Sins Of The Father

The next few days found Draco and Aine making small talk, acquainting themselves with the other. Nothing of any real consequence was discussed, not his family and certainly not the attack that had ultimately brought him to her door. He told her about going to school, his so called friends there, and his enemies. When he talked about the threesome, she could hear the longing in his voice.

Aine talked about her mother and her father. How lonely it had been growing up as an only child, it was something they had in common, though Draco was thankful no one else had to endure the abuse he had experienced at the hands of his father and the cold, emotionless woman who had given birth to him.

With each day that passed their friendship grew stronger and for the first time since he could remember he truly felt as if he had a friend. Someone he could count on to be there when he needed them. Not somebody just pretending.

Early one morning, two weeks after Draco’s arrival, Aine sat on the damp grass, staring out over the still water of the large pond on the Anderson property. Her thoughts were centered on the tall blonde who had quickly become the center of her world. It was apparent to her that Draco had come to trust her at least a little. He had noticeably relaxed in her presence, laughing and joking frequently. The slow, little boy smile he graced her with when she laughed at his jokes brought itself to her minds eye and she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her own face.

She leaned her chin on her knees and sighed, closing her eyes she pictured his face. A chill crept up her spine as she heard a noise, her eyes flew open as she shot to her feet. Her startled turquoise eyes searched the grove of trees some twenty yards away for movement. Her wand was already in her hand as she debated on whether to investigate or return to the house and check on Draco.

Making her decision quickly she apparated to the landing of the staircase just in front of Draco’s door.

The urgency of her knock had Draco jumping out of bed and flinging the door open. “What’s wrong Aine?” he asked searching her face.

Aine took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. “I wanted to make sure you were okay...I...” the unexplainable fear that had seized her had left her visibly shaken.

Draco took her hand and pulled her into the room. Sitting her on the end of his bed he knelt in front of her. “Aine, what happened?” he asked gently.

“I was at the pond...I heard a noise...I can’t even explain why but suddenly I was overcome with the sense that you were in imminent danger.” Aine looked down at her hands and suddenly felt insecure in her abilities to protect Draco Malfoy from his persecutors.

To his credit Draco didn’t doubt her intuition. Standing he reached for a t-shirt. “Let’s go. I won’t sit here and hide. If they are going to come for me, let them come. I am done running!” he said vehemently as he palmed his wand and held his hand out to her.

To her credit, Aine successfully kept the look of surprise off her face as she let him pull her to her feet, his arm firmly around her waist he apparated the both of them to the spot she had moments before vacated.

Wands at the ready, two pairs of eyes scanned the landscape. Draco ignored the fire spreading across his back as the wounds that refused to heel burned red hot. Ignoring the pain he moved toward the grove carefully. As he moved closer to the trees the pain intensified and he felt faint as it seared itself across his skin. Dropping to his knees the memories of his ordeal swirled through his brain as if her were still in that dank, dark dungeon in England. Aine put one hand on his shoulder and raised her wand. “Whoever you are, show yourself!” she thundered. Seconds later a dark shadow swooped above the trees, visible only for seconds before disappearing.

Draco dropped to the ground, his eyes screwed shut as the pain clawed at his very soul. Aine knelt and pulled him into her arms, she closed her eyes and apparated the two of them to his room.

He was only semi conscious as she pushed him gently onto the bed and brushed back blonde locks back from his face. She stroked his hair and whispered a soothing charm that eased the physical pain, he was still too distant for her to soothe the emotional pain. Sensing someone outside the door she left his side and walked out of the room.

She found Emma sitting on the top step, calmly waiting for Aine to join her. "Is he all right?" Emma asked as Aine lowered herself onto the step next to her.

"Nothing new anyway," Aine murmured tiredly. The quick successions of apparition had left her drained. She leaned against the staircase and looked over at Emma, she could see the concern in the other woman's eyes.

Emma had been with her and her father since Aine was ten, only girl of twenty herself she had been Aine's nanny, friend and confidant over the years. Aine cocked her head "You've seen something?"

Emma nodded. "It was only a vague vision...I saw a sphere, broken in two halves. One half was a white smoke, pure and good. The other black as the blackest night, but yet not evil. In between the two halves was a staff, long and black the tip glimmered silver and it seemed if the two halves were struggling to come together but the staff was driving them apart."

"You think this has something to do with Draco?" Aine asked running her fingers through her hair.

