Back to Pain
Chapter 13
Morning came faster than Draco had hoped. Severus woke him up to get ready before they would head to breakfast.
Draco found a new set of clothes and all the essentials he needed to keep up his look. Draco opened the note sitting next to his stuff and read it. Just by the handwriting Draco knew exactly who it was
Dear Master Draco,
Severus called for Dobby to get your stuff this morning. Dobby hopes he didn’t leave anything. If Master Draco needs something else don’t hesitate to call Dobby to get it. Dobby hopes Master Draco has been doing well since he got to school. Dobby hopes you’ve been enjoying your time at Hogwarts and have made lots of friends. If Master Draco ever needs anything, Dobby will be there for him.
-Dobby
Draco smiled at the letter. He has been busy with a lot of things lately that he hasn’t gotten the chance to see the elf recently. He would have to stop by the kitchens layer today to give him his thanks.
Draco quickly got ready with the items Dobby had brought him and once done, found Severus sipping on a cup of tea.
“Are you ready to head down to breakfast?” Severus asked his godson.
Draco nodded and said, “I am really hungry this morning. I didn’t have much to eat at dinner since it got cut short last night.” as they began their walk down to the Great Hall.
“Why didn’t you say anything last night? I would’ve gotten you something to eat,” Severus questioned.
“I was more tired than hungry last night after defeating that troll,” Draco replied.
“I still don’t understand why you four would go after such a beast without much training to defend yourselves.”
“What actually happened was Granger had spent most of the day in the bathroom crying after she heard Weasley making fun of her, so she didn’t know about the troll. Potter, Weasley, and I slipped away from the crowd at dinner to tell her and apologize, but the troll had found her first.”
“So you didn’t think it would be better to inform a professor of the situation instead?”
“I guess we really didn’t think about our options too hard and just decided to take action ourselves,” Draco said sheepishly as they approached the Great Hall.
When he opened the Great Hall doors not many people were inside. They had to be there earlier than Draco usually went because Severus was a Professor.
Though to Draco’s dismay, Potter, Weasley, and Granger were already seated at the Gryffindor table. Severus and Draco split directions, and Draco walked over to the group of Gryffindors.
“Draco where did you go last night? You didn’t come back to the dorm. I was worried something happened to you.” Granger said with a worried look on her face.
Draco looked at her and said, “I just slept somewhere last night. Didn’t feel like going back to the dorms.”
Granger just nodded, not fully at ease, but she didn’t push the topic further..
Potter looked over at Draco and said, “I’m sorry you got so upset about us thinking Snape is the one trying to get past Fluffy, but I still think it’s him.”
Draco sighed and said, “That’s fine. That’s not going to stop me from helping you stop whoever it is trying to get past the dog.”
“What were you doing walking in with Snape anyways?” Weasley asked.
“It was just a coincidence.” Draco brushed off as he filled his plate with bacon, toast, and fruit. He really was hungry that morning.
The group fell into another conversation trying to figure out what Fluffy was guarding. They still could think of anything that seemed reasonable and moved on to the topic of the upcoming Quidditch match.
Draco and Potter would start practice tonight with the first match in two weeks, and they were both nervous about it. Even though Draco had more experience on a broom than most at his age, he had never played as a chaser.
Once Draco was done eating, he left the other three Gryffindors to head up back to the dorms and grab his school books for his classes later that morning. He was met with a hug once he entered the room. Draco looked down and saw Neville.
“I was so worried, Draco. I thought you got hurt and then Harry and Ron said you got into a fight after defeating that troll and left before they could stop you.” Neville said quickly, releasing Draco in the process.
“I’m fine, Neville. I just needed to cool down a bit before seeing them again.” Draco told him. He gathered his books and turned towards Neville.
“Are you ready to head down?” He asked and the two walked together to their first class of the day.
❀ ❀ ❀
November 16, 1991
Draco and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team were waiting to head out to the Quidditch Pitch for the first match of the season.
Over the past two weeks the group hadn’t made any progress on finding out what was beneath the trap door, and Draco and Potter had become more busy with Quidditch, preparing for the match that was about to start.
Wood was talking to Potter, but Draco wasn’t listening. He missed this feeling. The pre match nerves. The rumble of the crowd around them. It was where he belonged.
