Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 32: Assignment

His bath was scalding hot, but Draco needed to feel something other than the lingering residue of the Dark Lord invading his mind only moments ago. After all, his home was now hell, so perhaps he should acclimate to such pain. Once he was finally unable to bear it any longer, he stepped out of the steamy bathwater and stood there dripping and cooling off.

He glanced down at the medallion resting against his chest, having already concluded that water had no effect on it. After all, it had been soaked in the rain when he went to collect wood in New Zealand, before finding out Hermione had misplaced hers. He stood, closing his eyes to steady his heart at the thought that she could possibly lose it again. It was useless. His heart began to pick up again, and to resolve his nervous notions he held the medallion tight and thought of what to send her to check in. He had to think of something simple, nothing that might convey that he was actually a mess. She did not need such drama, so he settled with, "Still alive."

Simple, he thought. She could conclude whatever she wished, but at the very least it was not anything to make her think she needed to take drastic actions. All he really needed was for her to message him back to prove she was still in touch, that she still had this precious ancient magic to connect them. He let go of the metal and rubbed his eyes, realizing that all he would be thinking about now was this, and he shouldn't be.

He needed to wake up, focus, and just get through the day alive.

Draco found another black shirt and trousers to change into, then looked in the mirror and began calculating how much effort was needed to convince everyone he was his old self. As his hair dried, he looked down to the products on his counter, remembering that it was not too long ago he had used a combination of spells and products to style his hair. What an effort, but it needed to be done. So, after deciding to go back to his signature look, he saw a different wizard in the mirror, and it was easier to do than he had thought.

Staring at his reflection, he allowed a few more thoughts to linger on Hermione before he had to mentally push her back into her hidden corner of his mind. She would hate this... the old façade he had been putting on all these years. He thought back to her little ceremony of removing his so-called armor, his mask and his crown of burden. He swallowed hard, trying to convince himself that it was different this time around. This time, he had her.

Reluctantly, he exhaled and began the mental process of putting her far away where no one could find her. He put a little more effort into it than usual, considering the Dark Lord had just attempted a break-in while he dreamed. Just as he finished, he jolted at the sound of a brisk knock at the door. His heart began to race again and he tried to reason that Bellatrix and the Dark Lord hardly knocked so politely.

Straightening the collar on his oxford shirt, he stepped out of the bathroom, passing through his bedroom to open the door. To his relief, he found his mother and his father standing there. For a moment, Draco found comfort in seeing his father, even if he appeared uncharacteristically worn and unshaven. It made him curious what his father had been up to since Draco had escaped. Then the resentment began to build in him again. Everything that was happening to their family was due to his dedication to the Dark Lord.

His father looked him up and down. "Draco, you're back. Your mother told me you were well." Then he added in a croaky whisper, "The Dark Lord will be pleased, I'm sure."

For years since the rise of Voldemort, his father spoke in a sort of pattern: his main comments were followed by a tacked-on footnote to endorse the Dark Lord. Though now, Draco thought there was less enthusiasm. He wondered if anyone else in the manor had caught on.

Lucius shoved past him into the room, wafting his hand frantically, urging his wife to move inside more quickly.

Draco stood aside for his mother to pass inside and began to shut the door. "Yes, father, I've seen him. Twice."