Deathsong Balladeer

Fatal Intentions

The Malfoy manor was, to say the least, opulent. It was sprawling, yet took up only a small space of the dozens of acres of land that the Malfoys owned. Severus walked briskly up the walkway, well aware of a small sound behind him that was surely Harry. He smoothed back his hair, masking his troubled emotions with a blank face. This nothnothing new, nothing different. He had visited the Malfoy manor before, and for much the same reason. To be *entertained* by Lucius. Though the thought that Draco would be joining them...

//You must remain calm and stalwart.// The addition of Harry to this littête-ête-à-tête was a quite unwelcome one. //He should be back at school. He is taking unnecessary risks.// And that bothered Severus. The thought that Harry may end up hurt-or worse-upset Severus greatly. And he didn\'t like thinking on why. He was well aware why, he simply did not like to think on it.

//You have done the one thing you should not have done.// Severus sighed, stopped in front of the large oak doors of the Malfoy manor. He said nothinfferffered no assurances to Harry. There were no assurances he could give. There was something in the air this evening, something that spoke of ill things. Somehow Severus was certain this night would end in blood.

A house elf answered the door, bowing and scraping and leading the way to the parlor. The parlor. Severus knew that room well. He had given himself to Lucius many times in that room, in blood and in lust. He had no delusions that this night would be any different. Unless of course he counted the addition of Draco. //I am sorry boy. But life is not fair, and it would do you well to learn that now.//

Why had Harry come? Despite his claim that he would do nothing to help the boy should he be discovered, Severus knew that it wasn\'t true. He would interfere, defend Harry despite what it may mean. He would most likely end up exposing himself as a spy...but would it really matter? He was certain he wouldn\'t live through the war anyway, if his death could savrry.rry...

//That is not a healthy way to think.// Severus told himself as he was led into the parlor. Lucius rose, dressed in simple yet elegant grey robes. He smiled warmly, but Severus was not fooled. No matter how warm Lucius may seem, he was as cold as steel. Draco remained seated. It was clear Lucius had dressed him for the evening, as Draco would never himself choose to wear white. He looked very pale and fragile, and young. Was that perhaps the idea?

\"Severus...welcome.\" Lucius clasped his hands and kissed him warmly on the cheek. \"I\'m so glad you decided to join us.\"

\"Yes.\" Severus managed to say, nodding. \"It is good to see you.\"

\"Draco and I have been anticipating your arrival.\" Lucius led Severus over to the couch. \"Please, sit. Relax, and enjoy yourself. Have some brandy, or wine perhaps?\"

\"Thank you, but no.\" Severus held up his hand. He hadn\'t touched a drop of spirit in ye and and now was not tim time to start.

\"So rigid, Sev.\" Lucius pouted. \"You must relax! Sit, and at least partake of *some* of the refreshments.\"

\"Of course.\" Severus did not like the look on Draco\'s face. Lax and reserved, it was a pitiful sight. It appeared as though there were no fight left in the boy. The glaring defiance Severus had come to know and dread had been stripped away, leaving only a frightened young boy.

\"A pastry?\" Draco offered, holding up a silver platter.

\"No.\" He couldn\'t eat, not knowing what was coming. He almost wished Lucius would stop drawing it out, and simply get to the point.

\"Not even going to pretend to follow formalities?\" Lucius asked, smiling that predatory grin Severus knew all too well.

\"Is there any point?\" He asked a s a sigh.

\"Oh, but it\'s for for show!\" Lucius leaned back on the couch, draping one arm about Draco\'s shoulders. \"Draco here must learn proper etiquette. And who else toch hch him but us?\"

\"I believe Draco has learned enough.\" Severus said, hoping to spare the boy if he could.

\"He has hardly learned a thing.\" Lucius said, stroking the boy\'s arm. \"And I can assure you...he\'s far better in bed then your little toy.\"

\"A matter of preference.\" Severus said, heart skipping a beat.

\"You\'ve not tasted my son yet...\" Lucius lowered his eyelashes, turning a coquettish gesture into one of the obscene.

\"And I\'ve little desire to.\" Perhaps, if he protests in the beginning, Lucius would lose interest and send Draco away.

\"I insist.\" There no fno flirtatiousness now. Lucius\' voice was iron, as cold and hard as his eyes. He gave Draco a small push, and the pale boy slid off the couch and turned to Severus.

\"If you would allow me...\" Dracoteretered in a toneless voice.

\"You truly must Severus.\" Lucius was giving him no out. Well, at least he would be gentle with the boy. Draco was standing before him, head bowed. Severus nodded, closing his eyes. He felt as defeated as Draco surely must. He had fought as well as ouldould, but in the end he was trapped. //Why did Harry have to come?// It would have been easier, had he known Harry was not there. He couldn\'t hear him, but he could sense him.

