"Sorted Too Young"
Dumbledore tells Snape, "Sometimes, Snape, I think we sort them too young."
CHAPTER 16 – ROUGH ENCOUNTERS
The night was rougher than Draco anticipated. He had been healing somewhat well over the last month. He felt like he was back in May when he lay in a world of hurt. He never bothered to leave the sofa. The stairs were just too daunting. The morning dawned bright and clear despite the rain the days before. That didn't mean he hurt any less when he woke, though.
Harry was just trudging down the stairs from his borrowed room. He scrubbed his messy dark hair as Draco watched from the sofa. Adjusting his glasses, he addressed Draco, "Morning Malfoy. Hermione said she would stay today, but then she needs to get a few things done. I'll be around Grimauld if you need me over the week." He took a floo and Draco had to wonder if Harry made it to Grimauld or somewhere else by accident. Harry was not very good with the floo network. Draco always wondered how someone with just barely average magical skill and focus could have been such a hero and defeated the Dark Lord. He guessed that Harry's unshakable courage had something to do with it. He wondered where Harry found that kind of courage, why he fought at all, and wished he had some of it himself.
Draco struggled to get cleaned up and dressed as sharply as possible. He nearly passed out with the pain and had to call Hermione in to help him. He could see she disagreed with what he was doing. She had suggested he cancel today and reschedule, but he refused. He wanted to over with while he had the courage to do it. Her other concerns were Teddy. How was he going to take care of a four year old while so injured. "I'll have you here to help?" She rolled her eyes, but agreed.
His hair remained damp from the quick sponge bathing, but she advised him to just shake it out. "It will look like a mess."
"No it won't. It will look natural and not like you soaked it in goo. It will look sexy and casual and like you just got out of the shower, which, you kinda did."
He raised a brow, "I look sexy?"
She colored and abandoned the main room, leaving him on the sofa while she prepared some tea and muffins for when his guests started to arrive.
Draco strove to not move too much, the brace over his pants secured his knee. He just breathed through the pain and prayed this day went smoothly.
Mr. Darius Ashgrove arrived on time. He knocked briskly on the door and Hermione greeted him. Seeing her made his bushy eyebrows fly up. It was already shocking that a Malfoy was staying with the Weasleys, but here was the mudblood. He immediately assumes she was acting servant and disregarded her as he would a house elf. Draco caught her bristled expression and gave her a warning look.
"Mr. Ashgrove. Sit. I will not be standing to greet you, as you can see I am still recovering." Draco spoke evenly and coldly. His eyes sizing up this agent of his father's. It made Ashgrove nervous, to be stared at so intently by those silvery blue eyes. Like father like son in many ways.
Ashgrove cleared his throat and sat in the chair that had been arranged opposite the coffee table from Draco. He opened his slim briefcase. Draco instantly drew his want and the tension froze everyone in the house. Sweat beaded over the older man's face as he carefully set out three piles of papers and closed his briefcase. He swallowed very nervously.
"I apologize for my caution. You must understand, my father cursed me in his insanity for power. I have to be wary of all those who were in his employ." Draco watched the nervous man nod understanding.
"Th-these are the deeds to all the Malfoy properties, those in your name, your mother's, and your family's." He indicated one pile. "I have kept the rent checking with all property with tenants and provided a full accounting for the year."
He drew from his suit jacket pocket a few papers. "These are the wills of your mother and your father, though your father's cannot be opened till he is actually deceased."
"I expect to have that arranged by the end of the year. A Malfoy does not commit such crimes against the family as he has without consequence." Draco's harsh cold tone made Hermione shiver. This was the Malfoy she remembered from the last seven years. He so easily slid into the role. "Now, Explain to me the state of these properties and briefly who is upon them. Then we will go over my mother's will."
Ashgrove was very business in his curt explanations, used to not embellishing.
"Your family is upon these? How long has your family served mine?"
Ashgrove thought a moment, "My… my family… My daughter is with a tutor. I stay in this flat. My wife… she's in hospital. My family has served yours for four generations and will serve it for another six."
Draco nodded and looked over the general finances and the properties. "I intend for you to move." Ashgrove was about to protest. "This is your property now. It is between the hospital and London. You will drop these other clients, find them retainers that are competent. I will pay you the same wages as if you had them and include the house free of rent. I need your full attention. How old is your daughter?"
