Cloaked

Cloaked

I.

Santa Claus

It first appeared in Draco's dreams.

It was a dusky shade of indigo, crisscrossed by strips of silver-gray and overlapped with pale malachite. When shook open, it fell to the floor and gracefully folded itself and looked akin to rippled water. That was the beauty of being magically sewn. Embroidered, miniature stars danced along the edges, smooth to the touch and silky. A crescent moon occupied the middle, flawless and wondrous.

Draco thought it fit for a king or a Malfoy. They were, in essence, the same in his mind.

One evening, Draco was preparing for bed, when he sighted it draped on his chair. It was the only thing of color in his room of black and silver and he gratefully and gingerly touched the material. It felt like it had seemed in his sleep. He grabbed the corners and flung it out and then wrapped it around him. He strode over to his mirror and admired his image, smirking in self-indulgence. He reached out a finger and slid it down the face of the glass, leaving behind a small streak.

"Nice cloak, isn't it, Draco?"

He turned towards his father, a shadow in the doorway. They were alike in physical appearance. It was the same face, framed by the long locks of platinum and the same metallic-gray eyes. At the moment, Draco's were more blue then gray, but the happy shade faded as he fixed them on Lucius Malfoy's form. He felt idiotic, standing there, wearing an elaborately made cloak over his sterling-hued pajamas. The pants were too long and bagged at his feet. The cuffs were a little frayed from use, but it wasn't noticeable anyway. Draco idly played with the hem of the shirt.

"Yes, Father," he said in a solemn tone to match Lucius's.

"It's a present," Lucius replied.

Draco inclined his head a bit. "Thank you, Father. It must have been expensive."

"Oh. It's not from me." Lucius picked up a glass figurine of a serpent and toyed with it for a moment.

"Who then, Father?" His son didn't move from his spot and watched his father warily.

Lucius set the figurine down and smirked, a trait that had been given to Draco. "Why, the Dark Lord."

"Will you inform him that I give my thanks, Father?" Draco's fingers moved impulsively to the cloak and his hand tightened, grasping the cloth so hard that his knuckles turned to white.

"He's been watching you for a while now," Lucius said, disregarding Draco's request. "He likes what he sees."

Draco bit the inside of his cheek.

"He's very pleased with how you turned out. I must admit, I rather thought that Lucifer would have been the ideal, but if the Dark Lord likes you, then allowances must be made. After all, Lucifer buckles under stress," Lucius murmured in his soft voice, stroking the top of his cane. "Lucas is too young and far too...unreliable. He is a strange child. The Dark Lord has agreed to take Delia into his service instead of Lucille. She is not well at all and he knows this. Something must have happened. I knew the wretched doctor did something to her."

Draco wrenched his jaw open. "Father, doesn't Lucifer want to serve the Dark Lord?"

"He is too young, but yes, he does. The Dark Lord has taken him into consideration. Lucifer's thriving at Durmstrang. His potions are very potent for a boy his age. Only thirteen, can you imagine?"

"I've heard, Father."

"We're having a dinner party tomorrow night. All the important servants will be there, as well as the Dark Lord. You will be presented into his order. You will show proper acquiescence and thank him gratefully for his present. He says he saw the image in your dreams and gathered that you liked it very much. He had it made accordingly, so since he went through so much trouble, I believe that you must keep him company during the party. Perhaps he'll trust you with a special favor." Lucius's eyes shone.

Draco's inner emotions fought violently. He suppressed the nauseous feeling and nodded quickly. "As you wish, Father."

"It's getting late and tomorrow's very important. Goodnight, Draco." Lucius strode to the door.

"Goodnight, Father. Sleep well."

Draco waited until the footsteps faded in the hall and then threw the cloak down. The beautiful material lay on the marble floor, almost mocking him. His disgust got the better of him and he threw up into a basin. The idea of serving such a deformed creature made him ill. Draco could hardly stand the idea. He blew out the candles and curled up on his bed, his cheek warm against the cold sheets. He shivered and then lay still, his eyes gently closing as he drifted into slumber.

