Chapter Text
When Draco was younger he would frequently question his stance on life. Question why most parents would look at him with aversion, discontent, or a false sense of delight while their children would either obey his every command, avoid him entirely, or try to evade him if he walked just a centimeter to close to them. As a child it confused him as to why most others could have fun and fuss with each other, yet when he was involved they all shied away. Ignorant to both the world and its dealing it hurt to a large agree emotionally and probably to some extent mentally as well.
While other children quarreled and horseplay he was told to sit in a corner so that he would not "get hurt". Kept inside as he looked at the others have fun and play outside. It felt almost as if he was in his own little personal prison; however, he did not complain. His father already had too much to worry about; he couldn’t put more on his plate no matter how wronged he felt.
Truthfully he hated it there and those people are probably one of the main reason why his personality became such a complete mess. He spent all his days living in complete boredom. They after day was some old; that was, until he met Blaise.
Blaise Zabini, son of Antoinette Zabini and probably the most arrogant git in this world was exactly what Draco needed in his boring and bleak schedule. Unlike most, he knew next to nothing of Draco this allowed him to act more freely then others. He didn’t shy away, avoid him, or abide his command. He didn’t share any of the same actions as the others. He actually came to talk to him on his own volition, without a care in the world. He showed Draco the life of a child and not of a sitting living doll. He showed Draco what it felt to be a child, and because of this Blaise soon came to become one of his best friend as well as his confident. The two of them against the world, that was until he met Theodore Nott.
Unlike Blaise, Theo and Draco had known of each other’s existence since he had first come to go to that wizard school. To Draco Theo was just like all the other children. Someone who shied away from him for some unknown reason that was until some rather weird day. Theo was very different as a child then he was now. Back then he was very quiet and shy. It was one of the main reason why he was unable to talk to Draco. So when he suddenly came out one day and shouted that he liked Draco Malfoy everyone was shocked silent.
As a kid decreeing that you had a crush on someone was like saying you had a virus, especially if that someone was Draco. Everyone was completely quiet for a while unable to process a thought. Even Draco was shocked still. Never in his life had anyone said they liked him other than his mother and uncle. So hearing someone say that shook him silent, that was until Blaise, being Blaise, shot out some halfwit joke that made almost everyone laugh even him laugh and avoid embarrassment. After that they became quick friends. The three of them was like their very own wizard three musketeers.
They made his life much more bearable then before. They treated him more like a human, but even then with his friends he still fell into a case of depressed on some occasions. Times of self-hate that more times than none caused him to have no control of himself and because of this issue he made up his own arrogant Malfoy persona. It allowed him to hide the misery from other prying eyes and when no one but his friends where looking, that was when he then decided to shed his tears. His true self.
However when he met Potter it felt like something inside him had bubbled up. A feeling that he couldn’t comprehend. He felt as if Harry could see through his persona and see through the fake that he made and he knew that fact was true when, like an idiot, he walked up and tried to make friends with the bloody boy who live. It was laughable now that he thought back on it. Him a dirty, untrustworthy, arrogant snake befriending the boy who bloody live. He, someone who had to hide himself, it was no surprise that he flat out declined. He was surprised that old Dumbles didn’t pop out at that minute and stump him.
With a deep sigh Draco pulled the covers over his head a vacant look on his face as he thought about all his life decisions. Life was hard, but others had it worse so he couldn’t even dare to try to complain. The only thing now that he could say that would make his life more difficult was the small fact of him being a demonic elf. Not only just a demonic elf though. A submissive demonic elf. A very rare submissive demonic elf. With this small fact, it was more than likely many would try to hunt him, kill, and/or sell him to the black market.
Unable to continue the thought Draco throw the covers off of his face and sat up with a huff. He had more worrisome things to think about now then himself. Something wasn’t right, something was happening and Draco was going to find out what no matter who tried to stop him. His gut was telling him to go and check it out and it only intensified when he saw Andromeda hurry out with the house elf.
Softly placing his feet on the floor he shivered a little. This house was always so annoyingly cold at night that he was sure if a lizard even tried to live here it would more than likely freeze. Standing up with a push Draco walked to the door opening it in one turn. What greeted him; however, wasn’t the dark halls of the manor, but the familiar suited chest of his father.
“Father…?” Looking at his dad in shock, Draco took a few steps back. What could he be doing here and why? Why did he come here the moment he was trying to find out what’s going on in his own home? Did he had some kind of sensor that only went off when Draco was trying to find out things to keep him in the dark?
“What are you doing up at this time?” His father asked looking at the boy in confusion. Draco was never up after ten and never slept over seven. To him this bit of information was more than enough to make him a little suspicious; however the thing that confused Draco was why his father was here and why he came when he thought the boy would be sleeping.
