Chapter Four: The Flight and Uncle Daniel
"I still don't understand why we couldn't just portkey there." Draco muttered resentfully as he shifted in his seat for the hundredth time. "This muggle form of transportation is really uncomfortable."
"I told you, it is too far to portkey and going by muggle plane is safer."
Draco scoffed. "Safe? I don't trust this thing one bit. Anything built by muggles can't be that good." As if to make his point Draco shifted in his seat again, a grimace on his face.
"Stuff it, kid." The auror said in an annoyed tone. "And would you sit still?!"
"I can't help it." Draco snapped back. "It's really uncomfortable. My back hurts."
"It's only two hours into the flight and I already want to snap your neck! Now just sit still, shut up, and watch the movie!" Burns hissed as he indicated the screens on the back of the seats in front of them. He then proceeded to place the head phones on his ears and turn the volume up.
"I won't watch that." Draco protested as he gave the screens a look of disgust. "It looks stupid."
But his words were lost on the auror as he had purposefully focused on the screen in front of him and turned the volume up even higher so that he wouldn't be able to hear a word that was said.
Draco realized that the auror was no longer paying any attention to him and decided to go back to staring sullenly out the window. They were flying high above the clouds now. Even in his grim situation Draco couldn't help but marvel at the sight. The clouds stretched out in a solid blanket as far as he could see and the sky was bluer than he had ever imagined possible. He had never been this high off the ground before and it was somewhat exhilarating. But then he looked to his left and saw the auror sitting next to him and he was reminded of why he was now flying so high above the clouds. He gave a heavy sigh and returned to gazing out the window, his forehead now leaning against the wall.
"Hey, come on, wake up."
Draco felt his shoulder being roughly shaken and he groggily lifted his head and opened his eyes to see why he was being awakened. He saw a flight attendant standing in the isle setting a tray down in front of Burns. She then looked at Draco and asked,
"Would you like the beef or the pasta?"
"What?" Draco asked, a bit confused from being so rudely awakened.
"Your dinner." The auror said briskly. "Do you want beef or pasta?"
"I don't want anything." Draco replied and began turning his head back around to go back to sleep but stopped as Burns said,
"You are going to eat because we don't land for another five hours and I don't want to hear you complaining that you're hungry."
Draco still didn't answer.
"He'll have the pasta." Burns ordered in frustration. Draco glared, but Burns ignored him.
"And what would you like to drink?" the flight attendant asked as she placed the tray down in front of Draco.
"Have you got any Vodka?" Draco inquired, still glaring at the auror.
"I'm afraid you are underage, sir. We have a nice selection of sodas and juice though."
"He'll have water."
After everything had been placed in front of him, Draco proceeded to gingerly pull the foil off the hot container which he guessed held his dinner. He scowled as he looked down at the glop which they called pasta. He picked up his fork and began to push the pasta around disgustedly. He glanced over at Burns and saw that the auror was picking through his food also; well, what was supposed to be food. Burns noticed that Draco was watching him and snapped,
"Eat your food."
"I can't." Draco replied, "It looks disgusting. Smells disgusting too."
"Just eat it."
"You eat yours." Draco challenged.
The auror defiantly stabbed his fork into a piece of what was supposed to be beef and put it in his mouth. He then began to chew, barely able to keep the grimace from his face. He swallowed and then ordered,
"Now, eat yours."
Draco brought a piece of the pasta to his mouth and hesitantly took a bite. His face immediately screwed up as he began to chew and swallow. He quickly sucked down half his water and practically threw his fork down.
"I'm not eating anymore of that! It's absolutely vile!"
Burns couldn't help but chuckle at Draco's reaction. Draco sent another death glare at the auror but it was ignored.
"Suit yourself, kid. Don't eat it. I don't care." He then pointed his fork threateningly at Draco. "I just better not hear you complain about being hungry later."
Draco felt a sudden urge to give the auror a dirty look and stick out his tongue but decided that it was far too childish. Instead he just turned away angrily and tried in vain to make himself comfortable so that he could go back to sleep and hopefully stay that way until the flight was over.
