A/N: Thank you for being patient with me for this update! Summer has kicked my arse with how busy I am, but thanks to Highreeve2022, I now have a wonderful Alpha to help me with this fic and make editing a bit easier. I'm also going to link a Discord in my profile if anyone is interested in chatting about Muggle-Born :) The Discord server is called The Department of Mysteries, and you can find my fic under Author + Wips.
Anyway, Enjoy Chapter 28!
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The bed I now lie upon gives me no rest. It is far too cold. Where once I had become accustomed to the beating heart of another – alas – they have left me.
What have I done to deserve this?
I stalk the corridors of a place I barely recognise, with new patrons taking up residence. I had been resistant at first – a year ago when the first newcomers arrived.
Have I really changed so much?
If I ascend the marble stone, to be met with my reflection - would I stare into the depths of a different creature?
Had I known the changes to come — would I have done things differently?
Would I have allowed myself to feel?
To care?
I am no longer who I once was; now filled with grief.
The hours are long as the heat of the day withers the pathetic plant she tries to keep alive. Tries to maintain its beauty.
But she is distracted.
She is sad.
And in her sadness, she has become neglectful of her precious greenery – no longer hues of verdant emeralds, but brown and shrivelled like the hope that things will turn around.
That it will be okay.
Never was I one to offer words of encouragement. Words of comfort. I try to let her know I'm still here. That I am with her, and I see her pain. But my tongue is like sandpaper, and no words can spring forth.
The food my servants provide me with tastes like ash. But I still eat what is provided, for I know not what else to do.
And so,
I eat.
I sleep.
I wander.
And yet – something is happening. There's a commotion. I try to discern what is going on.
More guests? Who are these people?
But then, my heart stops.
He has returned.
I must remain in control and show no sign of weakness. Even so, I cannot stop studying his features. His eyes flicker to mine, and for but a moment, I wonder if he's forgotten me. If I were to slip away into the shadows, would he let me be - no longer interested in my whereabouts?
But as I look into his eyes – I can see a glint of emotion as his lip curls.
He has not forgotten me.
I play indifferently to keep up the ruse. To keep up the boundaries I have established so as not to let my soul be manipulated by weak-willed emotions.
I am in control.
I can do this.
Finding rest inside what I once called home has been a challenge. Now, overflowing with far too many warm bodies. Warm bodies that will soon become my servants just like all the others.
I am still in control.
But then I see him, and I am reminded that not everyone thinks I deserve my position. The position I was born into. The position that comes with my impressive pedigree.
And yet he shows no respect for me.
He taunts me.
Just — staring.
His constant gaze follows my every move.
I know no peace.
His silent judgement passes over me – like he's waiting for me to strike.
As if he assumes I am a monster. The Devil Incarnate.
That I would commit murder inside the sacred place I call my home.
No.
He is the monster.
He is the intruder.
It is only because the others trust him that I allow his presence.
Allow him to defile the ground below his perch, where his filth lay waste on the years-old script no longer to be read by the people.
My people.
My servants.
But the days are long, and my patience has grown thin.
During my daily wandering – daily patrol – I witness the monster commit a crime against my precious pet – the one I have worked so hard to tame. The one who I thought was lost but had returned to me.
I make my decision.
This can go on no longer.
I see the evil behind his eyes - he knows what he's done.
And maybe I am a monster - the Devil Incarnate.
But if that is so, neither of us can survive while the other remains.
For if I'm the Devil - he is but a devil like me.
And so, I strike.
"Mr Shanks, no!" screamed Hanna as Mr Shanks leapt off the floor to swipe at Han Solo. "Get your fucking cat under control!"
Draco quickly grabbed Mr Shanks before he nearly clawed the little owl to death. "First of all, your stupid owl bit me! And second, he's not my cat – he's Hermione's."
"What happened to joint custody?" smirked Hanna.
Draco merely rolled his eyes as the cat squirmed in his arms, still trying to swipe at the tiny owl as if the bird had personally infiltrated the Grangers' home to unleash an unspeakable evil on them all. "I appreciate you defending me, Mr Shanks, but I don't think Hans snipping at me warrants a murder," he laughed, seeing the fire behind the feline's eyes. "Although shitting all over the floor might," Draco added, scrunching his nose.
