Empty Spaces

Chapter 28

Draco stood his ground and tossed over the second bag, deep velvet green, followed by his hollow book. I am so fucked. I am either the bravest person alive, or the stupidest. But this is dirty money, bloody money, with every coin I spend, I fall deeper into his grasp... anything is better than a life at the end of Lucius' rope as he tightens the noose over your neck... How many times had Draco seen it before??? That is not going to be my fate.

"Take your fucking money," Draco said. "I owe you nothing now."

It was as if he'd been underwater, suffocating, drowning, and he was finally able to gasp at the surface. He wasn't free, not yet. But it was a start.

Lucius merely laughed, mocking and cruel.

"Oh, my son... Still so naive..."

A scuffling in the next room had both Draco and Lucius turning towards the commotion; the split second was all it took and the next thing Draco knew, he was bound by invisible ropes, rooted to the ground, unable to move, cursing himself for letting his guard down, even for a moment.

"We're not through," Lucius turned his back and disappeared.

"Potter, whatever you do, do NOT show yourself," Draco hissed at the empty space around him, struggling against his invisible bindings, "The last thing you need is for Lucius to know you were here with me..."

"There's only so much I can do covered up," Potter whispered back and Draco heard him trying a few different counter-curses.

" I don't even know the counter-curse for this one," Draco whispered back, "Just stay hidden and don't make any sudden moves... You don't know Lucius like I do."

"I'm not going to just sit here and do nothing!"

"You're right, you're not," Draco whispered back, thinking quickly, "You're going to go in the next room and figure out what the hell is going on."

"Got it," Potter replied. "You're sure you're okay?"

"I'm a hell of a lot better than you or I will be if you're discovered, which has got to count for something. Move!"

Draco had no way of knowing whether Potter had gone or whether he had returned. He could make out voices, though, Lucius, yes, but also some others that Draco didn't recognize. What the fuck...

"There's a healer here from St. Mungo's," Potter's voice whispered, "Narcissa is being taken away to the hospital now, they're using the Floo network..."

Fuck. FUCK. Potter, I know you only had the best intentions in mind, but the shit's about to hit the fan and we're both fucked when it does...

"Harry, get out of here," Draco instructed. "You need to leave, get out of here now."

"What the hell, no, I'm not leaving you alone–"

"Doesn't matter, Lucius will lose his shit, he'll think it was me–"

"Which is why I'm not going anywhere–"

"Fuck, Potter, you've got to go–"

But Draco's voice was silenced; he gasped for breath, unable to speak another word as Lucius burst into the room, wand outstretched, eyes menacing, all pretense of decorum gone.

"The deepest circle in hell is reserved for those who turn their backs on their own kin," Lucius said, soft and deadly. "Those who would betray their own flesh and blood. You dishonor your family and shame your mother. Have I taught you nothing?? Family is forever. There is no punishment on this earth suitable for such despicable actions. The actions of a traitor."

Draco braced himself for Lucius' fury, refusing to let his fear show; he would not cower and give Lucius the satisfaction, he would not yield, he would not cry out, he would not–

"PROTEGO!" Potter materialized at Draco's side, blocking Lucius' spell, sending him reeling back in surprise. Freed at last from his invisible bonds, Draco pulled out his own wand as Potter took on Lucius in a duel. Potter, as much as I appreciate everything you've done and continue to do, YOU AND YOUR FUCKING CHIVALRY ARE GOING TO GET US BOTH KILLED– OR WORSE!

"It wasn't Draco," Potter yelled above the clamor, blocking Lucius' advances as best he could, "It was ME who called for a healer, so lay off!"

"Potter," Lucius snarled, "Always meddling where you don't belong. Another child playing at grown-up games."

Fuck Potter, you're good at dueling, but this is Lucius...

Draco jumped in, casting his first spell against his father, channeling his fear, his anger, his hope, his freedom...

"You would dare move against your own father!?"

Lucius' retaliation was swift and merciless; Draco was vaguely aware of some other people joining the fight but he was blind and deaf to all around him, the world was closing in on him and there was pain but maybe it wasn't pain, he couldn't tell anymore; somewhere, somehow, he heard Potter's voice but it was far away and then the world went dark.