Chapter 5: Isolated

This chapter is mostly about Draco. It starts off as soon as he exits the door from his interview With Hermione and Lavender and will end around the same time Hermione and Harry go to the Burrow in the pervious chapter. It is a very informative chapter about Draco's life after the war.

I do apologize greatly for any mistakes or grammar issues. I don't own anything characters.

Draco walked out of the conference room with some sense of confidence. He wasn't sure if he was getting the position, but he wanted it. Ever since the war nothing in his life has been the same. He's matured and gained so much knowledge from the last 4 years but he had been gone for so long.

Slowly making his way into the floo channels, he was greeted with curt nods and small smiles. He returned them, grateful that he wasn't being frowned upon or even spat at by his appearance anymore. Those days are long gone, and he made sure his family name would never be disrespected ever again.

At Diagon Alley, he sat in an isolated table in a small, secluded table in the quaint little restaurant and began to think over his life. His mother would be meeting him for their occasional lunch meeting. Ever since he moved out form the Manor he had found a small apartment in muggle London not too far from the Ministry. His mother would pester him about not seeing her as often as he did and would plan any possible moment to meet up with him.

After the war his family turned their backs on Voldemort. They ran towards the small boathouse where Snape was being healed by Madam Pomfey. Most of the Hogwarts teachers planned to help Snape after his confrontation with Voldemort and luckily the 'Golden Trio' did not wait long enough to be sure of his 'death'. They all stayed by Snape's side until it was safe for them to appear. Professor McGonagall came down to escort them to the castle where they could be safe, explaining that they had played a big part in helping Harry win the war. Although they were glares and looks of disgust towards them, they were left alone in a small corner in the Great Hall. Harry approached Narcissa, thanking her for saving his life by lying to Voldemort. No one really would understand it unless they were in Harry's shoes. This tuned many people's opinion on the Malfoy family in that Great Hall that day.

Draco didn't hear much from 'The Golden Trio' after the Great Hall. The Malfoys were sent back to the Manor where they decided redecorated everything. A month after the war they received a letter for their trials. Draco refused to talk to anyone that day. With everything he had done, there was bound to be a cell with his name on it. It was his fault the Death Eaters managed to entre Hogwarts; his fault Dumbledore was dead, he took every blame that came his way no matter what his mother had told him.

That month Narcissa suggested that they buy a smaller manor and use the current one as an orphanage. She explained that after the announcement of St. Mongo's Hospital reaching their capacity, the number of children being released had nowhere to go. The Ministry had openly asked for volunteers to take children into their homes temporary until such a time where they can find a stable home for them. Lucius Malfoy agreed without hesitation as he wanted to do a final act of kindness before his sentence to Azkaban. Draco took charge of the paperwork, claiming it would keep him busy until his trial. Thought that wasn't a lie, Draco worked and worked but not for the sake of keeping busy but for the fact that he needed something to keep his mind stable, to stop it form going into dark thoughts.

With all the paperwork done and a new house bought for his parents, the Malfoy manor became the Malfoy orphanage. The Ministry were quite surprised upon the Malfoy's offering and even more surprised when Lucius explained that the Ministry could hire employers to work in the orphanage. With the Ministry being desperate to help the little children they took the offer and began a system. It started with about 12 children, who were between the ages of 2 to 9. The older children were petrified by the thought of being taken into a new environment, into a place where Death Eaters once stood but Narcissa welcomed them all with a warm smile and a gracious hand for the little ones. She reassured them nothing would come to harm them, and they could stay there as long as they pleased. All was well and taken care off, Draco made sure of it.

He made sure that the Manor was more then just a building where the children would come and stay and then hopefully leave with a new family. He made it his goal to make the manor into the home he would have wanted to grow up in. The children would have any toy or book they wished for, they had their lessons, proper clothes, and shoes to wear, they had delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Draco created a program in which they could pick from a variation of activities to help them develop a sense of teamwork or independent work. From beginners quidditch to wizard's chess to tea manners, all the children had something for them to develop a skill in. The Daily Prophet had praised the Malfoys for their change of hearts, and everyone saw that they had really changed. The orphanage was not the only thing that redeemed the Malfoy name but their donations to various causes caught people's eyes.

A day before their trial, Draco had arranged with one Ministry member to go over their plans if all Malfoys were sentenced to Azkaban. Narcissa had put down Andromeda Tonks to take care of the orphanage having reconnected with her sister and had already discussed the possible outcomes of the trails. Lucius stated that the Malfoy money would go towards the orphanage and for their used for their regular and irregular expenditure if Draco and himself were to go Azkaban. Draco had claimed that all his shares in his family's company would go towards their regular charities and fundraisers.

