Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Forbidden Rapture	By : Marionne25 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 49871 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and am not making money from this story.

Chapter List
- 72
- 73
- 74
Author's Notes:
ANOTHER CHAPTER!!
yes, because i've missed writing so much and because writer's block was able to stay away from quite some time.
At the coming weekend I'm having my music recital for my students so i will be dead busy the whole week to update, edit or write anything at all so here I am gloriously blessing you all with a new chapter.
I hope everyone is well.
It's the stormy season in my country right now and we're enduring very cold and rainy weather everyday. so yes, i am able to write better at this condition especially at the dead hours with a coffee at hand.
hope all is well at your end.
lots of love always
xx
please enjoy the chapter and the other stories will also be updated son!!!

xx

Chapter Seventy One
The House of Black and Malfoy

There was a reason he left London.
He wanted to forget and he thought he was going to forget everything.
But for the everyday he spent his life even years and miles apart from London, the memories of the place never left him.
It reminded him every night in his nightmares and every waking moment.
A dream, a nightmare that consumed all his days kept coming back but he didn’t know how to fix it, he didn’t know what it was.
It wasn’t until very recently when his godfather and Hermione Granger resurfaced into the face of the Wizarding World did he understand and realize what it could have all been, what it could have all meant – what it possibly connects.
It wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a nightmare.
It all happened and it were all buried deep inside his mind.
And there was only one way to understand all of it.
Taking flight, with his new life and with a courage in his heart that would have made any Gryffindor jealous, he returned to London to face the old life he left behind and find answers of his own.

And more than three months later, the grandfather’s clock at the West Wing still chimes the same way he remembers it the way it did way back ten years ago.
Almost nothing has changed.
But a decade has passed and lives have been both made and destroyed by that night the Death Eaters were given the order to ambush the Order of the Phoenix to take Harry Potter.

Draco looked up from the vials he was holding in his hand and stared at his reflection as he listened to the loud sound of the clock.
He stared back at himself as he secured the vials in his inner pocket of his cloak.
He straightened up and straightened the black collar of his clothes to keep it neck-deep.
Draco opened a drawer and stared at the Slytherin scarf and he smiled at it as his thin fingers caressed it.
He gently pulled it out but it wasn’t what he had meant to take.
It was the red, old and tainted Gryffindor scarf hidden beneath his drawers that he had taken out.
It was Hermione’s scarf that he had found many years ago.
The clock had stopped its chimes and Draco stared up at his reflection as he slowly placed the red scarf around his neck.
It felt not too long ago that they were at Hogwarts, not too long ago that rivalry was as trivial as a Quidditch match and the worse thing was failing from an exam.
Not from a life to be taken at Azkaban, not a life destroyed by a curse.
He bowed his head, nodding to himself as tears started to stain the side of his eyes.

Red and gold – the only colours in the almost lifeless look about him.
Draco smiled at his reflection – Gryffindor suited him well – it placed colour in the grievous aura he had.
And come to think of it, courage did look good him.
He tried to keep the tears from streaming down his face; he shouldn’t be scared, it was bound to happen.
He meant to finish what he had begun a very long time ago – he meant to fix the lives he destroyed.
The Gryffindor scarf suited him well – courage looked good on him.

There were broken dreams or rather repetitive nightmare inside his head for years that never left him.
Going through the years, he got used to it understanding that it may have been his conscience eating him all those years. And despite that he felt different and he felt that they couldn’t just be mere dreams, he went through with life.
And meant to endure it all until his dying day.

It wasn’t long ago that he had been in the West Wing, spying on his mother, on his godfather at the night of the ambush.
It felt not so long ago and yet a decade had passed.
A decade had passed since he had destroyed the life of Hermione Granger.
He thought he had lost her forever but fate had plans and finding her was one of them.
Saving Snape’s life at the last minute was perhaps another.

Draco swallowed back his tears, forcing a smile as he stared back at his reflection, looking good with the red scarf around his neck.
It was time to fix what no other soul ever knew he had done.
For he didn’t even remember all of it until very recently when his mother’s powerful cast of Obliviate had been broken and that is again, thanks to his godfather.
And now he remembers that the years of nightmares that have been eating him alive weren’t mere dreams.

He now remembers and he remembers it all.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked again.
“There’s nothing else to tell, Draco.” Snape firmly said. “I’ve told you everything that has happened and everything there is to know about the ten years.”
Draco only stared at him, eyes closely locked at him.
“Look up at me.” Draco coldly demanded. “Look up at me, godfather.”
Snape was hesitant but he looked back at Draco.
“Put down your defenses.” Draco said slowly pulling his wand out from his pocket.
“What?” Snape quietly asked him although his eyes flickered for a swift moment over Draco’s wand.
“You heard me. Put down your defenses.” Draco said placing his wand over the table where he could clearly see it.
“This is ridiculous, Draco.”
“Put down your defenses.” Draco slowly muttered each word.
Snape stared at him.
“I’ve already been checked by the Wizengamot and Ministry on that.”
“I know.” Draco said. “But they’re not aware of the depth and strength of your power to close your mind against their power to go through it to look for evidences of the past.”
Snape sat there unmoving as Draco waited.

