thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

"That's going to be the difficult part. Even before all this happened, he trusted very few people. But if you've handled his type before...then you're on better ground.

My father was forced to deal various punishments each day. Each day they got more creative in the ways of pain--physical or mental. It delighted Him. We had to watch it...and it was like watching a cat play with a mouse. And we couldn't do anything...save heal him later only for him to suffer damage again the following day."

He paused here as he tried to block out the unwanted images and steady his own nerves. This had been the first real time he got to talk to anyone about his father. Remus had an idea of what went on and witnessed a scene...but Draco had never given him details.

Melinda's nod was sad, but understanding. "Unfortunately, I've seen similar. His attempt at controlling the world was not limited to the United Kingdom, though I can find no word of one in the States that saw Him personally. I've been called around the world to handle this sort of thing, which I believe is why Remus decided to call me."

"Then you may be the one who can truly help my father." Draco said in a somewhat hopeful tone. There was a slight hesitation before he decided to continue on. He only felt it was fair that she had a full understanding of what his family was like and had done. He found himself fidgeting while he tried to explain to her.

"I do want you to understand that my family's reputation is not what it once was...due to our association with Him. My father was His second in command. We've only been pardoned due to having defected last minute and my mother's actions of lying to Him that saved Harry Potter in the end.

But they are not accepted in the society. They were lucky they weren't sent back to Azkaban. My father had already served a couple of years there.

I'm ashamed to have been involved...and have been trying to redeem myself which is why I'm here. I'm not sure how society will view you once they learn you're helping my family. --Word will eventually spread. But I can understand if you don't want to follow through with this as I know most wouldn't. "

"Luckily, I don't give a damn about what they think of me. No one in the States knows I'm here, and I don't care what the Brits think. What I care about is making someone hurting better. If... he chose to follow Him and saw the errors of his way, then who am I to judge?"

Melinda shrugged, a bit of her hair falling forward. "Thank you for telling me. I can guess the sort of things that were done to him, and some can be undone. What... you must understand is that no matter what, I will not be able to undo it all. He will most likely never completely recover."

"I would be happy with what ever you are able to do to help him. I wasn't expecting to see a full recovery not with what he went through. I just want my family back." Draco replied, relieved to know that she wasn't judging his family.

"I wanted to know...how difficult it would be to do the work that you do. I had thought about possibly wanting to work in your field."

With that, Melinda's brows raised in some surprise. "Into curing the mind, or the wizarding medical field in general? My field is very specific, and out of times of war, the demand can, at times, be limited. I picked up other skills to make certain I wouldn't be without work, though... recent times has proved that perhaps there would be a welcomed addition of more so specific." Voldemort and his kind had done terrible damage across many generations.

"I wanted to focus more on curing the mind, but would like to expand in the medical field. It was something I had been tentatively thinking about, since my mother and I have been taking care of him. With the way things were going, I wasn't sure who would even take me job wise... "

Draco commented looking a little unsure of himself. He found it awkward discussing this considering what he and his family had done in the past.

"Mmm. Stygima because of your family?" Melinda said with no surprise. She shook her head a little. "Let's see how this goes, and depending on how it goes, I'll see what I can do. If the Brits won't help you, I know some of us 'over the pond' that might be willing to take an apprentice."

He gave a nod. It was going to follow him where ever he went. He had never thought of America as an option before.

"Is there anything else that you need to know?" Draco questioned although he believed they covered everything that was needed.

"Two last questions, neither which will be easy. First, has your father failed to recognize you or your mother? And secondly... has he actively lashed out with magic when he is in these moments of paranoia or dementia?" Her gaze and tone was quiet serious.

Draco frowned and there was a long pause before he allowed himself to speak. Remus only knew of the recent episode and not the first one.

"There was at least two times that he didn't recognize us. Once...shortly after the war had ended and we were back at our home.-- Our home been made into His headquarters. I think because now that the war was done there was nothing to distract him from what had went went on there. Now there are no distractions and just reminders... It took my mother to finally get him to finally recognize us. We moved to our summer home after that.

The second time...was just recent when Remus found us at our summer home. Dementors had tried to attack us. Shortly after that...my father was trying to put wards up around our home. Remus and I went to go check on him because it was taking longer then usual. He didn't recognize us and almost used magic. Remus managed to get him to focus again before he did.

Now my mother won't let him have his wand. He was furious with it and they argued about it. He only relented because she was worried about the safety of her family. They constantly argue anymore."

Melinda's mouth thinned again and she nodded, as if it had been expected. The thin tendril of silver hair that had escaped was twined around her finger, loosened, twined again. "Your mother made the right choice," she said after several long seconds, "but it isn't easy on your father. Once a wizard has earned their wand, it can be likened to cutting of their hand or arm or any other vital part of the body; it becomes a piece of us and an extension we are used to using. It can also make one feel defenseless or as a child, which to an adult mind can be incredibly frustrating and make one wish to lash out in order to regain control of their lives."

Which brought up another thought. "...Is your father capable of wand-less magic?" All children were taught silent magic, though how good or not they were at it was questionable, but few wizards were capable of handling wand-less magic beyond possibly the retrieval of their wand.

"This isn't the second time he had his wand taken from him. For my mother to take it away from him was a further insult to him." Draco said and looked away briefly.

