A difficult choice
Draco figured he'd have a proper tea with his mother. He'd even dressed for the occasion, wearing clothing she had given him. He combed his hair back and was quite presentable. A house-elf told him she was in the garden.
"Hullo, Mother. I trust you are well," he said as he came over and kissed her cheek.
Narcissa grinned at her only son. "Hello, Draco. You look very nice today." She ran her hands over the shoulder of the shirt she had given him. "You look stunning, actually. What's the occasion?"
"We haven't had a nice tea in an age. I know you still take it every day, so I invited myself along. I hope you don't mind."
Draco took a seat as the house-elf scurried hurriedly to get his cup ready for him.
"Anything of interest to report?"
She knew there was the very good chance that bringing up Draco's possible involvement in the Liberi would be disastrous. Having a tea between just Draco and her was rare, and she'd rather not waste this opportunity.
"Nothing, I'm afraid. I've hosted a few teas here in the garden. The house elves have done a wonderful job this year. The temperatures have been perfect for most of the new additions."
Narcissa looked at Draco critically. "You look well. Do you have anything interesting to report to me?"
"Not especially," Draco replied absently. "Just making sure things are in order on my end for Blaise's wedding. Gin and I are keeping the kids for a leg of the honeymoon. School's winding down. I'll be glad to be out for the summer. The board is talking of hiring more staff and taking more students in the fall term. That's a very good thing."
Draco was going to have to distance and eventually sever ties with the school, which Narcissa hoped wouldn't be too painful. Perhaps if she could get him interested in another hobby, the transition would be easier.
"I'm proud of you, Draco, for seeing something so large through until the finish." Narcissa leaned back a bit as the house elves brought out Draco's tea and refilled hers just the way she preferred it. She held the cup between her hands and looked out over the gardens. "And are you and Miss Weasley becoming more settled? I'd like to have grandchildren someday, you know."
"Finished? Who said anything about being finished? It's a school. One really doesn't finish with that sort of thing, you know, and don't you worry about grandchildren. It'll happen when Ginny and I are ready. Don't rush me. You know I don't like that."
Draco was suddenly suspicious. He was paranoid by nature, but it had always served him well. Something was not quite on the up and up here. His mother had never cared what he did as long as it did not involve fire.
Narcissa let out a small chuckle. "I was curious, Draco. I would rather you cultivate a relationship before having children. It's quite a large step. Your father rushed to have a child. That's probably where your impatience comes from."
She set her tea cup down on the small garden table. "Let's not stay on a sore subject. Besides the school and being busy with that, how are you?"
Draco did not hear the question.
He was looking at her hands with his cup halfway to his mouth. There was a ring on her finger that had not been there before. It was hidden with her wedding bands, but Draco knew her everyday jewelry pretty well by now.
It didn't help that she was playing with it - like they tended to do.
His teacup clanked back on the table, sloshing everywhere.
"What in the hell did you do?"
Narcissa hadn't been looking at Draco, so she was shocked by the question. As she turned to face him, she saw that his eyes were glued onto her wedding bands. She was planning on removing it when she saw Draco, but his unannounced arrival had ruined those plans.
"Draco, what are you talking about?"
"You know very well what in the hell I am talking about. I am not stupid! You know I am not stupid! I can't believe this!"
Draco got up and started to pace.
"Do not shout at me, Draco," Narcissa said calmly. She removed the ring and enlarged it to become a thin bracelet, which was actually two slim bracelets melded together. She separated them. "I do hope you'll listen to what I have to say before you refuse. I have secured a place for you with me, where you will be protected."
Narcissa held up the silver bracelet.
"You don't speak for me," Draco said, voice going low and overly calm. "I repeat... what did you do?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I am your mother, and it is my duty to protect you. That is what I did. I will not force you, but your life will be very difficult if you do not at least agree to think it over."
The bracelet was still offered to him, but if he refused one more time, the offer would be rescinded.
"You think I'd agree to something just because you say it's fine? You tell me what you did. You tell me now or I leave and I do not return."
Narcissa put the bracelet on the table.
