Dursleys, Meet the Malfoys - and your doom
"Who remembers what we did in science yesterday, class?" Mr. Melon called out. He was sitting at his desk and wearing yellow suspenders that only further reflected the light glaring off of his bald head. Honestly, Draco had no idea what was wrong with this man that made him dress this way. Perhaps it was secretly an ingenious attempt to simply entertain his students with his ridiculous clothing?
"I know, Mr. Melon!" an excited girlish voice called out from the front of the room. Draco barely knew most of the students in his classroom but he thought her name was utterly plebian, like 'Mary' or 'Elizabeth', or something else equally boring.
"Yes, Elizabeth?"
Ha, he was right!
"Yesterday you showed us the circuit and how to make a light bulb turn on," Elizabeth answered promptly with a wide grin. She had dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail and wore a perfectly ironed sweater and skirt.
"Nerd," snickered Kali as she glanced at her blond friend – Artemis, Draco thought she was called.
Draco rolled his eyes. Kali was clearly a gossipy, boorish idiot and he could not wait to plan against her. However, first he had to ask Harry over for dinner, per his parent's request delivered to him this morning at breakfast.
"That's right!" Mr. Melon beamed. "And today we're going to start at the beginning and learn about how the different substances in the world change – both the physical and chemical changes."
Draco's ears perked up. How things change? Was Mr. Melon talking about transfiguration? Slyly, Draco opened up his super special spy notebook and prepared to take notes. After all, if the mere muggles had discovered wizarding secrets then Draco would have to alert the Ministry of Magic!
As Mr. Melon lectured, Draco began to realize he wasn't talking about magic. Instead he spoke about physical changes – like how you can crumple up a sheet of paper or turn water into ice. Then there were chemical changes, like burning a sugar cube or iron becoming rusted. Draco found himself…intrigued. He thought about some of the iron daggers stored in Father's family history collection that were covered with reddish-colored rust. All this time he had thought that someone had bespelled them long ago, but apparently that was just what happened to iron over many years, especially if exposed to water. Wow!
By the time the lunch bell rang, Draco was so immersed in the lecture that the sound of the bell felt like a wet towel in the face. Frowning, he turned to Potter and asked, "Is it really bloody lunchtime yet?"
"Yeah," Potter said with a little half-smile. "Gee, you must really like science."
"Wha—no!" Draco fervently shook his head. He remembered how his parents had reacted last night when he had tried to explain electricity. "Science is stupid!"
Potter's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Okaaaay."
Remembering his mission for the day, Draco calmed himself and smiled. "Let's head to lunch, eh Potter?"
***
The two of them sat at the end of a mostly empty table. That Elizabeth girl and two boys from their class sat at the other end, but they mostly kept to themselves. Likely they were afraid of getting on Dudley's bad side. Cowards. Not that Draco cared if these stupid muggles liked him or not; or that on the first day of school all the popular boys invited him to eat with them at lunch but now barely spared him a glance. Draco and Potter (even if the latter didn't realize it) were way better than those muggle losers, anyways!
"You alright?" Potter asked as he ate a french fry. "You look like you have a lot on your mind."
"Er." It probably would not do for Draco to admit he was mentally berating the muggle heritage of their classmates. "Sort of. My mother, you see, is awfully worried about me being at a new school and she wants to meet people in my class."
"Oh?" Potter's eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"Yeah," Draco shrugged casually. "Anyways, when I told her about school and stuff, she said you should come over for dinner. This weekend. What time should we pick you up?"
Father had explained it to him that morning. They would go to Potter's house, pick him up, drive a bespelled car that acted as a port-key (after Father did a little confundous charm on Potter so he wouldn't realize what had happen) and then take him to their house. Mother promised that the house elves would stay hidden (well, they usually already did that) and they were not to engage in magic that evening.
"Pick me up?" Potter's eyes widened. Probably in thankfulness, Draco assumed. Poor kid probably never got invites – and especially not to really nice houses like Draco's.
"Yeah. My Father said he could pick you up at four pm tomorrow, on Saturday, and take you to my house."