Draco had gone to the Leaky Cauldron to spend his last 24 hours lavishing the taste of fire whisky. He was on his third bottle when a brunette had spoken to him and asked him what he intended to do that night. Giving a few sloppy words and an offer to the woman to share the bottle with him was all he could remember. There was a spark between them, he felt it under the haze of alcohol, but it was there. He recalled the smell of parchment, which was rather odd for a woman, but he craved it from the moment he smelt her. With little to no memory as the night dove deeper, a passionate kiss followed by a moment of bliss was all he could recall. The woman in his arms that night, provided a reassurance that, to this day, he can never forget. There was a connection between the two of them that felt like he had known the women. The night ended far too quickly and by morning the woman had left him a potion for his throbbing head and some water.

In less than 5mins he was dressed and apparated to the new Malfoy Manor. As he got ready in his room, he caught sight of his reflection and saw the many scars across his body. Each scar reminded him of what he'd done. The Dark mark on his left arm was a constant reminder that he was worthless and nothing more. No matter how much he had changed the trial was there to remind him that he deserved to be punished. After the trial both Draco and Narcissa's cases were charged with mild charges due to the involvement of the Dark Lords actions as well as allowing him to stay in their home.

Draco was sent to America to live as a muggle for 3 years while Narcissa was under house arrest for one year. Her floo network allowed her to travel from the manor to the orphanage where she spent most her time tending to the children. She taught them their tea manners and showed any child how to embroider or play an instrument. Unfortunately, Lucius didn't get off too easily and was sentenced to 10 years in Azkaban. He took his punishment calmly and reassured his family that he will be back with them soon enough. He requested that Draco would visit him as soon as he came back from America as he said goodbye to them.

Draco's time in America taught him more then one thing. He was given a job as a secretary in a small business firm. He had to learn many skills such as technology, cooking, cleaning, and driving. Although he was miserable for about 6 months, he managed to find his feet. His mother's encouragements drove him into working harder each and every day. He wrote to her weekly, telling her how different muggle life was so complicated but life in America didn't seem so bad. His mother responded with stories of the little children and how more and more of them keep arriving. It had motivated Draco to working harder as it distracted him from missing home. In three years, Draco moved from firm to firm as companies fought over him and his extraordinary skills with businesses. He had helped save 3 companies from bankrupting and has been efficient in his time.

When he was finally able to move back to England, he was a new man. He had read on the papers about a secretary position and he gave his details as soon as he arrived. After catching up with his father, he had arranged a lunch meeting with Lavender Brown as his resume was rejected an hour after sending. He explained how he was a changed man and that he was sorry for all his mistakes in the past. However, he noticed that it wasn't his past actions that unsettled the woman. She stated that she will give him a chance, but her employer would have the final say. He thanked her for the opportunity and paid for her lunch as it was the least he could do.

Looking up from his deep thoughts he caught sight of his mother and greeted her with a long embrace and kiss on the cheek.

''Hello darling. I do apologize for being late. How was your interview?''

''It went quite well, I think. I spoke more about my experiences in America then myself, but I did not mind'' Draco spoke softly, pulling his mother's seat for her.

''That sound reassuring'' Narcissa commented.

While Draco sat down, he noticed his mother's worried expression and distant look. Even after 3 years away from her Draco could still see when she was worried about something serious.

''Mother what's bothering you?'' Draco asked seriously

''Quite a lot to be frank. There is a kidnapper out there, did you know?'' This caught Draco's attention. As the waiter arrived, they quickly order and Draco looked at his mother attentively, silently telling her to go on.

''Well it was just announced, which is why I am late, I needed to head back to the orphanage to activate some old wards along with a few extra. I announced it to the staff but reminded them not to worry the children. Apparently, a mental kidnapper is out taking children from muggle born parents. I had to go back to the orphanage to make sure all the children where safe, oh Draco who could possibly want innocent children, I mean it's a bit odd taking just children from muggle born parents. It's gotten me so worried. And to think that a war would have stopped people from believing such nonsense about blood status.'' Narcissa let out an exhausted sigh looking deeply at her son, almost scared to lose him as if he was still a toddler.

''Mother, I think we should go to the orphanage. We'll take our lunch with us and we'll stay with them for as long as this goes on. I worry about the children as well. Everything will be alright; I'll be there to protect them.'' with that Draco motioned for the waiter explaining that they will take their food out. They waited until their food arrived at their table in a bag and hastily rushed to the nearest floo network.

Little did Draco know that he would not only be protecting the children at the orphanage but his as well.