The Breaking of a Dragon

Chapter 2.

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“I think they’ve gone mad, honestly, housing a Malfoy in Grimmauld Place...what’s next? Are we going to be inviting Voldemort to the welcome back feast at Hogwarts as well?” Ron asked sarcastically, though both Harry and Hermione were surprised that he had uttered the Dark Lord’s name without fear and couldn’t help but be a little proud about the backbone their friend was finally managing to grow.

“Well I don’t know about you two, but I’m holding any judgments of him off until he awakes. For all we know Malfoy can be the key to winning this war and we just don’t know it yet.” Hermione replied reluctantly as she received horror filled stares from her friends before Ginny giggled at the humor of it all it seemed the Malfoy they had come to hate was about to turn their world upside down in ways they had never thought possible.

“I’m going to the attic…” Ginny announced as she slid off her brother’s bed and headed for the door, she was halted when Harry quickly blocked her path and looked down upon her as if she were insane.

“Ginny, conscious or not, he’s still Malfoy.” Harry reminded her as he gripped his hands into his fists as his sides angrily as he withheld the angry he was feeling at having the ferret in his life again.

“He’s been gone two years Harry, people change get over it.” Ginny replied snappishly as she practically shoved Harry out of the way and left the room, slamming the door behind her as she went. Hermione withheld a laugh at Ginny’s new approach to making Harry jealous, he had ignored the redhead girl for the last five yeas, and it was about time Harry was repaid for his nonexistent services.

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Draco sat looking out the attic window, after awaking yet again in what he now guessed was an attic, he decided it would be best not to draw attention to him self and instead made sure he was extra quiet in any movement he did whatsoever. It seemed to have worked so far, and if he was lucky enough perhaps his redheaded angel would come back and see him again.

He still found everything confusing; he remembered knocking the doctor that had come to heal him out cold with the silver tray used to carry his food source, before taking his wand and dashing out the still opened door. He had stunned several death eaters and servants before finally finding a fireplace that actually had floo powder to use. He had flown into Knockturn alley…but after that all he remembered was the redheaded angel that had saved him. Or at least he thought she had saved him, he still wasn’t quite sure where he was or if he should be afraid or not. They had healed him yes, but so had the death eaters after he had suffered the pain as punishment for a few hours, he was healed none the less. Would his angel let him go? Or would she keep him caged as well?

“Malfoy?” Draco jerked his head making his neck crack as he looked at the entrance way, there stood a girl with the same hair, eyes, and bits of facial features of his angel, but it wasn’t she. Draco frowned in confusion as he wrapped his blanket tighter around his body and ducked his head down waiting for the girl to say something.
“Malfoy…Draco, do you remember me?” Why was everyone saying that? Draco reluctantly looked at the girl for a few good minutes, but nothing seemed to catch a realization aside from the fact that she looked slightly like his savior.

“Who—who are you?” Draco asked slowly, not sure if he had the right to speak or not. The girl seemed to frown at Draco’s reply, and instantly Draco began to wonder if he had done something wrong. Casting his stare back down into the blankets covering his lap, he waited for the reply.

“Ginny Weasley…you used to call me weaselette…” Draco couldn’t help but laugh at the name, why on earth would someone call a pretty girl some type of rodent? The girl seemed to bristle at Draco’s laughter and instantly took it as an insult. Draco didn’t want the girl mad at him, and so quickly retracted his laughter and sobered himself quickly.

“I’m sorry; you don’t look like a weasel…though you do share qualities, after all weasels are kind of cute if it helps any.” The heated glared simmered down, and for a moment Draco saw the girl’s cheeks flush brightly into a blush he thought was kind of funny, this time he reframed from laughing.

“Ginny what are you doing up here?” A brisk voice questioned causing Ginny and Draco to jump; coming in the room to rest a few feet behind Ginny was the angel he had been waiting for. Draco smiled instantly at the comfort the woman’s presence brought the room and allowed his body to ease slightly into the covers as the woman approached him.

“I was just seeing how Draco was doing mum; I don’t think he remembers us…” Ginny added soberly though Draco could see the delight in her eyes and Draco wondered why. His angel frowned at the news as she ran her fingers into Draco’s hair. Draco nearly purred at the soft touch as he had no memory of ever being soothed in his entire life.

“Ginny, go get Remus, tell him I need him up here for a moment and tell him to bring the first aid kit I have set up on the kitchen counter.” Ginny nodded and before she left she gave Draco a slight smile right as she left the room. Draco’s angel smiled slightly as she sat down on the edge of Draco’s bed and continued her ministrations with his hair leaving the boy in pure heaven.

