The Space Between The Stars: Draco Malfoy

Year One: Malfoy Manor

The Floo Network was for sure my least favorite way to travel. While it was instant, it was incredibly messy.

I arrived in the parlor of Malfoy Manor, coughing up powder. Narcissa swept me upstairs.

"Honestly, Floo is a nightmare, dear. Personally, I think Apparation should be the first thing they teach you at Hogwarts, but of course they decide to wait until you're practically too old to go anywhere fun."
She glanced around, seemingly annoyed.
"Dobby, you useless elf, where on earth are you???"
With a faint pop, a house elf materialized. Draco had talked about him a bit in when we had spent time together, but he never quite went into great detail. It seemed him and Dobby were friends, but he would never admit it.
Nevertheless, I decided to be polite.
"Hello, Dobby."
The elf's watery blue eyes widened. He seemed afraid to speak.
"My elf, Winky, could use a little friend like you. Perhaps I should bring her about sometime."
He smiled and nodded. I looked back at Narcissa.
"He's not much of a talker, is he?"
Narcissa rolled her eyes. "It's because I'm in the room. He'll only talk to Draco. He's rather afraid of me."
"Why is that?"
She ignored the question.
"Clean her up," she said to Dobby, before turning back to me. "Draco and Lucius will be in n a bit, love. They were out doing business."
Draco seemed a bit young to be involved in whatever it was Lucius did for a living, but I didnt say that.
Narcissa dismissed herself to go get dinner ready.
Dobby waved his hand and the dust came off of me in a cloud and swept itself into a pile on the floor. My hair smoothed down and the wrinkles disappeared from my skirt.
I smiled. "Thank you Dobby."
He nodded and smiled. "No, Miss Shacklebolt, thank you.''
I was surprised, both to hear him speak and to be called by my birth surname. "Of course. But, you really should know, I go by Jacoby now. My name's notorious, apparently."

He nodded. "Of course, it would be quite a predicament if you were to draw the attention of Mister Kingsley."

I tilted my head, confused.

"Kingsley?"

Before Dobby could say anything else, Draco opened the door.

"Hello, Belle. Good to see you."

Dobby's face lit up. "Good evening, Master Draco!"

Draco seemed a little embarrassed. "Um, hi, Dobby. Mum wants you downstairs."

Dobby didn't seem to notice Draco's less than friendly demeanor, but I did. After the elf left, I said to him, "You don't have to do that, you know."
"Do what?"
"Pretend you don't like your house elf. It doesn't make you weak or anything. I think he's pretty great."

He smiled a little, and nodded. "I mean, he's practically the only one I can actually have fun with around here. Mum and Dad are always so...focused, you know?"

"Believe me, I do."

His eyes widened. "Not that I've had it worse than you, of course, I just mean-

"I know, Draco. It's all right." I didn't like people fussing over how I felt. I wasn't quite used to it yet.

Thankfully, Narcissa burst in just at the right moment.

"Dinner is ready, you two."