How to Save a Life

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


"I said no Mother, I won't do it!"

Draco span round, his features twisted into an angry mask. His glare faded slightly when his cold grey eyes came to rest on the serene face of his Mother.

Narcissa smiled softly and placed a calming hand on her sons shoulder.

"It's what your Father would want you to do."

If Narcissa thought to persuade her son with this statement, Draco's next words quickly dispelled that notion.

"Yes, well you will have to forgive me if that is not quite the motivator it once was. I am still a little busy dealing with the fallout of the last thing he wanted me to do!"


A sharp slap echoed through the stately drawing room of Malfoy Manor. Draco stood shocked with one hand pressed to his flushed cheek and his eyes fixed by the steely gaze of his mother.

"You will not speak of your father in that manner and you will do as I ask. This is not up for discussion Draco. You have a duty to restore the honour of the Malfoy name and you cannot do this by hiding behind the walls of the Manor."

"But Mother!"

"No Draco, this discussion is closed and I want to hear nothing further on the matter. I will reply to this letter and confirm that you will be attending. Let that be an end to it."

Narcissa turned from her son and moved gracefully across the room before seating herself at an elegant writing desk.

Draco watched in horror as his Mothers quill moved swiftly across the parchment. He felt a tight knot twist in his stomach and it took all of his self control not to beg her to reconsider.

Truth be told Draco Malfoy was scared and more than a little confused. In the weeks that had passed since the defeat of Voldemort all of his attention had been focused on his Fathers trial and on staying out of Azkaban himself. He had given little thought to his future mainly, as he now admitted to himself, because it had been a long time since he thought of himself as having one. But he was fairly certain that if he had entertained such thoughts, returning to school would not have been amongst them.

Draco felt a slight shudder pass through his body at the thought of Hogwarts. It wasn't the fairly recent memory of the final battle that elicited this reaction. Whenever Draco thought of Hogwarts (which would be never if he had his way) his over riding memory was of that night in the astronomy tower and of seeing Dumbledore's broken body as he had fled the grounds.

And this was where his overwhelming confusion sprang from. Why would he be asked to return to the 'scene of the crime' as it were? Yes he had escaped prosecution for his actions but he had still let death eaters into the school. Even if he was not directly responsible for firing the curse that killed him he was certainly the reason that the old wizard had died that night.

Narcissa signed her name with a flourish, blotted the ink and then firmly attached the parchment to the leg of the owl that had patiently waited all this time.

Draco felt the bile rise in his throat as the owl took flight and with it taking his sealed fate.
His hand gripped the back of the nearest chair for support, his knuckles turning white as his mother turned to him.

“You will need to go into Diagon Alley soon to purchase your supplies. You will have to take the key to our vault as I will obviously not be able to accompany you.”

The thought of leaving the safety of the manor and exposing himself to what he could only imagine was a hostile wizarding world left Draco feeling he might vomit at any moment. Yet he remained silent only nodding at his mothers words.

Narcissa saw the flash of fear in her son’s eyes and took pity on him.

“You will not be expected to go alone however. I floo called Aurora Zabini this morning and she has confirmed that Blaise will be returning also. She will be taking him for his supplies on Friday and has said she is happy for you to accompany them.”

Draco visibly relaxed at this information. But it would still be the first time he had left the safety of his ancestral home in over a month with the exception of a few brief visits to Pansy in St Mungo’s. With his Father in Azkaban and his Mother under house arrest pending the outcome of an investigation into her wartime activities Draco had become a virtual recluse.

The thought of seeing Blaise again caught his attention. He had been very close to the Italian boy when they were younger and this had continued through their earlier years at school. But Draco’s mission in their 6th year and the fact that Blaise had spent the last year on the continent had caused the friendship to cool.

Draco remembered with a smirk a couple of encounters between them that had certainly been about more than just friendship. Blaise also had an interest in the same sex and had been only to happy to help his friend explore his newly discovered sexuality.

Yes, thought Draco, seeing Blaise again could be just the thing he needed to get his mind of Harry Bloody Potter.

“It will be ok Dragon, you know that don’t you?”

The sound of his mother’s voice startled Draco from some very pleasant memories and brought back the knot in his stomach as he recalled what they had been discussing. He raised his clouded eyes to meet his mother’s bright blue irises.

“I won’t pretend that I am happy with this Mother. You know me well enough to know that I won’t hide my feelings on the subject. But if this is what you truly wish then I will do what you ask. Though I fail to see how this will in anyway restore pride to the Malfoy name.”

Narcissa smiled kindly at her son realising how difficult this was for him. She leaned forward and gave him a light kiss on the his still rosy cheek.

“I’m sorry about that.”

Draco shook his head and returned her smile.

“It’s ok mother, I shouldn’t have said what I did about father and I apologise for that.”

He hung his head avoiding his mothers gaze.

“May I be excused? I have some reading I should catch up on if I am to avoid disgracing myself at school.”

Narcissa nodded her permission and Draco took his leave and returned to his room, his head spinning slightly.