"You will cease speaking to me in that tone right now, Draco Orion Malfoy. You do not order me about." She glared at him as she stood. "I am giving you a gift, an opportunity. If you are really so stupid to not accept it, then I will not stop you from storming off."
"You tell me what you have done to me," Draco pleaded.
His gut was twisting. The one person he never thought would betray him outside of Blaise seemed to have done just that. It was making his mind race. He honestly did not know he could feel like this. Even his father offering him up to Voldemort had not been like this.
Narcissa stared at him a few moments. Lucius really had damaged Draco to the point where he would not accept help from his parents.
"The Liberi is prepared to offer you and anyone you consider yours protection as long as you aide them with your abilities."
The world seemed to tilt unpleasantly.
His mother had betrayed him. Draco couldn't believe it. He honestly never thought this would happen. Ever.
"I... I can't believe you have done this to me. You told them. Them. I trusted you. I have always trusted you. How could you?"
He had not felt this conflicted and broken in a very long time. His brain could not wrap around what was happening.
Narcissa's expression softened. "Oh Draco. Do you not see? They would have discovered this anyway, and if you volunteer to help, it will be much more pleasant. I do not want you to end up in a small cell somewhere being forced to work until you perish. I am trying to protect you. Why won't you accept my help?" she asked, as she walked closer and attempted to brush the hair from his forehead.
Draco scrambled back, eyes going a little wild. "Don't touch me."
He stared at her.
"They kill people. They killed a little girl's mother, her only thing in this world, and they took it away. That girl stayed at my home. She's bright and funny and a good child. She didn't deserve that. All because her mother was not a pureblood. I won't be a part of that. Don't you see? I can't be party to that."
"And you are the only thing I have in this world. I don't want lose you. Pardon me for being extremely selfish."
She was becoming worried. He was taking this far worse that she ever expected him to.
"Your logic leaves a lot to be desired." Draco backed away some more. "There are much better ways to keep me!"
He made a growling sound and pulled at his hair.
Narcissa's eyes widened. He was starting to behave just like Bellatrix did when she was upset. "Draco, what in Merlin's name are you doing? Calm down!"
Draco looked at her with wide eyes. "For the second time in my life someone who was supposed to love me best has sold me out to a dark lord. I don't appreciate being prostituted out for my abilities. Why don't you calm down. No, better yet... I think I'll take my leave. I don't want anything from you, least of all your slave trinkets."
Draco started yanking off his clothing. He was dead serious. And angry now. The shock had given to hurt and now the hurt had blossomed to anger.
He threw everything off but his pants and stomped on them before setting the pile ablaze.
Narcissa was fully prepared to attempt to calm Draco down until he started ripping of clothes and set them ablaze. She immediately scooted back away from the flames.
"Draco, your behavior is abhorrent! Why can't you at least act like an adult!"
Lucius floated in and smirked at the scene. "I told you he wouldn't appreciate this. Does he know that he is already promised to them?"
Draco looked at Narcissa. "No."
Something inside him snapped. He was not even totally aware of what he did next. Blood was pounding in his ears as he stalked through the garden to his mother's prized irises and lit them up before anyone could stop him. He'd given some of them to her as a child. In any of his fits, he had never harmed the irises.
Narcissa's eyes widened as she watched her garden go up in flames, her irises being the first casualty. After that, her eyes narrowed. If Draco was going refuse her help, then it was his own neck on the line.
"Get out," she said, her voice low. "And do not think, for one moment, I will save you if you find yourself in trouble."
"I don't expect you to. You didn't before, but at least I thought you loved me. Now I know you don't. Just like Father. I'm only good for how I can be used. You can tell your new friends that if any of them come near me, they'll regret it. You break my heart. No, I don't expect you to save me. There is no saving me. I know that now. I don't expect anything anymore. It's useless to. I'll never get what I truly wanted from the both of you, so I am not going to try anymore."
He turned and ran. Draco didn't even know where he was going. He just knew it had to be away from here.
Let out a sigh as she sat down at the garden table. The house elves quickly put out the fire and she looked at her ruined gardens. When Lucius chuckled, Narcissa officially lost her composure.
It was a habit that he didn't think he'd ever break--ducking when the killing curse was thrown at him.
