After
Auski held the smaller hand tightly. The shorter remained quiet the whole time, not once grumbling or complaining about the long walk.
When Auski had first designed the building — yes, him, because he didn't have enough morals to trust other most definitely unreliable people (ugh, trust issues) — for construction, he had wanted it complicated and messy, like a maze. Why? It was definitely because he wanted to challenge his memory and durability (and totally not to torture spoiled brats of a child).
The child, wary and on guard. Auski halted for a bit, the child following suit. Draco shuffles around on the spot, head down, hair covering his face. The hair would probably look nicer grown out but knowing Lucius, it'd be cut later. Maybe Draco could grow it out a bit but Auski'd make sure to cut it nicely later when Draco returns back tot he manor.
"Draco, are you tired?" It was a fairly normal question he would ask the kids living here for the place was big. And any other adult would as well when outside a big area, offering their help to carry the child. But Draco just looked at him weird, like he just said something he couldn't understand. With this reaction, Auski evaluated, he must have not been ask if he was tired. Lucius Malfoy, this heartless father.
"N-no! I'm okay, I'm... Fine," Draco frowned. It was an obvious lie. Many would say Draco resembled Lucius. Sure, in terms of looks. But to Auski, Draco was more like Narcissa. Kind and sweet, shy and quiet.
Narcissa Malfoy was another. She was definitely the type to be loving and show love towards him outwardly. She would be a loving mother and show care towards her child. But what would lack would be praise. And with Lucius being most likely abusive and negligent, Draco would feel stressed and try to be the perfect son that they wanted. Auski had come across many of these cases, but what makes Draco's different and join the rare ones was that Draco hardly showed emotions. He obeyed. The child was defintely scared and question why and what he did for him to deserve it, and/or the child is far too obedient and think he deserved it. This was one of the outcomes of having being abused. He felt that he didn't deserve the abuse and tries to be different, to be the unexpected.
Most abuse come with emotional abuse, but Lucius wasn't the type to degrade his child because he needed his child to be the one making everyone obey. He would likely show him that the higher of status one is, the more powerful they would be. That was one thing Auski wanted to change from Draco's mind.
From young, one wouldn't know what's right or wrong unless corrected by the parents. But if the rules and what they follow at home is wrong, it would be hard to change their perspectives in the future, so thus it would be better to correct them from young.
"You sure? I can carry you if you want. It will be quite a while," Auski offered, reaching out his other hand. "For about a next half an hour." Draco hesitantly shook his head and Auski shrugged and walked again.
>•𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤•<
It wasn't more than five minutes before Draco tripped and fell, scraping his knees on the rough carpet. Auski knelt and picked Draco up to stand. "You okay there?" But when Draco lifted his head, his eyes were filled with tears. "Please... P-please carry me..." That's good. The first step to recovery is always to ask for help. Auski grinned and picked up the boy, bouncing him lightly on his hips. "Don't ever be afraid to ask for help, Draco. I'm always here." Draco sniffed and snugged his head in his neck, trembling slightly.
Draco's grip on his collar was tight, as though Auski would let go and drop him is he were to let go. He was afraid.
Auski put his free hand atop of the child's head and brought Draco impossibly closer to him. He hoped that the Carmel scent that radiated off of him could help relax Draco more. After all, a child deserves the warmth and love of an adult.
>•𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤•<
Narcissa didn't know how to feel knowing that his son would be away from her for a few years. After all the trauma inflicted on Draco, she was worried how he would cope on his own around strangers. All the more, Narcissa didn't know where Lucius had brought her son to.
Now, she was sitting with Severus in the Snape Mansion having tea with him. Narcissa twirled her teacup, watching the tea swirl about. She could feel Severus staring at her from across the small round table.
Lucius had just left two hours ago. And two hours ago, Narcissa just had a break down.
She had watched her son be in grave danger, watched him burn in fire, watched him have a mental breakdown, and after all of that, Lucius was nothing but a heartless jerk who could care nothing but his business, pride, and reputation.
"Severus?" Narcissa spoke for the first time ever since she stepped foot in the mansion. Severus blinked at her as she rose her head. "Hm?"
"Why... Do you think Lucius is such a... He doesn't care about Draco, his own son and heir. He's just so... Selfish..." Narcissa gripped her teacup tightly. Severus' eyes widened at the sudden question for a fraction of a second before rubbing his eyes with his forefinger and thumb, sighing through his nose.
"Lucius? He wasn't always such one," Severus spoke truthfully, having known Lucius for the longest time. "He made bad choices but he was never a bad person. He just couldn't tell right from wrong, Cissy. Back then, Lucius hated any thought of physical or social contact with anyone. It was hard to get through him. He was hard to read, even for me, having known him practically my whole life.
"Lucius didn't grow up happy. His mother would often inflict minor injuries on him, not too much to make it obvious. His father, however, always stressed on the idea of being 'The Perfect Son'. As a matter of fact, I know Lucius cares for Draco, even if it was just a little bit. He didn't want to become like his parents, he was afraid that he would. And he did. That was why he married you back then, Cissy. Because, at least he knew that his child would have at least a loving parent for if he ever fails to become who he wanted to be and to be the one he feared.
