The clock had just struck six thirty as Draco Malfoy walked into the dining room. He was greeted by his mother's smiling face, she was already seated. Dinner and wine was just being placed on the table by one of the house elves.
"Would Mistress like anything else?" the elf asked with a bow.
"No thank you Tippy, you may go," Narcissa smiled. It's nice to see her smiling; she hasn't had much cause to smile lately. Although keeping busy with the house has helped, and what a difference redecorating it has made. For once it isn't dreary as fuck, now it actually looks like a place where happy memories can be made. "Right on time as always," Narcissa said turning to her son, "What are you thinking about? You look distracted."
"Just on how different the house looks," he answered honestly. "It's really coming together, you're doing a great job with it," he smiled at her proudly. Father would never let her make decisions like this if he were here. She was to be a trophy wife, much as I was a trophy son, to be seen but never heard, to be obeyed but never questioned. That fucker deserved what he got, he should have never gotten us involved with that madman.
"Thank you Draco, I still have a lot to go."
"Anything particular in mind," he asked nonchalantly.
"Well, I'm still thinking about design, but the entire East Wing needs to be redone. I'm going to have to completely gut it to get rid of those horrors," she grimaced at the thought.
Draco shuddered, he hadn't set foot in the East Wing since… well he wasn't going to dwell on that. "I'm sure it'll be brilliant once you're done, completely unrecognizable."
"That's the goal. I got an owl from your father, he'd really like you to visit," Narcissa tiptoed, she knew even mentioning Lucius was enough to upset him.
"And why does he think I'd wish to visit him?" Draco asked coldly. "I'd rather eat dragon dung than see that…" Draco let the sentence hang.
"I know, it's just you're all he has left Draco. He knows if not for the Unbreakable Vow he had me make when we were wed I'd file for divorce."
"Well I'm glad he's in there for life, it means I'll never have to see him again," Draco said, "He's dead to me."
Narcissa must have decided it was best to let the subject drop, as she didn't respond. They ate in silence for a bit before she changed the subject.
"So, you'll retake your final term at Hogwarts in a little more than a week. You excited?"
"Of course, it'll be nice to see everyone." I hate lying to her; it's going to be awful there. Everyone is going to hate me, including my own house; I sold out most of their parents. I'll be worried sick about Mother too, I know she tries to hide it, but she's depressed over how fucked up all this has turned out.
"And you're Head Boy," Narcissa beamed at her son, "I know I must have told you a thousand times, but I'm so proud of you Draco."
"Honestly, I don't deserve it. The position should have been given to someone else," he said. It's true, McGonagall must be mad to be giving me the position. I'm not turning it down though, at least I'll have a common room to myself, well shared with the Head Girl, but still, better than the dirty looks I'd constantly get in Slytherin.
"Don't say that, you've always gotten excellent grades. You deserve this Draco, you'll show them how much you've grown up in the last year."
"I know, and I'll show them the new Malfoy attitude," he managed to force a smile for his mother's sake. That's if I'm even given the chance to do so. I have to though, I have to restore the family name. I need to find a way to show people I'm not just Lucius Malfoy's son.
Draco sat down in an especially comfortable arm chair in his room. It was one of his favorite places in the house. The walls were painted a magnificently deep green, with hints of silver everywhere, and all the wood was stained black so as not to clash with the effect. He had his own fireplace which was always kept lit, although he used spells in the summer to block the heat. He also had his own huge bathroom with a large tub sunk into the floor. By far though, his favorite thing was the bookshelf that was built into the wall. He had desperately tried to fill it, but most of the shelves were still disappointingly quite empty.
Draco was extremely anxious about leaving his mother. Leaving her here by herself for a whole term sounds miserable, I know I wouldn't want to be alone in this place for that long. What choice do I have though? I have to go back to Hogwarts; I can't just hide in the house forever.
"Binky!" he called, suddenly having a wonderful idea.
The house elf appeared with a crack and a bow. "What can Binky do for the Young Master?" he asked.
"Binky I know I've told you to please call me Draco, or Mr. Malfoy if that's the best you can manage. You've been taking care of me since I was a baby, you're more to me than just a servant," he smiled.
"I is sorry Youn- Mr. Malfoy, how would you like Binky to punish himself?" The elf asked in horror at having made a mistake in addressing his master, and then almost repeating it.
Draco was getting frustrated, "By never punishing yourself again, and that's an order."
"But Binky needs to be punished!" the elf wailed.