Draco dropped to his knees, hands resting lightly on Severus\' knees. He looked up, and for a moment there was a flash of fire in those dead grey eyBut But then it was , an, and Draco was deftly unfastening Severus\' robes.

\"You don\'t seem to pleased by Draco\'s attentions.\" Lucius noted, cocking his head to the side.

\"He has done little that can be called \'attention\', Lucius.\" Severus said dryly, hoping that he sounded as caustic and bitter as he hoped.

\"Perhaps he needs a bit of encouragement?\"

\"No.\" Severus was quick to dispel that idea. \"Let him do what he will.\" The Potions master refused to take an active role in the events, but he could do nothing to stop them.

\"I\'m sure once he bleeds a bit, he\'ll be far more attentive.\"

\"No Lucius, I told you I am sick of blood sport. I am too old for it.\" Severus sighed. \"I don\'t heal as quickly as I did in my youth.\"

\"Ah but Severus, that\'s thautyauty of it!\" Lucius nearly squealed in delight. \"Causing the pain is far more pleasurable than receiving it. For some, at any rate.\"

\"I take delight in none of it.\" Severus said, briskly. \"If Draco is to pleasure me, he shall do it in the mundane fashion.\"

\"Fine!\" Lucius did not seem pleased. \"But I expect you shall allow me to pleasure you in the old manner.\"

\"If that is how you wish it...\" It would do no good to argue. Hopefully Draco would finish him, and he could claim that he spenspent and was \'too old\' to be so quickly aroused. Draco, who had been silent and motionless throughout the exchange, lowered his mouth to Severus\' uninterested member. He had to admit, Draco was talented. Of course, how many years had he been forced to do this manner of thing? Severus attempted to feign interest, sighing and moaning at intervals. All in all, he wnaffnaffected. Despite the effort Draco was clearly putting forth.

\"And you truly enjoy this?\"ius ius asked, clearly puzzled.

\"Mmmm.\" Severus nodded, wishing it would be over. But it had hardly begun.

\"Enough, Draco.\" Lucius pulled his son away, rather roughly. \"You shall see what real coupling is.\" Severus gritted his teeth, knowing what was coming next. He could already feel Lucius\' nails and teeth on his skin. But they did not come. Lucius pulled his son to him, caressing his cheek tenderly, and then hitting him sharply.

\"Leave him, Lucius.\" Severus said, before he could stop the words.

\"I told you Severus, you shall see how it is done. You seem to have forgotten.\"

\"Lucius...\" This was it. The turning point. He could save himself, his position, and remain silent. Or he could say something, and jeopardize everything. He swallowed hard, watching as Draco cringed away from Lucius\' nails. There was a long, thin line of blood running down his cheek.

\"Remove your clothing, Draco.\" Lucius\' vowas was soft, but clipped. \"Or perhaps I should do it for you...\" Lucius grabbed Draco\'s wrist, pulling him roughly to him. Even from where he was sitting, Severus could hear the bones in Draco\'s wrist grating, and then a sickening crunch. He sucked in a deep breath, watching as all color drained from Draco\'s normally pale face, turning him a ghostly white. Lucius seemed to not notice, his hands tearing at Draco\'s clothing.

\"Daddy...\"

It was the most pathetic thing Severus had hea heard. Draco wasn\'t even struggling, just shaking his head and straining away from his father. But Lucius only hit him again, in the face this time. Severus began rising to his feet, but he was the second to act. Draco ripped his arm away, a sudden change coming over the young man. He let out a sound that was half hiss, half snarl, and he brought his undamaged arm around in an arc, catching Lucius squarely in the jaw.

\"Draco!\" Severuappeapped, leaping to his feet. He watched as though in slow motion, horrified at the small drop of blood that flew from Lucius\' mouth. There was a silence, and Draco began backing away, shaking his head. It was as though he had realized just what he had done, and regretted it. Severus did not blame him. No one, to the extent of his memory had ever retaliated. Lucius turned, as if in shock. He lifted a hand to his mouth, and looked at the blood that came away on it. He turned blank eyes to Draco, standing stock still. Severus held his breath, feeling the tension in the room.

//Perhaps...perhaps this is enough?// Lucius had never once been challenged. Perhaps that was all he needed, for someone to turn against him. Like a spoiled child with their first stern nanny.