"The Dark Lord took his away, shortly after he was freed from Azkaban. He made my father a servant in his own house.

As for wand-less magic, he can do it. It was something he prided himself in that he could still do a lot of magic with his wand. I can do it to, but not to his extent."

"Which only makes it worse," Melinda murmured, her eyes closing. There would need to be significant work done, and it was only getting worse by the moment. Damn. "If we need to deal with it, we will handle it." With a quick nod, she stood. "We can have dinner, then we will return to your family's home. If need be, I can sleep elsewhere for the night, but I would like to meet your parents before the night is out and before they are tucked away in bed."

"Were you referring to the ability to use wandless magic?" Draco replied, wondering if that's what she meant by what made it worse. "I'll go ahead and contact my parents and let them know we're stopping by tonight."

With permission he was able to contact his parents. Thankfully, it was his mother he got a hold of. She regarded the news carefully, but appeared to not be disgruntled with the sudden news of guests arriving.

"The more magic they can do wandlessly, the more risk I'm at," she put quietly but bluntly. "It means I'm possibly able to be injured with no warning."

She waited until Draco returned, with Remus bouncing Teddy on his knee and Tonks beside him. When Draco returned, they all looked to him with obvious interested - had Melinda been approved to come?

"My mother is okay with us stopping by tonight. I think she's relieved." Draco replied when he joined the others.

While he was relieved with the news, at the same time he was a bit nervous. He was unsure of how it would go once they arrived and how his father would be.

Remus ended up coming with them, only to attempt to ease things between the Malfoys and Melinda. Still, he wasn't easy as they appeared at the house, looking up to it as Melinda let go of his arm, the fabulous silver fur stole around her neck brushing him.

"Mmmm." Just a small sound from Melinda as she looked up. "Beautiful. Shall we?" Looking to Draco to lead on, looking unconcerned but proud. She looked the part of a Pure Blood, but her style was so outlandish that it spoke otherwise.

Draco gave a nod and led them toward the house. The house itself was grand, but didn't compare to the Malfoy Manor. The yard itself had a sprawling garden and a brick pathway lead the way to the door. Draco used his wand to light the way.

He was glad that Remus came along, grateful that he would be there to help ease the tension. After giving a knock, Narcissa happily greeted them and gave Draco a quick hug. She had placed one one of her better outfits and made sure everything was neatly in place. Nothing could hide the strain and exhaustion that lined her face.

"Thank you for stopping by," Narcissa greeted when she turned to focus on Melinda. There was no haughtiness in her tone and she kept an impassive expression. She didn't say anything Melinda's appearance. "I am Narcissa Malfoy and this is my husband Lucius Malfoy."

Off to the corner, Lucius was sitting in a recliner. Naricssa had made sure that he was properly dressed and cleaned up as well. He had placed a book that he was reading, down as they were ushered in. His grey eyes carefully studying Melinda. He gave a curt nod, making it clear he was not too pleased with the arrangements.

"Greetings, both of you," Melinda said calmly as she inclined her head towards both of the elder Malfoys, studying them before her eyes focused on Lucius. Her carpet bag she put down, walking over towards him, her eyes focused firmly on him. "...I was told you might need some assistance in making sure that any wounds are fully healed." Her voice was almost songy, soft, and just for him.

For Lucius, it was almost-trance-like. It felt calming, non-threatening.

Narcissa was about to join her husband, unsure of this approach and was stopped by Draco. He shook his head no saying that they needed to trust her in order for her to help them. She reluctantly stayed where she was.

Lucius found himself holding her gaze, unable to look to away. He relaxed a little, finding that she wasn't a threat. Yet, it was still difficult for him to discuss what he had gone through. He was afraid to reveal how much pain that he was in. He didn't want his family to know.

"You don't want to condemn me for what I've done? Most would say I've deserved everything that's come to me." he softly questioned after some hesitation.

"I'm not blind to what people might believe, but you were cleared, given a second chance. It isn't my judgement to make." She moved closer, her voice softer. "Though I imagine you judge yourself, and quite harshly at that. I'm here to help you get better and find some level of peace within yourself. No more moments of terror and confusion."

"If--if you can do that...I always thought that the only way to find peace now...would be through death," Lucius whispered as he wrung his hands nervously. He looked away ashamed to have even said it.

"I just want to have some control of my life again and for my family to not have to worry over me so much."

When Melinda spoke again, her voice was almost like a soft croon, something nearly sexual yet at the same time, almost like a mother speaking to a child. "You need not be ashamed of what's happened. I will help you find your peace again. First, we will work just by speaking, until you feel safe with me, then we will work on deeper healing."

Remus, though, knew this could end poorly. It had been a long time since he had seen Melinda in action and realized a bit too late that Narcissa could take this all the wrong way. "...AH, Narcissa, if we could speak for a few minutes...?" In a tone of 'please don't overreact' and 'I promise I'll explain.'

Narcissa's hand twitched as she instinctively went for her wand. She was not liking what was going on, let alone that she really couldn't hear most of the conversation. Only when Remus called her name, did she turn her attention away.

"Explain now and quickly," Narcissa demanded once she ushered Remus and her son to another room. "Give me one good reason why I should leave that woman with my husband."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject