Second Part...
Hi everyone! :) I finally got the second part to Falling Apart In Quiet Measures done...yay! This was written for the AWDT prompt hosted by jamie2109 and nocturnali. This week's prompt was:
"Can we go now?"
As always, if you see any boo boos, please feel free to let me know. I'll be happy to fix them. BTW...I'd like to link the first part of the story to this one. Does anyone know how to do it? I'd appreciate any help you could give me.
Here's the story, enjoy! :)
Title: Stirring The Fragments Draws Out Misery
Author: firnsarnien
Pairing: H/D
Rating: PG-17
Warnings: None
Category: AU
Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.K. Rowling. No copyright infringements were intended.
Summary: Draco’s relationship with his father has always kept him a little unbalanced.
*****************************************
A soft rap on his door had Draco looking up from his laptop.
His secretary poked her head in. “Mr. Malfoy, your father is here,” she said.
Shit, he was early, ten minutes early if he wanted to be precise. Lucius would try to catch him off guard. Apprehensively, he straightened his spine and pulled his shoulders back while trying to resist the urge to smooth his robes one more time. Draco paused to make sure his wand was carefully concealed inside his sleeve. One could never be too careful when dealing with his father. “Let him in Shelise,” he said.
“Yes sir,” Her head disappeared and he thanked Merlin, yet again, that he’d found her. She was fiercely loyal and she took care of things…and him, with quiet efficiency. Not to mention she was also incredibly capable of dealing with his many idiosyncrasies.
Draco cleared his throat and reached for his bottled water. The mere mention of his father had been enough to make his mouth dry up and leave a bitter taste on his tongue. He took a sip just as the door opened abruptly.
“Draco,” his father drawled as he stepped into his office.
He nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement and set the bottle down. “Father,” he returned. Lucius moved to stand in front of his desk and Draco was half-tempted to ignore him just to see if he’d go away.
As a Malfoy, Draco had learned that silence could sometimes garner more results than words, so he held his tongue and observed his father with quiet deliberation. He leaned back and shifted to get more comfortable before finally motioning for his father to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. He’d be damned if he’d go out of his way to make Lucius feel comfortable. After all, he’d been the one to insist on coming here.
Which is why he continued to sit tight-lipped even though his father watched him expectantly. Draco knew it wouldn’t take him long to break the silence. The man nearly dripped with self-importance and arrogance. Most notably, Lucius liked the sound of his own voice…a lot. That was just one of the reasons why Draco had ceased listening to him. That and…well…other things.
“It would seem you have made quite a name for yourself,” Lucius suggested as he settled in the chair. “It took me nearly ten minutes to get past your security team. However, I was unimpressed with your little parlor trick compelling me to surrender my wand. I had no trouble resisting it. ”
Draco doubted that. Even Harry had been hard pressed to resist the compulsion and he was a more powerful wizard than the one currently sitting across from him. Since he had distanced himself from his father, reading between the lines no longer seemed as difficult as it once had. And what he was reading now was… anger in his father’s clipped words.
Lucius was furious that he’d had to undergo any sort of security check at all. Did he really expect preferential treatment just because they shared the same genes? Draco bristled at that thought but he kept his expression neutral and his voice even. “You certainly cannot blame me for looking out for my best interests father, that’s the first thing you taught me. As for making a name for myself, yes I have, no thanks to you,” he said.
Lucius’ eyes flashed before he shuttered them. “Ah, yes, that would be your mother’s doing I presume,” he said slowly.
“Presume all you want, you know I’ll never tell you,” Draco said. It was true, though his father didn’t know the anything specific. Narcissa had willed all her holdings from the Black family estate to her son upon her death. How she’d managed to keep them away from his father throughout their marriage, he’d never know but he was grateful that she had. If not for her, he’d still be under his father’s thumb. “Now, since you were the one to call this meeting, why don’t you kindly get to the point and tell me what you want.”
