Oxygen |Draco Malfoy|

Draco Malfoy

Third Person

Everyone in the order sat in the kitchen,  not daring to speak.  Lupin and Sirius were fuming from their discovery that Teresa had left yet again. Harry awkwardly cleared his throat. 

"This is fantastic dinner, Mrs.Weasley" he tried. She gave him a forced smile.  "Thank you, darling" she put out the conversation.

Once again, they were all left with nothing to hear other than Sirius and Lupins vicious stabbing at their plate. 

Everyone let out gasps and squeaks when something came tumbling through the fire place.  Within seconds,  all of them were ready to attack,  aiming their wands at the flash of platinum blonde. 

The Trio was surprised to see a frantic, tear stained Draco Malfoy.  "How did you find us?!" Moody growled.  Though Draco looked completely unaware of all the threatening wands ready to kill.  "I have to speak to Dumbledore!  Please!  Please! I have to speak to Dumbledore! " He pleaded,  his voice a croak. 

Mrs.Weasley wasted no time to launch into motherly mode, rushing forward to comfort the boy, despite everyone's frantic objections. "He could be dangerous,  Molly!" Mr. Weasley insisted. 

"He's obviously scared, Arthur! What would you do if it was our son?" She shut him up. 

"What is it,  darling?" She asked softly,  putting comforting hands on his shoulders. He hugged her, surprising everyone in the order. "She never showed up! She never came! Please,  I have to talk to Dumbledore!  The book store, struggle, it said come here!" He sobbed into her shoulder.
 
"Whats going on here?" Dumbledore came into the crowded area. Draco ripped out of Molly's arms, rushing towards Dumbledore. "She never showed up, Dumbledore! I went back to the book emporium... Someone dragged her out, someone- I don't know what to do, Professor!" He sobbed. 

By now, everyone's wands were slowly drifting off the frantic boy, curiosity and panic striking through them.

"How did you know to come here?" Dumbledore asked softly. Draco shook his head,  more tears coming.  

"She wrote it out in the dust. I smeared it away in case anyone else came... Please, Professor! I don't care if you obliviate me or take me as prisoner, I don't care! Please, just find her!" Draco cried. 

"Molly, you stay here and keep him calm, along with the children, get him something to eat, and some rest. Other members,  I want you to come with me..." Dumbledore ordered.  

"I'm not leaving my wife and children with him, he could be a threat!" Arthur objected. "That's right, he could be... but all I see is a boy in love, who is afraid" Dumbledore explained.  

"I'll do that, Dumbledore" Mrs.Weasley agreed. They all hesitated before gathering around Dumbledore. "I want to go, Professor" Harry stepped forward. "No" Dumbledore growled. "But-" Harry tried.  "I said no! You don't understand the situation!" Dumbledore yelled. 

Harry stood there, shocked, Dumbledore had never yelled at him before.Within seconds, those of the Order were gone. Mrs. Weasley wasted no time herding every child left into the living room. 

"Will they find her?" Draco asked Mrs.Weasley. "Of course they will, Draco... Can I call you Draco? " she asked, wrapping a blanket around him."Y-Yes" he hesitated slightly.  

"Would you like something to eat?" She asked, dusting off her apron. "N-No... Wait, are you the cook who always makes the food Teresa makes?" Draco managed a small smile.
 
Mrs.Weasley blushed and nodded.  "Yes, please. Your food is fantastic" he whispered. The Weasley children, Harry, and Hermione were on the opposite side of the living room, staring at Draco like an alien. None of them had ever seen Draco Malfoy cry. Much less let himself be pampered by a Weasley. 

Hesitantly,  Hermione got to her feet, inching across the living room until she stood right in front of Draco. He didn't look at her as she sat beside him, not daring to touch him, preparing to be insulted.

"Are you okay?" She dared,  laying a hand on hid shoulder. To everyones surprise, he didn't jerk away. "Please go away, Granger, I really don't want to talk right now" he whispered.  Hermione gasped, he hadn't called her a mudblood. 

She hurriedly rushed her thoughts, and without thinking, wrapped her arms around him. He tensed slightly, but then wrapped his arms around her to, letting the tears fall once again. The others watched in wonder.

"Thank you, Granger" he pulled away. Hermione gave a confused nod and rushed across the room, sitting between Ginny and Harry.

Once again, Mrs.Weasley bustled into the room, tea and bacon and biscuits floating behind her. Without saying a word, she flicked her wand, the food and tea cups seperated and found themselves among a child.

"Do you want to lay down, Draco?" Mrs. Weasley asked.  He shook his head no, unable to handle the thought of the nightmares that would come if he did. She sighed and left the room, pushing all the curious gingers and brunettes out of the room. 

"What did you do,  everyday when you guys would visit?" Molly dared ask, returning and sitting beside him. "We would just talk, and eat your cooking... I don't even remember what we talk about most of the time." He smiled softly, meeting her gaze.

For the first time, Mrs.Weasley understoid the lust and love she saw in Teresa's eyes after each visit. The young couple was indeed in love. They were a reminder of Molly and Arthur themselves.  She smiled. 

"Treat her right" she told him. He gave her a shocked look. "What?" He gasped. "For these past few months, I haven't understood what she loved you for... forgive me for saying this, but you were just another Malfoy.  But,  I'm starting to see it" She told him.

"I'm sorry" he said after a moment of comfortable silence. "What do you mean?" She asked. "I'm sorry for how the Malfoy's are... I don't know what else to do... its how I was raised. I just want to make my father proud" he whimpered. Mrs.Weasley was left gaping at the boy, tears brimming in her eyes.

Instead of a cruel, vile boy, she saw a boy desperate to make his father proud, lost.  She wrapped her arms around him, rocking back and forth slightly.  "I understand now" Draco heard her whisper. He grinned, feeling the mother's love he could never get from his own mother. 

He jumped to his feet when one giant crack of mixed apparating sounds shook the house.  He hurried to where it came from,  all the others following close behind. He stopped in his tracks, a gasp of horror as he saw the black and blue, bloody, and limp figure in Lupins arms.