Sex, Lies and Malfoy Madness

1 - Meet the parent

Chastity

I feel my heart reach up into my throat as I stare up in awe at the gothic-like manor towering over us. It is bigger than freaking Hogwarts.

'You grew up in this place?' I ask, dumbfounded.

'Yep,' Draco says, popping the p, 'just the three of us. It was pretty fucking lonely.'

I steal a glance up at the Slytherin beside me and I see a flicker of apprehension in his eyes as they catch mine, his tongue darting out nervously to sweep his upper lip.

A white, albino peacock wanders into view from behind the gate, squawking like some sort of dreadful intruder alarm. I shiver.

I feel something brush against my hand, making me startle. But when I look down, my heart unexpectedly skips a beat. Long, slender fingers entwine with mine. Despite the fact that we'd joined hands when we Apparated just now, this feels somehow a lot more intimate.

'You'll be fine,' he murmurs in my ear, his hand clasping mine a fraction tighter so that I can feel the heat of his palm reassuringly against mine. 'She's going to love you.'

I have never met his mother before, not properly. Theo, of course, being Draco's childhood friend and ex Death Eater, was already well acquainted with the Malfoys and their home.

The walk up the driveway is made in silence. I cannot take my eyes off the intimidating building before us which looks like the ideal location for a murder mystery weekend.

Inside is just as cold and unbecoming. Despite the already darkening afternoon, there are no lights lit, and through the little natural light left, I can see dust gathering on the surfaces and cobwebs collecting in dark corners.

'Mother?' Draco shouts, his voice echoing emptily around us.

Silence.

'I'm sorry,' he whispers quietly now, his fingers clasping tighter around mine, 'since Father's arrest, Mother has been somewhat out of sorts.'

'But don't you have house elves?' I ask, confused. For the Malfoy's have always been renowned for keeping up appearances; throwing around their riches and holding lavish parties which I recall my parents getting dressed up for in their best evening attire.

But then again, that was all before the second wizarding war.

'They were all slaughtered during You-Know-Who's stay here,' Draco says quietly, his eyes casting downwards. 'As you can imagine, finding hired help since has become a somewhat onerous task.'

'Well, perhaps that's something I can help with,' I say, beginning to remove my wand from my pocket, keen to earn my keep now I am old enough to use magic out of school.

'There will be no need.'

We look up at the sharp voice. A woman of such breathtaking beauty walks down the opulent staircase, her silver hair shimmering in the little light casting through the windows. If I didn't know better, I would guess she is a Veela, but of course she is just Draco's mother, and beauty clearly runs in the family.

'Mother,' Draco says at once, letting go of me to greet her at the bottom of the stairs. They embrace at once, mother and son holding each other dearly.

'Draco, my boy, my child,' she whispers ardently, standing back to clasp either side of his face in her spindly hands, her eyes studying him so intently, as though she is taking a mental picture to keep in her memory forever.

I stand there awkwardly as I await for Draco to introduce me. It occurs to me that I am not a visitor she is expecting, and I suddenly wish I had gotten Draco to owl her in advance so as not to put her on the spot.