Tenebrous

Fucking finally. Out of that shit tip. Au revouir rats and lingering dark magic! I never want to be back again. I wonder if Mother got clothes in my new size , she did mention something about it last month…

“Mr Malfoy to be transferred in to the care of his mother Narcissa nèe Black Malfoy . Sign here Mrs Malfoy.”

Sir Dickadus Dainsly won’t dare act infront of my Mother. Seems everyone is scared of Lady Cissa in their right mind too. She backs a right good spell arm though she can’t use it much.

“Done. Where’s his wand Warden?”She spoke tapping thousands of galleons worth of black stilettos . Narcissa was stood wearing a bespoke dress and coat covered in the most delicate black embroidery. Fit only for Lady Malfoy. Hair entwined into a French twist, simple but would make any hairdressers mouths drop at the precision. Since, of course no less was expected of a Malfoy.

“Here you are. As you are aware he can’t use advanced spells for at least two weeks since he’s been among magic dampers and suppressants for so long. If he does it is not the Ministry of Magics fault as you have been previously warned.”

“I went through all this with my husband years ago, Good day. Draco darling You look ghastly ,the others are waiting at the manor. We’ll leave through the guest floo.”swiftly excusing herself and Draco she rounded the corner away from the lofty Warden.

”Mother. Well they sure only feed me when it’s required by law in here , and little at that .”

“Abysmal. Absolutely abysmal even after I sent letters. Atleast your out my darling, your father says hello by the way.”

Draco couldn’t help but chuckle at that, his father and caring was never put into a sentence together and surely never happened. Mr Malfoy did not care for his son . He cared for an heir and that’s it. A son to carry on the family name and power of all that a Malfoy was , to hold a Wizardgot seat , behest the best social circles of wizarding Britain and of course in France. Could never forget the apartment in Paris and the villa in the south. Forced to learn under the greatest professeurs the language for all his childhood . Since a Black and Malfoy child most certainly needs to know the second language from his roots , the delicacy of français.

”Trying to teach old Lucy to be a father ? You know how that turned out last time Mother. With an army of serial killers in our house , a gigantic snake and a bald man. Really the dynamic three of the century. Not to forget the werewolf that decided it was fun to eat and slaughter many of the peacocks that literally have been at the manor for centuries?”

”Darling you’ve got to get over that. I get you played with the peacocks in the gardens all the time when you were a child but they were just animals after all. And Greyback was the bigger fish and they were smaller so naturally they’d be eaten, he was their predator. It’s really not that difficult to understand, I told you this when you was a child. Animals are animals. And deserve to be treated as such.”

”That’s what you took from that conversation? Peacocks? Not the idea of murders that took place at the manor? No? Doesn’t it keep you up at night their screams? Cries after the cruciatus whilst Bellatrix laughs? Unable to even think what we wanted to think because our minds could be invaded whenever Lord felt like it? No human being should have ever died at the manor! Let alone fucking peacocks.”

”Shush lower your voice! Don’t speak to me that way. They were trying times. It won’t change it to mull over them.” She remarked. Looking around to see if there was any of the wardens ,greedy for information. Seemingly happy with there being none she carried on along the hallway, paying no mind to the son of hers blaring with annoyance.

”The Malfoys aren’t so high and mighty now even though you act like it! I know that more than you and I’ve been in prison for months , are you really that in denial? I’m wearing a shaggy prison uniform with a stupid number tattooed on my neck, without even socks to cover my feet. My hair is outgrown so much I look like that Santa Clark or whatever his name is. Does this look like the life you envisioned for your precious baby boy? Does it make you happy? Walking out another Malfoy from these halls? Father then me. People did tell me I looked like him when I was younger but I didn’t think that would mean I’d get his life story! At least he got some years between hogwarts and Azkaban to find who he truly was because I’ve got no idea. Not one bloody clue. Now I’ve got to go out there to a world that hates me. And absolutely everything about me. Even though they know nothing about me. Not even the crimes I did because they are sealed. You and dear papa made sure of that didn’t you? Couldn’t let the whole of Britain know what happened inside that house. To them. To me.” He uttered. Words bouncing off the walls. Fasting his stride so he could get out of the grey hellhole and could finally taste the sweetness of some decades old elf-wine or simple scotch or even better Fire whisky for an extra kick. Mhm an absolute ideal night for an newly ex-convict.

“No this surely isn’t what I imagined. Did you think I expected this when I was set in an arranged marriage to your father? I surely didn’t know he would botch up his role at all. Neither this much. For a time I foolishly believed he could carry the Malfoy namesake gracefully and be influential. He was born into it. I merely married and can go back to being Narcissa Black whenever I wish. Even if it took years of being in and out court proceedings. I would win as after all I’m a Black - one of the greatest and most powerful houses in all of wizarding society for centuries and since it seems people think I saved the Chosen Ones life who would dare think I deserved any less then what I wanted. I’ll clean this family up in no time darling starting with you and that beard. What happened was terrible. I know. And it’s even worse that it’s still effecting you when others have moved on with their lives. It was a war- we all lost something.”

