Boy - (A 'Blaire Zabini' sequel) || Draco Malfoy

40 - The Lady

Jack pressed his face up against the cool glass, looking longingly out at the world beyond.

He didn't move for a long time, even though the brightness of the sun made his eyes ache.

Trees, grass, flowers. It was all so much to take in, and he didn't think he'd ever get bored of looking. He'd seen it all before on that big box of moving pictures his daddy had bought them. But it wasn't the same as the real thing.

His attention was drawn only when a familiar soft head nuzzled under his elbow.

Mr Dog! Except, he wasn't really Mr Dog, even though Jack still called him that in his head.

A nasty ache in his tummy made him want to cry whenever he thought about the real Mr Dog.

Mr Dog had been left Downstairs along with Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermy and all the other things he missed so much.

He loved Upstairs with Daddy, Nanny, Grandad, Scorpy and Orion, but he missed his home, and he wondered if he'd ever see it again.

Life wasn't much different Upstairs. In fact, without the tunnels to explore and the fewer people to visit, life Upstairs was pretty small.

He was glad he had Mummy though, and Ginny, in a way. Although she was still as mean as ever, but he found her presence oddly comforting, a reminder that Downstairs had existed.

But Mummy seemed sadder since they'd arrived. Jack would often catch a glimpse of her crying, and Daddy would always cuddle her until she stopped.

He was confused, he thought she'd be happy to be Upstairs, but then he guessed she missed Aunt Hermy and Uncle Ron just like he did.

He didn't like seeing his mummy sad. It made him feel sad too.

"When we get Outside," Jack whispered to Orion, "I'll take you there. We can find Mr Dog and Auntie Hermy and Uncle Ron and bring them all back to Mummy and she can smile again."

Orion, with his tongue hanging out, panted excitedly; and Jack giggled as he then eagerly licked his face.

But there was one problem with this plan; they weren't allowed Outside. He gave a heavy sigh, wondering if he'd ever stop yearning for places he couldn't reach.

Something Outside caught his eye; a movement.

He couldn't be sure what it was, but it had happened just beyond the bushes. Pressing his face back up to the window, he squinted, trying to catch it again.

But he was breathing so hard that the glass misted up and he could no longer see. As he used his sleeve to wipe it clear, he saw it again.

Except it wasn't an 'it', but rather a beautiful lady. And she was smiling and waving at him.

Jack waved back, his heart racing in chest. He couldn't understand - everyone kept telling him the Outside was full of bad people and that they mustn't leave the treehouse because of this.

But this lady didn't look like a bad person. She looked kind and friendly and had a very nice smile.

"What are you doing, son?"

Jack guiltily dropped his arm, snapping his head up to see his daddy standing at the door.

"N-Nothing," he stammered. "Just looking for foxes."

Jack held his breath as his daddy continued to look curiously at him. He wondered if he knew he was telling a lie.

Jack didn't like to lie. Uncle Ron would always tell him that his nose would grow every time he told a lie.

He quickly brought a hand up to his face, hurriedly checking his nose. It still felt the same.

"Come on," his daddy murmured quietly, beckoning him away from the window, "let's go and play some cards."

Jack jumped down from the bed, eagerly following, the lie he'd told quickly forgotten about.

*****

"Looking for foxes?" I stated bewilderedly as Draco handed me a glass of wine.

I'd just come into the kitchen after putting the boys to bed when Draco announced that he suspected Jack was hiding something.

"In the middle of the day," Draco said pointedly, "and if anyone knows that foxes are nocturnal, it's our Jack."

"Jack knows not to lie," I said somewhat defensively, "he's a good boy."

"Hey," Draco murmured at once, his features immediately softening, "I'm not disputing that. You're an amazing mother and he's an amazing kid - of course he is, he's ours," he paused; a smirk twitching at his lips. "But Blaire, I'm telling you, our little boy is concealing something from us. He was distracted all afternoon, taking little interest in our card games."

"Chill Drac, he's six years old," I drawled, rolling my eyes, "of course he's going to get distracted playing a game designed for adults."

"He loves playing cards with his father!" Draco hollered indignantly. "And besides, I'm pretty sure he's not like other six year olds."

"Of course he's not, Drac," I smirked, clinking my glass lightly against his, "he's a Malfoy."

Quick as a flash, he stepped forward to snake an arm around my waist, crushing me hard up against him as his lips immediately found mine.

"My wine!" I gasped against his mouth, quickly manoeuvring the glass up behind his head, trying not to spill it.

Lips smirked against mine; silver eyes twinkling in amusement. "Sod the wine, Zabini. You taste much better."

"Ugh, get a fucking room."

Draco and I immediately fell apart as Ginny stormed into the kitchen, pushing past us to get to the fridge.

"For your information, Weasley," Draco muttered bitterly, "we used to have the whole sodding treehouse to ourselves."

"Yeah, that'll explain the two kids you've now got in the bedroom," Ginny spat, slamming a packet of bacon on the kitchen counter. "Oops, sorry, I meant the one. I forget Scorpius is from a whole other pussy."

I felt a wave of fury rip through my stomach. My patience was wearing dangerously thin with that woman and her constant sarcastic remarks about mine and Draco's relationship.

It was Draco who prevented me from stepping towards her, my hand itching to slap her face.

"One more word about our children, Weasley," he snarled dangerously, curling an arm around my waist as he pulled me back to his side, "and you'll be out that door quicker than you can say Azkaban."

Without waiting for a response, Draco grabbed the wine and led me from the kitchen, not saying anything until we reached the games room.

"I'm fucking sick of living under the same roof as that rude little bitch," he spat, fury making his eyes bulge in hatred. "She's done nothing but ruin the time I have with you before I- before I-"

"Don't say it, Drac," I whispered imploringly, placing my hand against his hardened cheek. I could feel a muscle pulsing beneath my fingers as his jaw remained rigid. "Don't."

He closed his eyes, emitting a wearied sigh.

"I'm worried about Jack," he murmured. "He needs more than this... deserves more than I can offer him. He's desperate to explore the world, and instead he's stuck in this place until I can no longer find a reason to continue being a coward."

"You are not a coward," I said vehemently, standing on tiptoes to press my lips against his forehead. "You are the bravest man I know. You are my Draco and I love you for everything you are."

My feet lowered back down to the ground just as Draco's fingers wrapped around my wrists, his eyes piercing mine intently.

"Tomorrow," he said shakily, but fiercely, "I'm going tomorrow, and nothing's going to stop me."

******