"Why are we going to the states again?" Draco sneered as he walked towards his parents, who were waiting for him in the living room of their house.

"Business."

The same answer he'd been given by his father for the past hour. Draco grabbed his mother's hand as they transported from their mansion to a room covered in charts and maps. Draco's eyes narrowed as he tried to locate just where they were.

"Looks like Kyle's been busy." Lucius Malfoy muttered under his breath.

That was when Draco figured out where they were and he rolled his eyes.

That meant that he's going to have to meet…

"Lucius! Narcissa! What a pleasure!" A deep voice called from the doorway.

The man was about six foot four, with what Americans might call a "farmers tan." His dark brown hair spiked and brown eyes glistening. Dressed in an Armani suit and arts stretched out, he embraced Narcissa Malfoy and shook hands with Lucius. He took one glance at Draco and an instant pearly white smile grew onto his face.

"My, my, my. Look here at little Draco. It's been a while, my boy." Kyle Delaney smirked to the blonde boy.

"Yes, it has sir."

"Heard you're finally starting school again in a few days. Hazel actually left here a few days ago. Makes you feel so old to have your children going to wizarding school! Feels like just yesterday you two were running around the Malfoy Manor at five years old."

Draco continued to "listen" to Mr. Delaney discuss the boys childhood friend. He could care less about Hazel Delany in any way, shape, or form. His fathers' only trying to grow allies within the United States and with the Delaney family's connections, it's quite the start.

"Kyle, I think we have some business to discuss. Why don't we take this some place private." Lucius interrupted him and Michael smiled and nodded.

"Renee is in the living room, Narcissa. She'll love to give you and Draco a tour of the house." He called over his shoulder, pointing to his left. "So what does the Dark Lord have planned?"

People gathered into the room, some teary-eyes and some holding back tears. Draco sat with his parents and scanned the room. He had no idea so many people were close with Kyle Delaney. Then again, the Malfoy boy hardly knew the man.

"It sickens me how many people are here. I've never seen so many Mudbloods. It's quite disgraceful if you ask me." Draco's father muttered.

Narcissa nudged him and Lucius pouted but didn't another word. Draco continued scanning the room. His father was right. No Muggle should be at one of the most prominent wizard's memorial services. It was just ludicrous.

He looked to his left to find a young woman around his age with straight sandy blonde hair, sitting on a bench off in the corner smiling- sort of- and nodding to people talking to her. He could definitely read the irritation of her face. It wasn't until she looked at him that he realized he didn't recognize her and quickly looked away.

He looked through the corner of his eye and saw her get up and walked into the back. Before he could stand up a man walked up to the altar in the front of the room and told everyone to take a seat.

After he service was over, Draco attempted to find the girl he saw earlier but had no luck. He found his mother talking to Renee Delaney and was called over.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Delaney."

"It's a shame about what happened to Kyle." Renee sighed. "But it was his own mistakes. I'm just glad I was able to make it out of the marriage in time that I wouldn't have to suffer myself."

"How is Hazel doing after all of this?" Narcissa asked, looking around the room. "I've barely seen her all night."

"She's quiet about all of this. To be honest, I never see her myself. She's been rather distant since she's come to live with me in London again. She's always out and about." Renee shrugged. "Draco, she'll actually be coming to learn at your school in a few weeks. Maybe you two can rekindle your old friendship. Why I remember you two couldn't stay away from each other. Always attached at the hip you were."

Draco just smiled and nodded. Deep down he was furious. Delaney would be at Hogwarts? Great. Just what he needed. She'd put an end to his reputation in an instant if she could. She'll ruin what he was ordered to do.

"Well I should be getting back to the others. I may be divorced to Michael but I'll never be rid of the family."

"Renee, wait." Narcissa grabbed Renee's arm. "Our plans for the kids, it's still set, yes?"

Renee looked shocked as her eyes switched from Draco to his mother to her hand on her arm. She leaned into the pair as she scanned the room.

"We'll discuss it later."

Narcissa smiled, nodded and grabbed Draco's forearm.

"Come, Draco dear. Your father has business with the ministry." She whispered as Renee walked towards another couple.

As they went to leave, Draco scanned the room for the woman he saw earlier.

"We must get ready to send you off. Are you sure you can do this, Draco?"

"Yes, mother. I have no choice."

After boarding the train leading to Hogwarts, Hazel didn't look at the dwellers who stared at her. She hated when people stared at her. It was one of the things she despised about being heir to the Delaney fortune.

She put on her sunglasses and took a seat by a window. All she could hear were whispers, mostly about her. As she leaned her head back and shut her eyes, she heard a familiar name. One she hadn't heard in nearly three years. She didn't move her head as her eyes scanned the crowd in front of her, searching for a certain blonde-haired boy she grew up with.

There he was, with his "goons" she heard he had follow him about. He took a seat across from her on an opposite table. She couldn't help but smirk as a dark colored man and female took a seat across from him. The boy really hadn't changed a bit.