Draco is dumbfounded. Is his mother really this set on avoiding the topic. It’s not an elephant in the room. They’re talking about a war. A war that only finished three years ago, but feels like just yesterday to him. “Yes but we didn’t lose a life. We did the killing Mother. We did the torture on innocent people who had done nothing to us. Nothing.”

It’s no use at this point. The woman just simply wants to be blindsided her whole entire life even when there’s people telling her.

They continued the rest of the way in silence.

*Time skip to a couple of minutes later in the manor

The Manors dining room is chaos. Absolute chaos. Someone’s baby pink knickers are hanging off the chandelier. There’s a sign saying ‘Welcome home Dray’ that’s half fallen down. All his old mates heavily abbreviated with Merlin knows what. They somehow had managed to get their hands on strobe lights and a disco ball. Music screeching through all their ears unable to hear each other speak. Daphne is with Blaise dancing together like the lovers they are. Everyone saw that one coming. Next to them there’s Theodore on the dining chairs ,dazedly looking around and singing along. Pansy is attempting to open another wine bottle. Seeming too intoxicated to wrap her hands around the cork and pull. Truly a simple task but not to the black bob haired girl, contorting her face into annoyance. Adrian the possibility most sanest one is eating what’s left of the food on the dining table. Stood like the things around him aren’t happening, or that he’s so used to it he’s unbothered.

Pansys the first to notice the blonde. Doing a double take when she sees him. Only to throw the wine bottle to the ground and jump into his arms,”Your back ,you’re really back! Guys the fancy-talker is back again to whip our speech into shape! Aw Draco it’s been horrible putting up with this lot without you. A real downer on our first free years.”She pouts.

“Well blame the Ministry of Magic for sending me to that shithole not me, Pans. And come on. I haven’t even said the room looks like havoc yet , or should I up it and say pandemonium.”

”Neither.” Blaise adds. Arms around Daphnes waist. Chuckling at his best friend.

“So how was it in there? Still as shit as I remember? Looks it Mr Shaggy, or where you going for more of a rustic look with those stone hard abs?”

“Har Har hilarious Adrian. Don’t forget you was in there too.”

“Yeah but I only got a measly two weeks because dear father of mines skin was too wrinkled to get the mark in the first place. You brother of mine got three-fucking-years” he commented whilst patting him on the back. The two had grown up together when Lucius and Adrian’s father had meetings. Playing on their brooms and running away from the elf’s. Climbing in the trees across the manor. Once when they were about nine Draco got stuck. He screamed get me down! Get me down! Adrian help! Mother! . Adrian just stood there. Not knowing what to do. Then he suddenly sprang to action and called an elf to help. Hearing the commotion Narcissa came out, scared for her boy. They quickly got him out and tended to his wounds. Battle scars they joked.

“I’ll leave yous too it then darling. Try not to break the chandeliers you know how fragile they are. Good day children.” and Narcissa was gone. He forgot she was even there standing next to him to be honest. To engrossed by seeing his friends for the first time in what felt like decades.

“Finally she’s gone. Draco she wanted to throw a big stuck up party but we knew you wouldn’t want that so hears your Welcome home bash. We was going to wait for when you was hear to start it but honestly you took ages.”

“Pansy, never would we have waited when there was hard liquor around. I don’t think there’s a chance in any universe.” Theo summarised. Leaning against Adrian for support, in a grey t-shirt and jeans. Brunette curls framing his steel grey eyes. One thing they had in common was their eyes though Dracos are lighter, more of an ice grey.

“Dray you must get cleaned up! You need a shave too…”and with a flick of her wrist Daphne casts a spell and his beard and hair is trimmed.”Astoria says Hello by the way. She would have come but you know why she can’t.”Daphne adds with a sad smile.

*A shower and an uncountable amount of alcohol later

“Theodreee Nott! How dare you steal that car! I am absolutely disgusted! Your father's facing an inquiry at work, and it's entirely your fault” Adrian impersonates, giggling away to himself.

“I would do my McGonagall impression again but I’m entirely out of vocal muscles. They are gone. I don’t know where la la la la.”

”Aw but your one is the best Daphne. Really tops drakes Snape and Percy impressions, an he really knows how to act like he’s got a stick up his arse and is forced to eat his own bollocks for breakfast.” That had the gang laughing like hyenas.

“Hilarious.”sarcasm dripping off the word.

”Aw we are only joking Draco. Theo here is trying to ignore the fact that his fling said bye bye. Only took her a month.”

