Draco Malfoy looked up at the waitress and smiled.
"I'm just waiting for someone, can you give me another ten minutes please?"
The waitress nodded politely and left Draco at his table.
It had been thirteen years. Thirteen years since he'd left the country, taking the advice of his father, and ventured out into the Great West. He'd been hesitant, of course, being in an entirely new country, surrounded by not only a culture he knew nothing about, but also a community. A community he had been taught to hate, one that he had to consider inferior. Being amidst them, however, meant he had to behave like them, learn their ways and learn to tolerate them. He had come close to ripping his hair out in frustration many times, trying to figure out simple things like how to make a call using his mobile phone. He learnt to live amongst Muggles in time though, and that changed him entirely. His way of thinking took a complete phase change, and he found himself admiring the different ways Muggles coped with the absence of magic in their life's. He joined a University too, and graduated with a Masters degree in business administration. He made friend's, lived the life he should have as a typical teenager, and soon his dark, cold exterior was replaced with a rather charming, happy personality. The presence of a cheerful smile and twinkling, mischievous eyes made him more handsome, the frown and worry marring his features long gone. Anyone from his days at Hogwarts would have failed to recognize the man he was now to the bully he had been before.
He realized how much exactly he had changed himself only when his friends at Uni openly joked with him and teased him about the girls who seemed to have a permanent flush around him. He understood the deep contrast, and silently thanked his Father for making him leave England and the magical community to have a fresh start in life.
Lucius Malfoy had been sentenced to twelve years in Azkaban, his punishment reduced only because of Narcissa's lie to Voldemort and the statements from Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. They had convinced the Wizengamot to leave Draco and Narcissa free without any charges. After the hearing, Draco left for America, and Narcissa stayed in the Manor, occasionally paying visits to her son.
Draco had not returned to London since then, preferring to enjoy his life away from the taunts and glares of the still prejudiced wizards and witches. He had come back only now, when his father had finally finished his term.
"There you are," came a deep voice, shaking Draco from his frantic typing on his phone. He still kept in touch with his friends from college.
He looked up, and grinned widely when he saw his old friend, Blaise Zabini.
"How are you, mate?" he asked, as he stood and hugged the man lightly, chuckling at the slightly perplexed stare he was returned.
"What happened to you, Malfoy?" Blaise smirked, as he slid in across the booth across him.
Draco said nothing, just grinned in return.
It was good to be back.
(A/N: Hi guys! Happy 2014 :) This is a new story I've started, that I hope you like, and one I intend to update frequently. I know this one was short, but its only the back story explaining why Draco is the way he is in this story. Please let me know what you think of it and if you think I should change any thing along the way:) )
