His Alone

Father and son walked back down the long corridor, the mirrors never caught the light that would waft through the air in any other home. It, the light, seemed to stand still, frozen around the glowing orb of candle lit flame in the expanse of the corridor. Silence too hung in the air. Still, but alive with tense anxiety. Reaching the main foyer Draco stopped and looked back at his father, unsure of where he was supposed to go and what exactly he was to do.

Father and son gazed at each other for moment of unusual silence between the pair before it was broken. "Why were you in her room?"

Gulp. "I-" Draco stops at the look received, "Sir," he starts again, "I was just-just I don't know. I was bored and thought I'd go talk to her." The silence envelopes the pair again and then a wry smile, "Although neither of us has anything to talk about." For some reason this amused him. His fathers response drew him out of his humorous reverie.

A nod of elegant hair. "I see." Silence again.

After the silence had gotten too much to bare Draco spoke, "Is there something you wished me to do father?" His father silence and lack of response irked him, although he was relieved not to receive any punishment, yet.

"It's your mothers birthday today, Draco." He said almost a whisper.

Looking down for a moment and then nodding as he returned his gaze level to that of his fathers, "Uh-um yes, I-uh... Yeah." Was all he could muster before turning his head away. The silence now wasn't tense just heavy. Too heavy for the stoic, stony-ness of the Malfoys.

As if sensing the emotional door opening Lucius shut it just as quickly. His cane rising in the blink of an eye to just under Draco's chin, his son unflinching. "Do not make me regret letting you out."

His response a shake of the head and a ground out, "No sir."

"Draco," his voice sharp, with an undetermined undertone. "Do not mess with her in any way." A pause, "She is not your toy."

Another shake of the head, "N-no sir, I won't."

The cold of the silver upon Draco's chin only became more prominent as it was pressed harder into his chin for just a moment longer. "Good. You may gather some books to amuse you from the library and then back to your room. You've had a long day." And then, without a look back or a waiting for a response, Lucius Malfoy turned on his heel and left his son bewildered in the foyer.