A/N: Hello, readers! I am amazed to say that this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction. Please be gentle with me! (Gentle does not mean "give me no constructive criticism, however! I love constructive criticism, especially since I haven't started a new story in QUITE a while.) I appreciate any time you take to read and review this (and I hope you do review!).
This will be a very short story, two chapters, but it will have two sequels (possibly more). This one focuses on post-war Draco Malfoy.
All original characters, locations, etc belong to me. The rest belongs to JK Rowling.
Thanks again, Alex~
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The first time Draco Malfoy went into Culpeper's Potion Supplies, he wrinkled his nose in distaste. He was eight, and inquisitive, and with his parents on his first real trip to Diagon Alley.
When they stopped at the Apothecary, Narcissa waited outside, a dainty, gloved hand held over her nose. She ushered Draco in behind his father, and the stench of bad eggs and rotten cabbage hit him like a train. He didn't cough, even though he wanted to, but stayed behind his father with his chin held high until his father gestured at him to look around while he spoke to the fellow behind the counter.
So Draco wandered around, gently poking bottles that he could reach, and frowning at the top of a large barrel, wondering what was in it.
"That's beetle eyes."
Draco spun on his heels and frowned at the little girl whose hands were linked behind her back.
"And they're five knuts a scoop." She smiled at him, immensely pleased with herself, and ran out the propped-open door.
Lucius was back with the distinct clink of glass vials rattling in his pockets, and he sniffed. "Children should behave better."
Draco followed him out, and as they headed down the street he saw her again eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's, the owner himself patting her on the head. He didn't say anything, even though he dearly wanted some sorbet, knowing that his father would scold him.
And that was the last thing Draco Malfoy ever wanted.
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The second time Draco Malfoy goes into Culpeper's Potion Supplies, he is expecting to have to wrinkle his nose again, and is surprised at the almost clean smell.
He is twenty-three now, and he is with his friend Sidney Culpeper, manager of the newly opened Hogsmeade branch of the apothecary and cousin of the owner of the chain.
"Stay here while I go talk to her," Sidney says. Draco nods and looks at a barrel sitting by the door. The little sign above reads, "BEETLE EYES, 5 KNUTS A SCOOP," and he frowns. He doesn't dare look over at the counter, but he hears Sidney ask to speak to the manager.
"Of course. Follow me, please."
He looks out the window as Sidney follows the young woman into the back. A glance at the rest of the store shows no one is there but Draco, and he revels in the silence. He looks up to see a skein of unicorn hairs and runs his fingers through the silky-soft bundle, trying not to remember the time he saw a dead unicorn in the Forbidden Forest.
That was a dozen years ago, and now he is standing in a respectable shop, where a record player is crooning strange holiday music and the window is mostly blocked by a little bush dotted with fairies. The Forbidden Forest is worlds away, and Draco is glad of it.
Eventually the door opens back up, and Sidney comes out with the same girl he followed to the back.
"Draco, this is Marcella Culpeper, the manager. This is Draco Malfoy."
"How do you do," Marcella Culpeper says. She holds out her hand, and Draco hesitates before Sidney's stern look compels him to take it.
He inspects her while their hands are clasped, and he is not sure he likes what he sees. She's pretty enough, to be fair, but she is younger than him, about twenty, and he was not expecting that at all. He cannot imagine her in charge of Sidney. Sidney, who is half a foot taller than this wisp of a girl, and who is so bold and so clever that even Draco respects him.
Marcella Culpeper beckons Sidney behind the counter, and Draco pretends not to listen as they talk about him.
"Sidney, I don't remember him at all."
"Marcella, you owe me more than one favor, and you're always complaining about all your work. Even Grandfather is sick of hearing about it. He agrees with me here, you know. Are you going to disappoint both of us?"
There is a pause, and Draco glances over. Marcella Culpeper looks at him carefully, considering, and then addresses him directly.
"Were you a bully at school?"
He frowns but lifts his chin. "A bit."
"How modest you are. Weren't you in Slytherin?" Draco has nothing to say to that, even though she's smirking, and once she realizes he isn't going to reply, Marcella Culpeper looks him up and down. She sighs, then smiles. "You're hired."