Chapter 10
The days pass in boring succession. I didn't really leave my room, not even for food (I would have Blinky bring it to me). It felt awkward sitting at the dinner table with my bruised wrist. It made Father feel bad for the way he reacted a couple nights ago, and it made me upset that they would avoid my questions.
Only interaction I get is Bobbles' and Blinky. Which is rare. Blinky is usually doing things around the manor, while I let Bobbles out to spread his wings. Always resulting in me sitting in silence reading some of the books off the shelves.
Learned a lot of useful knowledge about the wizarding world. Read through Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. That one was pretty interesting. Never knew there were so many different creatures, especially most of them being dangerous. Think that was the most knowledge I retained honestly.
A knock on my door pulls me out of my new book - Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles by Wilhelm Wigworthy - which I was quite happy about. This book is rather dull, but I would rather finish it since I already started it.
I walk over and open it. Draco stands before me with a box of what looks like some Chocolate Frogs. Those are pretty good. I remember the first time I tried one, I was so scared it was going to be a Chocolate covered frog, and was so relieved when it wasn't.
“Peace offering?” he asked, holding up the boxes. I look between him and the boxes. We were already at peace with each other, so having him bring that up is weird.
I opened my door a little, to prove to him that he was welcomed in. He takes it, walking in with wandering eyes at the state of my room. It wasn’t messy, but I am slowly trying to turn it into my own area. I had Blinky find me some blue tapestries to hang up on my walls, just to get some form of color in here.
“So,” I say, “what’s with the peace offering?”
He hands one of the boxes to me. “Just feel like you don’t like me. Thought this could help.”
I walk over to my bed, placing my book next to Bobble's cage.
“I guess it’s just awkward.” I turn to him. “Maybe we should try to get to know each other?”
Draco nods his head before opening his Chocolate Frog. I followed in his steps. The awkward silence was a little… awkward. I will say, he did buy some really good Chocolate Frogs.
“What’s your favorite color?” I ask, finally breaking the silence.
“Grey,” he answers shortly. “Or black.”
“Favorite food?” I ask, trying to find something to talk about.
“I don’t really have one.”
I nod, what else am I supposed to ask him? Can’t ask about a spell, since I’m not even supposed to be doing magic. He probably won’t answer my questions about the group they were a part of. Or this Nightshade Circle.
“So,” I start, deciding just to talk. “I finished Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander the other day. That was a really good book. Learned a lot about the strange creatures in our world.”
“Good,” he says, sitting in the chair by my wardrobe. “Never really liked that book, or class. I could care less about the creatures.”
“But, some of them could be useful to know about. My favorite was the Hippogriff.”
“Not the bloody chicken!” he groans.
“A Hippogriff is not a chicken. Have you ever seen a chicken?”
“A Hippogriff almost killed me once!”
“How?”
“I was in class, minding my own business when Potter came over with the stupid chicken in his hands and told the thing to attack me!”
I laugh, Draco gives me a glare. “Are you sure you didn’t upset the Hippogriff?”
“Are you saying I’m lying?” He looks baffled.
“Yes.” I smile. “Though I do believe that you almost died. Those things sound violent.”
“They are!”
This is actually pretty fun, being able to talk to my brother without that awkward silence. This whole conversation seemed to flow nicely, which I really appreciate.
“Draco?” I ask. “What exactly is your issue with Potter and Weasley?”
He looks at me, his eyes have conflict behind them. I swear if he isn’t going to answer this question there is going to be some sparks flying out of my wand at him, even if I don’t know what I’m doing.
“I guess nothing,” he said after a moment. “We went to school together. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, Ginny’s brother, were in my same year. Fred and Geroge Weasley, the twins of the family, were a year older. Our Hogwarts houses never really got along. Potter being annoying with every little thing, getting points taken away, other things. We all were thrown into situations that children shouldn’t be. Both of us never really understood each other…”
“So you guys had a school rivalry?”
“That’s the simplest way to put it.”
“Well,” I walked over to him. “I’m sure you didn’t mean any harm and weren’t in the wrong.”
“You are wrong…”
Another silence falls over us. I bet he is talking about that war or whatever again. How our family is trying to fix our wrongs. I don’t want to push, I’ll figure out the truth at some point, even if it means squeezing it out of our parents.
A bird flying in my window catches our attention. It wasn’t Bobbles, who knows what that owl was getting into right now. I look at Draco with questioning eyes, trying to see if he knows who this owl is. Except he doesn’t seem to know either.
The owl seemed to have a small piece of paper wrapped up onto his leg. I pull it off before handing him some of Bobbles’ treats. I turn back towards Draco, still looking down at the paper.
“Well,” he says, “open it.”
I opened it, wondering if it was going to be some sort of trick.
Hello, Calypso
I do hope this owl finds you well. I had it sent to Malfoy's Manor. I don’t know if you live there. I hope you do or this owl will never deliver mail for me again. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in Diagon Alley. Probably for a good reason. I bet it’s strange getting a letter from me, but I just wanted to let you know you’re welcomed at the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes whenever you like. And no, not just so I can gain more information on you, you mysterious girl.
Fred Weasley.
P.S send a letter back by this owl. I would love to hear from you mysterious girl.
I smile down at the letter. This is really strange that he sent me a letter, we barely met and now he is writing to me? Seems odd, but I enjoy it.
Draco yanks the letter from my hands before I had enough time to protest.
"Fred Weasley?" he says, a little disgusted. "Why is he writing you?"
I grab the letter back, it's none of his business.
"Not like it's important to you," I started, "but I went to the shop a couple days ago."
"Are you mad? If father ever found out that you -"
"He isn't going to find out is he?" I stare into his eyes. He isn't going to tell Father. He wouldn't do that to me.
"Promise me you aren't going to see him again," he pleads. "Please!"
I look away from him. Could I make such a promise? I don’t see a problem with wanting to visit someone other than my three family members.
"I can't do that," I finally said.
"If Father ever found out -"
"I'll be fine! He is the only other person I know. If I promise I won't meet new people, will you help hide my disappearance?"
He looks at me for a really long time. I can see the wheels in his head turning. There is a part of him that doesn't want to disobey Father, but another part of him wants to help me make some life here.
"Fine," he says. I laugh and give him a hug. Somehow I knew he wasn't going to let me down. "Just don't go tonight. Give me time to come up with some sort of lie. And be careful using the Floo network. We can tell where you have been and where you're going."
Good to know. I didn't know that was possible.
We talked for a little longer. Draco isn't as boring as I thought he was going to be. Granted he likes to hide a lot of stuff, that for the life of me, I can't seem to push out of him. But, I believe at some point in our lifetime, he will come around.