Markings of an Inmate

Chapter Six: The Talk

When Mi and I entered the pub, my eyes automatically scanned the occupants of the room.

I recognized Liam, my younger cousin only by a couple of months. He was currently a sixth year Slytherin and had turned seventeen on September 7th, making him the eldest in his year.

Liam was the product of one of Regulus Black’s one-night stands. To say we were shocked when he showed up at the Manor seven years ago is an understatement. Mother and Father went berserk. Father was outraged and Mother was hysterically dragging poor shell-shocked Liam into her arms muttering ‘poor darling’ and ‘welcome home’ intermittently. Liam appeared as shell-shocked by my mother’s outpour of emotion as they were of his very existence. I merely laughed at the entire scenario, chuckling at the thought of Regulus.

Liam looked remarkably like Regulus, except he had Sirius’ eyes, or that’s what Mother proclaimed. He also possessed Sirius’ sense of loyalty and code of honor, but only as it pertained to his family. He was a Chaser with Blaise on the Quidditch team, a pretty damn good one, too.

His eyes met mine and the notorious mischievous Black smile slid onto his face. He eyed Mi by my side and winked at me as we made our ways towards our friends.

Mi dragged me gently over to a table where our friends were sitting. I pulled out a dusty wooden chair for her before settling down into the one beside her.

“So Blondie, I wanted to thank you for my ignorant brother’s reality check,” Red announced. I flinched at her new nickname for me. Honestly, ‘Blondie’?

“What do you mean reality check?” Potter turned to look at his girlfriend.

“Well, Ron has seen Hermione as a possession since they started dating, even after he left her for that . . . ‘thing’” Daph let out a small chuckle at Red’s description of Brown. “Quite frankly, I’m tired of his behavior and attitude. And now, he has the audacity to even think about Hermione, especially after hitting her? Oh no! He may be my brother but he’s behaving like a complete prick.”

“She is sitting right here.” I rubbed a soothing hand down Mi’s arm.

“Wait one bloody minute, that bastard hit you and is still breathing?” Blaise’s fury was evident in his voice. Alarmed, Daphne placed a comforting hand over his to try to calm him down.

Blaise’s opinion and attitude on the subject of hitting women was quite clear: you just don’t do it. EVER!

His mother’s last husband, Blaise’s stepfather, ran in the same circles as my father. The difference was that my father never brought the meetings home with him. Many horrible things transpired at those ‘sessions’. My father learned to keep the rage and horror of what he saw or did that weighed heavily on his soul away from our home.

Blaise wasn’t as fortunate. Zacharias had a heavy hand when it came to Blaise’s mother, Arianna. He took his anger out on her, often. What had begun as an ‘accident’ turned into ugly beatings that left a profound scar on my friend’s heart. There were many times that Blaise and Arianna came to the Manor searching for safety. Many nights Blaise, Liam, and I hid and listened to Zacharias and Father’s screaming matches over his loyalty to Kojak, Blaise’s father, and his vow to him to protect Arianna.

Luckily, Zacharias was killed in the final battle. Blaise celebrated by going on a bender.

“Draco.” Blaise’s steely voice snapped me back to the present, turning to a still fuming Blaise. Oh yes, he was pretty ticked off. Let’s just say his animosity for his step-father extended to every man that dared lay a hand on a woman in anger.

“Calm down mate,” I said gently. I looked discreetly over to Potter and Blaise nodded in understanding – ‘not here, not now.’

“Hey Captain.” I looked up into the steel-gray eyes of my dear cousin.

“Liam, care to join us?” Daphne asked politely.

“How kind Greengrass. I could teach your sister a thing or two.” Liam sank down gracefully into the chair at the end of the table.

“Looks like you’ve picked up on Draco’s rudeness, Black.” Daph shot back, smiling sweetly.

“Black?” Mi asked intrigued. “As in Sirius and Regulus Black or the Black sisters?”

“Regulus Black was my pops. What’s it to you?” Liam shot back defensively, leaning forward to stare at Mi.

“That’s enough, Liam.” I warned sternly.