Lucius’ eyebrows rose slightly at his blatant insolence. Draco had never been so disrespectful before. Amazing what a little financial independence and a few muggle pills could do. He wanted to laugh at the scowl on his father’s face even though his head still throbbed dully.
“Draco,” his father’s voice dripped with distress and concern, all of it false. “do I really need a reason to visit my only son?”
What? Who was he kidding? For a flash of an instant, he thought that maybe Lucius had bugged the room and was trying to convince someone that he was a loving and caring father. Then reality set in and Draco sat up straight and leaned forward. He rested his palms on the edge of his desk. “You do when the last time I saw you, you tried to slip a memory potion into my drink,” he spat. His control was slipping and he struggled to keep it from showing any more than it already had.
His father gazed at him for a long moment, cold eyes studying him, looking for cracks in his façade. Then he sighed dramatically as if he were doing Draco a great favor. “Very well, I will indulge your impatience and get to the point.” He crossed his legs and rested his cane across his lap. “Last night I ran into a friend of yours.”
Draco lifted an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. He was pretty sure who the friend had been.
“It seems I may have spoken out of turn.” Lucius shook his head in feigned innocence and the false distress and concern was back in full force. “I was under the impression he knew of your latest venture. I realized my error when he seemed…agitated after I let slip the nature of your research. I’m sorry if I have caused you any difficulties, that was certainly not my intention.” He certainly didn’t sound sorry.
Well, that left little doubt then. His father ran into Harry last night and Lucius conveniently let slip what Draco had been researching. Throw in a clever word or two and it had been enough to seriously shake Harry’s faith in him, thus his visit earlier.
Why had Lucius insisted on seeing him at all? Did he still believe he held some power over Draco? Did he honestly think Draco would believe the slip had been unintentional? His father was trying hard to appear honorable by admitting his ‘mistake’ and asking for forgiveness. However, he knew better, Lucius’ apology was nothing more than a farce, his intentions behind the deed sinister and devious. What was he playing at?
Bloody hell. How did he even find out what he’d been working on in the first place? Draco had taken extensive measures to ensure the security of his company and his research. He was sure there were no spies among his staff. Most of them didn’t even know what they were working on anyway, each department given only on isolated portions of various potions.
He’d have to puzzle it out later; right now, his father was looking at him expectantly. He kept his voice calm and shifted slightly. “It’s caused no trouble at all father. Besides, it is not worth getting upset about. You and I both know how things turned out, scarcely worth continuing study on it. I’ve already moved on to something more worthy of my time,” he said. That wasn’t true…quite.
“Yes, perhaps it’s something I should look into since you were unable to arrive at anything conclusive.” There was that sarcasm again, so prevalent in Lucius’ every word.
“Be my guest. Just don’t expect me to hand over vital items or any conclusions I have come to.” Draco quipped in response. Fat chance of that. He smiled when his father narrowed his eyes and pressed his mouth into a thin line. Did the man actually think he’d get any help from him?
Lucius rose smoothly, setting his cane down with a soft thump. “I would never ask my son for help in matters I can handle on my own.”
Draco rose as well, anxious to show his father out the door and trying not to appear too eager. “I’m glad to hear that father, it’s too bad you didn’t show that kind of restraint when I was younger.” He gave Lucius a reproachful look and casually opened the door for him, unable to resist one last gibe. “Next time you feel the need to clear your conscience, please set up an appointment with my secretary. I don’t appreciate your owl shrieking at my window when I’m trying to sleep.”
Lucius’ eyes narrowed. “I can hardly see how wanting to let my son know I made a mistake can be construed as harassment Draco.”
Oil…oil and snakes. That’s what Lucius reminded him of just then, a snake slithering through oil leaving greasy, black smudges across a cold gray surface. He suppressed a shudder. How had he ever followed this man so blindly? “Well I do, so kindly respect my wishes or I just might use your next bird as a throw pillow.” Draco said tightly.
