CURSED: FROM THE BEGINNING [D.M]

-(54) different ways to cope

DRACO walks through the gates of the Nott Manor, his hands stuffed inside his pockets, his mind on a thousand thoughts. He doesn't know why Yaxley had told him to come here today. He'll be damned to ever listen to that shell of a man. But Theo hadn't responded to his patronuses. And Draco can't help but think something is wrong.

He had to take Zilliah back to her apartment as she isn't safe at his'. Daphne did not speak a single word while Draco was with her. But as the door closed, he could hear the shattering of glass and a raged voice, getting drowned out by a quick muffliato spell. Draco wanted to go back and get her. He wanted to hurt her mother for ever causing her pain. But he had promised her- he had promised he would stay away from their fights.

It wasn't as if he could get back in too. One could only have access to their apartment if Daphne lets that person in. It was bound by her magic. So all he could do was bite his tongue and walk away from there lest he should burn the whole thing to the ground.

Clearing his thoughts, Draco pushes the door open and strides into the hall of the manor to find Theo on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He shoots his eyes straight up, alarmed. But as he sees it's Draco, he relaxes.

"What are you doing here?", he drawls as he takes a sip before shutting his eyes and lolling his head back.

Draco walks upto him and takes the glass from his hand, setting it onto the table. He sees the almost empty bottle on top of it and shoots his head right back at Theo. "How much did you drink?"

He holds up five fingers, quickly following it with the shake of his head and making it six and then seven and- "I've lost count", he says, lowering his hand in complete loss.

"Theo, this isn't good", Draco tells him, taking in the pitiable demeanor of his dear friend, making his heart hurt.

"Oh, I know", Theo says, his words slurred, "But it'll help with the pain."

"What pain?", Draco asks, confused.

As an answer, in walks Voldemort followed by Theo's father.

Voldemort is just as shocked to see Draco as Draco is to see Voldemort. "I didn't know you'd be here, Draco", his cold voice fills the air, making it grey and dark, like any remaining happiness has been completely stripped away by his presence.

"My lord", he forces out, bowing before him. "I wasn't aware either."

Voldemort tilts his face in suspicion and amusement. "You didn't come here to talk your friend out of it, did you?"

"Talk him out of what-"

"Because he's doing this on his own accord."

"I don't-"

"He came to me, pleading for this."

Draco shakes his head, confused as ever. "I'm sorry, my lord. I don't understand what's happening here."

Voldemort looks at Theo and asks, "You didn't tell him, Theo?"

Theo shakes his head, his eyes glued to the floor.

Voldemort's laughter is cold as he looks back at Draco and says, "Your friend has begged to be a Death Eater, Draco. He fell onto his knees and asked for it."

Draco's eyes widen in utter shock, his whole body going into complete alarm. He shoots his eyes at Theo, seeing him still hold his gaze at the floor but with a malicious smile Draco has never seen from him in all the years he had known him.

"Come on, Theo", Voldemort's voice buzzes in Draco's ears. "Let's get on with it."

-

The whole manor is silent. No screams. No cries. Nothing. Draco even wonders if Theo is dead inside his room now because it's too quiet to be good.

He still can't understand why Theo would choose to walk into this mess when he didn't have to. He had suspected Theo's father but he told him that it was entirely Theo's choice. "My wife is dead because of this life of mine", his words still play on repeat inside Draco's head. "Why would I force my only son into it?"

Draco has no reason to trust Tiberius. He knows that the man before him is abusive and manipulative from the very few stories Theo had opened up to him about. But still- that look in his eyes makes Draco feel like maybe he is telling the truth. That maybe he is honest. That maybe he is scared.

The door to Theo's room opens and Voldemort strides out of it, walking straight up to Theo's father. "I think your son will make me proud, Tiberius", he speaks. And with that, he leaves, walking out the door and apparting into thin air.

Draco makes to run into the room to check up on Theo but he walks out of it, no tear stains on his cheeks, no ounce of regret in his eyes, not the slightest pained expression on his face. He walks into the kitchen and pulls out another bottle of whiskey from a cabin. He then sits on the counter table, opening the bottle and pouring himself a glass.

He doesn't speak to anyone. He doesn't look at anyone.

He just downs the whole thing in one go.

Everyone has different ways to cope.