Emma nodded "I do, though I have no idea what it means."

Aine was quiet, contemplating what Emma's vision could mean.

Emma reached out and touched Aine's hand. "You are growing to care for this young man." Her words were a statement of fact, not a question.

Aine blushed. "Is it that obvious?"

Emma smiled "Only to anyone with eyes my dear."

Aine heard Draco cry out in agony and fear. Shooting to her feet she was at the door instantly. Her heart skipped a beat as she pushed the door open cautiously.

"Draco?" she called his name tentatively as she crossed the threshold. She saw him writhing on the bed, sweat dripping off his brow as the blankets and sheets were kicked to the floor. Moving quickly to the side of the bed she called his name again, louder this time and reached for his shoulder.

Draco's hand snaked out grabbing her wrist in an iron like grip. Pulling her down on the bed he had her pinned beneath him. "I won't let you hurt me," he growled his eyes looking haunted. Aine immediately realized Draco wasn't fully awake. He was caught between his nightmare and reality. Her heart pounded as she stared up into his eyes. She didn't move a muscle for fear she would make things worse.

"Draco," she murmured his name. "Draco, it's me," she said her voice clear and calm, her eyes staring into his.

Draco fought the haze that surrounded him as he heard Aine's gentle voice. Drawing a shaky breath he slowly released his hold on her arms and rolled to his side, collapsing. "God...I'm so sorry..." he whispered fighting to calm his pounding heart as the last of the dream receded bringing the stark reality of what he could have done to Aine to his mind.

She slid closer to him, with one hand she wiped the sweat from his forehead "It's okay Draco. It was just a nightmare," she murmured gently.

"I...I...I could have hurt you," he whispered tears springing to his eyes. The nightmare had been so real it felt as if he was being tortured all over again.

"But you didn't," she murmured brushing back the white-blond strands of hair clinging to his still damp forehead. "Talk to me Draco...let me in," she pleaded.

"It hurts so bad..." he whimpered. "How could anybody treat another person like that?" he cried as the tears slid down his face. "It won't stop...night after night it's the same dream and I relive it all over again."

The tears on his face and the pain in his voice broke her heart. Sliding her hand over his heart she could feel it pounding against the palm of her hand

Draco threw one arm over his eyes while his other hand slid over hers pressing it to his chest. "I just want to forget...why can't I forget Aine," he cried his breathing heavy and labored as the sobs tore from him. He'd never felt so emotionally raw as he did at the moment.

"Because you still feel like you deserved it," she whispered. She wasn't sure if he was talking about the attack or something else. But she knew that Draco blamed himself for everything bad that had happened to him in his life. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and hold him close. She wanted to erase all the pain and fear and replace it with love and happiness.

"It wasn't my fault...I had no control over it..." he whispered trailing off.

"What wasn't your fault Draco?" she took a deep breath and let her arms slip around him, laying her head on his chest.

"The things my father did...why am I being punished for it," he whispered beginning to calm slightly as her arms went around him.

"Of course they weren't your fault Draco...some people just don't understand," she whispered. There really was no excuse for what had happened to him.

Draco ran his hand over his face in frustration. "I just feel so alone...I've been forced out of the only home I've ever known. It may not have been the best...but it's all I've ever known," he said with a sigh.

She lifted her head and looked up at him "You are not alone Draco."

Draco looked down into her eyes and was surprised at the emotions swirling there. The compassion in her voice pulled at his heartstrings. She was the only person in his life that had ever attempted to comfort him. Reaching out he trailed his fingers down her cheek tenderly. He wanted nothing more then to kiss her until his lungs begged for oxygen.

Aine took a deep breath. "Draco, what happened today at the grove...”

Draco sat up, burying his face in his hands. "I felt...pain and it seemed I was completely helpless...like before...when..."

Aine laid her hand on his shoulder "I think I know what happened Draco...you have to let me help you," she scooted closer to him and ran her hand down his back. "Tell me Draco, the burns on your back...have they healed at all?" she asked gently.

Draco shook his head wordlessly.

"Draco, when these burns were made...the person who did this to you, used magic. It left an imprint of that person in your flesh. I think not only are they using this to continue the mental and physical torture...but to track you as well."

His head jerked around and he stared at her in surprise. "Like...you know who did with Potter?"

Aine nodded, "Not that this wizard was as strong as him, but yes. Only this was intentional. Let me help you Draco...I can use my powers to heal them and stop this," Aine begged.

