Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
The rest of the term droned by. Ever so slowly.
Until it was finally time to go home, there was no avoiding this. He would have to go home eventually, it would do him no good postponing it. Draco was reluctantly packing his things, placing them delicately into his trunk. It was a few days after Cedric's memorial, but the memory was just as raw.
His loss was universal. Effecting everyone. For many everyday was a struggle, many simply never wanted to return after the break. For Draco, however, it was another story. He glanced around his room, the cobbled walls with emerald drapes and plush beds. It smelt like home. Like the home Draco had never felt in his house, with his family.
He already ached for Hogwarts.
Draco's mind had been in turmoil over what was going to occur once he walked in his front door, and, apparently, Dumbledore had also been thinking along this line as well.
He had been called up to his office after dinner. McGonagol had spent the next half hour lecturing Draco about what to do and what to definitely avoid. Dumbledore clasped his hands together and peered over his half-moon glasses.
Draco took one long look back at Hogwarts, it stood magnificent between the fluffy clouds. The stone walls glimmered in the sun, majestical. Wearily, he boarded the train.
Draco looked out the window, his mother stood alone.
Straight backed, white hair flowing in the slight breeze, shining in the golden light of the train station.
Happy families bustled around her, chattering with their children that they hadn't seen in the past year. They laughed and smiled, Draco looked back to his mum.
She met his eyes with a stern smile.
The air nipped at Draco and he pulled his coat tighter around him, the dark velvet hugged his chest. Hesitantly, he grabbed his trunk and left the safety of the she saw him her unsmiling face lit up slightly, brandishing her arms and pulling him into a hug. A smile tinged at his lips, he had always preferred his Mother over his Father.
He lugged his heavy trunk up the steps into his house, he pushed open the heavy door. Inside it was dark and cold, cool air wafted out and kissed his face with its icy touch. Distant.
The tall ceiling seemed to disappear into shadows, family portraits glared haughtily at him. Their cold soulless eyes watching everything, seeing nothing.
"Welcome home Draco." Narissa placed her hand on his shoulder and offered him a comforting smile, "Dinner is in an hour."
Draco nodded solemnly and made his way up to his room, walking through the twists and turns of the numerous corridors. He finally spotted the familiar door. His room.
He nudged open the door, and sighed.
Memories flooded back in, the time when his cat had passed on and he had spent hours lying on his bed dwelling in despair or when he had ripped open the welcoming Hogwarts letter in secret almost squealing with excitement.
A lifetime ago.
Draco showered and changed into casual clothes, a grey button up and pressed black trousers. He looked back one more time around his room before exiting and gliding down to the dining hall. As he entered, it took him everything in his power not to look down.
His feet seemed much more inviting than the piercing glare that his father threw at him.
He sat with his hands enlaced, head barely moving as he watched Draco take his seat across from him. As Draco shifted in his seat, Narissa sent him a small forced smile.
Lucius clicked his fingers, a sharp sound ringing through the large room. A small house elf apparatus from out of nowhere, sweat creating beads on the poor things forehead.
The potato sack that the house elf wore shivered slightly, "Yes, Master Malfoy?"
"Where is the food?" A harsh tinge to his voice.
It grimaced, "Coming Master, the potatoes are still cooking."
Lucius turned back to the table and smiled slowly, "Do you hear that, the potatoes are cooking.. Come here."
The house elf reluctantly walked closer to his master, his father slapped the thing.
It flew to the floor, quiet pained whines escaping from its lips.
"Next time, when I say the dinner is to be finished by 7 o'clock, I expect the dinner to be finished by 7 o'clock. Is that too hard? Go."
The house elf apparated with a -crack- the moment Lucius said go.
"I just don't understand why some people cant do the simplest of tasks, its pathetic." He scoffed in disgust.
Draco remained silently, peering at an unknown object placed on the table.
"So Draco, a little birds has told me that you have a new friend. What was her name, Hermond, Hermit?"
"Hermione." Draco could barely even hear his voice, he whispered it ever so slightly.
"Ohhh, thats the one. So tell me how are her parents?" An evil glint appeared in his eyes.
What was the saying? Saved by the bell.
Platters of food appeared on the table, assertions of potatoes, meats and vegetables lay in front of them.
Lucius rubbed his hands together, sarcastically smiling, "Let us eat."
The first few weeks of the summer holidays were like that: the sarcastic questions, crude remarks, painful imitation of a family.
It was torturous.
Draco was snacking on a slice of crisp toast as he walked past the drawing room. Draco heard voices that playfully danced out of the slightly open door, he cautiously approached it.
"Draco, welcome, do come in." A soft voice slithered out.
The door creaked open, inside was the usual long table that resided there, but alongside it was lined with people.
At the end of the table is only what Draco assumed to be Voldemort.
Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snakes with slits for nostrils. He was terrifying.
"Come sit Draco, join us." His voice reminded Draco of someone rubbing their nails against a chalkboard.
Draco had to fight his legs to not dissolve into jello, he took one shaky breath and pulled up an empty chair.
Lucius stared daggers into Draco, telling him the severity of this moment.
"Draco, as I was saying to my friends here," He gestured to the crowd,"I think its time you should participate in our activities, Draco. Join us." He sat patiently on his seat, not a care in the world.
Draco's head teemed with thoughts, of regret, pain, dread.
A man sitting next to Draco smiled cruelly, black teeth showing, a revolting smell pulsed from him.
Draco looked from each of the peoples faces that sat at the table, studying them carefully.
Putting off the decision that could potentially change his life, he looked to his father. His face was so cruel and cold that Draco knew there was only one decision that was possible. His face folded, swallowing all emotion.
He looked into Voldemort's eyes.
And gave him the ever most slightest nod.
Voldemort cackled, yellow teeth shining under the light. Draco exhaled the breath he had been holding since he walked into the room.