Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, nor anything affiliated with it.
Draco's POV
I land carefully and calmly step out of the fireplace, onto the ancient rug of the manor's library. I brush a few specks of ash off of my robes and look at the innumerable volumes and scripts, held on the oak bookshelves. It has been almost 8 years since I've come here to read something. Most of the time I only come here, or rather I came here, to have tea with my mother.
We'd sit next to the window overlooking the garden. The sun was almost always shining through, making the white and gold tea cups stand out against the dark, rich, wooden table. I always had earl grey tea with one lump of sugar and a little bit of cream. My mother had camomile with two lumps of sugar. She'd invite me down once a week whenever I was at the manor for the holidays and we'd just chat. They were almost always slightly formal and impersonal, our ways of talking as aristocrats too well ingrained in us, but we both saw the meaning and value in having these chats. We were good at analysing each others words for the deeper meaning and reading the miniscule mannerisms.
I take a deep breath as I try to let the memories flow through me. With everything going on, I don't usually let myself dwell on the past, but sometimes, in private situations like this, I like to remember the good parts of my old life. There weren't many, that much is obvious even to me. However there were a few and I will always cherish them. I always have and always will.
A creak of the heavy doors to the library pull me out of my reverie. I turn to see my father walking in with his usual cane. He's dressed in robes similar to his old ones, a very crisp sense of fashion obvious even to the untrained eye. As I look deeper, I meet my father's eyes and see a strange kind of warmth to them.
It's still weird to me, to see that kind of happiness and light, in a pair of eyes that used to be so cold and angry. I guess that's why it's important that I visit him every now and then and try to repair the broken relationship we have.
"Hello Draco." He says as he reaches me. He stretches out an arm towards me and we both share a warm embrace. I haven't been hugged by him like this in a very long time.
"Hello father." I reply as we take a step back and let go.
"Shall we have a seat?" He inclines his head towards the window table and I nod, following over. I take my usual seat and he takes my mother's old seat.
The table is already set with tea and biscuits, Bipsy must have put them out just before I got here as they're still warm. Or perhaps she just used a warming charm on them.
I pour my father a cup of hot water and then I pour one for myself as he mixes in his tea leaves. I stir my tea leaves in and then add my usual sugar and cream. While I wait for my tea to cool a little bit, I take a jam filled biscuit and set it on my plate. Once we've both finished out tea preparation we begin to chat.
"So has work at the Ministry been?" I ask.
"It has been interesting to say the least. We've caught a decent amount of escaped Death Eaters and the list has diminished quite a bit. I've also had several cases involving the trade of dark artefacts. We managed to acquire several items that would have been extremely dangerous in… well anyone's hands really."
I nod. I didn't expect my father to be able to tell me even this much, but I do wish that I could hear a bit more about his activities these days.
"Have you been staying here at the manor or somewhere else? I heard from Potter that they moved yo u out from Azkaban already."
"Yes well, staying in Azkaban was taking it's toll, even with the short reprieves every now and then. I believe that they all think I died from malnutrition. I've been living at the manor for the last while but I may move closer to the ministry, there are some nice properties in wizarding London that could be quite convenient and make it easier to drop things when I'm on call."
"That's good, both for you and your work I guess." I reply politely.
"So how are your academics at Hogwarts going?" He asks me.
"Well I'm still competing with Hermione for top marks but I'm definitely within the top two students. It'll be down to us for valedictorian."
"That's excellent. I couldn't have asked for any better my son. She isn't called the brightest of her age for nothing." His eyes shine with pride and I feel kind of happy inside. It seems that validation is still important to me after all.
"I was wondering however, if we had any information in our library about Fiendfyre?" I gauge my father's expression and like I predicted, it darkens considerably.
"I know that you wouldn't ask me about this without a reason but I would like to clarify what this information is for?" He's studying me quite carefully and I feel a little uncomfortable.
"It's just for an essay in Charms. We're supposed to write about a certain branch of elemental charms. I was going to do mine on Fiendfyre since I can write about the negative effects, why it's considered dark magic, and why it's a risky charm even for adept dark wizards." When I first thought of my topic, I wanted to write this in honour of Crabbe. I want to warn against using it, even though technically it's only going to be read by Professor Flitwick. While I never really thought much about Crabbe's death, I think writing about it might lift a weight from my chest.
"I'm still a little concerned about your choice of topic, but I trust you to know what you're doing. The books on Dark magic like Fiendfyre are on the west wall of the library. It's alphabetized by author after being organized by topic. There won't be as many reference texts as I did move a lot of them to my office in the Ministry so that I can have them on hand."