\"You hurt me, Daddy.\" Draco said, in a soft and childlike voice. \"And I\'m not going to let you hurt me anymore.\"

\"I am your father.\" Lucius\' voice held no hint of emotion. \"I am allowed to do what I want tu.\"u.\"

\"No.\" Draco shook his head. \"No, you can\'t. You aren\'t.\"

\"Draco...\" Lucius took a step forward.

\"No!\" Draco held his injured wrist to his chest, and reached out, grabbing something from the parlor table. Severus hissed when he saw the familiar glint of a letter opener.

\"Draco...\" He said, cautiously. Draco turned wild silver eyes on his professor, as though just seeing him for the first time.

\"*You* stay out of this!\" Draco hissed. \"Though I probably shouldn\'t have to tell you that.\"

\"Draco.\" Severus didn\'t know what to say. He could only pray that Harry was out of there, had had the good sense to leave.

\"No! I told you I wouldn\'t take it anymore!\" Draco\'s voice was rising, shrilly. \"I told you, and I meant it! I\'m not going to let him hurt me anymore. And you don\'t care! You sat there and let me...do that to you, and let him watch, and didn\'t say anything. You don\'t care! None of you care. Well guess what? *I* care! And if I have to...I don\'t care what I have to do. He\'s not going to touch me anymore!\"

Draco was crying now, and Severus felt his own breath hitching in his throat. He understood what those words meant. Draco was willing to become a murderer. At age sixteen, he would shed blood. Unclean blood, but all the same...and the Ministry would not go easy on him. Lucius\' friends-those who partook in the demented orgies that he was famous for-would never admit to any of it. They would paint a portrait of an angry, greedy Draco, lusting for the family fortune. And Draco...even children were not safe from Azkaban.

\"No, Draco.\" Severus shook his head. \"Think rationally...\"

\"And do what?\" Draco snapped. \"No.\" He shook his head. \"I don\'t care anymore. I don\'t.\" He brandished the letter opener. \"He doesn\'t have his wand...he\'s defenseless.\"

\"Think about that Draco...\"

Lucius hadn\'t moved. He was watching his son with amused eyes, as though Draco were a kitten hissing and baring feeble claws. Severus was breathing shallowly, licking his lips and searching for the words that would make Draco stop.

\"No!\" Draco yelled, small white fists tightening around the letter opener. \"I\'m sick of thinking and waiting and being...I\'m sick of it!\"

\"So you\'re going to do what? Kill your father?\"

Severus\' eyes widened, and he wanted to slap his forehead. What in the name of the good Lord was Harry doing? He was out from under his cloak, and watching Draco with warm green eyes.

\"If I have to.\" Draco nodded. Lucius barked a laugh, seeming completely unaffected by the entire situation.

\"Don\'t do it Draco.\" Harry shook his head. \"I agree...Lucius has to die. But you can\'t get away with it.\"

\"And who can?\" Draco sneered. \"Stay out of my life!\"

\"I can!\" Harry snapped. \"They won\'t suspect me...\"

\"Harry! Draco!\" Severus snapped their names quickly. They would do it. Either one of them would do it in a second. \"You are too young for any of this.\"

\"Severus, he can\'t...\" Harry began.

\"You see what he does to me!\" Draco snapped.

\"I am well aware!\" Severus said, his own voice beginning to raise. \"I lived through nearly ten years of Lucius\' \'attentions\'. Draco, you will put down your weapon. Then you and Harry will leave this room, and allow me to deal with Lucius as I see fit.\"

\"Sev...\" Harry took a step towards Severus.

\"Now, Harry.\" He raised an eyebrow. He hated having to use manipulation, but he had no choice. \"If you truly meant what you said, you will leave.\"

\"Sev...!\" Harry\'s eyes widened. \"You can\'t...\"

\"Harry, please.\"

\"Trying to save your little whore?\" Draco snapped. \"Stay out of my life, both of you! He\'s my father!\"

\"Draco!\" Severus was ready to haul them both out of the room. Lucius was laughing openly now, and Severus suspected he was on some form of narcotics, or at least drunk. \"Do not argue. Harry...\"

\"All right.\" Harry nodded. \"But only because I meant it.\"

Severus returned the nod, wishing he were not so hard that he could give Harry something. \"I...I am certain you did.\" Was all he could manage.

\"If you don\'t do anything...\" Draco said threateningly. \"I swear to God, I\'ll kill you too...\"

\"Cut the dramatics, Draco.\" Harry said, placing his hand gently on Draco\'suldeulder. \"Come on.\"

Draco cast one last look at his father, and bit his lower lip. \"I loved you Daddy. For the longest t I l I loved you.\" He said, bitterly. \"I don\'t anymore. I hope you\'re happy.\"

And with that, Draco dropped the blade, and allowed Harry to pull him gently from the room.

~~~~~~