no. Don't do this. Please…" Draco then screamed incoherently.
Narcissa ran into the room and saw Lucius with his wand out and pointed at her son who was shaking as he tried to sit up with tears about to spill from his eyes.
"Lucius, no! What do you think you are doing? If you keep this up he won't be able to go back to school without causing any suspicion."
"I didn't ask you to come in here or ask you to speak!" Bellowed Lucius as he hit Narcissa with the back of his hand.
Narcissa had flung to the side as she fell back, and hit her head on a corner of the dresser that was by the door. She was flat on her back unconscious.
Draco became so full of rage that he leaped off of his bed and with everything he had in him punched his father in the face, knocking him out. Draco regretted this as searing pain raced through his body causing him to crumple to the floor.
"Rosie" Draco managed to cry out through the pain.
"Oh dear. Young master. You's okay? Bed. Go."
"Ch-check my mother. Is she…is she okay?'
"She look fine."
"Her h-head…back of…her h-head…hit my…m-my dresser."
"Small bump but head fine."
"T-try to…wake her…p-please."
Rosie gently shook Narcissa several times before she opened her eyes. Narcissa sat up and groaned as she felt the back of her head. After a few moments she managed to age on her feet and help Draco back to his bed.
"Rosie stay with Draco. Do not leave him."
"Yes miss."
Narcissa kicked Lucius's wand out of his hand, grabbed his arms and dragged him down the stairs. She left him in the middle of the living room and went to her personal, private room. She cast her own defensive charms and spells before dressing for bed. Knowing that Rosie would keep an eye on her son and that her husband would not be able to get to her enabled her to sleep.
When Narcissa woke the next morning she quickly dressed and removed her charms and spells so she could leave the room. She left her room and started looking through the house. She checked the living room, kitchen, Lucius's study, in their joint room and all over the rest of the house as well as up stairs before going to her son's room. Narcissa walked up to the door, pressed her ear up to it to see if she could hear anything. Since she heard nothing she proceeded to enter the room. As she opened the door she could see well enough with the sunlight that shone through the window. Her eyes roamed the room and stopped at the bed, a gasp escaped her mouth. She saw Draco on his bed, curled up and mildly twitching.
"Draco." Narcissa said softly as she crossed the room to the bed. "What happened?'
Draco's eyes flew open, a look of horror flashed across his face as he flinched away from his mother.
"Draco, it's okay. I won't hurt you son."
"Mum?"
"Yes it's your mother."
Draco sighed and relaxed.
"Honey, what's wrong."
Draco did not answer her and she became very concerned about her son and his welfare.
"ROSIE!" Narcissa screamed with fright.
'Crack'
"Yes Miss." Said a trembling Rosie.
"Can you t-tell me what happened?'
"I's stay like you said. M-master Lucius came in real early. He not see Rosie. He speak softly to young master so Rosie no hear. Young master shook head. Master Lucius hit young master and pointed wand at young master, he say 'crucio'. Young master make no noise but shake bad. Horrible to watch. Master Lucius see Rosie and order Rosie away. You said stay so I no leave. Master point wand at Rosie…painful. Master kick Rosie out of room. Rosie try miss, but Rosie not get back in room. Door no budge. Rosie go to kitchen and make breakfast. Rosie hear you call and Rosie now here."
"Rosie, thank you. You…" Narcissa quickly got up and stopped Rosie from hurting herself.
"Rosie bad. Rosie not do what told. Rosie must punish herself."
"No, no, no Rosie you did good. You did what I asked as best as you could. It's not your fault you weren't able to get back in the room. So there is no need to punish yourself."
"You's kind to Rosie."
"Rosie, would you please bring some food up to Draco and something to drink? Stay with him until I return to the room."
"Yes miss."
Narcissa quickly left the room, she ran down the stairs and all the way to the study. She grabbed a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace as she said, "Professor Snape's office at Hogwarts." Green flames erupted; she kneeled on the floor and stuck her head through. The spinning never went well for Narcissa so she kept her eyes closed. Suddenly she could hear the shuffling of parchment. As she opened he eyes she heard a gasp of shock.
"Narcissa Malfoy, wh…"
"Severus within an hour I will be bringing Draco back to the school. Please meet us at the front gates."
"But, what is going on? Are you okay? Is there something wrong with Lucius?"
"Please, Severus, no questions. Just meet as the front gates. Please say you will." Narcissa pleaded.
"Very well. I will meet you at the front gates." Said Severus exasperatedly.
