Disclaimer: This is my disclaimer. This is all there is to it.
April 27, 1995
Dear Journal,
Today was the date for my careers advice meeting with Professor Snape. Father sent me an owl concerning the subject, but he mostly went on about bringing honor (and gold) to the family name, which didn't help much.
I was stumped. What I wanted to do? Did I really have a choice?
The same query I proposed to Prof. Snape, who quickly glanced at the door before responding. "Draco," he began, using the name that he rarely used at school, "There is always a choice." Basically he was saying that not all rich people can just make donations and live up to their honor and murder muggles.
He gestured to some papers strewn across his desk. "You display aptitude at Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts especially, so I suggest some fields like the maintenance industry or architecture... I'm sure you will find some kind of use for Defense Against the Dark Arts in whatever you endeavor...."
Was that a joke from the mouth of Severus Snape? Who woulda thought...
I gave some thought to architecture (maintenance? are you serious? would I be some kind of janitor?). It was prestigious enough, since my name would be everywhere I built (perhaps Quidditch stadiums), and seemed like enough of a money-maker to let me retire early.
"Well, you would also have to excel at Transfiguration," he said, his dislike nearly overdone to the point where some (the smarter denizens of Hogwarts, perhaps) might be suspicious, "so I would suggest working harder in Professor McGonagall's class. Potions would not be quite as important, though it is useful to be able to differentiate between different kinds of wood finish. So far, your work seems to be adequate enough, so continue as always and I believe you will be fine. Finally, it's god that you are taking Arithmancy, but you must improve your efforts in that enormously, for in architecture there are many arithmancic calculations that you should be able to solve with relative ease."
At this point, I interjected, "No Defense? No excitement?" The man raised his eyebrows at me, as if sizing me up.
"As I mentioned before, I believe that a contrasted occupation would best suit you. Your father, for instance, has a busy enough lifestyle, and his job technically requires no such 'excitement.'" His impatience was clear, and I knew that this conversation was positively gushing with enthusiasm compared to his usual standards, so I bade him well and left.
Not before pocketing an architecture pamphlet, that is,
DLM
Well.
They aren't Slytherin, but I have to admit, those guys are good.
Professor Umbridge is furious, of course, but at least she isn't forcing the Inquisitorial Squad to mop up her mess. Well, it is a swamp, so it might be hard to mop up a tree or something.
Though I personally doubt that she would appreciate it if a student could figure it out when she could not. That blow to her self-esteem would just be too much, on top of Fred and George's historic departure.
And so we know this:
the rebellion begins,
Not for the Slytherins, of course. Umbridge at school=points for snakes.
Still, a little excitement for O.W.L.s year is always moderately welcome,
DLM
May 30, 1996
Dear Journal,
They won.
Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup.
We were so close. We had a song. The Ravenclaws got first blood.
How could they have won?
DLM
June 15, 1996
Dear Journal,
O.W.L.s ARE HERE.
O.W.L.s. THE TESTS THAT SHALL REIGN SUPREME FOR A LIFETIME. Well, until N.E.W.T.s. But still!
Remember those? If you have missed me, book, or noticed the infrequency of my entries, that was my excuse. And now they're here.
I did not just squeak. That was Pansy. You know it was.
I already screwed up on my Charms O.W.L. I was surprised by the arrival of Potter during my Levitation Charm and automatically glared at him, fulfilling the requirements for such encounters. To my dismay, the wine glass that had been tranquilly floating in the air for more than ten minutes in figure-eight motions (any extra credit is welcome) made a dramatic and tragic plunge to the floor.
Does good job+extra work-small mistake=good job? I hope so, since Charms is, as Professor Snape put it, my stronghold, and to score any less than perfect would be rather disappointing.
All that there is to do is turn into a textbook for tomorrow's Transfiguration O.W.L. and I'll be set,
DLM
June 17, 1996
Dear Journal,
Halfway done with the first week of O.W.L.s! (That sounds more pathetic than I intended...)
Transfiguration was as okay as I could have managed, though it was terribly disappointing when my vanishing spell left some messy debris left over. It just looked depressing and disgusting, I can't imagine what that could do to my marks. It's a good thing that the Ministry has the good taste enough to appreciate the meaning of Malfoy.
Herbology... would it suffice to say that it stunk? I have never particularly preferred consorting with overgrown grass and Bubotuber pus and Mooncalf dung - well, such a subject simply ruins nice robes! And is just very unpleasant. I will go outside only as far as to play Quidditch, or perhaps get a tan (something, for a strange reason, that I have never succeeded in, so I have pretty much given up). And that's on a well trimmed and well kept field or beach.
DADA tomorrow, hope for good things, very very good things,
DLM
June 18, 1996
Dear Journal,
Defense Against the Dark Arts was pretty good, though it was surprising how well the Gryffindors were doing, seeing as their parents do not necessarily have the experience. I mean, the Weasleys might have known a thing or two because of all of that scrapping for survival they must go through, but others I didn't quite expect to turn out so well.
Oh well, with there bravery and whatever they must know something, I suppose.