The next five hours were pure torture for Draco. Try as he might he couldn't get himself comfortable. He kept shifting and every time he did the auror would tell him sharply to quit. He couldn't get himself to fall back asleep. Every time he was close he'd suddenly feel a sharp pain in his neck or back and would have to wake fully up so that he could try and move into a better position. Nothing worked. Finally, after Draco thought that he was going to blow up in frustration, he heard the captain on the speaker say that they were now descending into the John F. Kennedy airport.
"Finally." Draco mumbled. He watched out the window as the plane slowly began to descend through the clouds. After just a few minutes they made it through the clouds and Draco could see the ocean and the land. It seemed to take forever for the plane to land, but it finally did.
"So, where are we supposed to meet my aunt and uncle?" Draco asked as he and Burns followed the crowd of passengers through the airport.
"We're not meeting them here." Burns replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Right now we have to get your luggage, go through customs, and then check in for our next flight."
"What?!" Draco exclaimed as he came to a dead stop. "Next flight?!"
Burns turned around; a very annoyed expression on his face. "Yes, our..next..flight."
"Are you kidding?! Why aren't we there yet? We must have flown long enough! Why do we have to get on another one of those planes?"
"Because we have to fly to a place called Columbus. It's in a state called Ohio."
"I thought I was supposed to go to a place called Lexington. Isn't that in a different state?"
"Yes."
"Then why are we going to Columbus? Are we going to have to fly again from there?"
"No, your aunt and uncle will be in Columbus to pick you up. You will then be driving for a few hours to Lexington."
"What?!! Is the Ministry that stupid that they can't get us any closer?"
"No, it just so happens that flying to Columbus was a lot cheaper and the Ministry doesn't exactly wish to spend a lot of money on YOU. So now would you just shut it and stop making such a scene?!" Burns replied angrily as he stepped towards Draco. "I am getting sick and tired of hearing you complain. You're very lucky that you're actually here. If it were up to me, and I'm sure a few other people, you'd have been chucked into Azkaban along with your parents." Burns had added that last bit in an angry whisper. "So, why don't you start being just a little bit grateful that you are here and not in some cell in Azkaban."
All the glares that Draco had given the auror since the moment he had met him couldn't compare to the glare which adorned his face at that moment. Burns could see the muscles in Draco's jaw working as he clenched and unclenched his teeth. Burns expected that Draco was about to blow up and start screaming at any moment and had started to warn his charge that he had better not or he'd put a silencing charm on him, but Draco didn't utter a sound. Instead he pushed past the auror and continued to follow the crowd.
Five hours later Draco found himself at baggage claim three in the Columbus airport. As he stood and waited for his bags to come through, Burns was glancing quickly about. Draco's aunt and Uncle had failed to meet him where they had been expected. Burns and Draco had waited for several minutes and then decided that it was perhaps best to wait in the baggage claim.
After about ten minutes Draco grabbed his bags off the conveyer belt and drug them to where they were out of the way. Still his aunt and uncle had not appeared.
"Well, looks like they forgot about you." Burns said as he and Draco sat on the edge of the conveyer long after the other passengers had disappeared. It was almost 10:30, 3:30 am British time, and the airport was growing very quiet.
Draco didn't say a word in reply. He hadn't said a word since the scene at JFK. Perhaps it was because he was just too tired. He had his elbows propped on his knees and his chin resting in his hands. Everything around him seemed fuzzy and he was having a very difficult time keeping his eyes open.
"I'll bet they changed their minds." He began to think to himself. "Can't blame them I guess. Who'd want the son of Death Eaters anyway?" He then began to wonder what would happen to him should it be true that his aunt and uncle had decided not to take him. Would he wind up actually going to Azkaban? There was no one else to take him in so Azkaban was more than likely the place he'd end up; either that or the Garrons'. He couldn't decide which one was worse.
As if he had read Draco's thoughts, Burns began to speak. "I'd expect that I would have to take you all the way back to England if that aunt and uncle of yours don't show up. Don't know what they'd do with you then. Probably throw you in with your father."
