Chapter 6
Draco yawned. He sat slumped over in Bill and Fleur’s kitchen, watching her prepare breakfast. He could only hope he would get a bite; he was starving.
His wand poked his leg from where he hid it out of sight. It annoyed him.
Waking up was time and time again a disappointment.
Peksy was nowhere to be found and Draco chose to pretend he didn‘t care. Because he didn‘t. He was completely fine on his own, never mind that Peksy has been his only stability in the last week.
Fleur turned around from where she was stabbing a pancake with her finger that sat on a plate on the counter. Next to her were the next two pancakes frying in the pan.
“So,“ she said and fixed Draco with a stare, “How did you sleep?”
“Uhm” Draco jumped upon being addressed. “Fine” he said. “Your couch is very… comfortable.”
She huffed and awkward silence followed.
“I think those pancakes are burning” Draco said carefully, glancing past Fleur at the stove.
Fleur swivelled back around and flipped them with a flick of her wand.
“I hate cooking” she sighed. “It wasn’t even my idea to make pancakes.”
“I think you’re doing just fine” Draco offered hesitantly. He didn’t know how to cook either. “I can call Peksy to do it.”
Fleur pulled a face at that. “No, thank you. We’re not participating in your disgusting slave culture.”
Draco blinked. “Oh. Okay.”
Fleur’s strong opinion surprised him. He knew Granger was all for house elf rights but no one else really cared. Maybe the French had different views on the topic.
Suddenly, his forearm stung harshly. He inhaled sharply.
It was already gone the next second.
It hadn’t hurt for a while but apparently the pain was back now. Thankfully it didn’t last long. That was bearable.
He forced a smile after noticing that Fleur was watching him.
“Where is Bill, actually?” he asked swiftly.
Fleur cocked her head. “In the bathroom, probably. Most certainly.“ She took a bite of the pancake she had already poked. „You get the next one“ she said after she swallowed.
„Thank you,“ Draco smiled at the prospect of food and folded his hands in his lap.
„So you’re hurt?“ she questioned, gaze flicking to his arm.
„No, it‘s nothing“ he said and tried to appear as casual as possible. Why did she have to notice?
„Bill can check it out later, if you like.“
„I said it‘s nothing. You don‘t have to worry about it.“
Fleur just shrugged. „I get it. Pureblood families aren‘t always the nicest, right?“
He huffed. That was putting it kindly.
Then finally Bill entered the kitchen. „Good morning!“ he said and gave Fleur a kiss.
His hair was still moist and hung loose over his shoulders. He wore a white shirt that went well with his fang earrings. Draco wondered if he ever took them off.
„Morning Draco.“ He acknowledged him with a nod which Draco reciprocated.
„The pancakes are burned, honey.“ He leaned over the stove and sniffed.
„You know I can’t cook, why would you leave me alone with this“ she moaned. Bill just laughed and vanished the pancakes before pouring new batter into the pan.
Draco averted his gaze to his lap. Watching their intimacy provoked the urge to throw something. Possibly at someone.
If only he wasn’t at someone else’s mercy.
The air felt lighter with Bill around. His presence made Fleur relax.
After a minute or two, Draco finally received his first pancake for the day. It smelled deliciously.
Just when he lifted his arm to take the cutlery, the dark mark stung again badly. He screwed his eyes shut momentarily and hoped the pain would pass.
It did not. It only got worse and worse and worse, like the Dark Lord was raging- or was he calling the Death Eaters to a meeting?
Next thing he knew, he writhed in pain, holding his arm in a vice-like grip.
Small, ugly tears forced their way out.
„Draco!“ he heard Bill yelp.
„Aahg“ he groaned.
Draco was touched. Hands forced him to sit upright.
Cold fingers pulled up his sleeve.
Draco passed out cold.
When he came to, something hard pressed into his back. After a second, he realized it were his wrists that were clasped together uncomfortably, held together by… a rope. Someone had bound his hands. He felt a gag in his mouth, too.
Fear creeped up his throat.
Finally remembering his eyesight, he cracked one eye open. The first thing he noticed was Bill leaning on the doorframe with a chilling expression, arms crossed over his chest.
The second thing was that he had never moved after losing consciousness. He still sat in the weird old chair in the kitchen. The stove was turned off, with no pancakes in sight.
Draco mourned for his breakfast he had never gotten to eat.
He was alone with Bill. Fortunately for him, the kitchen had no door. It was an escape route. Unfortunately, Bill hadn‘t moved an inch, successfully blocking his only way of escape.
The window behind him didn’t count as he would crash on the asphalt and die if he jumped out.
Carefully, his eyes flickered back to Bill who made a show of drawing his wand.
“I see you’re awake” he said.
Yes, he was. Not by choice.
“Fleur is watching over Peksy and she is a very talented witch, so don’t even think about escaping.” He continued and shifted in his stance. “She came back when you were already unconscious.”