“We are wasting time, Draco.” Snape said unconsciously placing his hands across his chest.
“Just put it down.” Draco quietly said. “It’s just the two of us in this room and you know that it’s just me. It’s just me, godfather. There’s nothing to be worried about. There’s nothing you have hidden in those years that you should still be ashamed of. There’s nothing in those years I couldn’t handle.”
Snape’s black eyes flickered at his tone and mention.
“I’m not worried-“
“Then you will show me what’s in that head of yours-“
“They’ve already seen what’s in my head – you already know what’s in my head-“
“Not everything.” Draco said taking the wand from the table. “I haven’t seen everything. Put your defenses down and let me see through your mind.”
“This is invasion of privacy.”
“Invasion of privacy?” Draco incredulously asked him. “Invasion of your privacy? I’m trying to save your life!”

He almost laughed.

Snape looked both nervous and displeased.
“There’s nothing in my head you have not yet known or have seen-“
“Then if there’s nothing to keep from me. Let me see it all over again!” Draco said and this time his voice was hoarse, cold and demanding.
Snape met the eyes of the young Malfoy.
They were cold and impatient, almost owned once more by the boy that was pure of a Malfoy and no trace of his mother.
Snape looked alarmed now.
Draco was looking and sounding more like his father at the moment.
“Draco-“
“Lower your defenses.” Draco whispered standing up and slowly raising his wand and pointing it over his forehead.
Snape, unarmed and stunned sat there wordlessly.
They stared at one another as if waiting and daring the other to make their next move.
Snape pursed his lips and looked closely at Draco.
Something dark passed his expression.
“What are you looking for Draco?” Snape slowly asked him. “You seem to be looking for an answer you already have.”
“I don’t have answers.” Draco said. “That’s why I’m searching for them.”
“Something tells me it’s not random answers you’re looking for.”

Draco didn’t say anything.
He blinked for a moment, a second thought and then he returned to his passive expression.
“I see.” Snape whispered sighing heavily and nodding at him. “You’re looking for something specific.” Snape whispered as his muscles relaxed as he tried to overpower Draco by means of emotions.
“I’m not looking for something specific.”
“You are looking for an answer you have already.” Snape pointed out. “You only seem to be looking for some verification.”
Draco didn’t say anything.
“Tell me what you are looking for-“
“I will do the questioning here!” Draco suddenly yelled at him. “I am your Defense Council!”
Snape’s eyes widened.
Draco advanced, wand closer to his face and his other hand had been banged over the desk.
The frustration, the exhaustion and anger were suddenly all over his face.
He had never seen the boy this angry or frustrated before.
Something was taking a toll over the boy.
“Draco-“
“Just tell me the truth.” Draco said. “Please.”

He was slightly shaking now and his voice constricted in his throat in his attempt to control his anger.
Snape slowly reached for the wand over his face and gently held it at its end.
Draco kept it pointed over him.
“How about you put your defenses down, Draco.” Snape slowly instructed keeping his black eyes over his grey ones.
Draco didn’t say anything.
“You’ve said it yourself.” Snape slowly said. “It’s just the two of us here. Man to man. Godfather to godson. There’s nothing to be kept between the two of us for we know one another more than anyone else.”
Draco still didn’t say anything nor did he lower his wand.
Snape was reminded of the boy he tried to convince years ago to be helped in his mission with the Dark Lord.
“Draco, there’s nothing to keep between the two of us.” Snape slowly whispered as he gently held the wand pointed over his face. “Why don’t you tell me the truth?”
“I’m the one asking you-“
“Tell me what you are specifically looking for.”
All refinement and composure was lost from Draco.
He suddenly looked harassed, sleepless and frustrated.
“I’m not your enemy.” Snape softly whispered making his features a bit gentler. “I’m your godfather. I’m your ally, Draco.”