"Oh." Potter's expression did something weird, like he was happy but then really sad. "Thank you, but I can't."
"Wha—you can't?" Draco cried out. Elizabeth and the other two boys stared him in surprise. Draco lowered his voice and hissed, "What do you mean you can't? Come on, Potter, it'll be fun!"
Potter stirred his pool of ketchup with one of his remaining fries. "Um, I'm not allowed to. My aunt and uncle are pretty strict about me leaving."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Well just tell them you are going to do it anyways! That's what I do when my parents won't let me do something I want," he advised with a wicked grin.
"Yeah, but, I have to help with dinner," Potter said as he squirmed in his seat.
"I'm sure your servants can help," Draco snorted. God, Potter was a joker. As if one of their stature would perform the acts of a common house elf!
Draco bit into his hamburger, still inwardly laughing, when he realized the table was quiet. Looking up, he saw a rather morose look on Potter's face. "Wa-i-some-ting-i-sed?" Draco asked with his mouth full.
"Hey, um, I remembered I have a lunch detention with Mr. Melon for not turning in my homework the other day," Potter informed abruptly. "I should probably get going."
Draco swallowed heavily. "Wait!"
But Potter was already walking away. Bloody hell! Why was Potter making Draco's mission so difficult for him?
***
Potter had effectively avoided Draco the rest of that day and then school was out for the weekend. He met his Father with a grim look that afternoon and then spent the next of the weekend being lectured to about how he should have tried harder.
Sigh. Being a secret spy was harder than he thought!
***
Draco arrived to school on Monday with a secret weapon – thirty of Dobby's famous fudge nut brownies. Of course, he planned on saying it was his mother's, but close enough.
He saw Potter first thing in the morning and gave his secret mission a bright smile. "Morning, Potter! How was your weekend?"
He shrugged. "Alright, I guess."
Draco nodded, noting the lack of enthusiasm. "Well, my Mother was terribly distressed that you could not make it this weekend so she wanted you to have the extra brownies she baked."
Taking the tin of brownies, Potter appeared surprised. "Brownies?" he asked as he looked inside the huge tin.
"Indeed!" Draco grinned as a smile worked its way onto Potter's face – but it was quickly replaced with worry.
"Draco, er, I can't take this. This is a lot of brownies and I don't really deserve all of these."
Objecting with a snort, Draco pushed the tin back into Potter's hands. "Sure you deserve it, Potter. Don't be so daft! Besides, try them," Draco encouraged eagerly.
Slowly, Potter picked one up and took a bite – and his emerald eyes lit up. "Wow! Your mom is the best cook, ever!"
"I know," Draco said smugly. Then Mr. Melon began class and they abated their conversation.
***
Draco spent the next week buttering up Potter. Every day he would bring him some sort of desert that he would have Dobby bake. During lunch and breaks Draco would try to get to know Potter better, but the young wizard was pretty quiet. Mostly Draco just told jokes and tried to entertain Potter, which usually worked. In fact, even the three other students at their lunch table would sometimes laugh at Draco's antics.
"So then," Draco snickered, "we dyed her shampoo to be blue and Pansy had blue hair for an entire week until her mother could charm it out!"
Potter guffawed at Draco's story, and so did Elizabeth and the other two boys (Peter and Gabriel were their names, he found out). Over the course of the week the three of them had moved closer to Draco and Potter, although they were still a few seats away.
"Did you get in trouble?" Potter asked.
Draco shot him a sly look. "I didn't. Pansy's little brother looked like the culprit when her mother found the supplies under his bed."
They both shared a look and then began laughing anew.
"That was funny, but rather mean," Elizabeth pointed out. She was an alright bird, bit of a know-it-all and nerdy, but nice enough.
"Exactly," Draco said with a devilish smirk.
"Your friends sound like fun," Potter remarked. "Why don't they go to school here?"
"Here?" Draco repeated in alarm. "Uh, they can't. They don't go to school."
"Are they home schooled?" Elizabeth asked.
Draco wanted to hug her just then. That had not been a question that he had prepared for! "Yes! Yes they do!"
