Chapter 6: Distractions
Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction based on the Harry Potter universe by J.K. Rowling. We do not own anything, except the plot and a few characters created by us to further the plot line in the future.
"Incendio!" Draco hissed. Sparks of flame consumed the unopened letter before him. Anger reflected off of Draco's eyes and into the heat. The parchment curled around itself until it turned to ash.
"You can go back to Azkaban empty handed." He told the barn owl. The owl, with haste, took off, out of Draco's bedroom window and into the chilled morning air.
It had been month since the imprisonment of Draco's father; a month since the trial. His father had been using his weekly writing privileges to contact Draco, but they had all been reduced to hot embers before Draco would even glance at the words. Draco knew what his father wanted to say and didn't have the time nor patience to deal with his father's egotistical arse.
The only thing on his mind since then has been on why Granger of all people decides to defend his father. Hermione Granger, war heroine, defending the life of a death eater. Why in the bloody hell didn't she just let them give the bastard the bloody Dementor's Kiss. Life would be so much easier for both me and mother, Draco thought bitterly. His mother had been occupying her time since the trial. Lately mother has been speaking highly of that Mud- I mean, Muggleborn witch. Still bewitched by the fact she saved her husband.. Draco looked at the clock in his bedroom.
"Eight o'clock, breakfast might be ready." Draco dressed himself in his usual all black attire. He left his hair alone and left his bedroom. Draco went downstairs and immediately noticed the presence of someone other than his mother. He found his mother sitting at the head table talking to Astoria Greengrass. Both drinking tea. Both Draco and Astoria made eye contact.
"Will Master Draco like to have a seat?" Pipsy asked.
"Umm, yes. I'll just go and take a seat next to my mother." Draco made his way to his seat not breaking eye contact with Astoria. Once Draco was situated and Pipsy brought out the food. Hot meats with steam rising from them, scrambled eggs, different types of toast and an assortment of juices in glass pitchers waiting to be served. The entire meal covered the table, only making room for their drinks and silverware.
"What's the matter, Draco?" Astoria whined, "You haven't said a word to me since you come down."
"Guess I don't have anything to say." Draco stated flatly.
"Draco that is an impolite thing to say." Narcissa said while scolding her son.
"I'm sorry mother but I am not keen to unexpected guest." Draco glared at Astoria. Astoria knew that Draco is still a bachelor, and that his mother wants him to wed.
"You didn't seem to be like this two weeks ago." Astoria said with a smirk plastered on her face. Draco instantly knew what she was talking about.
"What happened then was a mistake, a stupid drunken mistake!" Draco sneered.
"Don't say something like that. What happened to that night being such a special night?"
Narcissa cleared her throat, letting the two acknowledged her existence, both Draco and Astoria turned to face her. "May I ask what happened that night?" She said suspiciously.
"Oh, Mrs. Malfoy, that was the night that Draco proposed to me." Astoria cooed batting her eyelashes at Draco.
"Draco! This is wonderful news! You didn't tell me you were engaged!" Narcissa chimed.
Draco grinded his teeth, "That's because I am not." Astoria pursed her lips as she stared down Draco.
"Wait, Are you or are you not engaged?" Narcissa asked trying to clear up the quarrel.
"We are engaged, Mrs. Malfoy, Draco did not have a ring at the time, but it happened so suddenly that he didn't even think about a ring."
"Astoria, I told you to forget about it, it's never going to happen! We are not engaged nor will we ever be!" Draco was fuming at the fact that Astoria took advantage of his drunken state two weeks back, and was now trying to say that they are engaged.
"Astoria?" Narcissa asked, "Would you please excuse my son and I for just a moment?"
Astoria set down her tea and smiled falsely, "Oh, of course, Mrs. Malfoy!" Astoria smirked at
Draco as his mother pulled him into a room.
Narcissa opened her mouth to speak, but Draco cut her off.
"She's blackmailing me." Draco told his mother.
"Draco, I'm sure it's just an infatuation." Narcissa said trying to calm him down.
"Mother, she's nothing but a power hungry troll!"
"The Greengrass family has power, they are considered our equal in society." Nacissa told her son, trying to prove his theory wrong.
"No," Draco said correcting his mother, "They used to have power. You've done everything you could to raise the Malfoy name back to acceptance and now they want to share the glory. Not to mention that we are wealthier than them too."
