Chapter 2: The Fun of Buying a House...Don't Take That Literally
"Draco, Draco! What are you doing?!" screamed Narcissa Malfoy as I broke my Father's wand collection.
"Well, Dad's in Azkaban and is most likely going to escape, but actually...I think I'm doing the right thing."
"Right thing? Right thing, Draco? You're smashing 1.5 million galleons!"
"Mum, I'm changing! It's my sixth year! I don't want to be like you and Father. And, I don't want to be known as a snobby damn piece of filth," I stated. Narcissa looked abused and ready to scream. I finished my job and ran up to my room.
It was true though. I really wanted to change from being a snobby brat. It mostly had to do with 'the-boy-who-lived' and his 'worshippers' who landed my father in Azkaban. Harry was always known as the hero and the nice one at school. As for me, I was known as 'a Malfoy' and a big prat who got everything he wanted. I wanted to have real friends, not snobby ones.
So I started a plan. I would start the year being, at least, a little kinder to everyone, and hopefully by the end of the year, I would have a new personality, one that people liked.
I would also start by getting out of the Malfoy Manor. I didn't actually need it to live. I have enough money for my own place and was seventeen so I could live on my own.
So I started packing. I got all the stuff out of my dresser and separate bureau. I made a mental list of the stuff I was putting in my suitcase that I had laid on my bed. (Just incase my stuff was stolen. You never know.)
When I finished packing most of my belongings, I zipped up the suitcase, and went to my own private vault. I turned the lock with the correct combination (which neither my father nor mother knew so they couldn't barrow money, right twice to 9, turn left past 9 to 22, then turn right to 87, it was pretty easy to remember) and heard it click as it opened. Then I reached around my neck to pull off my pure silver chain. Once it was off I took the key that was on the chain and put it in the keyhole in the second door which was for the vault. I heard it click then open revealing thousands of galleons. I took out a silk bag from under my bed. The bag had a spell on it to keep anyone but the owner from opening it. I then filled the bag with all of my wizard money.
Then I placed the bag next to my suitcase on the floor because I had one more thing to do. A task so dangerous that even my mother and father feared it. I, Draco Malfoy, feared it the most but had to do it anyway. I, Draco Malfoy—had to clean out my hamster cage—nah! Just kidding! Even though I do have a ferret named Tom who everyone though was an overlarge demented hamster but it was really just a ferret. No one else that I knew had a ferret so I thought he'd be unique and bought one in Diagon Alley and named it Tom after Tom Riddle who I loathed just as much as his father (run-on sentence...heheh).
Actually the last thing I had to do was get my broom but that was not a hard task. It was merely just sitting on top of my dresser. I reached up and got it.
Then I picked up all my money and my suitcase and walked out my bedroom door. I walked down two sets of stairs, said good bye to my Mum, and walked right out the front door. I set up a portkey, my father taught me how to do this, and waited ten minutes before I touched it. I started spinning around. I felt as though I was being pulled by my navel. When I finally landed, I stood up and walked towards the real estate trailer that was selling new (wizarding) homes.
I walked up the steps to the door, and then knocked twice. A short heavy man came to the door holding a clipboard.
"Come in!" he said in a high voice that sounded nothing like the deep voice that would have fit his body perfectly. I walked in to the trailer and sat down in the chair the short man directed me to sit in. The short man sat down across from me. The inside of the trailer was humongous compared to what it looked on the outside. It was probably charmed so that it could hold a lot of people. This business must have started going bankrupt though because only ten people were in the trailer besides me. A few other buyers were talking to salesmen.
The short man said in his high-pitched voice, "Hello sir. I am Mr. Ivontotinckle." He pointed at his name tag. I snickered because it sounded like 'I-von-to-tinckle' or 'I -want-to-tinkle'. "Please don't laugh at my name sir." I ceased immediately. "How would you like it if your mother married a man named 'Peeinacup Ivontotinckle.'?" I tried hard not to laugh. My mother had married a man who was evil and followed Voldemort. What was worse? I thought of saying that but stopped because he started asking me questions about housing.
"Have you ever bought a house before sir?" He asked, taking notes on his clipboard. I shook my head no. "Have you ever lived in a house before sir?" Well, that was a stupid question.
"Duh," was all I could say. The man checked something off on the clipboard.
"Would you rather buy a manor, apartment, rancher, Victorian, trailer, three story house, split level, boathouse, townhouse, or just buy a piece of land to build on, sir?"