[Summary]: Draco finds out that Narcissa has joined the Liberi and already promised him to their services. Lucius watches the explosion that occurs.
"Hullo, Mother. I trust you are well," he said as he came over and kissed her cheek.
Narcissa grinned at her only son. "Hello, Draco. You look very nice today." She ran her hands over the shoulder of the shirt she had given him. "You look stunning, actually. What's the occasion?"
"We haven't had a nice tea in an age. I know you still take it every day, so I invited myself along. I hope you don't mind."
Draco took a seat as the house-elf scurried hurriedly to get his cup ready for him.
"Anything of interest to report?"
She knew there was the very good chance that bringing up Draco's possible involvement in the Liberi would be disastrous. Having a tea between just Draco and her was rare, and she'd rather not waste this opportunity.
"Nothing, I'm afraid. I've hosted a few teas here in the garden. The house elves have done a wonderful job this year. The temperatures have been perfect for most of the new additions."
Narcissa looked at Draco critically. "You look well. Do you have anything interesting to report to me?"
"Not especially," Draco replied absently. "Just making sure things are in order on my end for Blaise's wedding. Gin and I are keeping the kids for a leg of the honeymoon. School's winding down. I'll be glad to be out for the summer. The board is talking of hiring more staff and taking more students in the fall term. That's a very good thing."
Draco was going to have to distance and eventually sever ties with the school, which Narcissa hoped wouldn't be too painful. Perhaps if she could get him interested in another hobby, the transition would be easier.
"I'm proud of you, Draco, for seeing something so large through until the finish." Narcissa leaned back a bit as the house elves brought out Draco's tea and refilled hers just the way she preferred it. She held the cup between her hands and looked out over the gardens. "And are you and Miss Weasley becoming more settled? I'd like to have grandchildren someday, you know."
"Finished? Who said anything about being finished? It's a school. One really doesn't finish with that sort of thing, you know, and don't you worry about grandchildren. It'll happen when Ginny and I are ready. Don't rush me. You know I don't like that."
Draco was suddenly suspicious. He was paranoid by nature, but it had always served him well. Something was not quite on the up and up here. His mother had never cared what he did as long as it did not involve fire.
Narcissa let out a small chuckle. "I was curious, Draco. I would rather you cultivate a relationship before having children. It's quite a large step. Your father rushed to have a child. That's probably where your impatience comes from."
She set her tea cup down on the small garden table. "Let's not stay on a sore subject. Besides the school and being busy with that, how are you?"
Draco did not hear the question.
He was looking at her hands with his cup halfway to his mouth. There was a ring on her finger that had not been there before. It was hidden with her wedding bands, but Draco knew her everyday jewelry pretty well by now.
It didn't help that she was playing with it - like they tended to do.
His teacup clanked back on the table, sloshing everywhere.
"What in the hell did you do?"
Narcissa hadn't been looking at Draco, so she was shocked by the question. As she turned to face him, she saw that his eyes were glued onto her wedding bands. She was planning on removing it when she saw Draco, but his unannounced arrival had ruined those plans.
"Draco, what are you talking about?"
"You know very well what in the hell I am talking about. I am not stupid! You know I am not stupid! I can't believe this!"
Draco got up and started to pace.
"Do not shout at me, Draco," Narcissa said calmly. She removed the ring and enlarged it to become a thin bracelet, which was actually two slim bracelets melded together. She separated them. "I do hope you'll listen to what I have to say before you refuse. I have secured a place for you with me, where you will be protected."
Narcissa held up the silver bracelet.
"You don't speak for me," Draco said, voice going low and overly calm. "I repeat... what did you do?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I am your mother, and it is my duty to protect you. That is what I did. I will not force you, but your life will be very difficult if you do not at least agree to think it over."
The bracelet was still offered to him, but if he refused one more time, the offer would be rescinded.
"You think I'd agree to something just because you say it's fine? You tell me what you did. You tell me now or I leave and I do not return."
Narcissa put the bracelet on the table.
"You will cease speaking to me in that tone right now, Draco Orion Malfoy. You do not order me about." She glared at him as she stood. "I am giving you a gift, an opportunity. If you are really so stupid to not accept it, then I will not stop you from storming off."
