After saying their goodbyes in the Entrance Hall, Draco and Severus left together for Malfoy Manor.
Interlude: Welcome Home Draco
The portkey soon deposited Severus and Draco in the entrance foyer of Malfoy Manor.
POP "Masters be giving cloaks to Dobby. Dobby be telling Master Malfoy that Master Snape and Young Master Malfoy be coming?"
"No. That won't be necessary. Do not tell him he has guests, its a... surprise" demanded Draco before sweeping up the steps towards his father's study with his godfather right behind.
"What do you plan on telling your father, Draco? You know you can't tell him anything" wispered Severus as the stalked the hallways of Malfoy Manor.
"I don't plan on telling him anything and you will make sure that he does not attempt anything underhanded to get the information."
Severus raised an eyebrow at the tone and complete lack of a concrete plan before asking, "Oh? And what makes you so sure he will listen to me? Or that I will help you at all?"
"You will help me, because to not do so would be to break your vow to Alex and Father will listen to you because you are his prince" Draco stated simply. Severus could only nod in acquiescence and they continued the rest of the way in companionable silence.
When they reached the door to Lucius's study Draco took a breath to steady himself and then opened the door, to find his uncle and his father in a heated argument.
"...Eldest son or not, you will tell me where my heir is or so help me you will curse they day you were born, Squib!" By the end of the his rant Lucius was uncharacteristically disheveled and had was not paying attention to his surroundings.
"If you were looking for me Father all you had to do was turn around" drawled Draco in the most bored, arrogant tone he could muster in an attempt to not laugh at his normally impecably composed father.
"Draco!" cried Lucius rushing to make sure his heir was truly there. "Where have you been? Your mother has been besides herself."
The other three all scoffed at this last, and it was Severus who chose to make his presence known by answering Lucius's frantic questions. "The boy can neither tell you where nor what he has been doing these past couple years and you shall not attempt to pull, trick, or compel the answers from him. As for hiding behind Narcissa, such acts are unbecoming, especially when everyone present is aware of the fact that Narcissa does not care a whit about the boy."
"Severus, who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do with my son and heir?"
"Crucio" whispered Severus. "You seem to forget where you stand Lucius. The boy has spent the last several years supposedly with his uncle and was escorted back to the manor by myself. That should be enough information for you to figure where he was and the types of things he was learning."
The curse had been held for only a few seconds, but it was long enough to knock the Malfoy lord back into his usual state of mind. "My apoligies my Prince, I have simply been worried for my heir."
Severus nodded in accpetance of the apology and Damien spoke up, "I had promised the boy would return in time to go to Hogwarts had I not?"
"You had, but I was beginning to worry that I would not see him prior to his departure for scool, and had thought to possibly send him to Durmstrong rather than Hogwarts and their term starts earlier."
Damien and Severus held a quick mental conversation through their link before Severus answered Lucius's unspoken question. "Draco should go to Hogwarts. He can do more good from inside Slytherin than he would a Durmstrong. It would also attract some unwanted conversation should one of the School Governors choose to send their child abroad. We are not ready for that kind of talk yet."
"As you wish, my prince."
Draco spent the last couple months of summer adjusting back to simply being the Malfoy heir and not the right hand to the Dark Heir. He spent some time studying in the Malfoy library, but most of his time was spent lazing about and playing Quiddich or becoming acquainted with his father's shadow's children, Crabbe and Goyle Jrs. He did manage to keep up his training though and before he knew it, it was time to go to Diagonally.
The trip to Diagonally had been uneventful. People were respectful and stayed a safe distance from the Malfoy Lord and Heir and the shopkeepers fell over themselves to try and accomidate the rich wizards, but they expected nothing less. It was when they came to Olivander's that things changed. Olivander had always been different. As the only legal and truly reliable supplier of wands in England he was fairly sure of his place and his neutrality was generally respected by all sides of any conflict.
Upon stepping into the shop, Draco was greeted with the wide, silver eyes of the current Olivander. When asked for his wand hand, Draco had innocently replied that he used both. This announcement had recieved a single raised eyebrow from Olivander and a sharp look from his father.
After an hour of searching Draco had finally gotten a match, but when his father went to pay for the purchase Olivander waved him off stating that he wasn't finished yet. He then requested that Draco flare his aura fully for a second. After Draco had complied it took Olivander only five minutes to find a second wand. When he handed the wand to the young Malfoy heir he had whispered, just quietly so that only Draco heard, "very interesting, perhaps Severus should come looking for another wand, or are you that much more powerful? This next conflict shall be very interesting indeed." Speaking normally again, Olivander turned to the elder Malfoy, "that will be 17 galleons for the two wands, only the first will be reported so I would be careful with the second. Have a nice day."
With the final comment, the two Malfoys found themself outside the shop and after Lucius gave his son a look that promised a discussion at a later date, they left for a late lunch. The promised conversation was less fulfilling for Lucius than he would have liked, but he did not push the issue, knowing that Severus had been serious when he had dropped Draco off.
When September 1st came, Draco was excited about going to Hogwarts and hopefully seeing Alex again, but when they got to the platform he couldn't find his friend. He searched the entire train and even though he found the Boy-Who-Lived, Draco couldn't really find it in himself to taunt the half-blood he was too preoccupied with thoughts of Alex.
During the sorting he listened in vein for his friend and lord and when he didn't see or hear anything, his only consulation was that he was in Slytherin and hopefully Severus would be able to tell him more in the morning.
AN: Here's the missing chapter! If anyone has any ideas for Draco's wands please let me know. I want the first wand to have a part of a dragon, probably the heartstring, but I couldn't decide on a wood or species of dragon. For the second want I want the core to be from a creature that is known for its loyalty. I'm thinking I want Kneazle fur, but I need some kind of blood to balance that out and of course a wood too.
Second, should Severus try to get another wand? If so should he find one or be rejected?
As always, any comments, criticisms, or suggestions are welcome. Flames will be saved for a cold Maryland day and used to make hot coco.