“I’m glad to see you’re starting to relax, do you feel any better?” Draco starred into the warm eyes while he nodded his head gently. She smiled and nodded her head before she finally removed the hand from his hair and moved her hand down to take his hand into her own. Did he say he liked his angel? Nay—he was starting to love her now.
“Remus is coming up, we’re going to change your bandages and check you over and then perhaps if you are hungry we’ll get you something to eat. Would you like that?” Once more Draco answered her question with an eager nod as a ghost of a smile brushed his dried lips.

“Molly, Arthur came by a few minute ago, he told me to tell you he’ll be home late tonight, something about Luc—never mind I’ll tell you about it later.” Remus mumbled as he realized Draco appeared to be more aware of what was going on around him this time around. Remus pressed a forced smile onto his lips as he set the tray on the bedside table and moved away to allow Molly room to work.

“Thank you Remus, now do me a favor and prepare the bandages with the salve Severus brought us.” Draco froze at this, could be it be possible? Did these people know Severus, his Severus? Were they death eaters or did they work for the light? He needed to see Severus; he needed him to get his mother as it seemed these people so far were thinking him insane. He was not insane! Was he?

“Sev—Sever—Severus?” Draco finally managed to sputter out, his angel who he now guessed was Molly, eyed him wearily for a moment before she glanced back at Remus who was still preparing some bandage wraps on an old dinning room table on the other side of the room.

“Severus Snape, does that name ring a bell?” Molly asked finally turning back to look at Draco who seemed to have gone a bit paler within the few moments of both grownups being in the room at the same time.

“Yes.” Was the only form of reply that came from Draco’s mouth, Molly seemed almost exasperated at his one world answer, or at least she seemed to as she pursed her lips together and gave a firm nod before standing from his bed.

“That’s good to hear, now let’s get you out of these blankets…”

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Draco used the brush given to him and continued to run the worn bristles into his pale locks, looking into the mirror he nearly flinched at the sight he saw. A pale, gaunt face with two gray orbs that seemed to have lost their unique silver glow stared back. Hair that brushed his shoulders though no longer limp from damage shinned brightly and undeserving, framing this haunting face. The rest of his body remained as thin as his face, he had been fed during his containment yes, but between ‘lessons’ and ‘punishments’ Draco had hardly the strength to keep it down. His body always seemed to tremble without cause, and his frame felt as if it had shrunk. Draco wondered what he would look like in death, and pondered if he would look just as he did now, for he saw no difference.

Draco shook his head with a sigh as he bound his long hair back with a black ribbon Molly had given him, he grimaced as he remembered watching his mother tie his father’s hair back many times as a boy, it seemed the only time that his parents touched that the actions were forced. His mother had told him many times that it was the love of his father’s beauty that had ensnared her, almost as if a veela had captivated her. It was only after they had been married that she realized a woman could not be satisfied with beauty if the goodness did not inherit his heart as it did his appearance. His father was a cruel man that had lost his heart far too long ago, Lucius had been proud of Draco as a boy, but as his father lingered further along in the hours of the day at work, Draco took to his mother and soon became the reincarnation of her spirit that his father spited so, it was then the love of his father was lost, he had only been a boy of eight.

“Draco?” Molly called through the bathroom door wearily, Draco smiled slightly; Molly had been a gift from god given to him out of mercy. His mother was dead, the news had more than likely broken the last part of him that had been his former self, but Draco knew that with her passing came the chance to move on past his father’s threat, passed the death eaters, and with hope into a new life.

Draco finally straightened the pale blue button up shirt he was given along with his black slacks that hung loose on his small frame before he opened the door and smiled tiredly up at the person he would like to consider as a second mother. The redheaded savior smiled back as she fingered the hair kept back with the black ribbon fondly before nodding her consent as a proud mother should. Offering her hand to Draco, Molly waited patiently before Draco took the offered hand wearily and allowed the woman to lead him from the upstairs floors where he had been kept safe from the views of others for the past month and down the creaking staircases that winded down to the main floor where everyone was seated to have dinner.

“Don’t worry Draco, just be yourself and everyone will fall under your charm.” Molly stated with a smile as Draco was led down the last few steps and toward the dinning room. Draco pondered what the woman meant; did she mean the self his father constructed him to be? Was it the self that was built upon pureblood background and beliefs? Or did his angel mean the self he had yet to discover? Draco decided to go with the later of the guesses and bit his bottom lip anxiously as they entered the dinning room and the more than a dozen people that greeted them with curious glances.

“Good evening Draco,” Ginny greeted with a confident smile that Draco still found charming. Draco returned the smile with a weary one of his own as Molly seated him between Ginny and herself. The table was silent for a moment, all eyes on Draco as they waited for him to speak out…or something. Perhaps he was supposed to say grace? That’s what the muggles did in the books Molly had given him over the past few weeks. And so putting his hands together, Draco bowed his head hoping he was doing it right and spoke in a meek voice.

