A Quiet Conversation

The day was more than slightly warm. The sun blazed overhead. The house elves had been driven nearly to exhaustion, trying to keep cool drinks in the hands of all of the Malfoys at all times. Draco sat in the chair in front of his thankfully dead fireplace. He sipped whatever was in the cup he had just received and closed his eyes. His father had only arrived home the night before. His stay in Azkaban had lasted two weeks. The effect it had on him was not as bad as it could have been. Lucius had lead the life of a spoiled rich boy, then that of a widely-respected, upper-class man. He did not have too many negative memories for the remnants of the Dementors to take. The majority of the wretched creatures had already joined the Dark Lord once more. The ones that stayed only did so to finish off whatever was left of the prisoners Lord Voldemort took no interest in. His father had not been at breakfast that morning, and Draco wanted to know why. He stood wearily and proceeded out of his room. He passed the small lounge used by his mother. The open door became the portal of a rather tired-sounding calling. He entered to find his mother lying on a sofa. She sat up when she saw him. Her hair was piled up on her head and was looking rather droopier than usual. She was wearing a light robe with the sleeves rolled up to her shoulders.

"I would hug you, but I am afraid it is rather too hot for that."

"I agree with you. Why is it so infernal in here?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. Here, let me help you a little." She drew her wand and shot a blast of cool air at him. He breathed in deeply and reveled in the momentary relief. She stopped and said, "Not good for you to get too used to it. It will make it worse."

"Thanks for it anyway. Where's Father?"

"In his study. He got up really early and went straight there. He hasn't left since."

"What do you think he's doing?"

"Knowing your father, I have no idea."

Draco smiled and nodded. "Do you think he would be too mad if I went to see him?"

"He would probably enjoy seeing you. He only saw you for a few minutes last night. He told me how much he missed you."

"Really?" Draco asked eagerly. Narcissa nodded and smiled.

"Go see him. He needs a break from whatever he is doing."

He kissed his mother lightly on the cheek and headed toward the study. On the way, he saw several house elves, scrambling about, trying to do anything they could to alleviate some of the discomfort. They were rolling up all of the rugs, leaving the flagstones on the floor bare. A few had taken the assignment of lying on the stones, trying to cool off.

"Hey!" Draco snapped at the lazy ones. They got up before his outburst had finished reverberating off the walls. "Don't let me catch you doing that again, or I will tell my father."

"Yes, Master Draco," they squealed before vanishing. He allowed himself the pleasure of a small smile. When he arrived outside of his father's study, he listened for any sounds coming from within. There was silence. He knocked three times.

"Come in."

He opened the door and saw his father at his desk, leaned back in his chair.

"Draco! What a wonderful surprise." His father came around the desk and put his arms around his son.

"I missed you, son." He held him at arm's length and surveyed him. "You've grown a good seven or eight centimeters since Christmas. Sit down, sit down."

They sat together in front of another dead fireplace and Lucius smiled at his son.

"So, how did you finish the year as far as grades?"

"I did all right."

"Good. I know you didn't beat the Mudblood, so I won't even ask. O.W.L.'s should be getting here soon, shouldn't they?"

"I suppose."

There was a few seconds' silence. "How are you doing, Father?" Draco asked almost quietly.

"I'm much better now that I have had a good night's sleep. I wanted to see more of you last night, but I was so tired. I would have been home several hours earlier, but...certain happenings held me back."

"What happened?"

"You don't want to know. The details of the Dark Lord's punishments are gruesome, at the least."

"Oh, I see."

A question that had been weighing on the heir's mind for a while was tapping on his tongue, trying to prod it into moving. He didn't want to ask it at all. He would much rather wait. It didn't seem like the right time just now. He was saved by his father striking another conversation.

"Last night in the few minutes your mother and I had together, she told me that you met your Aunt Bella." He smiled back a laugh.

"She's insane, Father. When I met her, I was just overwhelmed. She's just insane."

