AN: Okay, sorry for me being gone for so long, but I had finals and then I along with everyone else at my school got really sick so that put a damper in my writing. Here I am though. The dialogue at the end is from the Philosopher's Stone so you'll likely recognize that.
Only two reviews last chapter :( But that you to standasawitness and whitetiger91 for reviewing.
For the next several days Dobby brought Draco food, and after about half a week Narcissa began to realize that Dobby was getting quite plump while each time she visited Draco he seemed to have wasted away a bit more. An idea formed in his head, and so the next time she visited Draco and sat upon his bed, she brought along some more french bread and some broth.
"I brought you lunch today," Narcissa told her son. "I think you should eat it right now; you're probably hungry."
"Not really," Draco shook his head. "I don't really feel like lunch right now. Maybe after you leave."
"No, I want you to eat it while I'm still here," Narcissa protested.
"Why?" Draco's voice was endlessly annoyed, however after a few moments of Narcissa's pleading, Draco sipped a bit of the broth, and his mouth turned up in a little smile despite himself. "It is pretty good, I guess."
"I'm glad," Narcissa smiled, but her smile faded when Draco ceased to sip anymore soup. "Don't you want to finish it?"
"No," Draco shook his head. "You can have the bread too, if you want."
Narcissa shook her head, unsure what to do. Finally she told him he had to eat the food, but she was going to talk to someone. With a sigh she stood and hurried down to the parlor where there was a fireplace. She fire called Snape, and was answered a just a few moments later.
"Severus, he won't eat! What do I do? Do you have any ideas?"
"Are you sure he hasn't been eating this whole time?" Snape asked, and Narcissa nodded.
"Yes. I'm almost completely positive he's been giving his food to his house elf, and he won't eat when I'm sitting there."
Snape paused before telling her to ask him what kind of food he wanted and bringing that and asking the house elf to stop eating the food, or send a different hose elf.
"I can come visit in a few days to talk to him if he continues to not eat," Snape told Narcissa. "Perhaps on Wednesday?"
"That would wonderful; I just don't know what to do for him!"
"That's alright. Just keep trying," Snape told her, and then the call was ended. After a moment Narcissa heard a step behind her, and she turned to see an angry Lucius.
"What is this about that boy feeding his food to the house elf?" Lucius spat, and Narcissa took a deep breath.
"Well, Draco doesn't seem to be eating…"
"Which house elf? Dobby?"
"Well, possibly. I'm not sure, of course…"
"I had suspected as much. Dobby has been looking quite out of shape recently. I will deal with this; don't bother yourself with it, Narcissa."
"Lucius, you should go visit your son," Narcissa told her husband, who sniffed.
"I visit my son everyday."
"You know that I mean Draco."
"That boy can be no son of mine. A son of mine wouldn't kill his brother."
"You know it was an accident."
"He chose to go in those woods. I had warned him, and he directly disobeyed me. I heard the interest in his voice when he asked me about them. Draco needs to be taught a lesson."
"Please, just go see him. He's not taking this well at all; he needs his father to give him a helping hand. Please, Lucius."
"I'll go see him, if it means so much to you, but I will not give him a 'helping hand'. First I need to deal with our theif of a house elf. How dare he take food from Draco?"
"I think it was Draco's decision. I don't think Dobby would do it voluntarily."
"Well, Dobby needs to learn to not follow orders given by a sick little boy."
Narcissa watched her husband stalk away, and then with a sigh she headed upstairs to her room; she didn't want to be down stairs when Lucius talked to Dobby.
Draco was playing half heartedly with his old stuffed dragon when his door flew open to reveal his father standing there. Draco attempted to shove his toy under the covers, however Lucius stalked over and snatched it away.
"I thought I told you not to play with this anymore! You're not a child, Draco. Now, how are you?"
"Well I… I guess I'm alright," Draco eyed the stuffed animal which was grasped in his father's unconcerned hand.
"You hadn't been eating. The house elf was eating your meals."
Draco's face dropped, and his father nodded knowingly.
"I had the problem dealt with. Dobby will no longer provide a problem for this household."
"Father, I asked Dobby to! Dobby is my favorite house elf, he only does what I ask him to!"
Lucius hesitated, before shaking his head.
"You will eat your own food. You are wasting away like some kind of penniless blood traitor."
"Yes father," Draco wrang his sheets in his hand. "Father, Hogwarts was interesting, but I'm really sad about Herculen…"
"For good reason."
"Do you think he'll ever be found?"
"I hope so, but at the moment I believe it is unlikely."
