Author's Note

I'm still looking for an editor of sorts! I need someone to bounce ideas off of and keep me on track. So if you're interested please message me! (I'm also offering up my services in the same sort of thing, perhaps we can be writing buddies?)

Also I'm still debating over which story to start first. We can either follow George after Fred's death or follow the Marauders from the end of their sixth year and on. So if you have any input on which you'd rather read then shoot me a message or if you leave a review just mention it.

I would like to point out that I will respond to EVERY review I receive, so let me have them! (; \

Thanks for reading!

-Avery

October 13, 2001

Three days after I placed my application I had gotten the call, and the woman wasn't kidding about call. I was walking through muggle London on my way to Diagon Alley for some parchment. A muggle communication device started to ring. It wasn't a normal muggle ring, but the phone was actually crying out my name. "Draaaaaaaaco Maaaaaaaaalfoy!" it would cry. After the second ring, people were starting to get curious so I ran over to it and pulled the contraption and stuck it towards my face.

"Please place the top round piece to your ear and the bottom round piece to your mouth," a voice came out of the phone. I did as it was instructed. "Good! Now, when it's your turn to talk, just speak normally, muggles sure are geniuses when it comes to technology! You don't even have to shout and I can hear you!" The woman on the other line sure did seem peppy. "Now, my name is Matilda McAlister and I'm offering you an apprenticeship under myself. I have also selected two others and one of them is a muggle born, will that cause any problems?"

"Er, no, that will not be a problem."

"No need to shout, Mr. Malfoy," Matilda McAlister said. "And that's good to hear, the receptionist said you still might be a little prejudice, but you were one of the few who met my credentials, when are you able to start?"

"As soon as you need me," I said, I couldn't help the smile on my face.

"Good, I'm thinking tomorrow at four in the morning?"

"Four in the morning?" I asked surprised.

"I like to start my days early, see you then!" she said and then there was a dull tone.

"Hello? Hello?" I said into the communication device. I turned to see a muggle walking past, "Excuse me, what does it mean when there is just a buzzing sound?"

The muggle looked confused. "Let me hear," he said and I handed him the phone. "The person you were talking to hung up, hope it wasn't your wife!" The man said with a chuckle before walking away.

Hung up? Muggles and their strange slang. I shouted a thanks at the man before continuing on my way with a little more glee in my step. I made my way through the streets until I found myself at the Leaky Cauldron.

When I entered the entire pub went quiet and everyone turned to look at me. I walked confidently to the entrance to Diagon Alley, refusing to make eye contact. They let me leave without a word and I was thankful for that.

Now in Diagon Alley, I made my way to Scribbulus Writing Instruments to pick up the parchment father had asked for. He hadn't gotten his old job back, but he decided to keep looking. I think we all just want our lives back to before the war began.

I entered the shop and got a few strange looks, but nothing compared to the Leaky Cauldron patrons. I found the parchment section and chose my selection, three rolls of simple paper.

"Excuse me do you by chance have some purple paper? My sister really wants it for the invitations to her birthday party." I heard at the counter, when the woman came into view I saw Astoria Greengrass standing there talking to an the shop keeper.

"You think I don't know who you are, Greengrass?" the man said in a gruff voice.

"Oh that's flattering, thank you for recognizing me as Astoria Greengrass, three years younger than my sister, Daphne, the wanted witch," Astoria snapped back. "Unlike my family, my younger sister, Teresa and I had nothing to do with the rising of the Dark Lord and we never pledged anything to him. Now, it's her thirteenth birthday and I would love to pick up some purple parchment paper to invite her friends over for a party. Can you point me in the right direction?"

The man grunted and pointed from the direction from which I had came. Astoria turned around and smiled when she saw me. "Good afternoon, Malfoy!" she said happily. "Did you get an apprenticeship?"

"I did, thanks for asking," I said politely.

"I'll be under Henry Morris, you?" Astoria said.

"Matilda McAlister," I said.

"That's so wonderful!" she said. "Anyhow, I've got to get this paper, my sister is waiting for me." Astoria said as she went past me, she looked over her shoulder and said, "I imagine I'll see you at the hospital!"

"Yeah, see you," I said.

I turned back to the shop keeper and I was the one getting the glare. "Malfoy, eh?"

"Yes, my family was clear of all charges a week ago," I said confidently.

The man glared at me but proceeded to ring up my purchase. "Four Galleons and two knuts," he said and I handed him the money. He wrapped it up and watched me leave the store. Outside I opted to apparate rather than walking. With a loud pop, I appeared outside Malfoy Manor.

We already had people working on the grounds, sprucing up the bushing, planting new roses, and cutting the grass. We hoped to have it finished within a week. I walked past them all, nodding my head as a greeting to all the landscapers, and opened the door. There were maids working on the grand dining room, there was a man standing on the table to dust the chandelier and people dusting the shelves. There were three of them taking the china out of the cabinets and washing them.

"Draco? Is that you?" I heard my mother's voice before I saw her. She came down the stairs as graceful as ever. She was wearing a long gown, like the things she used to wear. She rushed to me like and said, "Isn't it wonderful? Everything will be clean again."

"Yes," I said, looking around.

"Maybe then we can move on, I'm thinking after this initial bout of cleaning, I'll keep two maids on staff to keep everything clean." My mother turned and watched them adoringly.

"That should do," I said. I wanted nothing more than to get out of this room. I could see myself sitting at that table, terrified. This time it was the man that had been dusting screeching in pain. He writhed on the table in complete agony, finally someone felt pity on him and ended it. I watched as his life force left his body and I just watched. I could have save him.

"Draco?" My mother said, I turned to look at her. "Did you hear me? Tomorrow night we're inviting the Zabini's over for dinner. You remember Blaise?"

"We're not eating…" I said looking back to the table, this time I couldn't help but see that Burbage woman.

"Yes, it's time we get over it," she said.

"Where is father?" I asked.

"In his study," she told me.

"I got his parchment," I said stiffly.

"Right," my mother said. "Well then, see you for dinner?"

I kissed his mother on the cheek before bolting up the stairs. My father's study was next to the guest bedroom and it was where he spent most of his time. The door was closed and probably locked so I knocked. It took him a while but a shadow of my father opened the door. He looked broken and grey.

"Father?" I said a little shocked. I hadn't seen him this bad for over a year.

"Did you get the parchment, Draco?" he asked hurriedly.

"Father? What's going on?" I demanded, I stepped forward but father shut the door a little bit.

"None of your business, Draco!" he said loudly, then whispered. "Did you get the parchment?"

"Father, stop. What do you have in there?" I said, trying to push the door against his weak body.

"Nothing, Draco, is that the parchment?" he said motioning to the bag in my hand.

"Yeah, but father, you have me worried."

"Good," he said snatching the paper from my hand. "Now, I will not be down for dinner, take your mother someplace nice." And with that the door was shut and locked as quickly as it could.

"What's going on? Don't think I won't use magic!" I shouted through the door.

"Draco, dear? There is someone here to see you!" my mother's voice came from down the hall.

I groaned, but a little boy can never resist his mother's call. Before I headed down the stairs I said through the door, "Father, I love you, but I will not stand by you this time."