"You tell me what you have done to me," Draco pleaded.
His gut was twisting. The one person he never thought would betray him outside of Blaise seemed to have done just that. It was making his mind race. He honestly did not know he could feel like this. Even his father offering him up to Voldemort had not been like this.
Narcissa stared at him a few moments. Lucius really had damaged Draco to the point where he would not accept help from his parents.
"The Liberi is prepared to offer you and anyone you consider yours protection as long as you aide them with your abilities."
The world seemed to tilt unpleasantly.
His mother had betrayed him. Draco couldn't believe it. He honestly never thought this would happen. Ever.
"I... I can't believe you have done this to me. You told them. Them. I trusted you. I have always trusted you. How could you?"
He had not felt this conflicted and broken in a very long time. His brain could not wrap around what was happening.
Narcissa's expression softened. "Oh Draco. Do you not see? They would have discovered this anyway, and if you volunteer to help, it will be much more pleasant. I do not want you to end up in a small cell somewhere being forced to work until you perish. I am trying to protect you. Why won't you accept my help?" she asked, as she walked closer and attempted to brush the hair from his forehead.
Draco scrambled back, eyes going a little wild. "Don't touch me."
He stared at her.
"They kill people. They killed a little girl's mother, her only thing in this world, and they took it away. That girl stayed at my home. She's bright and funny and a good child. She didn't deserve that. All because her mother was not a pureblood. I won't be a part of that. Don't you see? I can't be party to that."
"And you are the only thing I have in this world. I don't want lose you. Pardon me for being extremely selfish."
She was becoming worried. He was taking this far worse that she ever expected him to.
"Your logic leaves a lot to be desired." Draco backed away some more. "There are much better ways to keep me!"
He made a growling sound and pulled at his hair.
Narcissa's eyes widened. He was starting to behave just like Bellatrix did when she was upset. "Draco, what in Merlin's name are you doing? Calm down!"
Draco looked at her with wide eyes. "For the second time in my life someone who was supposed to love me best has sold me out to a dark lord. I don't appreciate being prostituted out for my abilities. Why don't you calm down. No, better yet... I think I'll take my leave. I don't want anything from you, least of all your slave trinkets."
Draco started yanking off his clothing. He was dead serious. And angry now. The shock had given to hurt and now the hurt had blossomed to anger.
He threw everything off but his pants and stomped on them before setting the pile ablaze.
Narcissa was fully prepared to attempt to calm Draco down until he started ripping of clothes and set them ablaze. She immediately scooted back away from the flames.
"Draco, your behavior is abhorrent! Why can't you at least act like an adult!"
Lucius floated in and smirked at the scene. "I told you he wouldn't appreciate this. Does he know that he is already promised to them?"
Draco looked at Narcissa. "No."
Something inside him snapped. He was not even totally aware of what he did next. Blood was pounding in his ears as he stalked through the garden to his mother's prized irises and lit them up before anyone could stop him. He'd given some of them to her as a child. In any of his fits, he had never harmed the irises.
Narcissa's eyes widened as she watched her garden go up in flames, her irises being the first casualty. After that, her eyes narrowed. If Draco was going refuse her help, then it was his own neck on the line.
"Get out," she said, her voice low. "And do not think, for one moment, I will save you if you find yourself in trouble."
"I don't expect you to. You didn't before, but at least I thought you loved me. Now I know you don't. Just like Father. I'm only good for how I can be used. You can tell your new friends that if any of them come near me, they'll regret it. You break my heart. No, I don't expect you to save me. There is no saving me. I know that now. I don't expect anything anymore. It's useless to. I'll never get what I truly wanted from the both of you, so I am not going to try anymore."
He turned and ran. Draco didn't even know where he was going. He just knew it had to be away from here.
Let out a sigh as she sat down at the garden table. The house elves quickly put out the fire and she looked at her ruined gardens. When Lucius chuckled, Narcissa officially lost her composure.
It was a habit that he didn't think he'd ever break--ducking when the killing curse was thrown at him.
[Summary]: Draco finds out that Narcissa has joined the Liberi and already promised him to their services. Lucius watches the explosion that occurs.