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Chapter 3 - A Different Malfoy
A crisp chill bit through the still air. In the distance chimes rang proclaiming the hour to be six o'clock, but that was the only sound to be heard in the massive building. There was no sound of a cheerfully crackling fire, of children running nor of families conversing, rather the building was as silent as a tomb. If it had not been for a property deed listing it as a home a normal human would have been hard pressed to classify the structure as such; its sterility lent it more toward a museum rather than a dwelling intended for a family. It didn't seem to be a place where Christmas presents were gleefully torn open, where a lamp could be broken due to a 'fly-by-brooming, or where a husband and wife could share a quiet intimate moment. Its very splendor and majesty quelled exuberance and encouraged a staid existence. It was a beautiful cold structure that reeked of power and money, yet Draco Malfoy, heir to this manor, stared morosely at the Grand Hallway. Instead of feeling the expected pride at the beauty of his ancestral home he felt anger arise at the price such regality cost, especially for its occupants.
Draco ran his fingers along the wainscoting that lined the grand hallway of Malfoy Manor as the staccato of his shoes began to fill the cavernous passage with sound. The regal hallway ran long and straight, emphasizing the size and power of the family. Portraits of former Malfoys lined the walkway, all pompously assuming positions of power and distinct that accentuated what they had held during their lifetimes. Draco paused in his leisurely pace a small smile lit his features, this activity - merely running his fingers along the wall - would certainly have resulted in a reprimand for a younger Draco.
Boy! Do not dirty the walls. To do so is to join rank with those of a more common existence, a Malfoy always walks with dignity...Never interrupt me boy!
The memory of Draco the boy fell away, as Draco lifted his long aristocratic finger from the wall and examined the small particles of dust that had come to rest there. A small escaped sigh blew away the evidence of this illegal activity, and with it, Draco the boy vanished. The large calloused hand that remained was testament to the man than now resided, forced by reality upon the eighteen year old. The child that was never allowed to be, could now never be…
Another thing, did I not tell you to refrain from touching anything, you are old enough to understand the responsibilities that your name and rank entail
Lucius Malfoy's voice once again intruded in his son's mind, with a shake of his gilt head Draco attempted to cease the memories that the manor called forth from his soul. His very existence perhaps could be understood through that simple command given to a small child by his omnipotent father. Don't touch, and never be touched…How often he heard that commandment he couldn't fathom. For its frequent use by Malfoys it should have been his families motto. non tangat he smirked at the absurdity of such a motto. That wouldn't look good engraved upon a sword now would it, he ruminated. that directive certainly applied to more than refraining from smudging walls and handling breakable objects in unsavory Knockturn alley shops. It was applied to all aspects of life, including familial love. His father had only shown him shrewd calculated coldness, designed to remove all weakness from his life, at all costs. His mother had taught him the price that was to be paid if you let your guard down and touched, and it was a price he would not let himself contemplate.
Draco continued to meander his way down the hallway, it was the first time he had wandered the halls since his return home. It had been three full days now and yet he had not to leave the confines of his suite. Perhaps this was intentional, he hadn't been ready to encounter the memories that his home contained. He wondered if he could have avoided this entirely had he not brought Ginny back with him. He had done his part, completed his mission, he could have left, made a new life somewhere else where no one knew his history or his family, perhaps he could have found happiness.
He scoffed at this fanciful notion, he was a Malfoy, despite his complicated feelings on the matter; he did not shirk his duties and responsibilities. If he could have nothing else he would retain his pride, no one would accuse him of cowardice. Running away from life had never been an option, and would never be for Draco. He continued down the hallway his gray orbs scanning his ancestors that followed his progress. They were all blonde haired and steel eyed, some glared at the young mans presence others smirked at his position yet one quelled the trademark smirk and replaced it with a small smile of approval, his eyes aglow with pride.
Draco paid scant attention to these ancient reminders of the legacy he was destined to uphold, he had eyes for only one portrait. It graced a large swath of wall near the entrance to the east wing. The imposing figure of Lucius Malfoy was framed in black; he stood at full height daring someone to challenge his authority. His crystalline grey eyes coldly examined his realm and deemed all unworthy, including his own flesh and blood. His black robes swirled around his tall figure; his painted persona ruling the misty background of his created kingdom.
