Draco’s Remorse

Back in the hospital wing Draco was going nuts from the waiting. He hadn’t decided upon what to do if his mother freaked over the fact that he had fallen for Hermione. The suspense was giving him another headache. Sitting down on the bed he stroked his forehead to ease the pain.

“Good morning, dear. Head still hurting I see.” Madam Pomfrey came in humming and covered in small drops of water. “Looks like autumn is winning the battle with summer. The leaves are changing colour and the rain is colder than the light drizzles of summer.” She hung her jacket on the coat rack, casting a quick glance in the mirror she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and then fluttered to the potion cabinet. She quickly found a headache potion and, smiling, strolled over to Draco’s bed and asked him to drink it all up.

“You’re in a good mood today,” Draco smiled. “Any particular reason?” He put his hand behind his head. Madam Pomfrey looked at him, but then her smile faded. “Oh, Dear.” She looked like the world was about to end, making a knot form in Draco’s stomach. “Tell me, please!” His voice trembled because he knew it couldn’t be good news. “I think I’ll go and get the Headmis…” Pomfrey really tried to avoid this, but Draco demanded to know.

“Some Aurors were in a fight last night with one of the remaining death eaters…” Pomfrey stopped and tried once more to fetch the Headmistress, but the begging look in Draco’s eyes made her stay. “The death eater put up a vigorous fight until she was defeated by your cousin Tonks…” Draco knew it was his aunt Bella they had caught. “Was she put back in Azkaban?” His voice sounded strange. His aunt had been somewhat of a teacher for him so he felt a hint of pain when Pomfrey didn’t answer right away. “No, dear, she tried to cast an unforgivable at Remus Lupin and your cousin deflected it. It struck Bellatrix right in the chest and…” Draco didn’t need to hear more. He felt an immense need to go home and be there when his mother found out.

“Can you ask McGon…” he swallowed and couldn’t continue. Madam Pomfrey understood and hurried out of the room leaving him alone. He felt shaky. It was unfair to bring his mother such news after Dobby’s, but he knew it couldn’t wait. As the Headmistress returned Draco felt hollow and saw no shame in begging “Please, let me get home to my mother. She’s going to need me!” The Headmistress nodded, offering to come with him through the floo network and stay with them as long as they needed. He declined and said it was a family matter. McGonagall nodded and took him to the Floo.


As Draco stumbled out of the fireplace he could hear a male voice asking his mother to sit down. He ran into the kitchen and stopped dead as the Auror broke the news to Narcissa. She just shook her head in disbelief as silent tears fell from her eyes. “Mum!” Draco walked slowly up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. Narcissa made no sound, but took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. She thanked the Auror for his kindness in telling her the news face to face before she hear it from other people condoning her loss and told him to have a nice day.

Draco wrapped his arms around his mother and rested his head on her shoulder. He told her how sorry he was and that it was all right to cry, but Narcissa just patted his arm and sighed. “We knew how it would end eventually… still hurts though.” She leaned her head against her son’s and in a casual tone asked if he had some better news to tell her. Dobby had left just moments before, but she wanted to hear it from Draco’s mouth. “Well… ummm… I’m sort of seeing someone. We’ve just.... she’s so… not like I thought… and I think she loves me, too.”

Narcissa pulled her fingers through his hair and whispered that it was nice news, but that they better not tell his father who or what she was right away. “You don’t mind that she’s not pure-blooded?” Draco whispered back. Narcissa laughed, “Not at all sweetheart, it would be quite difficult to find an English Pureblood girlfriend. The only ones I can think of are Ginny Weasley, Daphne Greengrass or Morag MacDougal and if I’m not mistaken Daphne is already engaged to Zabini.”

“If I had to choose between those girls I would NEVER pick Weasley!” Draco looked disgusted, making Narcissa laugh again. “Still a bit judgmental I see. Better not let your sweetheart hear you speak in that way of her friend’s family!” Smiling, Narcissa put her hands on each side of Draco’s head, planted a tender kiss on his forehead and whispered how much she had missed him and had feared he would never speak to her again.

