May 21, 1998
His eyes were focused on the stone floor of the large chamber. His hands tightly gripping the edge of the thick, wooden armrests of the chair he was sitting in. He could hear the distant murmuring of the members of the Wizengamot as they discussed his sentencing.
His heart was beating heavily under his ribcage, and he felt it skip a beat when a man cleared his throat. Draco swallowed and lifted his head to look at the stern looking wizard.
"Mr. Malfoy…" The man said in a low, nasally voice, "We are aware of the difficulties you have faced. Having to live in the same house as the Dark Lord and being subjected to all the dangers that came with his presence." The older wizard cleared his throat again with a subtle shake of his head, "With that in mind, and after a substantial about of deliberations, we have decided not to sentence you to any time in Azkaban."
Draco felt a sense of relief rush through him, though he knew there was more coming. He held his breath until the man spoke again.
"With that being said," The wizard continued, "it is clear that you have lacked the much-needed guidance and influence of a responsible wizard or witch. While you are of age, we still feel that it is vital that you have that guidance. We have decided that you must return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to complete your final year. However, since the school year does not start for another three months, you will be living with a wizarding family of our choosing for the rest of the summer."
Draco furrowed his brow, wondering what family he was referring to.
What family would willingly let a former death eater live in their home with them?
When the head Wizengamot wizard spoke again, he answered the unspoken question. "You will be staying with the Weasley family in Ottery Saint Catchpole until September first."
Bloody unbelievable!
"Your wand will be returned to you momentarily, however the rule of no magic outside of Hogwarts will remain in place as part of your sentencing. Auror Hughes and Auror Todds will both be escorting you to the Malfoy Manor to retrieve your belongings. They will scan your personal effects for any traces of dark magic before escorting you to the Weasley's home." The wizard stated before giving Draco a pointed glare, "Mr. Malfoy, I advise you to show each of the Weasley's a tremendous amount of respect during your stay in their home. They are under no obligation to do this but have agreed to host you for the remainder summer. Is all of that understood, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco nodded, knowing he had no choice, "Yes, sir."
The older wizard scrutinized him for a moment before nodding slightly, satisfied with Draco's response.
After his sentencing was over, Draco stood up and was escorted from the chamber by Auror Todds. Once they were out in the corridor, Todds turned to him, holding out Draco's wand for the blonde to take.
The grey-eyed wizard took it, feeling the rush of magic course through his veins. He hadn't held his wand since his arrest following the Battle of Hogwarts. He tucked the wand into the convenient wand-pocket of his suit jacket and tugged slightly at the left cuff of his suit. Although he couldn't feel the Dark Mark on his forearm, he knew it was there, magically branded into his flesh and felt as if everyone around him could see right through the fabric that covered it.
"Alright Malfoy, let's head to the Manor and get your stuff." Auror Hughes said as he marched down the corridor towards them with a stern expression.
Draco cleared his throat before asking, "Will I be able to speak with my mother?"
Hughes nodded, "Yes. Let's go." He grunted.
Narcissa Malfoy had been sentenced to three years of house arrest as punishment for her part in the war. She had gotten off easier than anyone had expected due in large part to her actions in the Forbidden Forest. Lying to Voldemort about Harry Potter being dead had had such a massive impact that it couldn't go overlooked.
Lucius Malfoy, however, had been sentenced to life is Azkaban and no one felt the need to oppose the sentencing as it was well-deserved.
Draco felt guilt swimming in his gut at the sense of relief that had rushed through him upon hearing the news that his father would remain in prison for the rest of his life. He had barely spoken with Lucius since the Malfoy family had been taken into custody after the Battle of Hogwarts. The last time they had spoken was the day Lucius had been sentenced.
Draco cleared his throat and shook his head, trying to clear his mind as he grabbed a handful of Floo powder in the Atrium. He stepped into the fireplace and called out for Malfoy Manor.
Auror Todds had gone before and was standing in the Manor's library when Draco stepped out of the fireplace, brushing soot off his suit.
Pippy, the Manor's head House Elf, popped into the room and bowed. "Master Draco. Welcome home. Mistress is on her way down."
"Thank you, Pippy." Draco nodded as the fireplace filled with green flames and Auror Hughes stepped out.
A moment later, the library doors opened and Narcissa Malfoy walked in, nodding at each Auror. "Hello dear. What was the verdict?" she asked, looking at her son with concern in her eyes.
"I've been ordered to go back to Hogwarts to complete my final year. Until then, I'm to stay with the Weasley family." He replied, knowing that his mother would be relieved as well as the slightest bit disappointed.
The older witch inhaled deeply, nodding, "I'm grateful you're staying out of Azkaban." She said, pulling him into a motherly embrace.
He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly, "I'll do my best to visit as much as possible…if it's allowed." He said, pulling back from the hug to meet her blue eyes.
Most people, when they saw Narcissa Malfoy, only noticed the strictness and impassiveness of her features. She was a mixture of a Black and a Malfoy and neither family was known for their warmth. However, Draco knew his mother better than most and could see the warmth in her piercing, blue gaze. He had always been able to see her emotions in her eyes.
