Little Dragon
Alyssa paced for several hours, until shouting up the hall made her pause.
"They'll look here first," shrieked a voice that Alyssa had no trouble identifying as Narcissa. "They would suspect us to come here. We should have gone to one of the properties in the Caribbean."
"They won't come here," Lucius soothed his wife, "That is why this plan is so cunning. Why would we come back to the Manor, when it was the obvious place for us to go? They'll be doing their best to scour our other properties, while we prepare to attack."
Alyssa was listening intently, and was surprised when she heard quiet crying from outside her cell.
"Hello?" she said, uncertainty warring with curiosity. Who would be down here?
"Auntie?" a child's voice questioned.
Alyssa hadn't heard this particular voice in two years, but she still remembered it. "Draco?"
"Auntie? Why are you in the dungeon?" Draco asked curiously as he approached the cell door.
"Visiting," she remarked dryly, "Why are you down here Dragon?"
"Draco!" Lucius sharply called from the top of the stairs, "What are you doing talking to that traitor?"
"Traitor?" Draco asked, and Alyssa could hear the confusion in his voice, "Father, its Auntie."
"I'm well aware of who she is," Lucius growled, "What I don't understand is why you are talking to her."
"Cause she's my godmother and I haven't seen her in forever," Draco replied in confusion. He had gone to the dungeons to escape his parents yelling, and was surprised to find Alyssa down there. Has she been here the whole time?
"Well," Lucius said in a sweet tone that Alyssa didn't trust, "Why don't you spend some time visiting her?" He grabbed the little boy by the collar of his shirt as he opened the door to the cell. He roughly shoved Draco through, watching as he stumbled and scraped his knees. "You'll be allowed out once you learn that family is more important than that miserable half-blood traitor."
Alyssa moved over to the frightened blonde boy, but froze when Lucius focused his wand on her. "Don't move," he growled.
"I'm going to tend to my godson," Alyssa snarled, ignoring the frown on the older Malfoy's face as she helped the little boy to his feet. Draco immediately buried his face in the front of Alyssa's dress, sobbing as she held him close.
"Pathetic," Lucius sneered as he watched Alyssa comfort his heir. "I'll send a house elf down with your breakfasts later; this sight is making me ill."
Alyssa said nothing, watching as the door to the cell closed and listening as the sound of Lucius's footsteps grew fainter. Only then did she speak again.
"Calm down little Dragon," she soothed, kneeling so she could hug the boy. Bad move, she thought to herself as Draco threw his arms around her neck, hugging her tightly.
"Mother and Father hate me," he cried, looking up into his godmother's black eyes.
"Why do you think that Draco?" Alyssa asked in confusion. The last time that she had been to the Manor, Draco had been pampered like a little prince.
"Cause I'm not a good son," the little boy sobbed, tightening his hold on Alyssa's neck. She was the first person to speak to him without yelling at him in a long time, and it was so nice.
Alyssa's heart broke at the sadness in his voice. I'm going soft, Alyssa thought as she picked up Draco and moved over to the lumpy cot. Malfoy or not, I can't let him cry. Merlin help me, I am going soft; I blame Remus and this pregnancy. Shaking her head at her thoughts, Alyssa asked softly, "Why do you think that you're not a good son?"
"I can't do my lessons right. I can't remember all of the branches of the trees, or remember all the manners I'm s'posed to have," Draco replied, looking up at Alyssa in fear as he asked, "Do you hate me too?"
"No Draco," Alyssa said, carding her hand through his hair, hoping it would work to soothe Draco like it did Harry, "I don't hate you." Although your father and mother are tied with the Dark Lord on the top of that list. Kidnapping me is bad enough, did he have to let Draco know. An idea popped in her head as she looked at the boy in her lap. Maybe I can find out where exactly I am.
"Draco, do you know which of the Manor's we're in?"
Draco looked at her, his tears slowing a bit. "We're at home; where else would we be?"
Home meant the ancestral Manor in Britain. Alyssa smirked slightly. Malfoy, I have never been more happy that you are a fool. An elf popped in, cutting off that train of thought. The elf set a tray that had two small crusts of bread and two small goblets of milk on the floor by Alyssa's feet.
"Master be sending Dobby to bring Mistress Potions Mistress and Little Master breakfast," the elf said, twisting his tea towel in his hands nervously. "Is Mistress Potions Mistress needing anything else?"
"Yes Dobby," Alyssa said, looking at the tray in disgust, "Could you please return Draco to his rooms and give him a proper breakfast?"
Before Dobby could answer, Draco asked, "Will you come Auntie?" He didn't want her to leave him; she'd been so nice, just like always. She didn't stop being nice because he's a bad heir.
"Dobby can't be doing that Little Master. Dobby is having strict orders from Master not to be letting Mistress Potions Mistress out of her cell. I is being sorry."
"But that's no fair," Draco argued, looking up at Alyssa with sad grey eyes. "I want to stay with you."
"Draco, I'm a prisoner here. I've angered your father and mother, that's why I'm here. You don't have to stay down here. Your father will believe that you had Dobby take you to your room because you no longer wished to be around me." Alyssa couldn't believe that Draco wanted to stay in the cold cell instead of going to his warm rooms. Just how long have Lucius and Narcissa been neglecting him?
"Dobby," Draco commanded, "Bring my usual breakfast here, so I can share with Aunty. I guess Father told you not to give her good food?"
"Yes Little Master," Dobby said, green eyes wide, "But he saying nothing about Little Master. Dobby will get Little Master's breakfast at once." Draco nodded as the elf disappeared and turned to Alyssa, who looked more than a little shocked.
"I want to stay with you Auntie," he murmured, burying his face in her long hair. "You don't hate me like Mother and Father."
Great, Alyssa mentally sighed, another prisoner to tag along on this jailbreak. I'm not letting him here with Lucius and Narcissa when I get out of here, because they'd probably punish him for my escape. If I can get word to Sev, Fawkes could flash here, then flash us home. But can I trust Draco? She looked down at the child in her arms, and even she couldn't think of a reason for her suspicions. If I start accusing toddlers of ill intent, then I need a long stay in St. Mungo's.
"Draco," Alyssa sighed, "How would you like to come live with me?"