“Have yous seen the three in the paper after the war, all propped up with order of Merlin’s and money probably taken from our families bank account. Noble Families. Powerful people. I mean please, I only said take St Potter so that the whole school wouldn’t die. He was bond to die anyway, no one fucking knew he had Voldemorts soul inside of him. No fucking wonder he spoke the snake language, there was a descendent of Salazar Slytherin stuck in him since poor mummy decided to give up her life for him. First of fucking many I’ll tell you that.”she slurs rallied up by her insecurities.

”Pipe down Pans. You hair is practically bristling.”

”No I won’t Theodore. There was what two wars and yet I’m the one that gets spit on in the streets? I didn’t kill nobody! I’m sick of it. I should be able to go shopping in peace it’s disgusting. I’m so over it.”

”Oh I’m so sorry you couldn’t get your millionth stupid lipstick fashionista.”

Pansy rolls her eyes,”Don’t try to be a pretentious douche bag. We both know you don’t have it in you.”

”Oh I’m sorry my gel is not with me. Wouldn’t want to be your type now would I?”

”You’ve got to get over me liking Draco in third year- I mean Merlin’s left tit it’s all you talk about.”

”Well I am very hot so-“

“Shush. Or your ego will get too big Dray.” Adrian winks. Finishing the last of his bottle afterwards.

”I have nothing too get over Parkinson.”

”Oh yes you do.”

”Do not.”

”Do to.”

“Do not.”

”To.”

”Not.”

”To.”

“Not.”

“Why does Theo keep on saying his name?”

”To.”

“Quiet love. They are arguing about whether he does or doesn’t care about Pansy liking Draco in third year.”

”Not.”

”To.”

Daphne adds in her own little world,“Oh well that’s easy.”

”Not.”

”Not.”

“To.”

”Its obviously a yes I mean why else was he all depressed after they got together in Potions the next year or something-“

”HA!”

”Bollocks. You tricked me!”

”Haha! Don’t be a liar! You liked me in school ooh lala.”

”DID NOT!”

”DID TO.”

”Don’t start this again your going to make my ears fall off and force me to go into Weasleys Wizard Wheezes.”

”Achew.”

”EVERY FUCKING TIME.”

”Alright no need to scream at her.”

”No you don’t understand Zabini, they’ve definitely put a spell on the damn thing cos’ whenever I say Weasley Wizard Wheezes-“

”Achew.”

”MERLIN. They always sneeze. Always!”

”We need no more of your theories Adrian.”

“At least you’ve been away for three years we’ve been having to deal with it.”

“If you wanted to switch at all during that time be my guest. Nothing like a five star stay in Azkaban.”

”I wouldn’t dream taking it away from you.”

”Funny you say that now when I’m out.”

”What did you even do in there ?”Theo innocently asks, it’s not as if he can ask his father who is currently in Azkaban. He was thrown in their without trial to Theo’s joy, never wanting to see the murky monsters face again.

”Other than getting buff as it seems.”Adrian whistles.

“Do you even get the profit In Azkaban Dray?”

“No, we are allowed it but they never gave me it. Just another attempt at being assholes.”

”Mhm you’ve really missed out then there’s been all sorts going on. Magical Zoo being built, something in quiddich, the golden trio are always in the weekly issue though not much of Granger this past year, New Ministry not-so-department, Voldemort Supporters still on the loose, new café in Diagon Alley.”

You could make an army. There’s still supporters out therre. Voldemort is more snake than man ,a true ruler.

”I’ll have to get the issues since I’ve been gone so I’m up to date.”

Get out of my head! Get out!

“Yes you should! Gives you something to do whilst you figure things out. It’s a good thing you took your N.E.W.T.S in Azkaban! With your smarts and being you you’ll definitely get a job if you wanted one anyway.”

”I might get a job, I’d go insane being here or the time. I could just work as Ceo for the Malfoy company, I mean it’s not like he’s going to get out any time soon.”

”And it’s practically midevil, have you seen the walls! Staff aren’t to great either.”

“Oh thanks Pans for that over see of the walls.”he sarcastically says, drinking more firewhisky.

”Your welcome ex-convict.”

”Oooh burn.” Adrian giggles.

”What’s Potter working as anyways? Let me guess an Auror because he must destroy all evil?”

Theo stands to display the tale with maximum finesse,”You’re not too far off you know, he’s an auror n’ works in the no-so-department as Daphne said and has recently made the Holyhead Harpies Player Weasley a wife. There’s a rumour she’s preggers but I don’t believe it, and he does all different kinds of side of the light Chosen One good thing’s like going to orphanages and attending soirée’s.”

”Soooo sounds like a life fit for the Chosen One. Didn’t even get anything for hitting me with Sectumsempra did he?”

”Seems your gashes and near death experience is nothing on the Chosen One my friend.” He pats Dracos solider knowing there isn’t just one mark but three that will never go. One much bigger than the others, spanning all around his torso like a nasty tidal wave. Fading but never erased.

