The Space Between The Stars: Draco Malfoy

Year One: What's In a Name?

Six hours later, Mum had had enough.
"CALEB, IF YOU DONT GET INSIDE THIS INSTANT, I WILL KNOCK YOU OFF THAT DAMN BROOM MYSELF!"
Me and Draco made our way back inside, our legs feeling like rubber. Mum came out and grabbed our wrists, dragging us in to the house. "Both of you need to clean up, now. Draco, you'll find clothes in the guest room. The guests will be here in an hour." Draco and I trudged up the stairs. When we reached the top, we both collapsed onto our backs and laughed.
"That," Draco said, still out of breath, "was awful."
"I wholeheartedly agree."
"But," he said, tilting his head to look at me, grinning, "it was the best thing ever."
"I wholeheartedly agree."

45 minutes later, I was sitting in my room, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a black dress with cap sleeves and the pearls Draco gave me. Suddenly, I was terrified of going downstairs. I had just resolved to fake a headache when I heard a knock at my door. I opened it to see Draco in a suit that seemed a bit too big for him, but he managed to pull it off. "Are you ready?'' He asked, holding out his arm. He must have sensed I was nervous, because he leaned in and whispered, "none of them are as scary as my father, I promise." I smiled and took his arm, and we headed down the stairs together.

Draco's POV

I'm fairly used to these gatherings, but I could see how Isabella would see it as intimidating. So, I took it upon myself to explain the ropes.
"While we do meet a few times a year, the children aren't very close." Isabella didn't look all too surprised at this. I'm sure it was because she grew up with a similar dynamic amongst the muggles she lived with. I started to explain the families to her. That, at the very least, was essential information.
"The Crabbes and the Goyles aren't the brightest, but Vince and Gregg the closest things to friends I've got. Only don't call them Vince and Gregg. They'll get confused."
We moved on, and I pointed at a girl with light brown hair and watery green eyes.
"I'm sure Mia Fawley and you will be great little girl friends. You'll need some of those." I nudged her gently, as she was still clinging on to my arm. "That is, unless, you would rather just spend all of your time with me." She raised an eyebrow, amused. "I think I'll keep my options open." I feigned hurt, and she giggled. I kept on talking.

"The Flints, dont have any kids in our year, but Marcus is the captain of the Quidditch team, and good friends with both of your brothers." I looked over to the corner of the room where Marcus Flint stood with Caleb and Jason. All three were laughing, until Caleb looked over to me, and his eyes focused in on Isabella's arm in mine. He glared at me, and I'm not proud to admit that I was more than a little intimidated. Isabella noticed and cleared her throat. "Who's next?"

We went on like that for a while, with me giving brief descriptions of the rest of the circle.

Like Theodore Nott and his obsession for magical artefacts, (or more specifically, using said artefacts to wreak havoc),
And Blaise Zabini, who, using by his description, was a bit of a rival of Draco's.
And the poor Rosier twins, whose father was killed for his support of the Dark Lord.

"The Dark Lord?" Isabella asked, her face knit with confusion.
"The person your parents want to Azkaban for supporting," I explained.
"Oh. Does he have a name?"
"Yes, but we cant say it."
"Just this once?"
"Fine. His name was Voldemort."
I figured she had the right to know, everyone else did. It's not her fault she was raised by mudbloods.

Isabella's POV

I mean, sure, the Dark Lord didn't exactly sound like the title of someone who had done a whole lot of good. But, he probably didn't choose to be named that. In my opinion, based on my readings, the dark arts were misunderstood, and the Dark Lord was probably trying to change that. Lucius appeared in front of me and Draco. "Isabella, my dear, before we begin introductions, I though it best for you to know, your mother and I both think it best for you to take on the Jacoby surname." I wasn't necessarily surprised at this. I hadn't intended on keeping my muggle last name, but I had hoped that I might be able to take on- "you real surname comes with a bit of noteriety, you understand?" Lucius looked at me knowingly. Of course. No one takes kindly to someone whose parents have been in prison for the past 10 years. But I still wanted to know. "What is it? My surname, I mean. I do believe Winky told me, when we first met, but I cańt seem to remember..." Lucius looked surprised at first, and then understanding.

"Your surname was Shacklebolt. You are Isabella Ryan Shacklebolt."

I had never heard my middle name or my last name until this moment. But I had to live with the fact that I would probably never use it. I was Isabella Ryan Jacoby.
Draco interrupted my thoughts.
"Well, seeing as your surname changes every five minutes, I think I've got to think up something else to call you."
I looked at him, confused. He explained, "Well, I mean, I call Crabbe and Goyle by their last names. And I think Isabella is much too long and formal for a friend..." he paused, thinking hard.
"Belle. I'm going to call you Belle."