I don't own HP. Wish I did, but I don't.

AN: Thanks to my awesome betas. Especially to Saint Dionysus, who just agreed to help beta :D Ya'll are the best!

oXoXoXo

"Happy Birthday!"

The words echoed through the garden and Draco forced a happy smile on his face. Truly, he was grateful to spend his birthday with so many people that cared about him, but he still wasn't comfortable being around so many people. It helped that he was in a safe space; only those he and his mum permitted were in attendance.

Everyone began to sing and he watched as he his mum approached, levitating a scrumptious-looking chocolate cake in front of her. Brilliant green lettering spelled out his name on top of the dark chocolate icing; barely visible under eleven golden candles.

His mum's loving eyes met his when he looked up from the cake and he immediately relaxed, his smile slipping into something more genuine. Dora made him chuckle when she slipped an arm around his shoulders and whispered in his ear, "Whatcha gonna wish for?"

He turned and gave her a mock glare, "If I tell it won't come true. And, no, I don't owe you. We already waited to celebrate my birthday 'til you got out of school."

She threw her head back and laughed, her newly shorn hair flashing through a multitude of colors. Draco watched in amusement, still as entranced with her metamorphmagus abilities now as he had been at the age of six.

Before she got a chance to respond his mum set the cake down on the table right in front of him.

"C'mon! All at once now!" Ron said beside him, looking hungrily at the cake.

Draco snickered, but did as asked, feeling grateful he'd managed all eleven in one blow. He kept worrying that one year there would just be too many candles for him to do all at once. And then how would he get his yearly wish?

With that thought he closed his eyes and cast up his wish. Just on the off chance it came true.

He really, really wanted his first year at Hogwarts to go well. He wanted a first year like Dora had had. He wanted to make more friends and not be judged for what crimes his father had committed.

He especially didn't want to have a panic attack in the middle of the Great Hall.

"Here."

He opened his eyes and focused on the icing coated candle hovering in front of him. Ron had one in his mouth already and was kindly offering him one. Draco smiled and took it, delighting in the tangy lemon icing as his mum sliced up pieces for everyone.

oXoXoXo

Narcissa had to stop herself from moaning in delight as the chocolate cake practically melted in her mouth, mixed perfectly with the tangy lemon icing. Aside from the occasional platter of biscuits with tea she rarely indulged in sweets. Too many years of her mother admonishing her for putting on a single pound over the term at Hogwarts. Or being forced to shed her robes and prove that her underclothes still fit perfectly with no unacceptable tightness.

Andy's rich chuckle had Narcissa opening her eyes and shooting her sister a nasty glare.

"What's so funny?"

"You. I still can't believe you managed to make Draco love the same odd cake combination as you. Uncle Alphard would be proud he's managed to corrupt another generation."

Narcissa sniffed delicately and then, as quick as a snake, stuck her tongue out at her sister, making said sister laugh all the harder.

"I saw that."

Ted's quietly amused voice slipped into their conversation as he pulled up his own chair, taking a seat and digging into his own slice of cake. Frank followed him, his calm gaze unsettling Narcissa as it always did. Muggle psychologists shouldn't be able to read more with their own eyes than a mediwitch could see with a spell.

"Oh, hush, Ted, or I'll hand Cissy some ammunition on you. Like that time at Aunt Cathie's when you—"

Ted glared at his younger brother even as he held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I get it. No interfering when my wife and sister-in-law choose to act like little children."

That earned him a playful smack on the arm from Andy's cloth napkin. "Just who's acting like a child?"

He grimaced, "You are."

That earned him another one and he responded by scooping up a dollop of lemon icing with his finger and planting it directly on her nose.

Andy gasped in mock shock before her eyes narrowed, "Oh! It's on now!"

And they were off. Narcissa didn't think there would be any cake left by the time they were through. She sighed and watched them with fondness as she continued to put her own slice of cake to much better use.

"You'd think that they would be more mature. What with the fact they're older than us," Frank commented as he picked up his fork.

Narcissa snorted rather inelegantly. "Didn't you once say something about how middle children tend to be immature?"

He smirked, his pale blue eyes twinkling, "You remember that? Do you always pay so much attention to my lectures on psychology?"

"I pay attention to everything. At one time, that was the only way I could ensure the safety of myself and those I loved."

He didn't respond to that, so she took another bite of cake. Closing her eyes and reveling in the sinful taste. All too soon her slice was gone. She sent a small glance over at the remaining cake, wondering if she could get away with a second slice.

She didn't allow herself to debate it long; it wasn't like her final decision was a surprise. If she had another slice of cake she'd only regret it. Better to just wait until her own birthday. It would be hard enough to not have Draco around for it.

At the thought of Draco, her eyes immediately zoomed in on him. He was sitting at another table between Nymphadora and Ronald, listening avidly as Fred and George acted out some story that had poor Ginevra's face as red as her hair. Those boys needed to stop giving their baby sister such a hard time. How could the Weasley parents allow this to continue? Narcissa pushed her chair back and was about to stand, but Frank put a hand on her arm, making her jump.

"Wait. Watch."