Draco straightened up as Burns spoke and turned his head to look at the man. He hadn't actually thought that Azkaban was that big of a possibility until he heard the auror himself say it.
For some inexplicable reason Burns regretted saying what he had. Draco hadn't said anything but he had such a look of worry, doubt, and fear on his face that the auror couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. "I must be more exhausted than I thought."
Finally Draco spoke; his voice so quiet the auror almost didn't hear him. "Do you really think that they'll put me in 'there'? Do you think my aunt and uncle decided not to take me? Is there some way of getting a hold of them?" Draco's voice rose with each sentence.
"Calm down, kid. I was just teasing you. I'm sure that they're just late. Probably couldn't find the place."
Draco looked back down at the floor, a slight bit of worry disappeared.
"And," Burns continued, "Even if they did change their minds I'm sure that the Ministry will decide on something a little less harsh than Azkaban. We try and make it a point not to throw young kids in there."
Draco turned his gaze back to the auror. He stared at him for several moments, trying to figure out if the man was lying, but there was no sign of deception upon his features. Burns opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the sound of a deep voice exclaiming,
"You must be Draco! So sorry I'm late." Draco looked up to see a tall man with dark brown hair and eyes approaching him. He stood up as the man stopped in front of him. "Today was just one of those days that if something could go wrong it did. You probably thought that we had forgotten about you. By the way, I'm your uncle, Daniel Larson. You 'are' Draco, right?" he said as he held out his hand.
"Yes, sir." Draco cringed slightly inside as he shook the hand of his uncle, a mudblood, a type of person that he had been brought up to hate and despise. However, he did not let it show being that this person was partly responsible for why Draco was not sitting in some musty room or a dark cell at the moment.
"Never you mind about the sir. You must be Mr. Burns." He held out his hand to the auror who shook it and nodded. "Emma and I really appreciate you bringing him all the way out here."
"It was no trouble." Burns answered politely.
"Emma wanted to thank you personally as well, but unfortunately she took a spill off of one of our young horses and strained her back a bit."
"I hope it's not serious."
"No, she'll be fine. It's just that a strained back is probably the worst thing to have on such a long car ride."
"I understand." Burns said as he began to pull a few papers out of his bag. "Now, all I need you to do is to sign a few of these forms. They are just for the release of custody of Draco Malfoy to yourselves."
"Very well." Daniel took out a pen from a pocket on his shirt and began to sign the papers. As soon as he finished he gave Draco a wink and said, "You're all ours now." Draco furrowed his brow a bit. He had not expected his uncle to be as light and friendly as he was being.
"Yes, he is now in yours and Mrs. Larson's custody. The Ministry shall be sending someone around your house every few months to see how you are getting on. Should there be any trouble with the boy then please contact us as soon as possible."
"Oh, I doubt there will." Daniel said as he smiled at Draco.
"Sure." Burns said as he gave Draco a very skeptical look. "Like I said, contact us if there is any trouble. If you and your wife decide to relinquish custody for any reason do not hesitate to owl. We will be sure to make other arrangements for the boy."
"I understand. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Burns began to say as he rummaged around his bag, "Here is the boy's wand." He handed it to Daniel. "It is up to you on whether or not to give it to him. If I were you I wouldn't."
"Nonsense!" Daniel took the wand from Burns and immediately held it out to Draco who gave his uncle a stunned look. "Of course he can have his wand."
Draco still stared at the wand that was being held out to him. He wasn't sure if he should actually take it.
"Go on." His uncle encouraged. "It's yours; take it."
Draco slowly took his wand and then turned to carefully put it in one of his bags.
"Mr. Larson, I should remind you that the boy is the son of two convicted Death Eaters and that he did attempt...."
"Yes," Daniel interrupted, "I understand that. There is no need to go into it."
"It is because of that fact that you should take precautions and not allow the boy to..."
"I believe that he is mine and my wife's responsibility now and we feel that there is no reason why he shouldn't have possession of his wand."
Draco glanced between his uncle and the auror who were eying each other. After a few tense moments of silence Burns spoke,
"Of course, Mr. Larson. I believe that everything is in order, so I shall take my leave now."
