Draco's summer was busy, keeping the muggle school away from his father as well as doing it in a timely manner. His teacher was really forgiving, knowing he would have work at odd times, and sent through Hermione. Hermione was glad to be handing in the work, and always read the letters he sent with the work. He often got a few pages in return with his work, and carefully saved and hid them, with the work in a safe buried in the wall. He and Hermione had worked the last couple of weeks at Hogwarts layering it in Notice-Me-Not charms, anti-Alohomora charms, and then shrinking it to take home, making sure it was easy to un-shrink. It would be very hard for his father to find it. It was also helpful that they made it invisible to anyone who didn't know it was there, one of the new charms Hermione had tried to create. She was, luckily, successful. Now, only he could see it, and, if she were to visit (which was not going to happen for years yet), Hermione would also be able to see it.
The work was a bit hard, but he was now a little above his age for the schooling, and Hermione was quite a bit above him, almost ready for the next grade. It was insane the amount of work she was able to do. Their magical school essays had been done practically on day one of the summer holidays, and were ready in their trunks for the return to Hogwarts.
But the upcoming Quidditch World Cup was on practically everyone's minds. The ex-Death Eaters were up to something, but what, Draco had no idea. The manor was getting restless, if such a thing was possible. Draco's father had something up his sleeve, and Draco just wanted to know what it was. So, he slipped out of his room, down the stairs, and into the wing where his father's office was. Creeping to the door, he pressed his ear against it, and listened to the muffled voices from inside.
"Yes, Minister, the plans are good," his father said.
"Oh, I can't wait for the TriWiz to come back. The last time this tournament was around, it was quite dangerous, but it has had a real safety check, and this year, it will be as safe as ever. Is Hogwarts ready for the guests?" an unidentified voice said. Draco had never heard this person before.
"Of course, Bagman. Of course." The voice his father used was full of disgust, and Draco wondered if this was the Bagman from the Ministry, the one in the sports department.
Hearing the topic switch back to the Quidditch finals, Draco slunk away, back to his room to research this 'TriWiz tournament'. And, maybe, to write a letter to the girl he loved.
.
Mya
Merlin, I miss you. I wish I could see your beautiful face.
But, I am not writing to you for this reason. This year, at Hogwarts, there is something going on. Some kind of tournament. The TriWizard tournament, to be precise. I have not found anything on it, but then again, I have only looked through Hogwarts: A History. I believe that the tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts, and other schools will be involved.
I recommend you be careful at the World Cup, for my father's allies and acquaintances are planning something. What, I currently do not know. Unfortunately, I most likely will not until it's too late.
But enough with the warnings. I cannot wait any longer to see you at the World Cup, even if my father will be right there. I hope we will be able to meet in private. It has been a long month since I have seen you last. I will most likely not be going down Diagon Alley, instead ordering everything over Owl Order this year. If there is anything you would like, let me know. I will be sure to order it, especially if it is something that will turn a few heads your way.
Stay safe, my love. I miss and love you beyond words.
Draco
Capping and putting down the pen, Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair. Looking around quickly, he made sure that there was no one else in the room, then pulled out a couple of treats for Amethyst. The beautiful owl was ready to take a letter to Hermione, and was going to wait for her reply.
Sending her off, Draco turned around to see Misty pop into his room. "Master has asked the Young Master to come down to dinner, and to dress appropriately, for there are guests in the Manor."
Draco nodded to show he understood and turned to the en suite to change into dinner robes fitting to his position. He considered putting Muggle jeans on, but then decided that it would raise a couple flags in his father's mind. Not yet.
Heading down to the dining room, Draco sat at the place where his nameplate was for the evening, and awaited the conversation that was sure to head his way. He was not expecting His Uncle Sev to come in with the rest of the Death Eaters. But, then again, he should have expected it. Uncle Sev never would have been able to get close to his father, and become Draco's godfather, unless he was a Death Eater, even if he was a bit of a spy. But for which side, no one knew. And that was probably the way Uncle Sev wanted it.
The ex-Death Eater meeting was a bit awkward, considering Draco wasn't really around much when they were first around.
The dinner was horrible, and Draco wondered how anyone had the patience for them. But he was all in, playing this part in life. It was all a part.
.
The Quidditch World Cup. Draco had been looking forward to it for quite a while now, really, the entire summer. It would be the first time he would be able to see Hermione in two months. His family arrived the day of, closer to the game than a lot of people. When they arrived, they immediately started heading out to the field, not bothering to get a spot at any of the campgrounds. They would not be doing this the muggle way. Maybe he would someday with Mya. That would be nice.
They were introduced to the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and then Draco's father ridiculed the Weasley clan, plus Mya and Potter.
