Title: Rebellion
Author: Wildecate
Email: wildecate@hotmail.com
Summary: Draco Malfoy rebels.
Notes: Set post BTVS S7 and post ATS S4 and definitely post OOTP.
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine.

Narcissa Malfoy sat perfectly still in her chair, upright and straight backed. Her hands were folded in her lap, the black silk low necked dress with shining robes over the top accentuated her pale skin, white hair and aristocratic features. Her hair was plaited into a complicated knot at the back of her head and around her neck she wore a jewelled necklace which resembled a collar. She watched her husband prowl around her son, her expression neutral but inside, her heart was racing.

She sat with the other ladies, all dressed more or less identically. She sat central to the group, a mark of her high position, of how well she was regarded. The others clustered around her, trying to curry favour with her and therefore with Lucius. It was well known that Lucius was currently their Master’s favourite.

Draco stood alone in the centre of the room, his father walking a circle around him. All eyes were on him, those of the women, those of the men, those of the other initiates waiting to be burned by the Dark Mark. Draco was first and he stood unafraid before Voldemort. He met his slanted red eyes unflinchingly and stood firm.

His blonde hair had been allowed to grow long again and now fell over his shoulders. He stood in black trousers, naked to the waist, waiting.

Narcissa wanted to close her eyes as she saw the hand of Voldemort stroke the tanned skin of her son’s arm. She could not bear to watch this but any sign that she would not pleased about this happening would plunge them both into danger. Lucius could think of many punishments which would leave her screaming for respite but none of which would leave a single blemish on her skin. For her son’s sake then she sat, erect, the perfect model of motherly pride as her son was scarred forever.

He did not scream or cry out. He did not fall to his knees or pass out from the pain she knew he was enduring.

He gritted his teeth and stared straight at Voldemort as the wand pressed hard against his skin. The searing pain was enough to bring tears to his eyes but he bit down on his tongue and the pain washed them away again.

When, at last the pain stopped, through his clearing vision Draco saw Voldemort step back and his father take his place. He nodded his approval and it took everything Draco had to walk out of the room, his head held high. He was a Malfoy and he would be damned if he would be carried from this room whimpering like a baby.

As the door closed behind him, as the next person took his place, he leaned back against the wall, feeling the chill of the stone against his naked back. The pain had made him sweat and the cool relief was welcome.

Someone held his robes out to him and he slid them on, not bothering to put a shirt on. The tattoo on his arm stood out starkly against his skin and he stroked it, feeling a shiver go through him. This was it then. She was safe. His mother was safe. And Dawn was safe. He had done everything that was required of him to be the perfect son and in doing so was saving the things that were important to him.

He re-entered the room and took his place beside his father, feeling his hand fall on his shoulder approvingly. He watched as man followed man, woman followed woman and swore their allegiance to Voldemort without hesitation. Half hidden in the shadows he saw Snape, his dark eyes glittering in the torchlight. There was no accusation in his gaze. But sadness. Pure and simple sadness. Draco allowed his gaze to skim over his former Professor and saw Snape school his features into their usual smirk.

Draco watched in disgust as three muggles were brought in, tormented by illusions and images that the Death Eaters produced until Voldemort tired of them and killed them both with a simple flick of his wand.

Draco felt sick, remembering how the muggle he had known, Xander Harris, had faced down three vampires at once. He had learned that muggles weren’t all mindless, stupid and ignorant. He tried not to shut his eyes and instead refocused his gaze. He met the eyes of his mother who was sitting directly opposite him. He could see the masked disgust in her face but to anyone else she was impassive.

Voldemort dismissed the majority of the Death Eaters, leaving only his inner circle. Lucius Malfoy laid a hand on his son’s shoulder, preventing him from following the rest of the initiates out of the door. Draco paused and allowed himself to be pulled back into the room.

Voldemort began to talk, indoctrinating his followers into his way of thinking, his new plans. He was, Draco mused, incredibly charming, and incredibly persuasive. He pricked up his ears suddenly as one of his spies entered the room and began to talk about a new power in London.

“A new power you say?” Voldemort fixed his spy with a beady gaze.

“You can feel it. It’s practically tangible.”

“Really” Voldemort looked thoughtful before turning to his trusted follower “Lucius, perhaps you might care to investigate?”

Lucius Malfoy nodded “Perhaps Draco might accompany me. His first project?”