“Eh, I was going to get myself some water. Couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to bother anyone.” Draco said practically hoping that his father would believe the lie. Lucius looked at the boy as if he’d grown another head. His boy didn’t call a house elf because he didn’t want to bother them. Maybe what Andromeda said about the boy having some kind of sickness was true. Could he have some kind of mental illness? Did he get the infamous black sickness? Could it be one of the effects of his creature’s inheritance?
“Draco….” Lucius said softly before sighing.
“I think it is for the best if you rest some. I’ll call a house elf for some water. I don’t think you are mentally or physically strong enough yet.” Lucius guided his boy back to his bed awkwardly. Maybe it would have been best if he ask the boy what was ailing him. Putting the boy back in bed Lucius conjured up a sitting chair on the side.
“Has there been anything bothering you?” Lucius asked awkwardly new to weird situations like this. Draco looked at his dad in amusement. This was the first time he had seen his father act in such a way. High and mighty yes, calm and sturdy yes, even protective and somewhat brave, but never had he seen his purer than pure blood slytherin father awkward and nervous.
“I’m fine father. Just a little restless. Though I do have a question.” Draco answered as the familiar pop of a house elf sounded showing the appearance if a short lanky figure with the cup of water. Taking the cup from the creature Lucius gave it to his son people summoning to leave.
“Is there something wrong? Why did a house elf call on Aunt Andromeda and why did she leave so quickly.” Draco asked hoping that his father would answer his question. Stiffening Lucius looked lost as to what he should tell the child.
“Truthfully, it’s something that we will go over later tomorrow. Something like this shouldn’t keep you head muddled.” Lucius said urging his child to drink the water and go to sleep. With a sigh Draco watched as his father left making up his mind to go find out what’s happening in his house at all cost. It was his house as well.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Draco woke up a little earlier than five, sleep still in his eyes and hair a complete and other mess. Groggy and a complete and utter mess from lack of sleep his stood ready to take his morning bath when he paused. It was about five in the morning and the sun was even over the horizon and yet he was already up. Gasping softly Draco finally recalled just why he forced himself to wake up at such a time and instantly sobered up.
Grabbing his wand he uttered a small freshening spell before silently walking towards the door. Peering through the crack he checked to see if anyone was up and about before carefully walking out of the room and shutting his door soundlessly behind him. He hated sneaking around his own house like some muggle criminal, but he had to if he wanted some form of answers around here.
Walking down the stairs lightly yet fast pace he round a corner. Guiding himself to where he remember the infirmary was. As he saw the familiar jarred door of the room he slowed down a little, already at his destination.
Peering through the ajar door. Draco looked around the room to see if anyone was there. Seeing no awake adults he walked into the room. Looking around, Draco sadly smiled at the memories of childhood the silver and green room had. Memories of his mother’s care and the first time they decided to even build this little room in the manor. Feeling a tear fall Draco shook his head and wiped his eyes harshly. He couldn’t cry, it would only worry the others.
Looking back around the room once again Draco paused as he saw an unfamiliar lump resting in one of his infirmary beds. Knitting his eyes in confusion, Draco wondered who could be taking residence here. Walking to the thing or person on the bed Draco readied himself to take action if it might come and attack him; however what he saw on the bed was something that even had him pause a little in shock.
On the bed lay a boy just around his age wrapped from head to toe in bandages. The wrapping coated his head wrapped from his forehead and covering his left eye. A bandage covered one cheek while another was place on the top of the right eye. From what else he could see his neck and shoulder was bandaged and he had a cast on his right arm.
Draco looked at the boy in confusion. How come he was so bandaged? Couldn’t Aunt Andy fix his arm with a simple bone mending spell. Wasn’t it easier to fix injuries like this? Gazing at the cast something felt as if it was constricting his chest. Seeing this boy so injured somehow made him feel some type of feeling that he couldn’t recall. A feeling he only had once when he had thrown one particularly bad taunt at Potter’s way. Feeling compelled to do something anything, Draco lifted a hand, feeling the rough surface of the cast.
Closing his eyes Draco felt as if a warm tingling feeling was overcoming his senses. A warm and relaxing feeling that felt as if he was floating in the sky. With a smile he opened his eyes jumping in surprise when he noticed a white light radiating from his hand. Looking around to see if anyone heard him he looked back to the sleeping injured boy on the bed and noticed that as he lifted his hand the white light and warmth disappeared. Lightly touching the boy once again Draco this time didn’t jump away when the white like came. Instead he began to lightly trace his finger over the boy’s arms. As he did so the contracting feeling around his heart began to loosen slowly.
This however was bad for the boy. He had gotten so into tracing the boy’s bandages and gazing at the white light that followed that he couldn’t hear the familiar sound of a door opening. “Draco!” Hearing the familiar voice of his uncle Draco jumped back in surprise. Turning to face his godfather, he wasn’t surprise to see his aunt as well.