Broken

Darkness

February

Draco popped into view outside large, wrought-iron gates as the sun set behind the trees. The gates swung open, squealing and juddering, as he walked towards them. He really needed to fix that.

Draco trudged slowly down the long driveway, his wand-light pushing back the dusky shadows. At last, he turned a corner and the manor came looming into view. Draco sighed, steeling himself before pushing open the heavy door. He shivered as he stepped inside the silent house. A sudden clattering made him jump. He shone his wand around the entrance hall, breathing hard.

'Good evening, sir,' a squeaky voice called from the sweeping staircase. 'Sooty did not mean to startle you, master.  Sooty is most sorry.'

Draco squinted up at the house-elf, whose ears were flapping as he bowed repeatedly in apology. He forced a smile, heart-rate returning to normal.

'Not to worry.  Is mother in the drawing room?'

'Yes, sir.  Madam is there with Master Scorpius.'

'Thank you,' Draco hurried across the hallway, then paused.  'Sooty, could you take a look at the front gates tomorrow, please? I think they need oiling.'

'Of course, sir!'

Draco walked through the dark house.  Shadows seemed to reach out for him. The wand-light trembled as his hand shook. When he reached the door, he was almost running. He slammed into the warm, brightly lit room, making the two people inside jump.

'Daddy!' Scorpius flung himself at his father, chocolate smeared around his mouth.

'Heeey!' Draco swept his son into a hug, breathing in the strawberry smell of his damp hair. 'How is my favourite wizardling? Have you been good for your grandmother?'

'He always is, dear,' Narcissa smiled at her son from the chair by the fireplace. 'How was your day?'

'Oh, you know, same old. Alright, give grandmother a kiss, it's off to bed with you!'

Scorpius grumbled as Draco carried him to Narcissa, both of them kissing her pale, bony cheeks. 

'Night, Gramma,' Scorpius called over Draco's shoulder as they headed upstairs.

*****

Draco tucked Scorpius into his four-poster bed, smiling fondly at his sleeping son. He placed 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' on the bedside table and crept towards the door.

'Daddy?' Scorpius mumbled. Draco paused, his hand on the door handle. 'Stay, please.'

Draco sighed, rubbing his face tiredly.

'Ok, I'll go get my books, back in a minute.'

'Mkay. Love you, Daddy.'

'Love you too, kiddo.'

Draco walked wearily down the hallway. He pushed open a door, with 'DRACO MALFOY'S ROOM' written in childish letters on faded paper. Lamps flickered into life as he entered. Quidditch posters covered three walls, the fourth hidden by a full bookcase. He gazed longingly at his bed, desperate to curl up under the Slytherin covers. Instead, he gathered up the textbooks and parchment that littered his desk.

Slipping back into Scorpius' room, Draco sat down at the child-sized desk and opened the first book. Scorpius snored and snuffled in the bed behind him. Writing slowly, to not disturb him with the scratching quill, Draco started making notes.

*****

A soft knock on the door had Draco leaping to his feet, scattering books and ink.

'It's just me,' his mother whispered, the dim light of her wand deepening the wrinkles on her sharp face. 'It's time for you to go.'

Draco yawned, his jaw cracking. He must have dozed off. He bent down to pick up the books, every muscle aching.

'I'll do that, you go ahead,' his mother placed a thin hand on his shoulder. 'There's dinner in the kitchen for you, Sooty packed it so it should still be warm.'

'Thank you, mother,' he gave her a quick hug, then kissed Scorpius' forehead before traipsing downstairs.

Draco's footsteps echoed in the cavernous kitchen. As it was Sooty's domain, this was the one room free from painful memories. Draco splashed his face in the sink and smoothed his hair. He took a swig of his mother's Pepper-Up Potion and shuddered at the taste. Grabbing the food container and his volunteer badge, Draco let himself out of the back door, into the darkness.