OUR DARLING D

Chapter 9

After an eventful summer in their private island in Hawaii, The Malfoy Family went back to Wizarding London only to be met with the news of Sirius Black. The wanted posters were everywhere inside the Floo building that only the Malfoy Etiquette lessons were the only thing that was holding in Draco’s shock.

Only his parents weren't shocked, seeing as they read the Daily Prophet while in Hawaii. When Draco wanted to read it though, he couldn't because his Father already had the elves dispose of it.

Speaking of elves, Draco misses Dobby sometimes. He's one of the elves assigned to him as a baby and was even one of Narcissa’s elves when Draco was still in her womb. His nanny elf would surely be on his side and fussing over him and would even copy the Daily Prophet behind his Father’s back just to make him satiate his curiosity (‘Young Master Draco is too curious!’ he’d bet a galleon the elf would say). Now, after Dobby never came back, Flopsy was the one assigned to him but it wasn’t the same anymore. Flopsy is too scared to go against the Malfoy Patriarch’s orders, can’t risk doing something to make Draco happy. Flopsy is too scared to touch him as well. For now, Draco is still establishing rapport to her. At times when Flopsy retreats skittishly from him, Draco wonders where Dobby went and what happened. Why’d he’d leave Draco behind?

“Draco, keep your head high.” His father’s voice startled him out of his thoughts, the heavy hand suddenly on his shoulder had him fixing his posture.

Yes, as the Malfoy Heir, he shall never falter.

Never reveal weakness.

Never go against the wishes of the Malfoy Patriarch.

Never be happy.

--

After discovering rare moonstones and other precious rocks while touring the island by himself, swimming in the sea, lounging in the sun and finding potions ingredients he sent to Professor Snape for safekeeping, the rest of summer was truthfully uneventful.

As soon as their month vacation finished, Draco's schedule was full of Pureblood training and tutoring lessons. With the rate he’s going, by the time September rolls in, he's already ahead of his peers. Severus finished tutoring him all he had to know this upcoming school year. Draco had thanked the Manor for its wards, allowing him to practice a bit of magic. He is proud of himself because he could now do wandless and wordless healing magic, something he’d practiced the whole of second year until now.

The only reprieve he got from the Pureblood Trainings are Pansy and Blaise's visits. Although they were there for the General Pureblood Traditions on “how to act this year” during morning hours, they thankfully got the afternoon free.

Once Madam Dix was sent away from the Manor after Pureblood Training, Pansy immediately jumped into Draco's arms.

"Oh how I missed you, Dray!" She laughed as Draco twirled them. "You can't believe how much I ranted to Blaise on how isolated you are every summer! Did you know even our owls can't get in through the wards anymore?"

Draco released the hug and accepted Blaise's side hug.

"Is this about the blokes you've been writing to during the whole second year?" Blaise asked softly, kissing Draco's temple in comfort when he nodded. "Aw, you poor thing."

Draco grasped Blaise's robes and whispered sadly. "Father incinerated all of it."

"Did they read it?" Blaise asked, frowning. He remembered the genuine smiles Draco always had every letter he reads while in bed. Draco shook his head.

"Fortunately, no. Just found the letter I was trying to send then accioed all the others to burn them all in front of me."

Pansy stared at them, crossing her arms and a knife suddenly on her hands. She cleared her throat and smiled sweetly, tapping the knife menacingly.