Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 43 - Survive

Published: 3/15/19

***TRIGGER WARNING*** Implied sexual assault and offensive terminology

Morning came. Draco woke up, his back aching from the hard floor, but Blaise was still gripping him even while he slept. Draco didn't let go, understanding his presence was critical to his survival. His best friend continued to cry through the night, sleep brought no respite. What could have possibly happened in McGonagall's office that derailed all of Blaise's mental shields? He had never seen Blaise so defenseless before. He didn't dare ask, not until the silence was lifted.

When Blaise's eyes finally snapped open, Draco breathed easier. He kept his hold on hifm for several minutes until Blaise wiped his eyes and sat up. Draco took his hand and waited until he spoke. Blaise choked back his tears and eyed him warily. He was embarrassed, clearly. Blaise had pride after all. He'd never let anyone see him so weak.

"Are you going to ask?" he whispered.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"No."

Draco nodded. "I'm here, if you want to talk."

"Thanks," he said and looked at the door. "Theo, okay?"

"I don't know," Draco said, grimacing. Blaise had been his priority, but he should have checked on him before he shut himself in the shower with Blaise.

Blaise got up, slowly stretching too, and walked to the door. He opened it and Draco followed. Theo was in his bed and Daphne was next to him, her head on his chest. They both woke up when the bathroom door opened. Daphne, surprisingly unembarrassed, got out of bed and walked over to Blaise.

"Are you okay?" she asked

"I'm fine," he said, automatically. He was tense, as always around her.

Daphne didn't look like she believed him, but knew not to push. Her eyes flicked over to Draco and she nodded. "I need to get back to my room, though."

She gave a look to Theo, who nodded appreciatively, and she lifted the locks on the door before going back down. Blaise walked over to Theo's bed. He hadn't gotten out from the covers, yet.

"She stopped by," Theo said, lowering his eyes as though needing to defend himself.

"I'm glad she did. Theo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Blaise said, touching his arm.

"I was just worried," Theo said, not making eye contact.

"I shouldn't have let you be alone. Are you okay?" Blaise said.

He merely nodded and didn't look at either of them. Draco swallowed hard. He shouldn't have left him, either. He was so worried about Blaise that he just broke through the wards and shut the door behind him. It was negligent on his part, but he just had to get to Blaise.

"I'm more worried about you," Theo muttered, finally, still not looking up at Blaise.

Blaise took his hand. "I'm... better."

Theo's black eyes flicked up to Blaise's and back down. "You don't look it."

"I am," he insisted.

"What'd McGonagall do to you?" he asked, daringly. Draco wouldn't even ask him that.

"She didn't do anything. She just gave me a week of detentions."

Theo looked up to stare at Blaise. "I don't believe you."

Draco was slightly impressed by Theo's boldness. He'd never seen him challenge Blaise, even before everything went... crazy.

Blaise's shoulders dropped slightly and he whispered, "I don't want to talk about it."

"You've protected us through everything, Blaise. We can help you. We want to help you," Theo pushed.

"I know. But you can't help me... anymore than I can help you fix your problems... or Draco's. I'll kill for you two and I'll die for you. But I can't change the past. I can't fix anything. Nothing can fix it. We adapt, we survive. That's how we work," Blaise said, resigned to accept his fate.

Theo had tears coming out of his eyes. Blaise sat down next to him and lifted Theo up into a hug.

"I'm really sorry, Theo," Blaise whispered in his ear.

"It's okay... I was just worried. You know I can't take over if something happens to you, right? You were almost expelled, too. I need you, too."

Draco grimaced, realizing that they were talking about protecting him. He forgot that he was broken. Everything had hit him too fast for him to worry about anything else. They were more important than his pain.

Blaise nodded and released him. "Daphne will help you, Theo. But I'm not going anywhere. McGonagall just wanted to make sure we stop torturing each other. She cares more than any other professor here. Slughorn doesn't care about us, just his fame. Sprout and Flitwick have their own houses. She's the only one on our side. You can trust her."

"But she... you were...."

"It wasn't her fault. She wants to protect us, even from each other. She didn't even want me to leave her office until I calmed down... I walked out. I don't think she made me do anything for detention, too."

"Don't think?"

"I... don't remember."

"Why?"

"Theo..." Draco said, interrupting them. He had to protect Blaise, too. He wasn't quite over his mental relapse.

Theo looked at Draco and nodded. "Sorry."

"It's alright. I'm... I'm going to shower," Blaise said and drifted into the bathroom, again locking the doors.

Draco frowned. It had taken nearly an hour of him staring at the door last night, removing each one. He turned to Theo, now getting out of bed.

"Is he...?" Theo began, needing reassurance.

"He'll be alright. He's better than yesterday, but still fragile. I... I want to go down to see Harry," Draco asked, but didn't want to leave him, again, so soon.

"I can handle being alone, Draco. I was just worried about him. It's okay. Go," Theo said, pulling out clothes.

Draco nodded and exited into the stairway, he walked down to Harry's room. With his abysmal luck, Smith came down, before he made it.

"Nice eye, Malfoy. Want another one?"

"Fuck you, Smith," Draco said, as he knocked on Harry's door. He wasn't afraid of anything anymore.

Smith seemed surprised by his remark and pulled his wand out, but heard noises in Harry's room, so he wisely kept walking. Harry opened the door, shirtless and Draco had to refrain from smiling and looking. Harry had his glasses in his hand.

"Blaise... it's..." Harry said, dazed and stopped when he put on his glasses, nervously. "Draco... I...."

"Relax, I figured out your clandestine meetings like the first day," he said, dismissively.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he threw up the privacy wards.

"It's Blaise... remember yesterday...."

"Yeah, it was weird," Harry agreed. Blaise had barely said a word when they met outside of Defense Against the Dark Arts. "He was emotionless."

"Something happened. He won't talk to us... he's barely even there."

Harry tilted his head. "You're really worried about him?"

"Yes, something went wrong in the meeting with McGonagall. He came down, shaken and listless. I had to take him everywhere. He wouldn't even defend me or himself in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I don't know what to do. He didn't talk to me all night and barely anything when we woke up."

"Want me to go check on what happened?" Harry offered.

"Would you? Please... I'm really worried about him. He's not fine... I mean... at all. He's faking his way through it and if the wrong thing happens... I don't even know what triggered this. He's not like... me. This doesn't just happen."

Harry quickly grabbed both his arms and said, "I'll go right, now, Draco. We can talk in Potions, okay?"

"Thank you... I really appr-"

"Not a problem, Draco. Anything... you can ask me for anything...."

Draco smiled, despite his worry, "Well... I would say a kiss, but we're a little in the open."

Harry grinned, too, and was about to tempt fate, when Neville came from up the stairs. Harry backed away and took down the wards. Neville, looking exhausted, gave a nod and went into his dorm. Harry grimaced.