His father’s eyes flashed dangerously before answering. “Very well. Until next time.” With a nod of his head and sweep of his cloak, Lucius brushed past him and out the door. Draco wanted to slam it just to get a rise out of his father but he didn’t, he…couldn’t. Instead, he shut the door quietly.
Despite his fierce independence, some things had been too deeply ingrained into him as a child. Slamming doors was one of them. The first time he’d done that in a fit of temper had also been the last. A couple of Imperius curses while his father calmly spelled the door shut on his fingers when he’d been six had taken away the urge to ever do that again.
He made his way over to the sofa and he dropped onto it gracelessly, his head pounding now. It felt like it was going to pop off his neck and drop to the floor. ‘Thanks for that father.’ he thought with a sneer. He propped his head up on the arm and threw an arm over his eyes. The pain was starting to make his stomach twist uncomfortably so he didn’t want to get up and get his pills from his desk or even accio them. In fact, moving at all seemed less and less like a good idea. He just might empty the contents of his stomach all over his Persian carpet if he did. And even scouring charms couldn’t get those stains out. He should know, it was the third carpet he’d purchased in just as many months.
The door opened quietly and a small form kneeled beside him, shaking his shoulder urgently. “Mr. Malfoy?”
When he didn’t respond, it shook his shoulder again. Reluctantly, he put his arm down and cracked his eyelids. A very worried looking Shelise hovered above him.
“Mr. Malfoy, are…are you all right sir?”
“ ‘M fine, thanks. I just…have a headache,” he mumbled.
Shelise rose and quickly walked over to his desk while Draco watched her with wary eyes. Displaying a shrewdness that really didn’t surprise him, she rummaged through his drawer until she came up with a box of quills and smirked at him. “Really Mr. Malfoy, never-out quills? I thought you’d be more inventive than that.”
He smiled at her apologetically but she only shook her head at him, the fondness in her gaze softening the gentle reproach. She opened the bottle and shook three pills onto her palm. Then she screwed the cap back on, closed the bottle and tossed it back into the drawer.
Shelise had been his secretary long enough to know almost everything about him. It wasn’t as if he could keep the headaches a secret from her anyway. On several occasions, they’d gotten bad enough at work that he’d had to take enough pills to knock himself out for a couple of hours. Yeah, right, a couple of hours…more like a couple of days. She’d been the one to take him home before anyone could find out how sick he’d really been. Draco sat up slowly when she handed him the pills and a bottle of water. His hands shook when he reached out to take them, but fortunately, she didn’t comment on it.
“Now, in addition to what you’ve already taken, I believe I’ve just given you enough to knock you out for several hours, right?” she asked after he’d swallowed the pills and leaned his head back to rest on the back of the sofa. She waited for his answer so he nodded automatically.
“Well, then you need to go home and rest.”
He was going to protest because he really hated being coddled…most of the time, but Shelise held her hand up. “I don’t want to hear it Mr. Malfoy, you need the rest. I know how draining your father’s visits can be; even I’m tired when he leaves. Go home before those things really kick in and you have to sleep here. I’ll shut everything down and owl you anything you’ve forgotten.”
“All right, jus’… let me get my laptop.” Draco would not feel sorry for himself, he just wouldn’t. He got up from the sofa carefully, afraid to upset his stomach further. After he shut down his laptop and slid it into its case, he slipped the strap over head and rested it on his shoulder. He was in the middle of checking if he’d forgotten anything when suddenly, the floor tilted wildly and he had to clutch the side of desk for support.
Shelise was at his side in an instant and gripped his arm tightly, her slight form trying to support his weight. “Can we go now? Or are you going to wait until you fall down and I have to carry you?” she chastised gently. Slender arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him close.
He tried to answer but he wasn’t sure what came out because Shelise laughed softly. “You sound like you’ve drank too much fire whiskey,” she said amusedly. “C’mon, let’s get you home before I do have to carry you. Lightening charms leave much to be desired.”
