DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．25

Lilith's footsteps were rushed as she pulled Alvena down a dark, narrow corridor, far away from the dining hall. The atmosphere in Malfoy Manor felt heavy, the walls almost closing in on Alvena as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened. Her heart was still pounding from the shock of meeting Voldemort, but something in Lilith's urgency told her that the truth, at least part of it, was still waiting to be revealed.
"Quickly," Lilith hissed as she opened a door to a small, sparsely furnished room. She ushered Alvena inside, closing it behind her. "We don't have much time. You must understand what the Dark Lord said was a lie."
Alvena blinked, confused. "What do you mean? He... he said my mother died during childbirth. He said she wanted me, but she couldn't have me, so you and William took me in. He said I was hidden from the Ministry."
Lilith's face darkened as she paced quickly across the room, then turned to face Alvena with a serious expression. "That's not what happened, Alvena. I've kept this secret for so long, but you deserve to know the truth. Your mother... she was from one of the oldest, most powerful wizarding families—the Wylths."
Alvena's eyes widened. She had heard of the Wylths often. "The Wylths?" she repeated softly.
"Yes. They were known for their mastery of magic, some even say they could bend the very fabric of the world with their power. But your mother—your real mother—wasn't just another member of that family. She was the heart of it. Your mother was everything they stood for." Lilith paused for a moment, her eyes clouded with memories. "She fell in love with Tom Riddle, but she never knew what kind of man he truly was. He used her, Alvena. He only wanted her to produce an heir, someone who could carry on his legacy, his bloodline. Someone who could provide a being maybe stronger than him."
Alvena could hardly breathe as she processed the words. Tom Riddle—the Dark Lord—had used her mother. Her whole life, she had been led to believe a different story she was a Blythes. But now, with Lilith's revelation, it was clear that her life had been manipulated by forces far darker than she could ever imagine.
Lilith's voice dropped lower, the weight of her words sinking in. "I was there with your mother when she gave birth to you. It was hidden in a cave, far from anyone, far from the reach of the Dark Lord's followers. She... she asked me to protect you, to keep you safe. She knew what would happen, Alvena. She knew that Voldemort would come for her, and when he did, he killed her, along with the rest of the Wylths."
Tears welled in Alvena's eyes as she staggered backward, trying to grasp the enormity of what Lilith was telling her. "What do you mean? He killed her? And then—what? Why was I given to the you? You just gave me up?"
Lilith's face was grim, her eyes filled with sorrow as she continued. "You were his heir, Alvena. It was bond for him to find you. Thankfully, William and I were among the lord's most loyal followers, he entrusted you to us. We had to pretend to be your parents to protect you. He thought we could keep you hidden, safe from the Ministry, until the time came for him to return and claim you as his own."
Alvena's mind raced, her life had been a carefully constructed lie.
"But... why now? Why bring me here, to Malfoy Manor?" she asked, her voice breaking. "Why would he want me now?"
"Because the time has come," Lilith said softly. "Voldemort is growing stronger. He needed you here, by his side, to take your rightful place with him. Your power, your blood, it's all part of his plan. He's convinced that you'll join him willingly."
Alvena's hands trembled as she fought to hold it together. "And what do you want from me?"
"I want you to be safe," Lilith said, her voice pleading. "I don't want you to join him, Alvena. I want you to be wise. I know you feel lost right now, but there's still time to choose your own path. You have to fight this, Alvena. You have to block him."
Alvena blinked. "Block him? What do you mean?"
"Occlumency," Lilith replied urgently. "Like I showed you in your summer lessons. You must block his mind from reading yours. If he can't read your thoughts, he can't control you."
Alvena hesitated for a moment, her mind spinning. Could she really do this? Could she fight against the Dark Lord in this way?
"I'll try," Alvena whispered, the weight of her decision heavy in her chest.
Lilith nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Good. Don't let him see inside you. Keep your thoughts guarded. We can't let him control you, not now."
But before Alvena could respond, the door to the room opened, and Narcissa Malfoy appeared in the doorway. Alvena froze, panic rising in her chest. Narcissa looked at her with an unreadable expression.
"What's going on here?" Narcissa asked, her gaze flicking between them.
Lilith quickly turned to Alvena, her voice calm but firm. "I was just fixing Alvena's makeup. She looked pitiful in front of the Dark Lord."
Narcissa raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she said nothing more. "Dinner is about to begin," she said curtly. "The Dark Lord is no longer in the dining hall, but we should go. Everyone is waiting."
Alvena's mind raced as Lilith gently nudged her toward the door. "Remember," Lilith whispered just before they left, "don't mention anything of our conversation. Not to anyone."
They made their way to the dining hall, and as they entered, Alvena felt the weight of the room's cold atmosphere. The long table was set with silver and crystal, but the silence that hung in the air was deafening. Voldemort was no longer present, and the space felt empty without his chilling presence. Alvena took her seat next to Draco, her eyes fleetingly meeting his. They exchanged a brief, wordless look—one that spoke of shared confusion, of shared fear—but neither of them said a word.
The dinner dragged on, the air thick with tension. Lucius Malfoy, who was sitting at the head of the table, cleared his throat and spoke in a low, authoritative voice. "Tomorrow morning, a carriage will be waiting for both of you. You will be taken to Blythe Manor for the summer." His eyes flicked toward Alvena and Draco, his tone unwavering. "Your parents will remain here, as they have business to attend to, but they will visit on occasion."
Neither Alvena nor Draco responded. The silence stretched out between them, until Lucius dismissed them with a curt nod.
"Go rest," he said, his voice almost dismissive. "We'll speak more in the morning."
Alvena stood, her legs feeling like lead as she made her way out of the dining hall. The weight of the evening was almost too much to bear. She reached her room and collapsed onto the bed, tears finally breaking free.
The truth of everything—her family, Voldemort, her real parents—swirled in her mind, too much to handle. She couldn't breathe. The walls were closing in, the dark reality of her life finally crushing her.
She wiped her tears away, trying to steady her breath. Maybe, just maybe, she could find some sense of peace if she wasn't alone.
As if on cue, she opened the door to her room, and Draco was standing there, his expression filled with understanding.
Without any word, he stepped forward, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
Alvena didn't say anything; she didn't need to. She buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking into his robes as he held her, his arms strong and steady.
"I'm here," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."
They both sank into the bed together, wrapping themselves around each other for warmth, for comfort, for something to hold onto in this world that had suddenly become too much to understand. The night fell around them, but they fell asleep together, entwined in the fragile security they found in each other.