"He didn't come back to the room last night," Harry stated.

Draco felt cold, but before Harry could put the spells back up, Seamus came down the steps alone. He stopped, looked at them and then focused on Draco, who looked away embarrassed.

"Thanks for... you know," Seamus mumbled.

Draco went red. He didn't want people to think they owed him. He was a Death Eater after all. "Don't mention it. This is awkward enough without rehashing it."

"But you saved me life," Seamus said, grimacing.

"I'm sure it makes up for me being an utter twat during our younger years at school," Draco huffed, still not meeting his eyes.

"You got that right..." Seamus chuckled. "But I want to help."

"Help?" Draco clarified, confused.

"You sure?" Harry asked excitedly stepping forward.

"Yeah, I'm definitely sure. Even if it's Dean," Seamus said, looking to Harry for direction.

"Wait..." Draco started.

"Keep an eye on him, Draco. I'll see you in Potions," Harry said, with a smile.

Draco frowned, but needed to get back to the room. Blaise took quick showers normally and he couldn't be a part of that talk. He went back to the room. Theo was dressed and nodded when he came in.

"He's still in there," he announced grimly.

Draco frowned but got dressed before he walked over to the door. He didn't have time to cut through all the spells on the door. He focused on the one that was preventing him from knocking and countered it. He struck the door several times and waited. Blaise pulled open the door. He had showered and was wrapped in a towel.

"Sorry," Blaise said and walked by him.

"It's fine. We just need to get down to breakfast. You didn't eat anything yesterday."

Blaise frowned and nodded, as though he hadn't known that. Theo used the bathroom and Blaise was dressed by the time he was out.

Draco led them out of the room and down the steps. Daphne was in the common room waiting for them and they walked down to the Great Hall. Blaise merely followed him. Theo and Daphne were in the back. Draco slowed to let Blaise get next to him so it wasn't as obvious that Blaise wasn't leading them. If people saw a weakness, they might be more willing to attack.

Breakfast was a quiet affair for the most part, neither Harry nor the headmistress came. Dean was still loudly complaining about his bum, but they all ignored him. Hermione giggled, but turned to her boyfriend, who was glad for the attention. But Draco returned to staring at his charge. Blaise pushed the food around his plate, like Draco would do so people wouldn't notice he didn't eat anything. He bumped Blaise's arm, giving a pleading look.

"Sorry," he said, immediately understanding.

"Please eat something... or I'll have to stop eating, too."

Blaise gave him an icy look. They had sat next to each other, which Blaise didn't usually do. He had just followed him down to the end of the table. Blaise picked up his fork and brought a bite to mouth.

"Thank you," Draco said.

Draco looked over at Theo, who was watching the exchange sadly. It was only last year that Draco had to make him eat, too. Daphne had had some rough days after Crabbe attacked her. They understood. Blaise ate about half his plate and shoved it away. Draco didn't push him. Lunch would be a better time. Draco got them up and led Blaise to Potions in the dungeons. Blaise stiffened as they entered and Draco had to almost push him inside the door.

"What's wrong?" he whispered in Blaise's ear, as their classmates had started to arrive.

Blaise shook his head and he sat down at his desk. Theo came in later, having walked Daphne to her Muggle Studies class.

Draco stared at Blaise until class was about to start. Harry rushed in at the last second, as well as Neville, who again, looked disheveled and groggy. He sat next to Blaise, who looked petrified. Draco stared at his best friend, analyzing what was happening. Neville's soft words couldn't be heard, but when he put his hand on Blaise's shoulder, Blaise pulled away with a clear 'no'. Draco's blood stopped.

Harry had settled next to him and started into his report, "I went to see her. She was a little reluctant to tell me, but when I told her how bad he was, she gave in."

Draco watched as tears fell down Blaise's face and Neville continued issuing whispered pleas that he could not hear. Blaise shook his head. Neville lowered his own head, his eyes wet as well. Draco knew what had happened. Harry had made a trip for nothing, but he went on trying to explain. Draco took his hand up to his cheek and turned it toward them. He stopped talking to watch, too. Neville tried pleading with Blaise, again, but he just shook his head.

"Blaise is in love with him," Draco whispered.

Harry nodded in agreement. "McGonagall said that she hadn't meant to shake him up so bad. She said that she had just mentioned that it was inappropriate for a professor to start a relationship, when he... "flipped out"... as she put it."

"I'll bet," Draco said, realizing that McGonagall had hit that one sore spot of Blaise's hard, cold façade. He couldn't protect himself from himself.

Draco had found the chink in Blaise's armor almost by accident as well. Blaise didn't think he was worth anything and that's why he let his partners hurt him. That's why he never cared what people said about him. He thought he was different from everyone... the world... unlovable. He couldn't connect to anyone, until now. Neville... that amazing, loving guy had connected to the scared, lonely kid underneath. And now, that connection was threatened.

"She said that he thought he had to end even their friendship. She asked if we could help him see that isn't necessary. She just doesn't want them... doing anything... physical."

"She wanted them to wait."

"Yeah. But he just fell apart, saying that Neville shouldn't be with him, that he was corrupting him. She was very worried about Blaise."

"I'm sure. She said that they shouldn't be together."

Harry tilted his head.

"Maybe not exactly, but close enough. It'd only feed his belief that they are too different, that they aren't meant to be."

Neville and Blaise were now both sitting apart from each other, unable to speak. Their potion simmering on their desk between them. The tension was fraught with pain and awkwardness. Draco was tempted to get up and intervene.

Suddenly a white translucent figure descended through the walls and Harry actually jumped to his feet, wand out, but slowly dropped it, a little embarrassed, as the ghostly figure stopped on the class floor. A cat Patronus.

"Mr. Zabini, report to my office," the rushed voice of the headmistress ordered.

Everyone in the class looked at Blaise. A direct summons from the head of the school was rare even it was delivered via owl. He ignored everyone and put on his mask. Blaise collected his books and got up, not intending to say goodbye to any of them. But Draco got up and out of his seat, going around Harry.

"Do you want me to come?" he asked, quietly, grabbing his arm.

Blaise's eyes were empty, as he shook his head.

"You're sure?" Draco whispered, letting go.

Blaise nodded and walked out the door. Draco watched him and glanced to Neville, looking utterly shattered. Theo met Draco's eyes and then dropped them to the table. Draco slowly returned to his seat.

"What... will... do you think.... what will happen?" Harry said, unsure what to say.

Draco looked into his green, worried eyes. "Pain... adapt... survive... what we all go through, Harry."

***

Blaise practically ran from Potions. He was right there and Slughorn made sure to emphasize that lab partners were together until the holidays. Neville could see right through his refusal. He could tell how unstable he was. Blaise should thank McGonagall for her timely interruption. That was excruciatingly painful. Neville was trying to convince him that they could still talk... be friends, but he couldn't be around him anymore. Blaise had to protect him. No one should be around a disturbed, dark person like him.

