A First Hand Account of Draco Malfoy
Harry's POV
"Not a bad size for an attic, quite spacious." Draco said as he walked into our attic.
I had to admit the kids did a great job of cleaning up in here. The dust alone was enough to make you never want to set foot in here. But the real reason I know its good is because Ron is actually sitting comfortably on one of the sofas. There were visible spiders crawling around before- couldn't get him to come near this place.
"Thanks… Ron jokes that we could rent it out for parties. You know 'party in Harry Potter's house' type of thing." I say smiling.
"He's probably right, you'd be surprised how much people are willing to pay for certain things."
"And what are you two talking about?"
I look up to see Ginny looking towards where Draco and I are sitting on one of the couches. Her, Ron and Hermione are sitting on the sofa across from us. I know that's the cue to get the conversation started.
"Oh, I was just telling Draco about Ron's idea to use this place to hold parties." I replied.
"Yes and I actually agreed with it. I was just telling Harry you'd be surprised how much certain people would probably pay to do that."
"Oh Draco don't be silly…" Ginny said chuckling.
"I'm serious, in my line of work, I find if you can provide something that someone else can't then you'll find people will pay handsomely for it. And only Harry Potter could provide Harry Potter's attic… well him or Ginny Potter."
We all chuckled at his joke, but Hermione spoke first-
"What do you do Draco? I know I've seen you in the Ministry a few times, but you don't work their, do you?" she asked.
To be honest, the line of work of one Draco Malfoy is a mystery to most people. Though I've been assured it's nothing illegal. Or Dark. Or anything sinister whatsoever.
"No. But I often have to find things out, get permission for things, licenses have to be renewed, things of that nature, so I venture in their at least once a week."
"So what do you do Draco?" Ron asked.
Draco gave us all a quick glance before he started to speak-
"Well… I'm not doing anything really great… not like being an Auror or petitioning for elf rights… or running the world's best joke shop… and I definitely have never played professional Quidditch…"
And to my surprise I realized Draco Malfoy was nervous around us.
"It's alright if you don't want to tell us." I say.
"Of course," Hermione added, obviously realizing the same thing, "it's just you were talking about your job, and I though an obvious question would be to ask what you did. But-"
"I Fly." He said cutting off Hermione.
"Fly? What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"That's the name of my business. I Fly."
"I've heard of that before… but where…" Ginny admitted.
And I could tell she was trying to rack her brain for where she heard of it.
"Well… I helped set up a charity drive once with the Harpies with a hospital in Egypt."
"That's it, I remember now. That was one of our better events. The kids really had fun."
"Oh Draco that's great." Hermione said beaming.
"Well, that was a while ago. Haven't done anything like that in a while to be honest."
"So what else does your company do then?" I asked.
"It was like I was saying earlier. People will pay galleons out the arse if you can get them to fly the way they want to fly… so I make it happen."
"What do you mean, 'the way they want to fly'?" Ron quizzed.
"Well for small things let's say you wanted to take the family on a carpet ride, but those are illegal in Britain."
"You don't take them illegally do you?" Ginny asked.
"No… trust me I've had enough of illegal activity." He says smirking.
And I'm surprised at that.
"No, but what I do is take them for rides over Britain."
"But you just said-" Hermione started.
"Yes they're illegal here. But in the surrounding countries they aren't illegal. So as long as the ride starts and ends in non British territory, they can fly over."
"Really?" Ron asks.
"Yeah, I mean it's not like they're going to send someone to Azkaban for flying their family over. So as long as you don't make any stops, you're fine."
"Did you know that already?" I asked.
"No, that's part of the reason why I end up at the Ministry once a week. There's always something to look up and get rulings on." He replied.
"So, you only do carpet rides?" Ginny asked.
"No… I get request for all types of things. You'd be surprised how many people get in touch just to get over there fear of flying."
"How much to train Hermione?" Ron asked grinning.
"Oh shut up Ron." Hermione said blushing.
We all laughed.
"So what's the weirdest thing anyone's ever asked to fly?" Ron asked.
"There was a chap in Australia who wanted fairies to carry him over the great wall in China."
"What?"
I asked snorting with laughter just trying to picture it.
"Yes, but it turned out to be quite simple. The Chinese Magical government actually has scheduled fly over times- but of course that's for broom riders. In the end he had to do it at night. He didn't mind though."
"Now, I've heard it all." Hermione said smiling.
"But he was agreeable. Some people want specific things, on specific dates."
"Like?" Ron quizzed.
"There's one bloke… he's a regular now, so I don't complain anymore, but he wanted to fly on a Threstral in America on Halloween- no Invisibility charm."