The bell rang and Elizabeth, Peter, and Gabriel got up, but Draco made Potter wait. "So Potter. You know what tomorrow is!"
"Saturday?"
"Yes," Draco nodded with a winning smile. "And the day that you should come do dinner with us. Mother is making lamb."
"Um…"
"Come on! It'll be fun," Draco pestered.
"Draco, I really can't. They won't allow me," Potter told him with a forlorn expression.
He needed a new act. "Oh. I see," Draco said in a small voice as he hung his head in sadness. "You just don't want to hang out with me."
"What? Oh, no! That isn't it!" Potter fervently explained.
Draco shrugged. "It's okay, Potter. You don't have to humor me. I understand that I'm not that cool."
"No, Draco. Really, my aunt and uncle won't let me. Otherwise I definitely would!"
Draco almost felt bad about this emotional manipulation, but dang it, he was a spy! Sometimes a spy had to do what he had to do. "Well then why don't you?" Draco asked with wide, innocent eyes.
Potter pressed his lips together in a thin line. "I'll ask, okay? But it can't be this weekend. With the leaves falling I have lawn work to do."
"Lawn work?" Draco's nose crinkled in disgust. "That sounds rather…" Seeing Potter's expression change from open to closed made Draco halt his words. "Well, okay then! Ask for next weekend," he grinned.
Potter gave him a begrudging smile. "Okay, I'll try."
***
Harry waited until after he got done washing the dinner dishes and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were watching the news in the living room. Throughout the rest of the day he had tried to think of how to approach his aunt and uncle but still wasn't sure how it would go. After all, he had never asked to go to someone's house before because he had never had a friend before.
A friend. The thought made Harry smile. It was a nice change to have someone to talk to at school, especially during lunch and recess. And Draco was nice, even if he was rather dramatic and peculiar. He always had outrageous stories and seemed to like to hear himself speak, but that was okay because Harry didn't really know what to say to people anyways. Besides, what if Harry went ahead and said something wrong? It would be terrible if he accidentally mentioned about how he's basically a servant at home – everyone at school already judged him enough.
Wincing, Harry recalled the conversation he had with Draco last week. Did Draco really have servants or was that just him being dramatic again? What if Draco didn't want to be his friend anymore if he discovered that Harry was just like a servant?
Harry really didn't like the idea of that. He was starting to get used to having a friend and he didn't want to lose that.
"Uncle Vernon? Aunt Petunia?" Harry spoke up as he brought their coffees out to them; cream for Vernon and a good does of cream and sugar for Petunia.
"What is it, boy?" Vernon rumbled as he took his coffee from Harry's hands. "They're about to release the football scores."
"I was just wondering…" Harry trailed off as Vernon turned suspicious beady eyes upon his nephew. "Um, one of the boys at school invited me over to his house. For dinner," Harry quickly explained.
Vernon shared a look with his wife and then gave Harry a heady stare. "And just who are these people that would think that you, boy, would make an acceptable house guest.
Harry checked an internal sigh and made himself bow his head and slump his shoulders. He had learned – it had been a long, arduous process, but he had learned – how to act in his family's presence. Uncle Vernon took direct eye contact and straight shoulders to be a sign of challenge; like an alpha wolf, Vernon liked his pack members to be subordinate in every way.
"His name is Draco Black and he's in my class. He said his mother and father invited me over because he's new to school and they want to meet his classmates."
"Draco?" Petunia cried out in a shrill voice as she set down her cup of coffee. "Isn't that the foul boy that caused my poor Dudleykins to get hurt last week?"
It was hard to force away a smile at the mental image that statement caused to surface. "Draco just stepped out of the way when Dudley tried to rush him. It was Dudley that ran into the radiator." Harry really didn't know how to spin that fact.
Uncle Vernon grabbed Harry roughly by the arm and pulled him close. His nostrils flared slightly and his brows were furrowed in anger. "Don't you lie to me, boy. Dudley said you and that Draco boy pushed him into the radiator."
