A Gilded Cage

Chapter 10
The Morning After

Draco shifted tightening his grip around… nothing. He opened his eyes, but quickly closed them as sunlight burned his eyes. He made a noise in the back of his throat and rolled onto his side pulling the blanket up over his head. He felt a head ache coming on the longer he laid there. So with reluctance he sat up and put his head in his hands. The blanket slid down to pool around his waist. He dropped one hand to rub his stomach, but brought it back just as quick. He grimaced at the dried mess on his stomach, and grabbed the edge of the blanket to wipe it away.

He banished the blanket and stood to search for his pants. When he finally found them he slipped them over his hips and was just staring at his torn shirt when the floo roared to life. Harry walked into the room a still sleeping Maria and Scorpius in his arms. Harry offered him a smile before heading out the door.

Draco was baffled for a moment, normally the kids were the first ones up how could they not be up and… he glanced at the source of the sun and frowned at the spell that had tricked him into waking. All Harry’s doing he supposed. He sat back down after ending the spell, and casting one of his own. He growled at the smoke numbers that revealed it was only 3 a.m.

He had decided he would kill Harry when he came back. So he laid back down and buried his head in his arms until the door opened again. He turned slightly to look at the other man,

“Is there a good reason why you felt the need to wake me up?” he asked as Harry enlarged the couch so it was suitable for two people. He slid in next to Draco and then dropped an arm over Draco’s waist,

“Just in case they woke up when we came through. Nothing more able to scar children then seeing their father naked.” he laughed at the look that crossed over Draco’s face, “See my point.” Harry sighed, “And besides you don’t know when Pansy’s getting back.” he said sounding more than a little upset by the prospect.

At the mention of his wife Draco groaned and sat up. Harry shifted back and Draco stood grabbing his sliced shirt again,
“You owe me a new shirt.” Harry sat up watching Draco, his hand sliding through his hair,

“Right…” Harry stood up and motioned for Draco’s shirt, in a moment it went from being cut open to being fixed with a simple wave of his wand. He handed it back and then stood awkwardly in the middle of the room as Draco dressed. After he fixed his shirt in place he looked at Harry who was staring at the floor.

He walked over to the other man and slid his hand into Harry’s hair pulling his head back so that he was looking in his eyes,

“I’m sorry Harry.” he said gently before kissing the other man. Harry smiled and just nodded before stepping back from Draco and headed for the door. Draco sighed as soon as Harry walked from the room and then followed suit, heading to the shower.

________________________________________________________________________

The next couple of weeks Draco didn’t see much of anyone. He was busier then ever with press conferences and meetings with the minister. He sat at his desk, that was covered with papers trying to get done what he could. In a few hours and new minister of magic would be chosen and he would have to be present at the ministry to congratulate or accept congratulations. He was at his wits end, he’d had more threats than normal and he’d had no time to talk with his children or Harry.

The other man had been distant as of late and did not join the rest of the Malfoys for dinner or any other engagements, unless it was to play body guard. Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair, Pansy had thankfully postponed her return for an evening and Draco hadn’t asked questions. He could only imagine how much harder this week would be if Pansy had known at all about Harry and him. He’d be getting a divorce and dealing with the papers wanting to know everything. Not to mention losing a great deal of voters.

He finally gave up with his work and stood to get ready. He grabbed his dress robes and was about put them on when an owl flew into the room. He sighed and took the letter offering the owl a treat before sitting down to open the letter.

He had barely opened it when there was a tug at his navel. He didn’t have time to curse before his office disappeared.

________________________________________________________________________

Harry was already dressed and was helping Scorpius dress. The boy didn’t want to go at all, but his mother was insisting. So he stood in the middle of his room arms crossed over his chest,

“Father’s going to win. Why do I have to be there to see it?” he asked Harry as the older man grabbed the brand new dress robes from the box there were in,

“Because your showing support for your father.” he said simply handing the robes over to the boy, “It’ll mean a lot to your father to have you there as well.” Scorpius snorted,

“He hasn’t even spent any time with us this last week! It’s only going to be worse when he’s the minister of magic.” Harry smiled softly,

“He’s doing the best he can. He’s trying to make the world a little less… well he’s trying to make it a better place for you and your sister. Now better get dressed.” Harry turned and headed into the bathroom to grab a comb and a potion sitting on the counter. For a moment he looked into the mirror, repulsed by what he saw.

There was a man staring back at him that was miserable. He’d done something he’d promised himself he wouldn’t. And he hated himself for it. As soon as this was all over he was going to disappear like he’d wanted to before. He had plenty of money, and didn’t need to work. It was easier that way. He’d take a page from Severus’ book and find a nice place in the muggle world.

He glanced up when Scorpius called for him, and then walked into the room. He nodded to the boy, slightly adjusting the robes before sitting in a chair,

“So, I was thinking Your dad had a distinct hair style going on in school, your hairs about like his. Want to do that one?” The boy pulled up a stool and sat in front of Harry,

“That sounds good.” Harry nodded and poured some of the potion into his hand before pulling through the boys hair. Then he grabbed the comb and turned the long hair into a picture perfect image of the style Draco had worn as a child.

Harry stood up and walked around to look at his handy work. He almost laughed. Scorpius could have been his fathers double at that moment. Normally he just let his hair do what it wanted, so he looked much freer than his father had. He nodded and conjured a mirror for the boy. He handed it to him just as the door opened and Pansy walked in.