Lucius released the laugh that had been forced down.

"She really is. I remember when we were younger. Boy, she was...I can't even find a word for it. Insane is the closest you can come. You know, she and I were in the same year at Hogwarts. Both of us were Slytherins, of course, so I never got away from her. She is fiercely loyal, though. One powerful witch, too. I can't imagine what we would do without her."

Then a door opened for Draco. He could get the matter that had been plaguing him out, but not have to ask the question.

"She was waiting for me when I came home from school. She only went on raving about how much I looked like you and how she couldn't wait for me to take the Mark."

The last phrase was the opener.

"Well, I think it is high time we talked about this, son."

Draco would have sighed a sigh of relief had he not been trying to wedge into the topic smoothly. He didn't exactly know why he didn't want to ask his father about it. It was something he knew would happen eventually.

"You will be seventeen this year. Bella and I were only nineteen. Do you think you are up to it?"

"What do I have to do to get accepted?"

"Whatever he tells you to do. I remember my initiation as if it were yesterday. Bella and I went together. The Dark Lord had kidnapped a Muggle boy for us. He was probably about twelve, I suppose. Bella was instructed to torture him. Draco, you have no idea just how far your Aunt's mind reaches into the Dark Arts until you see one of her torture sessions. She did things that, frankly, made me wince."

He looked sternly at his son. "Don't ever tell her I said that."

"I won't."

"Good boy. Anyway, she did things that were just...brilliant, for lack of a better word. She's creative. You could learn quite a bit from her. That boy was a mess by the time she finished him. The Dark Lord made a bit of an underestimation about her. My part was to kill him. He didn't realize the boy would be embracing death by that time. He figured that a young girl like her would just cast a few Cruciatus Curses, then be done. He was wrong. I put the thing out of its misery. I remember one thing she did with his legs. She made them-"

He stopped, his gaze focused over his son's shoulder. Draco turned to see what had caught his attention. It was the very torturer in the story.

"Do go on with the story, Lucius," she said calmly, taking a seat next to her nephew on the couch. "I was rather enjoying it," she continued, crossing her legs and relaxing against the back of her seat.

"How much have you heard?"

"I heard from 'embracing death.' Please, continue."

"Oh, no, you'd be much better at telling it. You had a much better view."

"Well, if you insist."

Draco was trying not to show the shock he was feeling. Several things contributed to it. First, he was shocked that he was being allowed in this kind of conversation. Never before had his father, or anyone else for that matter, discussed particular details with him. Second, he was astonished at the casual air they applied to this. He always knew that these sorts of things went on, but he always imagined them to be a sort of 'do it, and be done' taboo thing. They were discussing this like one would discuss the weather. Amid all of his wonderment, he also felt pride. His father finally considered him to be a man.

"Listen to me, Draco," Bella demanded, hitting him on the shoulder.

"Sorry." He hadn't realized he was actually tuning her out. He didn't know his thoughts were that loud.

"As I was saying, I started with the Imperius Curse. That one, I believe, is your father's favorite."

She gave him a look of reproof. Draco knew exactly why; she had never stopped blaming him for hiding under an excuse rather than "suffering for our Lord." Lucius stared back at her. Draco looked between them. This was the first time he had seen them together. The relationship was obviously not an easy one. He could imagine. They both wanted more power than one person should be allowed. There was really only one top spot, and they were both vying for it; they had been for over twenty years. His father cleared his throat quietly.

"As I was saying," she continued, "using this Curse is entertaining, to say the least. When I first cast it, the thing was clearly confused. He did just as I commanded without knowing why. I first made him kiss my feet."

"Learn from this, Draco. Bella was punished by the Dark Lord for arrogance." The witch shot him a look of deep anger. "Not to mention the fact that she was also punished for contact with a Muggle and then made to burn her shoes. For a week, she was required to appear before the Dark Lord barefooted."

Lucius smirked openly, and his son mimicked his expression. "Yes, our Lord has a certain sense of humor. You only must know how to spot it."

