Wow, a lot of very emotional responses to the last chapter. I knew it would be rather unexpected and emotional, but still... But Draco and Narcissa really don't have it easy right now... Well, we'll hear more from Lucius and Narcissa in chapter 70 ;)

Chapter 68 begins with Draco's point of view at the end of chapter 67. Posting early today because half of my students are away on language trips (I wish I could have joined them, but apparently as a new teacher that's close to impossible...) and I don't have much planning to do today.

Read, enjoy and review :)

Lucius regarded Draco coldly. "Is this your final word?"

Draco looked away, but nodded his head. He felt incredibly light headed. This conversation was not going the way he had wanted it to, but he had always known that he'd have to have this talk with them one day, because there was no way he could even pretend to support the Dark Lord any longer. He had just hoped that there would be more time. "I will not follow him. Neither will I obey you, if you choose to follow him."

Lucius closed his eyes and sighed. "Then you are a blood traitor as well."

Draco flinched, the words cutting deep coming from his father.

"Lucius," Narcissa began, but Draco barely noticed her.

"We cannot have a blood traitor in the family," Lucius continued evenly, ignoring his wife.

"W-What?" Draco stammered. The rage he had been feeling all through the conversation dissipated. "Are you... Are you disowning me?"

"L-Lucius, you can't," Narcissa said, her voice wavering.

"Narcissa! He is no longer part of this family and this is final," he bellowed, then turned towards Draco, sneering. "And you, leave our home. You are no longer welcome here. I don't want to see you again."

Draco numbly watched his mother pleading and crying. There was a buzzing in his head and an emptiness in his heart.

Without thinking, he stood up and left the manor.

At first he walked, barely feeling anything. Realization was slow to come, but once it did it came crushing down on him, the emotions threatening to suffocate him. His body began to shake violently and the tears began to fall and then he began to run.

He ran and ran until he had trouble breathing and couldn't run any longer. He was in the middle of a forest, collapsing next to a tree, he threw up.

He heaved until his stomach was empty, and then some more.

He cried until he couldn't cry any longer. He was cold, sweaty and could barely control his trembling body.

After a while, all energy left him, and he just lay on the cold, hard ground, hugging his knees.

He felt an overwhelming sense of grief. He had always had the love of his family. Family had always come first. No matter how bad things had gotten, no matter the arguments they had, they had been there for him. When the Dark Lord had taken over their home, killed people on their dining table, when Crabbe and Goyle started to turn on him, when his wife had died,... they had always been there for him. But now they weren't. Their love had been conditional. Now that he had defied their expectations, their love was gone and he was alone.

Hours passed and the overwhelming grief and the feeling of hopelessness made room for fear. What would he do now? He had no money, nowhere to stay. How would he afford school? If he didn't go to school, the Dark Lord would surely find and kill him.

It took him forever to gather the energy to think of anything but his inevitable demise. At last, he was able to gather enough energy to think about the next step.

Where could he go now? His Slytherin friends' parents would probably not be too happy to host a disowned bloodtraitor. News traveled fast in their circles.

Neville had probably more important things to do with his parents back - and he didn't even know where he lived.

Sirius was an option, he would surely take him in, but he didn't know how to reach him, they had always used the Floo network to get there. He also couldn't just Apparate into the middle of Muggle London.

Hogwarts would be an option, but thanks to the anti-apparation wards he couldn't Apparate there and the train would only leave in a week.

He contemplated his options some more until a thought struck him: Severus. He was his godfather and that was exactly the kind of situation in which one needed a godfather. He knew where he lived, too. He had been to Spinner's End several times to take care of Snape's house after his death. He didn't have any relatives and the Malfoys were probably the closest thing to friends that he had ever had.

Raw pain filled him, as he remembered standing in the shabby old house with his mother. His parents had been devastated when they had heard of his death, even though they had by then known that he had been a spy for Dumbledore. His mother had been so thankful that he had taken over the task of killing Dumbledore that she didn't much care on which side he had ultimately been on. Harry Potter of all people had joined them in going through the late Potion's Master's things. It had been incredibly awkward.

But Snape was still alive now and so were the wards that protected his house. So apparating there directly was out of question. He had to apparate to Cokeworth and just hope that he would either stumble upon Snape while he was doing his grocery shopping or that his presence would somehow trigger the wards he undoubtedly had in place and let Snape know that he was there.

Draco concentrated on the large Muggle town located in the midlands of England. He tried to remember it with as many details as he could. The identical brick houses, the dirty river and the disused mill with the tall chimney. If Draco had to use one word to describe the town, it would be bleak.

Once he had the picture in his mind, he apparated.

With a loud pop he landed in front of a gloomy looking hotel in the middle of Cokeworth.

He briefly wondered about the Trace and whether apparating would have activated it, but since nothing happened upon his arrival, he just dismissed the thought. He had more important things to worry about.

He wandered aimlessly through the desolate town. The few muggles he encountered, ignored him. Considering he was wearing wizarding robes, he would have expected some curious looks, but apparently the depressing town had sucked all of the energy necessary to be curious out of its inhabitants.

He passed rows and rows of identical buildings, all gray and in desperate need of renovation. He would have wrinkled his nose at that but he knew that this place was infinitely better than sleeping under a bridge, which right now, was his plan B.

He couldn't remember exactly where the house had been, and really, how could he if everything looked the same, but he was pretty sure that he was close. He walked up and down the street until someone grabbed his shoulder and he spun around.

"Draco!" said the surprised voice of his teacher and godfather. "What are you doing here? How did you even get here?"

Draco couldn't help himself - maybe Neville was right and being in the body of a teenager made him one - but he flung himself onto Severus and started to cry.

Severus seemed shocked at first, barely moving, but eventually petted Draco's back while he cried into his chest.

They stood there, rather awkwardly, for quite some time. Once Draco had stopped crying and had somewhat composed himself, Snape put an arm on Draco's back and gently led him into his house. Draco sat down at the kitchen table and Snape made some tea, handing Draco a cup and sitting down opposite of him with his own cup. They both stayed silent for a while, Snape regarding Draco.

Eventually, Snape said, "My wards alarmed me of your presence, Draco. Should I ask you how you got here?"

Draco shook his head. He couldn't really tell him that he knew how to apparate. He was still a couple of years to young for that. "M-my parents... they..." He couldn't finish the sentence. But Snape nodded in understanding. Maybe Lucius had already talked to him about it or maybe it was just the logical conclusion and he had anticipated something like this would happen sooner or later. "Can I... uhm... I was wondering, if I could maybe stay with you?"

Snape raised his eyebrows. "You want to stay here?" he gestured at the old and dusty kitchen.

Draco nodded his head.

"Of course you can. I am your godfather, it's the least I can do."

Draco allowed himself a small smile. Things weren't good, but he didn't have to sleep under a bridge and he wasn't alone. That was something at least.

TBC

Poor Draco, but at least he has his godfather. Did you like this chapter? What do you think will Draco's life at Spinner's End look like?