He glanced at me then again to Mi before settling back and smirking. “Sorry Cuz.”

I turned to Mi who was looking at Liam with determined amusement. “Please ignore him. He was dropped on his head too much when he was a child.” I sneered at him.

“Oh please,” Liam drawled then suddenly smiled sweetly. “Liam Black, it’s a pleasure. Hermione, right?” He held his hand out in invitation for Mi to take, upon which he then laid a soft kiss on her knuckles. I scowled, Mi giggled.

“Right. You remind me a lot of your uncle, you know. You have his . . . charm, and quick tongue.” She smirked as she drank deeply from her butterbeer.

“And you’ve got some balls, Gryffindor.” Liam lounged lazily in his chair.

“Did you need something?” Enough was enough; he was beginning to irritate me. Liam took his eyes off of Mi a few seconds and studied my annoyed expression.

“Yeah Captain, I do. Can’t make conditioning tomorrow, I’ve got detention with Snape. Want to help a friend, or rather cousin, out?” He asked after swiping my butterbeer and taking a generous swig.

“No,” I smirked. “Whatever you did to get the detention, you must have deserved it. I’m not Flint. Sorry mate, cousins or not, I can’t help you.”

He pushed his chair away roughly from the table in a huff and muttered ‘jackass’ as he stalked off back to his small group of friend in the back of the pub.

“Well he’s rude,” Red said snootily.

“No, he doesn’t like big groups of people, nor does he trust easily,” I muttered as I watched Liam sulk. “And he knows our history. He’s confused so he comes off as rude.” I turned my attention back to our group to find Red and Potter looking at me slightly puzzled.

“You watch people,” I heard Mi add quietly beside me. “Always have.”

“And how would you know that, love?” I asked teasingly.

“I have my ways.” An innocent smile played on her lips.

“And you’ve been watching me?” I grinned.

“Maybe.” There was a spark of amusement in her eyes.

Oh Merlin, here we go again with those strange and unfamiliar feelings!

“Malfoy.” Potter’s voice cut through the comfortable silence. I tore my gaze away from Mi’s gorgeous golden honeyed eyes to the green warning ones of her friend’s.

“Yes Potter?” I asked quickly. I had a feeling it had to do with the ‘talk’ he wanted to have with me.

“You think you can separate yourself from my best friend for a few so we can get this done and over with?” I started to sneer at him when a small voice stopped me.

“Harry, not you too?” I heard Mi mutter.

She was glaring in annoyance at Potter silently pleading with him not to do what he was about to do. He almost caved into her pleas, making me snicker. Damn it, my little outburst caused the dolt to change his mind.

“Yes Mione, I’m just looking out for you.” She let out a small huff and pouted silently.

Gods, I love it when she pouts, though she says she doesn’t. Her bottom lip sticks out ever so slightly, bringing images of a healthy, drawn-out snog session to mind. I had to stifle a groan when I heard Potter’s chair scrape against the cobblestone floor.

“I’ll be back love, promise.” I leaned down and caught those luscious pouting lips I had just been fantasizing about. I backed away a little after she tried to nip at my bottom lip and instead fisted a handful of curls while pulling her head back slightly to whisper lightly in her ear, “You’ll pay for that, pet.”

Before I could do what I wanted, there was a meaningful clearing of the throat that made me turn and look at Blaise. “Go on, mate,” he urged sternly, indicating with his hand toward the door.

“You’re no fun,” I said as I placed a gentle kiss on Mi’s cheek before sauntering off after the raven-haired Gryffindor.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

We walked for fifteen minutes in silence, I was fine with that. I was silently mulling over my feelings for Mi. I was still confused and I knew that this was going to be a talk about our relationship. I also knew there were going to be many universal death threats if I ever hurt her.

We stopped in front of the gate to the Shrieking Shack, remaining silent for a few more moments before Potter finally spoke. “You know, I don’t like you.”

Okay Potter, thank you for that really kind opening. Nice ice breaker.

“What I mean is, I don’t hate you, I never have, but that doesn’t mean I like you.” He took in a slow breath.

He doesn’t like me, but doesn’t hate me but doesn’t like me. I could tell this was going to be a challenging conversation. I remained stonily silent.