Draco stared at the eyes that so resembled his own, that created him and made him the man he was today for better or worse. Gods, how he hated Lucius… Anger once again amassed within Draco. He took in a large breath learning how to control such emotion was trying. A frivolity as emotion was not allowed in the Malfoy family, Draco had broken that rule enough to finally learn the value of obeying it. Now there existed no reason for him to deny himself the satisfaction of wallowing in anger, except for now it would do no good and Draco was smart enough to understand this. He slammed his fist into the ivory plastered wall adjacent to Lucius' portrait in frustration at the futility of it all. The strong wall sustained no damage; the same could not be said for its attacker. Draco colorfully swore at the pain he caused himself, and shook his hand in attempt to fling off the injury. He glared at the wall… paused and began to laugh,,p>
Gods I really am losing it, yet I suppose it is better to direct my anger at a wall than at a dead man
A sudden pop caught Draco's attention,
"Master Malfoy?"
Draco resisted the urge to look behind him for his father… "Yes Roderick."
"The doctor is finished and he has requested to speak with you before he departs."
"Very well, Have a light dinner prepared, I have not eaten yet." With that Draco Malfoy turned on his heel and left the small house elf to attend to his duties.
Draco approached the large double paneled doors that lead to his suite, not knowing what to expect. As he reached for the ornate, dragon sculpted handle it was thrust toward him suddenly. Draco found himself eye to… thin air… rather the gleaming top of the balding medi-wizard he had known since birth.
"Doctor" Draco lowered his head in acknowledgement of the older man who suddenly stood before him.
A smile appeared on the small round mans face, " Draco" The Doctor acknowledged Draco with a similar inclination of his balding head. "Enough with the formalities I believe it is past time that you began to call me by name, after all I have known you since you were in nappies. Please call me Aesculapius or Aesa… I was never as fond of the old names as my dear mother was!"
Draco started, unsure how to react to this new situation. He was on new footing with the aged man before him, the same plane his father had once occupied. Aside from his new role as the Malfoy with this past authority figure, the doctor's demeanor toward Draco mystified him. In the past Aesculapius had always remained silent while treating Draco's various ailments. He hadn't seemed the type to offer condolence or sympathy or even to relate familiarly. As the painful memories of his visits resurfaced a common thread appeared, the image of his father always standing over the small man while the tended Draco. He ought to become accustomed to such turnarounds Draco thought ruefully. The kind aspect of the round doctor, who was now set about closing the large doors to the suite, prompted Draco to give him a second chance and to 'meet' him again, without the specter of his father.
"Aesculapius…" he paused taking a long breath in, still slightly uncomfortable with the familiarity. " how did the examination go? I have been following the directions you gave me the first night." Draco led them to the next room, a small sitting parlor decorated in pearly grays and muted green.
Aesa turned his head toward the young man at the sound of his voice and drug his mind away from its thoughts. Gods he resembles his father Aesa thought. Draco possessed the same gilt blonde hair, steel eyes, and perhaps most astonishingly his air of supreme authority. Aesa also noted the distinct differences in the son, his hair as looser not long as Lucius had worn it. A concession to his ancestors he had always claimed. Draco's eyes were also vastly different, there were depths in the young mans silver eyes that he couldn't even begin to discern. Despite his initial shock at the sight of a younger Lucius, Aesa was pleasantly surprised to note that Lucius hadn't killed the man that Draco could be, this he could work with.
"You have been doing a wonderful job with our patient in there, she is resting well." He responded to the rather concerned look on the young mans face. "I will leave another supply of a my healing sleep potion, another week I believe should be enough."
"And her injuries are they healing satisfactorily?" Draco finally situated his restless limbs in love seat opposite the doctor. "Forgive my manners, can I get you something to drink?"
"Hmm…" Aesa turned his head toward the cabinets along the sidewall, " I would enjoy a snifter of that brandy I know is hidden in the third panel to the left... Don't trouble yourself, I'll help myself."
Draco stared at Aesa; the twinkle that had appeared in his eyes unconsciously causing Draco to smile in return, his eyes following Aesa's path to the liquor cabinet.
"How did you know I hid my muggle alcohol in that panel?" Draco asked unable to prevent himself.