He barely heard her say the password to drop the wards in his office and the pop of apparition before she was slipping the strap off his shoulders and setting his laptop down on the coffee table. He had to concentrate on keeping his feet beneath him since his stomach seemed to be taking its time catching up with the rest of him.
Shelise kept her arm around his waist as she guided him to his bedroom. He didn’t want to lean on her too much, he was afraid she’d buckle under his weight but she was stronger than she looked. She helped him sit on the edge of the bed and his legs erupted in goose bumps when she muttered a spell that stripped him down to his boxers. He knew he should be mortified that his secretary had just undressed him, but he was simply too tired and in too much pain to care.
She placed Draco’s wand on the nightstand in case he needed it and pushed him back gently until he lay on the bed. When he was settled comfortably, she pulled the covers up to his chin and brushed the hair off his forehead. The mattress beneath him felt so good and the covers were warm and soft. He tried to thank her but his tongue refused to cooperate. Instead, he clasped her fingers when she brushed the hair out of his eyes again.
She squeezed his hand in return and for several long minutes, stood over him, watching Draco sadly as his eyes finally closed with an aching weariness. The constant criticism from the press, mistrust from his friends and his father’s desire to inflict him bodily harm was chipping away at the walls he’d built around his carefully guarded emotions. Even she could see that it was crumbling, slowly. His confrontation with his father and whatever had happened with Harry today had chipped away a little more at that wall. Soon, there would be nothing left and she didn’t know what would happen to him then.
His father was a right bastard and some days she wished she could just avada kadavra him. It would save her employer a lot of grief. It was frustrating watching the people he should be able to trust, hurt him.
Well, since killing Lucius was out of her range of things permissible, the next best thing she could do would be to owl Harry and ask him to check on Mr. Malfoy in a couple of hours. It was the least he could do after the way he’d upset him today. Besides, he’d never seemed to mind any of the previous times she’d asked him for a favor concerning Mr. Malfoy. She’d use one of the company owls, one of the Eagle Owls. They were the fastest. Decision made, she apparated back to the office.
TBC…
"Can we go now?"
As always, if you see any boo boos, please feel free to let me know. I'll be happy to fix them. BTW...I'd like to link the first part of the story to this one. Does anyone know how to do it? I'd appreciate any help you could give me.
Here's the story, enjoy! :)
Title: Stirring The Fragments Draws Out Misery
Author: firnsarnien
Pairing: H/D
Rating: PG-17
Warnings: None
Category: AU
Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.K. Rowling. No copyright infringements were intended.
Summary: Draco’s relationship with his father has always kept him a little unbalanced.
*****************************************
A soft rap on his door had Draco looking up from his laptop.
His secretary poked her head in. “Mr. Malfoy, your father is here,” she said.
Shit, he was early, ten minutes early if he wanted to be precise. Lucius would try to catch him off guard. Apprehensively, he straightened his spine and pulled his shoulders back while trying to resist the urge to smooth his robes one more time. Draco paused to make sure his wand was carefully concealed inside his sleeve. One could never be too careful when dealing with his father. “Let him in Shelise,” he said.
“Yes sir,” Her head disappeared and he thanked Merlin, yet again, that he’d found her. She was fiercely loyal and she took care of things…and him, with quiet efficiency. Not to mention she was also incredibly capable of dealing with his many idiosyncrasies.
Draco cleared his throat and reached for his bottled water. The mere mention of his father had been enough to make his mouth dry up and leave a bitter taste on his tongue. He took a sip just as the door opened abruptly.
“Draco,” his father drawled as he stepped into his office.
He nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement and set the bottle down. “Father,” he returned. Lucius moved to stand in front of his desk and Draco was half-tempted to ignore him just to see if he’d go away.
As a Malfoy, Draco had learned that silence could sometimes garner more results than words, so he held his tongue and observed his father with quiet deliberation. He leaned back and shifted to get more comfortable before finally motioning for his father to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. He’d be damned if he’d go out of his way to make Lucius feel comfortable. After all, he’d been the one to insist on coming here.
