Back to Dinners
Chapter 2
It was a couple hours before a reply came, but Draco's parents had extended the offer to meet at the Manor at seven o'clock sharp.
Draco put Nyx back in his cage and then started to get ready for dinner. He put on proper robes and even slicked back his hair as he knew it would please his father. He knew better than to engage in things his father disapproves of. Especially when Draco wanted something from him.
Once he was finished he met his godfather by the door. Severus looked at him and asked, "Are you ready?"
Draco nodded in response, and they apparated to Malfoy Manor. They arrived in the entrance hall of the Manor and were quickly met by Mippy, the house elf.
"Welcome Master Draco and Mr. Snape," Mippy said as she gave a curtsey, "Master Lucius and Mistress Narcissa are waiting for you in the dining room."
Draco gave the house elf a soft smile and said, "Thank you Mippy. We will head that way right now." He and Severus walked side by side towards the formal room till they reached the tall double doors that acted as a final barrier between them and his parents.
If Draco had any nerves about what would happen tonight, he didn't have any time to face them. He pulled open the doors, put on his Malfoy Mask, and walked confidently over to his usual seat across from his mother.
"Good evening, Mother," He said politely as he sat down. Then he turned to his father. "Father," he said with a nod in his direction. The only response back he got from his father was a thoughtful stare. Hard and cold, but also thoughtful.
His mother's response, though, came with actual words. "Oh Draco, how nice it is to have you back in the Manor. I have missed you dearly, but this is for your future," Narcissa told her son.
"I've missed you as well, Mother," Draco replied.
He looked back to the doorway and watched as his godfather made his way over to the far end of the table where himself and his parents were sitting. It was mere seconds later that Severus was pulling out the chair next to his godson and politely greeting the other two Malfoys.
"Good evening, Narcissa," Severus said first then turned towards the head of the house, "Thank you for having us, Lucius."
Lucius started to reply as the house elves started to bring in trays full of the prepared food. "Well my son seemed persistent enough in his letter," Lucius then turned to look directly at Draco. "Do tell me, son. What was so important that we needed to meet on such short notice?" he asked as he placed a piece of meat onto his plate
"Well my birthday is coming up next week, and every year you and mother throw me a grand party where I invite all my friends. I know this year is different though with everything that's happened and me living with Severus, focusing on my studies, so what I really wanted to know was whether or not you are still planning on doing that this year. Along with getting some things that I left behind," Draco explained clearly. He knew better than to beat around the bush when it came to his father.
"Of course you're still having your birthday party here, dear," Narcissa was quick to assure her son, but Lucius had a different thought.
"Now Narcissa, Draco does have a point. The way things have gone this year definitely aren't up to the Malfoy standards," Lucius taunted.
Draco cursed himself for letting his own words be used against him and quickly came to his own defense.
"Father, might I remind you that this party is practically an annual event for you to host all our pureblood friends and business partners. I have already gotten questions from my friends on whether or not I was still having a party. Pansy told me her mother was especially wondering. Invitations usually go out weeks prior, but not even I can give people word of mouth confirmation. I think people are starting to get the wrong impression and think something is going wrong in our family. I mean Blaise, Theo, and Pansy both were surprised when I said I was living with Severus over the summer."
Lucius's stare grew stern and cold as Narcissa's grew wide.
"Lucius we have to have that party before the Parkinsons get any more words about any doubts about Draco. Daria would jump at the idea of something being wrong just so she could have the Christmas Ball at her house this year," she then turned back to Draco, "You really ought to come this year. Blaise, Theo, and Pansy told me they missed you. I do hope you still keep in touch with them even though you aren't in the same house. They really are fine children."
Draco smiled and nodded even though his parents were the reason he didn't go to that ball, and still said, "We're still friends mother. By the end of the year I was visiting them at least once a week." Then Draco turned to his father and said, “I even took your advice and invited Neville to spend time with us more.”
Lucius then turned to speak to his wife. "Don't worry about the Parkinsons, darling. We are going to have the party on the 5th of June as we do every year. Would you going to tell a house elf to start the invitations. They should be sent as soon as possible. The usual list of people of course."
Narcissa nodded and then left the room to follow her husband's request.
