White Flag

by poynterjones

Living in a small wizarding village, working for the Ministry...Draco Malfoy leads a typically normal life, but as a new neighbor moves in, the past he's been trying to surpress awakens to haunt him again.

2. A Cottage in Armonia

It was four years since Draco left Hogwarts. Thinking the manor was too large for him, he sold it and moved into a small cottage just right outside the wizard settlement of Armonia.

Father would have been furious at his actions. The manor had belonged to his family for centuries. But Father was dead, so he could do as he pleased.

He was a complete disappointment in Father's eyes. The only thing Father was proud of was the skull and snake on his son's forearm. Young, foolish, and captivated by power, Draco had joined the Death Eaters. Just in his second month in term, Harry Potter finally defeated the Dark Lord. His followers fled. Many were caught and sentenced to life in Azkaban, and many returned to their normal lives, pretending they had no such activities with the Dark Lord.

Draco himself was put in trial. Seeing that he didn't do anything in his two months and that he was an important member of the ministry he was the head of the Magical Sports and Games department, and a favorite for Minister, the Wizengamot let him go.

Since then, he tried to erase his past, and foolishly tried to remove the Dark Mark from his arm, but he knew he was bound to it for life. There was Good and Evil, unlike he previously though. Power had its limits, and Good would always prevail in the end. That's why he tried to escape his past by selling his manor where many evil deeds were preformed, and moved to Armonia.

Armonia was a lovely community. It was the only all-wizard settlement in England other than Hogsmeade. Each morning, Draco would walk into the village to purchase groceries, greeted cordially by its residents on the way.

His cottage overlooked a beautiful lake, and during spring, the fruit trees would bloom with sweet-smelling flowers. His life and house was perfect. There was only one this missing: someone to share it with.

He hadn't dated since Hogwarts, though he received many offers. He was quite involved in the relationship, but it didn't work out. He never dared to enter a relationship since then, in risk of being hurt again. It was five years ago, but his heart never seemed to heal.