Snape waited in silence, watching Draco carefully as he was consumed by something he didn’t yet understand.
And then slowly, Draco sat back down, a heavy sigh and tears in his eyes as he looked back up at Snape.
His godfather was confused and worried as he stared back at his godson.
“Draco?”
“I’ve been having dreams.” Draco slowly admitted to him. “Dreams. Nightmares. For years..years. They never go away. They… they keep on resurfacing.”
Snape stared, carefully studying the look on his face and his words.
“What’s happening to me?” Draco asked in frustration as he lowered his wand and buried his face in his hands. “Something’s wrong.. something’s not right… it’s been there.. something’s in there, in me… It won’t go away. I need to understand… I need to know the truth. Please help me.”
Snape watched as careful tears streamed down the side of his handsome face, the look of desperation and a gleam of madness in his eyes.
He understood it.
“Memories.” Snape slowly answered shifting in his chair and staring at Draco’s wand between them. “Forgotten memories.”
Draco stopped moving and he looked up at him, confused.
A slow but sure understanding passed both their eyes.
“Buried memories.” Draco corrected him. “Help me. Help me, godfather.”
His eyes drew Snape in as Draco moved his wand towards him.
“Only you can do this.” Draco wept. “Only you can do this. There’s no one else as powerful as you when it comes to this kind of magic.”
Snape shook his head.
“Draco, you need to understand that this kind of magic – it has complications and if we try to unbury whatever it was-“
“I don’t care!” Draco angrily yelled at him again. “We don’t have time – I don’t give a damn!”
“Draco, calm down-“
“Something has been stolen from me and I need to remember!” Draco cried at him. “We both know she did it – we both know she could do anything if she willed it-“
“Enough of this!” Snape warned him coldly. “You will not speak of your mother this way. You’re absolutely accusing-“
“I NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT MOTHER MADE ME FORGET!” Draco was shaking in anger as he screamed at him unable to contain himself any longer. “YOU KNOW HER! YOU KNOW HER MAGIC AND I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!”

Snape’s black eyes were wide in shock as he stared at Draco’s desperate form.
He knew Draco could be right and knowing Narcissa himself, he was sure that Narcissa had done something again for the love of her son.
But Draco wasn’t daft; he wasn’t unintelligent like his father.
He knew there was something in all those years he had been having the nightmares and without all possible help to help him uncover it, he endured it convincing himself they were all but nightmare eating his conscience for all the choices and sins of his past. He ignored all of it because there was no life for him to go back to at London.
He felt it were all mere nightmares eating his conscience for all the choices and sins of his past.
And Snape didn’t want to help the boy for he knew that it could ruin the boy’s life.

For Draco was young with a future ahead of him and he knew that it was the reason Narcissa had done whatever it was she could have done this time around.
And he himself had come to accept into terms that his life was no longer worth saving, not worth anything and he could deal and face death now.
Snape was shaken out of his reverie when Draco suddenly grabbed his arms and held them tightly down the table.

“Please.” Draco cried in frustration forcing the wand in his hand. “Help me.. I need to know and I know you understand.. I’ve done.. I could have done something and I…I need to fix it. I need to remember.”
Snape stared at him, completely unwilling to help the boy because he could almost guess what could have happened that night.
“We can’t do this, Draco.” Snape simply told him with a curt nod handing him back his wand. “I’m sorry. I will not allow-“
“No, no – you can’t – you can’t deny me-“ he stopped him from moving away from the table. “You can’t leave me this way – this is something you can do – only you can do – and you’re my godfather and this –“
“Draco-“
“I cannot be mistaken.” Draco pleaded. “I know there’s something that isn’t right here – something is missing from all of this-“
“I cannot help you-“
“These dreams – nightmares for years and years – they’re just there, inside my head and they won’t go away – maddening, killing me – they won’t-“
“Draco, calm yourself down-“
“It’s there- something in there is buried and I need you to get them out – I need your help – please, help me-“
Snape glared, unable to comprehend the urgency of the burden his godson seem to relieve everyday.
He was curious but he wasn’t sure that he should unbury whatever it was that Narcissa kept from his own son’s mind.
“Please.” Draco whispered. “If you want to make things right, this is one way of undoing all the wrongs you think you’ve done.”
It took a while for Snape to answer but he sighed heavily at him with a firm nod.
“I cannot see them, Draco.” Snape slowly said. “We cannot know for sure what else Potter is planning, if they use this.. if they ever think my mind has been tampered and they see you in it, see different memories, they will attempt to take you down-“
“You don’t need to see them.” Draco interrupted him determined to convince his godfather. “There’s.. there is this dark magic that reverses… aunt Bella taught it to me and I’m sure that-“
“I wonder how many things Bellatrix has taught you.” Snape shortly said with a glint of hatred in his eyes. “And how many your mother didn’t realize she was teaching you.”
“It doesn’t matter what she’s taught me.” Draco said positioning himself in front of Snape. “What matters is I never use any of them against anyone.”

Snape paused and stared at him unsure of how to respond.

“If I reverse whatever has been taken out of your mind, there is no taking it away again.” Snape fairly warned him as he touched the tip of the wand, the first time he has really touched a wand in three months that he had been imprisoned.
Draco nodded at him, a look of firm determination in his eyes as if he had thought of this over and over before he went to Azkaban.
“I need to know.” Draco said as he let Snape settle in front of him, placing either hands over his temples. “I’m almost sure I’ve done something… unforgivable.”