"Yes, thank you once again." This time Daniel's tone was much cooler as he thanked the auror.
Burns nodded, gave one last warning glare at Draco, and proceeded to leave.
"Well, what do you say? Shall we get your bags and head home?" Daniel turned cheerfully to Draco and rubbed his hands quickly together before he picked up the larger of Draco's two bags. Draco picked up his other bag and began to follow his uncle out of the airport and into the parking garage.
"Your aunt is really sorry that she couldn't make it here to meet you, but the potion for her strained back didn't work fast enough. That's part of why I was so late. That and there were two major accidents and a few miles of construction here and there on the highway. Didn't think that I'd actually make here..."
Draco didn't say a word but simply walked silently beside his uncle, looking up occasionally at the man who began to talk to him incessantly, hardly stopping to take a breath. After several minutes Daniel stopped next to a car and began to unlock the trunk.
"I guess we're definitely not taking a portkey then." Draco muttered.
"No. Damn things always make me really queasy." Then after a moment, "Oh!" Daniel exclaimed as if he had just remembered something, "How stupid of me! You're probably really tired and sore from all that flying that you've done. I'll bet the last thing that you want is to be sitting for three more hours. How could I be so stupid?!"
All of the sudden the auror's and Fudge's words flashed in Draco's mind, "If there's any trouble at all..."
"I don't really mind." Draco said quickly. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
Draco nodded as he handed his uncle his bag to be thrown in the trunk.
"Sorry about that." Daniel said as he shut the trunk. "Didn't even consider that you'd have flown for so many hours and that you'd hate the idea of having to ride in a car for so long. Those flights over here had to be murder. Kind of feel sorry for you."
Draco looked inquisitively at his uncle.
"I mean having to spend so many hours with that auror. Really, who shoved a stick up his ass?"
Draco was a bit surprised at what his uncle had just said. He couldn't help but smile slightly. It quickly disappeared though.
"It's really okay. I've never actually ridden in one before."
"Really?! Well, hop in." Daniel unlocked the passenger-side door and opened it. He motioned for Draco to get in as he walked around the front of the car and unlocked his own door. Draco stepped in and pulled his door closed. He looked curiously at the interior of the car. There were so many buttons. He couldn't imagine what they all were for.
"Strap in."
"What?"
"Seatbelt." Daniel showed Draco as he pulled on his own and snapped it in place. Draco followed suit and soon they were on their way.
"Do you like music?" Daniel asked after ten silent minutes had passed.
Draco didn't answer but just looked blankly at his uncle.
"Do you like music?" Daniel asked again, thinking that Draco hadn't understood him.
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "I guess."
"Do you like muggle music? It's the only thing that your aunt and I listen to." He then pressed a knob on the dashboard and some music began to play.
"My parents didn't allow me to listen to it. Said that it would make me stupid. Never really had a desire to listen to it anyway." Draco scrunched his face at what was playing. It just sounded like noise to him. The singers were practically yelling and the music sounded disjointed and it grated on his ears.
"I guess by that expression the answer would be a definite 'no'; to this song at least." Daniel laughed as he changed the channel. With each song Draco would make some sort of face and Daniel would promptly change the channel. Finally, when he landed on a classical station Draco didn't make a face, so he left it playing quietly.
"Are you hungry? I'm guessing you really didn't eat. I think that airline food is absolutely revolting. About the only thing good on those planes are the peanuts and even they are getting replaced by those nasty honey-mustard pretzel things. So did you want anything?"
Draco shook his head in reply.
"You sure?"
Draco nodded.
"Okay. I've got some Pringles in the back if you decide you're hungry."
Draco had no idea what Pringles were but decided he hadn't the energy to ask.
"You go ahead and try to sleep. I can see you're really worn out. I'll wake you when we get there."
Draco didn't need to be told twice. He leaned his head against the window of the car and closed his eyes. The last thought that went through his mind before he fell asleep was that he couldn't believe that he was sitting in a muggle car in the State's sitting next to the mudblood that his aunt had married and was thus thrown out of the family for. If only everyone could see him now. On second thought it was probably best that they couldn't.