She bit off a retort as she caught the serious look in his eyes. Turning she continued to watch. Then, just as Ginevra looked ready to scream, Draco said something quietly. Every eye turned to him and he flushed a light pink, but didn't show any other sign of being so unsure of the attention.

One of the Weasley twins opened his mouth and made a fast retort. Draco's jaw hardened in a way that reminded Narcissa eerily of Lucius. But he didn't respond, just stared the twins down, not even noticing Ginevra gazing at him with stars in her eyes. Ronald said something, casual and slightly humourous from the tone. Nymphadora made her own comment and then morphed her hair so that it was the exact shade as the four Weasleys. Ginevra and Draco relaxed, small smiles coming to their faces. Fred and George scowled for a moment, then looked at each other and shrugged before returning to their earlier, lighter attitude.

Narcissa turned and looked at Frank curiously, "What—?"

He smiled, "As part of Draco's therapy we've spent a lot of time discussing his friends. He was very disturbed by how he saw the twins treat their younger two siblings when Charlie or Bill wasn't around. It bothered him. As did the fact that Percy tended to just ignore it when he isn't the target. We had several conversations about conflict resolution and creating safe environments. What he did here wasn't perfect, but the fact that what he said worked will give him confidence. Confidence he needs if he's going to do well away from home at boarding school. Especially if, as you fear, he'll be sorted into a different house from Ron."

Pain squeezed at Narcissa's heart. Yes, she was sure Draco would be in a different house from Ronald. All Weasleys went into Gryffindor. As had the Prewetts. And, as she knew from Sirius, family didn't always determine how one was sorted, but she also knew Ronald fairly well by now.

He was definitely a Gryffindor.

And Draco most certainly wasn't.

"Thank you," she said simply to Frank. Feeling grateful that Draco now had someone else to talk to. Even someone that wasn't really part of the magical world.

"You're welcome, though I didn't do it for you." His eyes, no longer twinkling, caught hers. "Do you know, I was hesitant when Ted asked me to meet with a seven-year-old wizard? I know that mental health isn't really dealt with here, not unless it's caused by magic. I was afraid the parents would object. But you haven't objected to anything. All you do is ask me why I have him do things. That's very hard for most parents to do. Especially when they were raised to hate the person doing the suggesting."

Narcissa's cheeks grew warm and she looked away, ashamed of the person she'd once been, of the person she would still likely be if Lucius hadn't been convicted. Looking for a distraction, her gaze found Draco. He was pushing away from the table and joining the others in grabbing brooms and walking over to the break in the garden hedge. The fact that Ginevra was joining them was a good sign. Nymphadora had pitched a fit upon learning that Ginevra never joined them when flying because the Weasley boys refused to let their baby sister play. Draco and Ronald had spent the last year letting Ginevra fly with them. The boys claimed it was on Nymphadora's orders, but Narcissa had overheard them comment a few times on how well the younger girl flew.

"You look serious."

Andy's words from across the table drew Narcissa's gaze away from the children. She tilted an elegant eyebrow at her cake covered sister, "Well, one of us has to be the adult."

Ted chuckled, "She has a point, love. Why don't we go get cleaned up while the real children fly? I'm guessing we'll do gifts when they come back?" He looked at Narcissa and she nodded in agreement, watching the two of them slip off to the house.

"Thank you for inviting me to join all of you," Frank said softly once they were gone.

She shrugged, "Draco wanted you here. Besides, you're family."

"So my being a muggle doesn't bother you?"

Old lectures, words passed down by her parents and husband flew through her mind. So many lies told to her during her lifetime. It was hard to forget those lectures, but no, she couldn't say they caused her to feel uncomfortable in Frank's presence. Her gaze met his and she let the sincerity of her words slip into her tone. "Not if it doesn't bother you. I've had to face a lot of realities over the past decade. One is the fact that magic failed my son. Ergo, maybe magic isn't the best thing in the world. Perhaps it isn't the answer to everything."

His brow rose, "That's quite the turnaround from what Ted and Dromeda used to say. Now," he stood up, changing the subject, "why don't you give me a tour of your lovely home while the children play? I can see your house elf over there, waiting to clean up."

Indeed, Dobby was hovering nearby in the shadow of a tree, looking eager to tidy the garden back up. She smiled and stood, taking the arm Frank offered out to her. "I'll be happy to give you a tour."

He smiled down at her and Narcissa couldn't help but smile back, even if his gaze did still unsettle her.

oXoXoXo

Draco's hand formed a fist in his pocket, his short nails digging into his palm, calming him down and keeping him focused. He shouldn't be so nervous. Diagon Alley was basically deserted. Half the stores weren't even open yet and there were only two other people on the street with him and Dora. Besides, no one would know who he was. No one could judge him. His mum had glamoured his hair so that it was pitch black. This made him rather creepy and memorable looking, but no one would think he was a Malfoy. Combine that with Dora morphing into an appearance quite different from her normal one and they were safe and anonymous

But that didn't make him feel much better. Whatever his mum wanted to believe he wasn't afraid of being recognized or judged. He was just afraid of lots of strange magical people around him. Especially in a place he didn't know inwards and outwards.