"No, you don't; you've never let me down, you've always done your job exceptionally well," Malfoy praised.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy," Binky said, with a fearful look in his eyes. Of course the poor thing is still terrified, treating it nicely for a single year doesn't make up for the years of systematic abuse it's lived through in this house. How the hell could anything make up for that?
"Binky, if you'd ever like to leave, to seek employment elsewhere, you know I wouldn't stop you, right? I know this house must be an awful place for you, all the horrific things you've seen here; let alone the horrors you've gone through yourself," Draco said to the creature.
"Please don't send Binky away! Binky has seen dark things here, awful things, but this is Binky's home!" the elf began wailing again.
"Don't worry Binky, I'll never force you to leave. It was only if you wanted," he tried again, making sure the elf knew the offer was on the table.
"Binky does not want!" the elf replied strongly.
"Alright then, I have a very special and important job for you Binky," he said.
"What is it Mr. Malfoy," Binky said nervously, afraid he'd mess it up and disappoint the Young Master.
"Well, you know I'll be leaving to begin term soon, and Mother will be alone in this house. I'm worried about her, so I was hoping you could watch her for me, make sure she isn't completely miserable while I'm gone, and to report to me at Hogwarts if you see anything," he said. "Try not to be seen, I know you're excellent at using invisibility magic, and I don't want Mother to know I'm watching her, can you do that for me?" he asked.
"Of course, anything Mr. Malfoy asks for, Binky will do," the elf said proudly.
"Oh, and I may need you over the course of the term, you can still apparate onto Hogwarts grounds, can't you?"
"Yes, they has not changed the spells, house elves can still come and go as they wish," the elf replied.
"Well, that's settled then, you may go Binky. I'll call you if I need anything else," Draco smiled at the elf, who gave a bow before disapparating.
That was frustrating. I wonder if Binky will ever relax, it'd be nice if he didn't constantly live in terror. Maybe in time… Draco was considering taking a long soak in his tub with one of his books, when his fire roared green, and a figure plopped out in a heap on the floor.
"Hello Blaise," he drawled.
"Hey Draco," Blaise responded with a smile.
He visited the Manor quite frequently as his father was in Azkaban as well, and his mother had died years ago. Blaise's house must really suck, at least I have Mother, I couldn't imagine being completely alone. Draco and Blaise had always been good friends, but with everything that had happened in the last year, they had become inseparable.
"You're always so clumsy getting out of the floo. Look, you've gotten ashes all over the carpet, not to mention your clothes," Draco shook his head. "Really mate, I don't know how you've managed to remain so inept at it," he laughed.
"That's not fair, I never really traveled by floo until this year, I'm more used to apparating," Blaise pointed out. He looked down at the ashy mess on the carpet, and performed scourgify on both the carpet and himself. "There, all clean. Got anything to eat?" he asked.
"I'm beginning to think you only stop by for the food," Draco said in a mock wounded voice.
"Shit, you caught me," Blaise joked, "make it something light though Drake; look at what I brought," he said as he pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey.
"What's the year," Draco asked, curiously. He'd drink it either way, but was hoping for a treat.
"1868, from my father's cellar, not like he'll miss it," Blaise smiled, he knew it was an excellent vintage. "I thought we might properly celebrate that you'd been named Head Boy."
Draco tried to hide his excitement at such an impeccable vintage. "Sure, but you wanted dinner first," he said. "Binky!" he called.
Binky appeared almost instantly, "What does Mr. Malfoy need?" he squeaked.
"Blaise would like something to eat," he turned to Blaise, "What do you want?" he asked.
"Would some tomato soup and a bit of toast be possible?" Blaise asked the elf.
"Of course, Young Master," the elf responded simply, "Anything else?"
"Oh, and two snifter glasses please," Draco requested of the elf.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, Binky will be right back."
Binky disappeared with a snap.
"So apparently my shit head father wants to see me," Draco told Blaise.
"Are you going to visit him?" Blaise asked.
"No, I refuse to have anything to do with that arse," Draco responded. "Where he got the idea I would, I'll never know."
"Has he tried to contact you before?" Blaise asked.
"No, he knows I want nothing to do with him," Draco scowled.
"Maybe he has something important to tell you," Blaise suggested.
"Well then, he'll just have to send it in a bloody letter if it's that important," Draco spat, "does your father harass you?" he asked his friend.
"He tried at first, got an owl every week, I just threw all the letters in the fireplace. He gave up after a month or so."
Draco changed the subject, not wanting to think any more about his retched excuse for a father. "So how do you think we'll fare this upcoming term?" He asked.