"I… ah… yes… um.. yes.. Master malfoy. She's… she's eleven. I hope she will get a letter from Hogwarts, if the school is…"
"The school will be running as scheduled. Expect that letter over August, Mr. Ashgrove." Draco was enjoying having pulled the rug out from under this man. It felt truly good to do something good, even if it benefited him in the end. Win win situations were always better. "Now that I will have your full attention, I need you to arrange for me to meet with you on a regular basis so we can go over these estates and properties and tenants. Also, I need you to walk me through the finances and the investments currently active."
Hermione brought them both tea as the two men discussed the will of Draco's mother and then the old family laws. This part was especially interesting and she lingered close to overhear.
Draco was in the right to declare his father no longer in rule over the family for his actions against the family and only heir. But because much of the household securities were based from blood magic, Lucius would still have access since he was of the blood. It only meant that Lucius needed to die and very soon. There were laws, older than the ones presented here, but Ashgrove could not access them. They are only locatable and openable by the true Master of the family. All Ashgrove could provide Draco with was a couple names: First French King Hugh Capet and Le Conte de Mal Foi. Although he was uncertain about the names exactly, just that these were clues for Draco from his mother's will. Draco asked who these people were, but Ashgrove didn't know, other than they wrote the first laws of the house of Malfoy that only the Master of the house may access.
Draco wanted to know more, but their time was running out, as well as his endurance. "I will look all these over and correspond with you soon, Mr. Ashgrove. And Mr. Ashgrove?" Draco tried to smile a little, "I am not my father. Please work with me, not under me. If I ask something that you think is ill advised, let me know frankly. I know I can trust you because of the retainership. I would like to be able to trust you as a man of respect. If we can agree upon this, I will do what I can to help you as much as you help me." He shook the man's hand and apologised for not getting up.
The pain was becoming more and more clear on Draco's features. Hermione walked Mr. Ashgrove out. "Miss Granger? How bad is he?"
Hermione raised a brow not sure she understood the question and chose to answer all sides of it, "He's not as bad as we might have been lead to believe. Lucius set the rules, even for his children and breaking them has ended Draco in this state, which is quite bad. He chose not to take the prescribed pain relief potions so he could stay well focused while he spoke with you. I suspect he will suffer for it for days. You are also not the only person he is meeting today."
"He should have rescheduled. Or at least planned to see only one person at a time." He flicked his eyes back in Draco's direction with a mix of sympathy and new respect. "My wife is very ill and may not recover. I understand how someone pushes to do so much when they think they will not live long. I can see him doing this, trying to get things in order in case he does not survive. Try to get him to pace himself or he'll drive himself into an earlier grave before he manages to have an heir of his own." Ashgrove apparated away before Hermione could respond.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the reporter, a young man with a flashless camera. She entered the house and opened the living room window a little more to "let more of the fresh morning air in" with a small gesture that the reporter was here. Draco groaned. He didn't want the reporter to show up yet. Hermione had to wait out a small explosion of frustration from Draco that she knew was mostly due to the pain he was in. When he calmed, she adjusted the knee brace and offered to rub some of the salve into him. Shaking a little, he declined. The doctor would be here in moments with Teddy.
Draco wasn't sure if he would manage this day after all and had begun to regret his decisions. Everything hurt, hurt so bad he wanted to be oblivious. But he had two more meeting to get through and then a child to reign in. What the hell was I thinking? I should have listened to her and cancelled some of this.
"Granger," he only used her last name now when he was upset, "Stop staring at me with pity! I'll manage. I have for seven years. No one has ever noticed before how much I hurt after my father had a go at me!" He gasped at the confession he had blurted out subconsciously.
Hermione dropped her concerned eyes with an apology. This little bit of insight to Draco's past explained more about his behaviour over the years. She wished she had been more observant then, or more sympathetic. Gits were usually gits for a reason. She had just not thought it was because if he wasn't he would get beaten, tortured or worse from his own father.
The doctor stood in the door, having witnessed that outburst and mentally catalogued the observation for later. The shrill cheer from Teddy rushing at Hermione's legs broke the still tension. "Mr. Malfoy. Please, sir, do not rise for me. I apologize for barging, but the child was eager and helped himself to the door. May I sit?"
Hermione scooped Teddy into her arms and carried him off to the kitchen to help her make cookies. He HOWLED with excitement. She concluded that he was going to be endless energy through the full moon. She wondered if sedating him was acceptable guardian conduct, but doubted it.
Draco gestured to the chair and winced as he automatically used his right to gesture. The shoulder flashed a burning sensation to remind him it was a bad idea. He gritted his teeth and recomposed himself.
