Trigger warning - Abuse.
Song of the Chapter: Daddy Issues (remix) by The Neighborhood (linked above because remix isn't on spotify or apple music)
Draco's POV
"Draco, it's time."
I stare down at my clear left arm for the last time, then join my mother at the front of the house. The train ride to Diagon Alley is completely silent, I know she wanted to say something to make me feel better but she didn't. There isn't anything that could make this situation better and she knows it.
When we turn down Knockturn Alley, I immediately spot Bellatrix and Greyback standing in the doorway of Borgin and Burkes. Their smiles of excitement make the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up.
"Come, Draco. We're starting." Bellatrix hisses.
My mother kisses me on the cheek before signaling for me to enter the shop. I take one last deep breath, then walk inside. All eyes turn to me. I see Greyback move away from the middle of the cauldron and realize that's my cue to take his place.
The heat from the green liquid inside makes my forehead break into a sweat but I still have goosebumps down my spine. My throat tightens and I can't tell if it's from the amount of smoke or the imaginary hands around my neck.
"We have all gathered here today for the initiation of Draco Malfoy becoming a Death Eater." Bellatrix says over the cauldron.
"You may now put your arm over." Greyback orders.
Every bone and muscle in my body tries to force me the opposite direction but Bellatrix yanks my arm ahead. Suddenly, there's a burning sensation in my hand. It travels up my arm and all of the way inside my brain.
I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it will stop the pain but it builds the longer my arm is over the cauldron.
"Do you, Draco Malfoy, swear to be a loyal follower of The Dark Lord?"
I swallow hard, trying to keep the tears inside. "I do."
"Will you follow through with the tasks The Dark Lord orders you to do?"
"I will."
"And if you fail, you will accept death as your consequence?"
Nausea comes over me when I get a glimpse of Dumbledore's dead body on the ground beneath me. But the feeling gets ten times worse when I see my coffin buried six feet underneath.
"I will."
Smoke explodes from inside the cauldron, covering my arm and blurring my vision. The burning turns to a sting and I'm convinced someone is digging their nails into my flesh. Even when I try to pull away something grabs a hold of my hand and pulls me closer. I try to look at my mother but her head is facing the opposite direction.
Please get me out of this, mum. I don't want to do it anymore. I'm scared.
Please.
The smoke clears and the entire shop gets quiet. I finally get the opportunity to pull my arm back and when I do, the dark mark is staring at me.
"Well done, nephew." Bellatrix whispers in my ear.
I bite my tongue to keep myself from breaking down. My fingers run along the snake sliding underneath my skin and I feel the scales.
Greyback grabs my shoulder. "The Dark Lord is on his way now, he will give you the details on your task."
I nod and take my place back beside my mother. She still doesn't look at me but I see a tear fall down her cheek.
It doesn't take long for The Dark Lord to arrive and when he does he lets himself in. The door of Borgin and Burkes swings open and before I accidentally make eye contact with him, I look away.
"I assume the ceremony went well?"
Bellatrix nods. "He's ready for you to explain his task."
I get lost in my head, trying to avoid what's in front of me, but that quickly changes.
"Draco!" Bellatrix snaps at me.
My head shoots up and I see Bella nodding her head in the direction of The Dark Lord. I hesitate, but turn my head in his direction. But he doesn't grab my attention, the person beside him does.
She's staring right back at me, how long has she been here? Why is she here?
"Draco, we finally meet."
Her hair is tied back, I know she hates when it's tied back.
"Your mother has told you your task but I have some details we need to discuss."
Her eyes move from mine down to the mark on my arm. I instantly yank my sleeve down in hopes of her not seeing it but it's clear that she does. Tears well up and the whiteness of her eyes turns bright red. Fear falls over her and I realize the night terrors are coming to life.
"I know it may be a challenge for you, considering who your father is."
I can't speak but I want to explain, it's not my choice. I'm not a bad person, Mal.
The Dark Lord continues to explain but I can't take my eyes off of her. It doesn't help that her focus is on me also.
"Malory, come stand beside me." The Dark Lord orders.
