A Boy Named Draco - Chapter 23
Chapter twenty-three
It was second nature to allot the Dark Lord a small tasting first and then wait for his approval to continue pouring. Voldemort did not reach for his wine glass but let it sit, uncaring that the bouquet was mellowing.The squib stood silent by his side as the combined gazes of the Malfoy family burned into him. He dared not meet their eyes. If he had done so, he would have seen that in the eldest Malfoy there was trepidation while in the youngest, rage. Narcissa Malfoy’s eyes held something foreign to him.
Only the Dark Lord looked completely unaffected, if not amused, at the tension in the room. Oh, how he loved watching his followers writhe in his snares. It was particularly rewarding when the prey was the proudest of the purebloods.
Trapped like a fly, Lucius Malfoy tried to think of the words that would alleviate the fact that his true offspring stood before him and that the child had been his most closely guarded secret.
“M…my Lord, would you care for a different year? He ventured.
Voldemort gave him a very long look. The man seemed to shrivel beneath. Satisfied, the Dark Lord turned his serpentine countenance to the lady of the manor.
“My dear Narcissa. What say you of my newest acquisition? He is a little challenged, but I am sure good breeding wins out at the end. Do you?”
The woman nodded almost imperceptibly. “I think so.”
The Dark Lord smiled. “Ahh, how surprising to hear you say that. Did you know that the child serving my drinks is not a wizard. He is what we call a squib”
“Yes, I know.” She said quietly.
“Another surprise… How interesting can life be at times. However, do you know what happened to this child’s parents? Dare you guess?...No?... well they were not happy with the child’s unfortunate condition and saw it fit to get rid of him. Young Draco here has been in a muggle orphanage since then. Incidentally, it is the same orphanage that I lived in before Hogwarts.”
Narcissa did not reply but tears fell silently down her face. Draco seemed to wilt even more.
“Your sister found him. I have to admit she seemed very surprised at her discovery. Draco comes as a shock to anyone who knows the Malfoy family intimately. Except for me that is.”
Both Lucius and Narcissa raised their eyes at him. Confusion shone in their perfect aristocratic faces.
“No, I am not going to reveal what I meant just yet. I don’t begrudge you your affiliation to Nott’s son Lucius. The boy has pleased me. Let him remain your heir. However, I detect that Lady Malfoy may have another alliance. Am I correct?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Excellent, nothing prevails over a mother’s touch no matter how belated. You may take Draco with you as Bella’s talents lie elsewhere. I will entrust the boy’s safety to you.”
Narcissa nodded gravely and looked at her son. His face was white and his eyes impenetrable.
Lucius had remained silent throughout the exchange as his usually adept mind tried to process the subtle goings-on. Theodore was singularly pleased at having retained the Malfoy legacy although the squib’s return was an unexpected factor. He would have to consult his birthfather as to how to proceed under the circumstances.
XxXxXxXx
Kreacher the elf had moved him from the tiny room he had been held in to Mistress Narcissa’s chambers. For a minute he thought he was to resume his role as her servant but when no orders where forthcoming his confusion grew. Did they expect him to occupy this room? Sleep on the bed? He sat in a corner of the room and waited.
Draco was already asleep when Narcissa entered the room. The witch stepped quietly as she approached him. He slept on his side, curled up like a small animal and breathing softly. Her son. Her only son.
Narcissa swallowed a sob and sank to her knees, uncaring that she was wrinkling the delicate fabric of her robes. In wonder she took in the boy before her. In all the years she had not seen him he’d become a young man. Tall and beautiful like his father. Like her.
“Draco.”
He burrowed deeper into the crook of his arm. Exhausted from fear and Bella’s punishment, Draco slept on. She was loath to wake him but could not stand to see him on the floor. Taking a deep breath, she let her fingers ghost over his face. Draco’s eyes flew open and he cowered from her touch.
“Mistress Malfoy…I…I am sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I didn’t know what to do. Nobody told me anything.” He pleaded shakily.
Narcissa shook her head reassuringly. “It’s alright Draco. You mustn’t think that you are here to serve us. That is not going to happen anymore. I promise you.”
They both struggled as they rose. He would not meet her eyes although she held on to him. A slight tremor ran through the boy’s thin frame but he trudged on.
“Master Lucius told me not to come back and I never did. I live in an institution but they came for me and brought me here. I have to leave now.”
“Draco you’re my son” she said steadily and waited for his response.
The boy shook his head. She saw that the gray orbs looked infinite and lost. When he spoke again his voice was frantic.
“I have to leave; I have to go back to the orphanage. They’ll let me stay there until I’m eighteen. I’ll have a job then…maybe serving in a muggle café or maybe sweeping floors. I don’t care. I won’t be afraid anymore. Nobody will hurt me. Nobody will make me wish I’ve never been born. Dobby… where is Dobby?” He looked around the large chamber. Narcissa took him in her arms.
“I’ll call for him. But you need to calm down my love”
He remained unresponsive to the embrace and the reassurances. “I want to see Dobby again… and Harry.”
“Please stop Draco. You frighten me.”
He wept then… a pitiful and broken sound.
“I’m sorry. So sorry.”
“Why?” she asked.,
“Because I am squib.” He replied softly.
“I love you.”
“I don’t matter. Why can’t they see that?”
The woman wept. “Draco… forgive me. I’ve hurt you so. My poor baby. My son”
He looked at her. Like a child.
“Mum?”
TBC.
Chapter 24
Author's note: Okay...these next few chapters are going to be good to my long-suffering Draco. Then it is all going to hell in a handbasket. I'll warn you when it is time to stock up on tissues. Please review.