Draco's eyes were a mixture of his parents'. The grey of his orbs was similar to his father's but the emotions that were so clear to those closest to him came from the women in front of him.
She nodded, "Be sure to write as often as you are able."
He nodded as Hughes cleared his throat, "We've got to get going, Mrs. Malfoy." He said before looking at Draco, "Auror Todds will go with you to pack your belongings. Don't dilly-dally."
Draco nodded and went on up to this bedroom with Auror Todds. It didn't take long for him to pack everything he needed into his school trunk. Long ago, he had placed an impressive extension charm on the case, giving him practically unlimited space.
Once he and Auror Todds arrived back in the library, both Aurors performed inspection spells on the school trunk as well as on Draco. Finding nothing containing dark magic, they let him hug his mother once more.
"Be sure to purchase an owl as soon as possible." She said pointedly, wanting to be able to converse with him.
He nodded and grabbed his trunk.
"We're going to Apparate to the location." Auror Hughes said.
Draco nodded as Auror Todds took his trunk and grabbed Draco's arm. Hughes grabbed the other arm and nodded the Narcissa before turning on the spot. The sensation of squeezing through a tube overtook Draco for a moment before they were standing on a dirt path. The sun was setting in Ottery Saint Catchpole, casting a golden glaze over the scenery.
In the distance, Draco could see the most lopsided, odd-looking house he had ever seen. The only explanation for it not being a pile of planks was the use of magic…a lot of magic.
He took a moment, standing between the two Aurors, to steel himself in preparation for what was going to undoubtedly be an awkward, possibly even miserable summer.
Auror Hughes glanced at the younger wizard who nodded and squared his shoulders before taking a step. They passed a lopsided sign that read 'The Burrow' as they made their way to the door, though it was unclear whether it was the front or back door.
Auror Todds knocked on the weathered wood before taking a step back. The three wizards waited until the matriarch of the Weasley family opened the door.
Draco had expected to see contempt and anger on her face. He was, however, completely surprised when she gave him a warm, welcoming smile.
"Hello Draco. Please come in." She said, stepping aside, letting the wizards into the house.
Draco's hand gripped the handle of his school trunk a little tighter as he stepped into a warm, cozy sitting room. He took a moment to look around the room while Mrs. Weasley discussed something with the two Aurors.
Every single piece of furniture in the room, in no way matched any other. Each chair or sofa had a worn blanket or patchwork quilt thrown across it. The walls were covered with magical photographs of loads of grinning, waving redheads.
Draco noticed that the bookshelves near the fireplace were filled with hundreds of books and bowed under the weight of them all. He was certain it was only still standing due to magic. Clearly the entire structure was charmed to remain intact. The room was cluttered but not uncomfortably so. On the contrary, the ambiance was rather…welcoming, even homey.
"Well!" He heard, snapping out of his thoughts as he turned to face the older witch. "Draco, I am sure that you are starving. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. Let me show you to your room." She smiled kindly.
He cleared his throat and attempted to smile, "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." He glanced at the Aurors and nodded at them.
"Let us know if you need anything." Auror Hughes said gruffly.
"We'll be just fine. Thank you, gentlemen." She said, waving them out as she shut the door. She turned back to him, "Come now. You're just one floor up."
She pointed her wand at his school trunk before it lifted itself out of his grasp and floated in front of them. She led the way over to a wooden staircase that surprisingly did not creak or make any noises under their weight.
Loads of magic!
When they got to the next level of the house, he noticed that there were two doors as she opened the closest one. He followed her into the room and looked around.
The room was bigger than he expected but was still a rather small bedroom. It had a double bed in the corner with a small bedside table next to it. Across the room, though it was merely ten feet from the foot of the bed, was a dresser and a small desk. The desk had a candle on it along with a few framed photographs of more redheads.
"This is Bill and Charlie's old room" Mrs. Weasley said as she magically placed his school trunk to the floor at the foot of the bed. "The top three drawers in the dresser are empty and you are welcome to use them. I also cleared out half of the closet for any of your hanging clothes." She smiled.
Draco nodded but didn't speak up as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"The loo is on the third floor. Feel free to take your time and freshen up. Dinner will be ready soon."
He nodded, "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." He said, swallowing.
She smiled warmly, meeting his eyes, "I know the Burrow isn't what you are used to, but…I do hope that you will come to feel at home during your time here."
Draco felt the tension in his shoulders release a bit as he swallowed once more before nodding.
"I'll see you downstairs." Molly said before leaving, shutting the door behind her.
Draco pulled out his wand and set it on the bed before slipping out of his black suit jacket. He hung it in the closet and sighed.
He walked over to his school trunk and opened it. As he began to unpack it a bit, he swallowed, hearing chattering voices down the hall as they descended the stairs. He clenched his jaw and finished putting his clothing away. He left most of his belongings in the trunk before changing into a pair of dark jeans, a black jumper over his tee and a pair of black trainers. He slipped his wand into the hidden pocket on the thigh of his jeans and took a deep breath before stepping out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
He swallowed, hearing the chattering and laughter of everyone on the ground floor. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. Yes, he was Draco Malfoy. Which meant he should be able to walk down the stairs while holding his head up high and feeling the pride of being a Malfoy. However, Draco felt no pride in being a Malfoy. To him, that name simply meant that he was part of a family that only cared about themselves. A family that had supported a complete nutjob who attempted to destroy the entire wizarding world, killing many innocent people in the process.
