August 1st
8:25 AM
~Malfoy Manor~
It was just after breakfast in Malfoy Manor, and the youngest member of the family was strewn across his bed, thinking of various memories and moments of his life.
Soon enough, the young boy would be going to Diagon Alley with his parents to get his school equipment. He was especially excited about getting his wand!
Nonetheless, Draco Malfoy always considered himself a fortunate boy. He had money, he had reputation, and he had a relatively warm relationship with his parents. Not as warm as it should be but still warm enough… For a family made of Pureblooded Slytherins that is.
He fully acknowledges the fact that other people are not quite as... lucky, as he is. He understood that many people actually are quite the opposite. Nevertheless, his parents always warned him against that sort of people. They were absolutely filthy and disgusting- almost as bad as muggles! At least…. That's what his parents said.
I mean they are his parents so what they said must be true! Right?
But… It didn't feel right.
As much as he wanted to blindly believe his parents' words, as much as he wanted to not question them, something inside him kept on refusing that notion. Something inside him kept on insisting that just because someone was not of their status, that does in no way mean that they were lesser.
Unfortunately for him, Draco was a curious boy who was quite vocal about his opinions and never hesitated to voice them.
After all, confidence, as his father called it, was a Malfoy family trait, and so, the heir to such an Ancient and Noble House should never hesitate in making his thoughts known.
That was when Draco's view of his parents began to shift.
May 20th, 1989
1:15 PM
~Malfoy Manor~
The Malfoy family was enjoying a relatively quiet lunch. Lucuis Malfoy, the patriarch of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy who was also known as the current Lord Malfoy, was sitting at one end of an extremely long dining table while Narcissa Malfoy (née Black), previously of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black and also known as the current Lady Malfoy (or Mrs. Malfoy as she insists to be called), sat at the other end of the table, parallel to her husband. Their son, Draco, was sitting exactly in the middle between both of his parents.
Draco had been pondering over this for weeks. He didn't quite understand the animosity his parents held for poor people or muggles.
However, he wanted to understand, as it was in his nature, and he was taught to never fear voicing his thoughts. After all, confidence was the mark of an intelligent Malfoy man or so his father had said anyway…
Quietly slurping his pumpkin soup, the boy grimaced. He really hoped his father wouldn't go off on him for this. After all, from the way his parents had talked to him about the issue, and all the subtle warnings his father had left for him to analyze, made it seem that even quietly inquiring about the reason for their animosity towards muggles was a taboo inside the 'House of Malfoy'.
'The Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy,' Draco internally corrected himself. It wouldn't do for the heir of such an Ancient and Noble family to not be able to correctly use the title of his house. His parents would be oh-so-disappointed in him, something which, to the soon-to-be 9 year old, was completely unacceptable.
"Draco," drawled a silky voice as the little boy jumped in his seat, "What have your mother and I told you about... fidgeting?" The owner of the voice narrowed his piercing silver eyes as he quietly admonished his child.
The boy gulped and firmly kept his eyes on his plate, "That it was-"
"Eye contact." Came the sharp reprimand.
Draco flinched and slowly raised his head to meet his father's eyes. Lucuis Malfoy's eyes were like molten silver as he gazed imperiously upon his offspring. The man, having finished his meal, rested his chin upon his intertwined fingers while giving the impression of utmost serenity.
The young child took a quiet, calming breath and forced his voice not to waver, "That it was unacceptable for the heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy to display such poor manners and self control." Draco said with false conviction.
His father hm'ed, inclining his head slowly as he continued examining his son. After a few moments, the man started to speak, "Well then, Draco, out with it." Lucuis straightened up and leaned back comfortably in his chair, "What is bothering you my son?" He asked with a curious tilt of his head, his voice warm and inviting.
Draco swallowed, his mouth suddenly feeling very dry.
His father's eyes narrowed as the man's mouth twisted into a highly unpleasant sneer, "Well?"
Draco took a deep breath through his nose. Here goes.
"W-well father, I… I" Draco took another risky deep breath to ease his nerves. It didn't work.
"You what, Draco?" Came the sharp reprimand.
Draco shrank back a bit. Yeah... he'd be lucky to make it out of this conversation unscathed.
"I was.. Wondering about the reason for the animosity we hold for muggles-" He was cut off by a sudden, very loud noise of clanging cutlery.
He cast a very tentative look towards his father and, to his horror, his father's clenched fist lay atop the dining table, shaking with impotent fury. In fact his father's entire body was shaking with barely contained rage.
He cast a very quick glance at his mother. The lady was slowly drinking her pumpkin soup, acting as if nothing was going on around her. She never cast her offspring even one glance.
Looking back at his father, Draco finally mustered enough courage to look the man in the eye and nearly recoiled from what he saw. His father's eyes had gone cold in his anger and it was only then that Draco Malfoy realized the enormity of his bluff.
August 1st
8:27 AM
~Malfoy Manor~
Draco shivered slightly. The following two to three weeks were the worst of his entire life! Not only did he get the worst dressing down ever, but his father had deemed it a suitable punishment to curse everything in his room, yes including his bed and bed sheets, to hit him with a strong stinging hex whenever he touched anything.
