A/N: Merry Christmas! This chapter focuses solely on Draco. As you may have noticed from the tags, he is a big part of the story. After this, we will have one more short chapter and it's off to Hogwarts. (Finally *shoots fireworks*)
9 - Draco Malfoy
It had just turned August and Draco's parents brought him to Diagon Alley so they could shop for his school supplies. Only the utterly stupid left their shopping to be done at the last possible minute. It was unbecoming of a pureblood, of a Malfoy, to act in such a manner as the common wizard. And a Malfoy was anything but common. The advantages of shopping in advance included being able to study in advance. Draco was their better and nothing like showing he knew better, and he did. He was, after all, a Malfoy.
Now he was at Madam Malkin's being fitted for new robes to use during the school year. As a Malfoy it was natural for him to need this many new robes, one was hardly expected to wear rags used repeatedly. Furthermore, he needed to have a wide assortment of options to choose from, every occasion needed a carefully chosen garment.
Madam Makin was about to finish with him when his mother came with his father. They really seemed like a perfectly fit for each other couple. For most, they looked cold; for their circle of carefully selected friends, they were a model to be followed, the epitome of perfection. Draco, well, Draco knew better. They were perfect, yes, but a couple? Hardly. Nevertheless, Draco loved his parents and they loved him back.
As his parents accompanied him through Diagon Alley, Draco could only pity all the other kids. Poor creatures that would never be as lucky as Draco was. Draco couldn't imagine how anyone could bear to live life without his parents or being a Malfoy. His only guess was they couldn't miss what they didn't know they were missing. Poor souls indeed.
The following day had Draco preparing to spend the week at Spinner's End. It was a wonder why a human being, a powerful wizard no less, would want to live in such a place. At least to balance out all the bad things that came with the place, he would be able to spend the whole week with his absolute favourite person in the whole world; a person he loved even more than he did his parents. And this time he didn't have to share his time with his father!
It was a bit of a sudden decision, really. His father had tried to use Draco to ingratiate himself with the man, only he didn't expect him to be so angry with him still. Draco would admit that when it came to the love of his life his father had a tendency to make the wrong choice of words, and sometimes actions. Anyway, Draco lucked out and won an entire wonderful week to flaunt in his father's face. It was rather unbecoming to flaunt his betterness all the time, it was not wrong to teach them he was indeed better, however, Draco wasn't above teasing his father. The best part was his father could do nothing against him, lest he infuriated his love even more.
It was a triumphantly smirking Draco and a snickering Narcissa Black, commonly known as Malfoy, who flooed to Spinner's End leaving a scowling Lucius Malfoy behind.
Aside from a slight stumble, Draco's landing was perfect, worthy of a pureblood; it would only be worthy of a Malfoy when he was perfect complete with a cleaning charm for the soot. Speaking of, Draco noticed he was cleaned by one.
"Welcome, my Dragon." Draco looked right into his favourite pair of onyx eyes and let go of his breeding in favour of a truly missed hug.
"I missed you, Papa."
"I missed you too, my Dragon. Thank you for bringing him, Narcissa." He said as he returned Draco's hug tenfold. He was let go with a last squeeze. "Take your things upstairs, Dragon. I will be there soon with you."
Draco nodded and went up calmly. He was able to hear some creative remarks his Papa made about his father and his mother bidding him goodbye and leaving through the floo. Mother is sure to relay those if only for the amusement she gets from father's reactions. Not long after his Papa came to help him unpack.
"Can't we just ask the elf to do it?" Draco knew the answer to be a negative but his Papa always gave him something to make up for the trouble when he asked so. Draco couldn't, in good conscience, let such an opportunity pass without using it.
"No, Dragon. You shouldn't be so dependent on the services of a house elf. Maybe next year I'll teach to do the laundry." He chuckled while messing Draco's perfectly groomed hair.
If this was anyone else he would be pissed, but his Papa had said he liked Draco feel at ease with him. He never pressured Draco to be or do anything when they were alone. Draco knew he would be expected to behave like a Malfoy when in Hogwarts, though. He sighed just from imagining all the expectations hanging over his head. His Papa seated himself on Draco's bed he just had transfigured to a better one and motioned for him to go sit with him. As Draco did so, his Papa pulled him closer to allow Draco to cuddle with him.
