By the time we had returned home

By the time we had returned home. The sun was setting and Draco was utterly filthy. His normally flawless hair was now sticking up at odd places and there were smears of dust across his face from where he had rubbed his hands across it. But he was happy and that is what mattered.

I must say, I was relieved that Draco had perked up so quickly. I had been concerned that he would become depressed or self-destructive, but, touch wood, we had been lucky so far.

As unkempt as the house generally was, my mother was an extremely house-proud woman and, as such, Draco was whisked straight upstairs to have a bath within seconds of getting in. I was glad that they seemed to get along reasonably well although, as I have said before, I was a little envious that this kind of attention had not been directed towards me as a boy, but this was exactly what Draco needed right now and I wasn't going to deny him that.

Having removed my own shoes in the hall, I traipsed into the living room where my father was reading the paper. He ignored me completely as I sat down and I knew that it was completely futile to even attempt a conversation . we had absolutely nothing in common; I was everything he most hated and he was everything I despised. It was still exceedingly difficult for me to accept that we were, in fact, related.

"So," said my father suddenly, not looking up. "How much are we getting from this Mr Malfoy?"

I raised an eyebrow incredulously. "What are you on about?"

He sighed loudly, as though I was being purposefully unhelpful, "I mean, I hope he isn't expecting us to do this free of charge, like. Food and heating, for one, cost money, you know, and we aren't exactly millionaires."

Considering the amount of sleep I hadn't had the previous night, my temper was short and had been stretched far too much. "Well, maybe," I snarled, "if you weren't so lazy and unpleasant, you'd be able to get a half-decent job and then you wouldn't have this problem, would you?"

"How dare you speak to me like that in my own house!" my father yelled predictably. God knows I'd heard that one often enough… "Unless I receive a considerable amount of compensation for my trouble," he continued furiously. "I want you and the boy out!"

"I think mum will have something to say about that," I sneered, feeling nothing but contempt for the man before me. It was a cheap shot, I know, but my mother was a formidable opponent and the threat was very much a real one. "What are you going to do about it, anyway?" I pulled my wand out from the inside of my jacket and held it up as though to admire it.

A flicker of apprehension crossed my father's dark face. "Bloody wizards," he muttered with feeling, sitting back down and glaring at me. "Think you're so bloody superior, don't you?"

"Next to you, that isn't hard," I retorted, looking down my nose.

Then suddenly, "No! Stop it!"

Without hardly registering it, I raced straight up the stairs (almost tripping and falling back down them in my haste) to see my mother trying to coax a panicky looking Draco towards her. With every step forward she took, my godson stumbled back two, his arms wrapped protectively around his body as he backed against the wall. Never for a second did his eyes, wide with fear, leave her face.

"Come on love," my mother murmured gently. "You need to get in the bath. You can't stay in them clothes forever."

"Go away," said Draco weakly, his voice wavering as he shied away like a frightened colt. "Please don't…"

Sighing deeply, my mother ran a hand fretfully though her hair and turned towards me. "What do I do?" she asked, her voice bewildered and worried. "Severus, do something!"

"So what's going on, Dragon?"

Draco eyed my warily, biting his thumb so hard I wouldn't have been surprised if it had come clean off.

"What's going on?" I asked again. No answer. Eyes averted. "Dragon? Do you know who I am?"

An odd question, I know, but it was important to understand what state of mind he was in, as it could change dramatically in a second.

"Sir," Draco whispered although this did not seem to make him feel any better. On the contrary, in fact, he began to fidget uneasily, looking at the floor, over my shoulder but never at me.

"You won't have a bath," I stated, crossing my arms across my chest in mock austerity. "Would you mind telling me why?"

A sharp breath was, forehead creased and all fidgeting stopped. "I-I don't…I can't…" Draco's eyes, bright with anxiety, flashed up; searching for the hidden agenda behind my words.

What was it going to take to make him see that not everybody was out there to hurt him? How long would it be before the poison stopped seeping though his confused, distorted mind and allowed him to take what little control he had had back?

"Do you think," I leaned forward to whisper into his ear, "that I would let someone, anyone, hurt you in that way again? Do you really believe that I would do that?"

Almost reluctantly, Draco shook his head and then smiled a smile that only people who are hurting smile. But it was a smile nonetheless and I appreciated the effort.