“Why wouldn’t I want to talk to you?” Draco wondered aloud, but then remembered how mad he had been at her when his father was thrown in Azkaban. It was later that he found he had been wrong to accuse her of having a part of that. He looked so remorseful that Narcissa had to smile. She had never seen him regret anything. “Guess I’ve been a brat even to you.” Gently removing his mother’s hand from his face, he walked to the dining table and sat down. Placing his elbows on the table he leaned his head on folded hands like in prayer and growled, “How did anybody manage to be near me?!”

He felt so stupid remembering every insult, every harsh word and every fight he ever had because of his trust in what his father had taught him. Realizing, again that he had only been repeating his father’s words and never considering if he even believed in them. Narcissa poured a glass of water for Draco and placed it before him. “You’re not to blame, sweetheart. You’d been taught to hate muggles and blood-traitors all your life, the harsh way your father punished you and me both for even small things, I understand why you took it out on others.”

Draco could feel the anger build up inside. His hate for muggles was turning into livid hate for his father. Oh, he had been SO blind in his admiration of the sorry piece of shit he called father! Breathing hard, eyes closed and a grimace of pure revulsion in his face, he knew he had to do something soon or he’ll explode. “May I be excused?” He didn’t look up or say goodbye before he left, running out into the gardens and Apparating away.

Ron had spent the night debating with himself. On one hand he didn’t want to loose his two best friends but on the other he didn’t want to believe that Malfoy could have changed. It would make everything so much more complicated. He liked hating the Ferret. He wasn’t proud to admit it but it was the truth. Draco Malfoy was everything he was not. He was bloody smart when it came to school subjects, only beaten by Hermione. He had almost too much money; he had never been seen in second-hand clothes. He was perfect on a broom; it became a part of him. The only other young wizard he had seen being so natural was Krum. Oh yeah, and that fact that Malfoy was a girl magnet was just sick, even girls that hated him sighed over his good looks and almost fainted when he smirked. And then, of course, Ferret had been the one that had opened the way for the death eaters into the castle. Ron could proudly say that he would never have done that!

Or would he? If Voldie had threatened to him off all of Ron’s family, would he be strong enough to deny Voldemort? To be honest he didn’t know. Why did Harry have to mention that part of it? Why talk about that night, when Malfoy had the opportunity to gain top place under Voldemort but didn’t take it!? It was much easier just to hate the amazing bouncing ferret, Ron shook with revulsion, than having to forgive him and give him a chance to prove he had changed.

As the sunlight filled the room Ron decided to have a talk with Malfoy, one-on-one, to see if Harry and Hermione and the Order were right in believing that Malfoy’s transformation from wanna-be death eater to a good boy was sincere. He knew just what buttons to push to push to see that real Draco Malfoy!

He drifted off to sleep, but were woken only minutes after by Harry telling him to come down for breakfast. “Bloody Hell, Harry! I’ve just fallen to sleep,” Ron murmured and hid his head beneath the pillow. “They’ve caught Bellatrix. She’s dead.” Harry’s voice sounded so weird that Ron sat up wide awake. “What did you just say?” Harry told him once more that Sirius’ killer was dead. Ron looked straight at Harry and let out a “Whoopee!”

“Aren’t you happy Harry?” Ron asked as he got dressed and looked worriedly at Harry over his shoulder. “Guess so… Just really wanted, you know.” Harry shook his head and murmured something that sounded like never mind. Ron understood. Harry had wanted to avenge Sirius’ death himself… “Who had the honour?” Ron tried to smile a witty smile at his friend. “Tonk’s reflected a killing curse Bellatrix flung at Lupin. It hit Bellatrix in the chest and sent her flying like a ragdoll”

“Just adds to the proof that the more invincible an enemy thinks themselves, the more simple it is to kill them!” Ron shook his head rather disappointed that all the biggest baddies died so easy. Yawning, he left the bedroom and headed to breakfast chit-chatting with Harry about which death eaters on the run were left.

