Draco Malfoy & the Unicorn's Creek (Draco x Fred & George)

11: Draco

That week went by in a flash. Draco had started to exchange letters with the twins again, after Twiggles arrived in the morning with two letters that read:

Send us a letter! Impolite scoundrel.

Respectfully, George

Not so respectfully, Fred.

PS: Actually, it's George. Fred wrote the other one.

PPS: Give Ron a good punch for us okay?      

Draco didn't wait, and their little pen-pal exchange had rapidly taken off again. He had started detailing more of his past, and his duties as a Malfoy, often inquiring if they had any news about the whole affair with his father.

One time, the twins sent Draco a nasty snippet of an article written by Skeeter, detailing Lucius' past activities and telling a bunch of fibs about Draco, the soon to be heir. She hadn't held back when writing about Narcissa, which sent Draco in a fuming rage. The once so respected family was coming across like a bunch of buffoons since the fall of Voldemort. Vile accusations against his father had been brought up, most friends of the family were either dead, fugitives or in Azkaban. People suspected a secret alliance, Fenrir being one of its previous leaders. A search had started.

It was a lot of pressure for Draco, who knew he would soon have to get married. Conveniently so, everything was being arranged by his godfather Severus and distant relatives. From what he had heard, she would be a pureblood from Littuania. The marriage was to be organised in the following months. Draco had never even met her. From pictures he had seen, she had long, blonde translucent hair, and an average dainty face. She was well-mannered and had attended the Beauxbatons Academy, speaking Littuanian, French, English and Sweedish. She belonged to a noble family of dark wizards, the Astikai, distant friends of the Malfoys. Even though she was a lucky match, Draco was sickeningly upset over it. He had no control of his fate, everything was being organised without his wishes. Soon he would have to bear a child, and then another one, for the family couldn't be childless. She would take on his name, Malfoy, a complete stranger... And they would have to live in that dreadful manor, the one that hosted Voldemort and a tablefull of Death Eaters, Narcissa's corpse, and the memories of Draco's abusive childhood.

At least, he had wealth- Draco tried to reassure himself. And he would be a good heir. And soon, with most Death Eaters in Azkaban, he could try to live a normal life.

But Draco didn't really dream of a life. He felt in survival mode, only the comfort of Hogwarts and the tug of his friends keeping him afloat.

Draco had also spoken to them about his nightmares, which were now a daily occurence, though less dark than before. He kept seing that graveyard, and the purgatory white space. Sometimes, it felt like he was trapped for hours in there. He thought of asking Trelawney about them. Even though she was total bonkers, surely she'd be able to tell him something. Draco needed to make alliances if he wanted to survive that damned school, some other than his godfather or that Gryffindor pest McGonagall. He still hadn't spoken to Luna, but the more it dragged on the more he figured he needed to get his priorities straight and try to resolve his family's issues, whether helping his father or learning more about his secrets. He was going to prove to everyone he was a rightful heir, and soon he could use his talents to create dark potions and spells, while keeping up the neat Malfoy tradition.

Draco had obviously not told Fred and George about the wedding. He figured he should keep their friendship casual. They were an entertainment to him, a way to escape his long life of misery, the opposite of everything he had ever known. They were right, Draco wasn't used to jokes, or laughter. It seemed odd to him, to be so passionate about the art of pranks. "Children" he scoffed to himself, and smiled realising his contemptuous nature had finally returned to him. That's it, noone owned him. He was in control of his future, his friendships, and whatever information he disclosed to people. He just had to get rid of Harriet, or maybe use her for his own gain. He smirked. Yes, that's it. And he would spend extra time in the restricted section of the library. His knowledge of dark magic was pathetically lacking.