Even when he wasn't in his room, his father was sure to absentmindedly fire a stinging hex every five to ten minutes whenever he was within the man's presence.
Draco shuddered again before sighing. It was after that particular incident that Draco made sure to never anger his father or do anything the elder Malfoy frowned upon.
He didn't hate his father though. Afraid of the man? Yes. But he doesn't hate him, it would be quite senseless to do so, after all everything his father is doing is for his own good! He deserved that punishment, no matter how harsh, and he got what he deserved and that was the end of that.
Suddenly Draco heard a loud 'pop!', which startled him from his thoughts, and a house elf appeared in his room.
"Oh," drawled Draco arrogantly, "Dobby. What do you want?"
The house elf cringed in on himself, a whole body cringe by the way, and Draco found himself almost feeling sorry for the creature before he remembered that if his father ever found out that he sympathizes with lower life forms there wouldn't be much left of him to feel sorry anymore, and ruthlessly crushed that lapse of internal sympathy.
"M-m-master Lu-Lu-Lucuis a-and Mis-Mistress N-narcisaa re-request your p-p-presence d-d-d-down stairs y-young M-master Draco." The house elf barely stuttered out as he bowed down so low that his nose touched the ground.
Draco sighed in irritation both at the pathetic creature and at the request. Just when he was organizing his thoughts.
"Alright," The boy snapped irritably, "Tell them I'll be there." He finished off quite rudely as he got up from bed and began straightening his robes into some form of presentaiblity.
The House Elf flinched pitifully before he nodded jerkily and vanished once more with a loud 'pop!'.
Draco sighed again. It was going to be a long day.
August 1st, 1991
8:47 AM
~Malfoy Manor~
Draco walked carefully down the staircase. It took him over 5 minutes after he was called to fix his hair and clothes enough so that his parents won't hex him on sight. There were still some inconsistencies but nothing a little magic won't fix.
His parents were standing in the middle of the reception, looking as cold and proper as ever. Unconsciously, Draco found himself channeling some of their demeanor and adopting that same, haughty, prim-and-proper look.
"Good Morning Father, Mother," Draco started smoothly careful to greet his father first, ('The Lord of the House always comes first Draco'), "You requested my presence?" He smiled a bit at them.
His mother smiled a bit warmly in return while his father's facial expression didn't change one bit.
"Good Morning Dragon, " She said in return, "We have indeed. We shall endeavor into Diagon Alley soon." She cast a quick tempus.
'8:50' The bright numbers read.
'When had she drawn her wand?!' Thought Draco incredulously but refrained from voicing his thoughts.
"Only ten minutes now," His father cut in smoothly.
Draco nodded, his face never betraying his excitement.
The ten minutes were spent in relative silence. The elder Malfoys were still standing, as calm and collected as ever, along with the younger(est) Malfoy, who was trying really hard NOT to fidget. ('Malfoys don't fidget.')
Finally, the time came and Draco silently sighed in relief. 'Finally.' The boy thought happily.
His father went first, grabbing a generous handful of Floo Powder as he stepped into the fireplace. He called, powerfully and clearly, "DIAGON ALLEY!" as he threw the powder downwards. He got engulfed in a green gout of flames soon after.
His mother smiled slightly at him and went next, repeating the same process as his father and getting engulfed in similar green flames.
Draco took a moment to calm his nerves, before he proceeded forward. He didn't like Floo Travel but at least it was more bearable than Apparation or Portkey.
Repeating the same actions as his parents, Draco threw down the Floo Powder and got swallowed by the harmless green flames.
August 1st, 1991
9:10 AM
~The Leaky Cauldron~
Draco stumbled out of the fireplace but managed to catch himself before he hit the floor. He took a moment to center himself before he groaned irritably. He really hated Floo travel.
His mother elegantly stepped forward, gently vanishing the layers of soot and grime that covered his hair and clothing with expert ease.
Draco looked at her gratefully, to which he got a tiny subtle nod, before he straightened up as she moved away.
His father had ignored the whole ordeal in favor of sneering in contempt at the place they were in.
'The Leaky Cauldron' was the only Floo point that led to Diagon Alley, much to the chagrin of the more wealthy Purebloods who felt that it was a great insult to have to pass through such a common place in order to get their needs.
The Malfoys silently passed the barrier to Diagon Alley, not even giving the bartender, Old Tom, a second glance.
Draco let his self-control falter for a second as an excited grin overtook his face. He felt his father cuff his head in warning not soon after, and he let the mask of indifference firmly over his face once more.
"Emotions are weaknesses Draco," His father said as they firmly made their way through the crowd and to Flourish and Blotts, "And you never show your weaknesses."
"Yes, father." He intoned internally sighing.
This was going to be a long day indeed.
August 1st, 1991
12:20 AM
~Diagon Alley~
Draco was barely lifting his feet off the ground. He was exhausted! Merlin, he must've been walking around Diagon Alley for over three hours collecting his school equipment - His books, a trunk, a new owl (whom he'd named Zeus), a pewter cauldron, a telescope, and who knows what else - it didn't help that the place was crowded as well. It seems that August 1st is the day where everyone goes out for their Hogwarts shopping and the boy silently resolved to go shopping earlier next year.