The team walked out the Quidditch Pitch with full confidence, and Draco was amazed by the sight in front of him. It was like he was seeing it for the first time. He watched as Wood walked out to the middle of the pitch to shake hands with Slytherin’s team captain Marcus Flint.
Draco followed the rest of the team as they got into their positions. He took a glance at the crowd circling him. He spotted Neville, Granger, and Weasley standing in the Gryffindor stands. They waved at him, and he smiled back at them. Then his eyes quickly found his godfather, but his heart dropped as he saw who was sitting beside him.
Lucius Malfoy was talking to Severus before he looked over at Draco. Draco quickly turned away, not wanting to make eye contact with the man who had disowned him only a few months prior.
Draco didn’t have time to think about it because Madam Pooch had blown her whistle and the match had begun. Draco blocked out all his other thoughts and focused solely on the game he was playing. One advantage he had was already knowing how Slytherin played. He trained with Slytherin for years, so he already knew most of their tricks.
Angelina threw Draco the quaffle and he zoomed past the Slytherin chasers, towards their goal posts. He saw their keeper wasn’t paying close attention and acted fast to launch the quaffle towards one of the rings.
The keeper tried to block it but wasn’t faster enough.
“And another goal for Gryffindor by their new chaser Draco! Can you believe he’s just a first year! They’re still behind with a score of 60-40 Slytherin.” said Lee Jordan through the cheers of the crowd.
The match kept getting more and more intense. Slytherin started to play dirty, but Draco was ready for it all. As he caught the quaffle that was meant to be thrown to another Slytherin chaser, Draco caught sight of Potter hanging from his broom.
He quickly rushed towards the Slytherin post again and shouted to Harry as he passed “What’s going on with your broom?”
He threw the quaffle into another ring and scored ten more points. When he looked back to where Potter was before he couldn’t find the boy.
Draco continued to play hard and soon he heard Lee Jordan’s voice saying, “Potter has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins!”
Draco smiled as he and the rest of the team crowded around Potter. They all cheered at their victory as everyone else started to head back inside. Draco and Potter broke off from the group and walked over Granger, Weasley, and Hagrid. They all walked to Hagrid’s hut for tea.
“Harry mate, are you okay?” Weasley asked.
“I’m fine. My broom was acting weird.” Potter replied.
“Snape was trying to curse your broom.” Granger exclaimed.
“Nonsense. Why would Professor Snape do that?” Hagrid exclaimed.
“I don’t know why exactly, but I know a curse when I see one. He wasn’t breaking eye contact.” Granger said.
Draco was confused. He knew Severus wouldn’t try and harm Potter even if he wasn’t too fond of him. “He wouldn’t do that!” he exclaimed.
“How do you know that?” Weasley asked.
“He wouldn’t try to harm a student even if doesn’t like them very much.” Draco tried to convince the three, but they didn’t seem convinced. He sighed once he realized he couldn’t say anything to change their minds.
“I know he was trying to pass the three headed dog on Halloween. I overheard him talking about it with Flitch,” Potter said to the group.
Hagrid turned towards the four Gryffindors and asked, “How do you know about Fluffy?”
“That thing’s called Fluffy?” Weasley exclaimed.
“Well ‘e has to have er name right?” Hagrid answered. “He’s mine. Lent him to Dumbledore to protect— Never mind that. I shouldn’ ‘ave said that.”
“Whatever it is, Snape's trying to steal it!” Potter exclaimed.
“He isn’ tryin’ to steal it. He tryin’ to protect it.” Hagrid said.
“Of course! There are different things guarding whatever it is.” Granger exclaimed.
“You all need to stay outta this. What Fluffy is guarding to between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel.” Hagrid’s eyes went wide as he realized what just said. “I shouldn’ ‘ave said that.”
“Who’s Nicholas Flamel?” Potter asked.
“You need to stay outta this.” Hagrid told them.
The group sighed and dropped the topic. They started a different conversation over tea and the group left back to the Gryffindor common room to celebrate their win.
The common room was filled with people celebrating the win.
“ Draco! You were amazing out there!” Neville said.
Draco thanked him and said “I’ll be right back.”
Draco walked up the stairs towards his dorm room to put away his Quidditch stuff. Once he entered the room, he saw a note at the foot of his bed that wasn’t there before. Draco grabbed the note and opened it to read.
