The Purest Kind of Magic

- fifty four -

Draco paced back and forth around the room, looking anxious. I grunted as I got up from bed and looked at him.

"What is it now? I swear, if it's about Theo's father, Draco, I don't want to hear it. It's been two weeks, for Merlin's sake."

Draco glanced at me, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. "It's not about that, Y/n. It's something else."

I let out a sigh, "Alright, what's on your mind?"

Draco stopped his pacing and turned to face me, his hands running through his hair.

"It's about my father," He then put a sour expression on his face, "He... He said he wants to meet you. I-I don't think that's a good thing."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "Why would he want that? Plus, we're in Hogwarts, there's no way for that to happen."

"That's what I thought too, but do remember that Christmas is coming up."

I furrowed my brow, considering Draco's words. The sound of meeting Draco's father was unsettling, to say the least, given how he's part of Voldemort's inner circle.

"Christmas?" I repeated, processing the information. "You think He might try to arrange a meeting during the Christmas holidays?"

Draco nodded, his expression still tense. "It's possible. I don't know why else he'd be telling me to take you home."

"Well, I did never set foot in Malfoy Manor..." I pointed out.

"That was because I didn't want you to meet my father, I even had to refrain from inviting you to the Malfoy Ball every year so far," Draco complained as he sat down on the bed.

I smiled, "Well, all the more reasons to go with you this year, hm?"

"Now, as lovely as that sounds, Y/n," Draco said as he looked at me with an expression I couldn't read. "I don't want to take the risk."

"And I don't want to take the risk of you getting in trouble for disobeying your father."

"And I think your safety is more important than me," Draco stated.

I sighed, "Draco... That's awfully depressing, don't think like that. Let's just do as your father says and go about it that way. Plus, I doubt your father would do anything harmful to me when I have to go back to Hogwarts."

"I suppose you're right," Draco said as he turned away.

--

"You're going to the Malfoy Ball this year?" Blaise said with a shocked expression.

I nodded, "Yeah, about time I'm going, don't you think?"

"But I thought--" Blaise got cut off by Theo.

"That's great! You'll join in with everybody else."

Draco shifted uncomfortably as he muttered, "Not really that great."

I elbowed him as a sign to stay quiet, "I know. I'll be staying at Malfoy Manor the entire holiday break as well in case any of you wants to visit."

"What? We didn't agree on that," Draco immediately objected.

Daphne raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you want Y/n to stay with you the entire holiday break?"

"I- Because-" Draco stammered, "Because... the Malfoy Manor is gloomy, I'm afraid it'll ruin Y/n's... personal atmosphere."

Blaise snickered, "Are you hiding something? It sure sounds like it."

"Oh, come on, Draco," Elmia teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Are you really saying your grand, ancient mansion is too gloomy for our Y/n?"

Draco's cheeks turned a shade of pink as he shot Elmia an annoyed look. "It's not like that. I just think Y/n deserves a more... cheerful environment for the holidays."

Blaise leaned in with a sly grin. "Or is it that you're afraid she'll discover your secret collection of teddy bears hidden in your room?"

Theo laughed, joining in on the teasing. "Oh, I'm sure Y/n would be fascinated to see what you keep hidden in that room of yours."

"It's not like that, I don't care about teddy bears," Draco insisted, annoyed.

I smiled, "Don't worry, I don't judge. In fact, I like teddy bears."

Draco grunted, "Do whatever."

--

I didn't know what else to pack except for daily essentials since the break is only for two weeks. And plus, whatever I'll need will probably already be in the Malfoy Manor.

"You ready?" Draco said softly as he knocked lightly at my already opened door.

"I think so," I confirmed as I rubbed the back of my neck, my back facing him. "Would I need anything else?"

Draco leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "You look pretty packed to me. If you forget anything, there'll probably be a few extras at the manor."

"I figured so." I said as I turned to face him, "Then I guess I'm ready to go."

Draco sighed, "You sure you want to do this? Staying at Malfoy Manor for the entire break? I don't want anything to happen to you because of me."

"Nothing bad will happen, trust me, I asked Rohan a few days ago already. Just let me stay with you, alright?" I reassured him.

"If you insist," Draco said reluctantly as he held out his hand for me to hold.

--

As I step foot in the Malfoy Manor, the air felt different, laden with a sense of history and grandeur. Draco led me through the entrance hall, his hand warm in mine, as we moved deeper into the manor.

The exquisite architecture, the elegant décor, and the air of old-world sophistication surrounded us. We walked by countless portraits of ancestors, I'm guessing.

Their eyes seemed to follow us, their expressions frozen in time, reflecting a lineage that spanned generations.

Draco guided me through the corridors with a sense of familiarity, his steps steady and purposeful. I couldn't help but marvel at the opulence of the manor, each room more lavish than the last.

As we explored, Draco shared tidbits of history, pointing out family heirlooms and significant artifacts.

It was clear that the Malfoy family took great pride in their heritage, and Draco's demeanor shifted as he spoke about his ancestors, a mix of reverence and obligation.

We entered a spacious library, its shelves lined with leather-bound tomes and ancient scrolls. The room was bathed in the soft glow of chandeliers, lending an air of both elegance and scholarly pursuits.

"Welcome to the family library," Draco said, his voice hushed. "I used to hate it here since my mother would force me to study up on some ancient magic when I was a kid.

"...But now, it holds a different kind of charm for me," he continued, a wistful smile gracing his lips. "It's a quiet retreat, and usually no one but me is in here."

I marveled at the room's beauty, the scent of old books and polished wood filling the air. The soft light illuminated the intricate details of the bookshelves and the ornate ceiling, creating an ambiance that felt almost magical.

"It's quite impressive," I whispered, almost afraid to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

Draco's eyes held a certain fondness as he glanced around. "Great, we can share."

There were two knocks at the grand library door and I turned to face whoever it was almost immediately.

The door slowly creaked open, revealing a figure standing in the doorway. It was an elegant woman with platinum blonde hair, her features refined and composed. She had an air of regality about her, and her presence seemed to command attention.

"Mother," Draco greeted her with a smile.

"Draco," The woman greeted back. She turned to me and gave me the warmest smile, "And you must be Y/n. Draco told me about you."