“You were never my enemy, just a nuisance in the past years and I was hoping for a little normalcy this year, but it looks like you and Hermione aren’t going to give me that.” I looked at him slightly confused and he laughed softly.

“Every year, everything changed but our little fights and stupid arguments. It was really my only stability in life, but the more I think about it, I guess that was bound to change also. I’m tired of fighting, plus you’ve changed. I don’t know what did it, but I know you have.” He looked over at me with a soft worried smile.

“Let me make sure I understand. So, you’re upset about Mi and me because our relationship, meaning you and me, is going to change?” I asked in bemused bewilderment.

“Uh, yes,” he sighed, “because now, I’m going to have to get along with you.”

I sat back in mock horror.

“What?”

“You’re right. We are going to have to get along.” Both of us laughed. “So, you never hated me?”

“I thought I did, but I don’t, not really,” he slid down to the ground, relaxing slightly against one of the wooden support beams. “Hate is a strong emotion, Malfoy, and to truly hate someone . . . well, it’s like the Cruciatus Curse; you have to mean it.”

“Why?” I asked, sliding to the ground beside him a couple of yards away, also leaning against the fence.

“Because you didn’t have to deal with all the things I had to,” he explained his eyes bright and honest. “You had the picture perfect family. You had people that loved you unconditionally, no matter what or who you were. You weren’t punished and locked away for being yourself, and you threw it in my face so many times.”

“Wait, didn’t the Muggles you live with love you?”

“No, they were ashamed of me, of my parents. I was a freak to them.” He sighed slightly.

I snorted. “You are a freak, Potter. You are the ‘Boy-who-just-can’t-die’.” He laughed slightly at my depiction of him.

I took a breath before continuing. “My life wasn’t that great Potter. On the outside, yes, I suppose it seemed that way. In all honesty, I couldn’t complain until the Dark Lord came back.” I looked over at him. “The years of service to him caused my father to change, at least that’s what Mother told me.” I shrugged and pulled at the grass in front of me.

“Why didn’t you ever stand up to him? Try to get away?”

“Because, if I did, my parents would have been killed,” I admitted. “I couldn’t, wouldn’t let that happen. They’re my parents, Potter, and I loved them.” Staring at Potter straight in the eyes, I challenged, “And I know if your parents were alive, you would’ve done the same.”

“Yeah, I would.” He said sadly.

I blinked. He stared.

I broke the silence with a quiet, “I’m sorry.”

“You know I never know what to say to that,” he said leaning his head against the worn wood.

“I don’t know what to tell you.”

“It’s fine.” We were silent for a few more moments before he spoke again. “You know you hurt her and I’ll kill you.”

I laughed feebly and nodded.

A small crooked smile played at around his mouth. “I haven’t seen her smile this much since fifth year, before she started dating Ron.” I leaned gingerly against the wooden post of the fence and waited. “He messed her up something awful. You need to know that, because if you’re looking for an easy, peaceful relationship, it’s not going to be one with her. At least not at first.”

“She’s lost all of her self-confidence,” I scoffed slightly. Well, maybe not all of her self-confidence; she was still my know-it-all. “She doesn’t doubt her intelligence but everything else, yeah.”

He paused taking in a deep breath. I knew he was about to share something very personal but important.

“She’d positively Avada me if she knew I was telling you this.” He kicked a small stone with his boot. “Ron cheated on Lavender with Mi. It wasn’t that big, just a kiss, but Mi was head-over-heels, stone-cold in love with him. Or at least, she thought she was, I think she was infatuated. Ron was getting his ego stroked the whole time. I mean imagine having two gorgeous girls that would do absolutely everything for you.” He had picked up on my nickname without even noticing it.

“Well, I talked to him, saying that he needed to pick one, either Hermione or Lavender. I didn’t care which, but if he thought that he could play Mi, he was sorely mistaken because I wasn’t going to let it happen. And he did, he picked Mi. Or at least it seemed that way.”