Draco,
Your father and I are waiting in my study. He has requested your presence. Please come down as soon as you read this.
-S. Snape.
Draco sighed and walked out of the dorm back downstairs. He left the Gryffindor common room, and slowly walked down to the dungeons. Why did his father want to see him? Would he hurt him? No Severus wouldn’t let that happen. Or would he?
Too soon, Draco was in front of his godfather’s study. Before Draco could knock on the door, it opened. Severus welcomed him inside.
Draco saw Lucius sitting in front of the fireplace and took a seat next to him. “Draco,” Lucius said as he gulped, “Sit up straight. You know not to slouch.”
Lucius turned to Severus and said, “Do you mind giving my son and I a moment alone?”
Draco knew it wasn’t a question, but Severus still looked over at his godson. Draco gave him a look saying he would be fine, and Severus left his study leaving them alone.
“So, you’re a Quidditch star now?” Lucius asked.
Draco shrugged not knowing what to say.
“And you’ve become friends with mudbloods and blood traitors?” Lucius said sternly.
“I’m not really friends with them. I just hang around them sometimes.” Draco said quietly.
Lucius became upset at his comment and slapped his son across the cheek. Draco’s face burned from the hit.
“You think a Malfoy can act the way you’ve been acting?” Lucius asked.
“Last time I checked I wasn’t a Malfoy.” Draco said as he gained some courage.
Lucius only grew more angry and raised his cane to strike Draco on the arm.
“You still represent the Malfoy name.” Lucius said.
“Stand up.” He ordered, and Draco followed as his face paled. He kicked Draco to the ground.
“You deserve this. You’re a disappointment to the Malfoy name. You’re an embarrassment to this family. You really think you can act like this?” Lucius taunted and after each sentence inflicted more pain upon Draco.
“Get up!” Lucius shouted and Draco slowly got to his feet.
“There is much more where this came from. Remember that.” Lucius said and gave a final slap to Draco’s face.
“Get cleaned up before Severus gets back.” Lucius said as he walked to the door. “I’ll expect you home for Christmas.” And with that Lucius left.
Draco caught a glimpse of his beaten up body in the mirror hanging on the wall. His face was red, but the rest of his injuries would only be bruises that would easily be concealed by his clothes.He quickly put up a glamour over his face when he heard the click of the door knob.
Severus entered his study and walked over to his godson. “Are you okay? He didn’t say anything too harsh to you, did he?” He asked.
“He just said to keep up my studies and to not disappoint him any further,” Draco answered.
Severus hummed, sensing that Draco was leaving something out. He didn’t press the matter any further though. He knew Draco would tell him when he was ready, and he had to respect that.
“You were incredible out there today.” Severus said, giving a soft smile.
“Thanks. I need to work on somethings before the next match though.” Draco said
“Well you should probably head back up and celebrate with the rest of the Gryffindors.” Severus said.
Draco nodded and headed towards the door, but before he could leave Severus said, “If you need anything at all Draco, I’ll always be here for you.”
“I know,” Draco replied.
“Would you like to meet for tea this Sunday? I feel we haven’t had much time to talk lately.”
“I would like that very much,” Draco said, and with that he left the study.
He knew he would be expected in the Gryffindor Common Room, but he didn’t feel much like celebrating right now. He decided to instead visit a friend he hadn’t seen in a while.
He quickly made his way to the fruit bowl painting that was near the Hufflepuff Common Room and tickled the pear within the painting. When he entered the newly appeared door, he took a quick glance over the kitchen, trying to find Dobby amongst the dozens of other house elves inside.
Luckily Dobby spotted him first and shouted, “Master Draco has come to see Dobby! Dobby is honored.”
Draco sighed in relief once he was by Dobby’s side. He really needed a friend who would listen to him and not judge him for how he felt.
“It’s so good to see you too, Dobby,” Draco smiled and gave the house elf a long hug which was instantly returned.
“Is there a reason Master Draco has come to visit Dobby?” Dobby asked as he led Draco to a more secluded part of the kitchens.
“I missed you Dobby, and so much has happened since the last time I saw you. Besides, you're one of the only people who truly listens.”
