The Space Between The Stars: Draco Malfoy

Year One: My New Life

August, First Year
I awoke my first morning at the Jacobys with a mountain of parcels wrapped in brown paper at the foot of my new bed.

My new room was absolutely perfect. There was a window facing the sea, and I could hear the waves through the walls against my headboard at night. A fireplace was on the wall across from my bed. Bay windows were on either side of the room, with ivory pillows on the black wooden benches that matched the paneling on the walls and floors. A door led to a balcony that wrapped around the entire second floor. That was my favorite part. I stepped onto the balcony and sat down, letting my legs hang through the gaps in the stone spindles.

That's where Priscilla found me. She laughed and sat down next to me, pulling my hair back and smoothing it so that it fell over my shoulder blades.
"I think you're the only eleven year old in history who wouldn't be halfway through that pile of packages by now."
I blushed, half out of shyness and half to hide my happiness. "I wasn't really sure if they were for me..."
"Well darling, who did you think they were for?" My mouth opened and closed. I was trying to get the words out, but I couldn't seem to.

I finally managed to form a coherent sentence. "Growing up, my adoptive father bought my adoptive mum a lot of presents. I never got any. The children of my parents' colleagues always had these big parties and got loads of gifts, but my parents always told people that I was so especially kind that I would rather people donate to charities than to have a party and presents." A tear found its way down my cheek. "I'm kind, but not that sort of kind. And I'm pretty sure my parents pocketed any money anyone gave them." I looked at Priscilla, trying my best to hide what I was feeling. "I guess I just didn't think I was worthy of that kind of generosity" Priscilla looked at me with tears in her eyes and pulled me into a fierce hug, kissing the top of my forehead. "My love," she whispered, "as long as I'm alive, you will learn to expect this kind of generosity and the sun, moon, and stars along with it."

Caleb cleared his throat behind us, making us both turn around quickly. "Sorry to interrupt, but Jason and I are getting a little antsy. Can you start opening all of those before we start to?" I nod and Priscilla and I get up. I can tell by the way Caleb is looking at me that he heard enough of our conversation to feel bad for me. But if he pitied me, he didn't show it. If anything, his stance was showing some sort of determination, as if he was going to make sure nothing was ever going to hurt me again. "Can you lot hurry up already???" Jason yelled. I walk in to my room to see him sitting on the bay window, a parcel on one leg, the other foot tapping impatiently. "There's a fair few presents here from the Malfoys, and I'm absolutely dying to know what they are."