"Well they're invisible most of the time…" Ginny said.
"Yeah, but could you imagine what it would be like for the old woman whose seen death to see a Threstral fly by her window on Halloween?"
Though it really isn't funny, we all chuckled.
"Yeah, in the end, he went the night before, and he didn't get to fly within a one mile radius of any major city- not that he knew that."
"Any dangerous animals? Hippogriff's perhaps?" Ron asked with a grin.
"Yeah a few… after I started making more money, I started to invest into getting my own animals… so I could save on having to find someone willing to let me use theirs. I own two Hippogriff's, four Threstrals, a bunch of Abraxan's, and I'm in the process of getting an Aethonan. And I'm still trying to catch a Granian."
"Wow Draco… that's great. And to think you hated Care of Magical Creatures." I stated.
"Still do Harry. Do you know how much magical crap those creatures get rid of?" He said smirking.
"I can only imagine." Hermione said shaking her head with a smile.
"Yeah, but to answer you question Ron, the most dangerous animal anyone's ever asked me to get for them is… well it'd have to be a tie."
"Between?" Ginny asked.
"A dragon and a sphinx." He replied.
"But the dragon has got to be worse. They breathe fire for Merlin's sake." Ron stated.
"Yes they do, but if you ever seen a sphinx after a wrong answer you'll know what I mean."
"Ouch…" I said remembering the sphinx from oh so long ago during my fourth year.
"Yeah some prince off some little island in Africa wanted to ride a dragon. The village shaman dreamt the prince had done so and afterwards he became king."
"So you got him a dragon?"
"The funny thing is there was already a dragon not far away."
"But there aren't any dragon's native to Africa." Hermione stated.
"Yes well, I wasn't going to tell the dragon that. Especially when it made my job go from impossible to possible."
"So what happened?"
"After speaking to the countries Magical body, I was off to get him on the dragon."
"They didn't mind?"
"Mind? They looked at me like I was nuts. Then told me, if it didn't kill me, that they had and erumpent loose as well."
Once again, I found myself chuckling along with everyone else.
"Well the only really hard part came with trying to get the dragon out. It was dwelling in a cave. I needed it to come out. So this prince and I waited. And waited. Waited for about a week, and then it comes out. Shaking the ground as it went."
"How big was it?"
"Bigger than two of your houses. Probably weighed four or five tons easy."
"So you two fought a dragon and won?" I asked.
"Are you crazy Harry? He just had to fly on the dragon. Not kill it."
"Oh… but how did you manage to get on it and fly it without you killing it?"
"Apparated of course."
"What?"
We all said in confusion.
"The dragon had come out for a drink of water. While it stood motionless, I apparated the prince right onto the dragon's back."
"But… but… he was a muggle right?"
"Yeah… but he thought I was a shaman too, that I was born with a gift to help people. When he'll tell the tale he'll say 'a shaman from a land a far'. I'm fine."
"Alright, so you apparated him onto the dragon's back. Then what?"
"Dragon immediately does… nothing."
"Nothing?"
"I told you it weighed about five tons, he probably thought we were flies. The prince wanted to start antagonizing it, but I managed to remind him that this was a dangerous creature by making fire come out my wand. He immediately clamed down."
Draco starts smiling.
"Well?"
"Some 20 minutes later or so, the dragon gets it fill… and takes flight."
"Just like that? You're lying." Ron stated.
"I kid you not Ron. And then everything else fell into place like a dream come true. The villagers would say that the great winged beast would fly by after two moons or something. The village looked up and saw their prince riding the dragon and celebrated and cheered down below us."
"That's really lucky Draco."
At this Draco snorted.
"What?"
"Lucky for the prince. As it turns out, the king- you know the prince's father; saw his son atop the dragon and had a heart attack."
"Oh no…" Hermione said looking sad. "You mean-"
"Yup… the prince became king because the king died."
"That's the worst irony I've ever heard." Ginny stated.
"Did the village get mad?" I asked.
"No… but they believe in that sort of stuff. They mourned the loss of their old king, and then celebrated the arrival of their new one. And then I was paid handsomely, and took my leave."
"I have to admit Draco… your business sounds pretty cool."
"I do alright. I just wish it didn't take me away from my family so much."
And then we all sort of look at each other- remembering why were all here in the first place. Draco doesn't miss these looks and ask-
"What's the matter?"
Al's POV
"Did you know your father did all that?" James asks Score looking shocked.
Score just nodded looking just as surprised as the rest of us though, as if he hadn't just heard that story before.
"Wow…a dragon…" Gabe says impressed.
And I find that I'm even more impressed. And then I get a warm feeling in my stomach knowing that the son of that man just kissed me…
'What's the matter?'
