Boy - (A 'Blaire Zabini' sequel) || Draco Malfoy

18 - Corned Beef and Chipped Nails

There was a collective cheer as Jack managed to blow out all six of his candles in one go.

"But carrot cake, though?" Draco had murmured incredulously in my ear, as though the idea of anyone wanting anything but chocolate cake was completely beyond him.

"It's his favourite," I whispered back, "and last time I checked it was his birthday, not yours."

We'd relocated to Molly and Arthur's which offered a much bigger space. A good thing too, because pretty much the entire underground population showed up.

Bar Ginny.

Everyone else loved to celebrate Jack's birthday. He was our very own underground boy, the light and laughter that everyone had needed to get through the years of hiding.

It was sometimes difficult to remember he was a Malfoy child; a child who in another life would be dressed from top to toe in expensive clothing and running around large echoey manor grounds.

No, that life belong to Draco's other son. The one who wasn't about to be born into an illegitimate world like Jack had.

There was excitement all around as Molly came through carrying another tray of food.

"Do help yourself to more corned beef sandwiches!" She trilled to the room, "I've made plenty more!"

Ron groaned loudly ("She always forgets I don't like corned bloody beef!")

Party games were had, with both Ron and Draco becoming the most competitive; both of them determined to be crowned the winner of musical chairs. At one point, Ron even pushed McGonagall violently aside in his bid to grab a chair.

I observed from the sofa next to Dean, the both of us chuckling softly at the childish yet amusing display.

Dean fell instantly quiet at catching himself laughing.

I reached for his hand, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze. "It's okay to be happy, you know," I said kindly, "Nev would have found this hilarious."

"Yeah, he would have," Dean smiled wistfully, as Ron roared and pumped his fist in the air at beating Draco to the final chair ("Gryffindor wins again you stinking Slytherin!").

Draco sloped over to the sofa, his face pinched in a scowl as he collapsed down on my other side. "Poxy game," he muttered moodily.

"Aw, shucks, Drac," I mocked, playfully ruffling his hair so that it fell back down in a tousled mess. "Did Molly give you a consolation sweetie?"

"Yeah," he said, holding up a small round pink lollipop. "But that git should have been disqualified for old lady bashing."

"Hey, less of the old, young man!" McGonagall barked from across the crowded room as she waved her cane crossly in the air, "I fought in the war, you know!"

Draco pulled a face as he grouchily shoved his lollipop in his mouth.

"Mummy! Daddy!" Jack cried happily as he bounded over to us with a piece of paper in his hand. "Look what I made!"

He turned the paper around and proudly presented to us an upside down picture of what appeared to be three stickmen.

Draco and I simultaneously cocked our heads to the side in an effort to get a better view of it.

"Cute," Dean chuckled, craning his neck too, "a true little da Vinci."

"Here, son," Draco said, beckoning him over, "come and show us properly."

Jack hopped onto his dad's lap, and Draco took the picture from him moving it across so that I could see it too.

A bubble of love burst in my heart, spreading a warm glow throughout me. It was indeed a picture of three stickmen, each with labels above their heads; 'Mummy', 'Daddy' and 'Me'.