Blaise's eyes filled with tears, again, as his emotional ups and downs wouldn't stabilize. He was glad that he was able to reach the stone gargoyle without running into anyone. He gave the password and took the moving steps upward, trying to dry his eyes. He intended to remain just outside the inner office door, but he heard a few small explosions and yelling. Worried that someone was attacking the only professor he really liked anymore, he burst in and ready to help.

The headmistress was dueling another witch fervently. Spells were flying out of the wands and each cast aside. McGonagall's opponent, dressed in black sleeping robes, was hurling threats at her, as well as spells. She had light, brown caramel skin and thick black, shiny hair. McGonagall vanished each attack easily. Blaise froze.

"I already told you that you can't see him! It's not allowed!" the headmistress growled.

"Don't you tell me what I can't do! I'll remove the flesh from your bones if you don't let me go!" a familiar voice shrieked.

Blaise slowly opened his mouth, "Mom?"

The woman in black turned and stared at him. It looked like his mother, but why was she here? The realization came quick. He lowered his eyes, knowing that she had come because of his letter. More tears came out. It was a crazy idea hatched out the absolute misery he was in last night. He was so desperate for relief that he sought out help from the only blood relation he had. He never expected her to answer, much less come.

His mother's pitch black eyes narrowed and whipped back around to McGonagall. "What the hell did you do to my son!"

"Now, really! I already told you that parents can't just show up and see their child unannounced! But I'll allow this. I'll admit that I had some part in his current condition, which is the only reason why I acquiesced."

"And I almost removed your scalp. Don't placate to me!"

"You did nothing of the sort, Moira. The day you get the drop on me..." McGonagall started, but stopped herself.

His mom walked back to him. He lowered his head, properly shamed now. Tears are beneath a Zabini. Tears never stopped anything. Only actions define you. He cried more, shrinking as she approached.

"Oh, my poor baby!" she exclaimed before wrapping her arms around his head.

He was in shock. He didn't even think his mother knew those words, or that tone. He never thought she cared that much.

She pulled his head back to look at his eyes, holding him by the chin. "What's wrong?"

Blaise almost said something, but looked around at the portraits with humility. He couldn't.

"Oh Hecate," his mother said, and waving her wand around them wordlessly.

A colorful mirage encircled them, almost like a broken mirror. A shattered cacophony of distorted images much like a kaleidoscope of different patterns was ever-changing as Blaise looked around. He couldn't see out or hear anything.

"We are safe from unfriendly eyes and ears, now, my son. Tell me what happened."

Blaise, though still enamored with the brilliance of his mother's spell and her ability to still surprise him, didn't know where to start, but he began with the most important. "Why did you come, mom?"

"Why wouldn't I? You never wrote before... and what you said...."

Blaise dropped his head, tears forming, again. He'd never have thought she'd come for him. She was busy hunting for her next prey. "You don't care about my problems except that they are mine," he whispered throwing her own words back at her. She never lifted a finger for him. He had to do everything himself.

"I care," she said quietly.

"Since when mom?" Blaise said, meeting her narrowing eyes.

"I always cared. I wanted you to be strong... self-sufficient. No one was going to forgive you for being my son, honey. You had to get tough. Merciless. So no one would hurt you."

"And where did that get me? I had no one. I was invisible until Draco talked to me. He helped me in Potions...."

"You're great at Potions!" she growled and he wondered how she knew.

"Now, I am. You never showed me that."

"The Dark Arts are more important."

"I agree, but Potions were important, too. Draco helped me establish my place by teaching me how to duel and hex people."

"I taught you that!"

"Yeah, but you can't just curse people in front of everyone mom. Draco taught me to be cunning... and everyone fears me."

"That's good. They'll regret hurting you."

"I was still alone. I had Draco and Theo, who would talk to me. It was probably only because they were in my dorm room. I couldn't bring myself to talk to the two bigot idiots. I hexed them whenever I could."

"You don't need anyone."

"Then why are you here, mom?" Blaise said, lowering his head and tears poured out. "Just came to yell at me for asking for help? Just go if that's your idea of help. Yeah, got it... suffer alone. Don't cry. Don't let anyone see you weak. I remember what you taught me. No one will help me anyway, right? You should go."

"Blaise...."

Blaise walked away from her only to be stopped by whatever evil barrier she had conjured. "Let me out."

"No, listen...."

"I don't want to listen to you! All my life you taught me that everyone was out to get me... that they were cruel and would hurt me. Maybe you were right, cause that's exactly what happened. My house is scared to death of me. People avert their fuckin eyes when they see me. Now, anyway. Yeah, it's great except I'm still alone. I don't want to be alone... be the dark stain... the cursed child. But that's all I'm going to get."

"You're not cursed... but no one attacked you did they?" she guessed.

"They tried."

"See. You're strong enough to defend yourself," she said, dismissively.

"When I did defend myself, anyway."

His mother froze. He looked down.

He whispered, "You had to have read the letters from Snape telling you he caught me again with someone else... or Madam Pomfrey when I contracted another disease. Or Umbridge suggesting I'm morally defunct and deserve to be thrown in jail for my sexual deviancy. You didn't exactly tell me 'good job'. You didn't say anything, but look disappointed and mad. You're ashamed for what I am. You couldn't be proud of a degenerate like me."

The expression on his mother's face was a mixture of shock and horror. "No! Blaise...."

"Don't lie to me, mother! I'm supposed to be proud, pureblood, who you could sell off to marry. Not someone who let his whole house do whatever they wanted to him. Whatever they wanted, mom. You never said a word. I knew you hated me for it. For being gay, for switching back and forth."

"Of course, I hated it. But would you have stopped?" she asked, pointedly. "You're a teenage boy... who am I to restrict you, like the world restricted me? I thought you were doing it just to get a rise out of me... teenage rebellion. I didn't think you actually wanted to be with any of them."

"I needed help... but I didn't know how to ask, mom. I came home and saw the disappointment and disdain in your eyes. You'd never accept me. Purebloods can't be gay or whatever the hell I am... I don't even know. I just knew that no one would ever accept me... that you wouldn't... and just kept doing it."

"You had to find yourself," she whispered.

"I didn't find myself... I almost lost myself. Draco pulled me back before I really lost everything."

His mother was shaking slightly, vulnerable like he had never seen. "I didn't know how... I didn't know what to say. Be strong. Be powerful. Words my mother told me before she was murdered. They wanted to silence her forever, but I protected her book. I kept to the old ways."

"Old ways that turned me into a dark wizard."

"They would have silenced you if you didn't have protection. Don't think they wouldn't!"

"They haven't silenced me at all," Blaise huffed.

"They silenced me, Blaise. I know too much about the Wizengamot. Their secrets... they'd never risk me coming to court."

"Sounds like you silenced them," he said, acidly. It would explain the eight dead husbands and no prison sentence.

