The Healer- A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 25: Malfoy Manor Part IV

Malachi and I remained talking in the safety of the ballroom for almost an hour. I had more questions to ask him. There was so much I still didn't know about his side of the family.

Malachi was a retired Auror. He held the position briefly, he said, as a job was wholly unnecessary thanks to the money given to him by Gregory and Marta Sloan. Those were my grandparents, by the way. After leaving his position as Auror, he decided to use their money to travel. That was one of the reasons why he was unavailable during my youth. That, and the fact that Gregory and Marta made it clear that if anyone from their family were to make contact with Xavier or any of his offspring, they would be shunned. Malachi respected them enough to keep Xavier at a distance, but "god dammit, that's my older brother. Was I supposed to pretend like he didn't exist?"

Malachi was the only person Xavier told about the birth of his daughter. "We kept contact in secret. Check-ins every year or so. He told me one year that he was putting military life aside to start a family with a witch. To this day, I regret that I didn't so much as send a card. But I was afraid our parents would find out somehow." Malachi insisted over and over that I was better off not knowing my grandparents, that they were "bigots in every sense of the word", and "incapable of loving anything that wasn't their idea of perfect". Thankfully, Malachi didn't seem to inherit much of their prejudice.

Malachi kept bringing up how much I looked like Xavier. The same brown hair, green eyes, and sharp canines. He spoke of Xavier with respect. But there was that veil of sadness hidden behind his words. He spoke only briefly about how worried he was when Xavier was taken captive. "I searched for him for about a year just to make sure he was still alive. But wizards weren't meant to meddle in Muggle affairs. To do so would mean breaking the rules and revealing our world. But god dammit... if it didn't keep me up at night, thinking about him all alone, missing out on the life he was so eager to start."

"Maybe, when all of this is over..." I said hopefully, "You could come see him. Be with us for a while."

Malachi smiled forlornly at my words. "I would love that. But.." he trailed off, not finishing his sentence. The vacant look in his eyes told me all that I needed to know. That this wouldn't be over soon. Thanks to his deal with the Dark Lord, he might never be free.

"You're better off going to America," Malachi said decisively. "Be with your parents. Hogwarts might not be safe for much longer. I mean it."

My eyes widened. I knew in my gut he was right. I couldn't keep up this pureblood ruse forever. It was becoming much clearer now what I had to do.

The door to the ballroom opened, and we halted all conversation.

"Draco," I said, surprised to see him enter the room. "What is it?"

Draco looked at me with an expression I could only describe as relief. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." He looked at my uncle. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sloan."

Malachi and Draco shook hands. "Likewise. It seems I'll be in your care until I find a permanent residence in England," Malachi said to him.

Draco met my eyes. "Might I speak to Erica alone?"

---

I followed Draco through the manor up to the third floor. I wanted to stay with Malachi, but Draco informed me he would be busy for the rest of the night, most likely acquainting himself with the other Death Eaters.

Draco swiftly closed the door to a bedroom I guessed belonged to him. It was much bigger than the guest room I had woken up in; but the same style of canopy bed dominated the center of the room. It had green wallpaper with elaborate crown moulding, and even a balcony. It was dark except for the gentle glow of the setting sun outside, which cast shadows everywhere.