Snape’s black eyes met Draco’s.
“Once done, I cannot undo it anymore, Draco.” Snape gave him a final warning. “Are you sure about this?”
Draco nodded at him as he remained still, waiting.
“I cannot do this alone.” Draco said closing his eyes and moving his face close to his godfather in a bow. “I need to remember. Help me make things right.. Let us make things right together for the last time.”
A heavy tug in his heart passed as Snape heard those words – as his godson begged him to unburden him of something he had been carrying all these years.
He looked at him, unwilling and unsure.
But he held the wand firmly with a look of reluctance in his face.
Draco stopped crying and stopped moving as he waited still as Snape moved him into position.
“I will do this under one condition.” Snape said as he paused and slowly made him look up at him.
Draco slowly opened his eyes again and nodded.

“Anything.” Draco answered him.
Godfather and godson exchanged unblinking glares.
“Forgive yourself.” Snape gently commanded him. “Forgive yourself for whatever it is that your mother buried deep inside your mind. You have to understand that she had done it for a reason and that is for your own good. Do you understand?”

A pause then a short nod of understanding from Draco.
“I understand.” Draco answered.

“Forgive yourself, Draco.” Snape said. “You were young. You were all too young to become a victim of the war that has been.” and he stilled him again and placed the tip of his wand at the left side of his temple and began to mutter nonstop under his breath.

Black eyes stared unblinkingly as a shot of purple light came out from the wand and straight to its master’s mind.

The Daily Prophet was ready to print two headlines today:
Potter-Granger Nuptials and the trial’s outcome but they were not to release the second headline until they were sure of the outcome of the case against Severus Snape.
They were going to wait for a signal, a message if the wedding would commence.
For the trial’s verdict was going to depend on whether the bride appears at the wedding or not.
Should the wedding commence at its proper hour, Severus Snape’s verdict would be a lifetime sentence at Azkaban. But should the wedding come to an inevitable and unpredictable turnout, his fate was clear – death sentence by execution of the Dementor’s Kiss.

Kingsley looked up from the two samples of the Daily Prophet over his desk because of the knock that came.
“Minister?”
It was Remus Lupin.
“Come in, Remus, come in.” he invited the man he knew too well. “Have a seat. You’re early.”
Lupin nodded and entered the first things he noticed were the newspapers over his desk.
“What is this?” he asked, confused for the two headlines.
“I have been sent this anonymously.” he pointed over the headlines. “I think we both know who sent it.”
Lupin didn’t say anything as he picked up both articles.
Both showed a large photograph of Harry and Hermione from their wedding preparations where the first headlines were very the same.
The latter however differed.
“Did Harry send you this?” he asked him. “Because he has not come home from lastnight. I came here to see him.”
“Potter is not in his office?” the Minister asked him as Lupin shook his head.
“We don’t know where he is.” Lupin answered. “We haven’t seen him since sunset.”
“If not him, then I will support the idea that perhaps he had someone send this in.” Kingsley answered him. “The wedding is at three?”
“Yes.” Lupin answered him. “You will be there?”
“Yes.” Kingsley replied. “The verdict is at the same time.”
Lupin stared at him, confused.
“But the Wizengamot-“
“Has all its heads present when the verdict is given.” Kingsley said. “I am suppose to give a signal.”
“A signal?”
A heavy look passed Kingsley’s face.

“If the bride arrives.” Kingsley heavily answered him. “The Wizengamot gives its verdict.”
“They will await for the wedding to commence?” Lupin asked, confused.
“The final verdict will depend on the wedding’s outcome.” Kingsley replied. “It has taken me a while to understand why I wasn’t asked to be at the verdict today. It has taken me a while to understand why a vote of eleven on twelve has already been given when it was still on the tenth trial.”
“They will give a verdict with a twelve trial case not yet done?” Lupin worriedly asked.
“We’re supposed to have two more, Remus.” Kingsley told him. “But the evidences are hard. One way or another, Severus Snape will meet his end within the walls of Azkaban.”

Kingsley stared at Lupin’s confused face as he moved one of the papers towards him and opened at a particular page.
Lupin grabbed it and read fast the article that was released by the Ministry of Magic.
By Order of the High Court of the Wizengamot and appeal of Mr. Harry James Potter, the verdict would be given under ten out of twelve trials since the evidences that had been gathered were more than enough and no other witnesses were to be presented.

“Can he do this?” Lupin worriedly asked him. “Can Harry do this?”
“I’m afraid he can.” Kingsley sorrowfully answered him. “The boy is a great Auror. Youngest to be head of his department. I will not be biased if I tell that he does not know his job.”
“He did his best.” Lupin gravely said. “He did his best to become the best.”
“And he is the best one I have ever known of.” Kingsley heavily sighed at him. “He had grown to be the best in the department all because of a love he had lost a long time ago.”