“It was lucky that ‘Mione and Malfoy found the passage before any death eater!” Harry said. The Order had used the night to close it off by a magic and concrete combination. They had left the tomb as they found it; it was after all the final resting place of one of the founders, so it seemed okay. Harry, Ron and Hermione had the day off to help in the search for more hidden passages.

“Are you okay with spending the day with ‘Mione?” Harry asked quietly as they entered the Great Hall. Ron raised his shoulders, but didn’t want to talk about it right now. He had spotted Hermione sitting in her usual spot. She looked as tired as he felt but sent them a little smile as they came closer. Harry sat down beside Hermione and gave her a small, hug but Ron sat down on the other side of Harry and grabbed a bowl of porridge topping it with fresh fruit and a tad of honey.

Hermione’s lower lip quivered slightly, but she swallowed once and started to talk to Harry about the death of Bellatrix. Leaning in and whispering in a very low voice so Ron didn’t hear she told Harry that Draco had left for home and if Madam Pomfrey was right, he was really upset. Bellatrix had been his aunt and had likely taught him the concepts of the Dark Arts. Harry whispered back that she shouldn’t put more into it than there was. Draco had lost his aunt, naturally it hurt. “But I firmly believe that he’s on our side now!” Harry squeezed Hermione’s hand as he said it.

Ginny came running into the hall, her eyes fixed on Harry. “Harry! Harry, we need to talk… NOW!” Harry looked up in surprise and left his seat. He followed Ginny out of the hall, followed by someone yelling that it looked like trouble for Harry, making the hall ring with laughter.

“What’s the matter Ginny?” Harry said a little harder than intended, but being laughed out of the great hall wasn’t his favourite pastime. Ginny frowned and put her tongue out, childishly. Harry couldn’t help but smile. “Silly girl!” She smiled back and took his hand. “I just need to know,” she said watching him very closely.

“To know what?” Harry was a little lost. Ginny sighed and let go of his hand and crossed her arms over her chest. “You know! Stop teasing!” she looked a little disappointed. Harry shook his head and looked even more confused.

“Well, stupid, now that Voldemort isn’t a problem anymore, would you like to try again, you know, with us?!” As she stood there with her arms crossed and demanding an answer he could see the resemblance to Molly clearly and he couldn’t help but laugh quietly. “Oh, Ginny, I honestly haven’t thought about it. Now don’t look so sad, I just mean with all that has been happening I honestly didn’t consider that you would have me back”

Ginny’s eyes had filled with tears when he had said he hadn’t even thought about it. She looked defiantly at him and said that if he didn’t want her she would like to know, so she could get on with her life. Harry sighed. He loved her temper, but sometimes it was exhausting. He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her tiny body. “You’re so pushy sometimes, Redhead.” He kissed the top of her head and whispered that he would love to try again seeing that they didn’t really have the time together that he wished.

Ginny smiled into his chest, breathing in his scent. She had been waiting for this; to be in his arms again. She thought she would have lost her mind if he had turned her down. She didn’t want to cry and be all wussy and wimpy, but a small tear left her eye anyway.

Harry couldn’t believe it. He really hadn’t thought that Ginny would even look his way again after that way he ended their short relationship. He had hurt her even though he had promised not to. To think she had been waiting for him all this time and he hadn’t seen it! He gently raised her head, looked her into the eyes and smiled. “So, you drag me out of the great hall, everybody laughing, to beat some sense into my thick skull and to tell me that you still love me?” Ginny looked up at him with big blue, slightly wet eyes and nodded.

Harry felt a jolt of lust run through him and it clearly showed in his eyes. Ginny smiled a dirty little smile. “Why, Mister Potter, shame on you!” she sounded so much like Molly that they both laughed. Ginny rose to her toes and planted a big wet kiss on Harry’s mouth as she wrapped her fingers into his wild mane of black hair. Harry pressed her body closer to his and deepened their kiss, letting out a small moan of desire. His reactions to the kiss made Ginny’s heart race and made her want to be somewhere all alone with him. “Come,” she whispered and dragged him towards Firenze’ classroom.