"I still don't understand why we couldn't just portkey there." Draco muttered resentfully as he shifted in his seat for the hundredth time. "This muggle form of transportation is really uncomfortable."
"I told you, it is too far to portkey and going by muggle plane is safer."
Draco scoffed. "Safe? I don't trust this thing one bit. Anything built by muggles can't be that good." As if to make his point Draco shifted in his seat again, a grimace on his face.
"Stuff it, kid." The auror said in an annoyed tone. "And would you sit still?!"
"I can't help it." Draco snapped back. "It's really uncomfortable. My back hurts."
"It's only two hours into the flight and I already want to snap your neck! Now just sit still, shut up, and watch the movie!" Burns hissed as he indicated the screens on the back of the seats in front of them. He then proceeded to place the head phones on his ears and turn the volume up.
"I won't watch that." Draco protested as he gave the screens a look of disgust. "It looks stupid."
But his words were lost on the auror as he had purposefully focused on the screen in front of him and turned the volume up even higher so that he wouldn't be able to hear a word that was said.
Draco realized that the auror was no longer paying any attention to him and decided to go back to staring sullenly out the window. They were flying high above the clouds now. Even in his grim situation Draco couldn't help but marvel at the sight. The clouds stretched out in a solid blanket as far as he could see and the sky was bluer than he had ever imagined possible. He had never been this high off the ground before and it was somewhat exhilarating. But then he looked to his left and saw the auror sitting next to him and he was reminded of why he was now flying so high above the clouds. He gave a heavy sigh and returned to gazing out the window, his forehead now leaning against the wall.
"Hey, come on, wake up."
Draco felt his shoulder being roughly shaken and he groggily lifted his head and opened his eyes to see why he was being awakened. He saw a flight attendant standing in the isle setting a tray down in front of Burns. She then looked at Draco and asked,
"Would you like the beef or the pasta?"
"What?" Draco asked, a bit confused from being so rudely awakened.
"Your dinner." The auror said briskly. "Do you want beef or pasta?"
"I don't want anything." Draco replied and began turning his head back around to go back to sleep but stopped as Burns said,
"You are going to eat because we don't land for another five hours and I don't want to hear you complaining that you're hungry."
Draco still didn't answer.
"He'll have the pasta." Burns ordered in frustration. Draco glared, but Burns ignored him.
"And what would you like to drink?" the flight attendant asked as she placed the tray down in front of Draco.
"Have you got any Vodka?" Draco inquired, still glaring at the auror.
"I'm afraid you are underage, sir. We have a nice selection of sodas and juice though."
"He'll have water."
After everything had been placed in front of him, Draco proceeded to gingerly pull the foil off the hot container which he guessed held his dinner. He scowled as he looked down at the glop which they called pasta. He picked up his fork and began to push the pasta around disgustedly. He glanced over at Burns and saw that the auror was picking through his food also; well, what was supposed to be food. Burns noticed that Draco was watching him and snapped,
"Eat your food."
"I can't." Draco replied, "It looks disgusting. Smells disgusting too."
"Just eat it."
"You eat yours." Draco challenged.
The auror defiantly stabbed his fork into a piece of what was supposed to be beef and put it in his mouth. He then began to chew, barely able to keep the grimace from his face. He swallowed and then ordered,
"Now, eat yours."
Draco brought a piece of the pasta to his mouth and hesitantly took a bite. His face immediately screwed up as he began to chew and swallow. He quickly sucked down half his water and practically threw his fork down.
"I'm not eating anymore of that! It's absolutely vile!"
Burns couldn't help but chuckle at Draco's reaction. Draco sent another death glare at the auror but it was ignored.
"Suit yourself, kid. Don't eat it. I don't care." He then pointed his fork threateningly at Draco. "I just better not hear you complain about being hungry later."
Draco felt a sudden urge to give the auror a dirty look and stick out his tongue but decided that it was far too childish. Instead he just turned away angrily and tried in vain to make himself comfortable so that he could go back to sleep and hopefully stay that way until the flight was over.
