A man appeared suddenly in an alley in muggle London. By stroke of luck there is no one to witness this rather mind- blogging scene. He is haggard and out of breath. He is gasping with tears in his eyes and is looking at the horizon as if he is lost. The usual set platinum blond hairs are a mess and his eyes have lost their lustor and usual arrogance. Draco Malfoy for the first time felt that it would be better if he was dead, maybe he would have already satiated Nagini's hunger or his death can be another merit for any member of The Order. After all what is left for him to live for. Draco is drowning in his self loathing and suicidal thoughts when the face of his distressed mother flash in his mind. Her words to live and her sacrifice become a curse or chain which restrain him from ending his life. No he cannot die, not after everything his mother has done to ensure his safety. He has to live this coward's life, always hiding from authorities, forgetting his identity as a muggle. After all a living muggle is better than a dead wizard.
Slowly he get up and start to collect information about the place where he is. After a few days, he realized he was in the States. Living without money is tough especially when your whole life, money is the thing which you least care about. Maybe this is his punishment, his retribution for all the wrongs he had done in life. He suddenly remembered Filch's words,'That Pain and Punishment are the best teachers in life', maybe he was right. Although he never liked the caretaker and his creepy cat.
An old woman helped him seeing his predicament and help him to adjust to his rather new life. After a few months he adapted to his new muggle way of living. One day he cannot help but succumb to his curiosity and asked, "Martha just why did you go out of your way to help me, a total stranger?" He asked slowly. His american still has a British accent cracked with nervousness of the fact that is was an act pure out of pity. Martha who was busy placing the dishes on the table smiled and said, "I have a son named Daniel, he was the same age as you. I loved him dearly and his choices in life. I loved him even when he enlists in the army to serve our motherland, when I know that there is a constant threat to his life but I just can't deny him when he asked my permission with that cheeky smile. Even though he has made a tough choice but I am proud of him. But one day he....". She choked back her tears. Draco got up and caress her back in a soothing gesture. The tears in her eyes and slight tremors all completed the epilogue of Daniel's story. When she calm down, she stares at him for a moment and then pat his head in a motherly gesture which he rarely received. She gives him a smile full of love and said, "Drake I don't know about your past nor do I care. But the first time I saw you I know you have face many hardships, maybe something which I cannot imagine but your eyes, they remind me of my son. They share the same look that place everyone dear to him above himself, above the world. And there I saw my son in you and I realized that God has given me my son back, just with a different face".
Draco shuddered. His hard occlumency is failing in front of this woman. Her love and strong emotions are like an arrow which pierce his mental walls. He tried to hold it in but failed miserably. If his mad aunt is here, she would probably chasitate him and tell him how much of a disappointment he is but at this moment he did not care. He let his emotions go to an overdrive and burst into tears. Martha embraced him and shush him down.
"There, there. It's okay, I am here", and he found himself some sort of relief at the comfort. At this moment he realized that the figure of Narcissa has overlapped with Martha and she has filled the void made by the absence of his mother. The foreign name 'Drake' sounded so loving and belonging to him from her mouth. On this day he has fully embraced his new identity and thanked his mother for giving him another chance in life.
They say that silence only means that the storm is coming and that is very true in Draco's life. He did not realize the few blissful days as they were passed in his university, part time job and family time with Martha. At that day they have gone to a cafe for some outing in their rather busy week. Had he not so engrossed in discussing his future and career plans with Martha, he would have noticed that the cafe is strangely empty, no rather there are few people but they are sitting very weirdly. It's like they are surrounding them and are eyeing them carefully. Had he not been so busy telling her his friends from university and their trip together, he would have seen strong wards and enchantments around the cafe. Had he not naively think that he can run away from his past and he deserves a second chance, he had seen the wands hidden in their sleeves. All it took a moment and there are several people surrounding him, pointing their wands at him. Martha was screaming and asking what is going on. His mind suddenly get blank. Why? What is happening? He thinks, just why can't he be happy. He had thought that he can finally live a life away from magic, from those prejudices, away from all that hatred but looks like his hell is not over.
"Well well look what do we got here. Draco Malfoy, the most popular face in the current magical Britain. If we forget the 'Most wanted order' stated below this disgusting face". The crowd behind him jeered. Draco recognized the wizard, he was the chaser of the Gryffindor team. His name is probably Dean Thomas, a half blood and a fervent follower of Potter. So his resentment against him is justified.
"Daddy can't save you again Malfoy. That bastard is already sentenced for Dementor's kiss. Haven't thought that the Great Lucius Malfoy who can toy with the previous minister can't even save his own neck now. How low the Malfoy's have fallen. Ah that look of pain and loss. You don't know I have been dreaming to see this look on your kind's faces. How does it feel to have the taste of your own medicine. Oh you will feel glad to know that your mother is very much being taken care of in custody" He spat with venom in his voice. Draco closed his eyes in pain, although he knew the outcome it still hit him hard.
"I don't know what grudges you have with my son. But can you please spare him. Consider it as an old woman's pleading but please let my boy go"
Dean is enraged hearing this. What did she know about them, their loss and suffering for their kind?
"Shut up old woman. John evacuate her out and wipe out her memory. Let me deal with this death eater".
With the scene of Lavender's mutilated corpse and Headmaster's death fuelling him, he cast the unforgivable.
"Crucio" The curse hit Draco's chest with enough hatred and he writh in agony. He can hear his screaming and feel himself thrashing against in the floor in the background of cheers and whistles. Suddenly the pain stopped and he can hear another screaming. When he came to his senses, he saw Martha screaming against the floor taking the curse for him. Before he knew it he was on top of Dean Thomas and is punching him while swearing all kinds of profanities on him. He was yanked off, a punch hit him on the jaw, second on his stomach leaving him empty for air was all it take to subdue him. He was quickly held and Dean gave him the most menacing look he can give.
"Now you have done it fucker. I am being merciful to you after all the order is to nab you. It doesn't matter whether you are still breathing or not". And true to his words soon the most usable curse by Voldemort shined on his wand in the form of that eerie green light.
"Avada kedavra"
Everyone stood still. Not by sight of the killing curse but rather by the receiver of the curse. Draco cannot hear, he can't feel. He can only witness as life slowly ebbed away from his second mother's eyes. Why did this happen to her? Didn't they say bad things don't happen to good people. This curse was for him. The one to die should be him. He don't know when his hands are cuffed. It only dawn to him that he was being taken when her body was no longer in his peripheral vision. The last thing he saw on her face was that peaceful smile like she had taken the best decision of her life.
Draco suddenly stood up. But he cannot see, he cannot hear, cannot feel, cannot breathe. He is going to die. He thought that when suddenly he hear voices.
'Breathe' He still can't.
'1'
He breathe.
'2'
He again take a mouthful of air.
'3'
Taking a deep breath, clarity comes and Draco realized that he is in his dormitory and is having a panic attack. Then the worried faces of Theo and Blaise came into his sight and he calm down.