"Narcissa, I know that Lucius isn't the best parent-"
"He isn't," Narcissa intercepted, deadpanned.
"-but, Lucius is trying. You can't see it, no one can. But if you try, then maybe you would see it. Lucius intentionally blocks Draco away, ignoring and neglecting him. He knows it's wrong, but it was better for Draco. He was scared of hurting him. But in the end, he still did. He used violence as a way to terrify Draco, so that Draco wouldn't keep on finding him. But as you can see, it all backfired and only made Draco persistent on getting his attention."
"But Lucius could've at least encouraged or acknowledged him once?"
"As I've said, Lucius came from a harsh background. He wasn't taught properly of right and wrong. And neither did I. You however, know them — difference of right and wrong. Lucius thought you could at least teach Draco right because Lucius couldn't. Having need follow all the rules of his past household, he was used to them, and thus, when Draco did something his own Father didn't like, he felt the need to punish Draco."
Narcissa gnawed on her inner cheek and nodded. "This... This is all hard to process..."
Severus gave her a rare, small smile and looked away at last. "I know. Lucius isn't the best, he isn't trying right. So it's up to you, Narcissa, to make sure Draco knew the right things, even if Lucius would try to lead him the wrong way. I, on the other hand, have tried to convince him that what he was doing was wrong. So now, we can only do our best and hope that maybe Draco wouldn't end up like Lucius. Full of hatred and rules."
Narcissa finally took sip of her now cold tea. Now, all that was in her head were questions. If Lucius didn't want to harm Draco for discipline, or just randomly, for training, then why was Draco always endangered? Who was targeting Draco on purpose?
>•𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤•<
Draco was trying hard not to doze off. He was old enough to not feel so tired after a lit of boring walking. But in the end, his young mind and body ended up giving up a to sleep.
Draco woke up to the sound of old creaking doors, only to find himself laid on soft and fluffy bedding. Draco snugged himself closer to the soft pillow and got more shut eye.
The next time he woke up was to soft knocking on the door of the room he was placed in. Draco sat up and rubbed his eyes with his fist, pouting his lips. Everything so far was nothing but light and calmly. No rage, no nothing. Draco wriggled out of the soft and fluffy covers and reached for the door. Standing right outside was Auski who had hands on his knees, body lowered so his eyes could reach Draco's easily. "How are you? Still tired?"
"Um, no, thank you. Sorry for the inconvenience..." Draco gripped tightly on his pants and huffed. "No worries, little man," Auski ruffled Draco's hair. When he let go, Draco's own hand reached his head. It was a weird feeling, the warmth that rose in his chest. But it wasn't uncomfortable, it was... Welcomed. Draco smiled a little and Auski spoke again.
"Now, let's introduce you to the other kids, alright, Draco?" The pretty smile of the man made Draco blush as he nodded.
"Okay! Come on! Hya!" Auski groaned as he lifted Draco into his arms. Draco wriggled and gave a small laugh, to hi surprise. And to Auski, he just smirked and walked down a hallway.
This new place, Draco hoped it would finally be something of rainbows and smiles.
>•𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤•<
The time taken to move from one level to another was approximately twenty minutes. What Draco doesn't get is why someone would built a place so big yet cold and empty. But Draco didnt complain because he was a good kid.
Auski stopped in front of a double door room and opened it. It must be heavy for it took about two seconds for it to open just ever so slightly. Draco didn't really peek out from his place on Auski's neck but he could hear loud chattering and clanging of utensils.
"Draco, I would want you to meet some of the kids here, is that alright? You will be with them for the next to years anyway." Draco nodded and finally looked up.
The room must be a cafeteria as there were lined tables and a small kitchen at the back with chefs in there. There weren't actually many children in there considering the volume of noise that were contributed. One noticeable kid was a blond like Draco. He sat alone at the far end of the cafeteria and was picking at his food. Auski must've noticed him staring at the boy as he started walking towards the said boy.
"Theodore, are you alone today?" The boy looked up and squirmed in his seat. He nodded and poked at a piece of meat. "Quiet today, aren't you? Okay, I would like you to meet Draco. Draco," Auski gestured to the boy. "this is Theodore. The both of you are about the same age, I think you two will get along well!"
Auski place Draco in front of Theodore and Theodore looked away. Draco thought he might've unconsciously offended him but then Auski spoke up. "Draco, don't worry, Theodore here is just upset for his two friends had fallen ill. Would you keep him company for me?"
Draco's eyes widened and he nodded. It would be a great chance to make a friend!
Auski left after placing a tray of food on the table for Draco. Theodore didn't seem to want to talk much so Draco spoke. "Hello, I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," Draco extended a hand, posture straight just as he was taught. Theodore's mouth was agape and he took the hand. "Th-Theodore Not. Um... You're not scared of me?"
"Why would I be?" Draco tilted his head. Theodore seemed nice. Whoever thought that Theodore was scary, Draco would like to prove them wrong.
Theodore smiled and looked down at his lap, blushing. "Would... You like to be friends?"
Draco gasped. Friends? He liked the sound of that. Draco giggled and nodded, letting out a small squeak of "yes". His first friend. This isn't so bad as he thought it's be when he first arrived. Hopefully, it will stay this way.
>•𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤•<