The Malfoy name made Draco feel utter shame. He wanted nothing more than to change what his surname represented. He knew that in order to do that, his first step was to walk down to the kitchen and treat each person with respect…even if they looked at him with complete disgust on their faces. He had been a death eater; disgust was an expression he'd have to get used to seeing aimed his way.
He set his shoulders and headed down the steps.
The chatter came to a sudden halt as he came into view of everyone. He tried not to shift nervously under the heaviness of the stares but failed miserably.
"Draco, dear, come on over to the table." Molly said, smiling kindly at him while motioning towards an empty chair at the end of the table. "There's a seat next to Fred."
Draco nodded and walked over to the far end of the long, kitchen table. The silence lingered as he sat down. He grabbed the napkin and laid it in his lap, feeling the stares. He heard a scoff from down the table as the legs of a chair scraped backwards against the wooden floor.
"I'm not okay with this!" Ron said angrily, pointing at Draco while glaring at his mother.
"Ronald, sit down. We've discussed this." Molly said sternly glaring at her youngest son.
"No! Mum…come on!" Ron exclaimed, flailing his arms angrily.
"Ron, stop…" Hermione Granger spoke up.
Ron turned to the girl that he loved and couldn't believe that she was supporting this terrible decision. "Hermione! You can't possibly think that the ferret living here is a good idea!"
Draco bit his inner cheek, forcing himself to not react. He had no choice but to remain at the Burrow until September, so he needed to be civil.
"Ronald!" Hermione and Molly both hissed.
"Ron, unknot your bloody knickers and sit down." George said, glaring at his brother, "He saved Fred's life at the battle!"
Draco felt his face heat up. He hadn't expected anyone to bring up that particular moment from the Battle of Hogwarts. He had rounded a corner during the battle just as Augustus Rookwood was aiming his wand at Fred Weasley with none other than the killing curse on his mind.
It hadn't taken more than a millisecond of thought before Draco shot a stunning spell at his fellow death eater, saving Fred from certain death. Draco had not stopped to speak to them at the battle, but he had been all too aware that Fred and at least one other Weasley had witnessed his actions.
Ron scoffed, "Yea…after he helped that psycho try to take over the entire bloody wizarding world!" He shouted, infuriated.
"Ron, drop it!" Harry said forcefully, glancing at Draco before turning back to his best friend. "Just sit down."
Ron looked at his best friend in sheer disbelief, "Harry! Come on! You cannot seriously be okay with this…this…this death eater sitting with us in my bloody home!"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Molly exclaimed, standing up just as the fireplace behind her roared into life with green flames.
Arthur Weasley stepped into his kitchen and began to brush soot off his clothing while smiling at the full table. His smile faded into a frown when he noticed the tension in the room and the heated glares of some of his children.
"Molly?" He questioned, stepping towards his wife, "What's going on?"
"Well dad…" Ginny said with a hint of amusement in her tone, "Ronnie's got his knickers is a twist about Malfoy staying here for the summer."
Ron's face was turning from red to purple as he looked about ready to explode with fury.
"Ronald." Arthur said, sternly looking at his son, "Sit down and eat your dinner or go up to your room."
Ron looked over at Draco with a loathing glare and huffed. He grabbed a couple of rolls from his plate before storming up the stairs to his room.
Molly inhaled deeply before looking at the only blonde at the table, "Draco, I apologize for his behavior."
Draco silently shook his head, unsure of how to reply. He was grateful when the twins noisily dug into their food, gaining the attention of most of the table.
He did not notice Hermione looking at him with an expression of curiosity on her face.
The rest of dinner went by without any more drama. Afterwards, Molly waved her wand and sent the dishes off to clean themselves.
Draco discreetly stepped outside through the kitchen door and strolled over towards the rather extensive and lush garden. He could hear odd grunting of some sort and noticed a few Garden Gnomes rutting around in the hedges. He leaned against the garden fence and took a deep breath. The summer's evening breeze was filled with a sweet scent of a multitude of different flowers and seemed to waft through his head, carrying his mind and its many thoughts and stresses off with the wind.
He wasn't sure how long he'd been out there when he heard footsteps behind him but with the crunching sound of feet on grass, came back reality. He swiftly spun around, reaching for his wand before realizing it was Harry.
Draco cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, nodding, "Potter…" he murmured. His voice held none of the harshness or disgust that had been so common before the war.
Harry silently scrutinized his former nemesis before sighing, "Look Malfoy…" He paused before going on, "I really hope that you understand that the past is over. The Weasleys…they're a wonderful family and they agreed…well most of them agreed…to take you in this summer. Molly seems to feel that you and I were both just kids thrown into a war by a madman." He sighed, "I hope that you can understand that this chance you've been given…it's a blessing. Just…don't muck it up." He said pointedly though his tone was kinder than in the past.