"Try again for me," I implored, taking his small hands in my own. "And for my mother. She wants to help you too."

"You mean take my clothes off?" Draco asked, aghast.

Judging by his reaction I thought it best to tread carefully, although it would do neither of us any good if I were to simply let Draco get his way. He had to learn to get over this and not let it dominate him.

"Yes," I replied calmly. "You cannot have a bath in your clothes. It simply isn't practical."

"No I don't want to," said Draco instantly. "Don't make me."

"Draco, you are having a bath, whether you like it or not. I'm sorry but that's the way it's going to be."

My godson stared at me as though I had suddenly grown antlers. Guilt crept up into my throat, but I forced it back down.

"I'm not going to hurt you, I just need you to co-operate with me," I had to keep talking. I had to keep him focused on me as slowly I unbuttoned his pyjama top. "Don't be scared, Dragon. Please don't be scared of me. I know that you're hurting and you're confused right now, but don't let it control you. I know that you are brave and strong and you can get though this."

Draco's face twitched and I felt his heart beat start to race. "Stop it," he begged, pulling weakly at my hands. "Please, Sir, stop it. STOP IT!"

But I held him fast, wrapping my arms tightly around his skinny body to stop him from struggling. My mother came quickly and knelt to help.

"I know it's scary," I said as my mother's delicate fingers slipped the shirt from Draco's shoulders. "But you have to trust us. You have to believe that we aren't going to hurt you like Dr Southard did. He was sick, Dragon, and what he did was wrong but not everyone is like that. I promise."

"It hurts!" Draco wailed, twisting away from my mother's hands.

"I know." Gradually, I loosened my hold and ran my fingers through his hair. "But it will stop soon. Ssh ssh…"

"Here," my mother, having fetched a towel, bent down and wrapped the distressed boy in it. Then with a smile, she said to him, "I have some chocolate for you when you come down again."

Unfortunately, as wonderful as chocolate was, it was little consolation and Draco couldn't even acknowledge that he had heard her; he just sat passively in her arms, eyes clamped shut as big tears rolled steadily down his cheeks. It would take a while before he would forgive me for this, but it had to be done and, in this case, the end justified the means.

There were two letters propped up on the table when I sat down in the kitchen which an excessively large mug of tea and both were addressed to me.

'How exciting,' I remember thinking. 'I never get letters…'

One bore that scarlet wax seal of Hogwarts and the other the silver Malfoy crest. I chose to open Lucius' first as I have always believed it best to do the more unpleasant task first and get them over with. And, as I predicted, it was not good news-

Severus,

I am not going to apologise for what I said to you or for what I did to Draco. I told you that I can't handle him at the moment but you wouldn't listen to me. I do hope that he is okay though and I want you to let him know that his mother and I are thinking of him. I have sent enough clothes and such for a week and if you need anything else, just owl me.

I will tell you now that William Southard has been disposed of. It is irrelevant how, but the whole thing ends there. Neither the name nor the deed is ever to be spoken of again, especially to Draco. It never happened. If there are consequences, and by that I mean serious consequences and not just minor problems, than you will deal with them. Everything is to go back to how it was before and it is imperative that you make Draco aware of that. I am not having him coming home with false ideas that things are going to change. He must be kept in reality.

You are welcome at the Manor anytime however there are terms which must be observed; you will not interfere in Draco's upbringing, you will not criticize my parenting methods and you will not, under any circumstances, undermine my authority as Draco's father. Your role is purely that of godfather and you have to respect that I am the predominant figure in Draco's life. None of these points are up for discussion.

Lucius Malfoy.

"Stupid, arrogant…"

It took all my self-control not to shred that damnable message into a thousand minuscule pieces. Instead, I just stared at it for a while, my jaw clenched as I gripped the parchment tightly in both hands.

This was just so bloody typical of him!

'Oh, it doesn't matter that our only son and heir to the Malfoy legacy is emotionally crippled and was raped right under our extremely large noses. If we sweep it under our antique carpet that costs billions of galleons, it's just like it never happened!'

Bloody Malfoys with their bloody…I don't know whats, but bloody something!