It was second nature to allot the Dark Lord a small tasting first and then wait for his approval to continue pouring. Voldemort did not reach for his wine glass but let it sit, uncaring that the bouquet was mellowing.The squib stood silent by his side as the combined gazes of the Malfoy family burned into him. He dared not meet their eyes. If he had done so, he would have seen that in the eldest Malfoy there was trepidation while in the youngest, rage. Narcissa Malfoy’s eyes held something foreign to him.
Only the Dark Lord looked completely unaffected, if not amused, at the tension in the room. Oh, how he loved watching his followers writhe in his snares. It was particularly rewarding when the prey was the proudest of the purebloods.
Trapped like a fly, Lucius Malfoy tried to think of the words that would alleviate the fact that his true offspring stood before him and that the child had been his most closely guarded secret.
“M…my Lord, would you care for a different year? He ventured.
Voldemort gave him a very long look. The man seemed to shrivel beneath. Satisfied, the Dark Lord turned his serpentine countenance to the lady of the manor.
“My dear Narcissa. What say you of my newest acquisition? He is a little challenged, but I am sure good breeding wins out at the end. Do you?”
The woman nodded almost imperceptibly. “I think so.”
The Dark Lord smiled. “Ahh, how surprising to hear you say that. Did you know that the child serving my drinks is not a wizard. He is what we call a squib”
“Yes, I know.” She said quietly.
“Another surprise… How interesting can life be at times. However, do you know what happened to this child’s parents? Dare you guess?...No?... well they were not happy with the child’s unfortunate condition and saw it fit to get rid of him. Young Draco here has been in a muggle orphanage since then. Incidentally, it is the same orphanage that I lived in before Hogwarts.”
Narcissa did not reply but tears fell silently down her face. Draco seemed to wilt even more.
“Your sister found him. I have to admit she seemed very surprised at her discovery. Draco comes as a shock to anyone who knows the Malfoy family intimately. Except for me that is.”
Both Lucius and Narcissa raised their eyes at him. Confusion shone in their perfect aristocratic faces.
“No, I am not going to reveal what I meant just yet. I don’t begrudge you your affiliation to Nott’s son Lucius. The boy has pleased me. Let him remain your heir. However, I detect that Lady Malfoy may have another alliance. Am I correct?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Excellent, nothing prevails over a mother’s touch no matter how belated. You may take Draco with you as Bella’s talents lie elsewhere. I will entrust the boy’s safety to you.”
Narcissa nodded gravely and looked at her son. His face was white and his eyes impenetrable.
Lucius had remained silent throughout the exchange as his usually adept mind tried to process the subtle goings-on. Theodore was singularly pleased at having retained the Malfoy legacy although the squib’s return was an unexpected factor. He would have to consult his birthfather as to how to proceed under the circumstances.
XxXxXxXx
Kreacher the elf had moved him from the tiny room he had been held in to Mistress Narcissa’s chambers. For a minute he thought he was to resume his role as her servant but when no orders where forthcoming his confusion grew. Did they expect him to occupy this room? Sleep on the bed? He sat in a corner of the room and waited.
Draco was already asleep when Narcissa entered the room. The witch stepped quietly as she approached him. He slept on his side, curled up like a small animal and breathing softly. Her son. Her only son.
Narcissa swallowed a sob and sank to her knees, uncaring that she was wrinkling the delicate fabric of her robes. In wonder she took in the boy before her. In all the years she had not seen him he’d become a young man. Tall and beautiful like his father. Like her.
“Draco.”
He burrowed deeper into the crook of his arm. Exhausted from fear and Bella’s punishment, Draco slept on. She was loath to wake him but could not stand to see him on the floor. Taking a deep breath, she let her fingers ghost over his face. Draco’s eyes flew open and he cowered from her touch.
“Mistress Malfoy…I…I am sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I didn’t know what to do. Nobody told me anything.” He pleaded shakily.
Narcissa shook her head reassuringly. “It’s alright Draco. You mustn’t think that you are here to serve us. That is not going to happen anymore. I promise you.”
They both struggled as they rose. He would not meet her eyes although she held on to him. A slight tremor ran through the boy’s thin frame but he trudged on.
“Master Lucius told me not to come back and I never did. I live in an institution but they came for me and brought me here. I have to leave now.”
“Draco you’re my son” she said steadily and waited for his response.
The boy shook his head. She saw that the gray orbs looked infinite and lost. When he spoke again his voice was frantic.
“I have to leave; I have to go back to the orphanage. They’ll let me stay there until I’m eighteen. I’ll have a job then…maybe serving in a muggle café or maybe sweeping floors. I don’t care. I won’t be afraid anymore. Nobody will hurt me. Nobody will make me wish I’ve never been born. Dobby… where is Dobby?” He looked around the large chamber. Narcissa took him in her arms.
“I’ll call for him. But you need to calm down my love”
He remained unresponsive to the embrace and the reassurances. “I want to see Dobby again… and Harry.”
“Please stop Draco. You frighten me.”
He wept then… a pitiful and broken sound.
“I’m sorry. So sorry.”
“Why?” she asked.,
“Because I am squib.” He replied softly.
“I love you.”
“I don’t matter. Why can’t they see that?”
The woman wept. “Draco… forgive me. I’ve hurt you so. My poor baby. My son”
He looked at her. Like a child.
“Mum?”
TBC.
Chapter 24
Author's note: Okay...these next few chapters are going to be good to my long-suffering Draco. Then it is all going to hell in a handbasket. I'll warn you when it is time to stock up on tissues. Please review.