It was evident that they both were ready to move past their quarrels and start a new chapter of their lives.
Draco nodded and took a moment to organize his response before replying, "Potter, I erm…as you know…I have fucked up in the past…a lot. I let that piece of shite…that practically soulless wanker hurt and kill too many people. I let him cause so much devastation to the world and even assisted in some of it. I know that I've done a lot of horrible…possibly unforgivable things in my life but…" Draco sighed, "but I'm done with that shite. I…I know that words aren't enough but I just…I'm sorry for everything." He swallowed with a shrug, "I am…truly."
Harry's stunned face would have made Draco laugh if he hadn't meant every word he had just said. He watched as Harry's mind swerved in confusion.
"I…" Harry mumbled before clearing his throat and nodding slightly, "Okay." He said, holding out his hand.
Draco let out a nervous breath and shook the dark-haired wizard's hand.
As they let go, Draco noticed a rock flying through the air above the garden, "The…erm…the garden appears to be infested with some rather mischievous Garden Gnomes."
Harry chuckled, nodding, "Molly is likely to ask all of us to assist in de-gnoming the garden sometime soon."
Draco tilted his head, "How exactly is that done?"
Harry smirked, "You swing them around so that they are dizzy and throw them as far out of the garden as possible. They'll return but it'll be few days…at least."
Nodding, Draco watching as two of the Gnomes got into a rather violent tussle.
After a few minutes of watching the brawl, both wizards headed back into the house before splitting up. Draco headed up to 'his' room and shut the door, leaning back against it as he closed his eyes. Sighing, he stood there for a few minutes before he heard mumbling on the other side of the door.
"Have you talked to him?" Ginny Weasley's voice quietly asked.
Draco stepped away from the door, deciding to mind his own business as he began to get ready for bed.
Meanwhile in the hallway Harry shook his head in response to Ginny, "No, but I'm headed up there now."
"He's being a complete git, you know." Ginny told her boyfriend. "I know Malfoy's done…well, a lot." she said quieter, "but Ron needs to at least attempt to be civil."
"I know." Harry replied, sighing, "I'm going to head up there. Night, love."
"Night." She said before kissing him on the lips.
After they separated, Harry headed up to Ron's room while Ginny walked into her bedroom which was down the hall from Draco's. Hermione was laying on her bed in Ginny's room, reading when the red-headed witch walked in. Neither girl spoke for a few minutes.
Once Ginny was in her bed, she finally spoke up, "You okay, Mione?"
Hermione sighed and set her book down, "Yes…I just have a lot on my mind."
"Like what?" Ginny asked, turning to face the older girl as she leaned up on her elbow and rested her head on her hand.
Hermione bit her bottom lip, unsure if she wanted to voice her thoughts. She sighed. "He seems…different." She said quietly before adding, "Malfoy, I mean."
Ginny nodded, "Yea, he does. Normally he would sneer and insult Ron at his first opportunity."
Hermione silently nodded, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling. She had to admit that Draco Malfoy intrigued her. He was different. The sharpness, hatred and pain that had always be rather obvious in his persona was gone. Instead, there was a vibe of…fortitude and grit that radiated off him.
Before the war, he had always had a rather dark cloud around him, keeping others away so as to never be perceived as vulnerable. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she had noticed him a few times. Each instance was fleeting but she always noticed the pain in his eyes. Now however, his shoulders were loosened, and he had the slightest bit of contentment in his expression.
Though, those changes didn't last, since Ron had made a scene at dinner.
"Are you and Ron officially together yet?" Ginny asked as if knowing Hermione train of thought.
Hermione swallowed and shook her head. "No and honestly…" she sighed. "I care deeply for Ron but…" She grimaced in thought before saying, "but I'm not sure that we're supposed to be together. I don't think…we don't appear to be…compatible."
Ginny huffed out a small laugh, "Are you finally realizing that you are way out of his league?"
The brunette's head snapped to look at her friend, "What do you mean?"
Ginny sighed exhaustedly, "Hermione…" She said, sitting up to look at her mate, "you can't seriously tell me that you believe you and my brother are…even remotely suited for each other. I mean, Ron's a good bloke but, he's a complete git."
Hermione furrowed her brow, "He's not…" she paused before sighing, "Okay, he can definitely be a git…sometimes. Why…erm why do you think we aren't in the same…league?"
Ginny tilted her head, sighing, "You are a driven and determined person while Ron…well, he's not." She shrugged, "You need someone who will challenge you and keep you on your toes."
Hermione sighed, thinking over the younger witch's words. If she were honest with herself, she knew that she deserved better than Ron, but she had cared for him for years. For the past few years, she had even assumed that they were meant to be together but after the war and after everything that had transpired…perhaps that had changed.
"Maybe…" Hermione breathed, more to herself than Ginny but the redhead heard and nodded.
"Trust me, you and Ron are much better as mates." Ginny remarked.
"Does he feel that way?" the brunette asked looking over at the younger witch.
