Darkness Falls

Ten

1992 - Summer Holidays

Draco sat in the dining room with his parents as they discussed his results from his first year at school. It appeared Lucius had gotten over his initial demand that Draco was to be the top of his class, it was clearly something that wasn't going to happen with Hermione around.

Narcissa continued to congratulate him on the grades he was achieving and the compliments he had received from some of his tutors whilst Lucius remained silent.

After supper his father excused himself and disappeared to his study, Draco was used to his father being distant and showing little to no interest but he seemed even more so tonight. He followed his mother to the drawing-room, questions floating around in his head. He had been eager to speak to his mother since he returned home but nothing he wanted to talk to her about could be discussed in front of his father so he simply had to wait.

"What's the matter, Draco?" His mother asked as he was pulled out of his daydream, now was his chance.

"What's wrong with father? He seems more brooding tonight if that's even possible?" His comment made his mother chuckle as she put aside her tea.

"He's got a lot on his mind at the moment, dear. I'm sure you will be made aware soon enough. You do know your attendance at his meetings will start up again now you're home?" She asked as her nose crinkled, she still wasn't thrilled with the idea. Draco nodded and she continued, "How're your lessons with Snape going? He said you're coming along nicely, but how do you feel?"

Draco had made a huge achievement before the holidays. Snape had insisted on one last lesson before he returned home and he didn't hold back either. Draco had used every ounce of his strength to hide his memories from Snape and it had worked, he could no longer access any that involved Hermione, not even ones where it was only her name that was mentioned. This was the goal Snape wanted him to reach before the end of the school year.

"Something tells me you're going to want to try it out for yourself, so why don't we?" Draco asked his mother, she shook her head at him before answering,

"I don't need to, not tonight anyway. I just thought I'd ask. You've just got home Draco! I want to hear about your experience at school, your friends, the fun you've had," she smiled and picked up her tea once more. Draco squinted his eyes and looked at her warily, as he waited too long his mother decided to pick up a sugar cube and threw it at him.

"Hey! What was that for?!" He asked,

"You're not answering me and you're just staring. What would your father say? 'We use words in this house Draco,'" Narcissa's impression of her husband was by no means a mockery of him, but never the less it still made Draco laugh. He picked up the sugar cube off of the floor and examined it slightly.

"And what would he say about your childish behaviour? Throwing things at me mother, honestly."

She sighed and shook her head. Draco laughed once more and began to tell her all about the year he'd had, leaving out any details where Hermione was involved. As far as he was concerned if she wanted to discuss his friendship with her, she would have asked him by now.

His mother listened as he spoke about his Slytherin friends, she listened as he spoke of his feud with the Gryffindor's. She nodded where appropriate but couldn't help the nagging feeling she had in her stomach as she realized nothing he was talking about was making him happy. He didn't smile once, he hadn't laughed as he replayed any moment he'd shared with his friends and he'd shown no enjoyment from his classes. This what not what a mother wanted to hear about her son's first year at school.

After Draco finished talking, Narcissa paused for a moment before she put aside her tea once more and repositioned herself, "Draco are you Happy?" She asked him.