She sneered at them both, but Scorpius didn’t notice. He was too busy looking at himself in the mirror. Harry smiled sweetly,

“Hello Pansy.” he crossed his arms and watched her carefully as she spoke,

“Potter. A word.” she turned and left the room. Harry sighed and looked at Scorpius before following her. As soon as the door closed Pansy turned on him,

“You think because you’re the great Harry Potter, the boy who should have died, you can do whatever you want? You have no right to even be in this house, let alone around my children. Your sick. You can’t have my husband, so what next Potter? Turn my son into what you want, another Draco?” Harry flinched back,

“I have no idea what your talking about-” Pansy laughed, a short shrill sound,

“I’m not stupid Potter. And I know everything that happens in my house. So that means I know what happened Potter.” She smiled at his look, “So that means, that you have two choices. You can stay here and I’ll be forced to ruin Draco and you in one swoop. And while I rather like the first one, the second choice is that you leave now. Disappear.” she walked around him,

“If you care for him Potter, you will take this bit of advice and leave. You are ruining his happy little life. Your very existence, complicates his life. He doesn’t need you, nor does he want you. He feels bad for you Potter. Poor Potter all alone and pathetic.” She watched his shoulders slump and she was laughing,

“Your things have been packed and are waiting for you at the door.” Harry looked at her and turned walking away.

Harry walked into the main hall finding that indeed his bags were all there. For a moment he just considered leaving, but knew he had to at least say goodbye to Draco. He headed back up the stairs and just stood in front of the door to his office. He took a deep breath and opened the door just in time to see Draco’s panicked face disappear,

“Draco!”
________________________________________________________________________

Draco slammed into the ground, and stars exploded behind his closed eyes. The back of his head was on fire and just opening his eyes sent a new wave of pain. He waited a few moments before trying to sit up and instantly regretted it. The room spun and it was all he could do to get to his knees before he got sick.

He coughed and sat back again determined to at least get to his feet. Finally that far he lifted his hand and gingerly touched the back of his head wincing. He pulled his hand back and cursed staring at the blood marring his skin,

“damn it…” his voice echoed off the walls around him and he suddenly felt boxed in. His eyes began to focus on the darkness around him. Slowly brick walls could be made out through the gloom. Some sort of cot was off to one side and bars on the other. Nothing descript, to tell him where he was. Or who had sent the bit of mail.

Carefully he stepped up to the bars and tried to peer down in either direction. He couldn’t see much more than he could in the cell. Slowly he moved to sit on the cot and relaxed as much as possible against the wall. There was nothing he could do. His wand was still sitting on his desk, so the most he could do was sit here waiting for whoever it was to appear.

He didn’t have to wait long. Footsteps coming down the hall made Draco stand, though a bit unsteadily. His head was no longer pounding as heavily, but he was still losing blood. And too much from the way he swayed slightly. Draco recognized the figure even before the whispered lumos illuminated the Grecian features,

“Blaise? What the hell is this about?” he growled approaching him wishing he could curse the man into oblivion,

“Ah Draco calm down my friend and I’ll tell you all about it. But first…” Blaise raised his wand and began to chant something Draco couldn’t catch. A few words made sense, something about binding. But he knew the moment he finished what he was doing. A burning sensation started in his wrists, then moved up his arms and over his chest. Draco pulled at his shirt and stared almost blankly at the runes covering his arms and chest,

“You son of a bitch!” Draco was panicked, Blaise had blocked all his magic. The spell itself was ancient and as dark as they came. Not only did it block his magic, but it had another little known effect. The caster could also use that magic to his own needs. But it was, as he said, little known; he doubted Blaise even knew it. At least he hoped that was how it was,

“Now, now Draco. That’s not nice. Talking to your best mate like that. Well I guess I don’t blame you. I have been snogging your wife for the last…5 years? She saw how pathetic you were and found me. Maria… you know she’s a lovely girl. I’m proud of my baby girl.” he said smiling at Draco’s look of confusion, “That’s right Draco. Maria’s mine. I’m not happy with her calling you papa. But we will fix that.”

Blaise turned and smiled brightly at someone. Draco could hear the heels on the stone floor and knew exactly who it was before she even came into view,

“Pansy what the hell is going on?” He asked her even as she ignored him and kissed Blaise,

“Don’t worry Draco darling. You and Scorpius won’t have to suffer long. You’ll both be dead before long. Blaise’s men have it all set up. And poor Potter. If only you hadn’t involved him, I wouldn’t have to kill him as well. Ah the poor lovers, Potter unable to accept that you would not be his, kills you and Scorpius, for he looks just like his father. And in a fit of grief takes his own life.” Draco glared,

“Keep Potter out of this Pansy. He had nothing to do with your sick little game.” Pansy laughed,

“But you involved him yourself darling. I know everything that goes on in my home-”

“That house does not belong to you Pansy.” Draco growled, “It doesn’t pass to those not of the Malfoy blood.” he added with a sneer and Pansy merely shrugged,

“A small technicality. We’ll have to rework the wards then. That shouldn’t be too overly difficult.” she turned her attention away from Draco, “Blaise you’ve sent your men to deal with Scorpius?” Blaise nodded,

“Come on babe, you have a ministry affair to go to. See you in a couple hours Draco buddy.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry that took so long peoples. Again I was on Christmas Break. Just got back tonight. So here this next chapter is... it's... eh you know there. It's looking to be one of the final chapters. There might be a sequel... but eh who knows.
Well REVIEW ^_^