We all look down at the ears, and we tense wondering if their about to have the conversation.
"Draco…"
"Yes?"
"I think this is it." James says.
"Sshhh"
Rose and David say leaning closer to the strings.
I look at Score. He's looking at the strings. I grab his hand out of view from everyone else. He looks at me.
I smile and nod my head.
He doesn't smile, but he nods all the same.
And just before he leans back into listen, he squeezes my hand.
And I pray this all turns out right.
Harry's POV
"Draco…" Hermione starts.
"Yes," He replies.
"You see…" I start uncertainly.
"How often do you get to spend time with Scorpius?" Ginny asks.
I breathe a silent sigh at Ginny's question.
"Well… it's like I said, I wish I had more time with him, but I really run the business by myself. I have a few helpers who take care of the animals, and I have people who set up my appointments, but in the end I personally see to every flight a customer takes. That's why I'm hardly ever around on Christmas…"
He sounded like he was proud, but you could hear the regret in his voice as ended.
"The thing is, since you're not…"
"Just say whatever it is, you want to say." Draco says looking around, "There's obviously something you all want to say."
He looks tense. And I can't blame him. And of course Ron is about to open his mouth, but Hermione elbows him to stop him.
"Draco… the time Scorpius spends with his mother-"
"What about Freesia?" He says cutting Hermione off.
"How is she with Scorpius?" Ginny asks.
"I don't know what you're playing at… but I'll play along… she's fine with him."
He looks more agitated every second.
"Strict?" I quiz.
"Depends. Definitely not as lose you guys are, but not as strict as I've seen from other families. Why?"
"The thing is… well…" I start.
But I don't know how to say it. I look at Hermione hoping she can say it, but she doesn't seem any more capable. And Ginny looks as is she wants to cry.
"Ron. Tell me what Harry is trying to say." Draco says looking at Ron.
Ron actually looks at Hermione first.
"Need permission?"
And I can tell he's pissed- again, not that I can blame him.
"No… but everyone's concerned about sparing your feelings. But as far as I'm concerned there's no way not to spare a bloke's feelings when you're telling him bad news about his kids." Ron stated looking at Draco.
"What bad news? What about Scorpius?" Draco says standing up.
And then anger is washed away followed by worried.
"Your wife is the reason Score doesn't speak." Ron says looking up at Draco.
There's a brief moment of confusion on Draco's face, before he starts to look angry again.
"What are you talking about?" He asks.
"Look, Scorpius and Al were hanging out, and apparently Al asked him why he didn't talk. And to answer him Scorpius showed Al some memories."
"You expect me to just believe that Scorpius just decided to finally tell your son why he doesn't talk?"
"What do you mean finally?"
Ginny asks, and I see her stand up and walk over to him.
"Easy everyone, easy…" I say getting up- just in case Draco gets any ideas.
"Yes let's just calm-" Hermione starts.
"I mean, why would he just decide to answer him when he asked this time? What was going on to make him speak?"
"There was nothing going on," Ginny says shouting at him, "Don't you know Draco?" Ginny asks.
And there's a bit of a pause as we all look at Ginny. I mean of course we've never seen anything concrete between Scorpius and Al, but everyone thinks it's there. And Ginny doesn't like it, but I wouldn't put it past her to point it out to Draco in the heat of an argument.
"Ginny" I say giving her a warning look.
"Know what?"
"That was the first time Al ever asked him."
I breathe a sigh of relief, though it was for nothing as that didn't seem to deter Draco.
"So what? I still don't believe he'd just tell him,"
"Well believe it Draco, and shut up."
It's Ron who yells this and even Draco looks at him in surprise.
"Can't you just listen to everything first and then ask questions? Otherwise we won't get anywhere."
"Yes… Ron's… right…" Hermione says slowly.
Probably not used to saying that.
"Come on Draco, I can understand that you're mad, I can. But if you really care about your son, focus on the fact that we're trying to tell you why he doesn't talk, and not concentrate on why he didn't tell you first."
My words surprise me, but I'm happy I said them because Draco steps back and says-
"Fine. Go on."
I clear my throat and motion for everyone to sit back down. When everyone slowly sits- although a bit on edge; I begin again.
"So Scorpius decided to show Al some of his memories…"
"And what did your son say was in those memories?"
"He… he didn't say anything… the boys used the Pensieve in my office. They didn't ask though. So when I walked in my office they tried to cover like they hadn't done anything. But the latch on the Pensieve wasn't closed properly, and I noticed there were memories in there that weren't mine…"
I trailed off giving Draco that 'you can figure out the rest' look.
