Draco
The familiar dark shadow sitting on the window ledge of his dormitory piqued his curiosity. He hadn’t been expecting a letter from anyone. His mother’s house arrest required that any mail she sent had to be screened and approved by an Auror, something that Narcissa Malfoy would never subject herself to.
After removing the roll of parchment from the leg of his family’s eagle owl, he had to dig about in his bag for a treat to appease the beast before it started snipping at his fingers with its cutting beak.
Unfurling the letter, he thought it must have been some sort of practical joke. Surely, this was something from Blaise or Theo… but it had arrived via Aristaeus.
Skipping past the bulk of the message, his curiosity forced his eyes directly to the signature at the bottom of the letter.
Warm regards, Jiminy of House Black
Jiminy. His mother’s house elf, Jiminy, had written him a letter. He couldn’t believe it. He had never exchanged correspondence with a house elf before. Granger and her ridiculous group… was it called Spit? The name was irrelevant. She would think this some sort of revolutionary occurence. He knew that Jiminy had been taught to write as the elf had been responsible for teaching Draco his letters as a boy, but there had always remained a sort of unspoken social boundary and he had never heard of an elf exchanging written correspondence with a witch or wizard.
Curiosity only intensified, he drew his attention back to the top of the parchment.
Lord Malfoy,
Jiminy would like to enquire regarding your health and adjustment since your return to Hogwarts School. Jiminy is taking great care of the Lady and ensuring she maintains good spirits. She has been enjoying her tea in the solarium every day, mentioning the sunlight improves her disposition. The Lady is often heard wondering aloud. Some of the questions Jiminy has noted include: How is Draco doing? Are Theodore and Blaise behaving themselves? How is Draco’s new dormitory now that he isn’t staying in the dungeons? Is Draco staying out of trouble? Is Draco studying properly for his NEWTs? Jiminy thinks it would comfort the Lady greatly if the young Lord could answer some of these questions for Jiminy so that he can share them with the Lady. Jiminy knows that the Lady would love to write to the young Lord himself but does not like the nosey Aurors to know her private thoughts and emotions.
Please also let Jiminy know if there are any treats that the young Lord would like and he will have them delivered to the school right away. Lolly has asked Jiminy to also share that the young Lord is missed at the manor.
Warm regards,
Jiminy of House Black
Draco was suddenly too aware of the roaring sound of his blood rushing between his ears, his heart exerting itself to calm his rising anxiety. Jiminy had said many things in his letter and Draco was no stranger to also noticing the things that he had excluded. His mother was clearly lonely and struggling with the isolation of her house arrest in the manor which he knew well still ebbed with remnants of dark magic entrenched in the very walls from the previous inhabitants. Over the summer, there were entire wings he could not bring himself to enter knowing the ghost of pain would grow quickly within his forearm at the proximity to his former master’s magical signature.
He felt like a dreadful son. He hadn’t written to his mother once in the month and a half since he had arrived back at school. His mother must truly be struggling for Jiminy to make the decision to write a letter essentially on her behalf. Had the Aurors truly not screened this letter?
Draco had assumed any mail to or from the manor would be screened, but there were no signs that this scroll had been tampered with or previously read… Perhaps Jiminy had just found a loophole for him to communicate with his mother unhindered. He would need to maintain the vague messages, but a flicker of excitement he hadn’t felt in years began to kindle in his heart.
Quickly, he summoned a quill and a fresh sheet of stationary to begin drafting his reply.
Dear Jiminy,
I am deeply grateful for your correspondence. I apologize to the household for my lack of communication before now. I am well enough since my return to the castle. As I’ve heard has been reported in the papers, there have been several changes to the functional structure of the school and I no longer reside with Slytherin house in the dungeons. Instead, all returning eighth-year students have private dormitories in a different wing and share a neutral common room. Per the Ministry requirements, I continue to study for my NEWTs and attend a new course focused on unifying all magical students regardless of their position last year. It seems quite experimental. I’m certain that former members of the board of governors would have several apprehensions regarding the curriculum, nonetheless, I have been keeping up on my readings and assignments to ensure there are no additional consequences from the Ministry. Theodore and Blaise have kept themselves busy. I suspect that they have been more receptive to the new course material than I have. They spend far more time in the common room than I do interacting with the other students. I believe I even spotted Blaise with the seventh-year Weasley girl the other morning at breakfast. This is not to say I have not been trying, though making new friends was not a part of the mandated requirements so I tend to stick to my studies and my room to avoid any untoward attention. I find that there are students in my year that I find rather displeasing to interact with. While only two of the three worst returned this year, the mud-Granger girl suddenly appears everywhere I turn. I can’t seem to get a moment's peace away from her except within the confines of my own bed chambers. Potter at least avoids me with mutual fervor.
I do hope that the Lady and the household continue to maintain a content disposition. I shall try my best moving forward to send letters to Jiminy more frequently. I believe that Pansy has one of the new cameras from Pendragon’s Photography in Diagon so I will also inquire about getting some photos to share in the future. Please share with the entire household that I miss them deeply and hope everyone is well.
As I am not allowed to travel to Hogsmeade with the other students in my year, I would not be opposed to some Cauldron Cakes if it isn’t too much of a bother, Jiminy.
Warm Regards,
Lord Draco Malfoy
Draco attached the parchment to Aristaeus’s ankle before sending the bird on its way back to the manor.
He quickly exchanged his textbooks for those he needed for his remaining class before exiting his room. Writing the letter had taken more time than he had anticipated and now he was running late. Quickening his steps, he turned the corner to the stairwell that led down into the common room only to slam into the petite form of Padma Patil.
“Watch where you’re-” he was cut off by the witch pushing past him and rushing down the hall.
What the hells was she doing? This was the boys' wing of the dormitories. He turned to see if he could spot which room she entered and was shocked to see her easily move through the wards on Smith’s door. He shook himself from his confusion, he was going to be late to Alchemy if he didn’t practically sprint the entire way there.