Draco turned to his father and said "Thank you father, but I have one more thing to ask. Would you mind if we invited Neville this year? Blaise, Pansy, Theo, and I have really grown close to him this school year. Everywhere we go he goes, and I don’t want him to be left out."
Lucius thought for a moment before saying, “Of course he may come. His grandmother as well. Augusta hasn’t been to many pureblood gatherings for a couple of years, but this will only encourage her to start coming again. Us purebloods need to stick together, and even though Longbottom isn’t the most prestigious name, it’s still more respectable than those of Mudbloods. Purebloods are far and few between these days, but Mudbloods and Halfbloods are on every corner. Why don't you inform your mother to add him and his grandmother to our usual guest list while I talk to Severus for a bit?"
Draco nodded and said, "Yes, Father." before leaving the dining room as his mother did before.
He made his way up the stairs and found his mother giving the details about the invitations to Mippy in one of the offices in the Manor.
"They should be in green envelopes with silver seals of the Malfoy crescent," Narcissa informed the house elf and then noticed her son in the doorway, "Draco, is there something you need?"
"Could you add Neville and Augusta Longbottom to the guest list? Father already said I could invite them," Draco asked.
"Of course dear. I’m sorry I didn’t think to extend the invitation before.Did you hear that Mippy? Neville and Augusta Longbottom need to be added to the guest list." Narcissa told the elf and got a quick reply. "Right away Mistress Narcissa"
"Am I correct in assuming Neville and you have become close friends?"
"Yeah, we met on the train and then just did everything together. He became a perfect fit with our group of four. I’m sure Pansy, Blaise, and Theo will be happy to here he will be attending," Draco said. He missed his mother and her always knowing what to say.
"He must be a lovely boy then. You will have to introduce us at the party," Narcissa then got up and walked over to her son, "We should probably get back to the dining room before the food turns cold."
"I'll meet you down there in a second. I'm just going to grab a few things from my room that were left behind," Draco said and then walked down the hall to his old room.
He pushed past the double doors and grabbed a bag from his closet. He went over to where he had hidden all his art supplies and quickly put them all in the bag. There were only the few items he had used over Christmas break, so the bag wasn’t too full. He then filled the rest of the bag up with clothes and books to hide the art supplies from view and headed back down the stairs to rejoin everyone in the dining room.
When he joined his parents and godfather once more, they were in a conversation about Draco's schoolwork. As he took his seat, his mother said, "Severus was just telling us how you got excellent scores on your final exams this year. Top of your class he said."
Draco glanced over at his godfather but all he got back was a blank expression on his face. Severus knew he only got those marks because it was so simple to him after all he had learned in his past life, but he never failed to remind his parents of something he had accomplished and that didn't seem to change in this life.
"I am top of my class right now, but there are a few other students who aren't far behind. Sev was a big help with studying for my exams," Draco replied and then started to poke at the food he had left on his plate.
"This is why you are staying with Severus over the summer. He knows what it takes to get top marks and you need to keep your studies up to get a good job at the ministry like me one day," Lucius told his son and added, “I’m sure you have been staying far away from that Mudblood girl, correct?”
Draco sighed internally. Now was not the time to fight his father’s beliefs for his own, not if he wanted to keep his party happening. “Yes, father. I study on my own mostly now or if I need help I go to Severus.”
Lucius seemed pleased with that response. “Good. I knew Severus would help you more than that Mudblood ever could, and as you learn more this summer it will only reflect positively on your coursework next year.”
"Yes father, I understand. Severus and I have already made a schedule for coursework. It's split between all the subjects I will be taking next year and focuses on the ones I struggle most with."
"And those subjects would be?" Lucius questioned.
"I see herbology as Draco's weakest subject," Severus spoke up, "Every other one he seems to excel at."
"Neville is one of the top herbology students, so I can have him help me over the year as well if I need it," Draco added.
Lucius and Narcissa nodded at what their son was saying and they all went back to eating the rest of their dinner. Draco picked at his food, not feeling the same appetite he did while at Severus’s house.
Once they had all finished, Lucius told his son to come up with him to his study. Draco followed his father out of the dining room and up the stairs to his study. They entered the room and Lucius closed the door behind them.