Draco sat on the cold ground and leaned against the wall. Dobby followed in suit, and Draco explained everything that had happened in the past couple of months. How his father sent him a howler saying he needed to prove that he was worthy of being a Malfoy because he was sorted into Gryffindor, how he became closer friends with Neville and made the Quidditch Team. How Potter, Weasley, Granger, and him had found a three headed dog and defeated a troll, and how he had his first Quidditch match today and his father had come to watch.
“Did Mr. Malfoy talk to Master Draco?” Dobby asked curiously, looking up at his friend.
“He had Sev invite me to his study, so we could talk alone,” Draco sighed, not wanting to think about the interaction they had.
“What did he say?”
“He just explained once more how much of a disappointment I was to the Malfoy name.” Draco looked down at his hands and then went on. “I thought he was going to be proud of me for once. I’m one of two first years that made a Quidditch team and had an amazing match, but he didn’t seem to think that was any sort of accomplishment.”
“Dobby is proud of you Master Malfoy.”
Draco turned back to look at the house elf. “Thank you, Dobby. It means a lot to me for you to say that.” And it truly did. Dobby had known Draco longer and better than almost anyone else, and for him to be proud of him felt amazing. He just couldn’t get his father’s words and actions out of his head though.
“Are you hungry, Master Draco? Dobby can make you something”
Draco hadn’t realized it, but the Quidditch Match had caused him to work up an appetite. He had had the chance to eat any of the finger sandwiches Severus had laid out either.
“Actually, I am. Would you mind fixing me a ham sandwich with a side of fruit?”
“Of course Master Draco! Dobby will start right away,” Dobby said happily and ran from their secluded space to start his work.
Draco smiled as he rose from the ground. He was glad to know Dobby was enjoying his work in the kitchens and that he had made the right decision releasing him from servitude at Malfoy Manor. He followed Dobby to the main area of the kitchens and took a seat on one of the barstools along the island in the middle.
As he waited for Dobby to finish their food, he watched the interactions between the other house elves. They worked diligently as they prepared the next meal that would be served in the Great Hall, but Draco noticed something more. They joked around with each other and held conversations with bright smiles on their faces. They were genuinely happy. They were a family.
Dobby had brought over two plates of food and sat in the seat next to Draco. The food looked and tasted delicious as Draco quickly began to eat. That sat in a comfortable silence with only the sound of the busy working house elves around them.
Once Draco had eaten most of his food, he turned to Dobby and asked, “Do you like it here?”
“Dobby loves his job in the kitchens! Everyone here was very welcoming and Dobby has made lots of friends!” Dobby had a big smile on his face as spoke, and Draco knew he was being genuine.
“That’s great Dobby. I’m glad to hear you're happy here. I need to get back to my classmates, but I’m glad I stopped by to see you. I’ll be back soon,” Draco said and reassured.
Draco got off the stool and gave Dobby another hug as they said goodbye, and then he left the kitchens feeling much better than before. As he threw the portrait door of his house’s common room, he could instantly tell everyone was still celebrating their win. His entrance hadn’t gone unnoticed as someone quickly called out his name.
“Draco! We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Where’d you go mate?” Weasley asked.
“I just needed to visit some people before coming back here,” Draco briefly explained to him.
“Well you came just in time! Fred and George have been winning money left and right with bets on games of exploding snap. People are starting to think they have it rigged which if you ask me it’s probably true,” Weasley said happily.
“I don’t know if I’m going to stay down here. It’s been a long day, and I kinda just want to relax,” Draco said.
“But this whole celebration is basically about you and Harry. You have to at least just for a little bit,” Weasley tried to convince Draco by giving him a pleading look.
Draco sighed, knowing it would be good for him to spend time with his housemates. Besides Ron was right, they were celebrating a win that he helped accomplish.
“I guess I can stay, but only for a bit,” Draco agreed and a grin broke out on Wealsey’s face as he dragged Draco over to the rest of their friends.
Draco had stayed longer than he had expected, and he was glad he did. He played a couple of games of exploding snap and had taken Weasley’s advice to not place a bet with the twins. He joked around with his friends, and many people had come up to congratulate him on his performance today. He was able to forget about his father and his expectations at least for a little bit.
He got what he was seeking in solitude anyways. Hanging out with the rest of the Gryffindors was slowly starting to feel right. Like he was actually a member of this house and it made him feel great.