(Alternate Universe, post-Goblet of Fire)
-
-
-
London Train Station's Platform 9 3/4, 1997
-
-
-
The blond boy stood beside his father, still as stone. His mother had kissed him goodbye at home, resting from another pregnancy. The mediwitch who visited the home said to avoid another miscarriage by remaining in bed all day.
The Hogwarts Express's warning whistle shrieked and Draco looked up at his stoic father. Lucius hadn't spoken for ten minutes.
"Get on board, Draco," his father said quietly, not moving. His son was off to school without any prefect position, or Head Boy badge. An embarrassment.
He took a deep breath and said, "I will not embarrass you again, Father."
"Get on board the train." The repeated order was all the goodbye Draco received. He picked up the trunk and stepped on board the train without bothering to see if his father was watching. If he did look back, all he would see was proud parents waving goodbye to their offspring, offering advice for O.W.L.s exams, with no sight of a tall blond man carrying a silver cane anywhere.
Halfway down the train carriage, his haughty, holier-than-thou smirk planted firmly in place, a girl with black hair dashed out of a compartment and threw herself into his arms. The heavy trunk fell to the floor, blocking students following him that caused an uproar, and Draco struggled to peel the girl off his front.
"I've been waiting for you, Draco!" Pansy Parkinson said in his ear. She grabbed his hand and tried to drag him into the compartment, and Draco grabbed the trunk by three fingers. "Come in here." She slid the door open for him and waited for her companion to enter. Several fellow Slytherin classmates greeted the wealthy heir and returned to playing Exploding Snap.
Draco's two overfed laskeys nodded as he stowed away his belongings. They chewed noisily on a pack of chocolate frogs. Pansy kept patting his arm like a hyperactive cat pawing at a toy.
Pasty-faced Vincent Crabbe asked, after swallowing, "How was your summer, Draco?"
"Oh yes, how did--?" Pansy began. Draco glanced at her and she immediately shut up and stopped her nervous twittering. As if realizing where she was, Pansy looked around the compartment. Gregory Goyle, one of the other occupants of the compartment, moved to the other bench to let Pansy and Draco sit together.
The blond sat ridgedly, leaning his head against the wall behind him. Pansy gave a little huff and coaxed, "I must know how --?" Draco opened one eye to question her phrasing. "I mean, would you please tell about that meeting your father held last month?"
He closed the eye and shook his head. Several Death Eaters had gathered at Malfoy Manor to discuss his nearing initiation into the Dark Lord's growing army elite. But he wasn't about to tell that to two sixth years and Hsin Ji, a fellow seventh year who shared the Slytherin dormitory.
And he didn't speak until the express pulled out of the station.
-
-
-