But although I mentioned Gryffindor first, that was only by habit. The real surprise was how well those Hufflepuffs did! I mean, even Hannah Abbott, who notably transfigured something into a large flock of peacocks in her Transfiguration O.W.L, did reasonably well. Where, in the "softhearted weakling" description, did the Sorting Hat mention any cleverness... at all?
There is a certain mystery around this one. Especially with Dolores Umbridge teaching us, how is it that so many actually learned something?
Alas, there is no time -no time! for this drivel, for I must accompany Gregory to yet another study session for Arithmancy (it's next week, but how will I get anything through to him unless we start early?)
DLM, off to deal with his dunce companions
June 25, 1996
Dear Journal,
O.W.L.s finished! Once again, I note that the summer shall be absurdly short, as school shall impede into the peaceful days of July for a second and hopefully last time.
History of Magic went moderately well, though it's not like I, or anyone, will need it in the future unless they want to be the next Bathilda Bagshot or something. Though there was the slight disturbance of Potter screaming and writhing on the floor, I only needed to spare a moment from my work to wish him unwell.
My early studying, I think, helped me do justice on my Arithmancy exam. I do hope that last-minute cramming's notorious ineffectiveness will bend a rule for the dashing Draco Malfoy. Pretty please? (See, I'm well-bred enough to have manners!)
In Astronomy, there was a bit of a skirmish happening, which quite irritatingly interrupted my perusal of Uranus (do not be childish! It is not pronounced that way, and therefore cannot be interpreted that way, you immature book of mine), between Professor Hagrid and a bunch of random Ministry people plus Umbridge. Everyone was doing badly (other than the half-giant, of course) until Professor McGonagall ran in, indignantly yelling, and got four stunners in the chest, which gave her the amazing, posthumous first place prize for the dramatic battles' worst off. Well, she's not dead yet, and I suppose there is still hope, so I shouldn't say posthumous quite so soon.
Potions went as well as the classes go, except the examiner did not compliment my work as much as I have come to expect from Professor Snape. That worried me slightly. Does Prof. Snape mean it when he comments, or is it just because he is such a close friend of ours? No, no, that's a silly notion. I have always been apt at Potions; this examiner just has... sore throat, or something similar.
That was terribly out of order, but I am tired, I have just finished my exams, so you cannot blame me whatsoever, got it?
DLM
June 29, 1996
Dear Journal,
Potter has landed Father in Azkaban.
Father is in Azkaban.
And its Potter's fault.
I hate him,
DLM
(P.S. just because I've realized that the previous entry is shamefully scant of information, so let me go over everything else that the Prophet has revealed: Fudge has admitted that the Dark Lord has returned, Sirius Black is dead and innocent (that explains it!) and Potter has done something ridiculously heroic again, including but not limited to the incarceration of Father, Aunt Bella, and several other family friends.)
A/N: I know, you guys have been waiting way too long for this small chapter, but I thought it wraps up the year pretty nicely. I know, crazy how he's not even mentioning King's Cross or anything, right? Everything else that immediately follows just seems to melt into insignificance to this last, short, and passionate entry.
And did you notice that I've simply "laid it on with a thick trowel" on the prejudice? He needs to reflect his family's views, and I feel that I've forgotten that in earlier chapters. (Recognize that quote? Honorable mention for anyone who does and reports it in a review) I've also been revamping the fanfic. I've added the presence of Kreacher over Christmas and tweaked a few scenes, but the basic plot remains the same, so don't worry about skipping back unless you really want to and are bored because I'm not updating every day anymore.
So in the next chapter, I shall pick up the thread with a very special event that urges Draco to pick up his quill once again. To my reviewers, who hopefully haven't abandoned me:
mjmusiclover: fine, but you're doing the knitting. :P
Lovealwayshopes: Sorry about the Snape-Harry suspicions; even Draco was disturbed! Luckily, that cleared itself up very quickly. Time to try to convince you that Draco's kind of good, too. If you look under that heavy, lets say make-up, of prejudice and pride (ooh, pride and prejudice), a scared, insecure boy emerges. That doesn't excuse him. But he's human, isn't he? And human is quite good enough to sympathize with. Hopefully you'll be getting a lot of that in the next chapters.
Let me make this very clear. I do not care if you can't give reasonable feedback. A simple ":)" or ":(" will suffice. So please, do review. Even if it's one word, I will appreciate it, and I will respond. If it's an insightful review, I will love it, but for any review, any shape or form of review, I will appreciate it, and I will respond. I know I said that twice. That was for emphasis. If you want, you can repeat yourself unnecessarily in your review. You can betray basic grammar rules. It might have one annoyed me, but now I have found it does not pay to be picky. When you take the time, it shows me that you appreciate my work on this fanfic.
Okay, I know, I know, I'm an impatient brat, it's only been 19 hours, etc. etc.... But here is another reminder. RevIEW IF yOu KNoW what'S GoOD FOr yoU. Well, not really, it's not like I'm going to punish you or anything. I'm not the kind of writer who withholds chapters for reviews or whatever. But it's just a wonderful, thoughtful thing to do. 10% of my readers, so far, have reviewed this little chapter. Increase the percentage! You can add an 8% just by clicking the botón verde! Woooooooooooooooo!