Which is why he continued to sit tight-lipped even though his father watched him expectantly. Draco knew it wouldn’t take him long to break the silence. The man nearly dripped with self-importance and arrogance. Most notably, Lucius liked the sound of his own voice…a lot. That was just one of the reasons why Draco had ceased listening to him. That and…well…other things.
“It would seem you have made quite a name for yourself,” Lucius suggested as he settled in the chair. “It took me nearly ten minutes to get past your security team. However, I was unimpressed with your little parlor trick compelling me to surrender my wand. I had no trouble resisting it. ”
Draco doubted that. Even Harry had been hard pressed to resist the compulsion and he was a more powerful wizard than the one currently sitting across from him. Since he had distanced himself from his father, reading between the lines no longer seemed as difficult as it once had. And what he was reading now was… anger in his father’s clipped words.
Lucius was furious that he’d had to undergo any sort of security check at all. Did he really expect preferential treatment just because they shared the same genes? Draco bristled at that thought but he kept his expression neutral and his voice even. “You certainly cannot blame me for looking out for my best interests father, that’s the first thing you taught me. As for making a name for myself, yes I have, no thanks to you,” he said.
Lucius’ eyes flashed before he shuttered them. “Ah, yes, that would be your mother’s doing I presume,” he said slowly.
“Presume all you want, you know I’ll never tell you,” Draco said. It was true, though his father didn’t know the anything specific. Narcissa had willed all her holdings from the Black family estate to her son upon her death. How she’d managed to keep them away from his father throughout their marriage, he’d never know but he was grateful that she had. If not for her, he’d still be under his father’s thumb. “Now, since you were the one to call this meeting, why don’t you kindly get to the point and tell me what you want.”
Lucius’ eyebrows rose slightly at his blatant insolence. Draco had never been so disrespectful before. Amazing what a little financial independence and a few muggle pills could do. He wanted to laugh at the scowl on his father’s face even though his head still throbbed dully.
“Draco,” his father’s voice dripped with distress and concern, all of it false. “do I really need a reason to visit my only son?”
What? Who was he kidding? For a flash of an instant, he thought that maybe Lucius had bugged the room and was trying to convince someone that he was a loving and caring father. Then reality set in and Draco sat up straight and leaned forward. He rested his palms on the edge of his desk. “You do when the last time I saw you, you tried to slip a memory potion into my drink,” he spat. His control was slipping and he struggled to keep it from showing any more than it already had.
His father gazed at him for a long moment, cold eyes studying him, looking for cracks in his façade. Then he sighed dramatically as if he were doing Draco a great favor. “Very well, I will indulge your impatience and get to the point.” He crossed his legs and rested his cane across his lap. “Last night I ran into a friend of yours.”
Draco lifted an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. He was pretty sure who the friend had been.
“It seems I may have spoken out of turn.” Lucius shook his head in feigned innocence and the false distress and concern was back in full force. “I was under the impression he knew of your latest venture. I realized my error when he seemed…agitated after I let slip the nature of your research. I’m sorry if I have caused you any difficulties, that was certainly not my intention.” He certainly didn’t sound sorry.
Well, that left little doubt then. His father ran into Harry last night and Lucius conveniently let slip what Draco had been researching. Throw in a clever word or two and it had been enough to seriously shake Harry’s faith in him, thus his visit earlier.
Why had Lucius insisted on seeing him at all? Did he still believe he held some power over Draco? Did he honestly think Draco would believe the slip had been unintentional? His father was trying hard to appear honorable by admitting his ‘mistake’ and asking for forgiveness. However, he knew better, Lucius’ apology was nothing more than a farce, his intentions behind the deed sinister and devious. What was he playing at?