Watching the ready comfort Teddy had with Hermione and Draco told Dr. Schmeiss much about the trust the child already had and the familiarity with these people. Watching Draco's sharp self-control told him more about what he could expect from the wealthy benefactor and the kind of influence the young man might have on the child. The doctor sat with careful precision for is age that showed in his greying hair and beard. Once more, he adjusted his small round glasses.
"I can see, Mr. Malfoy, that you are in a fair deal of pain. I am glad you have an assistant with you since you wish the challenge of caring for the child over the full moon. I am easy to reach if things get too difficult," proffered Dr. Shmeiss.
"We'll manage. I have no intention of failing Teddy. And Hermione… Ms. Granger and I seem to be able to discipline him into a state of calm and focus on occasion when no one else seem to." It was a small slip. Draco had not intended to use a familiar name for her, and the doctor noticed silently and discreetly. "I know you have not had time with him, but I want him to know the boundaries with me or within a home over the full moon to help make the future encounters hopefully smoother. I am looking into being a legal guardian of some sort for him, if I can… since no one else wishes to be one and I refuse to let him be a lab study object when he is a thinking and feeling child."
The doctor nodded understanding. "Well then, here is my file or credentials. His case is one of personal interest." He let Draco flip through the file a few moments. "I have mastered medicine and mind healing, behaviour of magical creatures and muggle creatures. I have mastered muggle psychology as well and find it an excellent supplement to understanding emotional and psychological states and how to treat them." He watched Draco nod as his eyes caught the words in the papers to corroborate the doctor's words.
"Did you bring a proposal of needed funds and supplies? You will have to continue your studies in the Elizabeth Institute as my estate is unsuitable and my other properties are under review." Draco thought about that a moment and changed his mind. "The Elizabeth Institute is close to Hogsmead Village. If you need room and board and a different environment, I believe I have a small house there you can use. That would also put you…"He rethought his idea. With Lucius still at large, this idea would put both himself and Teddy in harm's way. "No, nevermind my suggestion. That would not be safe should Lucius, my… ex-father… should come seeking to cause further devastation."
Dr. Shmeiss watched Draco struggle internally with memories and decisions. The youth was a complex and fascinating study. He had to remind himself again that this young man was not his patient, and clearly not ready as he had expected. "I understand. Here is my financial proposal and list of supplies for a year. My grant will run out on Halloween. If this meets your approval, or if you wish to make any changes, please let me know and the next time we meet, we can conclude with a signed contractual agreement."
Draco was impressed. This man's sureness spoke of his own confidence and nobility. The fluency he had with the English language told Draco this man was well educated and likely knew more than these two languages. It also told Draco that this man was probably of pure blood and used to professional conduct, getting his way and living by a high standard. "Agreed. I will look it over while I have Teddy here this week. Then we will begin a routine where you will have him from Monday morning to Friday night and I will have him over the weekends. Did you bring the study findings from the other researchers as well as your own thus far?"
"I have. The previous studies are practically barbaric. I am shocked at what England offers in this specialized field. And the evidence is in the child's unstable behaviour. I have provided you with the previous research, including my commentary. But understand, until we have a signed contract, my own findings will remain so." It was like a battle of wills. As a scientist in both muggle and wizarding societies, the doctor had no intention of having his research stolen and published before he did so himself.
"I understand," replied Draco knowing he was out of his league at the moment with this doctor.
The doctor offered a small gentle smile, "Good. I will not take up any more of your time. I leave you to the child and the files and proposal to study. I hope you find some time for rest. As I have said, I am not far. My personal fields focus on dealing with behaviour and trauma. So if the child needs some help you find yourself unable to give, I am not hard to reach." He stood having subtly offered his services to the wealthy heir directly without stating it openly. If the blond man was very smart, he would infer the offer.
Draco regarded the doctor for many long seconds before finally nodding. The doctor saw himself out with a short goodbye to both Ms. Granger and Teddy.
Teddy had overturned half the kitchen thinking he was going to be taken away. It took Hermione almost fifteen minutes to coax a mostly wolf-formed child out of a lower cupboard. The process had to be repeated when Mr. Donald Prescott arrived. Being only maybe five or seven years Hermione's senior, he felt bad for her predicament with the child. He stood a moment in the doorway to the main room noting the younger man before him. The bandaging, brace and bruises presented a shocking picture of what should be a perfect and pristine Malfoy. Draco buried his face in his hand trying to recompose from his pain before being noticed by the agent from Child Social Services. The result of what a secretly cruel father does to a son and the result of a son trying to re-establish who he is after such trauma as an attempt on his life. Mr. Prescott felt suddenly humbled before this image of pure courage. He could not believe this blond man had been sorted into Slytherin in the same school he himself had attended.
