(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter fifty-four

June 1998

Draco

"Obliviate".

***

I awoke from the trance put on me feeling utterly confused. A mix of emotions, anger, heartbreak, and sadness, washing over me like giant tidal waves against shore.

I was still in that room. A single flame lighting up my pale face, making it so that I could see the person standing before me.

My father.

"What happened?", I asked, my hoarse voice nearly breaking. "What did you do to me?!".

"Now now, Draco", Lucius tsked, letting his tongue rest against the roof of his mouth as he glared intensely at me. "Don't be rash, It's all going to be fine". He placed a firm hand on my shoulder, as he had done many times before. It was a way to make sure I would behave, and that the upper hand still rested with him. It was a sign of superiority. For he was my father, and he was making sure it stayed so.

My initial reaction to his stone cold touch was to shrug back. I wanted nothing to do with the man who was supposed to take care of me — protect me — but instead, did the polar opposite. He may have been my father still, but he certainly wasn't in control of my life anymore. At least, that was what I kept telling myself, perhaps to stay somewhat sane.

"Don't touch me", I spat, curving my hand into a fist at my side until my knuckles turned pearly white. "I've had enough of your bullshit to last a life time", I took a step closer, until I was practically up in his face. In order to show him that I wasn't taking any of it anymore, I had to assert power. Let him know who was in charge. That I was taking back some of the control.

In the midst of the tense argument building up with Lucius, I was beginning to lose my sense of self. Even though I had spent months — if not weeks — building up the courage to stand up to him again, something inside me didn't feel right. My thoughts were — hazy — and I was starting to forget certain things. No matter how hard I tried to recollect what had happened leading up to that very moment — I couldn't. It was as if someone, or something, had put up an invisible wall in my mind, blocking me from gaining access to certain memories. Everything was foggy, and it only seemed to be getting worse the more I tried to wrap my head around it.

"Fuck!", I felt a sharp pain in my head, as well as a ringing in my ear that refused to give me a break.

"Now, I'm sorry it had to come to this, Draco — but I'm afraid I didn't have a choice. I couldn't have you fraternising with that half blood any longer".

The pain in my head only seemed to grown stronger, and I was becoming more and more agitated as it went on. "Wh–what are you–what are you talking about?", I managed to let out in-between groans and gasps. At this point, I was struggling for air, and even the simplest act of letting air flow through my lungs, felt impossible.

"Seeing as you've refused to let me help you before — I made the decision for you-"

"—I swear to God if you lay a hand on her— "

"—Oh don't worry. I didn't touch your little plaything, nor am I going to. I have no interest in the girl. You — on the other hand — need to learn to respect your superiors".

As I struggled to keep my eyes from closing shut due to the excruciating amount of pain that I was in, I found myself reaching for my wand. Luckily for me, it was still there, tucked away inside the pocket of my trousers.