"And so you saw my son's memories as well?"
"Yeah…"
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Where are they?"
"He has them. If you want to ask him for them and he says ok, you're free to use my Pensieve to view them." I respond.
"Fair enough"
I'm actually relieved that he said that.
"So what did you see? What was in the memories? I mean at the very least you'll be telling me what you saw, right?"
"Just enough to let you know I'm serious." I reply honestly.
He stares into my eyes, and I stare back.
"If what you're about to tell me… is so bad… why even the chance? Why not go straight to the Minister?"
And I find of all the questions he's asked that this one is the easiest.
"Because Scorpius vigorously implied that you didn't know anything about it. And since the few memories I saw comply with that plus everything else I've noticed about you and Scorpius over the years, I decided to believe him."
I can't know what he's thinking, but his face looks tight.
"Don't be mad at Scorpius." Hermione says.
I look up at her- so does Draco.
"I'm not mad." He states almost immediately. "A part of me is just… just, I don't know, sorry I couldn't be the one he came too. Especially if this really does have to do with my wife… I guess I just let myself believe that Scorpius and I had a good relationship…"
"You do Draco." I say immediately. "It might not be the best, but it's definitely not a bad one."
"But not good enough." He says standing up in obvious agony
I want to say something, but I realize there's nothing I can say.
"So tell me Harry… what did my sons' memories show?"
I took a deep breath.
"They showed your wife being awful to him." I say.
"Elaborate."
"There a memory where she's put a silencing charm on him and he couldn't have been more than 2 or 3…"
"I remember that… I was furious with Freesia…" he says looking at me seriously, "she said she didn't understand the big deal, that her parents did it to her all the time… she cried and said she'd never do it again…"
"Did she keep her promise?" Ginny asked.
In a surprise move, Draco snorts.
"Before this started I would've told you yes. But…"
He doesn't finish his sentence.
"Go on then. What else did you see?"
"The next memory is just of you, Blaise, Scorpius and… er a little Blaise in a park. You're talking to Scorpius about Quidditch."
"What was so bad about that?" He asks.
"Nothing… if anything, he probably showed it to Al to let him know you really didn't know…"
"You have a good son Draco." Ginny says.
"I know that… just get to it… I haven't heard anything yet…"
"There was one more… Freesia walked into his room- woke him up… made him go into a room- maybe a basement, I don't know. Then she tells him that…"
I have to gulp because I find my throat a little tight.
"Tells him what?"
"Tells him that he better not talk when he goes to Hogwarts… taunts him really. And Scorpius won't look at her, so she tells him to look at her… but he shakes his head no. She slaps him. I mean really hard… when he finally moves his hand her had print is on his face."
I see Draco begin to tense.
"And then she asks him did it hurt, and starts taunting him again. But he's still trying to be defiant, and she asks him does he think he'll really talk when he gets to Hogwarts? Or does he think the teachers will save him? And Scorpius just nodded at her… he nods…"
I try not to think too hard about this next part, but I know I have too.
"She gets mad. Starts hitting him… punching him and slapping him. And when he falls she's kicking him-"
"No…"
Draco says aloud while shaking his head. His legs give way, but he ends up just sitting back down on his spot in the chair. I can see that he has his eyes closed tight.
"It's true… I wouldn't… I wouldn't lie…" I start.
"Of course you would, you still hate me from the war so you make up lies about my family-" He says standing up.
He has tears in his eyes when they open. But those grey orbs don't look sad, they look angry, as he points at me in accusation.
"Draco I'm not, I swear." I reply standing back up as well.
"Draco you have to listen-" Hermione starts and stands as well.
"No… no not to these lies. Freesia may not be perfect, but what you're talking about is way out of line-"
But the next thing I know, Ron has grabbed Draco with both hands and is shaking him-
"Would you just listen to Harry? This is about your son, not the war. If you're really so changed, show us you're not a coward."
Draco had started to try and free himself from Ron's grip, but at Ron's words he stops struggling.
"Let him go Ron." Hermione says grabbing one of Ron's arms.
"Yeah… unhand me…" Draco finally says pulling from his grip.
"Then listen already… You're making me nuts with this…" Ron says sitting back down on the couch with a huff.
Again everyone settles back down- this time Draco eyes are sadder as he looks at me.
"Potter… Harry… you're really telling the truth?"
"I swear. I swear to my parents". I swear to my god father. I even to swear to Dumbledore."
"I just… I can't…"
"There's more…"
"More? What else could there be?"
"Once he's on the ground and she's still… still beating him, he yells at her…"
"He what?" Draco asks surprised.
"Harry, he spoke?" Ron, Hermione and Ginny ask.
