Malcolm loved the Burrow. It was unlike any place he had ever been in before. Draco's manor was spacious and beautifully built but it was stark in contrast to the obviously magical dwelling he was currently perusing with fascination. He couldn't stop himself from touching everything, including picking up a clock off the table he was sure was the funniest object he had ever encountered.
"It looks like a clock and it's shaped like a clock but it's got so many hands! How do you tell the time? It just tells you where people are. I've got to say, this is genius!" Malcolm exclaimed and thrust it beneath Draco's nose. Draco pushed it away and crossed his arms, staring determinedly at the opposite wall. Ginny had her wand laying on the table pointed at Draco and he sniffed, refusing to look anywhere in her direction. Ginny seemed pleased by this.
Molly flicked her wand at a cutting board and a knife began to slice carrots without any help. Each time she looked over at Malcolm, now pulling magical household remedy books off the shelf to read the covers, it was a gaze of awe and sadness.
"I wish I would have known," she would mumble and each time Malcolm would shrug and say "Not your fault, Aunt Molly. I'm here now." Then she would smile and bustle about the kitchen.
"Can I go now?" Draco grumbled after a few minutes and made to stand up. Ginny poked her wand into his ribs and he grimaced, looking down at her with an accusing glare. He took his seat again carefully.
"No, please stay," Ginny smiled threateningly, clearly enjoying her task.
"I don't know what you're getting out of this-" Draco hissed.
"A lot, actually," she whispered back. "Remember all those times you insulted my home and my family? I do. Now you're going to sit down and have a pleasant dinner with us."
"This is black mail!" he spat. Ginny shrugged her shoulders and Draco reached for his wand. It was gone.
"Looking for this?" she whispered and twirled Draco's wand between her fingers. Draco leaned forward with a groan and buried his head in his arms.
"A girl must be quick and stealthy to play for the Holyhead Harpies," Ginny sang aloud. Draco remembered that she did play for the professional Quidditch League for a few years and felt his eye twitch.
"You okay, Draco?" Malcolm called out.
"Fine!" he grunted. His voice was muffled because his face was pressed flat against the table.
"I'm teaching him how to play nice," Ginny said innocently. Malcolm chuckled and patted Draco consolingly on the back.
"It will all be over soon," Malcolm crooned.
Draco mumbled something that sounded "Fucking harpie" and sighed miserably. He was lucky Molly was intently focused on preparing dinner for an army of people and didn't hear him. Ginny flicked his ear and Malcolm looked down at the 'clock' he still carried around in his arms like a child's teddy bear.
"Oh look! It says George and Ron are traveling," Malcolm exclaimed and flipped the clock over to study the back of it, as if it would help him understand how the 'clock' worked.
Draco jerked his head up and scowled.
"Great. And you people expect me to lounge here like a sitting duck without my wand-"
"Exactly," Ginny cut him off. "Ron won't curse you unless you curse him… maybe. He hasn't been told you're here, obviously, so I can't promise anything."
"Oh I'm sure he will think this is a wonderful little reunion!" Draco's voice was getting higher pitched.
"Ronald is not going to curse you," Molly said with finality as she busied herself dropping onions into a pot.
"Who am I cursing?" came a voice from the door. Ron strode in with George behind him and they both pecked their mother on the cheek.
"Nobody," Molly said threateningly. Ron's face scrunched up in confusion for being reprimanded for something he hadn't planned on doing and he looked around. He immediately saw Malcolm and turned back to Molly. Hermione came in and dropped an arm full of parchment and books in a chair with a business-like air.
"I hope you don't mind if I work while I eat, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said. Molly shook her head and busied herself stirring the contents of a saucepan.
"Why would I curse Malcolm?" Ron asked.
George was the one who saw Draco sitting tensely at the table in the corner seat and his face lit up with mischief.
"Look what the cat dragged in! Excellent!" he said clapped his hands together. Then he winked at Malcolm who grinned back.
Draco looked as if he wanted to throw up.
"You aren't going to curse me. She's talking about Draco," Malcolm said helpfully.
"What?" Ron spluttered and whirled around. Hermione, realizing suddenly what was going on and sensing immediate danger, deftly snagged the wand out of Ron's hand to prevent any damage.
Complete and utter silence thundered around them (except for George's gleeful snickering). Ron stared dumbly at Draco with his jaw hanging open and Draco stared mutinously back.
"I wish Fred could see this," George broke the silence and leaned against the door frame.
"Sorry, got held up at work," Harry said as he walked into the room. He stopped short and looked at Ron. Then he looked at who Ron was looking at and fell silent.
"Has everyone gone mental?!" Ron suddenly blustered and threw his hands up in the air.
"I think it's nice," Malcolm commented happily. Ginny covered her mouth to stifle laughter.
"Yes, everyone here obviously belongs in St. Mungo's," Draco snarled.
"Now, I will not have fighting in this house," Molly said and gave both of them quelling looks. "Both of you sit down and leave each other alone."
"I'm already sitting. Against my will, I might add!" Draco snapped. Then he cowered under Molly's fiery gaze and looked down at the bare table gritting his teeth. Ron stormed out of the room muttering colorful phrases with a red face and Hermione looked over apologetically at Malcolm and hurried after him. Harry gave Malcolm a small wave, looked quizzically at Draco (who was refusing now to look at anyone) and then followed Ron and Hermione into the living room.
"Mental!" they all heard echo from the next room.
"Boys, go outside and set up the table for dinner. We have more people coming and all of us can't fit in here," Molly pointed a knife at George.
George lifted his hands in the air and backed out of the door dramatically. Malcolm followed. Draco stood up and held his hand for his wand. Ginny frowned and shook her head.
"Do you seriously think I'm going to leave now? I think I will stay, thank you," Draco drawled, lip curling into a smile with a small glance at the living room.
Ginny gave his a mistrustful look but handed him his wand. Pocketing it, Draco bowed mockingly and swaggered past Molly out of the door. The table lifted by itself and hovered out of the back door followed by several chairs and stools.
"I wish I could make tables fly!" Malcolm exclaimed excitedly.
"Such a sweet boy," Molly commented absently. Ginny patted her mother's hand and went into the living room to find Harry.
