The Littlest Malfoy

|Chapter 15|

Carina's P.O.V
After I had left George and returned to my compartment the train ride felt shorter than usual. Maybe it was the fact that I was absolutely dreading having to spend a week at the manor. It couldn't really be called a home, a home was a place for loving families and mine was anything but that. Manor seemed to be the only thing the suited the dark estate.

Draco and I had said our goodbyes to our friends and we're now weaving through the crowded station to find our parents. We only searched for a minute before the crowd parted to reveal two tall, regal figures with platinum blonde hair that matched our own. I gritted my teeth and joined Draco in walking over to them.

"Hello mother, father," said Draco politely in a way that was far too formal to greet ones parents. I gave a tight lipped smile that could only be considered an acceptable greeting in a family like mine.

As we were walking out of the platform we passed the large Weasley family. I stole a glance at George to see his mother fussing over his rumpled hair and loose tie that he hadn't bothered to fix. I had to bite my lips to keep from grinning when George looked over to me and we exchanged silent words over her cluelessness as to how his appearance got that way.

I had only been looking for a moment when Fred noticed George and I's eye contact. Thankfully he didn't say anything in the presence of his mother and father as well as his sister Ginny who still didn't know. I was just about to revert my gaze when Ron's head snapped up to glare at me. The disdain in Ron's eyes was evident and I immediately knew why he wanted to meet me so badly. He just wanted another excuse to hate me.

I tore my gaze away and continued to walk with my family towards one of the waiting fireplaces.

Later that night.
After we arrived back at the manor I had retreated into my oversized, lavish bedroom. It was a house that lacked any and all affection and being around the other cold members of my family never did anything to improve my mood.

I had only three hours of peace before one of the house elves came to force me down to the dining room. I hadn't changed from my school uniform yet so I quickly threw on some black pants and an emerald colored blouse.

When I reached the dining room mother, father, and Draco were already waiting. I sank into my usual seat and a plate of food appeared in front of me.

"How has school been this year?" Asked my mother.

"Fine," Draco and I said in unison neither of us wanting any extensive conversation that our parents felt obligated to do the first night they saw us back from Hogwarts.

"I heard you ended your relationship with Blaise Zabini," Remarked mother trying to sound like she didn't care. I knew she did, she and father hung onto ever detail of Draco and I's social life all while sharing her disapproval for any of our choices. I glanced over at Draco who was looking at his shoes obviously trying to avoid my gaze. He must have told her in a letter, I had never been one for letters and even less so this year so she hadn't heard it from me.

"I did," I said carefully, there was no telling where she was going to take this.

"And why would you ever do that? Blaise was a very acceptable boy," by acceptable she meant a wealthy, Slytherin, pureblood.

I gritted my teeth wanting to change the subject, "I thought we would be better off as friends,"

"If you're going to be friends with all of your acceptable options than there won't be anyone suitable left for you," Remarked my father. Sometimes it seemed that all they cared about was Draco and I marrying someone 'acceptable' that would strengthen the bloodline.

"Draco is friends with these people too," I remarked. Draco glared at me not wanting to be dragged into this.

"But Draco has Pansy Parkinson," said mother. I had to stifle a snort, no doubt Draco only kept Pansy around to keep our parents off his back. Draco would someday marry someone our parents deemed suitable but it was never going to be Pansy.