Introduction

What happens when we leave Hogwarts for the summer? When the wands are put away and the hats and robes are taken off? What happens when we put the brooms away and the green and silver Quidditch robes are put in the closet? If becomes a different world coming home. Every year it's been different. This being my fifth time back home I almost felt distant standing in front of the mansion. My parents weren't like everyone else's. They didn't come see me off to Hogwarts at Platform 9 3/4 like everyone else's parents. So naturally the fact I walked home because my parents weren't there to greet me at the train station seemed almost second nature to me. I looked back at the steps that lead to the front door. I could smell me Mum's bread and as I looked through the front window I could see on the grandfather clock that hand that said "Draco Malfoy" had finally reached the word HOME. But was I really home? I pulled my trunk closer to me as I took another step towards the door. My owl gave a small hoot while hopping around excitedly in his cage. He was the only animal, besides Crabbe's snake, that I liked. 'You are very happy to be home huh?' I thought while sticking my fingers through the cage doors. I turned back around to face the door and, more importantly, what was inside. My father was inside. Father always wanted things to be dark and solemn. He never has much time to spend at home, with work and all. And with the Dark Lord's coming back into power, he has been out almost every night, so my Mum writes me. Now; however, I could hear my father's voice on the other side of the door. He was home. I grabbed the knob of the door and gripped it tightly. So you want to know what happens during the summer? I think the question should be: Can you take it?

Chapter 1- Life as a Malfoy
I walked through the front doors to find everything as it was when I had left last year. The parlor was in top shape, shining like a new sickle. The bread aroma filled my nose fully now. Mum didn't like to cook much (she left that to the house elves), but she liked making bread. I love Mum's bread. When Mum had left for a week one summer for the Witch's Gardening Convention the house didn't seem right. Our house elf at the time, Dobby, wanted to make me bread cause he knew it was my favorite, but it wasn't soft and was very plain compared to my Mum's. Mum is always wonderful with plants and herbs. I can't help smiling when smelling her bread. Father happen to be sitting in his chair reading today's edition of the Daily Prophet when I came in.
"Lucius, I'm home," I yelled loud enough for my mum to hear from the kitchen. Father had put down the paper and stared at me.
"Well, well, the young Malfoy home at last." he said. For some reason father didn't like to say my first name much. The same did not apply to my Mum.
"Draco! My Draco! How was school?" she shouted while running into the room to hug me. She had on a light yellow robe with an apron over the front. I fell into her embrace.
"Fine mum. School was fine." I tried to sound annoyed when really I just felt overjoyed to be there right then. Father had gone back to his paper.
"Go upstairs and get out of those clothes. Unpack and meet us down here for dinner." she informed me. I started to bring my trunk up the stairs when my father said something from behind his paper.
"Bring down your grades with you so we can over them at dinner." I stopped breathing. I didn't respond to him and quickly pulled my trunk up to my room.
While in my room I first let my owl out of his cage. He hates to be cooped up for too long. After I flopped down on my bed. How was I going to explain my grades? How was I going to explain that Muggle Studies class I took? Father would kill me if he knew I enjoyed it. But he would hear about it soon enough by Crabbe's and Goyle's parents. Crabbe lived just down the street from us and Goyle only lived a few blocks away. Whatever Vincent Crabbe's parents knew, my parents did too. I thought while the Chasers from my Bulgarian Quidditch poster scored another goal on my wall. I could tell him it was required and not an elective this year. He would not be surprised if our headmaster Dumbledore decided to do something like that. If I act like I hated the fact the Dumbledore made it a required class, my father just might believe the story. Plus, I could take the class again next year. I began to unpack my clothes when I came upon a small bundle in my trunk. It had a note attached to it. I opened the note to read:

Draco,
I thought this could help you in that Muggle Studies class you liked so much. It still works. Keep working on you Shrinking Solution.
Professor Severus Snape
I smiled a bit while reading this. Snape was my favorite teacher at Hogwarts. He taught Potions and was also the head of our house, Slytherin. Snape was always supportive no matter what. He and my father use to go to school together and were in the same year I think. They were good friends. They aren't anymore, because of a decision that Snape made a long time ago. I opened up the small package to find a watch. This watch had just numbers and buttons on the side. It only told time. I began to press the buttons to see what they would do when a voice came from my door.
Wash up, it's time to eat." came my father's voice. Startled I threw the watch under my pillow and stood up as quick as I could.
'o-ok,' I managed to get out.
Dinner was wonderful. The house elves had made all my favorites and of course we had Mum's bread. I talked about a lot of the Quidditch games that went on in the school year and almost slipped when mentioning Cho Chang's name. She is a Ravenclaw seeker and has become a wonderful friend to me this past year. I knew that if I did anything more that mention her name I would be teased about it for quite sometime. I decided to stop myself by eating a big spoonful of scalloped potatoes.
Half way through dinner, father asked to see my report card. Shaking I slowly reached into my back pocket. It seemed like everything had stopped moving. There wasn't any noise coming form the kitchen and my parents were watching me intently. I now held a piece of paper folded over, twice, and was trying hard not to shake. I started to hand the paper to my Mum, considering she would be satisfied with my grades, but my father snatched it away. My parent's reactions were completely different.
"An 'A' in Potions; that's great dear," mum said.
"Why do you have a 'C' in Transfiguration?" My father spoke very slowly when he was trying not to get angry. 'He thinks that's bad I can't wait to hear about Care of Magical Creatures class.' I thought while finishing my potatoes.
"History of Magic is a 'B'; that's better than last year."
"…probably that Mc-gone-to-hell professor. Who does she think she is? Giving my son -A MALFOY- a 'C' in Transfiguration! I can't believe-"
"Excellent in Flying class I see," Mum shouted over father. "Madam Hooch has always thought you've done well."
"A 'D'!! Malfoy, you have a 'D' in Care of Magical Creatures! It's that giant again, isn't it?! Dumbledore will be hearing from me! I bet that Potter has something to do with-"
"Oh! And Herbology looks lovely dear! An 'A'!" Mum was yelling over my father's full voice. I was nearly finished with my food and the conversation was just starting.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts is a 'B'. Not that that class is ever taught properly. Besides, you won't need to learn that considering you're a Malfoy and all…." It suddenly got quiet. I knew what class they were looking at. I had held my breath before noticing there was no more food on my plate.
"That was a great dinner. I think I'll finish unpacking now," I said quickly.
"Sit Back DOWN, MALFOY!" my father's voice boomed. The world seemed to stop again and so did I on my way to the stairs. "Do you mind telling me why you have a Muggle Studies class on YOUR report card?!" I started to stutter. It was like he yelled all the words in my head out. I couldn't remember my plan. Why was I taking a Muggle Studies class?
"You better answer me boy!" he spat. I could hear him getting up from the table and heading towards me. I turned around and caught a glimpse of my Mum still sitting at the table her head in her hands before my father grabbed my shirt collar and picked me up to be eye level with him. His eyes were red and big and his nose was squishing mine. His breath was hot.
"Malfoy…" he whispered slowly. "You will tell me why there was a Muggle Studies class on your report card or I will knock it out of you." Suddenly my plan came flooding back into my head.
"It was re-required," I quickly spat. "Dumbledore made us."
"Liar!!" he argued. "That would have had to go through the ministry!" With that he shoved me to the floor. Backing up, to avoid a blow, I realized once again my ears were burning. No one ever scared me the way Lucius did. Except "Mad Eye" Moody 4th year. Professor Moody, ironically reminded me a lot of my father. Sharp, stern voice. Kind of blasting out orders when angry. Mum was out of her seat now.
"Lucius," Mum started to say, "He is your son."
"No son of mine would lie to me," he bellowed pushing mum away. "Why was it on your report card, Malfoy?!"
"I wanted to know why it's so bad," I quietly said.
"You wanted to know?! Would you rather be a Muggle than a Malfoy? Is that what you are saying?" I couldn't think with him towering over me.
"No!" I wasn't sure if I was lying or not. "I just want to know why it was so bad. I'm sorry; I won't do it again." With that, I got up and ran. I could hear my Mum saying" Let him go dear" repeatedly. I made it to my room, shut the door and locked it. The note was still there on the bed.
"Thanks Severus," I told the paper while picking it up, along with the watch and placing it in my top desk drawer, "but I don't think now is the time for this."
Somehow, I don't think I could believe that.