"Erm," I hadn't really thought about this. I had just wanted to get out of that manor. "Well right now, the situation I am in, I just need a house for me and maybe a guest if I have any."
"I see sir. I would recommend a rancher. Do you know where in London you would like to be located?"
"Erm," I hadn't thought about this either. Boy, buying a house was fun...Not. "I don't mind where, just as long as it is far away from the Malfoy Manor."
"Ah, I see sir. You're a young Malfoy, are you not?"
"That's my business, not yours," I said. That really wasn't any of his business. I mean, I felt worse enough already that I was related to my father and now this guy was rubbing it in my face with his fat chubby bloody fingers.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir. You are quite correct. I can arrange a rancher that is a little whiles off. Not too far. But I can't find anything any farther. It's in Ottery St. Catchpole."
"Erm. Isn't that a poor area?" I didn't know too many people who lived near there but it seemed as though not many rich people lived in that area.
"Well, not exactly sir. Those people just aren't rich. I think you would do fine in that area."
"I guess it'll do for now. Are there many wizards in that area?"
"Um," the man looked at his clip board, "yes sir."
"Okay. I guess I'll live there," I said in a bored voice. Oh, I loved buying a house! It's so fun! I could work on buying one all day. Not. It's bloody boring.
The man stood up from his chair and looked in a drawer that had just appeared next to him. He took out a key that looked like a dragon and handed it to me. "This is your house key sir. I just need you to fill out these few forms for the real-estate files." He handed me a stack of papers. A few forms!? He gave me a pen and I started filling them out.
Age, it was asking. 'Age (must be above 21)' and then there was a blank. Man these people were nosy. Okay. Um. I'm not exactly twenty one let's say. So. How was I supposed to do this? I could pull twenty one though probably. I mean, I looked older than my age is what my father always told me. Ergh! I was thinking about my father again. Stupid mind! Why do I have to think about my stupid father? I hit myself on the head.
"Are you okay sir? Do you need any help?" Mr. Ivontotinckle asked. Oops. I forgot he was still there. I probably looked stupid filling out this form right now.
"No, I'm fine sir." Appearance was always a big thing in life. It was a Malfoy motto for a long time. I stopped living by it when my father was put in Azkaban though. I mean, not everyone cares about how you dress or act. In fact I believe most people don't appreciate little stuck ups like me. That's a definite come to think of it. I kept filling out the forms.
'Age (must be above 21): 22' These people are so gullible it's not even funny.
'Name: None of your Business' I scratched that out.
'Name: None of your Business Draco T. Malfoy' I filled out the rest of the junk and handed it to Mr. Ivontotinckle.
"Thank you, sir. Would you like to apparate," That won't be a problem; I have an early birthday so I just turned seventeen. I passed my apparation test too. I was sent my Hogwarts letter a year late when I turned twelve because my father held me back. Stupid Malfoy tradition. I'm a year older than all the other people in our year. "Or would you like to use floo powder?"
"Apparating is fine with me."
"Okay, sir. We're going to 646 Greenwick Place, Ottery St. Catchpole, United Kingdom."
Snap.
Both Mr. Ivontotinkle and I apparated into a small house. "Well, this is it," said Mr.Ivontotinkle. "Would you like a tour or can you find your way around? And, are you sure you don't want to check it out before you buy it?" I thought for a moment.
"I think I'll be find just looking around myself and yes, I'm sure I'll buy it. It looks nice from what I can tell from right here."
"Okay, sir. Have a nice day. Your house fee and other accounting papers will arrive shortly by owl. Same as your luggage. Hope to see you soon!" And then as fast as we had gotten here he had apparated back to the real estate office with a small snap.
I looked around. It was small. Definitely smaller then the Malfoy Manor but that was good. I looked around for the front door. It was right behind me. I turned the knob, which was shaped like a dragon, just like the key, and stepped outside.
There was a small yard, probably as big as the Malfoy living room which was pretty large, and a small pond. Next to the pond was a small wooden swing. It was painted forest green and shining silver. Who ever owned this house previously was probably once a Slytherin. I turned around and looked at the front of the house. It was brick and looked somewhat like the Malfoy Manor except it wasn't as big.
I felt proud of myself for buying a nice house all by myself. No help from parents and I was only seventeen. A joy swelled up inside me. No more parents. No more parents! I started singing to myself. Maybe I could have some of my friends over later to celebrate buying a new house with me.
