Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 77

We land on the ground once more and I feel terribly shaky. I look up into the dark, pitch black sky, and the large house, white in its colour, stands out in front of me - a place I used to stand in awe at, and now I cower at the thought of stepping inside, as we approach the dark gates of Malfoy Manor.

Through the darkness pressing around us, as choking as thick fog, I find myself hardly able to breathe. Memories flood back to me, as I stare up, remembering the first time that I lay eyes on the building, but even then, my breath was taken, but for a completely different reason; I do remember being in so much awe at the place before me, that I had to be dragged through the doors; again in a different manner. This time, I am struggling against the person holding me, whereas last time the hand was warm, and welcoming.

Malfoy Manor did never often fail to surprise me, and was always stunning. I very much enjoyed observing the several magical objects around the house, yet now, it is the last place of which I want to be entering. I know he did not return to Hogwarts, and I know he stayed on as a Death Eater, and I do not think that I can hardly bear to face him.

Someone is fast approaching the gate, and it hardly takes two seconds for me to identify who it is, with her sweeping, classically blonde hair streaked with black, Narcissa steps into the light of Yaxley's wand in the dark, and examines me closely. 'I think your boy may have an interest in this one.' Yaxley cackles, and Narcissa looks helplessly at me, and fearfully at Yaxley.

I attempt further in my struggles, only to gain a punch, and have a sharp pain blossom over my lip and surrounding cheek area, and I feel the blood beginning to run. The gates open with a wave of her wand, and I am pushed into the boundaries of the grounds, so forcefully that I fall onto the floor, and scramble to get up, as Yaxley grabs hold of me. 'Get off!' I shout at him, struggling with all of my might. 'Let me go, you bastard!'

'I see that your son's love interest is a bit of a potty mouth.'

'She isn't his love interest.' Narcissa whispers back, looking me up and down steadily. Yaxley scoffs.

'That's not what Lucius has been saying. He's been going all over the ministry trying to get information on her. You are aware, I suppose, that she is a mudblood?' I struggle harder, infuriated.

Narcissa continues to look on helplessly, then turns in the direction of the house. 'Let's take her inside, she could be an imposter, and you are giving too much away.'

'I promise you, she is no imposter.'

I am dragged against my will, struggling with all my might, shouting and cursing, as we rapidly approach Malfoy Manor. A sharp blow to my face momentarily causes me to fall silent. 'Shut up!' Yaxley yells, clearly getting angry. 'Merlin, how did you put up with this?' Narcissa does not answer, but waves her wand and opens the great, towering front doors of this extravagant house. At this point, my struggle becomes the most obvious, and I dig my heels into the ground, flinging my body side to side, trying to work myself free of Yaxley's harsh grasp, but I am pushed inside most forcefully. 'Let me go, you arsehole! Fucking leave me alone!'

Kick. Kick after kick after kick, straight in the stomach, and my face is trampled upon, my muscles achy and weary. 'Do as you're told!' Yaxley exclaims, kicking me one final time in the chest.

Footsteps can be heard from above, and my heart is pounding with all of its might, until I am afraid that it shall jump out of my chest, and run away from me. I am shaking like a leaf, I can hardly control it, which is causing Yaxley to push down hard on my chest with his foot, as the footsteps fade for a minute or two, before returning, from the direction of the staircase.

'Mother?' My heart stops, and my body freezes, my shouts are silenced. Time seems to slow as Draco makes his way down the staircase, for I can only hear him as I face the opposite direction. 'What's going on?'

'Draco!' Yaxley cries, starting to laugh. 'You know what? I think I'll leave you to explain this one yourself, Narcissa, since it is a family affair.' He approaches her, and growls, 'Do not let Lucius take all of the credit for this.' With that, he has disapperated.

'What is it?' Draco asks, sharply.

'Draco, darling,' Narcissa, starts. I hear his footsteps coming closer, and Narcissa steps backwards a few steps. Slowly, Draco turns to face me, and, upon seeing my face, his eyes widen, his mouth becomes a thin line, his face white, and he gulps loudly. I look down, feeling sick, before looking up to face him, trying to banish any emotion from me, but it doesn't work. I want to scream at him, and equally I want to kiss every part of his face, and cry, then scream some more.

'Lyssa?' He looks up at his mother, 'What is she doing here?' He asks, rather sharply.

'Yaxley brought her in. I don't know exactly what happened, he didn't say too much, but I assume it was something at the ministry. I'm sure your father will help to answer some questions.'

Draco is looking at me, and it is impossible to read his emotions. 'She is hurt.' He looks up, his voice full of spite, 'What have you done to her?'

'She was resisting. Yaxley - he beat her, Draco.' Draco is silent as he looks upon my face. 'She needs help.'

'She most certainly does not! She is the enemy Draco, you mustn't forget that.'

'But she is badly injured. I can't let her stay like this -'

'What in Merlin's name is going on?'

Lucius. He sounds utterly furious. 'I'm just going about my day as usual, when Yaxley approaches me and says we have captured someone very significant - in fact, the mudblood, this traitor, and of all people, it's her.'

'Did he tell you what happened?' Draco asks, sharply.

'Get away from her! Now!' Lucius shouts, a shout which echoes off the walls. Draco reluctantly takes two steps away from me. 'What happened? Only one of the biggest ministry breaches of all time! I should have known it was you.' He seeths, looking at me, kicking his foot out so I double over in pain, and shout in agony. 'One more step, Draco, and you'll never come back into this house again.' The footsteps stop. 'Her and her little friends, including the Potter boy, took polyjuice potion and transformed into some of the most senior members of the ministry. They stupefied Dolores and took something from her, then ran. Yaxley managed to get hold of this one.'

'We'll put her in the cellar with the others.' Narcissa says, picking me up by the collar, but my legs are immobile, and I cannot stand up for the pain. 'Move!' Lucius pushes me, but that only causes me to stumble, and Draco runs to my assistance, and takes me from his mother. 'Let me take her, please. She'll not make it otherwise.'

Narcissa grabs hold of Lucius to stop him from moving forward. 'We'll deal with you later.' He murmurs to his son, and Draco puts both his arms around me, and picks me up.

'I don't need your help.' I say, trying to squirm out of his grasp as we enter deeper into the manor. 'Yes, you do. Look at yourself, you can't even walk. Let me help you.'

'No. This doesn't fix anything between us, you told me you hated me. You - you left me for someone else, why should I comply with what you want? What more can you take from me?'

'Please, let me explain. I'm begging you, it was a mistake. I handled it wrong, but I had to protect you. I had to keep you safe.'

'Save your bullshit excuse for another time, Draco. You couldn't tear me down any more if you tried to.' Draco is hurt, I can tell. It is rare to see him so vulnerable, but I am enjoying it. He ought to suffer for the way he has made me feel, and I don't owe him a kindness.  'Besides, I know what you're up to, and what you were up to last year.' Draco looks pained. He unlocks the dungeon door with a wave of his wand as we descend the steps and he puts me down on the floor.

'You'll understand, one day. And one day soon, I'll make you understand. Then you'll know the true story. I'm done with lying to you, I'll never do it again, I promise you.'

'Draco? Draco!' A voice sounds out from the corridor. Draco shuts the door to the dungeon and turns around. Lucius joins him, and looks at me lying on the floor. 'Good. Now Draco, I need you to do something for me. I need you to call him.'