I hadn't mentioned this part to anyone when I told them the story, fearing it would be too much.
"Yeah…"
"I guess even Score would yell for her to stop." Ron states.
"But he didn't yell for her to stop…"
"What did he yell?" Draco asks looking at me.
"He… he said 'Mum Please'" I replied.
"A son having to beg his mother to stop beating him… I…"
Ginny is actually crying while she shakes her head.
"But he didn't beg her to stop…"
"What do you mean Harry?"
"Yeah I doubt he begged her to keep going." Ron added.
"Ron." Hermione chastised.
"Well spit it out…" Draco says standing back up.
'Please… just kill me then…'
"I guess hearing him speak finally snapped her out of her rage, because she stopped hitting him. And she's got this triumphant look on her face… it's making me sick just thinking about it… but then Scorpius just says, 'please, just kill me then'"
Draco drops back down onto the couch and buries his face in his hands.
"She's a right evil piece of work…" Ron states.
"Oh shut up Ron" Ginny says hitting him in the elbow.
"But he's right…"
We all look towards Draco.
"And I left her with my son… and what type of person am I? I didn't even notice-"
"Your house elves… at the end after she makes him promise not to speak at Hogwarts, and she tells him to have a house elf clean him up and heal him… I doubt you would have ever noticed anything…" I add hoping to make him feel better.
"They're her elves… my mother took our house elves with her when they moved out of the Manor… they listen to me, but they do me no favors or anything…"
"Better not let the ministry hear about these elves Hermione…"
"Not now Ron" she remarks.
"I'm just saying…"
"Listen Draco, I know this is tough, but now you have to act. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you like-"
"Thanks for the offer, but there's no way I'd let her stay in my Manor longer than she has too." He says getting up.
"Draco wait… you can't just barge in their shouting and kicking her out." Hermione says.
"Why not?"
It's actually Ron and Draco who say this together.
"What you need to do is talk to Scorpius first." Hermione says.
I see Draco's face actually tense more.
"I can't face my son right now… at least after I've kicked my soon to be ex wife out it'll be easier." He says.
"No Draco… you should talk to him first… and there was a vile of memories I didn't even see."
"More memories? The last thing I need right now is to hear or see more memories."
"Draco… talk to him. He knows about this, he's probably scared out of his mind wondering how you're going to react."
Draco's face didn't look any less tense after Hermione's words.
"And what would you say?" Draco stated.
There was a silence as well looked around at each other. I don't even want to begin to have to try and figure out the answer to that.
"Er…" managed to fall from my mouth.
"Dunno…" Ron added.
"Sshhh…." Ginny said looking at the both of us.
"Just try and let him know that you're there for him." Hermione stated.
"I already thought I had been doing that. Don't you get it?" He asked starting to yell. "I thought he knew he could tell me anything, in any way he wanted, but he couldn't."
"Ok, so this is a big thing, but it's the only thing he's probably kept from you, not bad for most parents odds…" Ron said.
Hermione quickly elbowed him.
"What Ron means is Draco," Ginny started trying to fix matters, "that if anything the reason he didn't tell you wasn't about you, but about his mother. The relationship with you is good."
"Yes good." He said looking at Ginny, "Just not good enough."
I couldn't help but feel bad for Draco, but he has to stop feeling sorry for himself and do what was right.
"You have to stop being hard on yourself, and pull it together for Scorpius." I said.
"Damn it, Harry. Don't you see? Don't any of you see? You were there, you know, you saw…" He says looking at all of us.
And I can see Ron's confused face immediately, and I have no doubt mines is on as well. However, seeing Hermione's confused face (and it's not often we see it) I know we don't know what Draco is talking about.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny asks.
"I tried my best to be a better father to my son than my father was to me. But I failed. Just like my father failed me. I've turned into Lucius… I put my son in a position where he thought he was doing what was right to keep his family together…"
"Draco, that's not a fair correlation at all." Hermione said immediately.
Of course I agreed, this definitely wasn't as major as Voldemort, but if I had the life Draco had I suppose the situations would seem similar. And I could tell this may take a while.
A/N- Sorry if this isn't as edited as it should be. I just finished editing it, when the bloody thing froze... Anyhoo, I'll check it again Later. But I just wanted to get up the second chapter of my Christmas posting.
And let me know how you feel about Draco's response. You'll get his actual POV in about two chapters. I know, wh the wait? But the next chapter is jammed packed with stuff. In fact, I don't know if anyone pays attention to Chapter titles, but next Chapter is called "The Third Begging"... and if you recall my summary... well I'll jst leave it at that, lol. Happy Holiday's again.