"They won't let me in their court, either... in any sense."

Blaise looked at her. He tilted his head, unsure completely of what she meant. "Mom?"

"You think I wanted to... do what I had to? I did what I had to, to survive. Do you think the brats at Hogwarts left me alone? My foster parents?"

"Mom..." Blaise said, afraid of what she meant.

"I haven't told you everything, honey," she said. "My mother's coven... they had abilities that could bring any secret to light. You could imagine how men in power would fear that. They came and slaughtered them... I remember the screams. It lasted a long time. They found me and tried to Obliviate me. I had learned to shield myself already and I lied. My mother knew they were coming. They took me far away to this country. Found some strict law-abiding parents to watch me, but I had her book, her grimoire.

"Truth be told... I didn't even consider opening the book, until the abuse started. Not even then, really. The bullying at school and worse. When the worst came... Dumbledore expelled him and McGonagall took me to the Ministry to report him. He was seventeen. They refused, stating that there was no proof we even slept together. I was the Italian whore from a coven of dark witches and they wouldn't hear a peep about one of their sacred twenty-eight. McGonagall was irate, but the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement slammed the door on her face. She was speechless and couldn't say anything that would make me feel better.

"She took me home to my foster parents, who had already heard the 온라인카지노게임 from that boy's parents. They had my stuff packed and waiting for me. 'How dare I sleep around and lie about it!' They said that they had suffered from my wild accusations and threw me out. McGonagall nearly cursed them for me, but I told her not to bother. They had unknowingly packed my mother's book. I came back to Hogwarts for the rest of the year and I soon realized I had proof. I went back to the Ministry, this time alone, stating I could prove what he did. I was pregnant."

"Me..." Blaise said, barely audible. No wonder she hated him.

"No... she would have been your sister," his mother said, her fingers caressing his cheek.

Blaise froze.

"They said they would 'look into it' and sent me away, again. I returned to Hogwarts to finish my year, waiting for retribution. But I went to Hogsmeade on the last weekend of the year... when he grabbed me. I was surprised that he didn't just kill me, too. The sick fuck gave me her small, lifeless body to hold after he cut my stomach open. 'No one will ever believe you, whore,' he said and vanished her from my arms. He left me there to die."

Blaise's heart ached and he lowered his head. "I'm so sorry, mom."

"I never really wanted to tell you this 온라인카지노게임, but you wanted help... to understand..." she trailed off. "And anyway... nothing happened, after. The Ministry told me they were busy... blah blah Voldemort blah blah. I wasn't worth their time. McGonagall had taken me there again and offered to take me in at Hogwarts for the summer with her. But I told her thanks, but no. I Apparated away from her, which I'm sure she was surprised. I hadn't even taken my OWLs, yet. I spent the summer, living off the land, as I had done as a child. I shrouded my underage magic, like my mother taught me and immersed myself in the book. No one would touch me, again.

"I returned to school, purely to expand my now ready powers. Everyone who even looked at me wrong felt my wrath. Dumbledore and Slughorn tried to curb my dark powers, but I was on a slippery slope. I needed vengeance and the school cowered. I passed my OWLs and my NEWTs eventually, but not before I mastered all my coven's magic and powers. I learned the truth that got them killed, why I was refused justice and why no one would ever try to come at me, again. I found out who my father was."

"Who?" he asked.

"Patience. My mother's coven... was all witches and a few children. They didn't marry, but would liaise with others to produce children. Mostly they employed the darker spells of lust to seduce men magically, make them forgot facts and values to lure them into bed, which you might have gathered, is how I am able to garner so many suitors, despite my reputation."

Blaise nodded, though he had assumed potions, not spells. Theo tested his food for no reason.

"My mother used her magic on this rigid pureblood that wouldn't even break the law to save someone's life. After he went home, he realized what had happened. It took him many years to find her, again, and with a group of eager men, ready for revenge and just wanted to be free of the blackmail that the coven had been exhorting over them. They had a right party. My father decided not to kill me, a ten-year-old, and picked out my foster parents particularly. Since he was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he had that ability and the power to shut down any case I, his daughter, made against anyone, as I could lead him into a scandal. I especially enjoyed the fact that the man was later killed by his own son."

Blaise wasn't sure how to handle this information, but his mother was right, it was helping... a little anyway.

"Anyway it took five years to I get my revenge on the boy. He didn't recognize me at first, but a few forgetfulness spells later and he had no problems accepting my advances. It took several months to lure him in, I had sex with him several times. His parents had died of dragonpox... terrible epidemic that year... claimed my foster parents, too, though there were no other cases really connected to them. He had inherited the biggest portion of their estate. I had to do a lot to convince him to marry me. I regret none of that seduction.

"It was nice when I had him chained down to the bed on our honeymoon, harmless fun he thought for sure... I whispered the words 'No one will ever believe you, whore' into his ear and he remembered everything. He thrashed, threatened and begged in the end... but vengeance was mine... even more so when my father dragged me into an interrogation with his two lackeys. I just rubbed my hands together with a sick smile and said, 'Hello father. I expect to never see a courtroom.' I proceed to tell all three of them every secret they had that would guarantee them a life prison sentence, too. I finished with, 'You should have killed me when you had a chance.'

"One Auror threatened to do just that, but I held up my hand. I had written it all down and put it in Gringotts... and a few other places. Their butts were mine. I got up, planted a kiss on my dad's cheek and said, 'this is all for my mom' and walked out the door. He never even questioned me, again. My vengeance for what happened to me was done. But there was one consequence for what happened though."

"Me..." Blaise assumed, lowering his head, again.

His mother almost hissed in anger and yanked his head up. "No. You think I haven't learned how to prevent pregnancy?"

"But..."

"I wanted you. We wanted you.... It was that McGonagall never spoke to me, again. It was wrong she said. I accepted her criticism and used my dead husband's money to start a business in Knockturn Alley. Selling a trade of secrets, potions and knowledge. I made some powerful friends and allies, though they paid for my services. Dear old Lucius had a lot of problems and troubles over the years, he often came knocking on my door, even after I closed my shop. Your friend Theo's father also came, but for his son. That's how you met your friends. Death Eaters needed things, too.

"But sometimes, it was innocent wanderers who came to my shop. That was how I met your father. He had come into an inheritance, his father passed away, his mother already gone. Just a few nephews and cousins left in his line. He was investigating discrepancies in his father's company and a lot of Galleons were missing. He had suspects, but he didn't want to falsely accuse anyone. I had the skill to find secrets, he asked if I could discover who had done it. I did and where the proof could be found. He didn't believe me at first, but investigated, found the truth and had the three men involved arrested. He came back, later, I assumed that he wanted more help, now that he knew I wasn't a fraud... but he asked me to dinner. And again and again.