He was never as afraid when he and his mum were in muggle Britain. Something that Uncle Frank couldn't quite explain. Since typically people with a fear of crowds had a fear of all crowds, not just certain groups.

"Oi, you ready? Flourish and Blotts is open. We can get your books first. Don't think anyone is in there at all."

He grinned at the fact that Dora was still unable to change her speech mannerisms as easily as she changed her appearance. It had to annoy her Auror trainers to no end.

"Yes, let's get that over with," he said, taking a step towards the store. She quickly followed him and they got to work.

It was the end of July and, while everyone had gotten their Hogwarts letters a week earlier, quite a few students still had to do their shopping. The stores became crowded quickly and Draco was forced to hold onto Dora's hand every time they left a store. It was hard, but he managed to focus on her and not on everyone else bumping them as they pushed through the crowd and finally entered the last shop: Ollivanders.

The wand shop was deserted when they entered and Draco took a deep breath, releasing Dora's hand and simply soaking in the glorious silence. He was halfway through relaxing all of his muscles when a slight shift in the air had him opening his eyes. An old man with hair even more silvery than Draco's own had appeared. They studied each other for a moment before the old man gave a whispery smile.

"Ah, I wondered if I would be seeing you Mr. Malfoy. There was some doubt as to where your mother would send you to school. Still going to Hogwarts?"

Draco nodded, his throat suddenly tight and dry. But, surprisingly, he had no trouble breathing.

"Oi, Ollivander, be nice to my cousin. He ain't had an easily time of it," Dora said, striding over and leaning casually on the counter between Draco and the shop owner.

Ollivander's wild eyebrows rose, but he didn't spare Dora a glance. "I shall keep that in mind, Miss Tonks. Now, how about we get this young man a wand? Which is your wand arm?"

"Right," Draco managed to whisper and swallowing and clearing his throat, willing it to work.

Ollivander turned and began pulling boxes off of shelves, diving into and out of long aisles Draco had trouble seeing if he stared at them for too long. A string began measuring Draco as he waited, each measurement resulting in a different box being pulled off a shelf. Finally he returned to the counter, a stack of about a dozen boxes in his arms.

"Now, let's see. Try this one."

He thrust a wand out and Draco took it, it was swiped back just as quickly. "No, definitely not an elm wand. Perhaps the father's wood…"

He stuck several of the boxes to the side and handed Draco another wand. He took this one back just as quickly and then disappeared into the aisles again, leaving the ten other wands untouched. More boxes appeared, more wands were tried. All sorts of wands, Draco was beginning to feel exhausted. The stress of the day and dealing with all the people in Diagon Alley getting to him. Only his good manners kept him from groaning as Ollivander yanked the hundredth wand out of Draco's hand.

"No, that simply won't do. Hm, let's see…"

He went to another shelf, one he hadn't visited before and pulled off several boxes. He opened one and handed it to Draco. Instantly, he could tell this wand was different from the others. He opened his mouth to say something, but didn't get a chance before Ollivander yanked it back and scurried over to that shelf again, pulling out another box.

"That was close, but here, try this."

As soon as the wood touched Draco's skin he knew this was it. He gave it a swish and sparks emerged. A smile took over his face, he felt happier and safer than he had since he'd first left the house with Dora that morning.

"Twelve and a quarter inches, willow wood, with a core of dragon heartstring. Quite a unique pairing. Willow tends not to pair well with dragon heartstring. Much prefers unicorn hair. A rather unique mix you have there, Mr. Malfoy. Something tells me you have a long way to go with that wand, but it will stand you in good stead."

Draco simply nodded, staring down at his wand, running his fingers over the smooth surface as Dora paid for it. He wasn't allowed to use it, but he couldn't help but pull out the belt holster they'd purchased earlier and slip it onto his belt. He settled the wand into it, taking comfort in its presence. When he looked up he saw that Ollivander had disappeared, all the wand boxes once more put away. Dora was watching him, a sad smile on her face.

"Yes?" he asked her, wondering how she could feel so sad when he felt so splendid.

"You feel safer with the wand, don't you?"

Not wanting to give voice to his feelings in such a public place, he simply shrugged, "Was that everything?" He moved to pull the school list out of his robes.

She eyed him knowingly, but didn't call him out on his avoidance. Instead taking the list from his hands and scanning it quickly. "Yes. Aunt Narcissa already got you an owl, so we can just head back to the Leaky and floo home."

"Cool."

They two of them slipped out of the shop, Draco holding on to her hand once more, though he didn't feel nearly as afraid as he had before. How could one little slip of wood make him feel so different?

But it wasn't just a slip of wood, was it?

It was a wand.

His wand.

The boy — no — wizard grinned and stood up straighter before he began to move through the magical crowd with more confidence than he'd ever had previously.


Author's Note: Here we go, last chapter before Draco and Ron head off to Hogwarts and widen their world even more. Not to mention meeting some important people on the train... And if you're curious about the meaning of Draco's wand, go check it out on Pottermore ;)

Hope ya'll enjoy! Sorry it's going up a bit later. Yesterday was my birthday and I ended up having no time to get the actual chapter prepped to go up last night.