"Oh," Draco's eyes filled with tears. "Well, I'll try to be good just like Herculen when I go to Hogwarts. I'll try to get good grades and be on the Quidditch team and everything! I'll try to be a good son like Herculen. And I'll never go in the Forbidden Forest. "
Lucius's eyes suddenly grew cold, and Draco's head snapped to the side. His hand flew to his face, and tears spilled onto his cheeks as he realized his father had slapped him.
"You will never be half the son Herculen was. No Malfoy ever disobeyed his father. You are a disgrace, and it's because of you that Herculen is missing, so don't tell me you will be like him."
With that Lucius stormed away leaving Draco to stare after him with mounting horror, and then he turned to his pillow and sobbed. From down the hall he heard loud arguing, and then the arguing faded. Perhaps someone had cast a silencing spell. Draco cried long into the night, but the next day when Dobby sullenly brought his breakfast and quickly disappeared, Draco ate every last bit.
For virtually the rest of the summer, Draco continued to refuse to leave his bedroom. He had paled dramatically, and his features seemed somehow sharper and more pointed than before. Theodore Nott visited once, and that seemed to cheer up Draco a bit, however he went back to his saddened self after the other child left.
Eventually Snape came to visit. Snape brought up tantalizing ideas that Draco and he could do if Draco would come outside, but Draco politely refused each offer. Eventually Snape slipped Draco a story book and then disappeared from the room to talk to Narcissa. About an hour later Snape returned with Narcissa and took his wand out.
"I'm going to cast a spell," Snape told his godson. "Your mother has approved it. I didn't want to do this, but school will be starting in just a couple of weeks, and so we have deemed it necessary."
Draco simply shrugged, turning his head toward the window.
Snape sighed and asked Narcissa to step back.
"And you've talked to Lucius, and he was all for this?" Snape asked Narcissa, who nodded once. "Alright. Here."
Snape took a deep breath, hesitated, and then slowly began to make precise, complex movements with the wand. A trail of greenish golden sparkles hung in the air before floating lazily toward the small blonde. There was a hesitation before Draco yawned and his eyes drifted shut.
"When he wakes he'll be different," Snape turned to Narcissa. "He'll be back to the way he was before the incident, however I must warn you: he may have changed in manner significantly. You are aware of the consequences of this spell, as was Lucius."
"Yes, and Lucius was for it," Narcissa nodded. "Thank you, Severus."
"He will have a change in memory for his brother. He'll remember him, of course, but he may not feel sadness in the way that you would assume."
"I am aware. Thank you."
Snape nodded, and with a final glance at Draco, Snape marched away. Narcissa strode over to the bed, a sigh escaping her lips. Draco was sleeping peacefully, but when he awoke, her mild tempered son could be changed.
"Is it done?"
Narcissa turned to see Lucius standing in the doorway. Narcissa nodded.
"He will no longer be so depressed," Lucius told his wife, who nodded.
"Tampering with emotions is dangerous; I just feel uneasy."
"He will be more of a Malfoy that the sorry excuse for a boy ever was in the past. He will not disobey his parents."
Narcissa nodded and followed her husband from the room, closing the door softly behind them.
The next day Draco awoke with a start. Something felt different, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He called Dobby and commanded the house elf to give him food. He ate indifferently and a few minutes later both his parents entered the room.
"How are you feeling?" Narcissa asked, and Draco shrugged.
"Alright I suppose," he told his mother. "The eggs were a bit cold. I might call the house elf back."
"Do you have a headache or muscle aches?" Lucius spoke up, to which Draco snorted and shook his head.
"Why would I? I hardly ever have such trivial problems."
Lucius beamed and nodded.
"Very good," he allowed a slight smile to creep onto his lips. "I'm glad, Draco. I will be in my study. Send a house elf if you need me."
Narcissa hurried over to the bed making sure that Draco was alright, and her son rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine, honestly mother. I don't know why I wouldn't be."
"I'm so glad," Narcissa smiled. "You know, you will be starting Hogwarts soon. We might go shopping for things soon."
"Sounds fun," Draco nodded.
"That's good. When would you like to go?"
"Whenever."
"Next week perhaps. After all, even that is cutting it a bit close."
"Okay."
"Alright, well you can stay in bed if you'd like-"
"No, I'm sick of sitting here. I think I'll get up and play the organ."
"The organ?"
"Yes, it's bit quite a while. I think I'd like to start lessons."
"Okay," Narcissa nodded dumbly, confused. "If you'd like to."
"I would."
"Well, do whatever you'd like. I'm so glad you're feeling better, Draco!"
"Of course, mother."
Narcissa stood, hurrying to Lucius's study. He glanced up when the door opened, and then put down his pen.
"How is the boy?" he asked, and Narcissa shrugged, a smile on her face.
