The Unthinkable

The Many Kinds Of Worries, Friendship And Love

Malfoy

The pain had increased ten fold by the time they reappear in the house he had called a refuge for desperate times. It was a good thing that Potter was holding him, or he would have fallen the instant his feet touched the exquisite French carpet covering most of the floor. Just like Granger had said before, he was about to pass out again, but he needed to direct them around the house, or more like the mansion as they didn't know their way around the multiple floors.

"Oh God... so rich..." He heard Granger whisper with her mouth half-open in amaze as she looked at the luxury palatial style interior she saw all over. Right in front of her was the grand master staircase made of beige marble and everything looked like a Neo-French Renaissance elegant masterpiece, but as much as Malfoy was pleased with her liking his safe heaven, he didn't have time for impressions on material things he didn't care for anymore.

Actually all that luxury have a purpose as he had already sold a few paintings and tapestries to free all the house elves working for his father. If the worst come to pass and Voldemort end up rising again, the mansion will become a safe house for those who need a place to hide from Voldemort or the many Death Eaters and the money coming from the gradual sales of all the expensive furniture will keep them steady for a while, even if he didn't survive the war.

His father had come to own it by inheritance and it was used for summer vacations at first, but his mother didn't like it for its secluded location along with the nearby lake he almost drowns in it once, when he was seven. Although the mansion was properly tended by house-elf's as all others his father had inherited from the long line of Malfoy's, no one had come to that place in years and it was soon forgotten. He doubted either of his parents remember it anymore and because of that, it was the perfect place for hiding.

Snape had enchanted the mansion himself, making sure that even his parents would not be able to find it, if not invited and making himself its secret keeper. This had been the place where he had trained him after his torture and the place he had reborn anew. Now he wonders if that will be the place where he will find his death as well.

"There is a room... at the hall to the right... seventh door..." He said and both of them came back to the reality they momentarily forgot for a few seconds. Harry was now practically dragging Malfoy toward the mentioned door and after Hermione open it for him, he helped Malfoy to sit on the oversize four-poster bed in the center of the room.

"I'm home..." Malfoy whisper and the fireplace in front of them burst alive with dancing flames warming the cold room and Hermione almost yelled in surprise. She wasn't expecting sudden flames where there were none before and she almost screamed when a small figure appear near her.

"Welcome back Mast..." The house-elf begin but stop half-way when he saw his master was not alone.

"Wait, is that...?" Harry tried to ask when he saw the house elf and he knew that Hermione was surprised too. Previously, all the house elf he had seen before were only wearing rags, as their masters could not give them cloths unless they want to free them, but that one was wearing fine cloths only someone rich could give. It looked a bit odd on such a small creature but it was definitely better than the usual rags and cleaner too.

"Is he a free elf?" Hermione ask, making the elf smile almost jumping with delight.

"Yes, yes, we are free. Free elves, serving Master Draco and Master Snape." The elf said with pride.

"Trux, others will come... prepare rooms for them... don't tell mother about any of this yet." Malfoy said lying down with a groan.

"Master Draco!" The elf yelled, noticing for the first time of his master bad shape.