As the two entered the room they found themselves in a beautiful forest clearing. Kissing like they would never see each other again, Ginny cast Colloportus at the door then threw her wand away. Harry felt like he would die if he didn’t touch her, kiss her and make love to her right then and there.

Harry looked intensely into Ginny’s eyes and whispered, “Are you sure?” She nodded and tackled him to the floor. Sitting across Harry abdomen, she began to untie his tie and unbutton his shirt. Harry smiled wickedly and said that there was a faster way. He took his wand and waved it over them and instantly their clothes lay folded and stacked on the ground a few feet away. Harry sighed at the sight of Ginny’s firm and slender body and clicked his tongue in approval, making Ginny laugh and jump off him.

She smiled a teasing smile as she cat-walked round the forest clearing naked as the day she was born. Harry sat leaning back on his hands and enjoyed the show. He like the way you could she her muscles move under her skin, Quidditch practice and matches had a good affect on her figure. “I just want to kiss every inch of your stunning body.” Harry groaned. Ginny walked over to him and slowly knelt down. She sat on his thighs looking naughty and looked at his vast erection. He had to really control the urge to tilt her onto the floor and… “Oh, get at grip on yourself Harry,” he thought angrily. “Enjoy this instead of hurrying through it!”

Ginny leaned forward and kissed Harry, smiling at the sensation of his erection pressing against her tummy. She wondered how it felt to have that inside off her. She deepened her kiss and slid her tongue into Harry’s mouth, taking a deep breath as she met his tongue.

Harry leaned back onto the floor and ran his fingers gently over Ginny’s back making her sigh in passion. He wondered if it was her first time. It didn’t seem to be, but sometimes an insecure glance in her eyes made him wonder. He wasn’t a total novice though it had only been once and a mistake. But he wasn’t supposed to think of that now! He let go of his thoughts and let his body decide what to do next.

Quickly they were lost in passionate kisses and gentle touches. Ginny was eager to learn all about Harry’s body, where to touch to make him quiver, how to kiss him to make him groan in lust, how to use her mouth on his hard rod until he begged her to stop! Harry let her study just lying back and answering her questions, loving every moment of it, but when she almost made him cum, he said that now it was his turn.

Soon she was totally in his control as he ran his fingers up and down her body, kisses following the same path quickly. She felt a warm fussy feeling start in her tummy and then slowly spread throughout her body. Her breath came harder and she longed for more of Harry’s touches. When Harry slithered in between her legs, she stiffened for a moment, not completely comfortable with having his head down there. But as he gently flicked his tongue over her little knot it sent a jolt of pure pleasure up her spine. “Ummm… more…” She let go of control as a tinkling sensation enfolded her body making it shake and burn with desire. She called out his name begging for more.

Harry was hazy with lust and quickly positioned himself and leaned forward on one hand. Painfully slowly he pushed into Ginny, groaning and whispering her name. It only hurt her for a second then as Harry slowly moved back the tinkling sensation doubled making her hips to greet his, making her whimper in lust.

The sound of Ginny calling his name pushed him over the edge and his body took over, thrusting harder and harder into her sacred place. He bent down to met her demanding lips and as her second orgasm tore through her body, he felt a tightening around him just before succumbing to the quivers of orgasm that threatened to rip him apart.

Falling down onto Ginny’s body trembling and out of breath he felt lucky and blessed to have her beside his side again. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Redhead!” he whispered. She smiled at him and said that she knew that already. Harry wondered why and she said that Ron had told her that Harry often called her name in his sleep. Harry grinned and whispered, “Busted. We’d better get back to breakfast, don’t you think?” She nodded and called for her wand and cleared away all evidence of what had happened in the room. Harry did the same to their bodies and they dressed.

Taking her hand Harry looked her into the eyes and kissed her gently. “Come on, Redhead, let’s go.” And they joined the normal day life of Hogwarts again.


Breakfast was long over and they knew they would be in trouble if they were seen together. Harry gave Ginny a quick kiss and ran to the stairs, jumping over the missing step and headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room where he was supposed to meet up with Ron and Hermione. Wondering if they had killed each other, he almost yelled the password to the fat lady and jumped inside.