She doesn't move because her mind is in a different place. I don't know why she would, anyway. Malory isn't supposed to be here, this is a mistake. She took the wrong turn while heading to the book shop. There's no reason she would be at one of these meetings.
Then in an instant, The Dark Lord's hand grips around Malory's face.
"Are you deaf?!" He shouts in her face.
My eyes grow big with shock at the image in front of me; Malory in The Dark Lord's grasp. I see her eyes slam shut in terror as he spits awful words at her. His nails dig into the sides of her cheeks, causing blood to spill.
"You are an embarrassment for a daughter, aren't you?" He growls.
I feel my heart skip multiple beats at once when The Dark Lord speaks. My body tightens and I feel like time has been slowed down, like a dramatic scene in a film. When I try to inhale there's something blocking the way.
Malory's lip quivers as she responds, "Yes, father."
He drops her face out of his hands, pushing it to the side. Our eyes meet as she lifts her head back up and wipes the blood from her cheeks.
The Dark Lord sighs. "I apologize for her behavior. Let us continue."
The rest of the meeting consists of him telling me the deadline for killing Dumbledore and when he plans on releasing my father from Azkaban. I try my hardest to listen for the sake of re-building my family's reputation but it's nearly impossible when right across from me is my childhood friend.
My childhood friend's father is Voldemort. The Dark Lord, the most feared person in the wizarding world. And I had no idea.
"That is all for now." The Dark Lord says before exiting Borgin and Burkes.
Once he disappears the rest of the Death Eaters leave the shop, including Malory. I wait for my mother to walk ahead, then rush after her.
"Malory!" I shout.
She continues walking down the dark alleyway so I move faster. Thankfully my legs are longer than hers because I catch up and stop her by pulling her arm.
"Malory, for fucks sake!" I huff.
Her head turns in my direction and I forget about the gashes made in her face. They make me feel sick to my stomach.
"I-I..." I struggle to form a sentence. "I don't understand."
Malory bites the inside of her lip aggressively to hide her emotions. When I look into her eyes I can't help but remember the argument we had the last time I saw her.
"I just know things have been hard lately for all of us and it would be nice if we could talk..."
"Drac, hear me out please."
"You knew," I gulp. "You knew then and were trying to-"
"Draco." She whimpers.
"No, no this can't be right. You're not his daughter, that doesn't make any sense-"
"Draco, stop." She snaps.
I try to swallow the words building up in my mouth but they get caught in my throat. All of the things I want to say to her, the questions I have. I need to apologize, she needs to know I didn't mean what I said...
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."
Malory's eyes fill up with water and this time she doesn't stop the tears from falling. They fall down her face and mix with the dried up blood on her cheeks. Every time I look at the wounds I see him grabbing her and want to scream.
"He made you bleed," I choke. "Does he do that a lot?"
I see the pain in her body grow and I can't tell if it's physical or mental. For a split second my focus is taken off of her face and falls down to her neck that is still covered in a turtleneck.
"You know it's summer, right?"
She does know, and I knew in that moment. But instead of asking her if everything was alright, I made fun of her.
Slowly, I lift my hand up to her neck and with two fingers pull back the black fabric. The further I pull it down, the darker the bruising gets. Four fingers on one side, one on the other. A hand print so big and intense I don't know how she's alive.
Just as I'm about to completely pull it down, she grabs my wrist and pulls it away.
"Draco, it's okay." Malory whispers.
I look at her with wide eyes. "No, you need to do something. We can get you away from him-"
"How?" She interrupts. "Are you going to call the Ministry and tell them? My father is the most feared man around here."
As bad and fucked up as it is, what she says is right. And it makes my heart completely shatter in my chest.
I can't think of anything else to say and she knows it. She inhales deeply and wipes her eyes before continuing down the path to Diagon Alley.
"Why did he do that to you?" I ask. "That mark on your neck?"
Malory turns around and gives me a sympathetic look. "I was trying to make sure that didn't happen."
I watch as her eyes travel down to my left arm and feel a pinch in my chest. I stare down at the snake, now a faded grey. When I look back up, she's gone.