Here we go, here we go again… I do not own.
The Malfoy Estate
Draco rolled his eyes as everyone laughed at another one of Ben's stupid jokes. He took a sip of his tea – Irish tea, how appropriate – and scowled as it burned his tongue. He wished he had the nerve to "borrow" some of his father's Firewhisky. Any other Pureblood social event he would do so without a second thought.
Soon enough he'd be dismissed for bed, treated like a child in front of Viktor Krum and their other guests. Never mind the fact he would be forced to see the Bulgarian and company during the school year for the Triwizard Tournament. How could his reputation remain intact if they knew his mother insisted on an early bedtime?
Draco finished his tea, and wordlessly placed the china cup down on the matching saucer. His father disappeared with Mr. Montague and other business associates well over an hour ago. Draco suspected they weren't discussing business while they had their cigars and Firewhisky.
Glancing around the Little Library, the one place in the manor Draco claimed as his own retreat, he wished that his own friends were playing pool and eating the addicting chocolate cupcakes Mitzy baked earlier instead of Viktor Krum and Ben Montague.
Viktor wasn't all too bad, Draco admitted to himself. The Bulgarian had a rather thick accent that sometimes didn't make sense of English words, but he seemed decent enough.
Montague was another story.
Everywhere he went, attention gravitated towards the Italian boy. He knew it too. Draco observed the last few days that Montague especially seemed to like having Ginny's attention.
This irked Draco to no end. Not that he really cared. Ginny was allowed her fun. He just couldn't stand how her eyes lit up when they found Montague in a room. Or how she laughed when Montague said something only slightly funny.
Draco almost would rather she like Potter instead. At least then he could put him in his proper place. Montague he had to pretend to be polite, for his father's sake. For whatever reason, Mr. Montague was an important business ally to Lucius. Until his father didn't need him anymore – which would happen sooner rather than later, Lucius Malfoy never liked to be overly friendly for too long – Draco played the perfect Pureblood son, helping to host Pureblood socials.
At least tomorrow night at this time he would be back in his element, at Hogwarts. He missed the structured days around classes and Quidditch practice. Too bad that wouldn't be happening this year. Maybe he could get an impromptu game against Ravenclaw going at some point. Michael Corner had it coming..
"And how was your summer, Draco? I barely saw you! Or heard from you…" Pansy whined. She sat beside him in their compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Blaise sat across from them next to the window, bored. Crabbe and Goyle were playing Exploding Snap, their go to game. Daphne Greengrass, Pansy's friend, sat as far away from the two as possible, afraid to get hit with the inevitable explosion.
"It was fine." Draco coolly replied. He pretended to read the Daily Prophet.
"What did you do?" Pansy pressed further, determined to keep a conversation going.
"I flew on my broom. Went shopping at Diagon Alley. Mother insisted I visit family in France, so we were there for a few times. Ginny joined us.." He yawned. The train ride started barely an hour ago. Perhaps a nap was in order.
"Ginny?" Pansy didn't hide her contempt towards to the red head very well. "Why does she have to constantly spend time with your family? It's weird."
Draco continued to look at the Daily Prophet. He reread a short article by Rita Skeeter about Viktor Krum for a third time.
"Everyone knows why, Pansy, including you." Blaise spoke up from his spot.
Draco remained silent, curious to see if they really knew the reason.
"The Malfoys are her godparents. Big deal. Mine don't buy me things or take me on trips every other week."
"That's because yours are in Azkaban." Blaise replied.
Pansy shrieked in anger.
Any hope for a peaceful ride to Hogwarts died then and there with Blaise's comment.
"At least my mother isn't constantly under suspicion for her husbands' mysterious deaths! Leaving her richer every time! How much gold did the latest leave in her vault at Gringotts this time Blaise?"
"Pansy, no offense, but have you seen your mother?" Crabbe spoke up.
Draco tried hard to hold back his laughter.
Pansy, constantly observing him, noticed. She stood up in a rage.
"Daphne, let's go. I refuse to be in this compartment a moment longer." With that, the two girls left, slamming the compartment door shut.
"Thank Merlin." Goyle muttered, concentrating hard on the card game before him.
"Mate, why do you put up with her?" Blaise asked.
Draco tossed aside the Daily Prophet in the recently vacated seat beside him.
"My mother told me to be nice to her when I first came to Hogwarts. The Parkinson family still had influence back then. Nowadays it's because she's like a bad nightmare that refuses to go away." Draco paused. "And because my mother still occasionally invites her mother to Saturday tea when she feels generous. Pansy is a Pureblood with wealth. I have to be nice, or else my family could doom her chances of a decent match once she graduates Hogwarts. That's pressure."
"You could easily marry her." Blaise said, half joking.
"Even if I wanted to, that's a no go mate." Draco shuddered. He pitied the fellow who would eventually claim her for a bride.
"Ah, the pitfalls of being the only heir to a vast fortune. Poor Malfoy, your future probably is written out in detail somewhere in your father's office." Blaise laughed, not knowing how accurate he was.
Draco shrugged. "Better to be miserable with loads of gold to distract you."
Blaise nodded. "Hear, hear."
With Pansy out of the compartment, the remainder of the ride went by with crude jokes and plans to make this year the best one yet. As the train came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station, Draco felt better about the upcoming school year than when he first boarded the train.
His mood lasted for days, until the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students to compete for the Triwizard Tournament…