A/N
This story fills in some of the years between the final battle and
when Harry and Draco met at Platform 9 and three quarters. I wondered
just what Draco had gotten up to in all those years. How did he meet
the mother of his child? How did he cope with his memories of his
trouble past? The character belong to JK Rowling, this is
merely my version of what may have happened.
Two Years Later
It was best that he went away for a while. Draco was
extremely grateful that his mother had insisted he study at home in
that last terrifying year of Lord Voldermort's reign at Malfoy
Manor. The next year Draco had passed his NEWTS with a handful of
Outstandings.
So when The Department of International Cooperation
had offered him a posting overseas, Draco had jumped at the chance.
He needed to be away from the oppressing walls of the manor and its
memories. Most of all he needed to be far away from the people.
Aurors and Ministry officials still made frequent visits to the Manor
attempting to piece together the events of the last year. Draco had
come face to face with Ron Weasley more times than he cared to. No
matter how many times Draco tried to explain the fear and
helplessness his family had suffered, Weasley would never forgive him
for the part the Malfoys had played in the final battle and his
brother's death.
To live in France would be a relief.
His
trunks had been packed for days and now the staff had disappeared
with them down to the cars. Draco took one final look around his
childhood bedroom and closed the door. It was as if he had closed the
cover on a very long novel. It was over at last, leaving him with
some feelings of sadness. Yet, as he turned to walk down the hall
each step away felt just that little bit lighter.
The drive in the
Ministry car was uneventful. The car's leather interior was
comfortable and the competent wizard driver manoeuvred through
traffic as if he were the only car on the road. The swaying of the
car made Draco drowsy and he found himself dreaming. His dreams were
never pleasant these days. He woke as the driver pulled up to a neat
two story building surrounded by a high white fence.
"Sir! We've
arrived at your new residence," said the driver.
Draco stepped
out of the car glad to stretch his long legs at last. His leather
shoes crunched on the gravel driveway as he walked up to the front
steps to meet his new staff. There were four of them standing in a
line looking at him with curiosity. He resolved to treat them better
than the staff at Malfoy manor. This journey marked the start of a
whole new life for him.
"Good afternoon sir," the staff
greeted him. Their eyes could not hide the surprise of being under
such a young manager. It made Draco even more determined to show the
Ministry he would be a competent ambassador.
"I'm very pleased
to meet you all. I'm sure you will do an excellent job of keeping
the house in order so that I can conduct my business here with
dignity," Draco said hoping he sounded professional and confident
while still being friendly. This was a totally new experience for
him. He had virtually not even looked at the servants of Malfoy
manor.
He passed by through the door, noticing the two young
parlour maids whispered to each other behind his back. He ignored
them and held his head even higher as he surveyed the interior of the
house. It was certainly not as grand as the Malfoy Manor and yet he
already preferred this dwelling. It was light and airy and had a
friendly feel. Draco nodded. This was fitting for the youngest ever
wizard Ambassador to France.
One of the staff quickly detached
himself from the others and hurried to stand before Draco in his
crisp black uniform.
"My name is Hadley Young, Mr Malfoy. I'll
be your butler. Will you allow me to give you a tour of the
house?"
And Hadley showed him the study first, filled with
leather bound volumes and lit by bottle green lamps. A cherry wood
desk backed onto the window and faced the warm comfortable space
populated by a leather couch and easy chair. A rich red rug lay over
the polished wooden floor.
"Very fitting," muttered Draco,
more to himself than to Hadley.
They wandered slowly from room to
room and Draco took in the bright airy spaces, very pleased with his
accommodation. Yet as inviting and comfortable as it looked, Draco
suddenly felt very lonely.
It was true that the people who had
called him friend over the years had never had any true loyalty to
him, and at least at Malfoy Manor his mother attended to him with
affection. But here there was not even a familiar face.
And it
was very quiet.
After the noise and bustle of the hundreds of
students at Hogwarts, Malfoy Manor had seemed empty. It had taken
some time to acclimatise to that atmosphere. This French provincial
house was even lonelier with only a fraction of the staff.
Draco
spent as little time as possible to freshen up, showering and
changing clothes after the journey. He wished to visit the French
Ministry as soon as possible. It seemed preferential to spending time
alone in the quiet, empty house.
Though the driver seemed
unprepared to set out again so soon, he registered no surprise and
opened the door for Draco to step into the car. Within minutes they
arrived at the French ministry building. It was obvious from the very
first sight that the French Ministry did things differently to in
England.
Draco had visited the English ministry of Magic many
times with his father. The drab exterior of the building was designed
to deter muggles. Not so in France. Wide white steps lead up to an
impressive stone archway where glass doors stood open invitingly.
Several caped and colourful figures conversed on the steps, not in
the slightest bit concerned with their obvious appearance.
The
driver had opened the car door for him once more and seen Draco's
surprised gaze.
"There's all kind of charms on this place,
sir. Muggles just walk right on past without seeing the entire
building," he explained and waved his hand at the people on the
pavement. Tourists, eyes on maps, heavy backpacks weighing them down,
walked past without even a glance in the direction of the beautiful
white building.
Draco allowed himself a chuckle and exited the
car. He was going to like this place.