With a bewildered expression. Ginny replied, "Mione, he's in love with you! Of course, he doesn't. But once you two actually talk about it…and he sulks for a bit…then I think that he'll finally see the truth. You guys bring comfort to each other but there's no passion." She said as she sat up and reached over to her bedside table to grab a magazine. "In my opinion and according to the latest issue of Witch Weekly, 'Passion is an essential and vital component to any successful romantic relationship'." She said, quoting a caption from the issue as she held it up.
Hermione rolled her eyes, having no trust in the nonsense that was printed in the catalog.
"Honestly, Hermione!" The redhead sighed, "You know I'm right."
The brunette nodded but didn't reply. Ginny understood that her friend had a lot to think about.
May 22, 1998
The next morning Draco woke up early and grabbed some clothes, a towel, and his toiletries before heading up to the third floor to shower.
He locked the loo door and started the tap, letting it warm up as he wasn't allowed to use magic to warm it up faster. He set his wand on the counter and stripped off his clothing before stepping under the stream of water. The tension in his muscles began to soothe as the warm water rolled down his shoulders and back.
He didn't stay in the shower long, unsure of when all the Weasleys bathed.
About ten minutes later he turned off the tap and stepped out, drying off and getting dressed. He tossed his towel over his shoulder and headed back down to his room.
As he opened his door, he heard the door down the hall creak as it opened. Looking over, he saw Hermione step out of Ginny's room wearing a lilac bathrobe over her pajamas and carrying a toiletries bag.
The brunette witch froze, seeing him standing down the hall in jeans, a white tee and trainers with his hair still wet. She swallowed, realizing that they were staring at each other. Clearing her throat, she tentatively smiled at him.
He nodded with a small smile, "Good morning, Granger."
"Good morning, Malfoy." She replied quietly before heading up the steps.
He watched her climb the stairs for a moment before walking into his room. He hung his towel on the hook on the back of his door, sighing as he wondered what the next few months would have in store for him.
He walked over to the small desk and pulled out a piece of blank parchment. He sighed after staring at it for a moment and began to write a letter to his mother. Once he had finished the letter, he slipped it in an envelope and sealed it. After slipping it into his back pocket, he grabbed a lightweight navy-blue jumper and walked out of the room.
When he arrived in the kitchen, he pulled the letter out and thoughtfully tapped the sealed correspondence against his fingertips. He hadn't written much but he hadn't known what to say. While hoping his mother appreciated it, despite the lack of detail, Draco had yet to notice Mrs. Weasley coming down the stairs.
"Is everything all right dear?" Molly Weasley asked as she entered the kitchen to start breakfast.
Draco swallowed and nodded, "Yes. I was just about to send my mother a letter, but erm…I need to buy a new owl."
Molly nodded, "I'm going into Diagon Alley today. You are more than welcome to join me and purchase an owl, if you'd like. But for now, you can use Bert. He's our family owl and he should be here any minute with today's post."
"Thank you." He said with a nod, slipping the letter back into his back pocket as Ginny and Hermione came down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Breakfast will be ready soon." Molly said before turning to the girls, "After we eat, Draco and I need to go to Diagon Alley. Would you girls care to join us?"
"Sure." Ginny shrugged, "I'd like to check out Quality Quidditch Supplies and Merlin knows Mione will want to stop by Flourish and Blotts."
Hermione nodded, looking at Molly before glancing Draco. He was standing near the counter with his hands in his pockets, looking slightly nervous.
"Wonderful. We'll be leaving right after breakfast." Molly said as she waved her wand to start the food.
Ginny nodded and walked past Draco, to the window just as a large tawny owl landed on the windowsill, dropping a few letters and a rolled up Daily Prophet on a table by the window.
Molly looked at Draco, "Go ahead, dear. Send that letter to your mother. I'm sure she's eagerly waiting to hear from you."
Draco nodded and walked over to the owl, "Malfoy Manor, Narcissa Malfoy."
Bert blinked and flew off with the letter.
Draco watched the bird disappear, completely unaware of the women watching him. He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets before turning around as Harry and Ron came downstairs.
"Morning Gin." Harry smiled and kissed her lips before adding, "Morning Hermione, Molly…Malfoy." He said with a nod at Draco.
Draco nodded back but didn't speak.
"Good morning, dears!" Molly smiled, "Arthur had to be at the Ministry early today and the twins also left early to work on the flat above their shop, so it will just be the six of us. Ron, would you and Harry like to come with the rest of us to Diagon Alley after breakfast?"
"He's going?!" Ron asked angrily.
"Ronald!" Molly hissed, "I have had it with your rudeness. Draco will be here for the rest of the summer. He has shown us nothing, but respect and you will do the same for him!"
Ron opened his mouth to argue but Hermione cut him off.
"Ron, stop acting like a child! We aren't adolescents anymore! We fought a war, in part, to stop this exact behavior!"
Harry nodded, "They're right, Ron." He glanced at Malfoy before saying, "Malfoy and I talked yesterday and…"
"What!" Ron said, shocked by all of their statements as he glared at them all.
Harry rolled his eyes, about to reply before he was cut off.