"Shall I finish my story, Lucius?"

"Yes, go on."

"Then, I made him bow to the Dark Lord. That," she said pointedly," earned me a bit of praise. He likes to be shown the honor he deserves. After that, I made it do something that I can't explain to you. If I did, your mother would kill me."

"She wouldn't have to know."

She smiled at her nephew. "If it were anyone else, I would agree with you. I can't do that to my sister."

"I plan to join his ranks in a few months. I'll see it eventually."

"You'll do it eventually," she corrected him sternly. "Are you sure you're ready to join him?"

"We were discussing it when you arrived," Lucius interjected. "I think he's ready."

"How can you be sure?"

Draco felt a little hurt that his aunt was doubting him. He sometimes questioned her sanity, but still respected her and desperately wanted her approval.

"He's almost of age. Besides," his father shrugged, "it's in his blood on both sides. We all mature a little early."

"That is true. The Black side of his blood will ensure that."

"Let me remind you," Lucius put in coldly, "that the Malfoy side goes back just as far, if not a bit further."

"Equal contributors," Draco put in, trying to prevent their coming to blows. The tension had finally gotten to be too much for him.

"Could you kill, Draco?" Bellatrix asked as though asking him to pass the sugar. He nodded. "Are you sure?" Again he nodded. She drew her wand and pointed it at her chest. She placed Draco's hand on it, and said very simply, "Kill me."

He looked at his father for what to do. Lucius regarded his son with a questioning look. "What are you going to do, Draco?"

That was not the answer he wanted. He wanted to know if she was being serious or not. Just as he was about to take back his hand, she laughed. "I am only joking with you, boy. It would have been foolish to kill me. The Dark Lord would have been angry with you."

"No one is irreplaceable," Lucius reminded her softly.

Again, she gave him an angry look. She then turned her attention back to the younger Malfoy. "I think you could kill. You are ready."

"That is not for you to decide." At the sound of this new voice, Lucius and Bella fell to their knees, heads humbly bowed to the floor. Draco followed their lead. He saw the hem of a black robe before them. The robe's owner said, "Rise." They all obeyed instantly.

"As I said," he continued, sitting and motioning for them to do the same, "that is not your place, Bella. It would behoove you to remember that in the future."

"Yes, My Lord."

Draco was trying to figure out how to act. Should he be brave and close to unaffected, or the very picture of fear? He opted for what he really felt: fear.

"We shall see exactly how prepared young Draco is in a short time. Right now, I must deal with you two."

Draco's heart nearly exploded with excitement. He was in for a real treat. He would get to see how the Dark Lord was around his two most trusted servants. This was as close to human as he would probably ever see him.

"Draco, leave us."

His future Lord's words punctured his expectations like a balloon. As he stood to leave, he made eye contact.

"Do not be too disappointed, young Malfoy. You will hear your fair share, if you prove to be as talented as your father."

"Yes, My Lord."

He made a small bow, and quit the room. Once he was in the hall and had shut the door, he headed straight for his room. He wanted a little rest before seeing his mother again. As he passed the door of the drawing room, he heard his name. He stopped, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. "Yes, Mother?"

"Could you come in here for a moment?"

He entered the room and she frowned. "Sent out?" He nodded. "I figured you would be. How was your father?"

"He's fine."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, too."

"You look a little shaken. Were you afraid?"

"Of Aunt Bella or the Dark Lord?"

She laughed her airy laugh. "Either one."

"In that case, yes." Draco fanned himself with his hand. "It is still blazing in here."

"Oh, damn." His mother snapped her fingers. "I was supposed to send in drinks for them." A house elf appeared by her side. "Take drinks for three into the Master's study."

"Yes, Mistress." The little creature disappeared.

"I could use one myself. Join me?" Narcissa asked her son.

"No, I think I'm going to go lie down for a while before dinner."

"You had better do quite a bit of lying if that tired you. They are both staying for dinner."