The next five hours were pure torture for Draco. Try as he might he couldn't get himself comfortable. He kept shifting and every time he did the auror would tell him sharply to quit. He couldn't get himself to fall back asleep. Every time he was close he'd suddenly feel a sharp pain in his neck or back and would have to wake fully up so that he could try and move into a better position. Nothing worked. Finally, after Draco thought that he was going to blow up in frustration, he heard the captain on the speaker say that they were now descending into the John F. Kennedy airport.
"Finally." Draco mumbled. He watched out the window as the plane slowly began to descend through the clouds. After just a few minutes they made it through the clouds and Draco could see the ocean and the land. It seemed to take forever for the plane to land, but it finally did.
"So, where are we supposed to meet my aunt and uncle?" Draco asked as he and Burns followed the crowd of passengers through the airport.
"We're not meeting them here." Burns replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Right now we have to get your luggage, go through customs, and then check in for our next flight."
"What?!" Draco exclaimed as he came to a dead stop. "Next flight?!"
Burns turned around; a very annoyed expression on his face. "Yes, our..next..flight."
"Are you kidding?! Why aren't we there yet? We must have flown long enough! Why do we have to get on another one of those planes?"
"Because we have to fly to a place called Columbus. It's in a state called Ohio."
"I thought I was supposed to go to a place called Lexington. Isn't that in a different state?"
"Yes."
"Then why are we going to Columbus? Are we going to have to fly again from there?"
"No, your aunt and uncle will be in Columbus to pick you up. You will then be driving for a few hours to Lexington."
"What?!! Is the Ministry that stupid that they can't get us any closer?"
"No, it just so happens that flying to Columbus was a lot cheaper and the Ministry doesn't exactly wish to spend a lot of money on YOU. So now would you just shut it and stop making such a scene?!" Burns replied angrily as he stepped towards Draco. "I am getting sick and tired of hearing you complain. You're very lucky that you're actually here. If it were up to me, and I'm sure a few other people, you'd have been chucked into Azkaban along with your parents." Burns had added that last bit in an angry whisper. "So, why don't you start being just a little bit grateful that you are here and not in some cell in Azkaban."
All the glares that Draco had given the auror since the moment he had met him couldn't compare to the glare which adorned his face at that moment. Burns could see the muscles in Draco's jaw working as he clenched and unclenched his teeth. Burns expected that Draco was about to blow up and start screaming at any moment and had started to warn his charge that he had better not or he'd put a silencing charm on him, but Draco didn't utter a sound. Instead he pushed past the auror and continued to follow the crowd.
Five hours later Draco found himself at baggage claim three in the Columbus airport. As he stood and waited for his bags to come through, Burns was glancing quickly about. Draco's aunt and Uncle had failed to meet him where they had been expected. Burns and Draco had waited for several minutes and then decided that it was perhaps best to wait in the baggage claim.
After about ten minutes Draco grabbed his bags off the conveyer belt and drug them to where they were out of the way. Still his aunt and uncle had not appeared.
"Well, looks like they forgot about you." Burns said as he and Draco sat on the edge of the conveyer long after the other passengers had disappeared. It was almost 10:30, 3:30 am British time, and the airport was growing very quiet.
Draco didn't say a word in reply. He hadn't said a word since the scene at JFK. Perhaps it was because he was just too tired. He had his elbows propped on his knees and his chin resting in his hands. Everything around him seemed fuzzy and he was having a very difficult time keeping his eyes open.
"I'll bet they changed their minds." He began to think to himself. "Can't blame them I guess. Who'd want the son of Death Eaters anyway?" He then began to wonder what would happen to him should it be true that his aunt and uncle had decided not to take him. Would he wind up actually going to Azkaban? There was no one else to take him in so Azkaban was more than likely the place he'd end up; either that or the Garrons'. He couldn't decide which one was worse.
As if he had read Draco's thoughts, Burns began to speak. "I'd expect that I would have to take you all the way back to England if that aunt and uncle of yours don't show up. Don't know what they'd do with you then. Probably throw you in with your father."