"Weasley…" Draco sighed, stepping forward, "I know I've been a stuck-up arse for…well, as long as we've known each other but…but that's over now. I was raised to believe a certain way but after everything…everything I've witnessed…everything I've…done." Draco shook his head, "I'm through with that load of shite that my father forced on me. I've made so many mistakes and I'm trying to make up for it all." He finished with a slight shrug.
No one spoke for a moment and Draco could feel his heart thudding heavily in his chest.
"There you have it, you git!" Ginny said, looking pointedly at her brother, "Give the bloke a bloody chance!"
Ron sighed and glanced at Hermione, expecting to see her glaring back at him but instead she was staring at Malfoy and any possibility of giving the blonde wizard a second chance flew out the window. Ron knew that look. Hermione had looked at Krum that way and Ron didn't like it one bit that she was now looking at Draco bloody Malfoy like that!
He turned and glared at Draco, "Piss off, Malfoy! I'm not falling for your load of shite!" he shouted.
"That's it!" Molly shouted angrily, one fist on her waist and the other hand pointing towards the stairs. "Go up to your room and stay there! I have had it with your behavior, Ronald Bilius Weasley! You are not to leave your room until I say so!"
Ron scowled at the blonde before stomping back up the stairs while grumbling under his breath and with a painfully empty stomach.
Molly huffed and looked at the others. "Well…breakfast is nearly ready. You lot have a seat."
Draco sat down, lightly tapping his fingers on the wooden table.
Harry sat across him, speaking up, "So why are we going to Diagon Alley?" He asked, looking at the blonde wizard.
Draco cleared his throat before replying, "I need to purchase an owl."
Harry nodded as Ginny and Hermione sat on either side of him, "I should get one as well…soon." He said as Molly hovered four plates of food over to them.
The five of them chatted as they ate breakfast, and it was surprising how comfortable they all were with each other despite their past conflicts.
After breakfast, they used the Floo Network to get to the Leaky Cauldron.
To say the group turned heads as they walked through the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley would be a massive understatement. Then again, it was Harry Potter, the liberator of the wizarding world along with Hermione Granger and they were walking with none other than Draco Malfoy…the Death Eater. Draco wished he had thought to alter his appearance in some way, but it was far too late for that.
They headed straight to Eeylop's Owl Emporium for him to purchase an owl.
He looked through the options, but his attention was almost immediately drawn to a female Barn Owl. He walked over to her cage and looked at her. She had a mixture of burnt orange and grey feathers with white ones scattered throughout. Her eyes were solid black orbs, but he could see the curiosity in them. She hooted quietly at him, tilting her head to look at him tenderly.
He grinned, admiring her in silence.
"She's beautiful." He heard to his right and turned to see Hermione gazing at the same owl with a small smile on her lips.
Draco nodded as he looked back at the bird, "Yea, she is. Are you looking to buy an owl?" He asked, glancing at the witch.
Hermione shook her head, "No. I don't currently need one." She said, "You should get her, though. She seems to be fond of you." She smiled at him before walking towards Ginny, who was looking at a couple small owls.
He smiled and watched her walk away before glancing at the price, seeing that the beautiful Barn owl cost ten galleons. He pulled his coin bag from his pocket and dug out the money. Carefully, he carried the cage to the front counter and paid for the bird as well as some treats for her.
"Are you paying with coin or Wizarding Credit?" The older wizard behind t counter asked him.
"Erm…coin." Draco said, unsure of what the man meant.
Seeing the confusion, the wizard replied, "Gringotts started a new system of payment called Wizarding Credit. I put the amount of your purchase into the device…" He said, motioning to an odd looking, wooden box with many buttons on it. "and you tap it with your wand. Doing so, charges that purchase to your Gringotts account."
Draco nodded, impressed, "Well, for now I'll just pay with coin."
The man nodded and took the money, giving Draco a receipt.
When the group stepped outside, Draco opened the cage and gently lifted the bird out of it. She perched on his forearm as he looked at her thoughtfully.
"Do you have a name?" Ginny asked curiously as she and the others admired the bird.
Looking at the bird with a thoughtful expression, he nodded, "She looks like an Athena to me. What do you think?"
The others nodded as Molly replied, "I think that sounds perfect!" she said, "You can send her to the Burrow. I'll shrink the cage and keep it in my bag for now."
Draco nodded and looked into the bird's eyes, "Athena, go to The Burrow in Ottery St. Catchpole and wait there."
The bird hooted and pushed off his forearm as she flew up into the sky. He watched until she disappeared, and he felt a soft touch on his shoulder.
"Are you ready, dear?" Molly asked.
He looked over at her and nodded, turning to follow them. They went by a few other shops before deciding to pick up some food from the Leaky Cauldron and take it to the twins' joke shop.
They stepped inside the joke shop and Draco couldn't hold back his grin as he looked around. The building was packed with excited customers bustling around to look at the multitudes of fun trinkets, while noises of every sort came from all directions. Laughter could be heard from the back corner where a group of young blokes were looking through a catalog. The entire space was filled with color and light, leaving no room for unhappiness.
Harry smirked at the look of awe on his former nemesis' face, "Brilliant, ey?"