Draco reached for the hem of the t-shirt and pulled it over his head. He lay face down on the bed and willed his heart to slow.

Aine took a calming breath, holding her hands in front of her she murmured incantations so softly that while he couldn't understand what she was saying he felt strangely calm.

Her fingers glowed with a soft, shimmering orange light. Slowly she trailed them over his back. As she did she realized that it would take more than one session to completely eradicate the damage and the spells deeply embedded in the most vicious wound.

Draco felt the warmth and tingling in his skin as Aine's fingers trailed over his marred flesh. Aine’s hands on his skin was like experiencing a small piece of paradise. He had never felt anything so right in his life. It was almost as if Aine’s hands were meant to touch him. He almost couldn’t stand the thought of her hands not on his skin.

Aine felt the magic in her begin to build as the heat made it’s way down her fingers and into Draco’s skin. She watched as the redness began to disappear and the swelling began to subside. Using one hand to heal the most superficial wounds she laid the other his shoulder.

As her fingers slid along the sinewy muscles of his back it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to focus on the task at hand and touch him as a healer when what her body screamed at her was to touch him as a woman.

Draco groaned as Aine trailed her hands down his body. Her touch was setting him on fire.

"Am I hurting you?" Aine asked her voice coming out in a mere whisper.

"Only when you stop," he said, his voice strangled as he fought to keep the fleeting grip on his self control.

Aine bit her lip. "I'm almost finished Draco..." she said trailing off the knowledge she'd no longer have an excuse to touch him bothered her immensely.

"Take your time," he murmured, his face still buried in the pillow.

Aine finished healing the superficial wounds on Draco's back, but didn't stop running her hands down Draco's back and sides. She felt her body tighten with something unfamiliar as her hands ran over his body.

Draco felt his self control slipping "That's enough Aine...you...you have to stop," he hissed through clenched teeth.

Aine pulled her hands reluctantly away from his body. "I didn't hurt you did I?" she asked praying her body would stop pulsing with a need greater then she'd ever known.

"No...I...I...feel better than I have in a long time," he stammered "Thank you Aine..."

"Your welcome," she whispered unable to resist the urge to run her fingers through his blond hair gently.

"Oh bloody hell!" he hissed flipping over onto his back. He stared up at her and wondered is she could see the raw need in his eyes.

Aine simply stared down at him. She was surprised to see the same look in his eyes that she felt burning in her body. She'd never reacted this way to a man. It was an unfamiliar feeling yet one that she welcomed. "Draco..." she whispered.

He brought his trembling finger to her face "Aine...if you don't leave right now...I may do something which we will both end up regretting."

Aine closed her eyes as his finger trailed down her cheek. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest and she knew she should run like the devil was after her but she couldn't seem to make her body move.

Pushing himself up on one arm he slid his other hand to the back of her neck. "I'm going to kiss you Aine," he murmured.

Aine licked her lips nervously as she continued to stare into Draco's eyes. He seemed to have her under a spell but she didn't mind. Dipping her head slowly she met him halfway.

When his lips touched hers, his world changed forever. Everything suddenly seemed possible, everything he'd ever dared dream of, everything he'd ever hoped for seemed within his grasp as her arms went around his neck. Her fingers stroked the sensitive skin at the nape of his neck and he framed her delicate face with his long, slender fingers.

Aine groaned into his mouth as his tongue delved inside her mouth tasting her. Aine fought the urge to push him down on the bed. His kiss was setting her soul on fire and she knew she'd never be the same again.

Only the burning in his lungs finally convinced him to drag his lips from hers. Moving them along her jaw to her ear he rasped "We should stop..."

"I know...but nothing has ever felt this right," she whispered brokenly as he trailed kisses back down her jaw to her neck. "This is crazy Draco."

"I know Aine...it's like...destiny." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he pulled back. "Go! I can't do this Aine," he murmured averting his gaze.

"Draco?" she said reaching out to touch him.

He held up his hand "No Aine. Please...go," he whispered. "Before I embarrass myself," he finished silently.

Aine felt the tears burn her eyes as she jumped from the bed and walked to the door. Stopping she looked back at him once. She knew he was right when he'd said it was like destiny. "You can't stop destiny...no matter how much you want to," she said before walking out the door closing it firmly behind her.

"One doesn't always want destiny," he muttered to the empty room.