Bloody hell. How did he even find out what he’d been working on in the first place? Draco had taken extensive measures to ensure the security of his company and his research. He was sure there were no spies among his staff. Most of them didn’t even know what they were working on anyway, each department given only on isolated portions of various potions.
He’d have to puzzle it out later; right now, his father was looking at him expectantly. He kept his voice calm and shifted slightly. “It’s caused no trouble at all father. Besides, it is not worth getting upset about. You and I both know how things turned out, scarcely worth continuing study on it. I’ve already moved on to something more worthy of my time,” he said. That wasn’t true…quite.
“Yes, perhaps it’s something I should look into since you were unable to arrive at anything conclusive.” There was that sarcasm again, so prevalent in Lucius’ every word.
“Be my guest. Just don’t expect me to hand over vital items or any conclusions I have come to.” Draco quipped in response. Fat chance of that. He smiled when his father narrowed his eyes and pressed his mouth into a thin line. Did the man actually think he’d get any help from him?
Lucius rose smoothly, setting his cane down with a soft thump. “I would never ask my son for help in matters I can handle on my own.”
Draco rose as well, anxious to show his father out the door and trying not to appear too eager. “I’m glad to hear that father, it’s too bad you didn’t show that kind of restraint when I was younger.” He gave Lucius a reproachful look and casually opened the door for him, unable to resist one last gibe. “Next time you feel the need to clear your conscience, please set up an appointment with my secretary. I don’t appreciate your owl shrieking at my window when I’m trying to sleep.”
Lucius’ eyes narrowed. “I can hardly see how wanting to let my son know I made a mistake can be construed as harassment Draco.”
Oil…oil and snakes. That’s what Lucius reminded him of just then, a snake slithering through oil leaving greasy, black smudges across a cold gray surface. He suppressed a shudder. How had he ever followed this man so blindly? “Well I do, so kindly respect my wishes or I just might use your next bird as a throw pillow.” Draco said tightly.
His father’s eyes flashed dangerously before answering. “Very well. Until next time.” With a nod of his head and sweep of his cloak, Lucius brushed past him and out the door. Draco wanted to slam it just to get a rise out of his father but he didn’t, he…couldn’t. Instead, he shut the door quietly.
Despite his fierce independence, some things had been too deeply ingrained into him as a child. Slamming doors was one of them. The first time he’d done that in a fit of temper had also been the last. A couple of Imperius curses while his father calmly spelled the door shut on his fingers when he’d been six had taken away the urge to ever do that again.
He made his way over to the sofa and he dropped onto it gracelessly, his head pounding now. It felt like it was going to pop off his neck and drop to the floor. ‘Thanks for that father.’ he thought with a sneer. He propped his head up on the arm and threw an arm over his eyes. The pain was starting to make his stomach twist uncomfortably so he didn’t want to get up and get his pills from his desk or even accio them. In fact, moving at all seemed less and less like a good idea. He just might empty the contents of his stomach all over his Persian carpet if he did. And even scouring charms couldn’t get those stains out. He should know, it was the third carpet he’d purchased in just as many months.
The door opened quietly and a small form kneeled beside him, shaking his shoulder urgently. “Mr. Malfoy?”
When he didn’t respond, it shook his shoulder again. Reluctantly, he put his arm down and cracked his eyelids. A very worried looking Shelise hovered above him.
“Mr. Malfoy, are…are you all right sir?”
“ ‘M fine, thanks. I just…have a headache,” he mumbled.
Shelise rose and quickly walked over to his desk while Draco watched her with wary eyes. Displaying a shrewdness that really didn’t surprise him, she rummaged through his drawer until she came up with a box of quills and smirked at him. “Really Mr. Malfoy, never-out quills? I thought you’d be more inventive than that.”
He smiled at her apologetically but she only shook her head at him, the fondness in her gaze softening the gentle reproach. She opened the bottle and shook three pills onto her palm. Then she screwed the cap back on, closed the bottle and tossed it back into the drawer.