Harry winced at Vernon's foul breath and hate-filled voice. He really didn't understand why his uncle hated him so much, but assumed it was because he was a burden. Sometimes he wished he had been left on a different doorstop. "It's true," he mumbled.
Shaking his arm, Vernon bellowed, "That's it! Back to the cupboard boy!"
As he was dragged away to his 'room' under the stairs, Harry felt his hopes crumbling.
He would never get out of this house, not even for a day.
***
"Hey Potter," Draco greeted as the other took his seat in the classroom on Monday. "How was your weekend?"
Potter's thin shoulders moved under the baggy material of his grey sweatshirt and he evaded Draco's eyes. "Alright."
"So, did you ask your aunt and uncle about visiting?" Draco asked eagerly.
"Um, yeah." Potter shrugged again. "Um, they said I couldn't."
"What?" Draco shouted. Everyone else in the classroom gave him curious looks, but he ignored them. "What sort of wicked relatives are they?"
Harry's lips quirked into a smile. "Very wicked," he admitted truthfully.
"Well I just don't understand," Draco huffed as he cradled his chin in his palms. "When someone issues an invitation to the Mal—er, Black house, no one denies it!"
Smiling, Potter gave him another peculiar look. "I 'spose there's a first for everything. Besides, I think part of it came from the fact that you pushed Dudley into the radiator."
"What!" Draco shrieked in indignation. "I did not push that portly beast!"
Potter began to laugh at his reaction but quickly explained. "Yeah, but that's what Dudley told them when they saw the bruise on his knee. They always believe him over me."
Aghast, Draco just stared at Potter. He could believe that Potter's stupid relatives were honestly that stupid. "Well what in the bloody hell is their problem?"
"Draco Black! You watch your language or you'll be spending lunch with me," Mr. Melon demanded with a stern expression.
Draco slumped into his chair and sulked. Stupid muggles, saying Potter couldn't play and not letting him shout bloody hell!
***
"So Draco, what did young Harry say about coming over?" Narcissa asked as she passed the biscuits during dinner that night.
Pursing his lips, Draco glanced at each of his parents and sighed. "He isn't allowed."
"Why not?" Narcissa asked sharply. After all, no one had denied a dinner invitation to her house before!
"His aunt and uncle are mad because their stupid fat son lied and said I pushed him that first day of school two weeks ago – even though I didn't!" Draco added belligerently.
"Do they now?" Lucius asked coolly, his voice barely masking his derision. He glanced at Narcissa and she knew what he was thinking – these muggles were clearly awful. "Wasn't that when you stood up for Potter?"
"Yes!" Draco answered proudly, jutting his chin forward.
"Perhaps we should make a little house visit," Narcissa offered as she began plotting.
"Dear?" Lucius queried.
"Well, if they won't let Harry come to us, perhaps we should come to them." Narcissa's smile was full of promises – and not all of them were very nice.
***
"Darling, are you ready yet?" Narcissa called as she waited outside the manor with Draco. "I don't know how to start this bloody contraption."
Several minutes later Lucius appeared dressed in a grey suit that reflected his ice blue eyes remarkably well. Likewise, Narcissa was in elegant muggle garb; a red power dress that clung to her curves but was still quite tasteful. Draco was dressed in his typical school clothes, a green polo and brown trousers.
"It's not that hard," Lucius commented with a mild eye roll as he slid into the front seat of the black BMW. "You just mutter the incantation and it starts driving."
"Yes, but then what?" Narcissa asked in exasperation as she got in on the other side. "What do we do about the other automobiles on the road?"
"Relax dear, the spell will take care of that. I just tell it where to go and it does all the work," Lucius smiled.
"I hope so," Narcissa huffed. She looked at Draco in the rearview mirror. "You didn't tell Harry at school yesterday that we were coming today, right?"
"Yes, Mother. I kept quiet, just as you said," Draco promptly
"Good job, darling." Narcissa smiled to herself. Last week, on Monday, she had made the decision that they needed to visit the Dursleys (ah, what an awful, common name!) but Lucius had made them wait until his muggle private investigator learned more about the family. Now, it was almost two weeks later and Narcissa was beyond anxious to visit Harry. She was no fool – from the descriptions Draco gave (wore baggy clothes, the random bruises, his quiet nature), she was sure those muggles were mistreating Harry. If there was anything that sent her into a murderous rage, it was the mistreatment of children.