"Draco?" Narcissa asked curiously. "What actually happened between both you and Astoria?"
Draco was taken back, he didn't know how to tell his mother that he slept with Astoria. Even though he was drunk, it was still a disgrace to shag someone before marriage... And then tell their mother about it.
"As you know, I was in a drunken state when this happened." Draco said nervously, and his mother nodded motioning him to continue. "Well I sort of slept with her. I felt so ashamed when I came to the next morning."
Narcissa had her hand collapsed over her face in shame. She couldn't believe her son was so stupid.
"And you proposed to her?" Narcissa asked completing the story.
Draco nodded wordlessly as he hung his head. "I know, I was intoxicated but I didn't think I was that smashed to actually propose to her."
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop drinking?" Narcissa quipped, "I know, that everything with your father has been putting a lot of pressure on you, but that doesn't mean-"
"Mistress!" Someone yelled from the corridor, "Mistress!" Narcissa turned her head to see a house elf sped into the room, panting.
"What is it?" Narcissa asked. The house elf breathed continuously trying to get some air, "The... The tapestry... It's changed." As the house elf uttered the words Narcissa was already off to see it for herself. The tapestry never changed unless something as important as a wedding happened. Draco followed his mother, dreading the result of the change. They stood still in utter shock when they walked in.
"Draco what did you do?" His mother said pointing to the new addition to the tapestry. Draco was the last person on the tapestry for the past twenty-two years, but now, just below his name there was a golden line linked to Draco, it read, Malfoy Heir.
"Shit!" Draco cursed.
"Draco is this because of.." Narcissa couldn't even find the words.
Draco couldn't even speak. There was no way that thing was real.
"Draco because of the mistake you made with that woman, you got her pregnant!" Narcissa told him.
"Mother, it's not like I was able to cast a contraceptive charm. I mean, I was drunk."
"Your ancestors would roll in their graves if they saw this!" Narcissa said pointing to the tapestry.
"Nobody is going to know." Draco said trying to reassure her.
"Draco! How thick are you? Astoria loves attention. She will not shy away because she is pregnant. Especially if it is your child."
"I can fix this, uh, give me some time, I will think of something." Draco said trying to come up with an idea.
"You can't reverse this! This isn't something you could just fix! Because you caused this, you have no choice but to marry the woman that is pregnant with your child."
Draco was shocked by his mother's response. "Mother don't punish me, it couldn't be prevented. I will do something else, like help the house elves, what's that thing Granger keeps whining about? S.P.W. Something?" Then another idea came to him. "I'll do chores around the manor, just don't make me marry that horrid woman."
"Draco, I've worked so hard to give this family a better life after the war and you have to screw it up. You are going to marry her, whether you like it or not. As of now, consider yourself in an arranged marriage."
Draco felt like crying. He didn't cry often, after the war, very little actually scared him. He didn't want to marry Astoria. She was a vile human being who ruined his life. Why was he always responsible for contraception? Astoria could've taken something. Why did this have to happen to him.
"Guess, I better go tell her I knocked her up." Draco said solemnly.
Narcissa pulled Draco to face her, "No! You cannot tell her anything! If you tell her about the child, she will blackmail you even more with it. Let her have her way and get married and then let her find out about the child on her own. You can't let her know that you are aware of it." Draco nodded. Draco didn't want to marry Astoria and he especially didn't want to have children with her. He could only pray his good looks would save that monstrosity. Draco looked at his mother and proceed to go upstairs.
"Draco? Where are you going?" Narcissa asked. Draco with a sad look on his face ignored the question and continued up the stairs. When he got into his room he retrieved a small black box that he kept hidden since after the war ended. He went back downstairs and entered the dining room to see that his mother had sat down again. Narcissa gave him a warning look that only he could see. Draco walked over to Astoria and looked down at her.
"Yes, Draco?" Astoria asked innocently.
Draco let out a sigh of annoyance before he got down on one knee next to her chair. She automatically stood up, for she knew what he was doing.