"We married and he wanted a child, children, even. That's how you were... created. It was only a few months into the pregnancy when the men who had cheated his father's business were released and killed him. I was..." his mother broke off, showing an emotion other than anger for once: sadness. "...distraught. But my father so gleefully explained that I would never see the inside of a courtroom. I set about my revenge, the best way I knew how, gaining the most out of it. One by one, they flew into my nest and died... most mysteriously. That was third, fourth and fifth. My sixth husband was a similar evil man, but you know why he died."

Blaise shivered and nodded. Yes, he knew why. He remembered him screaming at the end.

"The last two were my father's cronies. Greedy, lying murders who deserved it. My father was dead by then and I wanted to tie up loose ends," she finished. "But I'm sorry... I tried to keep them away from you. I'm sorry I got caught up in my vengeance. You deserved better. I love you. I didn't want anyone to hurt you like they hurt me. But tell me... who hurt you? Tell me and I will fix it."

"No one hurt me... I mean... now."

"You're upset and crying, don't lie! Was it your friends?" she asked.

"What? No... Draco stayed with me all night and Theo was in pieces this morning."

"Are kids picking on you at school?"

"No... well yes, but I can handle them. Mom... I messed up. I hurt someone. I used the Bone Crush Spell."

"Good choice," she said, approvingly. She had taught him it, after all.

"Yes, well I grabbed it after, too. There's a lot of damage. I might have permanently injured him, mom."

"He deserved it. You're not getting expelled are you?"

"No, I'm not. Not that I care. But mom, the kid didn't deserve it... not at all."

"Blaise, I'm sure he...."

"He didn't deserve it, mom! I used my knowledge to inflict pain onto a younger kid, who was on his knees in front of me!" Blaise cried, tears falling again.

"You were bullying him? You wanted to hurt him?" she asked, slightly disappointed.

"I was making an example in front of our house," he said, lowering his head in shame.

"Pain or humiliation? I told you not to play that game!" she scolded.

"He played it on Draco."

"Then he deserves...."

"There were reasons and Draco is fine. They were in cahoots and I knew it."

"Then...."

"Example with example. No one is supposed to touch Draco or Theo." Blaise growled. That edict was seared into his soul: protect Draco, protect Theo.

"Okay. It was an accident then. I'm guessing you didn't mean to hurt him so much," she said, supportively.

"Maybe, but I did purposely do it to his wand arm, though."

"Just give it some time. Everyone wants magical solutions. Let it heal. Now, this was not why you wrote me."

Blaise broke off eye contact again. "Did you love my dad?"

"Of course, I did. He was a beautiful, handsome man. His hands were big enough to wrap around my neck but they were soft and gentle. He was kind, forgiving. He never hurt a soul or raised his voice. He even tried to let those men just give back what they stole... instead, they killed him for it."

"You didn't give me his last name," Blaise stated, uncertainly.

"I didn't. His extended family was creating problems, as many knew that my first husband had died. They didn't believe me that the others killed him, especially after they died, too." His mother never outright admitted she murdered them, even to him, even though he understood and knew how they died. "If you took his name, his side of the family might seek you out, try to... take you. So you got our family name."

"Zabini," he said, gruffly.

"My mother's coven name. You know that. It's powerful. To be associated with it inspires fear. Not like his. I did love him. He was a wonderful, moral man."

"I'm more like you, then," he whispered. "Dark, bad and hard."

She frowned. "I was only hard on you to make you tough, able to defend yourself. You're not bad."

"But I'm alone. No one trusts me... even when I was a child. They wouldn't let their kids be near me."

"You knew Draco."

"Draco's father wouldn't have cared if someone tortured or killed his son," Blaise growled.

"Theo's father loved his son and didn't mind you playing with him."

"Theo was mute back then. He would have cut off his hand to help his son," he pointed out. Theo never talked about the years he didn't speak. It was a dark time for him.

"That I would agree with. He wanted to how to fix him."

"Did you?" Blaise asked surprised.

"I don't have those kinds of secrets. I told him to sing songs to him when it's time to sleep, cut the crusts off his sandwiches, ruffle up his hair and hold his hand when he goes outside the house. Things his mother did. I don't know if they worked. I suggested letting him play with other kids, too, as he seemed afraid of adults."

"I remember trying to get him to talk. He turned to Occlumency... did you know?"

"I didn't, but it explains a lot. Mind healers had refused to help him, because he was a Death Eater. I sent a few cursed letters to each of them because of it. Theo did start talking, again, but it had taken years. That was when his father, Edgar, asked who had killed his wife."

"Who?" Blaise growled.

His mother gave him a long stare. "I can't tell you that, Blaise. It's not for you to know. I didn't tell his father either. Some secrets should stay buried and I told Edgar that he needed to be there for his son, not get another life sentence."

"But...."

"I have immunity... you, Theo and Draco don't."

"Fine..." he said, disappointed. But the point is... I have no one. Just my two best friends and maybe a couple of their friends... but I can't connect. I can't...."

"I know honey. It's hard. I never thought I'd find someone either. Your father is gone and I don't know if he was my soulmate... or if there is such a thing, but I don't plan on looking for anyone else. You have to be strong, though. People see you weak and they will take advantage of you. This is fact."

"But not to find love?" Blaise cried, his emotions were already weak.

"Love?" she repeated.

"Yeah... kinda hard if everyone is afraid of the big Italian-African kid, who can curse you with spells that no one can reverse."

His mother stepped closer and pulled his head up. "It sounds like you found love, anyway."

Blaise flinched and tried to pull away. His mother held on.

"There's nowhere to go. Tell me what is wrong."

Blaise's tears filled again. "I love... someone... but it won't work. We can't be together. I'm too...evil."

"Oh honey, you aren't evil."

"I hurt people... I'm a Zabini... an undocumented Master of the Dark Arts. I don't even know half what you know, but I know more than all the students in the school. Even impressed Snape a few times. No one should be near me."

"That's not true! I know what evil is... that pig who violated me and mocked me with my dead unborn child... those sick murdering fucks, the Death Eaters, my asshole father who killed my mother, and that sixth one... Ivan...."

Blaise winced. She hugged him and rubbed his back. He started, "But...."

"No buts Blaise. You are not evil. You'd never hurt anyone without cause. You aren't a murderer."

"I tortured him."

"Blaise... I'm not going to say what you did was wrong... or right. But you are sorry that it happened. Evil people aren't sorry. They might regret their actions, that they got caught... but they aren't truly sorry. You are. I can see that."

"It wasn't right. But he was there... he watched me do it. How could he still want to be with me?"

"He?" she asked, like she realized he wasn't talking about a girl.

Blaise pulled away from her and backed into the barrier. He slid down it, wrapping his arms around his head and tears poured out, again. Deviant, fag, homo... that's what he was, but so much worse. Muggles had so many names for what he was, but wizards hide their inflictions better. His mother must hate him for not hiding it.