Although that, she supposed, had more to do with her own upbringing than anything else.
Lucius said his incantation and suddenly the tin-can that muggles called transportation roared to life.
"Oh, it's dreadfully loud!" Narcissa complained. She could feel her seat vibrating from the energy of the car and it took all of her willpower not to jump out from the vicious creature. But, she was a Black and above all they kept their cool in even the most alarming situations.
Lucius chuckled to himself. "Women," he said to Draco with a raised brow and smirk. Draco leaned forward and giggled, enjoying the moment with his father.
"You couldn't last a day in my shoes, Lucius," Narcissa commented loftily with a teasing smile.
"No my dear, I could not," Lucius said with an indulgent smile.
The car, on its own, turned around in their drive and began to smoothly glide onto the paved road located past their house. It drove in the direction of Harry Potter's house in Little Whinging and managed to work, which surprised Narcissa. It took her husband many hours to prepare this car but they knew they couldn't apparate there, so this was the next best thing. Weaving in and out of the rows of cars was extremely frightening, but Narcissa fought not to comment on it, lest her husband mock her sensitivity again.
Eventually they came upon a neighborhood where each house looked exactly the same and featured perfectly manicured lawns. Frankly, Narcissa couldn't understand why such a lack of imagination would be sought after, but apparently (according to the private investigator) this was considered an expensive neighborhood and the Dursleys prided themselves on their appearances.
When the car parked in the driveway Lucius gave her a stern look. "I'll do the talking, dear."
"Oh Lucius!" Narcissa bristled. "I am a perfectly adequate conversationalist for today's company."
"Yes," he smirked. "But seeing as how you've been commenting on all the many things you'd like to do and say to Potter's relatives, I cannot be sure you will control yourself."
Narcissa glared at her husband but silently agreed with him. After the hell her father had put her, Andromeda, and Bellatrix through, Narcissa had a lot of pent-up rage towards abusive parental figures.
The three of them got out, Draco their silent shadow, and approached the front door. Narcissa set on her impeccable blank mask and prepared to meet Harry Potter's family.
The door opened smoothly, revealing a lanky and boyish-figured woman wearing a floral-patterned pink dress. Her short brown curls were tucked behind her ears and she reminded Narcissa of a horse with her long neck, large teeth, and long, oval face. It took all of Narcissa's willpower not to crinkle her nose in distaste. Unlike her sister Lily, who Narcissa remembered from school, Petunia Dursley was an incredibly unattractive woman.
"Why, hello," Petunia greeted with a broad, albeit forced smile. It was clear the woman disliked unannounced visitors. "What can I do for you?"
Lucius gave her his most charming smile and Petunia wilted a little bit – few women could resist Lucius, Narcissa thought smugly. Strategically moving aside so the muggle could easily view their BMW in the driveway (apparently this was the best sort of automobile available and these muggles were the greedy sort), Lucius began to speak. "Good afternoon. I'm Lucius Black, this is my wife Narcissa—" Narcissa gave the muggle her most winning smile, "and my son, Draco."
Petunia's eyes bugged at the mention of Draco and she glanced quickly the eight-year old boy. "Oh, hello," she mumbled in surprise. "I'm Petunia Dursley." She appraised them and her lips formed an oval when she looked down at Narcissa's satin blue pumps. "Oh," she gasped. "Are those Jimmy Choos?"
Narcissa perfectly schooled her face to give the woman a pleased yet humble smile. "Why yes. They're scheduled to come out next month, according to my personal shopper." The first thing Narcissa had done when she realized the family had to blend in with muggles was to hire an expensive muggle personal shopper who selected the finest garments for them. Narcissa was brilliant when it came to selecting fashionable wizarding pieces but she was, alas, rather ignorant of muggle fashion – hence the personal shopper.