There was silence between them as both of them thought over the years that had passed, of a boy who had given everything and yet fate had punished severely.
They thought of the boy whose whole life had been a waste for himself.

“What will happen?” Lupin asked after a while. “We can’t.. Do just stand back?”
“We wait.” Kingsley gravely told Lupin as he sat back in his large armchair, rubbing his temples with the tips of his fingers.
Lupin stared at him, at complete loss of words.
“The twelfth and thirteenth vote are yet to come.” Kingsley slowly said looking up at him.
Their eyes met.
Lupin looked at him, a scrutinizing glare from his eyes.
“I am the thirteenth vote, Remus.” Kingsley honestly told him. “I am second to the first and most important vote.”
“And the twelfth?” Lupin asked him moving closer the Minister’s desk. “The most important vote? Who is the last one?”
“The Head of the Wizengamot himself.” Kingsley slowly answered him with a contemptuous look over his face.
“The old.. the old wizard?” Lupin slowly asked.
Kingsley nodded at him.
“Order of Merlin, First Class, Eduardus Limette Black Jr.”
“Black?” Lupin interrupted him. “Do you mean the family Black?”
“Great grandson of Eduardus Limette Black Senior who had been the first wizard to be disowned in the Black family for an unknown reason.” Kingsley clarified to him with a curt nod.

Lupin stared at him with an open mouthed.
He wasn’t sure he knew of the man he spoke of but he recalled several people from Sirius’ family tree back at Grimmauld Place that were erased by members of the family once they have been disowned.
“Related to Sirius?” he asked the Minister.
“Not just related.” Kingsley confirmed to him. “A family member of the Blacks that is one closely related to Narcissa Malfoy.”
“Draco knows him?” Lupin asked, eyes wide at this information they weren’t sure if would be helpful or not.
The Minister nodded at him as his eyes turned away from Lupin and into the fireplace as they listened to the chime of the clock in his office as another hour had come.
“He is Draco Malfoy’s great uncle.” Kingsley told him. “He is closest to madame Malfoy, Draco’s mother.”
A look of contemplation passed both their faces.
“And we best hope Remus that Draco knows how to make good use of it.”

“Drink this tea, Draco.” Narcissa firmly said as she entered the room, her footsteps echoing. “This will ease the pain in your stomach.”
Draco didn’t move from the bed, he was facing the window as he lay crumpled on his stomach with dry tears all over his face.
“Draco.” Narcissa’s voice came again but he still didn’t move a muscle.
His eyes were bloodshot red from tears and his mind elsewhere, oblivious to Narcissa’s movements in his room.
It was half past three in the morning and the rainstorm had continued throughout the night.
Draco had come home to her from a very terrible night.
Nothing according to his plan or even the Order and Death Eater’s plans tonight had come to happen.
Everything had gone out of control in unexpected turn of events.

Narcissa stared at Draco’s unmoving form.
He had been like that for hours and she knew that this wasn’t a good sign.

“Draco.” Narcissa called him out, voice firm as she walked towards his bed. “You can’t stay this way. I’m telling you to drink this tea to ease you up and help you get some sleep”

Draco remained still but was wide awake and eyes staring almost lifelessly out of nowhere.
The Death Eaters had just ambushed Harry Potter and the Order in their attempt to transfer him to a safer location.
His father was there as was his aunt Bellatrix and ofcourse his godfather, Severus Snape.
But despite their efforts to thwart the transfer, they have come to face the Order who had come very prepared tonight.
He should have listened to his mother and remained at the Malfoy Manor.
Nothing had gone according to plan tonight and as Draco should have known better, knew he wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.
And he was now paying very dearly for it.

Narcissa was losing her patience and she turned to leave when Draco spoke.

“I killed her.” Draco very weakly whispered another tear dispensing from his eyes to the bed covers as he lay his head askew, facing the fireplace. “I killed her.”

Narcissa walked back to the bed staring at his son, consumed by grief.
“This is ridiculous.” Narcissa’s stern voice came. “We don’t know that yet. Besides, the curse is not meant to kill. You are not at fault, here Draco. We are yet to find out what it does-“
“Not yet.” Draco said, his voice dry but his tears began to fall again. “But soon it will.”
Narcissa stared down at his form that had been muttering nonstop for the past hour.
She tried to contain herself, tried to focus and remain impassive but the state of his son was getting worse just by the hours.

