A very nervous Draco Malfoy paced the Auror-guarded room waiting for his father to be brought for his secure visit. Draco had a secret. Draco would have never been able to share this part of himself with his family while Voldemort was alive.
Lucius Malfoy was at last brought into the visitation room at Azkaban and Draco immediately began unburdening himself. "Father, I have a confession to make now that the war is over. This secret would have gotten all of us killed. I'm confident in saying my occlumency saved us from the Dark Lord's wrath." The elder Malfoy paled at the implication of what his son had just said. The remaining at-large Death Eaters could never find out what he was about to hear.
Draco gave his father a chance to collect himself after that revelation. He needed a moment himself to strengthen his resolve before proceeding. "Okay. Please listen to everything before reacting. This is very hard for me to admit. I've secretly been visiting and working in the Muggle world since your first imprisonment at the end of 5th year and have been hiding my fascination of Muggles since 2nd year. Mother already knows and has been encouraging me to continue. I'm telling you because I have to be true to myself."
"You what?!" Lucius bellowed. "Your mother knew?! How could you have both betrayed the family? Do you know how much danger we were in? How can you have lied to me all these years? It's like I don't even know you!" Lucius had a murderous expression on his face.
"Father, FATHER, please listen. Mother is innocent and did not betray you. I didn't tell her until after the fall of the Dark Lord." A look of relief passed over Lucius's face and he loosened his balled fists.
Draco took his father's relaxed posture as a cue to continue. "I think you will appreciate the news after you hear more. Through the course of my expanding curiosity of Muggle culture I found out that Muggles really like magic, but it isn't the type of magic we know. It is not real magic and really more of a performative act focused on misdirection." Draco paused at his father's incredulous expression and then continued when no interruption came. "The most famous magicians - that is what Muggles call them - have performances all over the world to audiences of thousands of people and make millions of Galleons annually from these performances and other promotional initiatives."
Though intrigued by the amount of money, Lucius turned stone-faced and coldly said, "Malfoys don't perform for anyone. Why are you telling me this? What does it matter what these Mud - Muggles do? What does it have to do with you? Why are you taunting me?"
Draco halted for a moment, collected himself, and with conviction said, "I have become one of them - a magician - and am quite clever with my 'magic tricks'. I take polyjuice to disguise myself as an American man in his 20s. My fame is growing and I have even been on television, which is a Muggle box displaying moving pictures that Muggles put in their sitting rooms. But I digress. My personal vault in Gringotts is overflowing."
With his ire waning, Lucius found an opening in the conversation and whispered, "How did you do it? When did you find the time while at Hogwarts?"
Draco smirked at his father. "A magician never reveals his secrets, but I will make an exception for you, Father. Do you remember the project assigned to me by the Dark Lord?"
With his father's confirmation, Draco said, "I betrayed the Dark Lord. I fixed the vanishing cabinets the first week back at Hogwarts." Lucius was astonished to hear that his son had betrayed the Dark Lord and that Voldemort had never found out. Did Severus ever know?
"I have Mother to thank as well as an unwitting accomplice. My summer visits to Borgin and Burke's between 5th and 6th year to ostensibly investigate the cabinet in their store afforded me the opportunity to escape into the Muggle for me to attend auditions with booking agents and have performances at theaters."
"Returning to Hogwarts was even better cover for my actions. The vanishing cabinet at school was in a room nearly no one knew about. Even Potter didn't figure it out, not my real plans anyway. As I said, I fixed the cabinet the first week of school and didn't tell anyone about my success until nearly the end of June. I feigned that I was struggling with the task even as Professor Snape begged to assist me and told me about making an Unbreakable Vow with Mother. People were worried about my gaunt face and absences from classes. Yes, I was tired, but that's because I had late night performances. The muggles really are fans of late night shows." Draco said the last part more to himself than his father.
Lucius didn't know what to think, but after doubting for years he now knew his son was a true Slytherin.
"In any case, I will continue pursuing my career as a Muggle magician. I love it and there is nothing you can do about it. You can console yourself knowing that the family wealth will grow quite a bit through my ambition and cunning in the Muggle world, even though you don't approve. Good-bye, Father." Draco walked away with a sad nod towards his father.
Lucius was dumbfounded. There was nothing he could do about the situation from prison now that his influence was broken and most of his business associates were in a similar situation as he. Draco was now of age at 18 and able to make his own decisions. Lucius was powerless and resigned himself to the situation. "Draco, wait."
Draco turned slowly with his hand still on the door handle. With a forlorn look, Draco said, "Yes, Father?"
Lucius looked at his son in the eyes. "Draco, you have my consent. Not that you need it". Draco nodded his gratitude and turned to leave. Suddenly Lucius yelled out, "What name do you go by in the Muggle world?"
Draco looked over his shoulder with a wry grin and said, "Blaine. David Blaine." Then he left without another word.
