Book Club: Six of Crows

WRITTEN FOR QLFC, SEASON 9

Prompt:

(object) walking stick/cane

Four-year-old Draco crept down the hallway towards the study, looking over his shoulder to make sure his father wasn't around. He knew he would get into trouble if he was found inside the dark study. His father never let him inside, claiming it was no place for children.

But it was important for Draco to sneak into the study. Halloween was coming up in a few days, and Draco wanted to surprise his father with his costume. All he needed to know was what his father's stick looked like, and then he would be able to replicate it with his materials.

The door creaked open ominously as Draco pushed it back. The room was dark, the lone window in the study shut, and the blinds were drawn close. Draco spotted his father's black cane leaning against the large mahogany table in the middle of the room. He looked over his shoulder one more time before he stepped fully inside.

Holding his breath, Draco tiptoed across the glossy floor, his hands sweating at the thought of getting caught snooping around. His father was very strict when it came to his rules being flouted, and Draco always wished to obey him.

When he reached the table, Draco gazed at the cane in awe of how smooth and shiny it was. It reminded him of his father's glossy hair, something Draco wished he would have when his locks grew long enough.

The cane was taller than the four-year-old child, and it had a silver handle. On close inspection, Draco realised it was shaped like a snake. He knew all about Hogwarts, of course; he was aware that his parents had been in Slytherin.

The snake's eyes were sharp and pointed, and Draco was filled with the urge to touch it. He had just raised his hand when he heard his father's familiar footsteps coming down the hallway.

In his panic, he ducked under the table and hoped his father didn't enter the study. Fortunately for him, his father passed by the door without peeking inside.

Once Draco was sure there wasn't anyone in the hallway, he snuck back to his room, leaving the cane behind.

A few days later, when Lucius came downstairs after a long and tedious meeting with his business associates, he came across a peculiar sight. In the hallway, Draco stood near the table dressed in long flowing black robes. That wasn't the unusual part.

There were two unusual things about the situation. First, Draco's short blond hair now reached just below his shoulder blades, combed to absolute perfection. Every single strand was in its proper place, and Lucius was suddenly reminded of his own glorious locks.

The second strange fact was that Draco stood leaning on a little black stick. It was short and thick, but Lucius immediately understood what it was meant to be. A cane...

He walked up to stand behind Draco, who hadn't realised he was there yet. He tilted his head down to look at his son and asked, "What are you doing?"

Draco whirled around, his robes billowing around his ankles dramatically. He jutted his chin out as he stared up at Lucius and stated regally, "You are late, Father. Where have you been dawdling all day?"

Dawdling? Late? What is he playing at? Lucius shook his head to clear his thoughts before he said, "Never mind what I've been doing. What are you up to? What is the meaning of all this?"

Draco's composed facade cracked. A delighted grin formed on his face as he bounced on the spot. "Father, today's Halloween! Tell me what I'm dressed up as! Guess! Guess!"

Lucius pursed his lips as he looked Draco over. By the looks of the black robes, long hair, and the cane, it was very obvious as to what Draco was. Still, Lucius knew Narcissa didn't like it when he didn't play along with their son, and he was in no mood to argue with her. Therefore, he placed his hand under his chin and pretended to think.

"Hmm. I'm not sure I recognise you," he murmured, looking at Draco, who beamed and stood straighter, tapping his little stick on the floor. Lucius pointed his cane at Draco suddenly and cried theatrically, "Who are you and what have you done to my son? I demand you answer me!"

Draco let out a small squeal and raised his own cane in reply. "Father! I'm you! I'm you! See?"

Lucius barely kept himself from smiling when he saw the little stickers of smiley faces pasted on the side of the stick. His son wasn't very good at decorating, but at least he had tried his best. And to Lucius' amusement, the walking stick Draco held had a sticker of a green snake with big brown eyes on top.

"Oh! You do look like me," Lucius said, sounding surprised. "Dear, me! No wonder I didn't recognise you."

Draco grinned as he clapped his hands, dropping the stick to the ground. "I fooled you, didn't I, Father? Mother will be so happy! I'll go tell her now!"

He quickly bent down to pick his walking stick and sprinted out the doors. Lucius shook his head good-naturedly as he walked towards the living room. Draco may have looked like him, but Lucius knew his son was his own person. And Lucius was secretly proud of him.