COME AROUND
Disclaimer: Draco Malfoy doesn't belong to me. YET. But he will, someday.
For now, he remains the property of JK Rowling. Until she decides to give him
to me as a sweet sixteen birthday present. No infringement intended.
Author's Note: I suppose that was for your benefit, but really,
how did Draco get into that stuff, right? I felt I had to find a way
to explain. And no, it isn't as simple as Draco darling suddenly having an urge
to fly off to Asia. He'll get there eventually, though, otherwise, it won't
be halfway across the world anymore. I have this all planned now, and
the only other person who knows this plan (the current plan, anyway)
is my cousin. Can't believe I'm actually writing this stuff. Gosh. Oh, and no,
he isn't of legal drinking age, but did you actually think that will
stop him? The Mai Tai and Green Drink Umbrella parts were tributes to Cassandra
Claire of Draco Trilogy fame. Oh, and thanks to The Great One for the model
idea. :D I didn't use it exactly, though.
This chapter is mostly made up of letters. They do have some relevance, and they're quite easier to write. D'you know that I already have one of the last chapters written?
This chapter is dedicated to Orlando Bloom. Happy twenty-sixth birthday! It is also dedicated to Cassandra Claire (who will never read it). Thank you for giving the world brilliant fiction and brilliant humour.
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He'd arrived at Barcelona, and tried to watch a bullfight, but left halfway
due to extreme nausea. Draco couldn't stand the sight of blood. Not a very good
weakness for someone who should have been a Death Eater, but what have you?
He didn't want to be a Death Eater, anyway, and his father had accepted
that. For the time being. Draco knew Lucius like the back of his hand. Lucius
still believed that Draco would give up and grow out of this 'ridiculous teenage
rebellion' (his father's words, not his). His teenage years were fast approaching
their end, but he felt no urge to have his skin permanently marred with some
ugly, unfashionable symbol of evil anytime soon. Painfully unfashionable,
and he meant that literally.
What the hell was he doing?
What the hell was he doing on another plane, on the way to Switzerland?
He could be at home, doing important things. He could be working right now,
he could be at the Ministry, slowly inching his way up to a high position. He
could be gaining riches, power, and influence.
Was he doing so?
No. He wasn't.
What was he doing, then?
Absolutely nothing.
I wonder what Cho's doing now, Draco mused whimsically. She was either
making a living off being a pop star, or doing small acting bits. Hell, maybe
she was a model, maybe she'd been one of those masked women on the catwalk,
at the Vera Wang show he'd caught while he had been in Milan. Wherever the hell
she was, she was still being loved, being important, being famous, popular,
and being perfect. Same old, same old. Some things (or in this case,
people) would never change, and Cho, he thought, was one of them.
He had changed, however. He'd changed in such a great way, he hardly knew
himself anymore. Sure, he was still sarcastic, but he didn't deliberately
try to be mean to every person he walked past. Not like before. It was quite
strange, really. There was less pressure on him now, less pressure to maintain
his reputation, less pressure to keep up appearances. It had been fun, of course,
but he wouldn't have wanted an obsession with his notoriety to control his life.
He dug through his immense backpack and unearthed a battered notebook.
Green Umbrella Count: 24 (note to self: sobriety pathetic)
Number of Photographs Taken: 113 (inadequate)
Number of Countries Visited (on trip): 3 (passable)
Have done nothing of any value on this trip (at all) except think of one person
that I do not want to think about. This, obviously, completely defeats the point
of coming on this trip to begin with. Am beginning to think that I should just
go home, but this would only prove that father was right, after all, about trip
being stupid and pointless. V. pathetic thing to do, really. Giving up is not
a Malfoy trait. Must save dignity, must continue trip, must try to forget about
my "ex," must take more photographs, must spend more than three days in one
country. Will attempt to remain in Switzerland for a week. Have heard that even
though scenery is v. beautiful, Switzerland v. depressing place to live. Suicide
rate v. high. Psychological, apparently. Have dreary weather, will have dreary
life. No wonder British people are so boring. We only have sun for two weeks.
Note to self: go back to Spain, go visit Ibiza. V. interesting place, plenty
of action. Also v. sunny during the day. No wonder Spanish people so cheerful
and friendly. Not to mention tanned.