”An as for the other two?”

”Weasley works in the not-so-department aswell but mainly he works in the joke business because his brothers got a few shops all over.”

”A Joke working as a joke, fitting.”

”No one’s heard anything about Gryffindors Princess in the papers for a year but last time we heard Miss Granger has published some books non-magical and magical, works in the ministry and lectures at Hogwarts & other places. Also on weekends helped in St Mungos.”

”Because she just had to be Miss Right with that buffed up hair of hers.”

“She really threw herself into working after the war then didn’t she. And what do you mean nothings been in the papers?”

”She just was there then wasn’t. It was on the Annual Battle of Hogwarts Remembrance, it was set to be at Hogwarts as it was finally rebuilt and students had gone back that September but she wasn’t there.”

”Yeah, there was all things about how the Golden Trio would be there to celebrate the destruction of Voldemort and morn the losses but she just wasn’t.”

”Strange.”

”Who cares anyway about the fluffball? She probably overworked herself and decided to sleep during the reunion like a normal person finally.”

”Why would she miss the reunion though? And then the other two avoid questions and say she’s fine for over a year afterwards?”

”Who cares about the details? Maybe she was annoyed her breakup was blasted publicly maybe she finally broke I don’t know and I don’t care. She’s just a Mudblood.”

Everyone stopped. They knew it travelled deeper for Draco and Pansy. But surely by now she wouldn’t use that word. The word carved into a child’s arm. The word that knawed at their childhoods. Future and present in fact.

“Don’t say that word ever again Pansy. Especially to the true person who saved all our arses. Potter couldn’t have put two brain cells together to figure out how to defeat Voldemort. It was her.” Draco voids. Occlumency.

“Okay fine but it doesn’t change her blood.”

Dirty Blood Draco. That’s what they are riddled with. They aren’t true wizards and witches their animals. Animals who need to be controlled. Animals who shouldn’t walk amongst us true witches and wizards. Don’t be a coward and walk away from your duty to the dark lord. Dont betray him Draco. Don’t be disobedient to your Lord… Lord of Darkness.

“She is quite nice. Seemed it at Slughorns dinner in sixth year. Talking about her parents being a thing called dentists.”Blaise interjected. Swirling around a bottle of the Zabinis Family Vineyard's wine and in the other tenderly touching Daphnes dirty blonde hair.

“What?”

“They’re teeth healers. Near got one of their hands bitten off once.” Blaise was much more snarkier when he was younger but he always held a like for healing. Doing what others hadn’t done for him but he’d always done for them. He knew quite a lot of it too. There was theories that His mother, Miss Zabini had killed all of her husbands for their money. And to do so Blaise had to help her. No one truly knew what went on in the group. They didn’t speak of it. Even when younger Blaise would say things no one could have known unless you’ve done it. It wasn’t his fault though. And his mother was an exceeding good looking woman. She had Blaise young and her looks seemed never to decay. During the war she was in Italy with her husband, a man double of not triple her age that never once had spoken to Blaise. Even when they dined in the same room. Blaise didn’t expect much more from any of her husbands. He could have been better yes-and actually spoke to Blaise but he also could have been worse. If his mother knew he’d been treated wrongly though they wouldn’t last for long. Out of all their mothers she was the only one who truely loved their child. During the war Blaise had been in Hogwarts or in their home in Italy. Where the family’s vineyards went on for miles. Seemingly never ending. It’s not as if his mother had no ties to Britain. After all she’d grown up there. Attended Hogwarts and afterwards climbed the social ladders in many countries, always travelling to look for a new husband. Zabini always cared for her son- kept him away from as most of the war as she could. She’d never spoke a word against muggles or muggleborns to Blaise ,neither did she say she didn’t belive in pureblood supremacy though. The closest Blaise had ever been to muggles was a ‘pasticceria’ on the corner of the Village next to the Vineyards. The smell of the breads and the pastry’s where amazing. Always fresh and ready to go. His mother took him along most mornings when they where at the house by the vineyard. He never spoke to a muggle, though he didn’t much speak to anyone Blaise. He was much more fonder of examining were he was- or the person he was with. Like he could figure out all their secrets by just looking at them. He weren’t shy either- you could just tell by the way he walked and how he talked. He was confident in his silence. When he broke it it was a thing to be listened to. He always carried something with his words and you could feel it every time.

”You’ve never mentioned this Zabini. I would have remembered you talking about Granger.”

Mudblood.

”It didn’t make sense at the time. So I didn’t talk about it. Slughorn kept on droning on until the mini Weasley came in.”

”What was she sad about? Potter not spending enough time with her?” Theo flicked his hair back, appraising the information.

”Theo they weren't together at this point. She was with Thomas ,you know the Gryffindor.”

“Who?”

“Nevermind.”