"Thank you."
We fall into silence and I take a sip of my tea. The drink isn't scalding hot but the right temperature. The mix of the tea itself with the sugar and mild is perfect today. Almost like the mix of my father and myself. We seem to be getting along quite well at the moment.
"So you've adjusted to life with friends then?" My father says after a long period of silence.
"Yes. They're all wonderful. I wish I'd had friends when I was younger; I seem to have missed out on quite a lot." I say while smiling out the window. I try to imagine what it would look like if I'd had friends that I could have invited the manor. I try to imagine my younger self and my friends playing in the backyard. I try to hear the laughter and chatter that we would have made. I try to imagine my parents sitting here at this table, watching us in amusement, perhaps even annoyance. I try to image what it would have been like to have a normal childhood.
My mouth curls up in a smile and I let my imagination run free for the second time today. I can smell the free scent of the plants. I can hear the jokes we'd have made. I can feel my heavy footsteps on the stone pathway. I can feel my deep, ragged breaths tearing at my lungs. I can see the bright sunshine lighting up the whole scene.
My thoughts shift to playing hide and seek in the Manor. To playing wizarding chess in the library, rain slamming into the windows, plates of chocolate cookies, and mugs of hot cocoa. To reading in my room under the covers. All things that I used to do with Dobby. When I didn't have friends. I may not have had the best childhood, but Dobby was as good a friend as any and I wasn't entirely lacking in the social aspect.
I shake myself out of my inner thoughts and realize that my father is staring at me curiously.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking." I explain with a slight smile still ghosting my expression.
"Well it's almost noon now, so I'd best be heading back to the office so Potter doesn't start to worry about where I am." My father then stands up and I follow him to walk him out.
We walk towards to the fireplace when I notice that he left his cloak at his seat. Drawing out my wand, I summon it.
"Accio cloak." I grab it as it flies towards me and pass it to my father.
"Thank you Draco. I had a nice chat with you today, good luck with your essay and your studies."
"I enjoyed our chat as well. Good luck with your work and stay safe." He nods and then pinches some floo powder, tossing it into the dying flames. It roars up towards the ceiling and he disappears in a puff of smoke.
A crack behind me alerts me of Bipsy's presence.
"Master Malfoy is gone now, sir?" She squeaks and I turn to face her.
"Yes Bipsy. Thank you for the refreshments, they were just as good as always." She beams at the praise and I make a mental note to give her bonus check when I'm done here.
"Bipsy lives only to serve and please her master."
"If you could clear the dishes and extra food that would be excellent."
"Of course master." She bows and then scurries off to the table.
Running a hand through my hair, I turn towards the back of the library, to the westernmost section of it. The shelves themselves get darker her and there's a lot less light. Not a very inconspicuous place to put the books but it does make it harder to find what you're looking for.
"Lumos." Using my wand to guide my search, I start looking through the shelves. There aren't any books specifically about Fiendfyre, but after a lot of scanning and guesses about certain books, I find three texts that have a decent amount of information on the subject. Using Their Power Against Them: How to Fight Back Against Witch Hunts and The Untamable Beast: Dark Flaming Curses appear to be good sources and they aren't illegal to posses.
Once I've collected my three books and made a note of where they came from, I head back to the fireplace. I leave the three of them on the chair next to it and take a walk to the kitchens. When I get there, I see Bipsy putting away the rest of the leftovers. She turns to me just as I walk in and she wipes her hands on her apron.
"Would Master like some snacks to bring back to Hogwarts? Bipsy has just finished wrapping a batch of sugar and butter cookies." She pulls a delicately wrapped basket and brings it over to me.
"I would Bipsy, thank you." I take the basket and pull out an envelope from my cloak. "And here is your bonus for today."
Bipsy carefully takes it and scurries over to a small drawer in the kitchen with a few of her personal items inside.
"Thank you Master, Bipsy is grateful to have such a generous and fair Master like you."
"You're welcome Bipsy, and I'm glad to have such a hard-working and organised house elf like you."
"Master is too kind." She replies while blushing a little bit.
"Well Bipsy, I'd best be off now. Have a good day!"
"Good day to you too Master."
I walk back to the library and pick up my three reference books. I still have to read through all of them tonight so that I can begin working on my essay tomorrow and be able to revise it on Tuesday. Seizing a handful of powder, I throw it into the flames and step forward.
"McGonagall's office!" I shout as I step forward and eventually land on her delicate Persian rug.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review and give me feedback, it makes me day to hear from you guys. Have a great week, till next time!