Am finally developing a tan. Looks quite strange on me. Skin has never had colour
in my life. Am not used to seeing any other shade but white on self. Tan, however,
is quite becoming. Father will be horrified.
Draco smirked as he tucked his pen back into the pockets of his shorts. Wait.
Shorts? Shorts in Switzerland? Draco groaned and hit himself over
the head. What part of 'Switzerland is cold and sometimes snowy' had
eluded his line of thinking while he threw his clothes on that morning?
All of it, he surmised cheerfully. Thank God for carry-on luggage. He pulled
his clothing out of his bag and made a mad dash for the lavatory.
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Beijing was even colder than Shanghai, but this didn't prove to be a problem for her. She had no relatives in Shanghai. Either that, or she hadn't looked hard enough. She didn't have any more patience for a search that extensive. Cho had finally decided to just kick back and see what China was all about. Shanghai was good for shopping, but Beijing was the place to go if you wanted to see history.
Cho was, however, tired of walking around in circles on Tiananmen Square. She knew she was walking around in circles. She had wanted to. There had been nothing else to do. She'd seen every tourist spot there was in Beijing, and the only major observation she had was that there were so many trees and so many bikes. And that Shanghai International Airport was a lot prettier than the one in Beijing, but that was irrelevant.
Finally exhausted, she sat on a clean, empty spot of floor and leaned against the lamp post. Draco wouldn't have been able to stand this place, she thought. Far too dirty for his delicate tastes.
He would have wanted to be an emperor, though. Imagine, thousands of concubines, one Emperor Draco Malfoy. Huang Ti Draco? Cho grinned. Huang Ti meant emperor, as far as she knew. Imagine that, having any girl you wanted, having as many as you wanted. Having that kind of behaviour accepted by the masses as your right. Ancient China would be Draco Land, through and through. Too bad he wasn't here to see it. But that was her own fault.
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Dear Mother,
I am now in Beijing. It is, unfortunately, as you expected. I have not found any relatives. I don't know why I even bothered trying, but I felt that there was something missing in me. It's still lost, I still haven't found it. I grow weary here, and I want to go home. Will be back on the next flight available.
Love,
Cho
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Dear Cho,
I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. Much as I would like you to come home, your father's sister in Manila, your Aunt Mei, would like very much for you to stay at least a week in their house at Forbes Park. I could hardly decline, they already sent the plane ticket, first class, which is attached to this message I am sending you. I suppose it will be better for you to actually meet some relatives, as opposed to hunting for those that do not want to be found.
I have not met my biological family, Cho, but I have found my real one in your grandmother and grandfather. Of all people, I feel I should be the one who is lacking something inside. But there is nothing missing in my life, I am content, as should you be, darling.
I've met your Aunt Mei, she and your uncle, Andrew, are wonderful, incredibly jetsetting people. Doubtless you will enjoy your stay in the Philippines.
Take care of yourself, and I hope I'll see you soon. Try not to sink into that depression. Life is too short for that.
Love always,
Mum
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Dear Mother,
I'm in Switzerland. It's freezing. No, I have not found myself, I have not finished what I set out to do. I have, however, taken a few marvellous pictures and bought some excellent art, which I am sure has been sent to the Manor. Enclosed is an album composed of the aforementioned pictures. I, however, am not in them, because I was the one taking them. We should go to Italy someday, you and I. The scenery is beautiful. Not that the scenery here isn't nice, of course, just that it's too cold for us. Then we could go to France, to Paris, to Milan. You could go shopping and we could go to museums.
Actually, we could just get to know each other better.
Sometimes I feel like we're so distant, like we hardly know each other. But I have always felt that you have understood me, Mother, and I love you for that.
Take care.
Am freezing, but happy. Am also very amazed at the fact that there is an Owl Post Office here. Who would have thought?
--Draco
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Dearest Draco,
Italy looks stunning, darling, and your photographs of the sunrise are exquisite. I think I will go there (with you) someday, and while you're taking photographs, I can attempt to capture its magnificence with my paintbrush. Your father feels upset about your not writing him a letter. I, of course, ignored all of his complaints. I told him that if he wanted you to communicate with him, he'd better stop being such a stubborn git. I told him to apologize to you, and he stormed out of the room. Typical Lucius. You are the same way, sometimes, but often, I see myself in you as well.