"I can always search out a quality year Brandy, and after all who do you think 'accidentally' left behind the first bottle you sampled… it was right after your fifth year at Hogwarts was it not?" Aesa poured a healthy amount of the amber liquor into the glass snifter, swirling it as he spoke.
Draco continued to stare at the doctor in awe, why would he do such a thing? Aesa had to know Lucius' hatred for all things common, including something so mundane as a beverage. Furthermore why would he have sought to introduce Draco to such a medium, not that he was truly complaining after all it was his something he highly cherished now. Draco opened his mouth to reiterate all the questions that had just run through his mind, but before his voice engaged he stopped.
Now is not the time to ask such question, practice your bloody prided restraint and think before you open your mouth Draco chided himself.
Aesa smiled at visible inner struggle running across Draco's austere features. He had been such a reserved boy and it had pained Aesa to see him such, when it was so obviously an unnatural state. Aesa opted to let the boy off the hook and change the topic of conversation.
All in good time Draco, all in good time.
"Thank you for the refreshment." Aesa resumed his seat across from Draco and reclined "On to the status of the young lady across the hall… that you want to know about, correct?"
Draco uncrossed his legs and leaned forward clasping his hands and resting his elbows on this slack covered knees. "Yes… Yes it is. I guess what I want to know is what happened to her?"
"I can't tell you my son, I can tell you the extent of her injuries and despite my extensive work with the Dark Arts I can't even decipher what was used on her." Aesa sighed in frustration his hands running though his non-existent hair in an obviously routine motion. "I won't lie to you, she is very badly injured and powerful magic was employed. Perhaps it will help if you tell me what you witnessed."
"When I came across her, it was just after the battle had ended; Voldemort had just been vanquished by Potter. I was standing over… off to the side of the battle." Despite his lack of regret over his actions that day Draco still found himself unable to put into words what had occurred especially to someone who had such a long standing familial connection to the Malfoys. "Potter and Granger had already left the battle field, typically leaving the cleanup and aftermath to everyone else… bloody Gryffindors… I had just finished watching them depart when a shock of light caught my eye. I was a bright green if I remember correctly, and it was originating from the entrance to Voldemort's hideout. I noticed that no one else was investigating, and it was also then that I recalled that I had not seen the young Weasley girl emerge when Granger had. I discovered her… Virginia that is, lying on the ground, wounds as you saw them and barely breathing. As I approached, the light began again and I discovered its source, it seemed to be coming from her very body. It lifted her in to the air as if a sting was attached to her stomach, limbs loose and such."
Draco paused to see if the doctor had any questions. When he determined that Aesa was not going to probe any further at that time he continued.
"Virginia began to scream in pain and bleed, as suddenly as it began it ceased, she hit the floor and her blood continued to flow, from a source I couldn't determine. Then I brought her here and contacted you."
Aesa rubbed his forehead in thought; it was very dark magic indeed. Her injuries and Draco's description of the events all pointed to events more sinister than her had at first imagined and didn't want to have to understand.
"Well Draco, I will tell you as much as I can regarding her injuries, but I am afraid I cannot give you adequate answers regarding what happened. When I talked to the young woman she had no recollection of the events, her last cognizant memory is of the Hogwarts Express and crying in the bathroom - even that is fuzzy."
Draco interrupted the Doctor, "How can she not remember the past 3 months, is it some sort of hex?"
"No… No it is much more simple than that, it appears as though her injuries and perhaps experiences were just too traumatic. Her consciousness, in an attempt to protect her simply blocked the events. I know that it may be tempting to inform her of all that has occurred, but in fact it is crucial that you do not tell her anything, at least for the time being. I would like for her to try and recall the events on her own, and exercise her own demons before we intervene."
Draco looked thoughtfully at the doctor and wondered out loud, "What could be so traumatic that she has forgotten the past three months..."
Aesa set his snifter of brandy down and looked into Draco's steel tinted eyes, "Well Drao, she did have a child ripped from her womb by the darkest magic possible!"
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Sorry to leave you with a bit of a cliffy, but as the answers will all come in time… Patience is a virtue one that I sadly do not possess so I understand your pain : ) Next chappie will contain some good ol' D/G action of course as well as some H/H... at least that is what my inner eye tells me ; )
And of course - feel free to review!