“Where the bloody hell have you been?!” Ron met him halfway into the room. Harry smiled and asked if he really wanted to know, making Ron’s eyes widen and he face turn a little paler, stuttering something that didn’t make sense. He looked horrified. Harry grinned and patted Ron on the shoulder pulled him over to the table and placed him on a stool.

Hermione came down from the Headgirl’s bedroom and looked from Harry to Ron, frowning. “What happened to Ron?” She walked over to the table and sat down on the opposite side of the table. “Well, he asked where I’ve been and I asked if he really wanted to know.” Harry explained with an innocent smile, but amusement blazed in his eyes. Hermione sighed, “Oh, Harry you didn’t…” When Harry nodded, Ron let out a subtle cry then stuttered, “What will mum say?” and shook his head.

When Harry said that she’ll probably be delighted, Ron dropped his head onto the table and murmured, “Ouch.” Harry and Hermione chuckled. “Oh, Ron, Ginny is a big girl. And would you rather have liked her debut to have been with Dean Thomas?” Ron looked up in horror and frantically shook his head. The stories of how Dean had hurt a girl by accident during sex had caused Ron to worry a great deal when Ginny and Dean were dating.

“Su… Sure it wa… was first…” Ron hammered his head down onto the table again and murmured, “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” Not really wanting to know of his sister’s sex life. Hermione stated that she was a hundred percent certain. Harry patted his friend on the shoulder and said that Ron didn’t have to worry, that he hadn’t hurt her in anyway. Ron continued to bang his head up and down on the table. “Guess I have to get use to my little sister screwing my best friend and Ferret bouncing on top of my other best friend then!”

“RON!” Hermione went bright red “We’ve just started dating… I’m not that kind…” Then she went even deeper red, hiding her face in her hands as Ron added, “Well, guess my sister is!” He let out a small sob. Harry tried to keep from laughing, but it busted from him so hard that it made him curl. Then Ron started to chuckle and then break into a real good laughter so contagious that Hermione couldn’t help but giggle. It felt good to laugh together again.

When they had finished laughing Ron was leaning his head on his hands and looked at Hermione. “So, do you know when Ferret is getting back?” Hermione shook her head. Ron continued, “Well I’d better have a chat with him alone when he comes back. Need him to promise me something!” Hermione smiled and insisted that she should be there to break them apart if necessary, but Ron insisted on having a one-on-one conversation to see if he would ever be able to trust Ferret-boy.

“Stop calling him that, will you? He hates it!” Hermione looked frustrated and Ron smiled and said that he would stop when Ferret-boy stopped calling him Weasel which, Ron stated, was only fair.

“Well, you sister-shagging son of a pygmy puff… Shall we go hunting for more secret passageways in and out of Hoggy?” Ron rose from his seat and slapped Harry on the back, smiling widely. Then he turned to Hermione. “Think you’d better talk with McGonagall about when the amazing bouncing ferret is planning on returning. We’ll be just fine searching the castle alone!” Smiling he when over and gave her a hug and said that he still didn’t trust Malfoy, but he would give him ONE chance to convince him that he has on the right side and would treat Hermione as the wonderful creature she was!

The boys left quickly and Hermione was alone in the common room feeling so touched by Ron’s words that her throat constricted making it hard to breathe. It was so very clear that Ron still had strong feelings for her and to give Draco a chance with her must have hurt like hell. Leaning against the cold stone wall she allowed the tears to come.


Draco ran his fingers over the cold stone wall. So this was Azkaban, this was the place his father would call home in this time and space. Lucius had escaped together with Draco’s aunt and her husband, but had been caught by the Aurors 14 miles from the Malfoy Manor and bought back to Azkaban before he could even say hi to his wife. At the time Draco had felt sorry for his father, but now he didn’t care.


