Familiars Love

Chapter 6

Draco had screamed and ranted for several minutes about proper bed manner etiquette before stomping past Athena and into the bathroom, slamming the heavy door behind him. The tiger's violet eyes seemed to twinkle in amusement as she stared at the bathroom door before hopping onto Draco's bed, making herself comfortable among the silken sheets. Draco's reaction had been priceless, Meda had never seen him act anything less than grace incarnate, yet Draco had managed to roll out of the bed and land on the floor in a move akin to something Meda had watched Neville pull off. Come to think of it, she'd never seen the other wizard curse before either. It must have been a day of firsts she figured, before settling her head onto Draco's pillow.

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Draco led Athena silently down the halls of Malfoy Manor, pausing briefly before opening the door to the Blue room. The room was bare except for the whips and weapons placed almost decoratively around the room. His father stood at the other side of the room, faithful familiar sitting obediently behind him.

"I'm very disappointed in you Draco." Stated Lucius, who had begun a silent glide up and down one of the walls until he stopped and carefully claimed a small crop from one of the wall brackets. Running the leather through his fingers; he turned once again to face his son.

"You have danced around that beast for the past three days and have made no move or effort to begin training it. It takes discipline to make a good familiar." Flipping the crop neatly in his fingers he stalked towards his son, "If you're afraid to beat the animal, allow me to do it for you." Raising the weapon he began a downward sweep with it, freezing when Draco stepped in front of the crop.

"You will never strike Athena, Father. She is mine to protect and I will not allow you or anyone else to harm her." Draco stated simply, standing calmly in front of his father and staring into the depths of his pale eyes.

"So be it." The crack of leather upon skin sent Draco reeling as the crop struck him across the face. His father raised the weapon again but stopped at the sound of a low growl, turning carefully to face the tiger that was beginning a creeping stalk towards him. Ears pressed flat to her skull, Athena stalked Lucius; tail flicking gently in the steady beat of a hunting cat.

Draco sat up slowly, feeling the blood run from the wound on his face. For once in his life his father looked unsure, not knowing how to proceed with the situation. He flinched as his father raised the weapon again as if to bring it back down upon him, but cried out at the blur of black and white fur that struck his father, driving him back and away from Draco. The crop still clutched in his father's hand began its descent but hit the ground as razor-sharp teeth bit into his arm. Crying out, his father clutched the wound stumbling away from the snarling tiger. A low growl had Draco jerking his head to look at the charging Timber wolf, who slammed into the side of the cat in an attempt to protect its master. A small brawl broke out between the pair until the wolf was sent yelping out the door with its tail between its legs. The cat once again began its stalking but froze when Lucius pulled his wand from beneath the robe he wore. Thoughtlessly he flung a spell in the direction of the pair.

Meda snarled in anger at the sight of the wand. To use it would be cheating and she knew Lucius Malfoy wasn't above cheating. The quick flick and shouted spell had her freezing for a moment before her mind screamed 'Protego'. Closing her eyes, she clutched the thought of the spell and concentrated all her magic into making it happen. 

"Merlin's Balls!" The whisper came softly behind her, as a hand came to rest lightly on her striped flank. Both stared in stunned awe at the glowing shield before them; it glowed a deep blue that made seeing through it almost impossible. Turning her head slowly she rumbled in the direction of the shocked Malfoy senior. Meda snarled once more and swiped a paw in warning at Lucius who quickly whirled about and stormed out of the room in a fit of rage. Cocking her head, she looked at Draco who was starring at the shield in bemusement, blood slowly dripping off his chin onto the robes he wore. Pale eyes met violet as a tentative hand rose and settled itself more firmly on the cat's back.

"Good girl. Good Athena." Whispered Draco, running a soothing hand over the tiger's hackles in an effort to soothe the mad Bengal. Meda stood silently for a minute beneath the gentle hand of Draco; before issuing a soft rumbling sound and bursting into loud rolling purrs, turning to push her head into the hand.

Draco limped from the blue room, left hand resting on Athena's back for support. His right hand clutching the side of his face in an effort to try and slow the blood that ran from the painful cut. As soon as he reached his room he headed straight to the bathroom. Turning on the taps, he filled the tub with a very expensive bubble bath that smelled strongly of vanilla. Without a thought he shed his clothes and sank into the scalding water, ignoring the burning sensation rushing through his body. Sinking into the water up to his nose, he allowed the tears to slide down his cheeks, the salt burning as it encountered the slice on his cheek.

Andromeda peered into the bathroom, seeing that Draco was safely tucked in amongst the suds; she crept slowly into the bathroom. Thumping her head down on the edge of the tub she stared thoughtfully at the blonde. Perhaps Draco wasn't the perfect little death eater everyone thought he was, she had never seen him act out in any way. Through all the situations and incidents at school, Draco had fallen in line neatly, casting insults and trading blows with Harry like the worst of rivals. It appeared that everything wasn't perfect in Draco's life. Maybe in all reality, Harry, Draco, and Meda's lives weren't so different after all 

With that thought in mind, Meda dropped down to rest on the thick emerald mat next to the tub, Draco had promised to protect her from anyone. No person in her whole life had promised to protect her without thought or careful planning. Meda purred softly, resting her head on her forepaws, from now on she would protect Draco, just like she protects Harry. She figured that Draco's situation was similar to her Harry's with the Dursley's. From now on, Meda thought angrily, anyone who tried to hurt Draco would deal with her fangs and claws.