A New Life

"Draco, bath time," Alyssa said, entering the room where the little boy was playing with blocks, by himself because Harry had been called off to his bath by Severus.

"Ok Mama," Draco said, rising from where he was sitting and looking at the blocks. "Where do these go?"

"Put them back in the box, then when we fetch your pajamas from your room, you can put it in Harry's toy chest," Alyssa replied, gently stroking the blonde's hair and wondering if she was an idiot for being grateful to Lucius Malfoy for kidnapping her. If he hadn't taken me, then I would have never known how badly Draco was being treated. If I'm a fool for being grateful for my hostage situation, then so be it.

They went upstairs to the boys' room. Draco moved to the toy chest to put away the blocks while Alyssa borrowed one of Harry's sleep shirts for Draco. Tomorrow we need to go shopping. We can't keep borrowing Harry's clothes for Draco forever; the boy needs a few things of his own.

She led him down the hall to the bathroom, mostly focusing on what she needed to do the next day. That explains why the scars on Draco's back caught her completely off guard, especially since she recognized the shape of the marks. The cane; that bloody snake cane that he's always carrying. He used that to beat Draco?

"Draco," Alyssa asked, her voice shaking slightly, "Who did that to you?" She had to stop herself from tracing the non-existent scars that used to cover her body. She finally allowed Remus to apply the scar removal cream, on their wedding night, but now she could almost see them on her pale skin once more. Draco's answer didn't help much.

"Father did," he replied, in a voice that was equal parts sad and resigned, "I was bad, so he hit me to try to make me be good. If I was really bad, I got put in with that boggart thing. I tried to be good…" here his voice broke, tears trickling down his cheeks.

"Oh Draco," Alyssa sighed, picking him up and holding him close, ignoring the fact that he was half dressed, "Even if you didn't behave, he shouldn't have punished you so. You shouldn't like your punishment, but it shouldn't cause you to bleed or truly fear for your wellbeing."

"That's kinda what Harry said," Draco mumbled, his face pressed into Alyssa's shoulder, "He said Father was bad to punish me like that, and that you and Papa never will."

"I promise you Draco, we may spank you or scold you, ground you or put you in time out, but we will never abuse you," Alyssa said, fighting tears for the first time in a long time. God, why did this have to be so hard to face.

That's how Remus found them, Alyssa sitting on the stool in the bathroom, gently stroking Draco's hair as she attempted to soothe both of their fears. She looked up when she heard him enter, and sighed at the unspoken question in his eyes. She moved slightly, allowing Remus to see Draco's back and all the scars covering it. The werewolf looked stunned.

His father, Alyssa mouthed, looking sadly at the crying blonde in her lap, with that blasted cane I assume.

Remus growled softly, the urge to kill Malfoy senior increasing by the second. Draco looked up, and Remus quickly schooled his expression into a calm smile, smothering the rage he had for Lucius Malfoy.

"Hi Papa," Draco said his voice noticeably more subdued, "I forgot to tell Mama 'bout my scars, then I membered what Father did."

"Draco, we all have scars, whether it looks like it or not," Alyssa said, ruffling the boy's hair slightly, "Just ask Papa after a full moon. Even with my potion, he still needs healed after a full moon."

"You try curling up comfortably with razor sharp claws and not scratch yourself," Remus grumbled good-naturedly, recognizing the teasing tone.

"I must, seeing as I usually accompany you during the full moon, ensuring you don't get lost," Alyssa replied, setting Draco on his own two feet as she stood.

"I need your assistance finding my way home?"

"Well, while dogs are believed to be able to find their way home regardless…" Alyssa trailed off, not finishing that sentence the way should would have if Draco wasn't around. You couldn't find your arse with both hands and a map.

"Would mind if Papa gives you your bath Draco? I need to go and make sure Sirius isn't getting into mischief. The things that man comes up with when he's bored," Alyssa shook her head, smirking as she thought of Sirius's last escapade.

"Ok, make sure Uncle Padfoot isn't being bad, 'cause if he is you'll have to give him time out," Draco said, slightly teasingly.

"Probably," Alyssa said as she exited the room, "I'll be back to tuck you in Draco."

"Better decide whether you want a story or a song," Remus said, gesturing for Draco to finish undressing and get in the tub.

"Why?" Draco asked, leaning back as Remus washed his hair.

"Because that's usually how Alyssa tucks Harry in, either reading him a story or singing to him," Remus answered, careful to keep the shampoo from running in Draco's eyes.

"Really?" Draco asked, curious.

"Really. Of course, if you don't want either, she'd respect that," Remus said, continuing to wash Draco while plotting creative ways to kill the Malfoys. The hopeful tone Draco used when he asked if Alyssa would really read to him tore at his heart. How hard is it to read a story to your kid? Alyssa and I do it when we babysit Harry for Sev. Hell, even Sirius will read stories to Harry if Sev's too tired that night.

"What does Harry usually choose?" Draco asked as he was wrapped in a towel and thoroughly dried off and dressed in his borrowed nightclothes.

"Well, he usually asks Sev and Siri for stories, unless Alyssa is around at bedtime, in which case he'll ask her. Sometimes he'll ask her to sing, other times he'll ask for Severus to sing with her. I usually am asked for a story, though Alyssa once roped me into singing as well," Remus answered, leading the little boy to the room he would share with his almost cousin.

Alyssa was there, tucking Harry in and kissing his forehead lightly. She moved over to Draco's bed, pulling down the covers and prompting him to get in. She repeated the tucking in process, kissing him on his forehead as she pulled away.

"Now," Alyssa asked as she sat down on the rocking chair by the window, Remus still leaning against the doorframe, "Tonight do you want a story or a song?"

Such a simple question; why couldn't Draco answer? He opened and closed his mouth soundlessly, unsure of what to say. Harry took the decision from him.

"Sing please Auntie," he said, still snuggled up in his blankets.

"If Remus will sing with me," Alyssa said, amusement glinting in her black eyes as she waved a hand, causing music to play.

"Baby when I met you there was peace I know," Remus sang, recognizing the song instantly. He'd have been an idiot to forget the first song they danced to at their wedding.

They sang, their voices low and soothing to the boys, allowing them to fall asleep without worrying about nightmares about the day's events.

"Islands in the stream, that is what we are…" they sang, drifting off before the end as both noticed that Harry and Draco were asleep.

"Well done wolf," Alyssa smirked, accepting the hand offered and rising from her chair.

"I could say the same to you love," Remus replied, smirking as they quietly left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Now that the kids are asleep," Alyssa said, heading down the hall, "Let's go and plan how we're going to outsmart Malfoy and ensure that his smarmy arse ends up in Azkaban."

Remus could only nod in agreement as he followed his wife to the kitchen, where Severus and Sirius were waiting to being planning their attack.