A Boy Named Draco - Chapter 28
Chapter 28
“Loathsome beast! How dare you hurt my son?”
Theodore Accio’d his wand and gripping it tightly, faced the angry woman. His voice was laced with hatred. “Father says that he is nothing but a insignificant squib and should be treated as such. Are you defying your husband? I am certain that he would be interested in knowing so.”
Narcissa did not even blink.
“I will defy him and anyone else who thinks my son has no rights. He is not only Malfoy but also a Black and I swear to protect him to the last spark of my wand.”
Draco was huddled in the floor as his body dealt with the pain of the Cruciatus. He had been cursed before but this time seemed worse. His mother was holding on to him but even her touch could not ease the torrent of feelings inside of him. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream, and he wanted to punch Theodore’s ugly, scowling face.
Sensing her son’s turmoil, Narcissa apparated them back to her rooms. She did not want him to have to listen to Theodore’s taunts even if the evil boy complained to her husband about her. She would deal with Lucius later. Now she had to focus on Draco.
Any sign of her son’s distress was torture for her. It brought on a lot of dark memories. Narcissa remembered how small he’d been when she had cruelly rejected him. Draco had been a blond little thing stumbling around in poorly made clothes and so eager to please. She’d looked down on him as he followed Dobby around and became just another servant. It had been a shock to see him pushing a broom as large as he was down one of the manor’s many corridors. However her husband’s derision towards the boy and her own insecurities had convinced her that this was right and proper. Squibs could hope for no better life and in a way he was still being protected inside the Malfoy seat. She now saw the folly of that as he’d had no real protection. She had been brutal to him when he had only wanted love and attention. Now she was giving him that but she also had to give him a little strength.
She lifted his face and met his stormy eyes as he dealt with the last stirrings of the curse.
“Draco, you cannot let that dreadful boy make you feel inferior. He is not better than you. Theodore Nott is an impostor who has taken what is rightfully yours. You need to be strong to reclaim your birthright.”
The young man turned away grimly. His throat felt raw and his voice was stratchy. “That will never happen. The manor’s wards would never recognize me and neither will Master Lucius. I lack the magic to be able to wield any of the spells that the heir needs to know.”
“I can help you.” Narcissa promised quietly. Draco shook his head.
“No...mother. No matter what happens I never want to be like Master Theodore. I don’t want to torment others as he has done. I don’t know how to explain it exactly. It is just that I think that what I am has let me see the world differently than if I had been a wizard.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Draco rose away from her and stood in front of the large windows. The pain had eased and the sun was peeking out from the heavy clouds. He took a deep breath and continued.
“If I had been Draco Malfoy the pureblooded wizard instead of Draco the squib servant, I could have been as arrogant and unkind as Master Theodore. Maybe I would have chosen to be a Death Eater and Harry Potter’s enemy instead of his friend. I would have never grown close to the elves or understood that muggles have the same rights as wizards to be in this world.”
Concern for her son was evident in Narcissa’s eyes. “But my dear, you cannot be happy with so little. There is so much more for you in this house and in this world.”
“Maybe it’s been all those years I’ve been alone but all I want now is for you to love me. I don’t want to disappoint you but I will never be more than what I am. To believe that a squib can achieve any sort of status in the wizarding world is useless. Even if I could find a way to stop it whatever the Dark Lord means to do to me”.
“I will protect you Draco. The Dark Lord will never hurt you.”
“I know mother but I don’t wish for you to put yourself in danger. I think that if he means to hurt me he will do so. What is more important is why. I have nothing and if he wants me dead he would have killed me a long time ago.”
“I have wondered about that too.” She admitted with a sigh. Draco continued.
“So what is my purpose? I promise you that I will do whatever I can to foil his plans.”
“He is very powerful my son. I don’t want to see you put yourself at risk.”
A sudden pop interrupted their exchange. Dobby the elf was out of breath and panting. He trotted over to mother and son.
“Mistress… Master Draco. There is been terrible news.”
“What is it Dobby? Is it Harry?” Draco asked hurriedly.
Dobby nodded. “I overheard Master Lucius tell Master Theodore that the Death Eaters have taken over the Ministry of Magic and that Harry Potter has been declared a wanted fugitive by them.”
Dread blanched the boy’s face as his mother held him in an effort to quell the terror that had now befallen them.
TBC
Chapter 29