Shelise had been his secretary long enough to know almost everything about him. It wasn’t as if he could keep the headaches a secret from her anyway. On several occasions, they’d gotten bad enough at work that he’d had to take enough pills to knock himself out for a couple of hours. Yeah, right, a couple of hours…more like a couple of days. She’d been the one to take him home before anyone could find out how sick he’d really been. Draco sat up slowly when she handed him the pills and a bottle of water. His hands shook when he reached out to take them, but fortunately, she didn’t comment on it.
“Now, in addition to what you’ve already taken, I believe I’ve just given you enough to knock you out for several hours, right?” she asked after he’d swallowed the pills and leaned his head back to rest on the back of the sofa. She waited for his answer so he nodded automatically.
“Well, then you need to go home and rest.”
He was going to protest because he really hated being coddled…most of the time, but Shelise held her hand up. “I don’t want to hear it Mr. Malfoy, you need the rest. I know how draining your father’s visits can be; even I’m tired when he leaves. Go home before those things really kick in and you have to sleep here. I’ll shut everything down and owl you anything you’ve forgotten.”
“All right, jus’… let me get my laptop.” Draco would not feel sorry for himself, he just wouldn’t. He got up from the sofa carefully, afraid to upset his stomach further. After he shut down his laptop and slid it into its case, he slipped the strap over head and rested it on his shoulder. He was in the middle of checking if he’d forgotten anything when suddenly, the floor tilted wildly and he had to clutch the side of desk for support.
Shelise was at his side in an instant and gripped his arm tightly, her slight form trying to support his weight. “Can we go now? Or are you going to wait until you fall down and I have to carry you?” she chastised gently. Slender arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him close.
He tried to answer but he wasn’t sure what came out because Shelise laughed softly. “You sound like you’ve drank too much fire whiskey,” she said amusedly. “C’mon, let’s get you home before I do have to carry you. Lightening charms leave much to be desired.”
He barely heard her say the password to drop the wards in his office and the pop of apparition before she was slipping the strap off his shoulders and setting his laptop down on the coffee table. He had to concentrate on keeping his feet beneath him since his stomach seemed to be taking its time catching up with the rest of him.
Shelise kept her arm around his waist as she guided him to his bedroom. He didn’t want to lean on her too much, he was afraid she’d buckle under his weight but she was stronger than she looked. She helped him sit on the edge of the bed and his legs erupted in goose bumps when she muttered a spell that stripped him down to his boxers. He knew he should be mortified that his secretary had just undressed him, but he was simply too tired and in too much pain to care.
She placed Draco’s wand on the nightstand in case he needed it and pushed him back gently until he lay on the bed. When he was settled comfortably, she pulled the covers up to his chin and brushed the hair off his forehead. The mattress beneath him felt so good and the covers were warm and soft. He tried to thank her but his tongue refused to cooperate. Instead, he clasped her fingers when she brushed the hair out of his eyes again.
She squeezed his hand in return and for several long minutes, stood over him, watching Draco sadly as his eyes finally closed with an aching weariness. The constant criticism from the press, mistrust from his friends and his father’s desire to inflict him bodily harm was chipping away at the walls he’d built around his carefully guarded emotions. Even she could see that it was crumbling, slowly. His confrontation with his father and whatever had happened with Harry today had chipped away a little more at that wall. Soon, there would be nothing left and she didn’t know what would happen to him then.
His father was a right bastard and some days she wished she could just avada kadavra him. It would save her employer a lot of grief. It was frustrating watching the people he should be able to trust, hurt him.
Well, since killing Lucius was out of her range of things permissible, the next best thing she could do would be to owl Harry and ask him to check on Mr. Malfoy in a couple of hours. It was the least he could do after the way he’d upset him today. Besides, he’d never seemed to mind any of the previous times she’d asked him for a favor concerning Mr. Malfoy. She’d use one of the company owls, one of the Eagle Owls. They were the fastest. Decision made, she apparated back to the office.
TBC…