“God is great, God is good.
Let us thank him for our food.
By his hands, we are fed.
Let us thank him for our bread.
Amen.” Draco finished shakily with a nod of his head, upon opening his eyes all he got were wide gaping faces and a few sputtering faces before a girl at the end with bushy hair snorted out with laughter.

“Did I do it wrong?” Draco asked nervously as he glanced at Molly worriedly. Draco was shocked to find his angel trying to cover up her own giggles as the bushy haired girl’s laughter seemed to be contagious and before he knew it the whole table was filled with laughter, of course he just had to be the punt of yet another joke. Draco sagged back in his seat as his cheeks flushed, whose idea was it to come down here anyway?

“I’m sorry Draco, but that was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen…” the bushy haired girl admitted between gasps of laughter, well that was good to know *rolls eyes*. Draco bit the inside of his cheek as he looked down at his plate filled with heaping amounts of food Draco knew he would never be able to eat. Well at least he learned his lesson; he would never say the meal’s prayer again.

“Did you get that from the book mum gave you?” Ginny asked once the laughter had settled down into quiet sniggers, Draco arched an eyebrow at Ginny before he nodded his head somewhat solemnly. Ginny smiled in understanding and patted his hand comfortingly before she turned back to her own evening meal.

“So Arthur how was work?” The conversation throughout the entire meal was light. Draco knew that Molly had told them to reframe from asking Draco too many questions about the past, for they had come to learn that whenever the past was brought up Draco would close up and usually have panic attacks that led to him being either stunned or sedated. Molly had come to the conclusion that if it were out of hearing, out of mind, then there would be no trouble for Draco. She was wrong though, they were all wrong. Each one of them glanced at Draco thoughtfully wondering what had happened to him for Draco to become what he was now. They would be disgusted if they knew the truth. Or perhaps that’s what they thought of him now, yes, that was it, they were trying to hide their disgust with forced smiles and strained laughter. He wanted to go back to the attic, back to his dark room where he found warmth, where only his angel and his angel’s daughter would visit with him and speak softly in warm tones. Why were they still staring? Stop it! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!


“Draco? Draco what’s the matter?” Molly gasped as the once calm boy collapsed to the floor and began to heave in deep breaths whilst he rocked back and forth in a fetal position with his hands clamped tightly over his ears and his eyes tightly shut. Molly threw down her napkin before she scooted out her chair to kneel beside him on the floor.

“I didn’t want to do it.” Those were the only words Draco ever seemed to say clearly through these panic attacks, each time he did this he seemed to get worse and that just made Molly’s heart shatter into tiny pieces over and over again. Cradling the broken child to her chest, Molly picked up Draco’s rhythm and began to sway the blonde boy in her arms and hum softly until Remus finally arrived with the sedative.

“Draco I need you to drink this.” Molly cooed softly after Remus had uncorked the veil containing the potion Severus had made to calm the boy’s body. Draco just cried harder and shakes his head pathetically as he eyed the sedative with contempt knowing what it would do without his consent.
“Please Draco, I promise you won’t go to sleep this time. Just like last time, remember?” Molly cursed herself with those words as it only elicited terror into the boy’s eyes. It seemed various forms of sedatives had been used during the young Slytherin’s capture. It was Remus who had later explained the trauma inflicted into victims forced to go through tortures consciously whilst they were kept awake and unmoving. He had stated it was often used in forms of rape making Molly sick to her stomach.

“Nothing is going to happen, Draco, I promise…Remus and I will just take you upstairs. Ginny’s going to read to you again. Won’t you like that?” Molly asked urging the vile to Draco’s lips. Draco continued to cry as Remus and Molly had to force the boy to digest the potion. After the potion was swallowed Molly held her breath as she watched the potion take affect almost immediately. The tension in Draco’s body fled instantly leaving his body slacked and his head calmed. Molly forced a soft smile as she continued to rock the boy in her arms, his head now laid in her lap allowing Molly to run her fingers through the loosened hair. She had come to realize that Draco seemed to respond better to her caress and wondered if it was something his mother had done when he was a child.

“What was that?” Ron asked nervously from where he now stood beside the table much like what most of the other members had already done. Though, Molly noticed with contempt, that most of their hands laid resting on their wands ducked inside their pockets ‘casually’ as so not to cause panic with the children.

“That, Ron, is why Draco can’t come downstairs yet, he just isn’t ready.” Molly replied in a soft whisper as she continued her ministrations to Draco’s hair.
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(A/N) Please R&R I would really like to know how I’m doing with this being my first fanfic.