“They dated off and on for the next year because of the war and, well, it always ended with both of them heartbroken. But it was for the best they would always say, and then they would get back together. It was an unhealthy relationship from the start. Well, after the war was over Ron was with Lavender.”

“Wait, he made her . . .” but Potter silenced me with a raised hand.

“He told Hermione that he and Lavender weren’t together and that he was merely speaking with her because her brother had died in the cross fire. She believed him, as did Ginny and I, we had no reason not to. We all assumed that Ron and Hermione were still a couple the entire summer but when Hermione went to Paris with her parents for two weeks, I should have known something was wrong when Lavender showed up at Grimmauld Place in tears.”

My heart was already aching for Mi.

“I’m sure you know Lavender’s parents were killed in the last rogue Death Eater raid.” I hadn’t but nodded. “Well, I extended an invitation for her to stay with me since she had nowhere else to go.” He looked disgusted as he spoke.

“I should have known something was terribly wrong when Lavender clung to Ron every time he would enter the room, but I assumed she was just looking for some comfort and didn’t want to be alone. Quite frankly, out of all of us, she was closest with Ron.”

“Mione came over early one morning unexpectedly. I was in the kitchen with Remus and Tonks when she arrived. I was so happy to see her again, she’s like my sister. When she asked about Ron I told her he was in still in his room sleeping.”

I could feel my knots in my stomach start to form. I had a pretty good idea of what was coming next in this little horror story.

“Mi was up there maybe two minutes before I heard her scream. She came back running down the stairs in tears. I could hear Ron upstairs trying his best to follow her. I caught her as she reaching the bottom, she was sobbing hysterically. I looked up to see Ron only in his boxers, his neck covered with love bites, and then everything clicked. He had been cheating on her with Lavender.”

Bloody sodding bastard! Weasley really was a weasel.

“Ron asked to speak with her in the library. I don’t know what went on between them when in that room, neither of them will speak of it to this day. All I know is that Lavender left that morning, and he and Mione continued dating for two weeks until he finally broke it off and left her for, needless to say, the girl he’s with now.”

I sat back in shock. All those little trepidatious looks, subtle questioning glances, and unsure sighs were borne from this. She didn’t merely not trust herself or her own feelings; she was afraid to trust anyone else as well. Rage coursed through my veins. I wanted to see that arrogant redheaded prick arsehole dead.

“Don’t hurt her. I really don’t think she could take it again. So, if you think that she’d be nothing more than a quick shag, break it off now before she falls for you any more than she already has.” With that final statement, he walked off slowly, leaving me to my thoughts.

Bloody hell, my head hurt.

So many questions ran through my mind: Was I ready for a long-term devoted relationship? Did I really want to deal with insecurities that weren’t even my fault? What the hell was I thinking getting into this relationship? Why I am thinking relationship?

Was I even ready for a relationship with anyone? Love was weakness, love made you weak. I knew that from experience. How could I open myself to someone that could still be hung up on another bloke?

Wait one damn minute, why am I even questioning myself?

I am ready for this, if not now then when? For Hermione Granger, I would probably walk to hell and back . . . I think . . . no, I’m pretty sure. Merlin, I don’t know what I’m thinking but I know how I feel when I’m with her.

Being in her arms feels like coming home. Mi made me feel whole. She accepted me for me. Not once did she ever doubt me, even knowing about Azkaban. She didn’t care about my name, my money, my scars, or my past.

She took a risk on me; I’d do the same for her.

It was going to take a lot of time to gain her full trust and her heart but once I had them, I wasn’t going to be as stupid as Weasley. IF I was, and that’s a big if, then Blaise would more than welcomed to kill me in the most painful manner he could devise.

I took a deep cleansing breath and headed back in the direction Potter had gone.

The walk back to the pub allowed me to examine everything that had happened today. Mi had been right when she said that I watched people.

I had noticed Blaise and his obvious affection toward Mi, strictly platonic of course. Nonetheless, he was becoming protective of her, and very quickly. Normally, he would have kept his thoughts to himself about at Red’s comment. Ironically, he’s the shy one in our group but his earlier outburst demonstrated that he had started caring for her.

And I was happy about this development.

