New Beginnings

Captain's Log

'I can't just leave, he'll go crazy stuck here by himself!'

'That's not really your concern, Hermione!'

'Do those two ever stop arguing?!' Draco groaned, shoving a pillow over his ears.

'I'd have thought you'd jump at the chance to get out of here for a bit!' Harry yelled.

'It's not that simple!'

'Of course it is, just choose...me or Malfoy!'

The pillow slipped out of Draco's grasp as he strained to hear her answer.

'I didn't...that came out wrong...Hermione!'

He heard the door slam and the apartment was filled with silence.

*****

Draco slouched out of his room in the afternoon. He slumped onto the sofa and switched on the TV.

'Hey, you awake?' A young auror stuck his head through the door. 'A parcel arrived for you, and here are your groceries.'

'Thanks,' Draco grunted.

'Oh cool, you're watching "Star Trek"?'

'I guess? You're welcome to watch it. If it doesn't interfere with your duties?'

'Awesome! I'm Blake, by the way.'

Blake perched on the sofa, watching Draco put the bags of food away. The parcel had been opened and checked before being handed over. A note was pinned to the top.

Dear Draco,

Thought you might want something to keep you busy, and we could use the help since we're short-staffed at the moment. Let me know if you're not interested.

Regards,
Spartacus

It was all the prep-paperwork Spartacus had to complete each day. Draco grabbed a quill and sat down, sorting through the files while watching TV.

'So, you're from England, huh?'

'That's right.'

'And you went to Hogwarts?'

'Yup.'

'Awesome.'

'Not really,' Draco shrugged. 'So what's the deal with this show, is it like "Star Wars"?'

'What? No!' Blake spluttered in horror and launched into a long-winded explanation of the differences.

*****

Blake had left for the night, locking Draco into the apartment.

'Captain's Log: Day three of captivity,' Draco muttered, staring at the ceiling in his room. 'The allied forces have departed for alternative accommodation. I am left in the company of an overly talkative jailer who seems to be about 12. Things are looking bleak. All hope seems lost.'

Draco rolled over, listening for Hermione's tread on the stairs. It was no use. She'd chosen to go with Potter.

*****

Draco stared out of the window, drawing pictures as his breath fogged up the glass. Rain streamed down, blurring the view.

'Captain's Log: Day five of captivity,' he sighed. 'There appears to be children in costumes going from house to house. It is unclear whether this is an American tradition or a muggle one. None have come here. Nobody does.'

There was a knock at the door and Draco leaped up.

'Visitors for you,' Blake stuck his head around the door. He hadn't spoken much recently. Draco suspected Blake had got in trouble for watching TV with the prisoner while on guard duty.

'Sup Drake!' Cody strutted into the apartment, Krystel peering shyly from behind him. 'We figured you could use some company.'

'I brought you some pie,' Krystel offered, 'my sisters went a little crazy with the pumpkin carving this year.'

'Smells great, thank you!' Draco took it from her, and gestured for them to sit down. 'Either of you want a slice?'

'No, thanks,' Krystel grimaced. 'I've eaten too many pumpkin-themed foods. I can't face any more until next Halloween!'

'How's things at work? Spartacus mentioned you were short-staffed,' Draco handed a plate of pie to Cody. 'Could you pass on my apologies to Mrs Selwyn?'

'Didn't you hear?' Cody stared at Draco. 'It was all over the papers!'

'I've not been reading them,' Draco shrugged. 'I had reporters camped outside for days, I didn't want to read what they had to say about me.'

'Good idea, they were pretty scathing,' Krystel said.

'Mrs Selwyn is under investigation too,' Cody explained. 'Turns out her and her husband were Death Eaters!'

'What?!'

'In the first Wizarding War,' Krystel clarified, glaring at Cody as he stuffed pie into his mouth. 'They moved over here after Harry Potter defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named the first time. Started afresh, tried to put it all behind them.'

'She has a tattoo like yours,' Cody waved his fork at Draco's arm. 'Only she had more added to make it look like a grungy sleeve. Roses, vines, that kind of thing. Couldn't cover it up, but it's less obvious, mixed in with the others.'

'Interesting...'

'My sister is a tattoo-artist, if you wanted to do something like that,' Krystel offered as Draco stared at his arm.

'I'll think about that, thanks,' he smiled.