The Serpent's Curse

A Final Promise

Two years earlier, a week before Albus and Scorpius' third year at Hogwarts

Draco paced, fingers twisting in his blond ponytail. There must be something he could do to save her, anything. He would do anything to see her live another day. A tear threatened to fall. Draco brushed it away. There was no time for tears, no time for goodbyes, no time for hoping. Only time for careful planning and treatment.

He growled and checked his wristwatch. What was that bloody doctor doing? He had been back in Astoria's room for over thirty minutes, and taking his damn time to figure out what was wrong. This was not the first time Dr. Perx had visited; he had come so many times, Draco had lost count. Every time he would depart, only more perplexed than before as to what was Astoria's problem. He used his charms and potions, but nothing seemed to help. Draco was sure he could do more and was livid the doctor wasn't trying harder. What could be more important than her life? The life of the woman he loved so dearly; the life of Scorpius' mother. The life of Astoria Malfoy.

Astoria had been sick for nearly a year, each day worse than the last. It started soon before Scorpius' second year; just a fever at first. But then she'd stopped eating and would awake in the night, brow thick with sweat. Draco did his best to comfort her, to figure out what was wrong, but she refused to talk about the constant nightmares. The closest he'd come to understanding was when she'd become delirious and rant about nonsense. She would mistake people for others and forget reality for days at a time.

Once Draco had awoken tied to a chair, Astoria threatening him with her wand. 'Voldemort,' She hissed, 'you! I'll kill you for what you did!' She screamed when Scorpius, alerted by the yelling, banged open the door and grabbed away her wand. He snapped it in half without a second thought and held Astoria down as best he could while using his wand to untie Draco. Astoria had fought, thrashing, screaming, and hurling threats at her husband and son until the doctor came and sedated her.

She awoke nine hours later with no recollection of the night before. When she figured out what she'd done, she'd cried into Draco's shoulder before apologising furiously to Scorpius and asking she be locked in her room by herself so as to not hurt anyone. Despite how much he'd hated the idea, he'd agreed after Astoria had begged.

Draco's heart twisted at the memory.

He hadn't known she had a history with Voldemort, and the idea troubled him. No one deserved to know that monster. Astoria was resistant when he first asked her about it, but she finally relented and told him...everything. At least everything she could remember.

The death.

The blood.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

He shuddered. The worst person he had ever met, second only to Voldemort himself. His own aunt. The thought of his family always brought terror and regret. It was so much easier to live as though he had no connection to them at all.

Of course, that was impossible when everyone whispered the name in the streets.

Scorpius Malfoy; the son of Voldemort.

Astoria Greengrass; the mistress of Voldemort.

The rumours. The lies. It drove Draco insane.

Voldemort's son!

It was disgusting people even considered the idea.

And he could only imagine the gossip that would fly once (if! He corrected himself, something desperate stabbing at his heart) Astoria passed. Especially if they knew all the details. It was the reason he had never fully told anyone all that had happened. If they knew....