Destined for Darkness (A Draco Malfoy Fic)

Return of the Father

"Draco, sweetheart, I don't believe you've had a chance to visit the gardens since you've been home. I added a new rose variety this year, and they have bloomed beautifully."

Leave it to Narcissa to make a dismissal sound so polite. I swallowed a laugh at Draco's affronted look.

"But, mo—" Draco started to argue but was immediately silenced by Narcissa's arched brow.

"Yes, mother," he grumbled. He gave me one last look before heading out the door, leaving his mother and me alone in his room.

I chuckled at the thought of him pouting through the garden, hands stuffed in his pockets and kicking rocks around like a petulant child.

It warmed my heart that he was so concerned about me, but I was relieved that Narcissa sent him away while she did the diagnostic spell. I had a vague idea of some of the things she would find, and it would likely only send Draco into another lock-down.

Narcissa's admonishing look had softened into a fond smile as she looked towards the door, slightly shaking her head before turning to me. "Shall we?"

I nodded, and she motioned towards Draco's bed. "You'll need to lie down."

My eyes went wide, and my cheeks flamed. "Oh, umm, we could go to my room..."

Narcissa pinned me with a knowing look, and I wanted to sink into the floor from embarrassment. "Eleanor, our family is traditional in many ways, but I am also realistic. I also know that I raised my son to be a gentleman, and if he was ever anything less than, I feel confident in my assumption that you are the type of young lady who would set him straight in an instant."

My face was still hot, but she took my small smile as confirmation and laid her hand on my back, and led me over to the bed.

Narcissa hovered her wand a few inches above my body and moved slowly over me from head to toe. I watched as she focused on the different colored lights that would flash as the spell worked down my body.

I didn't know what the colors meant, but I assumed red wasn't good because it popped up every time her wand passed over a spot that was either currently sore or I had a faint memory of healing it. Every time the spell indicated another current or previous injury, I was thankful Draco wasn't here.

Unlike how I imagined her son would react, Narcissa remained calm and seemingly unfazed the entire time, helping to ease some of my initial apprehension.

When she finished, she took a step back to examine the complete diagnostic once more before banishing it with a wave of her wand. I sat up, and she took a deep breath and gave me a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes as she sat down next to me. "Well, there is evidence of multiple fractures and lacerations that have previously been healed. The newer the injury, the more skillfully it was mended."

I dropped my gaze from her pointed look and stared at my hands in my lap, nervously picking at my nails.

"Eleanor," her voice was thick, and she cleared her throat delicately. "You don't have to tell me anything, but if you need someone to talk to, you can always come to me."

Tears welled up and threatened to spill over, and I just nodded into my lap.

"You also need to know that—" she reached out and gently lifted my chin so that I had to look her in the eyes "—as long as you are under my roof, you are safe."

I gave her a small smile and nodded as I swiped away a tear.

"Good," she returned the smile as her fingers dropped away, and she rested her hands delicately on her crossed knee. "The spell didn't indicate any internal bleeding, but there is quite a bit of bruising."