Chapter Three

9:25. MALFOY MANOR. DINING ROOM. OFF IN SPACE. PROBABLY DROOLING. FATHER ANGERED.

Back to the "Real World."

"DRACO? WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME?"

I looked up in alarm. "Sorry, Father. I was thinking."

Lucius glared at me from the end of the table, and tossed down his newspaper. SWISH! "If you do not get a move on, I will be late for my meeting, and I will get blamed for it! They blame me for everything these days. If I try to tell them it was because my son was off in lala land, they will tell me I am lying, and it is my fault, and I should accept it!"

Just to fill you in, Father is out of the hospital (obviously). He was housed until Voldemort's death, and now, he still has to attend meetings, such as Death Eaters Anonymous and It's My Life. On the morning upon which the insanity began, he was expected at It's My Life, which is held at a therapeutical center downtown Knock Turn. It's for wizards and witches who have trouble accepting that they are responsible for their actions.

"I'm ready, Father." I stood up. "I'll go to Diagon Alley while you attend. I need to pick up another book, and I'd like to have a look at the winter fashions in Bloodied and Sheared."

"Oh, sweetheart!" Mother exclaimed, jumping up from her place across the table. "I have a list. I was going to have one of the House Elves pick these items up, but now that you are going, I don't see the point." She left to find her list.

I was offended. "Is that what she thinks of me? A servant boy? An Elven Wonder?"

Father smirked. "Make yourself useful, Draco, and perhaps you will be hired to work in our kitchen."

"Very funny," I snapped. "Do the people at Saint Mungo's encourage you to make fun of me, or shall I tell them your behavior when I go into school next week?"

That shut him up. It's very good, having doctors against your father. If he doesn't get you what you want, you can tell them that he is having disturbing dreams about children again, and they'll lock him away.

Mother came back into the dining room, her silver robe glittering as she handed over a piece of parchment. I read it.

"Oh, no," I declared. "I will never, in a million years, go into this store without a woman, let alone purchase anything. Especially things like… this. Disgusting!"

She had given me a list of sexy underwear she wanted at the woman's lingerie shop called The Sorceresses' Secret. Now, I don't mind checking out the moving photographs of half naked Veela on the walls, or looking in interest at pretty, lacy thongs, but going in there with no female companion, and purchasing bras and panties? That would totally make Draco Malfoy seem a bit...

…Well…

Queer-ish.

She rolled her eyes. "Honey, be mature! Everyone will know you are shopping for your mother."

As I continued to argue, Father grabbed the list and surveyed it.

He looked extremely happy. "Oh, Narcissa… Just as I requested."

She giggled.

I felt my peanut butter toast again. "I cannot-"

"Draco, we have to leave. You listen to your mother, and buy what she's requested," Father spat out, now most definitely on her side for reasons I didn't want to think about.

"I'm not trying to disobey her!" I shouted. "But think about how homo it will look if I go into that store alone and buy this strappy leather thing you wanted, Mother!"

Father sniffed loudly, looking as though he disapproved. I honestly don't know what he was getting so cocky about, since I have clear childhood memory of seeing him wearing one of Mother's evening gowns. I had to promise I'd never tell, but now I was seriously considering informing his psychiatrist that he has yet another problem.

"Do not use homo, Draco. It's so regular."

He never ceases to amaze me.

She smiled serenely. "No one you know will be there now, Draco, take my word for it. Besides, everyone knows you aren't- uhm- that way, and if they do, they shouldn't, because you've been dating Pansy for the past year."

Oh, yes. Pansy. Finally good for something.

I pretended to look relieved, even though I was still debating if I should risk losing my masculinity in the eyes of others.

"That reminds me! I have a date with Pansy tonight, seven o'clock at The Cult in London. So, after Father's done with his meeting, I'll meet him at the Ministry, take him back here, and then,
get ready." Dates are good for abandoning parents.

Mother grinned. "Wonderful! I adore that Pansy. She is so refined."

I smiled, trying to figure out exactly what Mother meant by that. I suppose you can call Pansy's taste for expensive wines 'refined', but lately I had been trying to convince her that a glass of ice water with dinner would be so much more pleasing.

Father nodded, being rarely agreeable. I really did not know his opinion of Pansy, though he did spend an awful lot of time gazing at her chest the last time she was over. I don't blame him, especially when she put on her coat and there came the distinct sound of tissue paper wrinkling.

"Yes," I said slowly. "Ever so refined..."

That's it, Draco. Agree with them. Agree with them, and you'll all get along.

"Let us leave immediately, or else they'll be looking for me, "Father declared, his eyes shifting back and forth.

I snickered, thinking it was his idea of a joke.

He gave me a look that clearly stated 'I will burn your soul'.

"Wipe that grin off your face," he snarled.

Aye, aye, sir.

Agree, Draco… You must agreeeee…