A/N: This is the plot bunny that ambushed me in a dream after I read one of the reviews on the original "Letter to No One." Amazing what inspiration the muses can come up with!
A/N UPDATE (Jan 2006): This story is in the process of being re-edited to correct some minor plotline continuity glitches prior to the posting of the new chapter I've written, and to accommodate the expanded "Letter to No One" background. This story became AU the moment OOTP hit the shelves. While my co-author and I might borrow some usable bits from OOTP and HBP, do not expect anything but minor cosmetic inclusions.
Metamorphosis: Prologue
By RowanRhys
August 1990
Draco stood nervously in front of his father's desk, wondering what he'd done wrong now. The summons to appear in the oak-furnished study was always a trigger for the nauseating fear that roiled even now in his stomach. Now, as he faced his stern-faced father, he racked his brains for what infraction he'd committed of the rules that made up his life. Did he find out about me giving that galleon to Aldry to pay his fine for doing magic in front of a Muggle? It occurred to him that he'd not seen the stablemaster's son about the estate in recent days and his blood abruptly ran cold.
"You leave for Hogwarts in three days."
"Yes, sir." He'd learned to keep the fear from his voice most of the time, by now.He hated how afraid he felt. I'll never be in Gryffindor, he thought. I'm certainly not brave enough.
Lucius Malfoy stared down at his eleven-year old son. "Despite my best efforts to rear you up in the correct manner, so that you may grow to fill the role which destiny has provided you, you keep making mistakes. You continue in your disobedience. Even when I am here every day correcting you."
He knows. Draco swallowed hard.
"And now that you're going off to school, I won't be there to ensure your proper behavior." Before the boy could feel a sense of relief at that pronouncement, Lucius continued. "And so, I've arranged that you will be reminded of what is expected of you. Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle." At the slightly raised voice, the door on the inner wall of the study opened and two boys entered the room.
Draco recognized them. Both large and muscular. Familiar from the social gatherings his mother hosted and attended. Bullies who pulled Pansy Parkinson's braids and dropped frogs down Millicent Bulstrode's dress. And who had beaten him up to get the last piece of birthday cake when he'd turned eight. His mother had been angry at him for the broken nose she'd had to have magically healed at St. Mungo's, and even now she complained about the quality of work the mediwizard had done, saying that his nose no longer had the aristocratic look it should.
"They know what I expect of you, Draco. And when they see you are getting out of line or behaving in any way that is counter to what a boy in your position should be, they will remind you--forcibly if necessary. Do you understand?" Lucius leaned back in his leather-covered chair, steepling his fingers before him.
"Yes, sir." Draco's grey eyes darted between the approaching youths and his father.
"I'm not so sure that you do. You know my thoughts on fraternizing with the lower orders--I've told them to you often enough." Lucius reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out a golden coin. He tossed it onto the desktop before Draco, where it rang and spun for a bit before coming to rest with a light, pure clink. "Now where would a stable brat get hold of this much money?" His eyes narrowed.
"I-I don't know, sir." Draco couldn't keep the tremor from his voice.
"Mr. Goyle, Mr. Crabbe. If you please?"
Draco sank to the floor, curled up under their fists and feet, his arms crossed over his head to protect his face. Despairingly, he bid farewell to his dream of escape at Hogwarts and wished that he were like that boy he'd met at Madam Malkin's the day he'd gotten his school robes. That he were anyone other than Lucius Malfoy's son and heir.
TBC