"Blaise!" she shouted and knelt down. "Blaise, look at me!"

"Let me go!" Blaise shrieked. "You don't love me... how could you? I'm a freak!"

"No, you aren't! Blaise, I'm sorry, I was just clarifying who I was. I'm completely fine with whoever you want to be with... as long he's a pureblood."

"Mom!" he grumbled. But his grandma had convinced her that magic was best kept with witches and wizards.

"I will accept anyone you choose, honey. I don't care about your... preferences. I want you to be happy. I don't care if you are gay... or not."

"You said that having me restricted you... limited your choices," Blaise confessed.

"What?" she said and her jaw dropped. "You were spying on me?"

"I was alone. I had nothing better to do."

"I said anything to make them stay... I wanted to get them to marry me. Most men don't want other people's children in the way. I didn't mean it... I swear on our family name, on your father. I didn't mean any of it. I'm sorry that you heard that!" she said, promised.

Blaise believed her, but it still stung. Revenge was always more important than him. He nodded. She sat down next to him.

"I promise I do not care about who you love... or like," she insisted, staring into his eyes.

He nodded, but let out a sob. "Why am I like this mom? Why do I have to be so abnormal?"

She traced his face. "Because you are an amazing person. Amazing people don't have easy lives. It is difficult and laborious, but you are powerful, loving and loyal. I couldn't be more proud of you, Blaise. Don't let anyone say that you aren't."

A few more tears came down his cheek. "Thanks, mom."

"Now tell me about him...."

"I don't want...."

"Is it Theo?"

"Theo? No..." Blaise said, giving her a look.

She held up her hands. "Sorry. You brought a boy home for three months and you shared a bed, what did you expect me to think?"

"Oh..." Blaise said, grimacing and added, biting his lip. "He gets bad nightmares. He saw his father die in front of him, too."

"Oh, Hecate... I didn't know," she said, sadly.

"Yeah... I couldn't leave him alone. He might have... done something or not bothered to feed himself. Or some lynch mob could have come for him. Thank you for not throwing him out. I would have had to go with him."

"I wouldn't do that. He was a nice, sweet boy and a pureblood," she said and he rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you aren't meant to be?"

"I'm sure that he's straight, but no it's not Theo. But you don't have to worry. He's a pureblood, too."

"Good."

"Please don't hurt him. He's good, mom... not like us."

"You're good. I watched you take care of your friend. He said that you weren't good enough!?"

"Of course, he didn't. He's so accepting of everything... of my hi온라인카지노게임... your hi온라인카지노게임... my ability to cripple people... being a pureblood, Slytherin douche... everything mom. He doesn't even care that I've slept with fifty people, male, female or any combination of. Even what I'd let them do to me... not that he really knows what I mean. He doesn't care... I just don't know what to think."

"You love him."

"I do, mom... that's why we can't be together. He doesn't know... anything. He's never been with anyone. I'm damaged goods. I've probably been with more people than everyone in this school combined. He doesn't need to be with a whore," he said, but his mother smacked him lightly across the face. "Oww... what was that for?"

"To slap some sense into you... and don't use that word. I've been called that many times in my life and don't appreciate it."

"But I am," he started, but his mother raised her hand, again. He flinched.

"Do I need to hit you, again? You aren't. I couldn't care less if you slept with a hundred people and if he can't accept you for what you are, then he isn't worth it, either."

"He does. He's innocent, mom. He's never even hurt a frog. I took him down into Slytherin and tortured a kid on his knees in front of him. He still accepted me... he didn't stop me... and I almost got him fired."

"Fired?" his mother said, with some surprise and shock. "He's a professor?"

"That's where the headmistress came in. She said that we couldn't be together... it wasn't proper."

"Did she? How much older is this professor?" she asked trying to sound casual. Blaise could hear the suspicion in her voice.

"Relax mom, he's younger than me."

"Younger?" she asked, confused.

"Yes, he's an eighth year like me, but he's teaching first and second-year Herbology. It's what he's always wanted to do and I almost got him fired!"

His mother ignored him and muttered, "Herbology... Longbottom. You're in love with Neville Longbottom!?"

"And he almost lost his j-"

"I heard you. But he didn't... McGonagall is still a softie."

"That's what I said."

"She won't fire or expel people without a very good reason. She said you couldn't be together?"

"Not exactly. We couldn't be physical."

"Can you not restrain yourself?" she asked skeptically.

"Yeah... mum..." he muttered. "I've been decent since fifth year, but it's my reputation. If anyone sees him with me, regardless of what we were doing... they will assume... it's not worth the risk. I care about him too much."

"Oh honey," she said and pulled him into her for a hug. "I told you that you were good. You are so compassionate and considerate. Don't be dismayed. You can wait until the end of the school year... can't you?"

"I-I suppose, unless I get kicked out first."

"Don't say that!"

"It's entirely possible, mom."

"Blaise, you need...."

"To what? Get a job? Who the hell would hire me? I've pissed off too many people in the school to get one at

the Ministry. I didn't bother to take Arithmancy, so that leaves out Gringotts."

"And what about your NEWTs?"

"I only came back for Theo and Draco, mom."

"You should finish your education!"

"I'm only in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Potions and Charms. I don't even care about Divination or the Hi온라인카지노게임 of Magic. I don't know. Maybe I'll start up some personal security business... it won't matter how many grades I have."

"And who's going to balance the books, pay taxes, rent and salaries?" she growled.

"A little late, now, to worry anyway. I'll make Draco do it."

She shook her head, but then considered. "Maybe you should write a book."

"A book?"

"About your hexes and curses... you've got some imaginative ones."

"They're based off what you taught me, mom. Your mom's book."

"Yes, the old ways will most likely die when we do. No one would read her book... or should. It's a powerful grimoire and it can be abused. I never taught you everything for a reason. Such power always comes with a price."

Blaise shrugged and thought about it. "I'll consider it."

"Now... tell your... friend that you two will have to wait... ask him to wait," she ordered.

"I can't mom! He shouldn't be with someone like me. Besides he likes dirt... it's weird. He probably likes animals, too," Blaise said, tears coming out and he hopelessly tried to justify his irrational fear.

"How strange," his mother taunted smiling, but Blaise was struggling to remain calm.

"It's... we can't... damnit, mom! I don't want to feel like this anymore!" he yelled, agony overriding everything and he couldn't breathe right.

"I know it hurts, honey," she said, taking his hand. "I'm sorry, but it'll be worth it."

"No... it hurts too much. Please...take this pain out of me, mom. Please... make me forget," he begged and grabbed her robes, desperately. "You know every spell there is... please."

She pulled into another hug, squeezing him tightly. "Even if I could... I wouldn't. Love is a painful, wonderful thing. You have to take the good with the bad. You'll survive, I know you will."

Blaise screwed up his eyes and shook his head. "No... no more. I'm not putting Neville through this anymore. He needs to have a good, happy life. I can't give him one."