“Draco, get up.” Narcissa commanded. “Get yourself up from that bed. Now.”
“I want to die.” Draco whispered in the dead air. “I want to die…”
Narcissa’s eyes flashed.
“Stop it.” Narcissa coldly said reaching for her son. “Draco, look at me.”
“I want to die.” Draco only repeated. “I killed her. I killed her…” his voice was shaking as he spoke, muttering more to himself and fear consuming him alive.
“If you will follow me, you can think clearly and recall that there could be an instance where it was your aunt Bella-“
“I saw the light hit her.” Draco whispered almost inaudibly. “I saw the light…”
“We don’t know that.” Narcissa assured her son. “We don’t know that for sure. You said it yourself, everyone was firing out-“
“I killed her-“
“Stop it, this instant, Draco!” Narcissa warningly said rolling her eyes and trying to persuade him to look at her. “We don’t know that for sure! We have yet to find out-“
“You don’t understand-“ he cried at her. “You weren’t there – you –“
“You’ve got to calm down.” Narcissa said getting to the bed and forcibly pulling him to her. “Look at me, Draco!”
“NO!” Draco suddenly screamed at his mother. “You don’t understand – you weren’t there – it was me! I saw it! I am sure of it!”

His blue eyes were filled with tears and hatred and Narcissa stared back helplessly at her beloved son with utmost pain and pity.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as she gently this time approached Draco.
“My dear boy.” she whispered. “Come, please-“
“Don’t touch me!” Draco said shoving her hand away. “I’m not a child!”
Narcissa’s eyes glinted dangerously.
“But you are my child!” Narcissa angrily cried at him. “My child, Draco! Do you hear me?!”
Draco didn’t say anything, he remained impassive.
Narcissa shook her head, tears beginning to fill in her eyes upon seeing Draco this way.
“Please. You are my son.” she moved closer to him. “I will get you through this but you need to listen to me. Please, Draco.”

Draco remained unmoving, revulsion of hatred for himself was written all over his face.
Narcissa opened her hand towards him.
“You are my only son and I will not abandon you.” she gently whispered.
His eyes moved from the bed then towards her mother’s palm extended for him to take.
Their eyes met.
He was broken and only his mother knew that it was beyond repair.
A love lost is the greatest fall of all.

Draco suddenly choked on his own tears as he gave away to what he was feeling and he slowly crawled into her arms.

“It was me.” he cried like a child as he moved and crawled into Narcissa’s open arms. “It was me. I saw the light come from my own wand, mother. It was me…”

Narcissa took his hand firmly and pulled him into her arms and in a tight embrace.
She closed her eyes as she held him protectively.
He cried harder as she held him, the confirmation coming from the lips of her own son.
And she knew it was true.

“Shush, Draco, my dear boy.” Narcissa whispered gravely kissing Draco’s blonde hair. “Sleep my child, I will not let harm come to you.”
Narcissa gently held him as he cried to sleep in her arms as she very gently brushed his head to calm him.
“I will protect you, my dear boy.” Narcissa whispered her eyes focused at the vast fireplace across the room while she held him. “Fear not. I will give you my life, Draco. I will do anything in my power to protect you.”
Draco didn’t answer, he continued to cry in her arms regretting everything he had done his whole life, regretting what he had decided upon himself that ultimately became his beloved’s demise.
“I killed her.” Draco cried in her arms. “I want do die… I want to die… please, let me die.. Let me die..”

“No, no, my dear boy.” Narcissa whispered. “I’m here, I am here.. I won’t let any harm come to you. I will get you through this.” she whispered as she carefully and secretly pulled her wand from her pocket and gently pointed it at the back of Draco’s head that she had been brushing.
“I love you, my son. I will not let any harm come to you.” Narcissa promised pressing a kiss over Draco’s head as she placed the tip of her wand as gently as she could over his head with Draco very oblivious to it. “Sleep, my boy, sleep. I am here.”
She closed her eyes, tears restrained at the sides of her eyes as she began to hum a very soft lullaby to him as Draco closed his eyes, soft and silent tears streaming nonstop from them.

“My only son…I will protect you, my dear boy.” Narcissa whispered gravely as she deeply kissed Draco’s head, she opened her eyes focused elsewhere as she embraced him tightly, protectively as light came from her wand and straight into the back of Draco’s head.
“Fear not. I will give you my life. I will do anything to protect you. Not a goddamn soul in this world will ever know of what you have.”

A glass crashed loudly against the wall that scattered all over the carpeted floor.
Narcissa swallowed hard and entered the vast sitting room of the Malfoy Manor.
The rain outside was heavy and the skies seemed angry, violent and punishing the land.
“Should I ask that to be cleaned?” Narcissa asked entering and walking over the large couch where her sister sat with her wand in her hand, legs limply raised at the arms of the couch as she lay lazily over it.
“No.” Lucius answered instead. “She would like the rest of the china set sent here for her break.”
“Better be quiet or I will not think twice of murdering you in front of your wife.” Bellatrix angrily hissed at him.
“Threatening me?” Lucius lashed back. “At my own house?”
“This isn’t your house anymore, pretty boy.” Bellatrix snapped back at him. “You’ve lost all rights to this household and gave it to the Dark Lord when you failed last-“
“Why you spoiled –“
“Silence!” Narcissa angrily said to the both of them.

