**Written for Fanfiction Tournament: Round 2, Weasleys Wizard Wheezes: Canary Creams and the Weasley-Potter-Prewett Challenge: Fred Weasley II**

The Ugly Duckling

A seemingly normal meeting between two sisters became extremely awkward in the early evening. 'Aunty Andy, what's this about?' asked Draco as he produced a book from behind his back. Andromeda looked at the title and glanced at her sister uncertainly, unsure whether Narcissa would approve of the muggle book. She inclined her head slightly, giving permission.

'The Ugly Duckling Draco, is about a young bird who is ridiculed-'

'What does ri-di-culed mean?' he asked as he sounded the word out, it sounded strange on his tongue.

'It means to be laughed at. He gets laughed at by other animals because he didn't look like the rest of them. In the end, he becomes a beautiful swan and a group of other swans adopt him in,'

'Why? What's the point of that story?'

'It's about self-acceptance Draco, loving who you are. It's about not just what's on the outside of you, but what's on the inside also,' Andromeda looked pointedly at her sister at this.

~o~

'Daddy, is it true it's what's on the inside that counts?' asked Draco a few days after the trip to Andromeda's house.

'Of course it is son. It is that which makes us Malfoys powerful,' Lucius replied as he indicated towards his young son to sit next to him, 'the blood that runs through your veins is pure. It is not tainted and it shall never be, because-'

'I will marry a good witch. Yes, I know Daddy,' recited Draco, as he always did.

'Good boy. What brought this about anyway?'

'It was a book,' replied Draco.

'What book Draco?' Lucius asked as he stiffened, and prayed that this conversation wasn't going to go the way he feared it would.

'The Ugly Duckling, it's about a duck that-' It was clear that the young boy hadn't noticed the change in his father as he carried on, regardless of the fact that Lucius was staring straight ahead.

'I know what it's about Draco. Where did you get that book from?' Lucius implored of his son, his lips tightened and his eyes bored into the pale grey of his young son's. Draco faltered under the heavy stare of his father.

'From Aunty Andy, me and Mummy saw her...' Draco hung his head; he was aware that he'd done something wrong, but he was unsure what.

'Narcissa!' Lucius roared. A little house-elf squeaked and ran out the room, just as Narcissa walked in. She glanced at the house-elf fleetingly before turning her attention to her husband who was still fuming.

'Yes Lucius, dear,'

'What is this I hear about your little visit to Andromeda? I thought she didn't exist anymore,' he sneered, as he emphasised the fact that she was cut out of the Black family tree. In his mind, the blood-traitor was no longer a welcome addition to the Malfoy Manor whether she was in physical or verbal form.

'She's still my sister Lucius, no matter what you think. I only took Draco with me because you were off doing Merlin knows what!'

He hit her.

'How dare you place the blame on me Narcissa? How could you be so careless as to expose Draco to that muggle filth! He needs to become a respectable pure-blood, he shall not defile the name of Malfoy. Now if you were sensible Narcissa which, clearly you're not, you'd stay out of my eyesight for the rest of the day,' he eyed his son, who was cowering in the corner, 'and take Draco with you,'

Narcissa held her face in one hand and beckoned to Draco with the other. 'Come, Draco,' she shot her husband a look of contempt before striding out of the room. A very frightened Draco followed, not wanting to be in the same room as his father for much longer. Draco had never seen his father act like that before and he never wanted to see it happen again. He'd change, he know he would.

He'd make his father proud of him, he would.