Draco nodded, chuckling, "Completely." He breathed as a miniature Gwenog Jones, the captain of the Holyhead Harpies, flew over his head on a tiny firebolt before bursting into green and gold confetti.
"Blimey! Look who's over there." Ginny murmured to the brunette as she nodded towards the checkout counter.
The group all looked over and saw large, muscular blonde wizard talking to an employee. When the man turned a bit and his face came into view, Draco recognized him from Hogwarts but wasn't sure of his name.
"Is that…" Harry began before Hermione groaned and hid behind her darkhaired best friend.
"Bloody hell!" She hissed, "That's Cormac!"
"He's about to leave." Ginny whispered, pushing the others behind a shelf so they wouldn't be seen by the slightly older wizard.
After the door shut behind Cormac, Draco looked at the others, "Wasn't he in Gryffindor?" he asked.
"Oh yea." Harry chuckled, "He's always fancied Hermione."
"He's an utter plank, though." Ginny smirked and Hermione nodded in agreement.
Draco slightly nodded, glancing at the brunette with an odd feeling in his gut.
Out of nowhere, they heard a familiar voice, "George! I do believe some of our family is here!" Fred Weasley grinned down at them from the second-floor walkway as he wiped his hands on a cloth. "And they appear to have brought sustenance."
"Ah!" George said emerging from the room behind his twin with a wide grin and a smudge of dirt on his forehead. "Brilliant! Even with the probability of sounding like Ronald, I must admit that I am starving! Welcome, you lot!"
"Come on up!" Fred added, "The kitchen is completely restored. We can eat in there."
The twins were renovating on the flat on the top floor of the building for them to live in. The middle floor was left for them to use for experimenting with their inventions.
Nodding, Molly led the others over to the stairs and up to the second floor.
They found that the flat was surprisingly spacious. It had a large sitting room with a fireplace and attached guest loo, as well as a sizable kitchen. There was a large bedroom on both sides of the flat, each with its own private loo.
"Blimey, this place is actually quite…lovely." Ginny said with sheer surprise evident in her voice.
"We'll choose not to take offense with your tone and simply say, thank you." Fred smirked at his younger sister.
She chuckled, "Good. Now, have you finished your bedrooms?"
"Not quite. We discovered a surprisingly canny and obscenely pesky Boggart in my wardrobe." George replied as Fred waved his wand, causing dishes to fly out of the kitchen cupboards and onto the kitchen table.
They spent the next hour listening to the twins as they gave a detailed and rather vivid recounting of the adventures of refurbishing the flat.
"It's been quite the escapade, but it'll be worth it." Fred sighed, tossing his napkin on his emptied plate.
Molly's smile held a hint of sadness, but she nodded and said, "You two are doing a lovely job. Is there anything I can do to help?"
George nodded, "Actually…we'd like to have an open invitation to dinner at the Burrow. Neither Fred nor I know anything about cooking and seeing as we'd like not to starve…"
Molly and the others laughed. "Of course. You two are always welcome for dinner."
After chatting for a bit longer, the group went down to the ground floor and explored the shop. Nearly twenty minutes later, Mrs. Weasley gathered them up, informing them to meet her outside in five minutes. They each bought a few things, grateful for receiving rather substantial discounts from the twins.
They bid Fred and George goodbye as they left walked out of the door, finding Molly kindly conversing with another witch.
"On Saturday, we're having a family dinner." Ginny said, looking at Malfoy. "It'll be all of my brothers and their significant others.
The blonde wizard nodded but didn't speak up.
"It'll be pretty fun." Harry said, "We play Quidditch since there's nearly enough people."
"Where do you play?" Draco asked with furrowed brows.
Harry grinned, "There's an Orchard on the Weasley's property and in the middle of it, Arthur and Ginny's oldest brothers built a somewhat primitive Quidditch pitch."
The blonde's eye's widened in surprise and said, "That's quite impressive."
Ginny grinned, "We keep improving it every chance we get. Just two years ago, we finally got a couple practically new hoops."
"Okay, you lot!" Molly said, "Let's get back home."
When the group arrived back at the Burrow, Draco found Athena and Bert perched by the kitchen window. He noticed a letter addressed to him on the windowsill and instantly knew it was from his mother. The long, elegant writing that spelled out his name was undoubtedly Narcissa's print.
Draco slipped the letter into his pocket and headed up to his room. He took off his jumper and sat on the edge of the bed. After breaking the wax seal with the Malfoy insignia on it, Draco took a deep breath and read the letter.
Draco,
I am so pleased to hear that you arrived at the Weasley home unharmed. I do hope that they treat you well. I know our family's reputation will bring forth many impediments, but I hope that they can see past our failures.
Draco, you are a wonderful man. Your father and I did not do right by you. We taught you to hate first and I am truly ashamed of that. Please take the Malfoy name and change it. Show everyone that while your ancestors believed a certain way to be right, you know it wasn't.
I am positive that you have the strength, ability, and determination to do this, darling and I will be by your side.
I must serve my sentence but that does not mean that I cannot assist you in any way you need. I have officially freed the house elves and am now compensating them properly for their services.
