Stuck with Me [Harry Potter]

Chapter 19 - More Contention, But Will It Last?

Draco had to get out of the house, at least for a little while. He needed a small retreat from the gloomy manor that only worsened his mood. His mother tried talking to his father the day after Draco talked with her, but his father was still adamant.

Would he and Luna ever have the relationship that he wanted? School started in two weeks, and he would see Luna there, but his father would forbid him from having a relationship with her. Would they have to see each other in secret? That seemed to be the only option at this point.

Draco walked out of the back door to the Manor, keeping the folded piece of parchment in his slacks pocket. He had to pass his father on the way out the door, and he didn't want him to suspect what he was going to do.

He made it through the massive back garden and over to the Malfoy owlry, which resembled a barn, but smaller, and made of the same stone the manor was built out of. He stood in the center of the circular structure and gazed around at the various owls perched on ledges. He came up to a snow-white owl, and it woke from its slumber when he approached. He pulled out his wand.

"Hopefully this will work," he muttered and pointed his shiny black want at the bird, who blinked its yellow eyes at him. "Enegio."

Light encumbered the bird, and it flapped its wings in response but went back to normal a few second later. It cocked its head at Draco.

"Did it work?" He pulled out the folded piece of parchment that was sealed together with the Malfoy seal. "Alright, now, could you take this to the Lovegood residence?"

The bird snatched the letter, and Draco grinned. It flew off out of the owlry, and Draco ran out to see it fly off. He followed the bird through the garden.

"Finally," he said, grinning, but that grin immediately vanished when the owl flew right to the Manor and to the back door. Lucius stood there with his arm out. The owl landed on his arm, and Lucius took the letter from its beak and glanced at Draco. He took out his wand and Draco's heart plummeted. The letter burst into flames and disintegrated into ashes falling over the stone near the fountain. Draco's hands balled into fists and his pulse rose. He cantered to his father as the owl flew away.

"I told you, Draco, I charmed all the owls," Lucius said calmly as he folded his hands over the top of his cane.

"But I..."

"No counter spell will take away the charm. I made sure of it."

He walked back inside, and Draco followed him into the den just across the hall from the dining room. "Father, I have to see her. I have to at least tell her that—"

"You're going to tell her nothing," he cut him off as he stood near a table with a glass decanter of fire whiskey on it. "I have told you that you will not associated with that girl. And when you are at school, I will make sure you stay away from her."

Draco's blood boiled. "How? Are you going put spies in the school, just to make sure that I don't see the only person, other than Mother, who has made me the most happy? Are you really going to be that cruel?"

"If I have to be."

Draco stared at his father in disbelief as the man poured himself a small glass of fire whiskey. A long, thick silence filled the room. Draco felt his chest tighten into knots. "Are you really not going to let me see her? Or talk to her?"

"Yes. Get that girl out of your head." He looked at his son with serious eyes. "When you're a little older, you will see that what you're doing now—pleading, begging—was all very childish. Grow up, Draco. You will start your final year at Hogwarts, and then you will start working at The Ministry with me. Then we will present you with a young woman who is a Slytherin and a pureblood, and you will continue our family line as it should be. Am I understood?"