Back at Hogwarts:
Late Sunday morning, Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron were the only ones left in the dining hall. The four of them finally got up and headed for the doors. As they walked out they saw Snape escorting Draco into the castle. Snape paid them no mind. When Harry saw Draco he knew something was horribly wrong.
Draco was paler then when he left a week ago. Harry noticed as they walked passed that Draco had a slight limp, his breathing was short and shallow and Draco seemed to be favoring his left side while wincing with every movement. Draco glanced over at Harry. Harry wasn't sure but it looked as though Draco's expression was one of pleading for help.
Dudley, a few feet away from Harry had also seen this. Dudley took a chance and quickly looked at Harry. When Harry nodded, Dudley took it to mean that he has to find a way to become friends with Draco. Dudley felt that it had to happen soon. Dudley looked away and quickly trotted after Snape and Draco.
Narcissa returned to Malfoy Manor and was relieved to find it empty except for Rosie. Narcissa fixed herself a drink to help calm her nerves. She was happy that she managed to get her son somewhere safe, somewhere away from her husband. Though she was not looking forward to what her husband was going to do to her. Narcissa expected to be beaten, cursed and several other things done to her.
Lucius arrived home late in the afternoon. He hung his cloak on a peg near the door and went up to Draco's room.
"NARCISSA!" He yelled as he ran down the stairs.
"I'm right here. There is no need to yell for me."
"This is my house. You will not tell me when or where there is a need for anything."
"What do you want?"
"Where is my son?"
"My son is at school."
"What did you say?'
"You heard me, he's at school."
"How? Why? It's only Sunday."
"I took him back. I thought that it would be a good idea to have him return before Monday. I figured that this way he could at least attempt to get back into the habit of moving around all day. Or at least get a full amount of uninterrupted rest before having to go to classes all day."
"You did this without asking me for…"
"I don't need your permission to take or send my son to school. As far as Draco and Hogwarts are concerned it is my call. I get to make the decisions about Draco and Hogwarts. Fairly recently you spoke of promises, well do you remember the promise you made me? You promised that I have final say about Draco when it comes to Hogwarts! If you had wanted to speak or whatever to Draco again today, you should have left me a note or found a way to let me know. Oh and dear, you can't march up to the school, pull him out, do or say whatever you have in mind and send him back to school. Whether it be just moments or days."
"I can do whatever I want!"
"If you do pull him out of school and beat or crucio him and send him back everyone at the school would suspect…"
"Even if they would, Draco would not tell them anything."
"How can you be so sure of that?'
"I have made insurances Narcissa. He won't have an opportunity to talk to anyone about anything. I have made arrangements for my son to never be alone. Draco wouldn't go crying to anyone, he knows better."
"There are other ways one could find out what you've done."
"Rosie can't, she is bound and forbidden to talk to anyone outside of this house. And well, you are also forbidden to talk about any of this to anyone, including me and my son."
"Go to hell! I wasn't even talking about myself or Rosie."
"If you're thinking of Severus, well he won't say or do anything. He knows how it is. As for the sorry excuse of a Headmaster at that school, he doesn't even know how to get into another's head. Maybe at one time, but he's getting old."
"You bastard! I wish I had never married you. By doing so was the worst mistake I ever made. I may not be able to protect my son from you all the time, but I can take solace in the fact that I have ensured the safety of my daughter. It is a blessing that she is not in this…this house."
"So am I. She would have turned out just like you, weak and a disgrace. I must admit though that I am and have been surprised that you didn't fight me on it when I forced you to get rid of her."
"HA! You didn't force me. I painfully but willingly let her go so that the Dark Lord couldn't get his filthy hands on my daughter." Narcissa said fiercely as she spit in Lucius's face.
"I'd rather she be dead. That is what I had meant, but no the little brat is out there somewhere. All though at least I don't have to deal with it."
"You know, I really hope that an extremely powerful wizard or witch comes along and fries your twisted body until the screams die away."
"Go a head and keep hoping. You'll be disappointed. Wealth is power. The Malfoy family is the wealthiest family there is."
"That you know of. I was referring to the wizards or witches magic being powerful. Either way, time will tell Lucius. I can only hope that your destruction is at the hands of the Potter boy or a well gifted and strong Muggle born."
Suddenly everything went black, Narcissa could only see stars on the black background and feel severe pain all over and then went unconscious.
When Narcissa finally came to, she had been out for twenty-four hours. She let Rosie tend to her as well as fuss over he. Narcissa knew that she must do whatever she can to ensure her son's safety as well as hers. She made up her mind that she was going to fight Lucius with everything she had. If she had to do it on the sly then so be it.