I have already, with the help of the house elves, begun removing all the dark charms around the Manor. I plan to repair our home. This dark, grim building will soon be filled with light and love.
I hope one day to hear children's laughter through the halls.
I love you. I know those words haven't been said enough to you but please know that they are true.
You are loved, Draco.
Please continue to update me. I love to hear from you.
Love,
Your mother
Draco closed his eyes and sighed. His mother had been the only light in his life. To know that she genuinely believed in him created a sense of relief. He stood up from the bed and walked over to his school trunk. After searching the trunk for a bit, he pulled out a battered, wooden keepsake box with a dragon carved on the lid. Opening it, he found, as usual, every important piece of correspondence he had ever received in his life.
Besides having an Extension charm, the box also had a few other privacy charms that made it impossible for anyone other than Draco open it or view the contents. He placed the recent letter from his mother in the box before putting it back into the trunk. After closing his trunk, he walked over to the door and opened it just as Ginny had raised her hand to knock.
"Oh!" She said, taking a slight step back, "Sorry. Mum wanted me to bring you Athena's cage." She added, holding up said cage which had been restored to its original size.
He cleared his throat and nodded, "Thank you." He said, taking the cage and placing it in the corner of the room. He turned back and saw that she was still standing in his doorway.
"Harry, Hermione and I are going out to the Orchard to fly a bit. Care to join us?" She asked with a shrug.
"Sure." He said as he walked over to his trunk and opened it. He pulled his Firebolt Supreme out, making Ginny smirk when she noticed the Extension charm.
As they headed downstairs Ginny spoke again, "You can keep your broom in the broom shed with all of ours…if you want."
He nodded, "That'd be great."
They walked out to the broom shed, casually discussing the latest broom models on the market.
Harry and Hermione were each holding a broom and as a group, they headed over to the orchard.
As they stepped through the orchard and onto the Quidditch pitch, Draco looked around with a small grin on his lips. He noticed Hermione hand Ginny the broom she had been carrying before pulling out a book from her small, beaded bag.
Extension Charm, Draco thought with a knowing smirk.
"You don't fly, Granger?" He asked, catching her attention.
The brunette shook her head, "Not if I can help it."
"Hermione's never been a fan of flying." Harry said with a small shrug, "No matter what we say, she still refuses to join us for practice matches."
Ginny kicked off and flew high into the air followed by her boyfriend. Draco glanced at Hermione as she sat down and leaned back against a tree with her book in hand.
She looked up from her book, catching his grey eyes. She smiled at him, receiving one in return before he kicked off the ground, flying high through the air. She watched as his blonde hair, that was a bit longer and shaggier than usual, ruffled in the breeze.
After a couple hours the group headed back to the Burrow. They left their brooms in the shed and washed up before joining Molly, Arthur and the twins for dinner.
They were in the middle of the meal when they heard footsteps descending the stairs. Ron stepped into the kitchen with a grumpy expression on his face. His jaw was clenched as he glared down at the floor.
"Ronald?" Molly said pointedly.
Ron sighed, "I don't trust him." He muttered before looking at his mother, "But…I can be…civil…I suppose." He ended his statement with a defeated shrug.
Arthur looked at his wife before nodding as he turned back to his son, "No more outbursts." He said sternly.
Ron's eyes narrowed but he nodded.
"All right…have a seat, dear." Molly said, waving her wand, making another plate filled with food hover over to the table.
Ron swiftly walked over to the table and sat next to Harry, immediately digging into his food.
After dinner, Draco walked to the family room and scanned through the books on the bookshelves. He paused on a tattered copy of Hogwarts: A History and pulled it off the shelf. He took a seat in one of the fluffy lounge chairs by the fireplace and opened the book.
Hearing some shuffling across the room, Draco glanced over at the sofa. He saw Hermione sitting with her legs curled under her as she read a book with an expression of content. Harry strolled into the room with Ron and Ginny.
While the other three were chatting, Hermione glanced up form her book and caught Draco's eyes. She had the slightest hint of a smile forming on her lips as she looked back down at her book. Draco smiled to himself before looking back at the book in his hands.
Later that evening, when it was nearly ten, Draco returned the book to its spot on the shelf and nodded at the others, "Night." He muttered.
Harry and Ginny both nodded at the blonde wizard, while Ron completely ignored him. Hermione however, looked up and met Draco's eyes, "Night Malfoy." She said in a casual tone before going back to reading her book.
As Draco climbed the steps, he smiled to himself, relieved that he was able to get along with most of the people he would be spending the summer with. He went into his room and began to get ready for bed. After changing his clothes, he opened the window in his room and glanced thoughtfully at the owl cage in the corner. He wanted Athena to have a place to rest, should she choose to. He hung the open cage near the window and whistled out the window, calling the bird to him.
A moment later the beautiful barn owl, landed on his windowsill. He gave her a treat and scratched the feathers on her head.
After giving her one more treat, Draco climbed into bed and set his wristwatch on the bedside table, next to his wand. He closed his eyes and almost instantly drifted off to sleep.