Emotions were quite high as each Death Eater stayed at either the manor or at their own hiding places.
The ambush the previous night had been nothing but murder-spree without the luck of getting Harry Potter at all.

An Auror died, the blood-traitor’s son was dying at the hospital while another had been severely injured, the Muggle-Born was missing and presumed dead while the rest have been injured and had been forced to retreat.
Other than, no sighting of Harry Potter other than vanishing in the waters of London with the Muggle-Born.
If she was dead, he was unlikely to survive the same fall she had endured after the fatal fall from the sky

But the Dark Lord was very discontent with the outcome.
He doesn’t want a presumable death of the boy – he wanted to kill the boy himself and each of the Death Eaters are now enduring the consequences of the failed attempt to take the boy lastnight.

Narcissa stared at her husband and her sister with glinting eyes.

“Are we really going to divide amongst ourselves now?” Narcissa asked them walking with vicious glare in her eyes.
They both fell silent as Narcissa watched them with angry eyes.

Lucius slowly sat back at the armchair from the other end of the room while Bellatrix returned to her position and faced the fireplace instead.

“How’s Draco?” Lucius asked looking up at his wife.
“Still sick.” Narcissa simply answered him.
Bellatrix scoffed at the corner.
“Is there anything you would like to say, Bella?” she asked her sister.
Her black eyes slowly turned to her, scrutinizing her own sister.
“Are you sure that Draco has been here all night long?” she slowly asked Narcissa. “Sure that he didn’t slither his way out of the manor lastnight?”
Narcissa stared but there was nothing in her expression that would give away what she knew.
“Yes.” Narcissa answered. “I stayed until the late hours. He was in his room.”
Bellatrix stared at her sister, a sharp look in her eyes.

She slowly stood up and walked to her sister without breaking eye contact.
“What are you doing?” Narcissa whispered as Bellatrix walked to her, wand in hand.
“Look at me, Cissy.” Bellatrix whispered like a hissing snake. “Look at me and tell me you’re telling that truth.”
“The truth?” she asked regretting she left her wand in her room.
“The truth, Cissy.” Bellatrix said stopping in front of her. “Your son. Was he in the manor last night or did he find a way to follow us?”
“I don’t understand-“
“Bellatrix, we told you, Draco had been here the whole night..” Lucius interrupted seeing the murderous glare of the woman.
“Silence!” Bellatrix angrily told Lucius and turning back to her sister. “Cissy?”
Narcissa stared back at her and she knew that she was trying to break through her mind’s barrier.
“Don’t lie to me.” Bellatrix asked softly moving her face inches to her sister’s. “I will ask again. Where was Draco lastnight?”
“Draco has been with me the whole-“
“DON’T LIE TO ME, CISSY!”
“I am not lying-“
“We counted heads, Cissy!” Bellatrix screamed at her face. “Greyback counted heads! And even someone as dumb as him counted fifteen Death Eaters that took flight lastnight! WHERE WAS DRACO LASTNIGHT?!”

Narcissa stared at her sister, hands shaking at her side but she couldn’t and would never reveal what she knew.

“You’re mad.” Narcissa whispered at her wide-eyed expression towards her. “Draco was with me the whole night. He has been here – I would never let him –“
“Let him?” Bellatrix interrupted her. “Let him? You couldn’t even control what he feels!”
“Because I cannot control his feelings!” Narcissa screamed back at her. “But I would never let him or allow him to leave this manor lastnight-“
“There were fifteen of us, Cissy!” Bellatrix crazily wailed at her. “And there were fourteen that returned! There was someone else with us lastnight! I cannot be mistaken-“
“Then you are.” Narcissa calmly replied. “You are mistaken, Bella.”

There was silence between them.
Lucius stood standing next to the sisters while Bellatrix tried so hard to go through her sister’s mind and get the truth out of her.
But Narcissa stood her ground.
She was a powerful witch but being a mother made her close to invincible.

“If the Dark Lord finds out, Cissy I cannot vouch for you or for your son.” Bellatrix slowly whispered giving up knowing that Narcissa will never tell her the truth
“I appreciate your loyalty to the Dark Lord, Bella.” Narcissa told her sister who turned away from her. “Should our lives been different.. should circumstances allowed us…you would have become a good wife to the Dark Lord.”
Bellatrix stopped walking and Lucius stared at Narcissa in warning.
Bellatrix slowly turned to Narcissa, hand shaking with her wand.
“What did you..”
“You would have been a good wife.” Narcissa said unblinkingly. “Your dedication, your loyalty and love for the Dark Lord.. it almost tells me you’re ready for a family of your own.”
“I don’t understand..you dare speak to me.. you dare tell me.. How could you say.. I am never..” ”
“I am your sister. You are ready. I do know how you feel.” Narcissa said walking towards Bellatrix. “And when you have a family of your own, you do understand that you would do anything – absolutely anything – to protect them. Yes?”

