The Siren's Call (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

181. The Art of Fear

Draco was pacing in the kitchen, worrying his bottom lip ceaselessly as he fidgeted with his hands. Dioleh, who could never stand silent waiting, had begun baking in a fruitless attempt to distract herself. But after she had mixed up the batter, poured it into a pan, and placed it in the oven, she lost her source of distraction. The soft beep of the timer signifying that it had started seemed to draw Draco from his daze. He stopped, turning to face her with a perplexed expression as though he had never realized she was even in the room.

Dioleh straightened from where she had crouched in front of the oven and let out a long breath through her nose. Finally, she asked, "What do you think he's willing to do?" Tears were pooled in her eyes and Draco quickly realized that she had been holding back tears for some time now.

"I don't know," Draco admitted, pressing his hands against the kitchen's island and closing his eyes. "I can't lose them, Dioleh. Any of them." His voice broke and he could say nothing more.

"I know," Dioleh whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek. Wiping it away, she approached him, placing her hand over his. "And I promise you that I will fight until my dying breath to protect those boys."

His eyes still closed, he said, "After the war, I was completely lost. I was fighting so hard to keep myself from breaking apart. I filled my time trying to correct everything wrong the Death Eaters did." Finally opening his eyes, he met her gaze and for the first time, Dioleh saw the tears in his eyes and the fear that lay behind them. "When Kingsley told me that they didn't know what to do with all the children, I knew that I was the only person who could help them. I'm the only person who can understand what it means to turn your back on everything you have ever believed." Glancing away from her, he resumed, "We became what we never truly had."

"A family," Dioleh said softly. Draco nodded, a tear escaping. With a sympathetic sigh, Dioleh wiped away the tear and lay her head against his shoulder. "They're all going to be okay," Dioleh whispered, trying to make herself believe it as much as Draco.

⥖✦✧⦽✧✦⥗

It was with an excited rumble of shouts and cries that the boys returned home that evening and each quickly rushed to find Dioleh and Draco standing in the kitchen, a large pan of still-warm brownies awaiting them. There were so many cries of their names as they each rushed forward, some to embrace, some to demand attention to the tale they had to tell, and some to ask about the brownies.

"All right, all right," Draco said with a happy laugh, his hands raised in surrender. "Why don't you all go wash your hands and wait in the dining room for brownies?" They rushed off with excited yells, racing each other up the stairs and speculating about who would get the biggest brownie. Dioleh smiled fondly as she moved over to the pan to cut and serve the brownies. Andromeda and Harry stepped into the room once all the boys had gone. Instantly, all joy left Draco's expression as though he had forgotten everything until spotting Harry.

"Any issues?" he asked.

"No," Harry replied. "We told the boys it was just an extra adventure. I don't think the oldest one believed me."

"He wouldn't," Dioleh said with a fond smile. "Milo is too smart for that."

"Well, we've set up additional security around the house," Harry explained. "Until Theodore's no longer a concern, we'll keep aurors posted here."

Dioleh couldn't quite be sure, but she was almost positive she had heard a surprised gasp. Glancing around at the others, she saw that no one else had noticed it. Signaling for Draco to take over her job, she left the room and found Leo standing, staring at her with wide eyes. Letting out a small sigh, she crouched down and said, "Let me go grab you a brownie and then we can talk, all right?" He nodded and Dioleh got back to her feet and took two of the plates she had already made and went with Leo into the study where the others would be less likely to interrupt or listen in. Leo picked at his brownie, the gears in his mind clearly turning as Dioleh waited for him to ask what she knew he would.

Finally, he set down his fork and asked, "What did that man mean about my brother being a concern?"

Dioleh hesitated a moment before he admitted, "Theodore came and visited Draco and me today."

"W-What did he want?" Leo asked.

"He wanted to take you away from here to stay with him," Dioleh admitted. There was a long pause.

"B-but," Leo began quietly. It was barely more than a whisper. "I don't want to leave."

"Leo," Dioleh said softly. "Look at me." He met her gaze and Dioleh could see that he was scared. "Draco and I would never let something happen to you."

"I don't want to leave you guys," he said, beginning to cry.

"And you won't," Dioleh promised. "There are people guarding the house to make sure your brother can't get in."

"But what if he does?" Leo asked anxiously.

"Leo, listen to me," Dioleh said gently. "Nothing will happen to you so long as Draco and I are here. We won't let anything happen to you."

"Promise?"

"I promise," she said.