Standing in front of the gates he knocked hard three times. “Draco Malfoy to see Lucius Malfoy!” The old wizard guard slid the door away from the small window. “It’s a rather bad time for a visit, don’t you think?” he croaked staring out of the dark room with small piggy eyes. “Come on now, I haven’t seen my father in a very long time. Surely I can have half an hour or even just 15 minutes?” Draco forced a pleading expression on his face. “Please, my aunt just died. I really need to see him!”

The old guard felt sorry for the teen, remembering just how hard death in the family was at that age. “Sure, but just half an hour and no wands!” Draco nodded and turned over his wand, letting the old wizard scan him for hidden objects. When he didn’t find any he led him towards Lucius’ cell.

“Now, Young Malfoy, don’t be shocked by his appearance. Most don’t take their stay here in a good way.” As they turned to face the bars of the cell, Draco took a step back at the sight of his father even though he had been warned.

Lucius sat in a corner, talking to himself and playing with the rim of his sleeve. His once thick, smooth and long blond hair now hung filthy and intertwined round his thin face, well, thin was an understatement. He looked like a rabies-infected dog. Hell, he even had bald spots on his head.

Draco felt his stomach turn. It wasn’t what he had imagined finding… “Ca… Can I have some time alone with him?” Draco stuttered. The old wizard gave his arm a squeeze and said he would be just a little further down the hallway.

“Father?” Draco walked up to the bars and fought down his nausea. “Father, can you hear me?” Lucius’ eyes moved slowly in the direction of Draco’s voice, a blank expression on his face. “Father?” When their eyes met Draco thought he was going to be sick. Lucius’ eyes had gone completely white. “Dra… Draco? Is it you… GO AWAY… No please…please don’t go…. Don’t leave me here… YOU’RE NO SON OF MINE… My dear, dear son please forgive…”

“Father… Listen to me!” Draco hissed, making Lucius’ flow of words stop. “Father, I’m in love and if all turns out right, she is the one that is going to carry my child. She is going to carry the next Malfoy heir!” Draco’s face constricted with hatred as the skeletal man in front of him started to titter.

“Who is the lucky girl? What family does she come from? What Slytherin girl have you chosen?” Lucius’ sounded blissfully happy making Draco scoff. “Well, Father, don’t be disappointed, she isn’t in Slytherin.” The look on Lucius’ face was priceless “Then… then at lest a Ravenclaw?”

Draco felt a perverted form of satisfaction at seeing his father so confused. “Actually, she’s in Gryffindor… oh, and by the way, she is Muggleborn and you already know her. Hermione Granger, you know, Harry Potter’s friend.”

Lucius’ white eyes widened into two grotesque orbs and his mouth opened and shut like a fish on land. He started to babble, shaking his head in denial. The babble rose to screams as he stood up and tumbled towards the bars, grabbing out for Draco.

Draco calmly stepped back so he was just out of reach. “I just thought you should know. Oh, and if our first born is a boy I will ask Hermione if it would be all right to name him after his grandfather.” Draco’s eyes burned with revenge. Lucius stopped his clawing. “I think John Granger Malfoy sounds nice, don’t you?”

Lucius started howling in grief, screaming that if Draco touched that ‘filthy little Mudblood’ again he would send Voldemort himself after them! “Guard HELP!” Draco faked a fearful scream. The old wizard came running, swinging his wand and stupefying Lucius who fell to the ground with a huff. “He… he was trying to kill me!” Draco acted like he was on the rim of panic. “My own father… why… I just told him that I was in love… Why can’t I be in love?” The guard patted Draco on the arm and said it might be best to consider not visiting anymore and that he would write to the prison master and report the incident. He took a firm grip of Draco’s arm at led the seemingly stunned young man away from the cell.

“Here you go, son, a nice warm cup of camomile tea to calm you down before leaving.” The guard placed a huge cup of steaming tea in front of Draco who thanked him many times. After the incident at the cell they had talked it over and the guard had made an offer to place Lucius in an even more secure prison. The one on Kvitoeya was named as a possibility. Draco said that he would talk to his mother about it, and return with her answer as soon as possible.

As the old wizard shut the door behind the young man his heart bled for him. If anyone ever said that the son for Lucius Malfoy was as cunning a snake like his father, he would stand up for the young man. Maybe the young man would someday change the way people thought of the Malfoy name.