As Draco kept looking at him, it slowly dawned on him what happened. He remembered the pain. He passed out and Bill and Fleur must have seen the Dark Mark.
He was doomed. With the stupid gag in his mouth, he couldn’t even plead for mercy.
“Here is how we’re going to do this.” Bill said and slowly made his way over to Draco until he stood directly in front of him. His eyes pierced his. “I will take off your gag, but you won’t speak unless spoken to. You won’t scream for help. There is no one who would help you and screams would only arouse suspicion.” Bill leaned down to look eye to eye. His voice was dangerously low. “You will tell me your story. If you want me to believe you, consent to Veritaserum.”
Draco’s mouth became dry. Please don’t make me do this he wanted to plead, but only incoherent sounds escaped his mouth.
Bill took mercy on him and removed the gag, throwing it carelessly to the side. Draco flexed his jaw after it has been locked in place for so long.
“Do you want Veritaserum?”
“Why do you even have Veritaserum?” Draco spat.
“Doesn’t matter. Yes, or no?”
“I won’t talk.” Draco pressed his lips together.
“In that case, I’m sure you won’t mind me calling some Aurors to take you to Azkaban.” Bill stepped back but didn’t take his eyes off him. “That´s the only option left, since you’re not cooperating.”
He began growing a resentment for the oldest Weasley boy. He was picking at him until he was a torn carcass. A living corpse. Add a bit of physical torture and he was indistinguishable from his Death Eater friends.
Bill could take him to Azkaban either way, even if he fessed up. So, what did it matter, really?
Should he throw his fellow Death Eaters under the bus or stay quiet and protect them?
In truth, he didn’t feel he owed them any protection. They wouldn’t thank him for it. If they got their hands on him, he’d most likely be dead or worse.
Death would be mercy in this scenario.
Draco was also a coward. The last six years he spent making decisions beneficial for him and him only. He harassed people relentlessly to stay on top, but his backbone was easy to break.
His father broke it several times on many occasions.
Bella, his Aunt, too. Severus, even if it wasn´t intentional. The Dark Lord, of course. Mad-Eye Moody.
Draco shuddered.
As the silence stretched on, Bill fished out a tiny flask out of his shirt pocket and placed it in front of Draco on the table.
“Veritaserum. Should you feel the need to have me believe you.”
“That’s not legal.” Draco pressed out.
Bill directed his wand at a cabinet and levitated a glass to the table before filling it with water.
He only smiled. “No, it’s not. But being a Death Eater is not legal either.”
Draco grimaced at the jab. With his darkest secret out, he felt needlessly exposed.
“I need more time.”
“More time to make up a lie? No way.”
Draco swallowed uncomfortably.
“Listen. You showed up at my house. In my living room even. Totally unannounced. You decided to drag me into your business. So, I deserve an explanation of what the fuck is going on here!” Bill threw up his arms in indignation and Draco flinched back. “Death Eaters have no place in my house. Do you understand that?”
Draco stared at him in silence.
“Do you understand that?” he bellowed, raising his wand slightly. Draco flinched again, looking away. His heartbeat was picking up.
“I understand. Sir,” he tried. “I didn’t mean to stumble upon your living room, we just needed a safe place and Peksy apparated us here. I’m sorry.” He bit on his lip, overwhelmed with humiliation and anxiety.
Bill didn’t answer for a long second before pulling out a chair for himself to sit it.
“Ron told me so many things about you” he began. “You’re a bully. You pick on other people for the fun of it, including Ron and his friends.”
If Draco wasn’t so high strung now, he would have snorted at that comment, because of course he was picking on the Weasel.
“You’re Snape’s favourite. He tolerates your shenanigans in class. You’re a rich asshole devoid of talent or real friends because you’re so used to Daddy fixing every problem you have. Now that he is in Azkaban and your mother is on the run, you’re on your own.” Bill raised an eyebrow. “Aha! You couldn’t stay at the Manor because your mother’s a criminal!”
“No!” Draco exploded, “she is dead, you cretin!”
After the words left his mouth, it tasted like ash. He squeezed his eyes shut to keep the tears inside his body. Nobody wanted to see him cry like a little child.
“She is dead.” Bill said incredulously.
Draco hung his head. “Yes,” he said quietly. “It is my fault she had to die.”
He hasn’t admitted it before, but it was true. If it wasn’t for him, his mother would still be alive. She would have never gone to Dumbledore and the Death Eaters wouldn’t have had to kill her for betrayal. All because she wanted to protect him, her only son. She loved him too much; it cost her life in the end.
He made a rash decision. The mention of his mother knocked his braincells back into his brain.
The last thing he could for his mother, after he had ready failed her so dearly, was to honor her. He couldn’t bear being the only one who knew of the injustice she suffered. The world had to hear the truth, not the sick lie his fellow Death Eaters have made up.
She was no murderer.
In a matter of seconds, he uncorked the bottle with Veritaserum and let two, three drops fall into the glass before putting it back on the table with a clang. Then he gulped down the water at once.
