July 2nd
Granger,
I hope your holiday is going well. Not sure if you get the Daily Prophet at your Muggle home. If so then you've read a rather personal detail about my life. If not, well in order to keep in line with your rule about not sharing, I won't mention it, but I will say that the Ministry is just as insufferable as Umbridge was. The whole lot of them. I mean, the Malfoy's have donated thousands of Galleons to their various charities and now they are acting as if...fine, I am breaking your rule.
Let's see what else can I share that just tiptoes the barriers of your rule. Oh, we seem to have a ridiculous number of house guests here at the manor. I also hate them. I hate everyone these days. Not that it should really surprise you. In fact I can hear your response loud and clear "And how is that any different from normal Malfoy?" you'd say if you were here.
How do you spend your holiday in your Muggle town? Is it annoying to live without magic for so long?
I can't believe it is only the start of Summer Holiday.
Malfoy.
xxx
July 4th
Hello Malfoy,
I do get the Prophet here. And, well, I have always read it with a skeptical eye. I am sorry that you and your mother are going through this public ordeal. No offence, but your picture in last Sunday's edition looked dreadful. Are you sleeping?
And yes, your disdain for everyone around you is not really that out of the ordinary. Are you visiting any friends this holiday? Perhaps going to stay with Blaise would be best. I heard his mother owns many houses across the continent.
My parents do know that I am a witch and the Ministry has certain exceptions for those children with muggle parents. I am not allowed to do magic outside of Hogwarts, but I can practice spells and do small amounts of magic even with my parents present. Although, yes, at times it does get quite annoying when I cannot use the full breadth of my skill set.
My mum and dad wanted to go abroad this summer, but I told them it might not be a good idea. I am growing worried, it seems like everyone is. Do you think we are on the brink of another war?
H.
P.S. Are you sure Blaise isn't reading these letters?
xxx
July 10th
Granger,
Yes, I am sure he isn't. And yes, the rumours about him are correct. No, I won't be visiting anyone this summer.
D.
xxx
July 11th
Dear Malfoy,
I will be at the Burrow for the rest of the summer. I hope your O.W.L.s' results are good.
H.
xxx
July 15th
H.
I achieved an Outstanding on all of mine. I know you are taking far more than any sane person would, but then again you are a swot. I do know that you did not take Divination. I did and I got an O in that as well. Useless class of course, but it is just so easy.
I don't know what kind of protection they have at the...Burrow? Is that what Weasel's place is called? An unfortunate name. Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Well I did, but please forget I wrote it. Anyway, don't go out alone at night okay.
D.
xxx
July 22nd
H.
I said I was sorry. Please write back. I would love to read your rant about Divination.
D.
P.S. I really am sorry about insulting Weasley. I promise to keep my insults to myself from now on.
xxx
July 24th
Draco,
I accept your apology.
Congratulations on your O.W.L.'s. I too got all Outstanding grades. I was so worried about Ancient Runes, I know I messed up one of the translations. Professor Babbling must have taken my extra credit work into consideration.
Malfoy, Divination is the most ridiculous subject. I'm sure everyone got an O in that class. I mean how are you even supposed to fail it? I honestly don't understand why Hogwarts even teaches it. I mean Ancient Runes is a far more valuable class.
The wards are fine here, I am perfectly safe. How about you? Are you safe? I heard that Mr. Ollivander has disappeared and Professor Burbage, Muggle Studies, have you heard anything about that?
H.
xxx
August 2nd
Hermione,
I will be in Diagon Alley tomorrow. Meet me at the back of Flourish and Blotts at noon.
Draco
xxx
August 5th
Draco,
I...Harry, Ron and myself, saw you in Borgin and Burkes with your mother. Draco, what is happening? You were so panicked in Diagon Alley. You look as though you haven't slept in weeks. Have you...no this is not something I can write here. I will ask you at school. I think it's best if we cease all communication until we are back at school.
Hermione
xxx
I read her letter twice. Pacing in my bedroom in front of the large ornate fireplace that was across from my king sized, four-post bed. I crumpled the letter in my hand and threw it with great force into the fire that was blazing. There was a heat wave outside. However in this place that was my former home, it felt like ice. Every surface was cold, every corridor and room was damp and dimly lit. It was as though we didn't have enough candles to light the place. Or enough houseleves to dust it and heat the rooms. She wanted to know what happened. Why I was no longer the care-free teenager I had been just a few months ago.
Ollivander was below my feet, albeit several floors down. The Muggle Studies professor, who I had only seen during meal times and in passing, was dead. He killed her right on the dining room table. I had lost my appetite shortly after. I pushed my food around when he called everyone to join him for dinner. If he wasn't here, I would have dinner in my room, not that it helped.
Well I couldn't tell her what I was doing in Borgin and Burkes. I couldn't tell her about the task he had given me. I couldn't tell her about what I was going to become. My mother had managed to put off the inevitable by only a few months. I knew it was coming, I could feel it on my arm already, the burning sensation anticipating what was to come. I mean did it even matter if I got it or not? I was going to die. There is no way I could actually do this. He knew it, my aunt knew it, everyone did. I just had to find a way to make it look like I had tried. Maybe he would spare my mother if he saw the effort I had made. Maybe he would spare her even if I failed and he killed me.
I couldn't stop her from asking. I could avoid her, but I don't think I can. I was already forgetting what she smelled like, what she felt like. I should avoid her. Not for my sake, but for hers, I would be putting her in danger. It would be selfish, but then again, I am selfish aren't I. I am a selfish prick who was going to die so did anything matter?
"Draco?" Mother's voice entered my room. "I saw an owl here, did you get a letter from your friends?" She came and sat primly at the edge of my bed.
"Yes." I stared into the fire and occluded before turning around to face her, "It was Blaise. Just asking me what classes I will be taking in September."
"Oh, that's nice." She said, "Draco, I'm sorry you weren't able to visit your friends this summer. I promise, next year we will go abroad somewhere and you can invite anyone you want to come. Perhaps we can visit the South of France." She said brightly.
I walked over to her and took her hands in mine. Hers were just as cold as mine were. She clasped mine tightly. I brought her hands to my lips and kissed them. "That sounds lovely Mother." I responded and she had a brief smile on her face for a second.
"Would you like some dinner? I can have Mipsy bring you some food." She asked as she stood up, giving my hands one last squeeze before letting go.
"Yes, thank you Mother." I said and turned back towards the fireplace as she left the room.
I would survive for as long as I needed to keep her safe. The house elf appeared with my food and set it down at the table. I didn't even look at it before climbing into bed and shutting my eyes. I don't know why I even bother with the ritual of going to bed. It's not like I sleep anyway.
xxx