Draco straightened up as Burns spoke and turned his head to look at the man. He hadn't actually thought that Azkaban was that big of a possibility until he heard the auror himself say it.
For some inexplicable reason Burns regretted saying what he had. Draco hadn't said anything but he had such a look of worry, doubt, and fear on his face that the auror couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. "I must be more exhausted than I thought."
Finally Draco spoke; his voice so quiet the auror almost didn't hear him. "Do you really think that they'll put me in 'there'? Do you think my aunt and uncle decided not to take me? Is there some way of getting a hold of them?" Draco's voice rose with each sentence.
"Calm down, kid. I was just teasing you. I'm sure that they're just late. Probably couldn't find the place."
Draco looked back down at the floor, a slight bit of worry disappeared.
"And," Burns continued, "Even if they did change their minds I'm sure that the Ministry will decide on something a little less harsh than Azkaban. We try and make it a point not to throw young kids in there."
Draco turned his gaze back to the auror. He stared at him for several moments, trying to figure out if the man was lying, but there was no sign of deception upon his features. Burns opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the sound of a deep voice exclaiming,
"You must be Draco! So sorry I'm late." Draco looked up to see a tall man with dark brown hair and eyes approaching him. He stood up as the man stopped in front of him. "Today was just one of those days that if something could go wrong it did. You probably thought that we had forgotten about you. By the way, I'm your uncle, Daniel Larson. You 'are' Draco, right?" he said as he held out his hand.
"Yes, sir." Draco cringed slightly inside as he shook the hand of his uncle, a mudblood, a type of person that he had been brought up to hate and despise. However, he did not let it show being that this person was partly responsible for why Draco was not sitting in some musty room or a dark cell at the moment.
"Never you mind about the sir. You must be Mr. Burns." He held out his hand to the auror who shook it and nodded. "Emma and I really appreciate you bringing him all the way out here."
"It was no trouble." Burns answered politely.
"Emma wanted to thank you personally as well, but unfortunately she took a spill off of one of our young horses and strained her back a bit."
"I hope it's not serious."
"No, she'll be fine. It's just that a strained back is probably the worst thing to have on such a long car ride."
"I understand." Burns said as he began to pull a few papers out of his bag. "Now, all I need you to do is to sign a few of these forms. They are just for the release of custody of Draco Malfoy to yourselves."
"Very well." Daniel took out a pen from a pocket on his shirt and began to sign the papers. As soon as he finished he gave Draco a wink and said, "You're all ours now." Draco furrowed his brow a bit. He had not expected his uncle to be as light and friendly as he was being.
"Yes, he is now in yours and Mrs. Larson's custody. The Ministry shall be sending someone around your house every few months to see how you are getting on. Should there be any trouble with the boy then please contact us as soon as possible."
"Oh, I doubt there will." Daniel said as he smiled at Draco.
"Sure." Burns said as he gave Draco a very skeptical look. "Like I said, contact us if there is any trouble. If you and your wife decide to relinquish custody for any reason do not hesitate to owl. We will be sure to make other arrangements for the boy."
"I understand. Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Burns began to say as he rummaged around his bag, "Here is the boy's wand." He handed it to Daniel. "It is up to you on whether or not to give it to him. If I were you I wouldn't."
"Nonsense!" Daniel took the wand from Burns and immediately held it out to Draco who gave his uncle a stunned look. "Of course he can have his wand."
Draco still stared at the wand that was being held out to him. He wasn't sure if he should actually take it.
"Go on." His uncle encouraged. "It's yours; take it."
Draco slowly took his wand and then turned to carefully put it in one of his bags.
"Mr. Larson, I should remind you that the boy is the son of two convicted Death Eaters and that he did attempt...."
"Yes," Daniel interrupted, "I understand that. There is no need to go into it."
"It is because of that fact that you should take precautions and not allow the boy to..."
"I believe that he is mine and my wife's responsibility now and we feel that there is no reason why he shouldn't have possession of his wand."
Draco glanced between his uncle and the auror who were eying each other. After a few tense moments of silence Burns spoke,
"Of course, Mr. Larson. I believe that everything is in order, so I shall take my leave now."