He doesn't understand you, Draco. He doesn't understand me. He doesn't understand that part of us that we share. But believe me when I tell you that he tries his hardest. Believe me when I tell you that he does love you, very much. He just doesn't know how to show it. He was raised not knowing how to love, Draco. It's hard to unlearn what you have been practicing all your life.
He just wants you to be happy, to have everything you need. He worries about you. He does accept that maybe being a Death Eater isn't your path, isn't your destiny, and for now, he says he won't speak more on the matter.
I, however, am glad that you aren't going to jeopardize your life and your future on an allegiance with the Dark Lord.
I am also glad that you seem to be enjoying yourself.
Enclosed is a Warming Potion. Use it, I beg you. I would have sent you your wand, but I felt that you would probably send it back to me. You are like your father in so many ways, stubbornness included.
I'm quite happy that you managed to find the Owl Post Office in Switzerland.
I didn't even know they had one.
Take care of yourself, dress warmly, and if you need anything, write.
Love,
Mother
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Draco,
Read the letter you wrote to your mother, even though she initially refused to let me look at it. I am happy to hear that you are doing well. I was hoping you'd finished with whatever you wanted to accomplish, but I understand that these things take time.
I was writing to apologize for being so negative about your trip. I'm your father, I should be supporting you, and I haven't been doing so lately.
I'm sorry. Don't expect me to say it again.
I won't say anything about the Death Eater matter, either, as that may cause you to never speak to me again. Or so your mother warned me.
Father
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Dear Cho,
I was so glad to hear that you would be coming to visit us! Don't you think a week's too short? There are so many places here we want to take you to, and your cousins, Avery and Alexandra (Alex, she says, as she is reading over my shoulder) are quite excited (quite? Mum, gimme the paper, I'm writing the letter to Cho, she says) to finally meet you.
Cho—
Right, anyway, this is Alex, I've booted Mom off the letter-writing thing, since she's absolutely incapable, apparently. LISTEN, you HAVE to stay at LEAST a month. At LEAST. Pleeeeeease? We'll go everywhere, and anywhere you want! There's so much to see here! At least a month, Cho, at least a month!
Please? Owl us back soon! We can't wait!
Always,
Alex
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Dear Alex,
Maybe I will stay more than a week. Your offer sounds tempting. Can't wait to meet you guys, too. While I'm here, want anything from China?
--Cho
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Cho,
We don't want anything! We just want you to be here!
--Alex
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Alex,
Too late. Bought you some nice Chinese clothing. For costume purposes, if you're not daring enough to wear these things in public. Very pretty.
Take care of yourself! I'll see you soon!
--Cho
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Dear Draco,
I'm at the Beijing International Airport, and I'm about to go off to Manila to meet my father's family. No, my original plan to look for my mother's family has failed. I'm disappointed, but pretty much content. Wherever you are at the moment, I hope you're doing well. Doubtless you're enjoying yourself.
China is cold. I was in Tiananmen Square two days ago, sitting by a lamp post and thinking of you. You see, emperors in ancient China reminded me of something you might have wanted to be. Why? It's because these emperors had at least a thousand concubines each. Imagine that! One for every night of the year for the rest of your life! It made me laugh to think of you being an emperor. You would have done an excellent job.
This place is so grand. I look at the architecture and I just stand there in awe. Initially, I thought it was quite plain, quite boring, but then I remembered that this stuff was made countless centuries ago. I cannot help but marvel at the art of it.
Anyway, I'm going to the Philippines. Sun, sand, shopping, and the occasional terrorist. That place is a country of families, entertainment, and politics. Most of the time, all three mix, and when they do, that, apparently, equals power.
What a screwed up place, eh?
Your type of place.
I miss you. I wish you were here, but wherever you are, you're doing something more important.
Always remember that I love you.
Yours,
Cho
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She tucked the letter into her box and boarded the airplane.
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Author's Note: What was Draco's journal entry about? It's about ME plugging Cassie Claire's Very Secret Diaries of the Fellowship. Hilarious. Am so glad they're back. This is obviously not a very angsty chapter. It is also not very long. It is also not very interesting.