Malcolm smoothed down his new robes and paced in front of the fireplace waiting impatiently for Draco to join him. Malcolm wanted to get there before everyone else arrived at the Burrow so he could say hello to his aunt Molly with a modicum of peace.
"Oy! Pretty boy! Put down the hair gel and let's get this show on the road, eh?!" he yelled up the stairs, feeling jittery. After all of the anticipation and excitement of discovering his family, he was suddenly getting nervous. He kept running his fingers through his hair and clenching his fists to stop his fingers from twitching.
Draco, on the other hand, was taking a private moment to calm his own nerves. He stood in his bedroom clutching the door handle taking deep breaths. He looked over at the mirror above his dresser and recognized the familiar terror etched into his features, wide-eyed and colorless cheeks.
I must be insane. Then Draco shook his head to clear it. I'm just making sure he gets there alright. I'm not staying. This is not a big deal! It's just the fucking Weasleys, for Merlin's sake.
But the feeling of needing to vomit still hadn't gone away. He supposed it never would. Taking one last deep breath and jerking his head high, he slung open the door and smartly marched down to the fireplace in the living room.
"How do I look?" Malcolm asked as he spread his arms wide.
"Decent," Draco said. He had a feeling if he opened his mouth too much, he would lose the battle with his churning stomach.
Malcolm nodded as if he already knew this.
"Are you hyperventilating?" Malcolm asked, bending to look into Draco's eyes with concern- his own nervousness temporarily forgotten.
Draco shook his head sharply. Malcolm wasn't falling for it and pulled Draco against him.
"It will be fine, you will see."
Draco let Malcolm kiss his cheek and rub his shoulders assuringly. He continued his stubborn silence with the air of someone still expecting the absolute worst.
"Okay. First we need to establish ground rules," Malcolm murmured. "Don't start anything. Don't speak unless spoken to. No insults. No blowing anyone up or turning anybody into gerbils… whatever."
"Can't promise anything," Draco muttered ruefully.
"Oh good. This is going to be fun. Let's stop prolonging the inevitable then, shall we?" Malcolm sighed. Draco tossed a handful of green powder into the fireplace and the flames turned a bright flickering green.
Malcolm held on to Draco's arm for dear life and clenched his eyes shut.
"The Burrow!" Draco said loudly and they were both pulled into the sickening whirl wind of the Floo Network as they shot past hundreds of fireplaces. Malcolm, through sheer grit, managed not to howl or throw up this time.
It wasn't long before Malcolm and Draco came to an abrupt halt. Malcolm felt his feet slam onto a hard surface and he stumbled forward, pulling Draco with him.
"Mum! He's here!" came an excited voice. Draco snapped his spine to full height and helped Malcolm to his feet. Malcolm opened his eyes and stared around at the cramped and cozy little living room. A beautiful woman with bright red hair, sporting a small baby bump, smiled brightly at Malcolm and held out her hand.
"Ginny Potter. Harry is my husband, you've met him before," she told him and Malcolm took her hand.
"Nice bloke you've got there. Pleased to meet you," he said warmly.
"Pleased to meet you as well. Mum is on her way," she told him kindly. "I'm just warning you, she has been a bit emotional since Dad gave her the news."
"Understandable."
Ginny spared Draco an unreadable glance and nodded her head. He gave her a short and haughty jerk of his head in response. Malcolm supposed he was attempting to be polite and felt a nervous urge to laugh.
Suddenly a short and stout woman with frizzy red hair appeared from the kitchen. She clutched a towel in her hand so hard her knuckles had turned white. Ginny backed over to the corner next to Draco, both of them looking rapidly between Malcolm and Mrs. Weasley. She stared at Malcolm for what seemed like ages before he decided to break the tension.
"Hello, Aunt Molly," he said. Her lips trembled at the sound of his voice and she pressed a hand to her mouth to stop them. Her brown eyes were wide and started to glisten. She sniffed and walked toward him, gaze never once leaving his face.
"You look just like him," she whispered finally. Her voice broke a little but she reached up and pushed his hair behind his ear like a mother would. "Could do with a tr-trim, dear."
Malcolm threw his head back and laughed. Molly burst into tears and threw her arms around him. Malcolm, grinning, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and squeezed tightly.
Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. Neither Malcolm nor Molly noticed… but Ginny did. She smacked the back of his blonde head and glared at him.
"Ouch!" he hissed. Ginny raised an eyebrow and Draco decided it best to pretend nothing had happened.
"I'm just finishing up dinner-" Molly said, wiping her eyes on the towel still clutched in her hands.
"We would be happy to help," Malcolm said and gestured to Draco.
"Oh no," Draco held up his hands. "I'm not staying-"
"Nonsense," Molly interrupted him. "You are sitting down with the rest of the family to eat. You both look peckish."
Draco looked as if he were about to argue but Ginny pinched his elbow warningly. Malcolm looked over at Draco hopefully and Draco felt an urge to scream and stamp his feet in refusal… which he quelled at the sight of Molly with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Everyone will be here in a few minutes. Andromeda is bringing Teddy. I'm sure she would appreciate seeing her nephew," Molly said and pointed a finger at Draco. Then she looked up lovingly at Malcolm and let him lead her into the kitchen with an arm around her shoulder.
"Your aunt is coming?" Malcolm looked over his shoulder with the question etched into his face.
"I didn't know," Draco suddenly looked frightened.
"Keep walking," Ginny demanded and poked a finger in Draco's back to keep him moving.
"That's right, cousin. Keep him in line," Malcolm teased.
Ginny smiled sweetly.
"I'm on it."
"I can hear you. I am right here, you know," Draco growled.
"Hush."
Draco snapped his mouth shut, looking livid at this treatment.