Draco stood in the middle of the dimly lit room as his father poured himself a glass of fire whiskey. Lucius sipped on his drink and then turned back over his son. "I assume you're excited for your party." Draco nodded, "I haven't been able to talk to my friends since school ended. It will be nice to see them again." "So you thought you would counter my judgement in front of your mother and Severus to get what you want?" "I just didn't want to have people thinking bad about our family." Lucius started to walk closer to his son. "No, I think you would do anything to have that party even if it meant placing doubts in your mother's head."
"That's no-" Draco tried to explain, but he was cut off by a slap to the face. His hand instantly went to his cheek, and he looked up at his father.
"Listen to me Draco. Don't ever undermine me again. Do you understand?"
Draco quickly nodded, but that didn't satisfy his father. With another blow to the face, Lucius told his son, "Speak to me when I ask you a question."
"Yes father. I understand," Draco said evenly and clearly, not wanting to upset his father anymore.
"Now go meet Severus downstairs. I'm sure he wants to head back to his own house."
"Yes, father," Draco replied and left the study. He walked down the stairs and was about to put a glamour on his face to cover any marks his father left when he remembered he couldn't. Now that Draco was out of Hogwarts he wasn't allowed to practice magic which meant he couldn't place glamours up to cover his fathers marks or hide his scars anymore, and his father wasn’t kind enough to remember to do it himself this time.
As he realized this, he walked to the nearest bathroom hoping that there weren't any marks on his face. When he looked in the mirror, his right cheek was slightly more red than his left. Why couldn't father just have hit me in the stomach Draco thought to himself, At least then my robes would've covered the mark.
It wasn't too noticeable if you weren't paying attention, but it still made Draco nervous to walk back downstairs. If anyone were to notice, it would be his godfather.
Draco splashed some cold water on his face which seemed to help a little bit. He knew he couldn't keep Sev waiting any longer and took one last look into the mirror. His face still had a red tint to it, but it had gone down enough that Draco could get away with it just looking like a blush on his face.
He walked down the stairs to the entrance room of the Manor where his godfather and mother were waiting for him. Severus held out the bag Draco left in the dining room and asked, "Are you ready to leave?"
Draco only nodded and took his bag back while trying his best to hide his face from sight. Before he left, his mother gave him a hug and told him to write soon and then he and Severus apparated back to their house at Spinner's End.
When they arrived inside the house Draco started to walk up the stairs to his room, but Severus stopped him. "Draco, would you like to join me by the fire?" he asked, "I'll make us some tea."
Draco agreed and sat in front of the freshly lit fire. As his godfather fixed them tea, he let himself relax into the chair and let go of all stress he had built up over the past couple of hours. He stared into the bright flames and wondered what Severus wanted to discuss before going to bed. Their late night fireside chats always left Draco feeling his godfather knew more than he led on with his words.
It didn't take long for Severus to rejoin the platinum haired boy and serve them both tea to their likings. When Severus sat next to Draco, he took a sip of the hot drink and then spoke.
"What would you like for your birthday?"
Draco was surprised by the question. Not because the question was out of place, but because he hadn't even thought about gifts when trying to convince his family to have a party.
"I don't know," Draco said quietly as he tried to think of something
"Well, I'll be gifting you more art supplies like I always do, but I still need to get a gift to give you at your party," Severus informed.
Draco took a sip of his tea and tried hard to think of anything he wanted, but nothing came to mind.
"I really don't know," Draco repeated.
"How about I surprise you then?" Severus asked, "Does that sound okay?"
Draco nodded at the suggestion. Severus knew him better than anyone, so he was sure he would give him something special.
"If that was all you wanted to talk about, I am going to head up to bed," Draco started and started to stand from the chair.
"Actually I wanted to ask if something happened to your face."
"My face?" Draco asked, trying to act like he didn't know what his godfather was talking about.
"Yes, it seems a bit red."
"Oh, I ran into the wall in my father's study earlier. It must be from that," Draco lied.
"Okay," Severus nodded, "You may head to bed now."
Draco didn't hesitate and left for the stairs. He entered his room and immediately shut the door behind him. Dinner had been rough and all he wanted to do was go to sleep and put this night behind him. He quickly changed out of his robes and finished getting ready for bed. Then he climbed into his bed and fell asleep soon after.