"Blaise," his mother said, and lifted him off her to look at her. "You can't decide that for him. It's his life and you're already a part of it."

"Mom... he could lose everything," he started and looked at his mother. "If you knew what would happen with dad, would you have married him?"

"Well, those men might have killed him anyway, and I wouldn't have... married them, but to play your game... if he hadn't have met me... if I knew what I knew... no, I wouldn't have done anything different."

"Mom?" he whispered, looking into her eyes to see if she was lying.

"Even if a soothsayer decreed it so... I would have married him," she said and put her hand on his cheek. "I wouldn't have had you... and there would be nothing good about me. I have him... his memories, his legacy... and I have you. He's a part of you and me. It might be selfish, but love is selfish... and selfless at the same time."

Blaise hung his head. He was in pain, hurting, but some part of him had stabilized. He didn't know when or why completely. He had connected with her, though, as he had never before. Bonded with her emotionally. She understood exactly what was wrong and made it make sense. He wasn't alone.

"Are you okay, Blaise?" she asked as he was silent for a long time.

"I don't know, mom. Do you think he will wait?" he asked, quietly... considering... and hoping.

"I think so... unless there's someone else... and this way both of you can get some schoolwork done."

"I'll see what I can do. Watching Draco and Theo is a full-time job here," Blaise sighed.

"Perhaps they can pay you."

"Draco's broke and...."

"I was joking, honey."

"Oh... right..." Blaise said and looked up into her eyes, again. "Thanks for coming mom. Really... I never thought you would."

"I care about you deeply no matter what you may think. I'm not humiliated... I'm not embarrassed by you or whatever else you wrote in that letter... I'm sorry I ever made you feel like that," she said, sadly.

"I thought... that you didn't... love me. I'm sorry, mom," he said, his eyes watering, again.

"It's okay. I don't exactly talk to you... we both did wrong. But write to me... please. Let me know how it is going. I don't want you to feel alone... and if he ever hurts you...."

"No! Mom! Don't! I can take care of it."

"What about those others... who hurt you..." she questioned, subtly asking for names.

"I let them, mom. I wanted them to hurt me," Blaise said, lowering his head. Morgana help them if she ever got their names. "You don't have to do anything."

His mother's eyes had some tears in them. "I can't believe I brought him home," she whispered, as though she knew exactly what had happened.

"No... don't mom. It's not your fault. I didn't know what was... what I was. It's my life and the time for you to change me or what happened has passed."

"I don't want to change you, but I don't want anyone to hurt you without consequences."

"Nemo me impune lacessit," he chanted with fervor, their family motto.

"That's my boy," she said, proudly.

She rose to her feet and pulled him up, dusting off his robes. "I'm fine, mom," he mumbled.

"Don't be a slouch. You have pride. Everyone else is beneath you."

Blaise rolled his eyes, again, but his mother tapped him on the head. "Don't mock me. I can still hex you back into place."

"Yes, mother," he said with a smile.

"Now, you know what you are going to do?"

Blaise took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. What about you, mom? Another husband coming?"

"No... I think I'll try for some celibacy for awhile. Are you ready?"

He nodded and she took down the shattered mirror wall. The headmistress was leaning back in her chair, apparently napping. She snapped awake and glanced at the sunclock on the wall.

"You were in there for over an hour... I trust everything is handled?" she asked, looking at him.

"Yes. Sorry, Headmistress," Blaise muttered.

"Not a problem, but Charms as already started, off with you," she ordered.

"Yes, ma'am," he said and turned to his mother.

She pulled him down to her level and kissed him on the cheek.

"Mom!" he huffed and walked out the door, still with the worry of what he was going to say to Neville. At least now he had some hope.

***

"Nice to see I can still embarrass him," Moira Zabini said, smiling, at her son's departure.

"Indeed," her old professor said, smugly.

"May I sit?"

McGonagall nodded. Moira sat down.

"Your office has grown."

"As have my responsibilities. Being the Transfiguration professor and the head of the school is exhausting."

"Am I holding you up?" she asked politely, wondering how this conservation was going to go with her old favorite professor.

"Technically, but Albus wandered down to my classroom. I daresay he can manage some third years, even if he's just a painting.

Moira twiddled her thumbs in her hands and considered her words. "I apologize for trying to curse you. I was worried."

"It's fine. You've gotten a little slow in your years," McGonagall joked.

"Oh really?" she said, smiling. Glad to see McGonagall was in a playful mood. "We can go some more and find out?"

"That seems a little childish... which we aren't."

"I never was," she said, thinking of coven activities, their murders and then coming to the decidedly tranquil Hogwarts. "Even when my housemates were acting ridiculous."

"I was just telling your son how you never played that Slytherin game."

"I ought to have clocked him for it. He knows better," she said, irate.

McGonagall chuckled, but leveled with her. He face was stern and serious. "Can I ask what you talked about?"

Moira paused only for a second, but truthfully answered."My 온라인카지노게임... I never told him it... or about his father."

"Really? What did you tell him when he was younger?" she asked, with some incredibility.

"How to hex people of course. I wasn't going to let anyone hurt him."

McGonagall's lips were thin. "Moira, magic can do many things... including protecting you... but nothing will stop everything."

"I can see that. Do you know what kids were doing to him?" she asked, accusation in her voice.

"I only have vague notions," McGonagall admitted. "I don't often descend to the dungeons and it was always after it happened that we found out. Blaise never complained, rarely went to the same person more than a few times and shielded and warded his room. I can't say that everything that happened was consensual, but Blaise made it so no one could save him... including himself. He never sought help or stopped... propositioning. Our only option would have been to remove him permanently, which we did not want to do. Professor Snape assures me that he sent you many letters that Blaise might need a healer's help."

"I didn't believe him," she admitted, sadly. "I thought everyone was just... holding his name against him."

"I see," she said, nodding. "Well, he stopped a few years ago."

"He said Draco saved him."

"He is very close to Draco. He took over their group."

"He also said that you told him he couldn't be in a relationship."

"I merely said...."

"I know. He's not mad at you. He was afraid of the relationship. But Neville seems like a very decent boy from my son's praise."

"He is. I didn't mean to cause Blaise distress. I have respect for him. He takes his duties very seriously. He doesn't shirk them off."

"Blaise defended you, too. You and Snape were the only professors he likes... or liked," she said, glancing to Snape's portrait. He nodded to her. "He'll probably have more respect for you, now that I told him how you helped me."

"I didn't do much of anything," Minerva said, bitterness in her voice still after two decades.

"You believed me. You held my hand when we went to the Ministry and nearly turned the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement into a worm. You offered me a home. I didn't forget, and it did mean a lot, but I knew you weren't going to approve of my path," she paused at the hard words. She had been the closest thing she had had since his mother was killed. "I'm sorry for disappointing you. I'm sorry for what I did... a little. I did what I had to do... for justice. I didn't teach Blaise... that kind of stuff."

