Destinia: First Year at Hogwarts

Chapter 11: The Punishment

It was mid-winter, which was made obvious by the amount of snow, layering the streets of Diagon Alley as Draco stalked through them, looking for the right gift. Earlier the morning, he had convinced his parents, mostly his father, to let Pansy stay over from Boxing Day until the end of break. One thing: in his haste to think of a present for Potter, he had completely forgotten to get his parents and Pansy one.

     His mother wasn't difficult. Just like him, she loved reading books. When he'd walked past a bookstore, he'd bought a book he thought fitted for her. It was a fantasy book about some Mages, and he was sure she would love it.

     While walking past a fancy looking perfume store, he bought a bottle for Pansy, since she had been complaining to him how horrible her old one smelled, but that she didn't want to go through the trouble of finding a good one herself. Draco sighed. Merlin, that girl...

     His father was a different story. Draco knew he didn't expect, but he still felt obligated to get him something. He knew his father liked politics, potions, just like himself, and... Dark magic! Draco's face split into a smile. He was planning to go through Nocturn Alley later, so he could look for a fitted gift then.

     Now, he was aimlessly walking the streets, looking desperately for a fitted gift for the last person on his list, aside from his father, then. The cold was also getting annoying, he decided as he adjusted the dark green scarf around his neck. He had never had a good resistance against it. He was about to go for a drink in the Leaky Cauldron when he heard a female voice call out his name. He turned towards it and hastily hid his bag of presents as he saw Pansy hurrying towards him, Mr and Mrs Parkinson taking their time to keep up with her. She was wearing a black winter cloak over dark brown robes, lined with light blue, a dark brown scarf winded loosely around her neck, light blue mitten covering her hands.

     "Hey Pans," he greeted, hugging her for a second, before pulling back and giving her a warm smile. "How are the holidays going?"

     Pansy returned his smile. "Good!" she beamed happily, but sobered slightly as she asked, her voice worried, "And yours?"

     Draco gave her an understanding smile but shook his head in exasperation. "You worry too much, everything's fine," he assured her as Mr and Mrs Parkinson caught up.

     Pansy didn't have time to answer as her mother spoke up. "You must be Draco Malfoy," she greeted, extracting her hand towards him. "I'm Pansy's mother, she's told me a lot about you." Draco took her hand as Pansy let out a "Mum!!" before sulking, a pink tint coating her cheeks. Mrs Parkinson had the same brown hair as Pansy, though her hair reached her waist. She had dark, forest green eyes, which reminded him slightly of someone else. She was wearing an identical cloak and robes, only with the Parkinson crest embroidered on it. It was a light blue crest with a dark brown P in the centre.

     "This is my husband," Mrs Parkinson continued, gesturing at Mr Parkinson, who gave him a warm smile. Mr Parkinson had a slightly darker shade of hair, and it reached a bit past his shoulders. Draco knew it was an old wizarding tradition for married men to grow their hair, like his father had done. His clothes were identical to his wife's, only with a large dark brown scarf covering most of his face, the same brown eyes as Pansy gazed at him from above it.

     "It's nice to meet you, Mr Malfoy," he greeted. Draco returned his smile.

     "Likewise, Mr Parkinson."

     Mrs Parkinson beamed happily, and Draco now knew whom Pansy had gotten it from. "We got your letter this afternoon, and we're delighted. Thank you for your invitation."

     "It's nothing special," he responded politely, giving her another smile. He had completely forgotten that he'd invited Mr and Mrs Parkinson for dinner on Boxing Day.