A Christmas Wish - Part Nine
Dec. 5th, 2013 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: A Christmas Wish - Part Nine
Author:alisanne
Prompt used:![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
slythindor100/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #5: Tree and festive staircase.
Word Count: 658
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks tosevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part nine in my Christmas Wish Series.
Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Nine
~
Malfoy opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Parkinson, who came running to the room, wand drawn. “Draco, what the hell--?” When she saw who it was, however, she stopped. “Oh, it’s you. How...surprising.”
Harry sighed. “Look, Parkinson, you have my word I won’t harm him. We just need to talk, all right?”
Tucking her wand away, Parkinson’s eyes narrowed. She glanced over at Malfoy, their eyes locking as some sort of wordless communication passed between them. After a long moment, Parkinson shook her head and sighed. “Fine. But you know where to find me.”
Shooting one last warning look at Harry, she started for the Floo. Tossing in some Floo powder, she stepped into the green flames. For a moment Harry saw a curved staircase, decorated with garland and a beautifully decorated tree behind her, and then she was gone.
Malfoy laid his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes. “All right, Potter. We’re alone. Say what you came to say and leave.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t come to say anything,” he growled, exasperated. “I came to find out what happened to you. It’s clear something did.”
Malfoy’s mouth curved into a faint smile. “So determined. Fine, you want to know what happened? I’ll tell you. I served community service.”
Harry crossed his arms. “Yes, I guessed that much, thanks. But that doesn’t explain why your magical levels are so low.”
“My community service was served at Azkaban.” Malfoy opened his eyes, his gaze pinning Harry. “Have you ever been there?”
“No.” Harry suppressed a shiver. “I’ve heard about it, though--”
Malfoy shook his head. “If you’ve never been there you can’t know what it’s like. It’s indescribable, really. They say the Dementors are gone but it still feels like they’re there.”
Slowly, Harry nodded. He’d heard that from other Aurors unfortunate to be assigned duty in Azkaban. He’d assumed he’d serve some time on guard duty there but it had never happened and he’d never insisted. “It sounds awful,” he said. “But that still doesn’t explain your low magical levels.”
“My magical levels are low because my magic had been siphoned off every day for three years as part of my community service.” Malfoy’s voice was soft, dull. “And I was told every day that it was nothing more than I deserved since I used my magic for evil purposes.”
Harry blinked, a wave of horror washing over him. “They took your magic?”
Malfoy nodded. “At first I shrugged and thought I was getting off easy. But after the first year I started to feel ill every time they did it. They didn’t care, they just kept going.”
Swallowing hard, Harry bit out, “What did they do with it?”
Malfoy shrugged. “I asked once and I got this for my trouble.” Pulling down the top of his jumper, he revealed a livid red scar. “Do you know what a white hot wand tip will do when pressed to someone as their magic is being drained?”
“Fuck,” Harry whispered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Malfoy inclined his head, staring at Harry. Finally, he nodded. “I believe you.” He sighed. “So now you know what happened.” He laughed, a bitter sound. “On my last day they said they were sorry to see me go since I’d been such a good source for them.”
“How long until your magic returns?” Harry asked.
“They told me it may never come back fully.” Malfoy shivered. “Sometimes when I touch a wand I can feel something inside me reach for it--” He choked. “Anyway, now you know. You can go now.” Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes once more.
Harry blinked. “Oh no. I’m not going anywhere. I want to know who did this to you.”
“What does it matter?” Malfoy muttered.
“It matters because it’s wrong.” Harry’s hands clenched into fists. “Now, are you going to help me fix it or not?”
~
Author:
alisannePrompt used:
slythindor100/slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #5: Tree and festive staircase.Word Count: 658
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks to
sevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part nine in my Christmas Wish Series. Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Nine
~
Malfoy opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Parkinson, who came running to the room, wand drawn. “Draco, what the hell--?” When she saw who it was, however, she stopped. “Oh, it’s you. How...surprising.”
Harry sighed. “Look, Parkinson, you have my word I won’t harm him. We just need to talk, all right?”
Tucking her wand away, Parkinson’s eyes narrowed. She glanced over at Malfoy, their eyes locking as some sort of wordless communication passed between them. After a long moment, Parkinson shook her head and sighed. “Fine. But you know where to find me.”
Shooting one last warning look at Harry, she started for the Floo. Tossing in some Floo powder, she stepped into the green flames. For a moment Harry saw a curved staircase, decorated with garland and a beautifully decorated tree behind her, and then she was gone.
Malfoy laid his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes. “All right, Potter. We’re alone. Say what you came to say and leave.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t come to say anything,” he growled, exasperated. “I came to find out what happened to you. It’s clear something did.”
Malfoy’s mouth curved into a faint smile. “So determined. Fine, you want to know what happened? I’ll tell you. I served community service.”
Harry crossed his arms. “Yes, I guessed that much, thanks. But that doesn’t explain why your magical levels are so low.”
“My community service was served at Azkaban.” Malfoy opened his eyes, his gaze pinning Harry. “Have you ever been there?”
“No.” Harry suppressed a shiver. “I’ve heard about it, though--”
Malfoy shook his head. “If you’ve never been there you can’t know what it’s like. It’s indescribable, really. They say the Dementors are gone but it still feels like they’re there.”
Slowly, Harry nodded. He’d heard that from other Aurors unfortunate to be assigned duty in Azkaban. He’d assumed he’d serve some time on guard duty there but it had never happened and he’d never insisted. “It sounds awful,” he said. “But that still doesn’t explain your low magical levels.”
“My magical levels are low because my magic had been siphoned off every day for three years as part of my community service.” Malfoy’s voice was soft, dull. “And I was told every day that it was nothing more than I deserved since I used my magic for evil purposes.”
Harry blinked, a wave of horror washing over him. “They took your magic?”
Malfoy nodded. “At first I shrugged and thought I was getting off easy. But after the first year I started to feel ill every time they did it. They didn’t care, they just kept going.”
Swallowing hard, Harry bit out, “What did they do with it?”
Malfoy shrugged. “I asked once and I got this for my trouble.” Pulling down the top of his jumper, he revealed a livid red scar. “Do you know what a white hot wand tip will do when pressed to someone as their magic is being drained?”
“Fuck,” Harry whispered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Malfoy inclined his head, staring at Harry. Finally, he nodded. “I believe you.” He sighed. “So now you know what happened.” He laughed, a bitter sound. “On my last day they said they were sorry to see me go since I’d been such a good source for them.”
“How long until your magic returns?” Harry asked.
“They told me it may never come back fully.” Malfoy shivered. “Sometimes when I touch a wand I can feel something inside me reach for it--” He choked. “Anyway, now you know. You can go now.” Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes once more.
Harry blinked. “Oh no. I’m not going anywhere. I want to know who did this to you.”
“What does it matter?” Malfoy muttered.
“It matters because it’s wrong.” Harry’s hands clenched into fists. “Now, are you going to help me fix it or not?”
~
