News of a Mixed Sort
They finally arrived at a little café in the outskirts of the city. The sign above the door read 'The Split Wand.' They walked inside and Harry looked around. The only Hogwarts students that he saw in the café were Chris Taylor and Wil Stanton a couple of 7th year Ravenclaw guys. Harry and Draco were friends with both of them but Draco seemed surprised to see the two of them here. Judging by the looks on Chris and Wil's face they were as surprised to see them there too. Draco walked over and looked at the two of them. "How come you didn't tell us you were a couple?" Chris blushed as he answered. "Well we just started dating a month ago, since this is the first Hogsmeade weekend since start of term, we thought we'd try this place out." Draco smiled, "That's great." He grabbed Harry and continued, "This is our first real date too although we have been seeing each other for 5 years."
It was Wil and Chris' turn to look surprised now. "Really, you've been seeing each other for 5 years? We thought you two hated each other." Draco smiled, "That was the idea. I cast a spell that protected both of us from harm as long as most people still thought we hated each other." "That was clever. That must have taken months of study to write a spell like that." "It did, but it was worth every day. Everything seems to be falling apart this year though. We are starting to tell a lot of people. In fact I'm coming out to the whole Slytherin house when we get back tonight." Just as Draco was about to say something else the door to The Split Wand opened and Professor McGonagall walked inside. "Draco Malfoy, please come with me at once." Draco moved to follow McGonagall and Harry moved to follow Draco. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but this is for Mr. Malfoy only." Draco cleared his throat, "Professor, Harry is my lover. Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him. I don't mind." Minerva pursed her lips. "As you wish Mr. Malfoy, I have brooms waiting outside." The three walked outside The Split Wand, leaving Ron and Patrick alone in the café.
McGonagall mounted her broom and signaled for Draco and Harry to do the same. They did and the three took off for Hogwarts. They arrived and Professor McGonagall led the two students up toward the Headmaster's office. They rode the spiral staircase up to Professor Dumbledore's office door and entered. Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter please have a seat." Draco and Harry both took seats opposite Professor Dumbledore, both wondering what they had done. Dumbledore look at Draco with sadness. "Draco, this letter came this morning from your home. It is about your parents." Dumbledore handed the note to Draco who took it with a shaking hand. He opened the note and began to read:
Master Draco:
I regret to inform you that your father was killed last night while attending a business meeting. I also must inform you that your mother, upon hearing this news, committed suicide. You presence is requested at your home immediately to arrange the funeral and reading of the will.
With much regret,
Edward Cabbott
Draco folded up the note and handed it back to Professor Dumbledore. Harry looked over at Draco and saw that he held a strange expression on his face. "Thank you Headmaster. I will leave first thing in the morning. Will you please make preparations for me?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Of course, Draco. I am sorry for you loss, but I feel I must tell you of something that was not included in that letter. Your father's business meeting was a meeting at the Riddle House, where the Dark Lord Voldemort currently resides. There was a Death eater meeting last night where you father was supposed to have presented something; I do not what, to Lord Voldemort. When your father failed in his task, Voldemort grew angry and killed your father."
Harry gasped, now knowing the contents of the letter. "Thank you for telling me the truth Professor Dumbledore. I'm sure I would not have heard that version from my family's lawyer. I should only be gone a couple of days. I don't imagine the funeral and reading should take that long." "Take as much time as you need Draco, I understand how long it takes to get over the death of someone you loved." "That's just it Professor. I didn't love my father or my mother. I hated them for who they were. I of course regret their deaths, but hopefully I can bring respect back to the name of Malfoy." Dumbledore smiled slightly at this. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy, I will have a port-key ready for you in the morning. Will Mr. Potter be joining you?"
Draco looked at Harry as if asking him if he was going to attend. "Draco, I don't think I should go. You will have enough to deal with, with the preparations and your family, without making it worse by having your boyfriend who happens to be the one who continues to defeat Voldemort there." Draco nodded and looked at Dumbledore. "I will go alone." Dumbledore nodded, "Very well then. Be here at 7:00am and I will have the port-key ready." Draco stood and smiled. "Thank you Headmaster." Draco and Harry both left the Headmaster's office and began walking toward their apartment. They walked in silence until they reached the door. Draco opened the door and they walked inside. Draco collapsed on the couch and Harry sat down beside him. Draco looked at Harry and smiled. "Well, that wasn't much of a first date was it?" Harry couldn't help but laugh. "No, but how are you feeling?" "I am perfectly fine. My parents have kept the name of Malfoy foul for far too long. I am happy that I have a chance to reclaim my family name and bring respect back to it instead of fear of it."