"-Surely, your house still wasn't enough to get these seats?" Draco wanted to roll his eyes, but refrained from doing so.
Looking over the group assembled, Lucius stopped on Mya. She blushed with his attention on her. Although, it also could have been her anger causing her to get a bit mad, and flush her cheeks. Draco would have to ask later.
The team mascots came onto the field, and, luckily, Draco did not react to the veelas. He had a girlfriend, thankyouverymuch.
The match was an edge of the seat thing, but Draco kept his composure in front of his father and his father's 'friends'. The outcome certainly was unexpected, but Draco took it in stride.
The Irish had won, but the Bulgarians had caught the snitch. If Draco thought about it, it made sense. Harry had a good idea behind it, even if Draco barely heard it. "He knew they were never going to catch up. The Irish Chasers were much too good, and he just wanted to end the game on his own terms!"
Krum had good reasoning, if that's what it was.
.
Everyone was back at the campsites, and Draco was waiting in the forest for his cue. The one to run like mad away, that is. His father had finally revealed what it was that they were working on, and Draco wanted nothing more than to run as far as he could. The ex-Death Eaters were going to put on a show tonight, and Draco's father would be the one leading it. Once the screaming started, Draco looked in the direction of the camp in disgust. They had started, and they were levitating the Muggles overhead. Draco ran before his father saw his face. "If I see your face out there tonight, you will not like the consequences." that was what he had said, and Draco quickly turned away and ran deeper into the forest.
He found Weasley, Potter, and Mya in time to see Ron trip over a tree root. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly before speaking again.
"Well, with feet that size, I guess it's not that hard not to." He drawled. Ron called him a really unsavory name that would have had Draco under the Crucio for quite a moment.
"Language, Weasley. And hadn't you all better be going off. After all, you don't want her spotted now, would you?" Draco pointed a finger to Mya. A blast went off in the direction of the campsite, and a flash of green light whizzed through the trees.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Her voice was just as beautiful as ever.
"Well, Granger, they're hunting Muggles, you see. I don't suppose you want to hang around in the air now, would you? They're moving this way, might as well give us all a show."
"Hermione's a witch!" Harry stood up for Hermione, and Draco was glad he did so.
"Have it your own way, Potter. If you don't think they can't spot a Mudblood, then I guess you can stay where you are."
"What if you watched your language, Malfoy!" Ron called him out on it, and Draco was sorry he ever had to use the word. He hated himself for it.
Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him back, telling him to forget about it. She knew. She knew he really didn't mean it.
With another loud bang and a few screams, Draco spoke again. "Scare easily, don't they. I suppose your daddy told you all to hide? What's he up to - Trying to rescue the Muggles?" Draco looked at his nails as he said this, seemingly unconcerned.
"Where're yours? Out there wearing masks, are they?"
Draco's father was, but not his mother. His mother had only ever followed his father, she had never received the Mark. But Draco turned his smiling face to Harry. "If they were, would I ever tell you, Potter?"
"Oh, come on." Hermione looked at him with a face filled with disgust, though none of it real. "Let's go find the others."
"Keep that big, bushy head of yours down, eh, Granger?" It was a warning to her, a warning in disguise.
"Come on." She pulled both Ron and Harry down the path. Draco turned away, and headed back the way he had come.
A few minutes later, a cry went out as a green Dark Mark appeared in the sky. It was a ways away from where the ex-Death Eaters were, but most of them still Apparated away as soon as they could.
The rest of the night was spent in the quiet of his room, as he had been dragged away by one of the house elves in his family's, uh, employ. Draco never got a good chance to see exactly who it was.
.
The Hogwarts Express set - off was a welcome day. Draco just wanted to get away from his father. He was in a compartment with Pansy (ew), Crabbe, Goyle, Greengrass, and Zabani. Over the last week or so of summer, he had researched more into the TriWizard Tournament, and found out that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were the usual competitors. The Tournament was a year long thing, and Draco was not looking forward to it. Draco had heard that there was an age limit, but there was still some way that Hermione was going to be in danger.
But he couldn't think about that now. Now, he had to not blow his cover, and talk to his 'friends' like he was happy to be with them, while still sounding like a spoiled rich kid.
Showtime.
"My father had considered sending me to Durmstrang, you know. Instead of Hogwarts, I mean. He knows the headmaster, and, well, you know his opinion on Dumbledore, that Mudblood lover." Ouch. I love her, this is all for her. I can do this. It's all a part. " And Durmsrang doesn't admit that sort of riff - raff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstang has a much better and sensible line of Dark Arts than the joke we've had here. At Durmstrang, they actually learn about the Dark Arts, not just how to defend against it, like we do here."