"They're gorgeous," Petunia sighed as she gave the shoes a lingering look. Quickly she smiled at them. "Where are my manners?" she laughed. "Please, come in."
The Malfoys stepped inside the nice, if rather quaint, home. The living room was decorated in pastels and featured expensive couches, chairs, and end tables. Of course, realizing that the Dursleys had money to spend on their home but not purchase adequate clothing for their nephew only made Narcissa want to burn every item in that room.
"Vernon, darling! Come here! We have visitors!" Petunia called in a shrill voice. She turned towards the Malfoys. "Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Tea, please," Lucius said gently. One glance at Narcissa and he ordered another tea for her as well. Petunia left the room quickly and they went about inspecting the place.
"So this is how muggles live?" Draco whispered. His eyes drank in the big-screen television. "Wow."
Narcissa rapped him on the head with her hand. "You're easily impressed, Draco. This is a dreadful little place," she sniffed. Merlin knows she would make sure her son didn't embrace the muggle lifestyle like her misguided sister Andromeda!
Minutes later Petunia appeared with a tea tray and an obese man with a handlebar mustache that made Narcissa either want to wince or laugh.
"Vernon, dear, these are the Blacks. Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco. And this is my husband Vernon," Petunia introduced.
They all stood up to shake hands, and Narcissa noted how Vernon took in their expensive clothes. Such a simple muggle.
"Welcome to our home," Vernon said once the introductions were complete and they sat down for tea. "Now, forgive me if I sound rude, but were we expecting you lot?"
"We were passing through, actually," Lucius informed. "Draco just began school with your nephew several weeks ago and, well, we've heard so much about Harry that we wanted to visit."
Narcissa pulled a bouquet of fresh flowers out from the shopping bag she had brought in. "And these are for you, Petunia. I know it's rather rude of us to just drop by, so please consider this our gift."
"Oh, why thank you!" Petunia preened; obviously pleased. Narcissa observed how Petunia quickly checked the price tag and smiled – as she should, considering they cost forty pounds! "You really shouldn't have," she smiled.
"Oh, but of course!" Lucius smiled. "Harry's become such a great friend to Draco that we wanted to introduce ourselves."
"Oh?" Vernon squinted. "Uh, yes, Harry has talked about Draco as well."
"Yes, where is Harry? Perhaps he and Draco could play while we talked," Lucius opined.
Vernon and Petunia shared a look. "Uh, I'll go get him," Petunia offered. There was a frantic look in her eye that did not sit well with Narcissa.
As soon as she was out of the living room, Narcissa asked, "May I use your restroom, Vernon?"
He gave her the directions for it – and Narcissa instead went in search of wherever Petunia went. She was determined to see what sort of quarters they placed Potter in. Perhaps threadbare blankets? A rug on the floor?
Harsh whispers could be heard near the staircase and Narcissa followed them.
"You listen here, boy," Petunia ordered. "Don't you dare tell this family about your room or anything bad. Or else you will never leave this house again, not even to school."
"Yes, Aunt Petunia," came a muffled boy's voice.
Narcissa rounded the staircase and stumbled upon Petunia speaking into a tiny doorway located under the staircase. She glanced up, wondering if Harry was upstairs, but then Petunia saw her – and a horrified expression crossed her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I believe I got lost on the way to the lavatory," Narcissa explained smoothly.
"It's back that way," Petunia explained quickly as she went to shut the door under the staircase – but then a little boy with broken, taped-up glasses poked his head out. Shaggy black hair covered his forehead but Narcissa could see a lightning bolt-shaped scar hiding underneath.
Revulsion hit her as she walked closer and glanced inside the little room…which wasn't a room at all! No, it was some sort of cupboard! It was certainly far too small for even a child. And Harry – he was all skin and bones, exactly as Draco had said.
Fury crashed over her and only her superior control kept her wand hidden in her holster and not grasped in her hand. "What on earth have you been doing to this boy?" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage.
A/N:
Thank you for reading!
References
*This website told me what sorts of things 4th grade students should be learning in science: /files/matter_
