Chapter 2
A Price and a Time
Disclaimer: I do not own anything within the Harry Potter universe. No money is being made from this story.
Twenty-four hours in a day, one hundred sixty-eight hours in a week One hundred sixty-eight hours left until he, Gregory Goyle, loyal minion to future Death-Eater scum Draco Malfoy, could return to his parent's home. The home that he would undoubtably have to himself for the majority of the summer. He could drop the dunce act, maybe drop by Pansy's once or twice, and overall begin to feel like himself again. He wondered if he'd escape the usual invite to stroke Draco's ego for a few weeks – the chances were slim that Draco would simply forget about him, no matter how much he wished.
They'd been five, the first time he and Draco had been left under the watchful eye of the Goyle's house-elf while their parents had gone out on some sort of night time extravaganza. Draco had quickly asserted himself, ordering Gregory to turn over his favorite toy. When the larger boy refused, the toy burst into flame - as had Gregory's cat. Draco had simply stood there, stamping his foot and glaring at the other boy who had been reduced to tears.
"You'll do what I say, or I'll tell my Daddy, and he'll make you wish you had – and he'll let me watch," the younger Malfoy had declared after he'd calmed down some.
Gregory had been stuck with him ever since, their fathers convinced that the two were best friends. There was something in the elder Goyle's eyes which told that he suspected the truth, and Gregory recognized the look his father gave Lucius as the same he gave Draco - fear, hatred, and disgust.
It never ceased to amaze him just how slowly time could crawl when something you wanted waited on the other end.
Now they are nearly men, and Draco's coming into their dorm. His voice is quiet, but Gregory listens, and bows his head, closes his eyes, and listens to the tic of his watch.
Freedom has a price, and everything has a time.
