First off, I would like to reply to one of my reviewers who said that this story is "obviously" not from JKR's perspective. My only defense is that whenever I reference something from the books, I strictly limit myself to the dialogue used in the books. So, it's the other side of what JKR's writing. She sees the story from Harry's perspective, we're seeing the same story, but from Draco's side.
Chapter 18
Draco had spent the morning frantically packing with every little thing he thought he might need to visit Germany. He had started with the essentials—a wizard chess set, sugar quills, a few wizarding fiction books, a stationary set, his practice snitch and broom, his potions text (as it wouldn't hurt to suck up to his godfather a little), a large supply of Honeydukes chocolate, a mirror, brush, hair gel, magical camera…
…only to have his godfather wave a wand, and replace his giant trunk with a small bag no larger than a golden retriever. "I believe," drawled Severus, "My selections are rather more practical for travel. After all, I did tell you to pack only what you needed, not the entire manor. I assure you that should you have dire need of any of those more, ah, frivolous items, we can visit a shop in Germany." Snape sniffed, "after all, they DO have mirrors and sweets in Germany."
Draco pouted. Why had his godfather let him go to all the trouble of packing if Severus was just going to re-do his work anyways? Lucius saw the look, and cleared his throat.
"Draco…remember the code! Just because you won't be with your parents is no reason to neglect your manners." Lucius' look softened "I will miss you. Who will I have to best at wizard's chess?"
Narcissa smirked. Lucius had long since refused to play her, claiming it was unseemly for a Malfoy man to lose every single game to an opponent. Narcissa was a brilliant tactician, another trait she rarely let on to the casual onlooker. Severus smiled thinly. He, too, had suffered the delusion that playing the beautiful blonde woman at chess would be a simple victory for him. Narcissa's first game with Severus, at the Black household, was now infamous, for both were great strategists, and the hard fought game had attracted a large crowd of Blacks, how all jeered at Severus when he finally tipped his King.
Draco bid both of his parents goodbye, before stepping into the Floo with his godfather, calling "Greengrass Camp, Germany!" before whirling away in the green flames. Upon arriving, Draco took stock of the accommodations. The tent in which the Greengrasses were staying was, to put it politely, miniscule. Draco was appalled to realize the tent had only 10 rooms (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, study, and parlor, each leading off the main "entryway" which contained the floo). Sure, he hadn't been expecting a three story tent like the one his parents owned, but he'd expected at least a two story-er. How he was expected to survive sharing a room with Severus for the summer Draco was not sure. All he really knew was that he had three seconds before—
"Oomph!" Draco was knocked backward by an armful of Daphne, who had barely given him a chance to look around before pouncing. She had grown since he last saw her, coming close to his height of five foot four inches. The growth had burned off all her "baby fat," and clearly she had not been shopping in a long time. Draco noted the inches of ankle revealed by too short pants, and the way her shirt hung off her thinner frame. Daphne noticed his smirk and laughed.
"He keeps saying he'll take me shopping," she said, nodding in the direction of the study, where Draco presumed her father must be working, "but I keep saying I'll stick to regular wizarding fashions, not these new German trends. I mean, honestly. I'm going to be a third year. I can't have something that makes me different from all the other girls. I'll be laughed at!" Draco nodded seriously.
"Too right. As it is, you are completely like every other girl I've ever met." Daphne scowled at Draco's sarcasm. Severus cleared his throat, and Daphne started, having forgotten his presence.
"Oh, right, sir." She seemed at a loss for words. "My father's in the study." Though Severus was Draco's godfather, Daphne had never had enough interaction with him to truly get over her view of him as a professor.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of conversation and good food. Draco and Daphne talked almost nonstop, and Draco noted with pleasure that Altair Greengrass seemed to be the only person alive capable of making his godfather laugh from sheer amusement, rather than the usual "at your expense" laughter. As the night wore on, Draco's yawns became so frequent that Daphne glared at him.
"Would you please stop doing that? Every time you yawn I ya-yawwwwwn" Her complaint was garbled by the giant yawn. Severus and Altair seemed to jump.
"Is it truly so late?" Severus checked his pocket watch and grimaced. "Off to bed for me. You too, Draco." They made their way to the guest room, where they proceeded to change into pajamas and climb into their respective beds. Draco tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable.
"Draco." Severus' words held a sharp warning. Draco tried to lie still, but couldn't help wiggling around a bit more. It has how he fell asleep at night, by wiggling and tossing until all his energy was out. "Draco!" Severus sounded weary. "As your godfather, I don't want to threaten you with draught of the living death, but as your roommate who is TRYING to get some sleep, I might have to." Draco stilled, grinning. He knew Severus would never actually slip him that draught, but Draco would try to keep quiet so Severus could fall asleep. Draco was so focused on being quiet, he didn't even notice when sleep claimed him.
"I swear, you've wasted half the day SLEEPING!" Draco grinned as Daphne's rant continued. He realized one advantage of rooming with his godfather: Daphne was too intimidated by Severus to use the evil light to wake him up. Therefore, Draco had slept in a few hours. He had found his way to the kitchen (and the shepherd's pie that was for lunch) and had been happily eating away when Daphne found him. Severus, it turned out, had gone with Altair to the German sub-Ministry that governed the preservation of German wizarding culture. The two weren't expected to return until long after bed-time.
Daphne and Draco weighed the options for their afternoon. Essentially, this involved Daphne making suggestions for things to do, and Draco shooting them down. Finally, in exasperation, Daphne threw a pillow at Draco and stomped off to her room. Chagrined, Draco realized he'd been insulting her choice of activities as boring, reinforcing the boredom she had been feeling before Draco arrived. Draco felt bad. He knew Daphne would never tell her father how bored she was, but she was miserable. Now that Draco had identified the emotion, he realized Daphne had been trying to hide it from him. Draco knocked on Daphne's door.
"Daph? I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be so difficult." Draco opened the door without being invited. The room was rather small, but it was spotlessly clean, and the color scheme made the room habitable. Daphne's room was mostly white, with blue accents. Floor to ceiling windows showed a beautiful view of the deserted meadow they were camping in, far from Muggle Germany. Draco saw the neat stack of completed homework on Daphne's desk and felt another stab of pity. No one should have to do homework as entertainment. Daphne was laying on her bed staring out the window.
Without turning to look at him, she said dully "Figured it out, have you?" Draco knew she had been listening in telepathically when he figured out why she was upset by his behavior. He nodded.
"Daph, I bet we could get Severus to take us somewhere other than here for our vacation." Daphne sat up straighter, and looked genuinely interested. Draco decided then and there he would help his best friend to have a good summer if it killed him.
So that's the chapter. It is very short, but I didn't want to wind up with a beastly chapter that didn't fit with the story. So, I'm posting this now, then finishing up the rest of next chapter which I will post in a day or two.
Enjoy!
C