"Yes, thank you once again." This time Daniel's tone was much cooler as he thanked the auror.
Burns nodded, gave one last warning glare at Draco, and proceeded to leave.
"Well, what do you say? Shall we get your bags and head home?" Daniel turned cheerfully to Draco and rubbed his hands quickly together before he picked up the larger of Draco's two bags. Draco picked up his other bag and began to follow his uncle out of the airport and into the parking garage.
"Your aunt is really sorry that she couldn't make it here to meet you, but the potion for her strained back didn't work fast enough. That's part of why I was so late. That and there were two major accidents and a few miles of construction here and there on the highway. Didn't think that I'd actually make here..."
Draco didn't say a word but simply walked silently beside his uncle, looking up occasionally at the man who began to talk to him incessantly, hardly stopping to take a breath. After several minutes Daniel stopped next to a car and began to unlock the trunk.
"I guess we're definitely not taking a portkey then." Draco muttered.
"No. Damn things always make me really queasy." Then after a moment, "Oh!" Daniel exclaimed as if he had just remembered something, "How stupid of me! You're probably really tired and sore from all that flying that you've done. I'll bet the last thing that you want is to be sitting for three more hours. How could I be so stupid?!"
All of the sudden the auror's and Fudge's words flashed in Draco's mind, "If there's any trouble at all..."
"I don't really mind." Draco said quickly. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
Draco nodded as he handed his uncle his bag to be thrown in the trunk.
"Sorry about that." Daniel said as he shut the trunk. "Didn't even consider that you'd have flown for so many hours and that you'd hate the idea of having to ride in a car for so long. Those flights over here had to be murder. Kind of feel sorry for you."
Draco looked inquisitively at his uncle.
"I mean having to spend so many hours with that auror. Really, who shoved a stick up his ass?"
Draco was a bit surprised at what his uncle had just said. He couldn't help but smile slightly. It quickly disappeared though.
"It's really okay. I've never actually ridden in one before."
"Really?! Well, hop in." Daniel unlocked the passenger-side door and opened it. He motioned for Draco to get in as he walked around the front of the car and unlocked his own door. Draco stepped in and pulled his door closed. He looked curiously at the interior of the car. There were so many buttons. He couldn't imagine what they all were for.
"Strap in."
"What?"
"Seatbelt." Daniel showed Draco as he pulled on his own and snapped it in place. Draco followed suit and soon they were on their way.
"Do you like music?" Daniel asked after ten silent minutes had passed.
Draco didn't answer but just looked blankly at his uncle.
"Do you like music?" Daniel asked again, thinking that Draco hadn't understood him.
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "I guess."
"Do you like muggle music? It's the only thing that your aunt and I listen to." He then pressed a knob on the dashboard and some music began to play.
"My parents didn't allow me to listen to it. Said that it would make me stupid. Never really had a desire to listen to it anyway." Draco scrunched his face at what was playing. It just sounded like noise to him. The singers were practically yelling and the music sounded disjointed and it grated on his ears.
"I guess by that expression the answer would be a definite 'no'; to this song at least." Daniel laughed as he changed the channel. With each song Draco would make some sort of face and Daniel would promptly change the channel. Finally, when he landed on a classical station Draco didn't make a face, so he left it playing quietly.
"Are you hungry? I'm guessing you really didn't eat. I think that airline food is absolutely revolting. About the only thing good on those planes are the peanuts and even they are getting replaced by those nasty honey-mustard pretzel things. So did you want anything?"
Draco shook his head in reply.
"You sure?"
Draco nodded.
"Okay. I've got some Pringles in the back if you decide you're hungry."
Draco had no idea what Pringles were but decided he hadn't the energy to ask.
"You go ahead and try to sleep. I can see you're really worn out. I'll wake you when we get there."
Draco didn't need to be told twice. He leaned his head against the window of the car and closed his eyes. The last thought that went through his mind before he fell asleep was that he couldn't believe that he was sitting in a muggle car in the State's sitting next to the mudblood that his aunt had married and was thus thrown out of the family for. If only everyone could see him now. On second thought it was probably best that they couldn't.