“An excellent idea” Voldemort agreed. He gave Draco a slimy smile but Draco did not flinch away, simply inclined his head in acquiescence and followed his father out of the room.

It did not occur to Draco, did not even enter his mind who the new power might be.

The house that Giles, Dawn and Willow were staying in in London was haunted. Willow could feel it. It was an old converted warehouse on Wapping High Street, a safe house Giles had said. Willow was unsurprised to find out that it belonged to Ethan. It looked out over the river and Dawn loved watching the boats sailing past, the tourist boats, the barges, the police boats. She had even been on one of the tourist boats, Giles had spent a day indulging Willow and Dawn in their fantasies, taking them wherever they wanted to go. Greenwich Market, followed by an hour on the river, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye. A night at the theatre, lazy lunches at Covent Garden, mornings at the British Museum. Dawn and Willow were in their element – loving every second of it. Giles took them to his secret places, his favourite Italian restaurant on Dean Street, his favourite exhibit at the Museum.

Occasionally Giles disappeared off somewhere, not mentioning where he was going. Dawn and Willow agreed not to ask, the evenings he vanished, they indulged in their newly found love for Thai food from the amazing restaurant on the high street.

Willow’s spell masked their auras effectively but not the appearance of Giles, Dawn and Willow herself. Unfortunately the power Willow was using to keep the spell going was traceable. And Lucius Malfoy had always had a nose for scenting power.

“Giles?”

“Yeah?”

Willow noticed that Giles’ accent had softened since his return to London. He was a happy mix of Rupert and Ripper – he had found himself. Willow half wished the others could see him like this.

“Giles. Let’s do something else. I’m bored of London.”

“They do say when you’re bored of London, you’re bored of life.”

Willow roused herself sufficiently from the sofa where she was lying and looked over at Giles who was sprawled on the opposite sofa. She gave him a lazy grin and stretched languorously.

“I’m not bored of life. I’ve just seen every single part of London.”

“OK. I’ll think of something.” Giles rolled over and looked thoughtful “Hmmm – where to take two lovely women who are bored of London?”

“Where’s Dawn today?” Willow managed to summon enough energy to reach out and grab her cup of coffee.

“British Museum. Again. I swear that girl can’t get enough of that place.”

Dawn stood in the Great Hall of the British Museum. She stared up at the intricate glass roof that stretched across from wall to wall. She loved this place. The peace and quiet, the muted voices, the clean smell, the light and airiness of the place. There was nowhere else like this in the world.

Had she been paying more attention to the people around her rather than the beauty of the building that had so captivated her, she would have seen the eyes on her, staring at her in disbelief.

Draco Malfoy closed his eyes as the horror flooded through him. Oh god. No. It couldn’t be her. Please Merlin, not her. Not here. Not now. Because if she was here, Giles and the others would probably be here. And then it all became clear. The untraceable power that he could feel. It was familiar. It was Willow. He groaned to himself. This couldn’t get any worse.

Dawn Summers moved across the glass covered atrium of the British Museum, the slanting autumn sunlight dappling her long brown hair, highlighting the gold streaks in it, playing off her soft skin. She looked older since he had last seen her but still just as lovely. Her clothes were winter clothes, a pair of old battered jeans, black v neck sweater and a suede jacket with a multi coloured striped scarf and Doc Marten boots. She looked like a typical student and had it not been for her face catching his eye as she revolved in the centre of the room, he would have dismissed her.

His father who stood close behind him heard his quick intake of breath and, although he did not comment on it, noted it. He swept his gaze around the room and finally saw the girl that Draco was trying not to stare at. He concentrated for a moment but could not get anything from her. She looked like just a normal muggle girl. A pretty thing, to be sure, but nothing special. Draco had a keen eye for the ladies and this little girl was no exception. Shame she was a muggle, Lucius wouldn’t have minded knowing her himself.

“We’ll get nothing here” Lucius whispered to his son, his breath tickling his ear “Let’s try somewhere else.”

As Draco followed his father out of the Museum, he noticed Dawn was now a few steps in front of him. They walked in the same direction, the Malfoys keeping back from her, until she reached High Holborn and hailed a cab. As Draco and his father drew level with her, Draco heard Dawn’s voice clearly speaking to the cabbie.

”Wapping High Street please”.