"Astoria Greengrass," Draco asked, "Would you do me the... honor... of... marrying me?" Draco practically had to choke out the words to get himself to say them. He opened the little black box which displayed a ring. It was the shape of a snake with emerald stone eyes. Astoria looked at the expensive looking ring and flashed her hand in front of him, "I thought you'd never ask." She smirked as the coiled snake wrapped itself around her ring finger. Astoria looked at the ring with some sadness, "This is just a temporary ring, correct?"
Draco was angry enough at her already, but that comment made him want to strangle her.
"It's a family heirloom. Women being married into the family have been presented this ring for centuries. It's quite an honor." Draco seethed.
Astoria noticed Draco's tone and didn't want to send him over the deep end. She wanted to keep him in her control.
"I guess," she said glaring at the ring, "I just hope we can get married soon, so we can pick out something more... updated." Draco snapped the empty ring box closed as he stood up from his kneeling position.
"Congratulations." Narcissa said emotionlessly. Draco knew his mother felt horrible, but could see where there wasn't anything she could do. "I wish you both the best." Astoria and Draco both ignored her.
"So, Drakey Poo,-"
"Do not call me that." Draco warned. Astoria ignored his comment and continued, "I was thinking we should go celebrate... in public." Draco sighed, Of course she wanted to go out in public. Draco knew that Astoria was conceited, but didn't know how far her narcissism went.
"Actually, Astoria," His mother intervened, "I was thinking you should head home and tell you family. I am sure your father would be upset if he had to find out about his little girl's engagement through the Daily Prophet." Astoria looked upset at Narcissa words.
"I suppose." Astoria said sadly. She then turned to face Draco. "I'll drop by again later." She wove her hands into his, which Draco released immediately. She gave him a peck on the cheek before she apparated, "Love you, Drakey Poo." Astoria disappeared with a pop, which let Narcissa and Draco sigh, "Well that just happened." Narcissa breathed.
"I want to kill that woman." Draco confided. "I know the family is in desperate need for an heir, a small part of me hopes that she loses the child."
"Draco don't say something like that!" Narcissa gasped, "That baby isn't just hers. It's also half of you. Speaking of which, I need you to keep an eye on her."
"Ugh, don't I have to look at her enough already?" Draco said with distaste.
"Draco," his mother warned, "I am serious. I want you to make sure she keeps the child safe."
"Wouldn't we want her to hurt it? Then we have nothing to worry about."
"Draco! That baby does not deserve to be punished for your actions!"
"Okay mother I get it, I screwed up royally. You do not have to constantly remind me of it."
"Make sure she stays away from alcohol, drugs, and that she gets enough fluids." Narcissa told him.
"Ugh, I don't want to babysit her!" Draco whined.
"Well soon you're going to have to babysit regardless, so you better get your practice in now."
Draco groaned involuntarily, dreading having to look after Astoria. "But mother," he complained, "I would rather be magically attached to Granger than be anywhere near Astoria."
Narcissa looked at her son with curiosity. "I am sure that anyone's company is better than Astoria. I would suggest that you could start looking after your fiancée tonight or start fresh in the morning."
"Mother, I think that it is too much to take in a day, so I am going to go lay down and rest." Draco said with a tired expression. Narcissa nodded in understanding as Draco walked away. He stayed up in his room the whole day, not even coming down for dinner. Draco turned the anti-apparition wards on and closed their floo network for the night. He didn't have the ability to deal with Astoria.
Draco laid in his bed, trying to make sense of what had happened. He didn't want to be a husband, let alone a father. He could barely take care of himself. Being a father meant sacrificing his wants and desires for someone that he declared a mistake. He didn't even know how he should treat it. He didn't exactly have the greatest role model. Draco sat through the night pondering over what he was going to do.
Draco had trouble sleeping and rose from his bed. He made his way to the bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror, reminded him of his 6th year when Potter found him alone in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Draco could not stand the memory so he splashed water in face and left his room to get a glass of water from the kitchen. He wanted to be alone so he got it himself to avoid waking up the house elves.
He made a detour to the tapestry room. He never visited it normally. It was something that had been in the manor for ages. It linked anyone related to the Malfoy family, but your name only appeared on it, if you were a direct descendant of the previous Malfoy or if you were married to one, which is why Draco assumed Astoria's name wasn't attached to the child. Draco looked at the photos on the fabric. Draco was one up from the bottom with ties to his parents. He looked like he did now, the photos updated themselves every now and then. Lucius from his portrait looked like a wreck, but it made sense considering where he had been living for the past few months. When Draco looked down at the portrait below his, there was a wave of emotion. Worries of the unknown and just plain terror. The photo had displayed a fetus, sucking its thumb, something Draco remembered his mother telling him, he did frequently as a baby.