The effect built up slowly.
Bill watched him with a surprised look on his face and leaned back in his chair. A smug smile played across his lips.
The kitchen was eerily quiet for a few seconds. The only thing he could hear was the clock ticking above the door.
There were no noises from the living room. He wondered what Fleur was doing to keep Peksy in place.
“What is your name?” Bill then asked.
“Draco Lucius Malfoy.” The answer forced its way out of his mouth. It felt really uncomfortable.
“Very well. Is your mother actually dead?”
Wow, going straight for the big questions.
“Yes.” Draco’s voice wavered.
“How did she die?”
He grit his teeth, feeling very uncomfortable. “She went to see Dumbledore. The Death Eaters found out, fought her in Hogsmeade, presumably killed Glinda Flume to blame it on my mother and killed her at Malfoy Manor.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, not liking how the truth spilled out of him and he couldn’t stop it.
Bill’s face was unreadable. The smug smile was gone. “Why did she want to talk to Dumbledore?”
“I do not know.”
Bill sat up. “Okay, I’mma rephrase. What do you think your mother wanted from Dumbledore?”
That he could answer. “I think she wanted to ask for help with the task the Dark Lord set for me.”
“What is your task?”
Draco was scared to open his mouth and tell a Dumbledore supporter about his mission but it’s not like he had a choice.
“I have to kill Dumbledore.” He pressed out.
Bill furrowed his eyebrows. “By Merlin’s beard,” he murmured, “that’s insane. Awful.” He let his head fall back to stare at the ceiling.
Draco felt shame curdle inside his stomach and looked to the side.
The newspaper still sat on the table like the day before.
“So how come you ended up here with us?”
“I-“ he coughed and averted his eyes. “They wanted to kill me too. The Death Eaters. I was deemed worthless. A traitor like my mother.”
Time seemed to stand still while he talked. Bill didn’t move a muscle, listening intensely to his words.
“Peksy helped me escape. We’ve been residing on the street ever since. Then we met Lupin-“
“You met Lupin? How, when, where?” Bill interrupted.
“I was just about to tell you if you hadn’t interrupted.” Draco retorted before he could stop himself. Veritaserum was scary.
He glanced up nervously to see Bill‘s reaction. He hadn‘t moved an inch, just nodded invitingly as if to say ‘get on with it then’.
He felt relieved he hadn’t vexed him.
“We found an old shack in the middle of nowhere. I sought shelter there during a heavy rainfall. At dawn, Lupin appeared as he intended to stay there for the duration of the full moon...” he digressed.
“Go on.” Bill encouraged him after he came to a halt.
“Uhm… I told Peksy to bring us somewhere safe and we landed here.”
“She probably deemed me safe because I gave her clothes before” he nodded slowly.
“So, as far as I understood, you’re a Death Eater, but they kicked you out of the club and are currently trying to kill you?”
“That is correct.”
Having the facts laid down before him made him want to cry. His life was going horribly wrong. He was supposed to be a golden boy eating from a golden spoon with a golden future but now, his future never looked darker.
“They are hunting me down.” He added. “Last night after I left, I wanted to withdraw money from Gringotts-”
“Why? Gringotts is long closed at that hour.” Bill interrupted.
He scoffed half-heartedly. “I found that out the hard way. Anyway, the Death Eaters found me and Peksy apparated us back here in the panic.”
“You poor pathetic thing.” Bill claimed, making Draco grimace. He couldn’t tell if Bill was being sarcastic or not. Probably both somehow.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“Sure, whatever.” He paused. “One last question: how did you get these nasty scratches on your arm?”
Draco tensed and mumbled “It was Fenrir Greyback. He pulled up my sleeve and scratched me in the process.”
“A werewolf. I have nothing to treat it with, but the scars would stay either way. Does it hurt?” said Bill almost indifferently.
Draco answered “I can deal with the pain, it’s alright” and was surprised he meant it.
Bill nodded slowly. “It’s a good thing you drank Veritaserum because I would not have believed you if you didn’t.”
“Mhm. Can I eat the pancakes now? I’m hungry.” He asked, tired of the questions. He wanted to bite down hard on his lips a moment later. Veritaserum really loosened his mouth.
“Don’t be so impatient. First, let me tell you what’s going to happen now: “ Bill laid his arms on the table and crossed his hands, leaning forward, „I will consult Fleur about what you‘ve told me. Until then, you´re not allowed to see Peksy.“
Draco shrugged. He didn’t care that much for her. In theory.
„I can heat up the pancakes in the meantime. How about that?“ Bill offered and stood up.
„Thank you, Sir.“ Draco mumbled.
The morning sun was slowly creeping round, dazzling him. He shut one eye.
„Is there any chance you would untie my hands?“
„Nope!“
Draco looked after Bill‘s retreating figure, slumping down in his chair with a sigh.
The sun felt warm on his skin.