The Malfoy Project

𝟒 - 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞

     Rita Skeeter sends me a letter the next day, including further instructions and the Malfoys' address.

     I am to go to their Manor on the weekends to interview Lucius and Narcissa, for as many weekends as it takes to get what the Daily Prophet needs. When that is, only Rita will tell me. As for Draco, I'm free to interview him whenever I like.

     Hogwarts seems eager to justify accepting Draco back, something for which they've received a couple of angry letters from concerned parents. McGonagall grants me full permission to use whichever spare classroom is available, and Slughorn is made aware his Slytherin charge might go missing occasionally.

     In fact, dear old Slughorn tells me I can use his office that very day, since he'll be at a friend's for dinner, adding that he had already taken the liberty to convince Draco to meet me.

     "He was reluctant at first, but I've managed to convince him to do it," he mumbles as he gathers his books from the teacher's desk. "Very important he tells his side. He's a good boy, that one."

     I smile affectionately. The bumbling old man is really proving himself to be a terrible judge of character. Apart from his ambition, it's a wonder he hadn't been placed in Hufflepuff instead.

     I sink into one of the leather armchairs by the fireplace and place the recorder on the table. I consider for a moment before removing it. It won't do me any favours to put Draco off with its Muggle-ness before we've even begun.

     I take my Self-Writing quill out of its new case, uncork a bottle of ink, and set out a roll of parchment. Now, there's nothing to do but wait.

     Barely five minutes later, the door swings open.

     I try not to look at him as he removes his Slytherin robes and hangs it on the coat hanger by the door. Only when his shoes start clacking on the stone towards me do I raise my head to greet him.

     "Hi, I'm Gabriella Ainsley," I say, reaching out for a handshake. He ignores it, breezing to the armchair across me and gracefully lowering himself onto it.

     In all my years at Hogwarts, I've never been as close to Draco Malfoy as I am now, which, in retrospect, sounds highly unbelievable considering his cemented reputation as Hogwarts' finest bully; but I have seen the way he treated anyone who stood in his way and take great pains to avoid him and his duo of gargoyles. Both our Houses never mingle anyway. Our paths simply never crossed.

     Today, he looks smart in a pressed white shirt and black trousers. Long legs fold over the edge of the seat in perfect right-angles, ending in dress shoes that are polished to a shine. He spreads both arms onto each side of the chair, his posture straight and tall; commanding. It's almost as if he's trying to remind me I am in the company of a dignified, still-honourable family.

     Royalty overthrown, but royalty all the same.

     He refuses to look at me, his face rebelliously turned away; the corners of his mouth pulled downwards by invisible string.

     I can't help thinking how much more he looks like his mother than his father.

     I put on my most amiable smile. "I'm Gabriella Ainsley," I say again in a measured tone. "You probably haven't seen me around, but I'm in the same form as you. Hufflepuff. I'm working for The Daily Prophet to interview your family, and I just wanted to say thank you for doing this."

     Draco remains silent. I plough on. "I guess I'll just get right into how this will work. As you might already know, I'll be over to yours during the weekends to speak with your parents. We don't have to meet over the weekends, though. I'm thinking we could do an hour after classes once or twice a week. I'll ask you some questions and you can answer them however you'd like. But, um- I'd like for us to treat it as a chat between friends, rather than- you know- a proper interview or anything."