Once Draco stood in the familiar garden of his childhood, his mask cracked. He stumbled to his knees, turned to the skies and let out a cry of sorrow, pain and self-loathing. Never again would he stoop so low. He had to do what he had done or he would never find peace with himself. He leaned forward on his hands and emptied the entire contents of his stomach on the perfectly kept lawn.

He sat back on his legs, still nauseous, and wiped his hand over his mouth as he looked to the Manor. His cry had reached his mother’s ears and she was now running down from the veranda through the Manor garden. Shaking, Draco got to his feet and walked up to greet her.

“I’m all right, it’s all right!” Draco’s voice sounded a lot calmer than he was feeling inside. When a very pale Narcissa stopped and studied him very closely, he was thankful for aunt Bella’s tutoring in the art of Occlumency. Narcissa frowned, “Why are you shutting me out?” Draco smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you just ask me where I’ve been?” Narcissa’s eyes were getting wet. She knew in her heart where he had gone.

Draco wiped a tear from her cheek. “No, don’t cry…” He hated to see her upset he told her that he had needed to see his father for himself. In a calm and hushed voice told her that Lucius had lashed out at him, but the guard had stopped him. He explained that the guard told him that Lucius had become more and more aggressive and that the warden considered moving him to a high-security prison in the Arctic sea.

Draco had a hard time lying to his mother. It wasn’t even a whole lie, just a rearranged version of the truth. He knew she was a good Legilimens so if he let his guard down she might see what really happened. “Come, I hate Apparating, always make me queasy.” He took her arm and led her in the direction of the Manor.

They sat down at the kitchen table. The silence was overwhelming and Draco twirled a ring on his right thumb, feeling Narcissa’s eyes on him. The nausea had gone down some and his thoughts went straying and jumped at the sound of a male voice just behind him.

“So, I hear Bella passed away.” Snape looked at the scene seeing clearly that it wasn’t the demise of the death eater which had the room quiet. By the tension of Draco’s neck muscles he knew that his Godson was concentrating hard on keeping himself calm. “I offer my condolences. Sissy, may I have a private word with you?” Looking intrigued at Draco, wondering when he had become such a powerful Occlumens that Snape couldn’t get through.

Narcissa directed Severus to the library and closed the door quietly behind them. “You know where he was, don’t you?” she asked in a hushed voice. She was leaning her forehead onto the finely carved mahogany door, caressing the handle with her index finger. “Sissy…” Severus took a step closer and began to reach out a hand but stopped in mid motion. “”Yes, I know. The guard kept his promise to tell me who and when someone visits.”

Narcissa took a deep breath and asked if the guard had any detail on Draco’s visit. Severus confirmed Draco’s version, but added that the warden waited for Narcissa’s approval on the matter of relocating Lucius to Kvitoeya.

“Kvitoeya…! But that’s… that’s so far away. Is he really that dangerous, Severus? He wouldn’t really hurt Draco or me, would he?!” She turned around and looked with pleading eyes at her husband’s best friend. She forced herself to think of him in that way.

Severus’ face told her a truth she didn’t want to hear. She knew the night Lucius escaped from Azkaban; he had been on the way to confront her with a rumour that had spread its poison in his mind and body. She had been glad they captured him before he reached the manor. She hadn’t been ready for him or his methods of interrogation. When she visited him afterwards he didn’t even notice her there or, rather, pretended she wasn’t there.

Severus sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. “Sissy look at me… please!” He waited for her to turn her head and looked deeply in her eyes. “Sissy, nobody knows for certain. It’s only a rumour, nothing more. But maybe it would be best for all to find out if there is any truth in it!” Narcissa looked away and whispered that she already knew and that she herself had done the test a long time ago.

“So?” Severus felt a knot in his stomach, but his expression didn’t change. Narcissa sighed and looked straight into her former lovers eyes, her own filled with great sadness. “Oh, I wished it was you… but it is only a vicious rumour. I’m just glad that the years of being in Slytherin under your influence have had some effect on Draco so he hasn’t become like his father; a mean, evil and weak man!” She sounded so bitter that she even startled herself a little.