Noticing that the dirt path had changed to the cobblestone of the town’s roads, I turned towards The Hogs Head. I looked up to see Mi coming out of the pub hugging her jacket.

“Hey,” I waved as I jogged over to her.

“Hey, I was just about to come and look for you. I was worried.”

I smiled and pulled her into me. “No need, I’m back. Potter just gave me a lot to think about.” I felt her stiffen. “Don’t worry he didn’t change my mind about us,” I said gently, kissing the top of her head.

She relaxed considerably and I chuckled as I lead her back into the pub, catching the last bit of the group’s previous conversation.

“They feel so much better and show off a little more of the body.” I looked on confused, as Pansy spoke, Mi laughing at my expression.

“Ginny asked why you guys are wearing Muggle clothes,” she explained sitting down.

“Pansy and Daphne made me.” She broke out in a genuine gut-busting laugh.

“That’s what Blaise and Theo said.” I grinned at her mirth, she looked so happy and I was glad my naïve expression and questions had caused it.

“So what’s on the schedule?” Blaise was getting bored.

“I want to stop by Honeydukes before we leave,” I said throwing a couple of galleons on the table. “I ran out of Sugar Quills and Chocolate Frogs.” We all pushed away from the table at the same time.

“Yeah, we need to get you those before you have withdrawals.” Blaise sniggered as he offered Daphne his arm. We walked out of the small establishment. “He gets irritable and hard to live with and we don’t want to subject our little Mi to that.”

I laughed wrapping an arm around Mi’s shivering form. Drawing her close to my side, I muttered a warming charm around the both of us.

“You’ve got a sweet tooth, huh?”

I shrugged slightly, walking steadily toward the sweet shop.

“Only when it comes to candy, other than that he doesn’t like sugar,” Pansy said as she skipped happily over to us, Theo only two steps behind her.

“Sugar rots your teeth,” I said huffily.

“My parents would love you,” Mi said laughing.

“And why is that?” I asked, strolling up to the already packed shop.

“They’re dentists.” What the hell are dent-asts? “Muggle teeth healers,” she explained when she saw my very puzzled and confused face.

“Oh . . .” I ducked into the warm shop and maneuvered through the crowd over to the jars of Sugar Quills, Mi holding tightly onto my hand the entire time.

I pulled her in front of me, molding her back into my body, so she wasn’t in the way of the constantly shuffling mass. I leaned down close to her and brushed away her hair softly.

“Do you see anything you want, love?” She leaned against me and tilted her head up slightly to gaze at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“Um . . . maybe.” Tightening my grip on her body, I fought the urge to smirk.

“Oh really,” I drawled in mock boredom. “Well, let me get my things and then we can leave. How ‘bout that?” She nodded and went to find Red and Potter.

I grabbed a bag of Sugar Quills and about ten Chocolate Frogs. Afterwards, I looked for Mi and spotted her by the Licorice Wands. Working through the throng, I brushed up against her and noticed she had a small bag of Fizzing Whizbees along with another of toffees. Sneakily grabbing both bags, I gave her a light peck on the cheek and before she could even protest, I was making my way through the crowd once again until I reached the counter.

I quickly paid for the purchases and found Mi waiting patiently by the door with the rest of the group. Blaise had a bag, as did Theo. I took out a Sugar Quill to suck on.

“Ugh, Draco. I can’t believe you eat those.” Daphne made a face.

“Why not?” I asked as I swilled my tongue around the tip, reveling in the sweetness of it.

“Because you can’t even stand sugar on your fruit or oatmeal.”

I sneered in disgust at the thought.

“Fruit is naturally sweet and is only good with chocolate and whipped cream,” I said grinning ear to ear, “and I add cinnamon to my oatmeal if I feel the need for something sweet with it.”

Feeling triumphant over my rational explanation, I draped my free arm around Mi while toying with my sugary treat with the other hand. “Just let me indulge myself in peace and shut up.”

I smiled sweetly over my shoulder, noticing three sets of eyes in different corners of the room following our group very carefully.

~~~~~
Edited: Feb. 27, 2010
AN: Betas are Margarita & Sam