Who: Draco Malfoy What: Nightmares When: Midnight, August 26, 2002 Where: Trio's Home Rating: medium for implied violence
Who: Draco Malfoy What: Nightmares When: Midnight, August 26, 2002 Where: Trio's Home Rating:
Draco sat at the ornate kitchen table, watching his mother and father eat a leisurely dinner. He knew the food would be delicious, it always was, but he couldn't bring himself to take a bite. He knew any moment now that his father was going to ask him about school, and he'd have to admit that he lost out at exams to a muggle born and lost the house cup to Potter. He could almost taste his father's disappointment, and it left no room for food.
“So. I spoke with your Professors. And I must say I am not impressed.”
Draco cringed. He didn't want to hear this lecture again.
“You leave me little choice.”
Lucius stood and drew an unfamiliar wand.
“Avada Kedavra!
Draco screamed as his skin sizzled away under the force of his father's spell…
“Only infants scream Draco! Now stand up!”
Bellatrix loomed over him, wand in hand and a sneer on her face.
“How can you ever hope to serve your Lord if you cannot even take a little pain! Crucio!”
He screamed again, consciousness slipping as his aunts laugh filled his ears. It mophed, shifting and changing into a crying child.
“No! No! Mama Mama!”
“Do it!”
Bellatrix’s cruel fingers dug into Dracos shoulder.
“Finish it.”
Draco raised his wand in a shaking hand, tears trickling down his nose.
“Avada Kedavra.”
Nothing happened.
“Again!”
“Avads Kedrvra.”
“It is useless if you do not mean it, now cast it again!”
“Avada Kedavra!”
The muggle child's wailing increased in volume.
“You are a poor, pathetic excuse for a Wizard Draco, and it pains me to claim you as my blood. Avada Kedavra!”
The crying stopped.
“It's okay my baby. Mummys got you.”
Susan rocked a small child with cocoa skin and red curls in her arms, humming a soothing tune as the child's eyes slipped closed.”
“You have, like, a magic touch or something. She's been wailing at me for ages.”
Susan smiled lovingly up at Ron.
“She was just hungry, which you can't do much about. Remember last week, when she had croup, you were the only one she wanted.”
“And the week before when she had that cold all she wanted was Draco. Fickle little love.”
Ron looked at his little daughter with such tenderness and joy that it broke Draco's heart. He needed to freeze time, to keep them like this, together and safe and happy…
“Ron, who's at the door?”
A loud explosion shook the little house, causing Ronnie to wail again.
“Run!”
Narcissa crashed through the door, hair wild and eyes haunted.
“He's coming! Run!”
Ron scooped up the baby and reached for Susan, but it was too late. Draco walked through the door, face calm and eyes empty. He raised his wand. Everyone was screaming.
“Avada Kedavra.”
Everything stopped.
***
Draco woke with a gasp, shaking and crying. He had killed them all. He looked over at Ron and Susan asleep in the bed beside him. No. It was a dream. They were…
He took a shuddering breath and eased off the bed. The floor felt frigid against the newly healer skin of his bare feet. He needed.... A moment. And he didn't want to wake them up. Not now.