"Don't worry yourself about Hogwarts, my Dragon. We can schedule one or two meetings so we can be alone. I will always be there to protect you. I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood. You are my son, my Dragon. Do not forget that. Even if people don't know, we know. And that is what matters most: us."
Draco wasn't really tired; he was, however, a child. And being cuddled, petted and reassured by his Papa made him relax enough to fall asleep. He dreamed of a day when everyone would know that not only he was lucky to be born a Malfoy, he was also lucky to have Severus Snape as his Papa.
Draco was at Spinner's End for three days now and not once had he seen his Papa's elf Twinky. When asked, his Papa had said she was running errands for him and preparing for the coming school year. Since she was only coming over to wash the clothes and clean what his Papa didn't when Draco was busy, all the rest was being done by his Papa and Draco himself.
His Papa had even allowed him into his study to dust off the books; it had actually been fun to do it together with him. They had ended up playing with the feathered duster. Yesterday he helped a little with the garden; it was more like an open greenhouse with lots of herbs meant to become potions' ingredients than the gardens back at Malfoy Manor. Nevertheless, it was fun to get all muddy playing with the dirty, it seemed a bit childish but his Papa was all grown up and was still doing it. Besides, it wasn't like anyone was watching or knew it was happening.
Now his Papa had him in the kitchen and they were trying to make chocolate chip cookies. It was really fun to mix everything by hand and play with the dough. Draco couldn't wait to taste his first batch of cookies! He had just finished washing his hands in the kitchen sink when his Papa called him to drink tea while waiting for the cookies.
"Dragon, an old... acquaintance from my childhood moved back to the neighbourhood. She lives only a few streets away and has children your age." His Papa took another sip from his tea probably to let Draco think of the implications of what he said. Draco knew what 'acquaintance from childhood' and 'live nearby' meant. His Papa was a halfblood, his father had been a muggle of the worst kind, and had grown up in this muggle neighbourhood. Meaning, this acquaintance was most likely a muggle. "Maybe you would like-"
"No." His Papa gave him the look for cutting him mid-sentence but Draco would have none of it. "I don't want to meet anyone. I came here to spend the week with you, Papa."
"Don't you think it boring here? Playing with someone your age would be nicer, wouldn't it?"
"No. There is no one nicer than you in the whole world. Malfoys only have the best, and you are the very best, Papa. I don't need some kid to play. I have quite enough fun just being in the same room with you." Draco was very pleased with himself, he managed to reject being introduced to the muggle kids and he indulged his Papa with a compliment. Certainly, he had mentioned that only to fish for compliments. He didn't do that with other people mind you, his Papa let only his Dragon know he liked being complimented and loved.
"I see." His Papa took another sip from his cup to hide a smile Draco could clearly see was one of amusement. What was amusing him so much? Draco knew from an early age that his Papa's amusement meant others misery. Surely, he wouldn't bring misery to his Dragon, right?
Draco could admit to himself he was mopping. The next day he had to go back home, so he wanted to spend the whole of today attached to his Papa. The fates had decided to not follow Draco's plans, though. Draco was ensconced in his room watching the muggle street because he had nothing better to do and his Papa was busy with a sudden request from the barmy old codger.
Draco was ready to go on ranting mode again when he saw just the cutest thing outside running with other kids on the street. Draco couldn't care less what they were doing; he just sat there staring at the cutest boy he had ever seen. For a moment, he thought he had seen a glimpse of the boy's eyes: the greenest green he had ever seen. He was startled out of his mooning over the boy by his Papa knocking on his door.
"Coming!"
"Do I really have to go?"
"Yes, Dragon. I will be at Hogwarts for at least the next week. There is quite a lot to be done before students arrive and as a Head of House I have more to prepare than a regular teacher."
"I'll miss you, Papa."
"I'll miss you too, my Dragon."
Draco flooed home and to his surprise, his father was there to greet him. He was ushered to a sitting room and asked about all the things he did. Draco, of course, didn't tell him a single wonderful experience he had with his Papa. It served his father right for angering him! And as a final touch, he opened the present he received and showed it off to his father. It was a truly beautiful robe, Draco really liked that silk and the colour was just right for him. It even made Draco remember that beautiful thing he saw from his room at his Papa's house.