"Probably not well, people hated Slytherin before, I can only imagine how awful it'll be now," Blaise stated, "Not that we didn't deserve it prior, we were arseholes."
"Honestly, I really don't blame people for the shit they'll give us now," Draco said, causing Blaise to raise an eyebrow. "It's not like I'm happy about it, but I'd think they were all a bit thick if they weren't suspicious."
"True, at least I will have it better than some hopefully, not having actually taken the mark myself," he stole a glance at Draco, "Not that I blame you, you weren't really given a choice what with him staying in your house and all. If I can say anything good of my father, it's that he at least kept me out of that shit show."
"You were lucky. If my father had half the sense of a flobberworm he would have shielded me from it as well. I could accept if he had gotten himself in too deep to make a break for it, but he could have at least sent me and Mother to one of our vacation homes," Draco glared, "But no, he had to show off his perfect pure blood family to that freak."
"You had it rough," Blaise said, patting Draco on the back.
At that moment Binky appeared with Blaise's food and the two glasses. "Is there anything else the Young Masters will be needing Binky to do?" He asked.
"No thank you. You may retire for the evening, have a nice night."
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy" the elf said, and disapparated.
"You've made progress with him."
"You really think so?" asked Draco hopefully.
"Yeah, I mean he doesn't cower or tremble anymore, so that's something," Blaise said, digging into his soup.
After Blaise finished his tomato soup and toast he gingerly lifted the bottle of Firewhiskey. He carefully uncorked it, and slowly poured it into the snifter glasses that Binky had brought them earlier. He put the bottle back down, and handed a glass to Draco who swirled the whiskey around appreciatively, inspecting the color, which was a deep red brown.
After they both had their glasses in hand, Blaise toasted "to new beginnings," and they touched their glasses together. Draco began with a small sip, to savor the flavor of the drink, which he discovered was quite good. The vintage definitely lives up to its reputation, I wish every glass could taste like this. After a couple of glasses they were both well and truly drunk.
"Whatever happened with you and Daphne?" Blaise slurred.
"Nothing really, we had sex a few times, that's it," Draco smiled.
"That's it? You got to have sex with Greengrass, that's nothing to scoff at."
"Don't get me wrong, she's nice to look at, but she just lies there," Draco frowned at the memory. I had really been looking forward to finally getting with her too.
"That's unfortunate," said Blaise. "So, who's been your best so far?" Blaise loved quizzing Draco like this while they were drunk. Draco's sexual exploits were many, although Blaise wasn't far behind in number; he was more discreet in his dealings.
"That's a tough one, I guess I'd have to say Pavarti Patil," he smirked.
"You shagged Patil!" Blaise gasped, "When? I never even knew you spoke to her."
"It was a one night stand a few years ago. She asked me to keep it a secret… most girls tend to encourage me to boast, but she actually wanted it hushed up. Plus, I couldn't let it out that I'd been with a Gryffindor."
"What made her so good?" Blaise asked, now curious.
"I think it was just the way she could move. She could move her hips in ways that would make your eyes roll back, mate."
"Maybe I'll give her a shot next term," Blaise smiled, "I certainly won't turn her down if she'll have me. Speaking of hips though…"
"Yeah?" said Draco, an eyebrow raised.
"Well, have you ever noticed Granger's?" Blaise asked.
Draco practically choked on his Firewhiskey, "Granger! Why would I ever look twice at Granger?" he sputtered.
"Well, I thought blood status didn't matter to you anymore?" Blaise frowned.
"It doesn't," Draco answered quickly, "That doesn't mean I don't hate her for other reasons though. I mean she's still an irritating know-it-all with a self-righteous attitude. Not to mention it looks like a wild animal is nesting in her hair."
"Well, I'll admit her hair is a bit wild and could do with some taming; but if you can get past that, her face isn't unpleasant, in fact she's rather pretty. And although it's difficult to see it through those baggy robes she always wears, the few times I've seen her in Muggle clothes on the train, she looks to have a rather nice body."
Draco considered the thought, "Still though, she could be hiding the body of a model under those robes, it doesn't fix her personality. She's a prude anyway, and with the Weasel, so it's not like it matters in the slightest, even if her attitude could be overlooked."
"You're probably right," said Blaise with a huge yawn. "Shit man, it's nearly three in the morning, I should get going."
"Just spend the night," Draco said, "I'll make you a spot on the couch." In truth I hate being alone in this room, too many memories. Having someone around doesn't give me time to dwell on all the horrors I've experienced in this shit hole.
"Alright," said Blaise.
Soon after they went to sleep, dreading the hangover they'd experience in the morning.
9