A year after Voldemort's defeat the Wizarding World was still healing. Draco Malfoy was also suffering from the growing pains of the post-war world. He and his mother were blessed with an unprecedented amount of grace from the Ministry. More than anything Draco wished their saving grace hadn't been Potter, but in the end, beggars can't be choosers. Narcissa was released on account of the aid she provided to Potter. Draco was allowed to go free due to the fact he had not reached seventeen when he took up the mark. His father, however, was not as lucky as his family and was sent to Azkaban for his crimes.
The Ministry may have been forgiving but the remainder of the wizarding community was not. The Malfoy's were pariahs. Anytime either so much as stepped outside of their grounds it seemed as if the whole world followed them to shower them with ridicule and disdain. Narcissa took this as a sign that she should stay within the confines of the manor for as long as humanly possible. One could easily compare her to Boo Radley as long as they wouldn't mind that she would have no idea as to what they were referring. Draco, on the other hand, preferred to avoid the manor.
He preferred the constant scorn to the dark memories that now filled his once happy home. He felt the shame of his actions regardless of where he was. At least the streets didn't suffocate quite so much. When the war was over Draco finally saw it. He saw the cowardice he had lived his life in and decided that he would never be that again. This was easier said than done. Despite the difficulty, it was this resolution that pushed the young man on the street— perhaps if he could hold his head high as he was assaulted with threats and derision he could kill his own cowardice. But even Draco Malfoy, notorious bully, and self-hater extraordinaire, could not stand that much hatred on his birthday. This led him to muggle town near his home to indulge in his own secret obsession, coffee.
He found a little cafe and ordered an espresso, then found himself a seat. He chose a nice table towards the middle of the room. He supposed he should celebrate not having to stay inconspicuous while he could. As he sipped his drink he watched the young lady that was performing on stage. She was extremely talented. Her hands danced along her guitar and her voice caressed the melody like a long lost lover. Draco found himself getting lost in the music for the first time in a very long time. He closed his eyes and sighed in contentment.
"Do you play?" an overly comfortable, and overly close, a voice asked him. It wasn't familiar so he couldn't think off any reason to respond that was actually worth the performance of said action. "I've always wanted to learn guitar but I haven't gotten around to it." He decided to ignore her. If he didn't give her attention she'd have to get bored and leave, right? "I can play the drums, though. They are always nice to have around when I've been in a fight with a friend or something. String instruments are too delicate for those kinds of anger management issues, though, don't you think?" the voice laughed quietly at her own joke.
He was trying to ignore her. He really was. He didn't need the company and he certainly didn't need to know about some stranger's anger issues. He had enough issues of his own. That's what he told himself but something kept him from simply walking away. Maybe it was because he didn't want to be alone on his birthday. Maybe it was because there was something off about her voice, no, that wasn't quite it… "What kind of accent is that?"
"Really I'm being super polite and asking about music and he feels the need to insult my accent," the strange girl muttered to herself. Then to Draco, she responded with "I asked you two questions. I'm not answering that until I get an answer to at least one of them."
Rolling his eyes Draco told her that no he did not play guitar and that, yes, it was fantastic that she found an instrument that was difficult to break.
"No need to be snooty about it." The girl said as she shot him a glare. "I'm from around Edinburgh originally but I've lived in the southern US for the last five or six years and eventually it rubs off on you. So I'll be the first to admit my accent is a bit odd. Now, I'm pretty sure you play something and I'm not leaving you be until you tell me what it is. So you can go ahead and give up on the whole 'ignoring me until I leave' thing now."
Suppressing an eye roll Draco responded, "My mom made me take piano when I was a kid so I'd be well rounded. The music was boring and I haven't played in years. And it is creepy that you are so concerned with a stranger's past, I might add."
The girl let out a near silent laugh, identical to the type young pureblood girls were bred to have. "I'm curious and you obviously weren't given good enough sheet music. As to the stranger issue, I'm Victoria Greenwich, call me Tori. And you are?" she asked sticking out her left hand for a handshake. Draco shrugged it off assuming that it was common in America or something.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Dra…" he was cut off by her gasp. He looked down to see that his shirt sleeve had ridden up just enough so that one could see his dark mark.
"You're one of those disgusting creatures? Ugh." And Tori proceeded to storm away. Just Draco's luck, run into the one witch in the muggle village he was in. You know what they say, you can run but you can't hide.