That actually went really quick since I didn't have to worry about pricing. This small one-floored house was perfect for me. Not too much room, but not too little and only one week's allowance. Yes, I still got allowance. But it was more like a salary for staying alive for my mother. I got a lot too. That's why I had to keep it vaulted up. Most of my money was in my Gringotts' vault.
I heard a hoot behind me and I turned around to find an owl carrying an envelope, my small suitcase and my money bag that I left at the real estate place. I was surprised the owl could carry my luggage. I shoved a lot in my suitcase. But I guess it wasn't that much since I thought I'd leave most of my stuff at home and buy new stuff for my new house.
The owl dropped my luggage (and money bag) on the ground (probably in relief) and stuck it leg out for me to grab the envelope. I put a knut in it's little carrying case and it flew off. I looked at the front of the envelope. It was my real estate papers. I opened the envelope only to confirm that I was correct. It was just a receipt...well in real estate speaking, and a list of the stuff that was included with the house (plus insurance information). Also a packet about buying a new house and how to fit in with neighbors. Like I'd be needing that! Wait...actually I might. It could help me learn how to be kinder and I could start with the people who lived around my new house.
Ergh! Why couldn't people just like you for being mean not nice. I'd be everybody's best friend!
Okay. I should take a look around the rest of the house before I start getting comfortable. And then I'll see who lives in this area and how I'm supposed to be...erm...kind to them.
I turned around and walked back up to the house. There was a small porch with a light and a small rocking chair on it. That would be a nice place to read at night and work on my over-the-summerbreak homework for school. I stepped onto the porch and opened the door to the foyer. I didn't pay much attention when I was going outside but the foyer was pretty nice. It had a chandelier and a grandfather clock that must have come with the house. I stepped into the kitchen which led off from the foyer. There was a nice size island bar, a sink, a refrigerator, a pantry (which would be nice for snogging...just playing), and a kitchen table. I guess the guy who lived here before died and left all his ! I opened the pantry. It was a nice walk in pantry and I could store a lot of stuff in there. Same with the refrigerator.
I wandered out of the kitchen and looked through the rest of the house. I found a lot of furniture which was all pretty nice. There was a king size bed, a couch, and some other usually expensive stuff. While I was standing one of the extra bedrooms, through the open window flew my owl, Croaker. He was midnight black and super fast at delivering my letters. A very expensive birthday present, he was. I can't believe mother actually got me what I wanted instead of galleons. That was one of the greatest birthday's ever.
Croaker came in and landed on my shoulder with a note tied to his leg. I opened it. It was very smudged
Draco,
Why have you left? Your father and I are so worried. He just sent an owl from Azkaban. He and the other prisoners will be attempting a break out very soon. Please come home. I don't want my baby to be hurt. I found your owl in your room and so I thought I would send him to you so you could reply back to my letter. Oh, Draco. Please come home. All My Love, Narcissa.
Like I would actually go back home. Yah. Right. They don't actually love me. No body really loves me. They're just scared of me and my father. I will never return home. At least for now. Every teenager needs to make a stand once in their teenage independent life. I really do think I'm doing the right thing.
Croaker cooed and flew off into the other room to probably make a home for himself. I threw the letter out the window through which Croaker had come in and walked out of the room. I think I had finished my personal tour.
I unpacked all my stuff and put it where it should go in my new room. Then I took out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to write to my friends.
Dear Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Bulstrode, and all you other dork heads,
I just bought a rancher to try to get away from the Malfoy Manor. Its smaller than what YOU might expect but its fine for one or two people to live in. I was wondering if any of you wanted to come and celebrate with me at my residence for buying a new house. The address is 646 Greenwick Place, Ottery St. Catchpole, United Kingdom. Owl me back if you can come tonight. I'll purchase some food and drinks for all you goons who can't stop eating (cough Crabbe and Goyle cough). See you if you can make it. -Draco T. Malfoy-
I copied this down on maybe...ten pieces of parchment and wrote all my Slytherin (going into sixth year) friends' names on the front once I had folded the parchment in half and called Croaker. He came in through the door and I tied all the letters to his leg. "These go to all my Slytherin friends. Okay?" Croaker cooed which meant yes. Then the owl flew off out the window.
It was only two in the afternoon. Maybe I'd take a nap until Croaker got back. Today was really tiring and if I was going to have a party, I would need to be wide awake tonight. So I went into my new room and fell asleep on the sheetless mattress.