She got into the cab and slammed the door shut behind her. Settling herself in the back of the cab, Dawn looked out of the window and to her amazement saw Draco Malfoy looking straight back at her. Her hands went up to the glass, as if trying to touch him but he looked away from her, staring straight ahead, and swept past her. The man who was walking next to Draco looked straight at her in disgust. Without hesitation Dawn knew who this was. The man who was looking straight back at her with an expression of complete loathing was Lucius Malfoy.

Dawn leaned forward and thumped on the glass separating her from the driver.

“Quickly, go” she shouted.

The cab pulled back into the traffic quickly and she turned in her seat to look out the back window. Draco and his father had vanished on the crowded street but she knew it was too late. She had been seen by the one person who she was supposed to be avoiding.

Dawn had given herself away by her startled reaction to Draco. And his father had seen and put one and one together. He wasn’t a stupid man, he was aware of what had transpired in LA and who he had been seen with. Her American accent had been obvious when she had spoken to the cabbie and Dawn had given herself away so easily to his father.

Lucius Malfoy remained where he was and then came to a rapid decision. Now was the time to strike, while she was worried, on the run. He stuck out his arm for a cab and when one pulled over he pushed his son in and got in himself. He gave directions for Wapping High Street and then sat there silent, his brain working fast.

He knew now from his son’s reactions and the muggle girl’s unguarded thoughts that they knew each other. She was American and fitted the description of the girl Crabbe and Goyle had seen him with. He smiled to himself. She had even told him where she was going, perhaps where she was living. She might be the perfect leverage for his son. He knew Draco adored his mother but a girl? She might tip the balance as far as Draco’s loyalty was concerned. He might be prepared to do anything.

The cab drew up in the High Street, Dawn cramming money into his hand, leaping out of the cab and heading straight to the door. She unlocked the door and ran up the stairs, her fingers hurriedly opening the door to their apartment. Willow and Giles were still snoozing on the sofa in the sunlit living room. They looked up as she came in and then sat up when they saw the colour in her cheeks and her worried expression.

“Dawn, what’s wrong?” Giles asked in concern.

She told them, her words tumbling out one over the other. She couldn’t seem to speak fast enough but Giles and Willow managed to pick up what she was saying.

“Are you sure they saw you?” Willow asked.

Dawn almost shouted at her “Yes! I saw him and his father saw me. From the look on his face he knew who I was.”

Giles looked at Willow and she knew what he was thinking.

“We need to get out of here. Now.”

“We can’t” Giles said “I haven’t been able to speak to my source. We need that information otherwise there is no way of getting it.”

”I’ve led them straight to us” Dawn moaned, slumping down on the sofa beside Willow. The red hair put her arms around Dawn comfortingly.

“You weren’t to know. Are you sure they heard you?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“We’ll have to move on. There is another place we can go to for the moment. We’re supposed to go back in three days. We’ll have to manage until then.” Giles sighed and looked at Dawn whose expression showed her guilt. He rose and sat down on the other side of her.

“It’s OK Dawn. You weren’t to know they were in London.”

“What are they doing here anyway?” Dawn asked.

“We’re looking for you.”

Dawn had left the door open in her hurry to get into the flat and now Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway, his wand out, a sneering expression on his face.

“Lucius Malfoy” Giles stood up and stepped in front of Dawn.

“Ripper. How nice to see you again. I heard you met with an accident.” Lucius masked his surprise well.

“You heard wrong” Giles said levelly.

“So now. Where is she? My son’s little muggle whore.”

“She’s not anything to do with me. I told you. I barely know her.” Draco interrupted but his father flicked his wand and sent Draco hurtling into the wall. He slid down to the floor and sat there, stunned.

Dawn went to move to him but Willow grabbed her arm.

“You barely know her?” asked Lucius in silky tones, bending down to his son and hauling him to his feet. “She seems very concerned about someone she barely knows.”

“What do you want with me?” Dawn stepped in front of Giles who made a grab for her but missed. She faced Lucius Malfoy bravely and he sneered at her.

“Look at you, stupid muggle girl. You’ve got no idea what you’ve got yourself into. Don’t you know who I am? You should be terrified not standing there asking me what I want as if you’re asking the time of day.”

“She’s got no reason to be terrified of you” Giles said quietly as Willow came to stand beside him.

“And I suppose you’re going to protect her?” Lucius turned his attention back to his old friend.

“No. I am.” Willow stared at Lucius Malfoy who fell to his knees screaming and clutching his head before passing out on the floor.

“Close the door Dawn” Giles instructed, moving swiftly to take Lucius’ wand. “We’ve got to get this sorted out now.”