It was two hours after midnight when he woke again. The dream of the cloak had haunted his thoughts and he shook himself. Terrified, Draco whipped open the curtain and peered out into the darkness. Outside, the freshly fallen snow blanketed the land. His eyes flickered up to the sky and checked for signs of people on broomsticks. None. Feeling slightly more relaxed, Draco let the curtain fall. He let his legs drop over the edge of his four-poster and stood up. The Christmas vacation was going worse then he thought. He pressed his forehead against a wall and let the searing cold numb his emotions.

After a few minutes, he raised his head and started to dress. A plan was forming in his mind as he reached out for the correct articles of clothing accordingly. He took a bag and packed in warm, muggle-type outfits and several cloaks. He tucked in his wand and slung the bag over his shoulder. With one last glance around his room, he stooped down and picked up the shimmering cloak. Doubtfully and reluctantly, he draped it around himself and headed silently into the corridor.

The candlelight was dim in the halls, but Draco padded into his brother Lucas's room. The six-year-old was sleeping, snoring softly, and a fond smile crossed Draco's face. He hated to disturb him. He reached out and shook his shoulder. Lucas wearily opened his eyes and grinned despite his just waking up. Golden, cornsilk hair fell into his blue-green eyes and he reached up to brush them away. He sat up and faced Draco, thoughtfully taking in the bag and the apprehensive expression on his brother's face.

"It's so late, Draco," Lucas said with a small yawn.

Draco nodded. "I know. Luke, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Go into the kitchen and get food."

Lucas wasn't shaken. Draco had asked him before. Lucas was prone to midnight snacks and as long as he didn't disturb anyone, Lucius didn't mind. He reasoned that Lucas was a growing boy, as was Lucifer before him. "Okay. What kind?"

"Sandwiches. Lots of them. And a flask for pumpkin juice." Draco replied, searching his pockets for money. He recovered his sack of Galleons and tucked it securely into his bag. "Just say you're really hungry."

"Are you going somewhere, Draco?" Lucas inquired, already scrambling out of bed. "Are you going back to Hogwart's? I didn't know six years had to study so much. Can't you wait till morning?"

Draco winced a little. "No. I'm not going to Hogwart's, but I have to leave. Don't tell Father or Mother where I went. Don't tell any of the other kids either. Lucifer will try to bully it out of you, but just play stupid."

"Okay." Lucas nodded. "I'll be right back. Don't leave yet, Draco."

"I won't."

"You promise?"

"I promise." Draco watched as his smallest sibling reluctantly left the room. He smoothed the rumpled sheets and the pillowcase, looking around the dimly lit room. It wasn't colored sorely in black and silver like his own. Instead, it was a dark blue and held signs of dark green. Toys were neatly placed on shelves and a chessboard with scattered pieces was sitting in the middle of the floor. Draco guessed that Lucas was playing with it before he went to bed. He looked up as he returned, holding a wrapped package of sandwiches and flask of pumpkin juice.

Lucas put them down on the bed. "I had them use my flask. You know, the one that I can take away from the manor without it shrieking."

"Thanks, Luke." Draco suddenly hugged his brother tightly. "I won't be gone too long."

Lucas nodded and buried his face in the crook of Draco's neck. "Don't get hurt and don't get into trouble."

"It's alright, Luke. I won't. I'll be back before you know it." Draco untangled himself.

"I'm gonna miss you." Lucas's lower lip trembled. He was dangerously close to tears.

"Don't cry, Luke. It's okay. Just don't tell Mother and Father." Draco stood up, putting the sandwiches and the flask into his bag. "Can you get my broom for me?"

Lucas wiped his eyes and disappeared. A few minutes later, he returned with Draco's Nimbus 2001. Draco flung open the window and straddled the broomstick precariously. He tied the bag to the front and pulled a cloak around him. With one last wave at Lucas, he jumped and flew steadily into the distance.

"Bye, Draco. I'll see you soon," Lucas whispered softly and then reached out and closed the window.