A/N: This was written for the fic exchange challenge on my forum which was highly enjoyable.

This is dedicated to Expecting Rain because she was the one who provided the prompt which I was given as well as all the amazing girls over at my forum who are just tonnes of awesomeness!

So:

Prompt: Uncle/nephew bonding/getting to know each other. Set anytime after the Azkaban breakout - it doesn't have to be immediately after, but Draco has to be a teenager, not a baby. So anytime from the latter half of book 5 to the end of book 7.

Prompt giver: Expecting Rain


Memories

His complexion shown signs of a man who had suffered; His dark eyes were just an empty shell. As they both continued to wander through the gardens, Draco glanced at his uncle's eyes again, it seemed that there was once a faint sparkle which resided within them, yet over the years this had vanished like a candle being extinguished by a bitter wind. Wrinkles were visible on his face, yet only if you stared, you would notice the creases in his skin. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse as if years of screaming left his voice in that pitiful state.

The situation however was awkward.

(Awkward, because what would you say to an Uncle who you don't recall seeing?)

"When I last saw you Draco, you were a small baby. I remember seeing you being sick over your father's fine dress robes." Rodolphus reminisced.

"I can imagine father not being too pleased." Draco replied, running his hand through his blond hair.

Rodolphus chuckled, "Ah... they did not suit him anyway."

(Awkward, because how do you remain polite when you are being told something that does not hold your interest?)

The pair walked a little further until they reached the Malfoy's aged fountain, the water fell like a melody.

"I recall when your mother said she wanted a fountain, Draco; I always said that I wanted to help build it. It would have been quite humorous."

"Who would assist you?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrows. (He knew that his father never did anything that he deemed beneath him.)

"My brother Rabastan, but your father insisted that it was house-elves work and that we should not. Well, your father wanted it to be built in November. I personally thought that it was mad, but he insisted, as he was hosting the Christmas Ball that year and naturally, he wanted to impress."

Rodolphus smiled, reflecting on the memory.

"I wasn't there when the fountain was built, nor the Christmas ball. That was when the tragedy happened."

Draco nodded his head, by tragedy he meant the fall of the Dark Lord. Rodolphus's eyes seemed to sadden a little. He rolled up his sleeve, exposing the Dark Mark, and he placed his lips to it.

"Father said that it was unexpected, You-Know-Who..."

"YOU KNOW WHO! YOU KNOW WHO!"

Are you a mudblood boy?" Rodolphus snarled

A brief pause...

"You refer to him as the Dark Lord!" Rodolphus ordered. He hissed something which sounded very much like: "Bloody Lucius!"

An eerie silence fell over the pair for a few moments whilst both collected themselves.

(Awkward because how do you act, do you call him: Uncle or just plain Rodolphus?)

"I apologise Uncle." Draco muttered.

Rodolphus face formed into a smile, yet his muscles ached, smiling seemed to have been forbidden for the last 14 years

"Uncle Rodolphus... I cannot have children of my own, so being called Uncle will suffice."

It was pleasant for Rodolphus to see his nephew smile in return.

(The awkwardness vanished.)