He was slowly heading towards his semi-final destination. Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was looming just ahead. He had lost his parents somewhere in the crowd, but they had agreed that in the event of something like this happening that they'd meet at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions by 1:00 PM at the latest.
He silently, and nervously, walked through the doors of the shop and requested a full Hogwarts Wardrobe and immediately paid at the front desk (His parents had given him a generous sum of 30 galleons in a Mokeskin pouch enchanted to be both weightless and larger on the inside in the case of an emergency) with a haughty attitude as the witches started getting his measurements for the new robes.
Ten minutes later and the measurements weren't done yet. Draco was about dying of boredom when his foggy mind perceived the sound of a bell ringing and a door opening.
"Hogwarts, dear?" He heard Madam Malkin's voice ask.
"Yes, ma'am," He heard a feminine, yet distinctly younger, voice reply.
"Ooh such a respectful young lady," Draco snorted softly, "Got the lot here — another young man being fitted up now, in fact!"
And in walked Madam Malkin with a rather short and skinny girl with messy black hair and emerald green eyes. The girl was wearing wire-rimmed circular glasses that covered the upper half of her face, but the most striking thing about her appearance, perhaps, was the lighting bolt shaped scar that went through her right eyebrow and covered about the entire right side of her head.
He must have been staring, (His father would have a stroke if he ever knew that he'd openly stared at someone!) because she turned to stare at him silently in question.
Quickly snapping out of his stupor, and gathering what remained of his dignity, Draco averted his eyes from the girl. He could still feel her stare at him for a few seconds before she looked away too.
However, the silence grew too oppressive and, despite having grown up in a similar environment, Draco found out that he could not bare it.
"Hullo," He said in a feeble attempt to strike a conversation, "Hogwarts too?"
'Oh yeah really original,' Thought Draco sarcastically to himself, 'What next? Are you going to ask if the sky is blue too?'
"Yes," said the girl.
'Oh alright, she actually answered your stupid question. Alright then ummm how about-'
"My father's next door buying my books and Mother's up the street looking at wands," Draco said in a bored drawling noise. For some reason he was feeling quite nervous.
'Oh goodness me, really?' The boy thought scathingly to himself. 'It's a really good thing I lost my parents in the crowd otherwise they'd both kill me for this poor excuse of socialization."
"Really?" The girl sounded dubious, "I thought the wand chooses the wizard." She said in a challenging tone.
"..." Draco chose not to answer.
It was a few seconds before the girl smirked in silent victory.
"Don't worry I was messing with you," She said in a teasing tone.
"Uh, yeah me too…" Draco replied feebly as he silently felt his dignity shrivel up and die once more on the ground.
"...Sooo you play Quidditch at all?" Asked the girl idly.
Draco's head snapped to her in excitement. Finally something interesting to talk about.
"Yes. I don't see why first-years can't have their own brooms, I think it's quite tragic that we're not allowed on the house teams yet. Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house. Know what house you'll be in yet?" He rattled off in a monotone voice, which held a hint of excitement if you focused well enough, not even pausing for breath.
The girl blinked a bit before she smiled slightly, "Yeah I think it's a pity too," She said lightly, "I love flying! As for what house? Hm, I'm not sure yet but I know Hufflepuff is not for me, that's for sure." She finished with a slightly dark undertone to her voice which Draco caught easily but didn't speak of.
"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they?" Draco said in an attempt to make her feel better, and judging by the small smile on her face it did, "But I just know I'll be in Slytherin, all my family has been – I can't imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd just leave!"
She chuckled slightly, "Ah yes, the 'House of Duffers' is what they call them, right? I don't think they're quite that bad just… too naïve and trusting of this world." She said with that dark undertone again.
Draco was really fighting the impulse to fidget. He felt that there was a deeper meaning behind her words that he didn't quite understand and that was making him quite uncomfortable. He prided himself on his ability to read people, despite his young age, and for him to not be able to read someone was… quite vexing.
"Oh!" The girl exclaimed having snapped out of her funk, "I totally forgot to introduce myself!"
Draco felt the weird impulse to slap his forehead. If his father ever saw this interaction he'd be dead for sure!
Draco nodded sheepishly instead, "Me too." He extended his hand to her, careful of the needles pinching and prodding at his arms and abdomen, "My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
The girl looked at him hard for a second before she smiled slightly and clasped his hand firmly, "And my name is Potter. Harriet Potter."
Draco felt his eyes widen for a fraction of a second before he smoothed his face back into a mask of self control, "A pleasure," He said as he gave her hand a firm shake, "I must admit, I did not know that the Potters had another child."
The girl snorted sarcastically, "Believe me, me neither," She mumbled a bit bitterly but Draco wasn't one to judge.
Before anymore could be said, Madam Malkin strutted in levitating several packs of clothing behind her, "That's you done, my dear," She told Draco as all the needles that were magically still taking his measurements dropped to the ground limply.
"Oh, alright," the boy said a bit disappointedly, "Well, see you at Hogwarts I suppose."
The girl, Harriet, smiled widely, "Yeah, see you too."