"Maybe you and I aren't so different after all." Draco said to the photo. Draco was quite shocked at the size of it considering it was only two weeks old. Draco would've expected Astoria to have grown even a little bit. Draco sat there just staring at the photo for awhile. Marveling that it was his. It wasn't until the early hours of the next morning did he actually go to sleep.
...
"Snape, no! It's too early." Draco whined as he shoved his head underneath his pillow.
"Do I look like your teacher?" Narcissa asked in annoyance. Draco refused to answer, and Narcissa became annoyed at his current morning behavior. She began pulling on the covers, until she completely pulled the covers off of the young stubborn Malfoy. Draco woke from the cold air hit his bare legs, "Mother are you insane!" He said trying to cover himself. He had not slept completely naked, but he felt uncomfortable having his mother see him in nothing but his underwear. He was thankful he did fall asleep naked, like he did some nights.
"Draco calm down, do not forget that I have bathed you before. I am sure that nothing has changed from the last time I have seen you naked." Draco looked at his mother in bewilderment.
"Things have changed since then, but it still does not make it fine for a man's mother to look at him when he is not dressed." Narcissa laughed at her son's response.
"I am twenty two, mother, I can assure you things have changed."
"Are you always like this in the morning?" She asked laughing.
"Only when I am rudely awaken, speaking of which, why did you wake me up?" Draco asked his he pulled the covers of his bed back on, trying to hide his shame.
"Here." Narcissa said throwing him a pamphlet. Draco picked up the paper and unfolded it.
"Why did you give me a tourist guide to Paris?" Draco asked looking at the information.
"You are taking Astoria to the summer house tomorrow." Draco wiped his eyes that were crusted over with sleep and then looked at his mother, "Like hell I will!"
"Draco, you are going to be stuck with this woman for life, so you might as well get used to her. I don't care what you do there, since you've clearly already broken the only rule I would give you."
"Let it go, mother." Draco said rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I already notified Severus to give you tomorrow off and then you already get the weekend off."
"Ugh!" Draco whined as he fell back into his pillow.
"It's not so bad. I mean, three days of Paris-"
"With Astoria..." Draco added bitterly.
"Can you look on the bright side for once." Narcissa asked.
"It's hard to see a bright side when there is none." Draco told her. Narcissa rolled her eyes at her son, "She's downstairs, so get ready and meet us down there when you're up."
"Thanks for the warning, I will be sure to take extra time to get ready."
Narcissa glared at her son before she left the room to join Astoria.
Draco got up and got into the shower. The whole time, he was dreading going downstairs. Before he even entered the dining room, Astoria ran into Draco's arms.
"Oh Drakey Poo! I am so excited! We are going to Paris!" Astoria cried with joy.
Draco sighed, "Yep, just you and me...alone."
"It'll be so romantic!" Astoria smiled, "Narcissa told me and I couldn't contain myself."
"You usually can't." Draco whispered.
"Sorry, what did you say? I didn't hear you."
"Oh, nothing." Draco covered.
She kissed Draco passionately on lips, which felt like acid to Draco. He must have been really drunk if he enjoyed this. After about a minute or two Draco pulled away, and taking a step back from Astoria. "Astoria let's not do this here, wait til Paris.
"Très bien," Astoria sighed as she spoke French, "Jusqu'à Paris."
Author's Note: Hello Everyone! Thank you for reading Chapter 6 of The Lion's Secret! We would like to thank one of our reviewers, Irmorena, for the idea to use the Malfoy Tapestry. Also to save you guys who don't speak French a trip to Google Translate, the last sentence Astoria said was: "Very well," Astoria sighed as she spoke French, "Until Paris." Also warning, we don't know if that is a proper translation, because we relied on Google Translate. If you know French please let us know the correct translation and we will update it. Also thank you all for your reviews and follows. Posting two chapters at once last week got us our biggest views of the story yet, so you will definitely see that again sometime in the future. See you next Tuesday!
~AmatuerWriter98 and AnonymousMaknae