Weakness Guides The Heart

Chapter eleven

"Well, well, well; that was quite a show, Draco; you deserve an award; 'best dramatic performance', which after last year, is quite an honour." Malcurious teased venomously, fingers tapping a displeased rhythm onto the table.

The dull flicker of the hospital wing chilled the air; and icy echo of regret whispering, tentatively pecking the crystal, white walls.

"I have to ask, Draco; why?"

"Why what?" Draco whispered. His arms were crossed, fingers drawing tentative circles along his elbow; a comforting warmth wondering along his arms.

"Just...why?" The blonde shrank, shoulders slumped; eyes fascinated by the gentle squares stitched into the blanket; silver seems hiding the secret shames of the fingers who had sewn them. Draco stayed silent, nails scratching at a black mark dotted against the sheet; a bleak puddle of torture, like the scrutinising pupil of his uncle; a pupil that swallowed the grey flecks, consumed the icy blues pleading to shine, leaving nothing but malicious intrigue.

Malcurious slammed his hand against the oak, vibrations quivering, sending a chilling dagger throughout the room, slicing the silence.

"It's a simple question, Draco."

"It's ambiguous." Malcurious laughed at the boy's response.

"Exactly, Draco, meaning you could give me endless answers; all completely different, dishonest...but you can't even lie, can you?"

"What's the point?" Draco sneered, pushing his head backwards; a false strength pillaring his neck, eyes fixated forward, focused; transfixed on the pensieve. "You're going to torture me whatever I say-"

"Now, now, Draco, it isn't torture. I just want to understand; I want to learn about my nephew, study his feelings."

"Dishonesty truly is in the Malfoy blood." Draco snarled, teeth grinding; lips flaring in disgust.

A sudden hand grasped his neck, tugging his attention towards piercing orbs; blades stabbing the ignorant youth cowering within his eyes.

"Clearly it doesn't." Malcurious spat. "Since you're unable to even hide your pain."

He clicked his fingers, a wand, Draco's wand, knotting the blonde's fingers; an excruciating grip forcing it upwards; pointing the dazed tip towards his head.

"No-you-"

"Oh, Draco, please spare me the pathetic cries; you can't beat me." His hand clenched tighter, his wrist desperately trying to tug the wand downwards; his nails piercing the splintering edges, scraping the delicate flicks. His teeth gnawed, crushing together; his cheeks flushed a gruesome crimson, veins bursting; desperate.

Malcurious laughed.

"Enough of this." Blue sparks erupted from Draco's mind, like a stream of smoke, powdered by a royal blush; navy's twisting with teals, silvers seeping from his eyes; reluctance repelled, transferred into memories.

Draco cried, a hollow scream swallowed by the smoke; bricks offering a pitiful smile, sympathy seeping from the crimson curtains.

"Very dramatic, Draco; very good."

"Don't do this!" Draco sobbed, leaping from his bed the moment his hand was freed.

"Something to hide, Draco-"

"I just don't want you-you crawling through my memories, it's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair." Malcurious spoke bluntly; his head already floating within the memory; a purple dust dancing around his body, welcoming his invasive eyes.

A moment passed, a deathly heartbeat; a gulp of a throat, a single groan of the wind.

The older man was stunned, his head ripping upwards; a deathly glint slaughtering his eyes; ears tinted red, cheeks flushed; hands clawed, like the toes of a Phoenix, ready to attack.

Draco was startled, the greys of his eyes paling; icy flecks flattened by his thunderous pupil.

"What?" He spoke hesitantly; a wary step guiding him backwards. "What is it?"

"You were saved?" Malcurious' words were twisted with poisonous confusion; bewilderment beating his body, eyes illuminated by furious embarrassment. "You were saved by-by Harry Potter?"

Draco couldn't speak, his words trapped within his throat; chest constricting, scolding the tumultuous rhythm of his heartbeat. He tried to step backwards, but his shoulders were seized by the cruel grip of his uncle.

"Malfoy's are not saved!"

"I didn't ask for it-"

"But you didn't repel it!" His words were sharp; a blaze of mortification burning the frosty cheeks of his nephew, crimson liquid swelling his body. He shook the boy furiously, his body slack; limp, fragile bones welcoming the deathly shudder of Malcurious.

"Would you had rather I'd died?!"

"I'd prefer if every, single bone in your body was shattered a thousand times over; I'd rather see the life draining from your eyes as you fall into a fiery inferno; I'd wish your head was sliced from your neck, if it meant that shame wasn't brought upon this family!"

Malcurious stepped backwards; his hands roaming his eyes, fingers rubbing the aching throb of his brain; a numbness tingling his touch.

A heavy sigh tarnished his lips.

"Wait until I tell your father-"

"No, please don't!"

"He deserves to know how despicable is son his! How he brought shame to his family."

Draco's pleads were pitiful, tainted by unforgivable memories; the shameful embarrassment taunting his thoughts, laughing at his despair, like a million fairies giggling, casting spells around his mind; thickening the turmoil. Their sparks were like poison, dust elegantly pirouetting, dresses turning to smoke; blinding.

"I can feel your emotions, Draco, when you were arguing with Harry...It was pathetic, truly-"

"What emotions did-did you feel-"

"Why do you ask so fearfully?" Malcurious spat, toes twisting around the cobbled floor; body turning to glower at Draco. "Is there something you're trying to hide; something you hope I won't feel."

"I was just curious-"

"Curiosity will get you killed, Draco!" The words were heavy with underlying meanings, spoken with a threatening clarity; a warning yearning to be heard.

"You must learn to control yourself; disconnect your body from your mind-"

"Otherwise I'll be destroyed..." Draco finished bitterly, his father's words carved into brain; the vicious laugh of his uncle snapping his head upwards once again.

"Don't you see, Draco. You've already been destroyed."