"I'm going out!" I yelled up the stairs as I lunged for my coat. No one gave any sign that they had noticed. Surprise surprise…Grabbing the letter, I stuffed it into my pocket and apparated furiously to their Manor to give Mr Malfoy a very large piece of my mind.

"He won't see you, you know," chirped Narcissa as we walked along on of the many extensive corridors. "He's sulking in his study and you know what he's like when he's in that kind of mood."

Indeed I did. All too well, in fact.

"And how are you Severus?" she asked conversationally as though it was a social visit.

"Not bad," I replied with a shrug. "I have been better, but I suppose things could always be worse."

"Yes…" Narcissa nodded in agreement. "I suppose so. Things usually aren't as bad as we perceive them but then again, it never does any good to under play something."

"Try telling your husband that."

Eventually, we reached Lucius' study- a room of mystery- and I banged on the door. Narcissa fell back looking anxious.

"Go away!" came Lucius' voice through the wood. "I'm not seeing anyone!"

"If I have to bash down this door, I bloody well will," I threatened sincerely.

"And if you break the door I'll have you arrested for criminal damage!"

"Just leave him, Sev," said Narcissa quietly, touching me on the shoulder. "It'll just exacerbate things if you annoy him."

Giving the door one last death-glare, I stepped away. "How on earth can you live with him?"

"Oh, it's quite easy really," she replied with a smile. "I leave him alone and he leaves me alone. It suits me fine."

"What about Draco?"

She frowned slightly. "What about Draco?"

I paused, not wanting it to be taken as a criticism but at the same time needing to know. "Do you not care? Do you not care that your little boy is being beaten by his father right under your nose? Do you not care that he isn't allowed to have proper medical care because your husband doesn't want to be judged? Are you okay with that?"

Narcissa thought about this carefully then asked curiously, "Do I have an alternative option rather than be okay with it?" As though I could answer that.

"I love my baby," she continued, her delicate features suddenly troubled. "But Lucius is much better at being a parent than I am. He would do anything for Draco. He just…he's just not very good at being affectionate and Draco irritates him sometimes."

"And that condones what he does?"

"Yup," The smile was back and she laughed. "Draco can't help being irritating because he's only eight and Lucius can't control his temper so it's nobody's fault, so that condones it!" she finished triumphantly.

I couldn't help but smile at her naivety; despite how blatantly wrong she was, it was very endearing.

"I suppose I'd better be getting back now…" I looked around trying to remember how I'd got from the front door to here. Was it left or right?

"Shall I walk you back?" Narcissa said sympathetically as she noticed my bewilderment. "I need to ask you something anyway."

'Oh dear…'

"And what might that be?" I asked, trying not to sound too worried as we made our way through the labyrinth, which was the Malfoy home.

"Well, the thing is…and I know Lucius thinks the same but he's entirely too proud to admit it…you are obviously aware that all this fuss with William Southard means that he isn't here anymore?"

"Yes," I said slowly. "I was aware of that fact."

"So that means we don't currently have a tutor for Draco and what with Durmstrang sending out examinations to children wishing to attend…it really is of the utmost importance that Draco has someone reliable who he can co-operate with…"

I stopped in my tracks, knowing exactly where she was going with this. "No way. No no no no NO!"

"Oh please Sev!" She was practically begging now. "Do it for Draco."

"Don't blackmail me, Narcissa," I warned her. "As tempting this offer may be I will have to decline. There's no way I'm going to be employed by your insufferable husband again. Not even for Draco! Anyway, I've already applied for a couple of jobs."

Narcissa Malfoy looked unimpressed. "And have you got any of these 'jobs'?" she asked snidely. "Or are you still waiting? And what about money? You know you'd be paid twice as much here as anywhere else."

"Only because of the serious risks to my sanity," I snapped back. "No, Narcissa, that's my final answer!"

I suddenly remembered which way lead out so, quick, I bid Lady Malfoy farewell and walked briskly away.

I was not going to give in to them anymore. It was about time I started living for myself. If I was somebody else, I probably would have skipped out the door…but I wasn't.

Hallo chaps :) Hope you liked the chapter Considering it's my birthday next week and considering you all love me (hee hee) please review and I shall give you some of my cake which my lovely gran is making!! Eeeeek! I feel old :P

Love Lily xxxxx