"I put newspapers down," scoffed Hanna. "Maybe I should move him to the garage," she mused, looking at the bird shit all over the floor.
"Hanna –" Theo started, entering the room and eating cereal from a bowl. "First – you look really pretty today. Second – that's a terrible idea. My dad would murder Hans if you put him in the garage and he took a shit on Cheryl."
"Oh, God, that motorbike?" laughed Hanna as she helped guide her owl back into the cage she'd bought. Apparently, her familiar decided to also make the journey across the pond. Alma had jumped on the first flight to London, nearly forgetting about the creature who had taken to living in a tiny tree in the garden. Han Solo must have sensed something was off and showed up a few days after Draco and his parents arrived at the Grangers.
"Well, he can't stay here," said Draco, as Mr Shanks licked the small cut on his finger. "The Grangers are already letting us stay for free. And I know they're just being polite, letting your bird destroy the hardwood."
"Well, at least I'm not using up all the hot water," sassed Hanna.
Draco instantly flushed. "That was one time!" he hissed.
"One time? Really, Draco?" said Hanna pointing to the clock that Theo had purchased for his parents. He'd gotten an elaborate Wizarding timepiece that would alert Mr and Mrs Granger to the whereabouts of all the family members. And being the kind soul that Theo was, he even added Draco and Hanna to the clock claiming they might well be family given they live with them now. Draco cringed when he realised that the bathroom was included among the locations a family member could be.
"I suppose all those other times that yours and Hermione's little clock faces were on top of each other – in the bathroom – was just your girlfriend showing you proper dental hygiene?" said Hanna as she raised a brow.
"As a matter of fact, yes," Draco huffed. "You know how she loves to fucking lecture. She's just really passionate about her parents' line of work. And if said lecture ends with a more practical application of oral activity, then so be it," he said matter of factly.
"Oh my god, Draco," snorted Hanna while Theo nearly spit out his cereal.
"Oh, like you two aren't sneaking around either," hissed Draco defensively. "Or is there another reason I keep getting locked out of Theo's room – during the middle of the day – when both of your little clock faces are practically humping each other?"
"We like to debate movies in private," said Hanna, flipping her hair. "And if the debate's loser ends up naked, then so be it," she smirked.
"Somehow, we both always end up losing," added Theo with an impish grin and a dismissive shrug.
"Oh, Godric. Don't tell me that," whinged Draco. "Just put the bird outside."
"No – he'll get too hot," said Hanna assertively.
"Hanna," huffed Draco, frustrated as the witch folded her arms. "Quit being a fucking bint and clean up the fucking mess! You're embarrassing me," he gritted out.
"I'm gonna let you two have this lovely sibling interaction in private," said Theo awkwardly before leaving the room.
Draco didn't even acknowledge Theo as he continued to glare at Hanna. But then his eyes widened, realising they'd never argued before – well, other than when he thought she had infiltrated Hogwarts to murder him. But still, he didn't like her being angry with him. "Sorry," he began, now feeling uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Hanna gave him a curious look and then chuckled. "You didn't upset me, Draco. We're just having a tiff – I mean – if even that. You're my little brother – we're supposed to annoy the shit out of each other, right?" she smirked.
"Hanna, I'm less than a day younger than you and taller. Little brother is a bit of a stretch," Draco said in exasperation.
Hanna took a few steps forward, moving to her tiptoes to be the same height as she ruffled Draco's hair. "You are adorable," she smirked. "I'm gonna go walk around the block with Theo, little bro."
Draco narrowed his eyes as Hanna winked and then gave a fucking salute as Mr Shanks struggled to escape his arms. Once the witch had left the room, Draco finally released Mr Shanks as the cat skulked out of the room. "I had a fight with my sister," Draco mused, smiling at the thought. But then his smile quickly slipped off his face as Han Solo took another shit. "Lovely."
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A/N: Hope you all enjoyed a bit of Mr Shanks' POV. See you next time!