Donald walked in, clearing his throat and sitting in the chair. He noted the piles of legal documents and medical case files and quickly put the puzzle pieces together that Draco had been at this all morning, meeting after meeting trying to get his life re-organized. "Mr. Malfoy?" he felt so odd calling this young man who hadn't even passed his NEWTS yet the heir and master of the Malfoy family. All indications of pain swept from the youth's face and were replaced with trained stoicism. Donald hated how many pure blood families locked away their children unless they could be miniature adults. They learned to be like this and hide anything of who they really are. They were hidden from any meetings and family gatherings till they were presented to society at the age of fifteen. This blond must have been forced to be part of the Death Eaters at that time and likely received his mark the following year. Ice blue eyes met Donald's. "I wish to thank you for the generous donation to our agency. It has helped a great deal. I thought you might like to know that I applied it to the emergency funding and to the new orphanage."
At the howl in the kitchen, both men looked over. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Mr. Malfoy? No one would fault you for not and you currently do not have any obligations."
Those ice blue eyes snapped back as sharply as his tone, "My father's wand ended that boy's parents' lives. Also, his grandmother was my mother's sister. I have every obligation. No one wants to see his predicament. No one wants to believe there is a small scared boy there. I will not allow him to be hidden away in some lab or institution, especially when he can live a normal life if only someone let him and helps him to."
Donald's could not help but feel impressed. As much as he was all for children's rights, he had his doubts about a child of a werewolf, over the full moon, and who was clearly and currently out of control. However, if Draco could not prove that he could handle this situation, then the point was entirely moot. A screaming howling child burst from the kitchen. "I'm sorry!" called Hermione.
Draco's reflexes were still Seeker Swift. His left hand shot out as the wolf child flew by. Teddy was halted as fast as a well caught snitch. Draco held him by a fist full of fur/hair and a gripped ear. "NO! Teddy, sit! You will NOT continue this now." There was a startled look at the stranger in the room and sudden snarling and growling and struggling and biting. Draco endured it all. "I am not letting you go till you calm down."
Donald did not interfere. Hermione cringed and wanted to interfere, but a sharp look from Draco kept her where she stood in the doorway. This was a tell-tale moment. Draco could prove control or abuse. Was Draco like his mother or his father? The thought and worry ran through Draco's mind as well. Many minutes of howling and crying and screaming passed. Teddy grappled with little hands on Draco's trying to free himself from the painfully firm grip with no success no matter what shape he took.
Moment by agonizing moment the child calmed with the futility of his struggling till he sat on the floor sniffling and crying like a scared small child. Draco felt a small arm hug his left leg and wondered if Teddy was going to bite his good leg. A few more quiet moments and Teddy hugged that leg with both arms and cried into Draco's knee.
"He is just a scared boy," stated Draco, "He can and will learn self-control." He slowly released his grip and stroked Teddy's head and back. "There you go, Teddy, much better. Do you want to sit on the sofa with me?" Stormy grey tear filled eyes looked up and then teddy nodded. Draco nodded back and Teddy climbed onto the sofa, stuffed his little fingers into his mouth, which Draco removed. Teddy them climbed into Draco's lap and clung hard to him. Draco winced and grunted with the terrible pain as the child found every bruise and wound. He managed to get Teddy settled on his left and hugged the boy with his left arm.
"You have right of kinship to him, Mr. Malfoy. Much of what I brought about fostering and adoption are not necessary, although Mr. Potter has right as god-father, though he is not in a position to be helpful. I understand the new doctor, Dr. Shmeiss is very good. Mr. Potter had made a similar offer as you had, though only after he was in a more stable position. He was considering taking the child in once Teddy was about six or seven, if Dr. Shmeiss had success with him." He wanted to reach over and reassure the boy himself, but dared not disrupt the extremely fragile control now being exhibited. For a full moon when the child was supposed to be "insane," Teddy appeared very sane indeed. He was just as Draco said, a scared four year old.
Trying to stay focused despite how much he hurt, Draco licked his lips before speaking. "Please let me know the options anyways. I am… new to this after all. How can I give him more security, legally? I do not want anyone making him their newest pet or project. And Potter, should remain with his claim. It will in the end allow Teddy to one day inherit what is his by blood right, the Black estates and finances."