They finally arrived at a little café in the outskirts of the city. The sign above the door read 'The Split Wand.' They walked inside and Harry looked around. The only Hogwarts students that he saw in the café were Chris Taylor and Wil Stanton a couple of 7th year Ravenclaw guys. Harry and Draco were friends with both of them but Draco seemed surprised to see the two of them here. Judging by the looks on Chris and Wil's face they were as surprised to see them there too. Draco walked over and looked at the two of them. "How come you didn't tell us you were a couple?" Chris blushed as he answered. "Well we just started dating a month ago, since this is the first Hogsmeade weekend since start of term, we thought we'd try this place out." Draco smiled, "That's great." He grabbed Harry and continued, "This is our first real date too although we have been seeing each other for 5 years."
It was Wil and Chris' turn to look surprised now. "Really, you've been seeing each other for 5 years? We thought you two hated each other." Draco smiled, "That was the idea. I cast a spell that protected both of us from harm as long as most people still thought we hated each other." "That was clever. That must have taken months of study to write a spell like that." "It did, but it was worth every day. Everything seems to be falling apart this year though. We are starting to tell a lot of people. In fact I'm coming out to the whole Slytherin house when we get back tonight." Just as Draco was about to say something else the door to The Split Wand opened and Professor McGonagall walked inside. "Draco Malfoy, please come with me at once." Draco moved to follow McGonagall and Harry moved to follow Draco. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but this is for Mr. Malfoy only." Draco cleared his throat, "Professor, Harry is my lover. Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him. I don't mind." Minerva pursed her lips. "As you wish Mr. Malfoy, I have brooms waiting outside." The three walked outside The Split Wand, leaving Ron and Patrick alone in the café.
McGonagall mounted her broom and signaled for Draco and Harry to do the same. They did and the three took off for Hogwarts. They arrived and Professor McGonagall led the two students up toward the Headmaster's office. They rode the spiral staircase up to Professor Dumbledore's office door and entered. Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter please have a seat." Draco and Harry both took seats opposite Professor Dumbledore, both wondering what they had done. Dumbledore look at Draco with sadness. "Draco, this letter came this morning from your home. It is about your parents." Dumbledore handed the note to Draco who took it with a shaking hand. He opened the note and began to read:
Master Draco:
I regret to inform you that your father was killed last night while attending a business meeting. I also must inform you that your mother, upon hearing this news, committed suicide. You presence is requested at your home immediately to arrange the funeral and reading of the will.
With much regret,
Edward Cabbott
Draco folded up the note and handed it back to Professor Dumbledore. Harry looked over at Draco and saw that he held a strange expression on his face. "Thank you Headmaster. I will leave first thing in the morning. Will you please make preparations for me?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Of course, Draco. I am sorry for you loss, but I feel I must tell you of something that was not included in that letter. Your father's business meeting was a meeting at the Riddle House, where the Dark Lord Voldemort currently resides. There was a Death eater meeting last night where you father was supposed to have presented something; I do not what, to Lord Voldemort. When your father failed in his task, Voldemort grew angry and killed your father."
Harry gasped, now knowing the contents of the letter. "Thank you for telling me the truth Professor Dumbledore. I'm sure I would not have heard that version from my family's lawyer. I should only be gone a couple of days. I don't imagine the funeral and reading should take that long." "Take as much time as you need Draco, I understand how long it takes to get over the death of someone you loved." "That's just it Professor. I didn't love my father or my mother. I hated them for who they were. I of course regret their deaths, but hopefully I can bring respect back to the name of Malfoy." Dumbledore smiled slightly at this. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy, I will have a port-key ready for you in the morning. Will Mr. Potter be joining you?"
Draco looked at Harry as if asking him if he was going to attend. "Draco, I don't think I should go. You will have enough to deal with, with the preparations and your family, without making it worse by having your boyfriend who happens to be the one who continues to defeat Voldemort there." Draco nodded and looked at Dumbledore. "I will go alone." Dumbledore nodded, "Very well then. Be here at 7:00am and I will have the port-key ready." Draco stood and smiled. "Thank you Headmaster." Draco and Harry both left the Headmaster's office and began walking toward their apartment. They walked in silence until they reached the door. Draco opened the door and they walked inside. Draco collapsed on the couch and Harry sat down beside him. Draco looked at Harry and smiled. "Well, that wasn't much of a first date was it?" Harry couldn't help but laugh. "No, but how are you feeling?" "I am perfectly fine. My parents have kept the name of Malfoy foul for far too long. I am happy that I have a chance to reclaim my family name and bring respect back to it instead of fear of it."