"But at least we know how to ward of creatures, keep them contained. It would be terrible if we came across a hinkypunk in the wild and didn't know what to do!" exclaimed Pansy.
"Parkinson, when are we ever going to go into 'the wild'? Why would we have reason to go there?"
"Well - Well, I don't know, Greengrass. But at least we know how to defend against it. Just in case." Pansy pouted and crossed her arms, sinking into her seat a little, before picking herself up and sitting with a pureblood poise. Stupid pureblood ettiquite lessons.
Draco rolled his eyes and tuned out of the conversation, he had said enough. He started thinking of his lovely girlfriend, somewhere on the train. She was sure to have changed over the summer holidays. Ok, yes, he had seen her a few days ago, but it was dark and he didn't get a good look at her.
"-aco? Draco!"
He shook himself out of it, noticing the others were trying to get his attention.
"What? Yes."
He had no idea what he was agreeing to.
"Oh, so you like your fairy eggs dipped in gravy?"
A slight blush appeared on his cheeks. Of course they knew he wasn't paying attention. They were Slytherins.
"Ok, so I wasn't paying attention. What did you ask me?"
"Are you excited for the Triwizard tournament?"
"Of course. But, knowing some of the students here, they will try to hijack the thing, and somehow mess it up. Mark my words."
The rest of the compartment started laughing, knowing Potter would try something to get attention.
"Hey, think we're far enough along to go torment Potter?"
Crabbe and Goyle nodded, ready to be the muscle that Draco didn't need. Much. They were intimidating, though, so that worked out in his favor. Got the firsties out of his way.
"We were in the Top Box -"
"First and last imt in your life, Weasley." He cut the boy off, quite rudely, if he did say so himself.
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy." Potter calmly stated.
Draco looked around the compartment, seeing Longbottom, Finnigan, Thomas in there with the Trio. Continuing to look around, he saw a peeking of moldy lace out of Weasley's trunk. Pointing to it, he exclaimed, "Weasley, what in Merlin's name is that?" Dear Merlin, were those his dress robes? Practically Apparating to the other side of the cabin, Draco tugged on the sleeve and pulled them out. Merlin's beard, these were terrible. "Look at this! Weasley, you weren't thinking of actually wearing these, now, were you?" I mean - these look like they were fashionable in about 1890!"
"Eat dung, Malfoy!" Gladly, if he didn't have to be the way he was, this rude, pureblood spoiled brat of a child. Weasley grabbed the robes and shoved them under the seat. Gross. He and his 'bodyguards' laughed.
"So, going to enter then, Weasley? Going to try and bring a little 'glory' to your family name? there's a spot of money involved, as well. Perhaps you might be able to afford some real dress robes if you win!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, are you going to enter? I suppose you will, Potter? Never missing a chance to show off, and all."
"Either explain what you're going on about, or leave, Malfoy." There she was. She was hiding behind a book. Oh, Mya.
A smile spread across his face at hearing her voice, though no one would ever know that. "Don't tell me you don't know? You have a father and a brother in the Ministry, and you don't even know! Merlin, my father told me about it ages ago, after hearing from Cornelius Fudge. That's the minister, if you didn't know. But then again, Father's always been associated with the top people at the Ministry. Perhaps your father is just too junior to hear about it, Weasley. Yes, that must be it. They just don't talk about the important stuff in front of him." Laughing again, Draco, Goyle, and Crabbe left at one of Draco's gestures.
It had a sort of double meaning, though. It was a signal to Mya, something they made up at the end of the year, and the one he used was to meet him in ten minutes. He heard the compartment door slam closed, and the glass shattered. A cry of "Ron!" left the compartment, and a quieter "Reparo!" Then the silencing charms on the compartment activated with the shut door.
Ten minutes later, Draco slipped out of his cabin again, robes tucked under his arm, and headed to the restroom on the train. Stepping inside, he saw Mya head to the same one, her own robes tucked under her arm. As soon as she shut and locked the door, Draco wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. With a slight squeak of surprise, she turned around as she was set down again. She gave him a tight hug, and they pulled apart long enough to press their foreheads together. Pressing a light kiss to her lips, Draco relished the feel of their arms around each other again. "God, Mya. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Dray." She pressed her lips to his again. In the tiny bathroom, there was hardly enough space for the two of them.
"We're almost out of time. Meet me in the Room of Requirement after the feast?"
She just nodded, and with a last kiss, Draco left the restroom for a different one to change in.
.
Draco got off the train with the rest of his 'friends' and walked to the carriages, in the soaking rain. Peeves was at the entrance to the Great Hall, lobbing water balloons at everyone. Draco was lucky enough to escape the barrage of them. Sitting at the Slytherin table, Draco awaited the rest of the evening.