"Very well. You options are thus: fostering, adopting, or sponsoring. In the suggestions I have noted from you, that you want to take Teddy on weekends, that mostly falls under part-time fostering at this time. I can leave you with the legal manuals for that along with the forms. Adoption is not what you want since you wish him to remain an heir of the Blacks. In a year, we can reconsider the situation and you can change how you wish to handle this. I commend you for all this. I really do." Donald spoke softly and carefully so as not to startle the small child.
His efforts were completely wasted as a camera flashed to get a better picture in the now shading main room. The reporter at the window had timed his shot perfectly for the most tender and sad of moments. Injured Draco cuddling terrified Teddy while discussing the child's fate and future with an agent of the Social Services.
The shock of a stranger and the flash destroyed Draco's efforts with Teddy, who shrieked, then growled, then leapt off Draco screaming and howling. He turned over small furniture in his path to find a hiding place, not wanting to be taken away again. Draco clutched his own side, face contorting in agony as he crumpled sideways on the sofa. Hermione bolted over top Teddy. Donald threw a freezing hex at the reported through the window then rushed out to retrieve the man and drag him into the kitchen where he unhexed him and tore into him for what he had just done and the illegality of his actions, not to mention the terror he caused a small child and the potential added injury that might be resulting to Draco.
The reporter, young Stephen Cornfoot, stood shaking. He had not intended harm, just wanted to capture a valuable moment. He didn't think… "That is right! You didn't think!" yelled Hermione as she carried the wildly frightened child upstairs to his room, promising that no one was taking him away and that the strangers were going to be leaving very soon. Donald pointed his wand warningly at Stephen and told him to stay where he was if he didn't want to face any further legal charges.
Draco moaned in pain, thinking how this day really was not going as smoothly as he had wanted it. Once again, he was regretting his decisions, but still would not take them back. Let that reporter see me. Let him see that Teddy is a normal boy who is just scared. Let him see that I am doing everything I can, even if it kills me, to do something right with the miserable life my father left to me.
A hand gently helped him to sit and supported him. Donald spoke several words to him. He drew a wand over him and a rib snapped back into place. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Malfoy. I will deal with this reporter."
"No," Draco managed to grunt out. "Let the world know what we are doing. Let them know Teddy is not someone to be afraid of."
"Or you. You definitely are not your father, Mr. Draco Malfoy. Can I get you anything?"
"Hermione… please…"
The afternoon was a haze of drugged blurriness for Draco. Hermione managed to settle Teddy in his room where he felt safe. He howled and played in there, but did not leave as she had requested. She tended Draco and got him into an uneasy sleep. Stephan was a shy reporter who apologized profusely over and over for what he had done. He offered any help he could. Hermione remembered him from school, from Hufflepuff. He would get his story, but he must arrive by request and permissions. One more surprise like that, and he would be prosecuted and charged for damages. Hermione told him that Draco would speak with him, but at a later date. Right now was obviously a bad time. Stephen would get an owl about it. And the Daily Prophet had better not consider sending anyone else. Stephen had been so silent and discreet and that was welcomed. Also, Hermione knew him well enough to know that he would write a very humanistic and emotionally moving story.
Stephen had been shocked to realize she had known he had been lurking about the house since early morning. He wondered if maybe she had been the anonymous tipper. It didn't matter. He would be the only one to ever get to interview a Malfoy up close for something this intimate. It would make his career. And it would rock the world. He swore he would be more careful, more discreet, and more respectful next time. He just had been trying to be like the other reporters.
"Stephen, you will find that people are far more willing to open up to an honest man wanting an honest story than they ever will to a sneaky snake in the grass of a reporter. Don't make me rank you with rite Skeeter. You won't like how that turns out." Hermione sent him on his way and thanked Donald Prescott for his help and patience and understanding in this day. She apologizes if this took time from his other daily obligations.
She checked on teddy and found he had left his room. A moment of panic and searching the house finally revealed that he had snuck quietly downstairs and curled up with Draco on the sofa. She made sure he was not curled in any position that would cause Draco further pain before draping a thin blanket over them both. She dropped into the chair, drained from the day. And to her glee, there were apparently lots of new things to read. She hoped Draco didn't mind.
A/N: OY! wow... longer than expected. Other chapters won't be this long. Promise. So, please review. Reviews keep writers writing.