We Can't Be (Druna)

Chapter One - Streets to Servant

Hi! So, this chapter will be dedicated to @JayCarterSkyewood because they actually came to me and asked me to write this. Anyway, enjoy!

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No child should ever have to know the pain of being abandoned by their own family because they didn't like who they were. No child should know what it's like to lie on the streets, begging for scraps so that they might live. No child should know what it's like to run away from shop owners because they had to steal to eat. But sadly some children live through this. Draco, was one of those children.

He was disowned one day because his family despised the way he looked, the way he acted and the way he spoke. At just six years old he was stealing from shops just to survive, making a loaf of bread last a month. Occasionally stealing an apple when he knew he was on the verge of fainting. But that was it. He only ate small amounts of food that he stored in his small bag and only drink water every few days.

He lived under a bridge where moss had grown to the point of being big enough to be a bed for him. It was comfortable enough and if he wrapped some leaves in a clothe he stole it could be a pillow for him. He didn't have a blanket though. He often lay there, freezing in the cold night as sleep struggled to find him. 

Every morning he'd hide the make shift pillow under a bush and walk around the village, making sure he was never in one place for too long. He'd had a few run-ins with the guards, most of them ending with him climbing the wall of a building and escaping out of sight. 

But he wasn't so lucky today. He had finished his monthly loaf of bread and needed to get a new one so that he may not starve. When at the bakery he took a loaf, stuffed it into his bag and left unnoticed. That was the easy part. The hard part was hiding his bag from the guards. He walked past two that had been chasing him for the same crime just a month earlier.

"Hey!" One yelled pointing to the boy.

When Draco realised he had been caught, he dashed, not wanting to be executed for his crimes. Pushing through the crowd, he ran down alleys and tried to escape the way he usually did. But unfortunately on his way he ran into another pair of guards that recognised him, and had to run in the other direction. He was familiar with the village by now, but when you've got four angry guards chasing after you, you tend to forget where you're going.

He ended up hitting a dead end, finding himself stuck at the wall surrounding their homes and no way out.  He attempted to scale the wall, but before he could get too high he was ripped away from the wall and thrown onto the ground.

"We've got you now, street rat," one of them spat. (Hey that rhymed! I'm a poet and I didn't know it!)

"Let go of me!" Draco shouted as the guards picked him up and dragged him towards the castle.

He kicked and fought against the guards the whole way, attempting to escape when they returned the loaf of bread to the bakery. The baker thanked them and the kid was dragged to the castle where he'd meet his fate.

Once they reached the throne room they dropped the boy and held his arms to make sure he couldn't get away from them again.

"Is this the boy that's been stealing the food?" The Queen Pandora Lovegood asked.

"Yes my Queen," one of the guards replied, "What should we do with him?"

King Xenophillius looked the pale, skinny boy up and down, feeling slightly disheartened at how malnourished he looked.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Draco," Draco answered.

"You don't have a last name?"

"Not anymore. My family disowned me when I was six, I've been living on the streets ever since."

"How old are you?"

"Thirteen sir."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I ate a small portion of bread a few days ago."

Xenophillius looked at his wife and Pandora nodded.

"Tell you what," the King started, "we can give you a job as our daughters servant if you promise not to break the law again. You'll stay here since you've nowhere to go and we can feed you. Deal?"

Draco nodded his head violently.

"Well then," Pandora smiled sweetly, "I think the guards can leave."

The guards took the hint and left, but not willingly.

"Luna, dear!"

A girl with long blonde hair in a low ponytail, pale skin, bright blue eyes and a vibrant dress came out, radiating joy. 

"Draco, meet our daughter Luna. Luna, meet your new servant Draco."

"It's nice to meet you," the girl named Luna skipped over and held her hand out.

"It's nice to meet you too," Draco had never really spoken to royalty and didn't know what to do about the outstretched hand. So, he shook it with a nervous smile, not really sure if that was what he was meant to do. Luna giggled, showing her pearly white teeth, making Draco feel a little more comfortable.

"Do you want me to show you around?" Luna asked.

"Um," Draco looked to her parents, as though asking for permission to say yes. When he got a nod, he answered; "yes. I think I would like that."

The princess then took his hand and pulled him towards the corridors, wanting to introduce him to the other servants. They walked for a bit until they reached a tower and Luna brought him inside.

"This is were the servants sleep," she explained, "I think some of them are inside."

Draco nodded and followed the blonde girl up some stairs and through a doorway. As Luna predicted, there were a few others there. A girl with long, straight red hair, freckles and blue eyes was folding some clothes. A boy that looked to be her brother was making a bed. And a girl with chestnut coloured hair, caramel eyes and slightly bucked teeth had been about to leave.

"Hello everyone," Luna smiled.

They all smiled back, "Hello Princess, who's the boy?" The chestnut haired girl asked.

"I'm Draco," Draco replied, "I'm new."

"Clearly," the red headed boy rolled his eyes.

"Be nice Ron," the other red head retorted, "Don't mind him, he doesn't like new people. I'm his younger sister Ginny."

"Nice to meet you Ron and Ginny," Draco nodded.

"I'm Hermione," the last girl said.

"That's a pretty name."

"Why thank you. I'm glad someone doesn't think it's stupid."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron who raised his hands in defence.

"Well, I've gotta finish showing him around," Luna chimed in, "We'll be back."

"Bye," the other servants said in simultaneously.

Draco waved and Luna showed him the rest of the castle. The kitchen, the dining room, the weapons room, the stables, the other bedrooms and the courtyard. 

"Also, stay away from the guards children," Luna warned, "they're pricks."

"Noted," Draco replied.

The sun was beginning to set and the two blondes had to go eat dinner and get some rest. Draco would be starting his new life as a servant the next morning.

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So, this is actually really interesting. I didn't expect to be introducing Ron, Ginny and Hermione like that, but hey, what can you do? Um, I've started to come up with their backstories but I'm gonna talk to JayCarterSkyewood before anything's set in stone. Thank you!

      - Turtlefreakakw2 <3