A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, same as everyone else on this site, although I would be interested to discover that JKR publishes fanfiction of her own story. This is my first in a very long time and I hope you all enjoy, R&R.
Walking through the darkened corridor of the eastern most wing of his childhood home, Draco Abraxas Malfoy couldn't hear anything but the erratic thud of his heartbeat, pulsating in his ears. He wasn't listening to a word his father was saying to him as they drew closer to the mahogany door at the end of the hall, not that it mattered, he already knew this speech by heart he was sure. Draco breathed in deeply trying to clear his thoughts, his was nowhere near as skilled of an Occlumens as his mentor, Severus Snape, but when concentrating, he could do well enough to mask the fear and dread that filled his heart every time he stepped foot into the room he was about to enter.
He paused and took one last breath before his father twisted the brass knob and pushed the door ajar. Stepping into the room, his nostrils were assaulted by a putrid smell, one that he thought he would never get used to. He looked around at the handful of people in the room, sitting around a large dining room table and his gaze was met with many disapproving stares. He turned his attention to the man who occupied the chair at the head of the table and instantly regretted this action when he saw the pair of red eyes looking back at him.
"Ah, Draco, how... kind of you to join us." the Dark Lord mused. "Home for summer holiday already?"
Draco's attention was diverted by the snickering that went around the table, the most obnoxious of which came from his own flesh and blood relative. Draco had always loathed his batty Aunt Bellatrix.
"You know my boy," Voldemort began again, "it has come to my attention that you failed to complete the task assigned to you alone. Dear Bellatrix has told me that, when given the opportunity to finish your task, you could not find the nerve to do so. Why was this, might I ask?"
"I-I do admit, m-my Lord, I may have hesitated." Draco managed to say.
"Surely this was due to doubt you may have had in your ability to cast an unpracticed spell, such as the Killing Curse, and not any sympathy you had for the old man, am I right Draco?" Voldemort mocked.
"You could never be anything but right, my Lord." Draco answered, unwilling to look the loathsome creature in the eye.
"I thought as much." Voldemort stated before clapping his hands together, "no matter, the deed was done, and you dear boy will get the chance to redeem yourself, right now." He motioned to a Death Eater standing near a door behind him, and the man left the room for a minute, only to return levitating an unconscious form in front of him.
Draco drank in the sight of the girl wearily. She couldn't be more than 16, just a year younger than he. She appeared to be a fairly pretty girl, despite the rumpled state of her hair and the claw marks upon her dirty face. The man who was levitating her lowered her into a chair and bound her to it before reviving her. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked upon her surroundings in horror before tears fell upon her cheeks, but she did not say a word.
"This is an example of the filth we cannot afford to have living amongst us Draco, you see her filthy mudblood face?" Voldemort asked. Draco merely nodded. "I've decided to allow you the honor of ridding us of her, seeing as you need the practice. Get out your wand boy."
The girls head snapped up and she locked eyes with Draco. She licked her dry lips and opened her mouth to speak with difficulty. Draco drew his wand and held it loftily in front of him, pointed directly at her. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead, she looked so innocent and helpless.
"Please," the girl's voice cracked, "please don't kill me." Draco's heart pounded.
"Do it boy." His fathers voice sounded behind him. Draco closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "Draco, I said do it."
"No matter Lucius," Voldemort drawled "Avada Kedavera."
There was a flash of brilliant green light and the girl's body slumped forward lifelessly against the restraints keeping her tied to the chair. Draco exhaled.
"Tell me, young Malfoy, of what use to me is a servant who cannot even manage to kill a filthy mudblood?" Draco opened his mouth but no answer came out. "Lucius, what punishment do you think would be appropriate to bestow upon the boy?" Voldemort asked.
Draco turned his gaze to the man, "Father..." he began pleadingly. Lucius just coldly looked upon his only son.
"Whatever you deem appropriate, my Lord."
"Very well." Voldemort raised his wand and Draco felt his pulse quicken, he clenched his fists and braced himself for the immense pain he knew he was to experience. "Crucio," the Dark Lord whispered, as a blinding white-hot light sped toward the youngest Malfoy.
Draco screamed and shot up in his bed, hand over his heart. He clenched his eyes together, but opened them quickly when he saw white. Taking a few deep breaths and running his hands through his sweaty blonde mop of hair he felt his pulse begin to slow as he realized he had only been dreaming again. A quick glance at the clock on his bedside table let him know it was 5:18 and there would be no point in trying to fall back asleep, so he shakily put his feet on the cold hard floor and got out of bed.
He walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove to brew some mint tea, something he had found in the past three and a half years helped greatly to calm his nerves. Walking to the window he looked out for his barn owl, Shinto. The great winged creature was headed his way, Draco could see a letter tied to his foot.
Shinto flew in through the window and landed on his perch in the furthest corner in the room, sticking his leg out to be relieved of his burden. Draco untied the message before fetching the bird a treat. Sitting down at the kitchen counter, he unrolled the parchment with a sigh.
Draco Darling,
Surely you have begun to grow out of this stage you're going through by now dear, I expect you're planning to move back home for the Christmas holiday and it would be very kind of you to let your mother know when you intend upon doing so. It would not do for your bedroom to go unprepared for your arrival.
Living in an apartment, and working in an Apothecary of all things in extremely unbecoming of a young pureblooded gentleman such as yourself, not to mention a Malfoy and this rebellous stage simple must come to an end. Besides darling, you are nearing the proper age for marriage and no respectable pureblooded girl will want to marry a gentleman who's lowered himself to the level of doing servant work.
Speaking of marriage, I had tea with Amala Greengrass the other day, and I was delighted to find that her youngest, Astoria, lovely girl really, is still unwed! Surely you remember her sister Daphne from your time at Hogwarts? It would be lovely of you to extend an invitation for dinner to young Astoria, and Draco, I will know if you don't.