"You don't have to apologize to me," the old professor said, sadness in her voice. "It should have never have gotten that far."

"I do. I'd like to be able... could we speak... like we used to?" she asked, hoping.

"Maybe not completely like we used to. You are an adult now. I prefer Minerva."

"Moira is fine, but you always liked calling your favorites by their first names," she said, smiling.

McGonagall gave her a nod and a smile.

"I'll tell you why... if you want to know."

"What?"

"Why... the Ministry didn't charge him... or investigate me...."

"I thought the boy had paid them off or something?" McGonagall guessed, but was staring at her.

"That was my thought, too, but no... it was me. The Ministry head was my father and knew it. My mother entranced him to sleep with her and he found her ten years later and killed her... helped kill her and all her sisters."

McGonagall looked at her in shock and put her hand on her heart. "I can't believe...."

"There were other factors... money, but mainly the threat to his reputation. A threat I welded over him until a few years ago."

"Ah... so that's why...."

"Yes. But I promised Blaise no more step-fathers and perhaps Blaise and I can rebuild our relationship. He's going through a lot right now. I can see it, though he didn't tell me everything."

"I think it's a great idea. This relationship issue can't be the only thing wrong. He panicked too quickly."

"Agreed, but I also wanted to talk.... Do you know about Theo?"

"Theo? He seems like his usual self. He never was a talker, but his father's death seems to only have affected him very subtly," Minerva said, almost confused.

"Theo watched his mother being murdered and worse in front of him when he was five. He didn't talk for nearly two years."

"I knew that his mother was killed when he was young, but I hadn't known..." she said, saddened.

"And Blaise just told me they killed his father in front of him."

"Oh Merlin," McGonagall said, but cocked her head. "He doesn't seem that different."

"He spent every day at my house during the summer, with Blaise, in Blaise's room, in his bed."

McGonagall didn't seem to know what to say to that. She just nodded.

"My son says that they didn't do anything. He just needed to be with him at all times."

Minerva guessed, "Theo may have needed the constant support."

"Yes... I was very surprised when my son also explained that Theo's father taught him Occlumency."

Minerva pressed her lips together and considered this, then blatantly looked at Snape's portrait.

"Oh, I can talk now?" he growled.

"Severus...."

"When did he learn it?" he asked.

"I understood that his father taught him it to cope with his mother's death."

Snape gave her an incredulous look. "I've never noticed that ability."

"I know. I'm also a Legilimens. I've never noticed it either... which is why I am very worried."

"Pardon my ignorance," Minerva interrupted. "But are you saying he's better than you two?"

"Not better... necessarily... but he's been shielding his mind for near fifteen years. He's been in a constant controlled dissociative state and suffered another major trauma," Snape explained.

"Are you saying that he as some kind of muggle split-personality? That he'll suddenly snap?" Minerva asked.

"No, that he's burying all emotions, when on the inside... he's screaming. If he does snaps, he'll never come back from it."

"Can we help?" the headmistress asked him.

"We? No, he'll need someone who knows Legilimency and in my present state, I can barely tell if people are lying. I know Draco, his mother and apparently Ms. Zabini here who have a basic understanding. Anyone else would be a stranger," Snape said, wistfully.

"Why would you need a Legilimens?" Moira asked. Snape hadn't started teaching yet while she was at school, but she knew his mother was once part of the coven and left to live with her muggle husband and son.

"So we can take the barriers down in his mind... one at a time, slowly."

"Won't he snap, then?" she asked.

"Controlled, of course. He'll need a mind-healer to get him ready, but we have to take this very carefully. His father, I'm sure meant the best... but he placed a time-bomb in Theo's head. We don't even know what will trigger it. His mother or father's name... who was there, who killed them. Be very, very careful," Snape warned.

"I agree. I think the first step is to get him to agree to the procedure," Minerva said.

"You are right. There's no forcing this... or rushing. I think you will have to enlist his friends to convince him and perhaps you can start looking for a healer," Severus suggested.

"We need one. Those three alone would take up all of their time," Minerva sighed.

"And someone who knows Legilimency," he added dryly.

"I only have a basic knowledge that I taught myself," Moira stated

"Hmm... that will not do."

"I could ask Narcissa," Minerva said.

"She is just more than a novice herself. I taught her it, myself," Snape stated.

"One or both of us can train up," Moira offered.

"Yes... and you, Minerva," Snape ordered.

"Me? I don't see why...."

"You're the headmistress... you should know."

"Humph... seeing into people's minds is most disagreeable," the Head of Hogwarts muttered, but nodded. "Well, it's a tentative plan. I will owl Narcissa and explain.

"See if she is willing. Though, for obvious reasons, I can't willingly go under it," Moira said and got up.

Snape gave a knowing nod.

"Wait... why are you doing this?" McGonagall asked.

"A few reasons, namely I owe my son for not loving him enough. I can see how much Theo means to him. I have also tried to help Theo when he was younger and mute. He's as innocent as they come, and I can see that unless he is healed, he'll never be able to live or work alone. Everything he does is automatic, based on a need to survive. I could see that much when he was with me. Either Blaise or Draco will have to watch him the rest of their lives or they put him in the Janice-Thickney Ward at St. Mungo's. None of those things I want to happen to him, nor see what it will do to my son."

"I didn't mean to suggest otherwise. He's not your child."

"He is now. As someone who watched her mother die, too, I have the ability to sympathize with him. But I'll investigate the matter and will get back to you about it," she announced and walked toward the fire.

"Investigate what?"

"Don't worry about it. Sorry again, Headmistress. It's been wonderful talking with you, again," she said, grabbing some floo powder and disappearing into the flames.

She went to her sacred place outside, shrouded in wards. Her stones and wheel were ready as ever. Secrets don't die with the dead and she hoped Edgar Nott would talk to her. The dead loved to talk... bare their soul. Edgar had a stronger hold on his mind, but she merely had to convince him that she was helping his son. She had a few other people to seek out, mostly members of Slytherin House. From the battle, Crabbe, Flint, and Bulstrode had died, and there were a few new and old Death Eaters to try, at least the ones who didn't receive the Kiss. Dementors kept their souls.

She had a lot of stones to cast and hoped to find the answers she sought.

Blaise's side-plot should be over for a bit (FYI it's important... to the plot... probably). Just some insight into his mother's background and Theo's problems, but we should be going back into Harry and Draco's relationship. Wanted to give Draco some confidence back... for a bit... evil face. 

I honestly just pick random titles for chapters sometimes. Maybe I'm getting lazy. I actually am skipping another round of editing cause I'm tired and if I fall asleep in the next 3 minutes I'll get a whole 1.5 hours of sleep! Still working 50 to 60 hours every week, it's hard to fit in time to write/edit.

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