Black eyes met grayish blue ones as the Black sisters stared deeply onto one another’s eyes.

A gleam of understanding passed Bellatrix’s face and a look of relief and acceptance from Narcissa’s face.

An understanding between two sisters.

“One way or another we’re all going to die, Bella.” Narcissa softly said walking to her and reaching for her hand. “And there’s nothing I won’t do to protect you.”
Bellatrix didn’t say anything but she turned away from Narcissa with an unmistakable tears in her eyes.
“Won’t you do the same for me?” Narcissa gently asked her. “For Draco?”
She waited as Bellatrix took a moment to answer but she did answer.
“I don’t know anything about what you’re talking about.” Bellatrix slowly answered fisting her hands at her sides without looking back. “As tonight, I don’t know anything…”

Narcissa sighed and nodded in relief.
“Thank you, Bella.” she said with a twinkle of gratitude in her eyes. “You will not-“
“I will not vouch for you or for your son.. or any of you.. should you be caught red-handed, Cissy.” Bellatrix cut shortly with no hint of emotion in her voice.
And before Narcissa or Lucius can say anything, Bellatrix turned away, not looking back to let her sister see the tears that had ran down her cheeks before she shut the door very loudly behind her back.

“Identification?”
“Excuse me?” Draco asked with a raised tone as he took out his wand to lay on the table before the Auror.
“Identification?” the Auror repeated ignoring the look on Draco’s face.
“Identification?” Draco asked again. “I’m his Defense Council-I think I’ve been here more than-“
“We need statement of names of everyone who will visit him today.” the Auror replied taking Draco’s wand and staring around it and placing it over a golden scale over his table.
“Fine.” Draco snapped as he was given his wand back. “Draco Black Malfoy.”
“Please leave all your belongings, Mr. Malfoy.” the Auror said stopping him from walking past the perimeter to enter the hallway that would lead down the special cell where Snape was.
“I’m sorry?” Draco asked again beginning to be impatient. “What’s going on? What is this?”
“Protocols, Mr. Malfoy.” the Auror replied gesturing to the table for Draco to deposit all his belongings. “We are extra careful today because it is the final trial and verdict.”
“Right.” Draco muttered taking out a few of his documents, his wallet and watch halfway throwing everything over the table. “May I pass now?”

The Auror took all his things and placed them neatly in a small basket but halted him on his way in.

“What?” Draco asked rolling his eyes at the Auror who was eyeing his wand in his hand.
“I cannot allow your wand inside.” the Auror simply told him opening his hand to take his wand.
“What?” Draco snapped losing his patience now. “What did you say?”
“You can’t bring your wand inside, Mr. Malfoy.” the Auror firmly repeated.
“I’m sorry?” Draco snapped turning to the Auror. “This is ridiculous. I’m his Defense Council and I’m sure there are more than four of you on my way in and probably six more before I reach my client’s-“
“Please leave your wand-“
“I’m not goddamn leaving my wand-“
“Protocols, Mr. Malfoy.” the Auror said blocking Draco’s way inside. “Either you leave it here or you are refused entry.”

Draco stared at the Auror and he knew that this wasn’t going to work out this way.

“If something happens to me inside because I’m unarmed I’m fucking going to murder you from my grave.” Draco angrily said throwing his wand back into the table.
The Auror nodded firmly, ignoring Draco's temper and taking the wand and including it with Draco’s other belongings.

“May I pass now?” Draco spat at the Auror with threat in his eyes.
The Auror stared at him, up and down and up again, looking at him as if checking if there was still anything else he could take from Draco.
“Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury of time right now.” Draco angrily said straightening his cloak and securing it over himself.
The Auror looked completely insulted and his eyes moved to his cloak and the Gryffindor scarf around his neck.

“What?” Draco lashed at the guard as he tightened the tie of his cloak around himself. “Don’t tell me I cannot bring my cloak and scarf down there? Or are you an idiot? Do you know how fucking cold it is down here at Azkaban?”
The Auror looked like he wanted to argue further but thought better of it.
“You may pass now, sir.” the Auror said with spite in his tone and muttering “Malfoys..” as he let Draco pass him by to go to the cell where Snape was transferred to await the final trial and verdict.

“Idiot.” Draco hissed angrily rolling his eyes at the man as he was let pass. “I thought Aurors are supposed to be smart.”

He passed the Auror muttering how cold it was down the Azkaban cells as he pulled his cloak tighter around himself with the two vials secured and safe inside the deep pocket of his cloak.
Draco tuned away with his usual smirk and a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
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Forbidden Rapture