Severus had mixed emotions about the truth. He cared for Draco as if he was HIS, but was relieved that he wasn’t. Severus and Narcissa’s affair had been short. She had felt alone in her marriage and he had just felt lonely. When she discovered that she was with child shortly after their affair stopped, they had both believed it to be his child.

“Who taught Draco Occlumency? He is very strong!” Severus changed the topic out of respect for Narcissa’s feelings and out of curiosity. Narcissa blinked and said the she thought he had, but Severus told her that he hadn’t had the chance. Narcissa thought about it for a moment and her face cleared up. “Bella! Naturally, she was taught by Voldemort himself. It would be just like Lucius to hold something like that a secret!”

“We better return to the kitchen or Draco will wonder what we are up to!” Narcissa said and offered the dark, mysterious man one of her rare genuine smiles. Just before she opened the door she turned around and asked if he had known that Draco has in love. The bewildered look on his face told her he didn’t. When she told him that it was Hermione Granger that had stolen her son’s heart, she had to suppress a laugh as Severus’ jaw dropped.

“That’s like if Lily Potter had fallen for me!” Severus shook his head in amused confusion and murmured that this would be quite a story for the Quibbler. Narcissa hissed threats of pain and suffering if he dared to rat out Draco to that low life to Rita Skeeter. Severus put his hands over his head to defend himself against the swarm of angry Doxies, Narcissa’s anger had manifested.

As Draco opened the door to the library he found his mother coiled in a corner in hysterical laugher and for good reason. Draco couldn’t help but snigger as he watch his old potions master skip around the large room yelling curses and hexes after a dozen black fairies. Apparently the fairies had stolen his wand and hidden it before lunging into a full attack on the enraged wizard. Producing two bottles of Doxycide Draco asked if Snape needed a hand as the potion master ran by.

Seeing two wizards armed with bottles the Doxies fled the scene with Draco and Snape running after them, laughing and spraying the doxies when they got close enough. Finishing of the last doxy the two wizards, arms around each other’s shoulders, went back to the library to find a weeping Narcissa still coiled in the corner.

“Oh, how I miss Bella. She might have done wrong, but she was still my sister!” Concealing her head behind her knees, her small shoulders shook as she mourned her loss. Flashbacks of the past filled her mind; their childhood, their time in school, Bellatrix’s wedding and how the fierce (on occasion mad) woman changed the first time she held Draco. “He is so perfect. So tiny…! He’s beautiful Sissy. Quite the little heartbreaker, aren’t you my little dragon?” The black haired witch had twirled around the nursery with the baby gently secured in her arms, singing a tale of wizard, witches and dragons.

It was Bella what came up with the name Draco and before her time in Azkaban she cherished the boy as her own. She had never conceived herself and often said that it was for the best. Without children she could devote herself completely to the Dark lord and be his best soldier as she had nothing to loose. Now she had paid the greatest sacrifice and done so gladly for a man that was dead.

Narcissa was sick of loosing friends and loved ones to the Dark side, to see them die for a lost cause, for no reason. She prayed that by some miracle Bella would be the last who had to die for the serpent lord. She felt someone kneel down before her, but didn’t look up. “Don’t cry mum… Please don’t cry.” The voice was so wounded that it only made her weep even harder.

“Please don’t cry.” Draco felt so helpless and heartbroken. He had only seen his mother cry like this once before, when she lost the baby. He ran his hand over her hair trying to comfort her and slowly the sobs became softer. Narcissa took a deep breath, telling herself off for breaking down in front of Draco. She dried her eyes and gave her son a tired smile. She caressed his cheek and moved to rise.

She was sore after having been sitting in the same posture to long. She stretched and looked around for Severus but he wasn’t there. “I need a cup of tea. Come with me to the kitchen, sweetie. We need to talk about what to do regarding your father; it’s not like the day could get any worse.” And the two walked arm in arm to the kitchen for tea and sighs.