The Prisoners Son

Back to Black

Summer had somewhat dragged this year, and if he was being entirely honest he couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts and see his friends. It's not that his godparents were particularly bad, but he was eager to get back to routine and to not have to hear his younger cousin, Draco, moan every five minutes. His other cousin, Septimus, was a year above him in school but he got on with him more than Draco.

They'd done a fair amount of travelling over the summer, all over the place really.. Paris, Rome, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Most of the time they were short trips for Lucius' work, but they stayed a few additional days usually to have a little bit of a break. Even with all the travelling, he couldn't avoid the news of his father, his face plastered on front pages around the globe. Narcissa didn't like when he read the papers and tried to keep up to date on his father's sightings, Lucius on the other hand couldn't have cared less, he frequently spoke his mind about what a disappointment his father had been to the Black name. Kai knew this was just another attempt to try and get him to change his surname, so he ignored the comments.

He came down the stairs after getting himself dressed for the day, finding Lucius sitting at the head of the dining room table reading today's 'Daily Prophet', to each of his sides was his cousin, Draco was nose deep in a quidditch magazine while Sept was get making frustrated noises at a transfiguration book.

"Do you understand this, Kai?" the older boy grunted, gesturing to the page.

Moving to look over his cousin's shoulder, "Yeah, the Vanishing Spell.. It's not the simplest, but once you get your head around the finer details it can be fairly easy." he shrugged, sitting next to him, and picked up the copy of 'The Daily Prophet' that Lucius had finished with.

"How do you just understand it? Like it comes so easy to you." Sept groaned.

"I don't know, it just does." he smiled, though it faded as his eyes scanned the article on his father.

Lucius cleared his throat, gazing at his godson, "Speaking of school, I do believe you should reconsider-"

"I'm not changing my name, Uncle." Kai cut him off, putting down the paper with a heavy sigh.

"People will be talking about him a lot more this year. It would certainly take a little heat away from the situation, don't you think?"

"People at Hogwarts already know who I am, and I don't care if they talk. People have been talking since his escape. I'm used to it." he replied simply, reaching over to pour himself a cup of coffee.

Lucius pursed his lips, not wanting to have another argument about it today, they already had a screaming match over it two days ago. The boy was stubborn, just like his father. "If you are adamant on the matter," he muttered, though Kai could hear his disgust dripping from his voice. "Are you boys all packed for tomorrow?"

"Yes, father." Both Malfoys replied in sync.

Kai nodded, "Yes, Uncle."

The next day they were all stood on Platform 9 3/4's, bidding goodbye to Narcissa and Lucius. "Do behave this year, Kai. I don't want to be receiving more letters about you sneaking around or pulling pranks." Lucius told him sternly. Narcissa on the other hand gave him a huge hug, "Be safe, and if you are worried about anything, write to us." She smiled, and the boy knew by anything she meant his father or the drama that would surround the subject. Saying his goodbyes Kai slipped away early, letting the brothers get their time with their parents. He also used the time to slip away from the huge crowds of students, searching the train for a free carriage. He found one with someone fast asleep in it and decided to move to sit opposite them, pulling out his sketchbook to pass the time, paying no mind to the sleeping man.