With love,
Mother
Draco sighed and rolled the letter back up, of course he remembered Daphne Greengrass from school, who could forget the blonde bimbo that always followed Pansy around, giggling too much and showing off far too much skin to be considered respectable. If Astoria were anything like her sister, Draco already knew that kind of date they would have and he was not looking forward to the nagging letter he knew he would receive from his mother when he failed to ask the girl to dinner.
Putting the letter in a pile with many others just like it, Draco finished his tea and checking the clock on the wall, he realized he had little over an hour before it would be time to open the apothecary. Mr. Borage who owned the shop didn't appreciate tardiness, even when no witch or wizard in their right mind needed potion's ingredients at 7 o'clock in the morning.
Draco wandered back into his bedroom and through the door that connected it to his bathroom, he flicked his wand at the wireless and listened to his favorite jockey as he undressed and began his morning routine.
"Broadcasting live from above Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, you're listening to Magical-Lee on 98.6 The River. Seeing as it's Wednesday, it's time to make note of our Wonderful Witch or Wizard of the Week, this week we're recognizing Miss Hermione Granger, who after two years of hard work and dedication has managed to do the seemingly impossible, and completely abolish house-elf slavery. The notion was passed last week. We have Miss Granger in the studio with us today for a short interview. How've you been Hermione?" Draco's ears perked up at this, it'd been a long time since he'd heard news of that particular member of the golden trio.
"I've been good Lee, I'm having a marvalous week, it's been such good news knowing all of my work has finally paid off." Hermione's voice rang through the speakers with a little laugh. Draco took note of the soft tone of her voice, he found in mildly interesting that she nolonger sounded like the busy-bodied know-it-all that he had known in school.
"That's very good to hear, and let me tell you folks, she sure does look marvalous." Draco rolled his eyes, he could almost hear the disc-jockey wiggle his eyebrows as his old enemy laughed.
"Oh stop it, you'll make me blush."
"That's the good thing about radio, appearances mean nothing, you listeners out there, take note that I've come to work in pajamas about three times this week. But on a more serious note, some of our listeners have sent in questions for me to ask you."
"Alright, let's hear them." Came her eager reply.
"Many of our listeners would like to know what rights the newly freed house-elves will be obtaining."
"Oh that's simple, many house-elves as you know, are opposed to the idea of being seperated from their families, seeing as it's the only lifestyle that they've known their entire lives. What this bill does is require that they are paid for their services and it also regulates the work environment that the wizarding family they choose to work for must provide for them. House-elves are given the option of having their own residence, they'll have a paycheck, and they'll be allowed vacation time, sick time, and the likes. It's just a small step forward in Creature-Equality, but I believe it's a fundamental step." Draco could hear the satisfaction in Granger's voice as he finished washing up and began to rinse himself off.
"I'm going to have to agree with you on that one Hermione, I've known a few remarkable house-elves in my time and it's such a good thing to see that they'll finally be receiving the type of treatment they deserve. Another question that's been pretty big in present politics is if and when categorized 'Creatures' will be allowed wand-use." Draco stepped out of the shower and began to dry himself off.
'That is exactly what we need', he thought to himself, 'Goblins running around slitting our throats and stealing all Goblin-made objects we wizards paid good money for.' Draco wrapped his towel around his waist and went to the sink to set about the business of brushing his teeth.
"Well Lee, that's a subject that is still being sorely debated. The biggest arguement against allowing Creatures to learn of wand-lore is that many of them don't need to harness their magic through an object as most witches and wizards harness their's through wands or staffs. The arguement is that with a wand many magical Creature's will only be able to amplify their magic, and a Creature uprising is feared, much like the Goblin Wars of the 1630's."
"I can definitely see where that would be a heated arguement. I suppose to truly have equality though, there are secrets intelligent magical Creatures would need to share with us of their magic as well." Lee stated quizically.
"That's exactly right Lee, and there-in lies the problem."
'You'd probably give all the creatures wands, wouldn't you Granger?' Draco thought to himself as he rinsed and spit, before smirking at himself in the mirror.
"Well, we're about up for time, but it's been a lovely chat, as I'm sure our listeners would agree. You truly deserve recognition as a Wonderful Witch, Miss Granger."
"Why thank you Lee."
"Do you have any celebratory plans?"
"Why yes I do! I'm going apartment hunting this afternoon!" The intelligent witch laughed.
"Apartment hunting! How's about that folks? I know of an apartment that wouldn't mind housing you." Draco rolled his eyes again. "Well listeners, that's all, now take a listen to the newest release from The Grim Fairies, "Loving You Is Like Trying to Pet a Dragon."
Draco stepped out bathroom, waving his wand at the wireless as he walked into his bedroom, the upbeat song increased in volume as he opened his closet door and scanned through his belongings for something suitable to wear to work that day. He began to whistle along to the tune as he selected a pair of black work slacks and silver button up.
"...and when I say fire-breathing hot, it's meant as a compli-not." Draco sang to himself under his breath as he put one leg and then the other into his slacks and tucked the silvery material into his waistband. He really did love this new band, even if they were a bit childish compared to his usual tastes.
Returning to his bathroom, Draco waved his wand at his hair to dry it completely before he shook it out, allowing it to lay haphazardly on top on his head. He'd taken up the habit of running his hands through his hair, so brushing it was no longer necessary, as it would just fall in his eyes again anyways. Waving his wand at the wireless one last time to cut it off, he allowed himself a parting glance with his reflection before taking his emerald green work robe off of the back of the bathroom door and adjusting it neatly over his silver button up. Assured that he looked presentable he twisted in midair and disappeared.
A/N: So what do you think so far?