"He seems all better. It's odd, it's like nothing ever happened. He wants to start organ lessons, for some reason."
"Hmm," loud uncouth music filled the house, and Lucius nodded. "It sounds like he needs them. Alright, well I'm glad it worked. Did he agree to go shopping next week?"
"Yes, he seems enthusiastic."
"Good. I think I'm going to be gone for a while. Keep Draco out of my study."
"Of course. Lucius, please don't let this affect your feelings."
Lucius said nothing. Instead he simply apparated away leaving Narcissa to sigh softly. After a moment she turned to go downstairs and help Draco play the organ and try to puzzle through his vast change.
The next week Draco got into his best clothes and the family gathered in the entrance hall.
"Are you sure you're ready to go shopping?" Narcissa asked Draco, who rolled his eyes.
"Of course he's ready," Lucius glared at Narcissa. "He's not some weakling. Come Draco, let's aparate."
The family stood together and then apparated to a corner of Diagon Alley. Narcissa squeezed her son's hand and then told him they'd be getting robes first.
"Your father will accompany you there while I look at wands. I'll see you soon Lucius."
Lucius stalked away with Draco, and then Narcissa hurried in her own direction. Her husband lead his son to a little shop called Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Inside there was a squat jolly woman, who smiled jovilly at the Malfoys.
"Here for Hogwarts?" she asked, to which Lucius nodded. "I'm not helping anyone right now, so let us begin. Right this way young man."
"I'll be right next door buying your books," Lucius told his son, who grinned. Lucius then stalked away leaving Draco be measured for his new robes.
"Which house do you want to be in?" Madam Malkin hummed as she measured him.
"Slytherin, of course," Draco rolled his eyes, and the woman hummed again.
"Good house, that," she agreed as she slipped a robe over his head. "I had a friend in that one."
"It's the best," Draco said simply.
"Oh, another boy has come in!" Madam Malkin glanced up quickly. "Pardon me, dear."
Draco sighed as she hurried to the front.
"Hogwarts, clear?" he overheard her voice in the front of the store. "Got the lot here - another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
A strange little boy with round glasses approached, and Draco grinned. Perhaps he could make a friend before he even arrived at the school! Of course he had Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott, but this little boy seemed cool in an odd sort of way.
"Hello, Hogwarts too?" Draco asked the other boy after he started being fitted. The other boy agreed.
"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," Draco bragged. He loved being left alone in Diagon Alley like a big kid. He had a vague memory of being in the alley another time alone and buying brooms, and so he decided to talk about that. "Then I'm going to drag them off to took at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow. Have you got your own broom?"
"No."
"Play Quidditch at all?"
"No."
"I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"No."
This boy was rather unfriendly, Draco remarked to himself. How in the world was one supposed to begin a conversation with such an unfriendly person? Desperate to get a conversation going because this was rather awkward, Draco spoke quickly.
"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
"Mmm."
Draco ground his teeth wondering what in the world the other boy wanted to talk about. Clearly not about houses. Clearly not about brooms. Clearly not about Hogwarts. Still, there was something about him... Desperately looking for some way to change the subject, Draco spotted a strange man standing outside the window and waving his arms around.
"I say, look at that man!" Draco spoke up quickly, wondering if this would prompt a conversation.
"That's Hagrid," the other boy said, seeming pleased. "He works at Hogwarts."
"Oh," Draco hesitated. At least the other boy was talking now, but how to continue this conversation? "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"
"He's the gamekeeper."
Now the boy was back to single statements. What an infuriating problem!
"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage - lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed," Draco spoke. The boy had been talking about this subject, if only he could keep him going on it.
"I think he's brilliant," the other boy said coldly, and Draco frowned.
"Do you?" Draco grinned maliciously. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"
Harry informed Draco that they were dead, and for some reason this didn't concern Draco in the least. He apologized offhandedly and then asked if they were purebloods. He was informed that they had been. That might give them something to talk about!
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways," Draco expected Harry to start talking passionately about blood purity, and when he didn't Draco continued quicky. "Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"
Madam Malkin suddenly finished with the other boy, and so the other boy got ready to leave.
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," Draco told the other boy, and then watched him disappear. What a puzzling quiet kid, did he never speak? Draco decided to make it a personal mission of his to get the other boy to pay attention to him and crack through his shell.
"You're done too, young man," Madam Malkin told Draco. "Best of luck at Hogwarts. Hope you get the house you want!"
"Oh, I will," Draco told her. "Here's some money, I'll go find father."
With that Draco exited the store, excited for Hogwarts.
AN: We've gotten to Hogwarts time! Please review and tell me what you think :)