Paying My Dues

I was never a person who wished for much in my life. I simply didn’t need to, I had everything. Money, power, glory. Everything you could ever want. Everything at my fingertips. Who would ask for more?
That is until everything came crashing down. My life as I knew it ended and everything went to shit. The world went quiet and still. And then came the battle. People died. Boohoo. Whatever. At least I was free now. Free to do whatever I fucking want.

“We hereby sentence you, Mister Draco Lucius Malfoy, and you, Mister Theodore Xavier Nott, to four months of community service, to be carried out in the form of muggle labour. You will report to Yorkshire to be assigned. You are dismissed.”

Bang. And with that, my fate is sealed. Theo slumps in his chair beside me but I ignore him. This is ridiculous. Somehow we were lucky enough to get off scot-free regarding charges on our Death Eater duties, but this? For what, “discrimination against muggles"? I scoff. The notion is ridiculous, being forced to repent for a lifestyle we grew up in. Both Theo and I will most likely pay off a judge to reverse the decision. I glance over at Theo now, the tan-skinned boy still slouched in his chair, playing with a bracelet on his wrist.

“Theo, mate, let’s go.” I speak softly and stand, buttoning my suit jacket and smoothing my hands over the front. Theo stands reluctantly and we begin to walk out of the magical courtroom. “Don’t worry mate, slide these imbeciles a couple hundred galleons, they’ll look the other way. We won’t even have to lift a finger.”

Theo grins goofily at me sideways. His blue eyes sparkle a bit and I see them slide over to the young barrister who is holding the door open for us. The boy doesn't look back at Theo. I pretend not to notice as we slide through the doors and make our way down the halls and to the lifts.

“Yeah?” The lift boy bows to us both and opens the door quickly. Most of the people smile politely or tip their hats. We’re royalty, no matter what some idiotic judge says. Our influence, our families’ influence will never day. Blood is thick but nothing like a payroll. I smile politely as we get into the crowded lift. People clear a space for us. “You think it will be that easy?” Theo asks, standing beside me.

“Of course it will,” I say sternly. “There is nothing and no one that we can’t buy.” The lift begins to jingle slowly up the floors. “As long as we pay up and keep our heads down for a bit, it’ll all go back to normal.”

“Main atrium,” the lift says in a cool female voice. The doors open and everyone begins to pile out. Someone brushes into my side, hard.

“Hey! Watch it! Do you even know who I am?” I glare down at the terrified looking office worker who scurries away.

“You’re Draco Malfoy. And you are Theodore Nott.”

I whip around to see a young witch wearing a formal blouse and grey pencil skirt staring at Theo and I from the atrium. She holds a clipboard in one hand. Her eyes are framed with thin wire spectacles and she glares over them at both of us.

“And who are you?” Theo, ever the charmer, slides out of the lift and takes her free hand in his. He brings it up to his lips and plants a chaste kiss. Her eyes narrow and she wrenches her hand out of his and consults her clipboard.

“I’m here to take you to King’s Cross. Your train is scheduled for two PM.”

My head takes a second to catch up with my ears and the lady has started walking off. I hurry to catch up with her, as Theo jogs behind us.

“What train? We didn’t book a train. Who are you? What is-”

She cuts me off, speaking with a glare. “It is your train to Yorkshire. You have been ordered there to complete a sentence.”

My mouth drops open as she begins to walk. I fall back into step with Theo.
“Are you kidding me? You said it would be easy to pay them off!” Theo hisses indignantly.

“Well I didn’t expect McGonagall in miniature to be here, making sure we got on a fucking train. I didn’t think they meant today,” I shoot back, my eyes darting around nervously. We’re going to get out of this, I’m just not entirely sure how yet. “Hey hold on a minute- we haven’t even got luggage!” I yell this at the witch’s back who doesn’t even bother to turn around.

“Your respective house-elves have provided all the luggage you need. It is already at the station.”

Great. I groan as we reach the fireplaces lining the entrance hall. I glance once quickly at Theo, trying to see if he has a way out of this. He just shrugs at me. The witch pauses and gestures to the fireplaces, waiting for us to go first. As I step forward, I hear my name called from somewhere behind me.

“Malfoy!”

I glance behind me and see… oh great. It’s Daphne Greengrass. I sigh internally before stepping to greet her with a quick kiss on her cheek. She curtsies to me slightly and I grit my teeth at the outdated tradition.

“It’s wonderful to see you Draco, I was wondering when you’d be coming around next. Astoria is practically buzzing with excitement, you’re all she can talk about!” Daphne beams up at me. I twist one of the silver rings on my left hand with unease.

“I don’t know Daph. I have some business to take care of.” I gesture to the witch behind me and Theo to my right. Daphne’s eyes slide over the witch and remain fixed on Theo.

“Err right, yeah. Well, I’ll catch you later Draco. Bye Nott.” She gives Theo a small wave and disappears back into the crowd. I raise an eyebrow at Theo who just shrugs.

“If you please, Mr. Malfoy.” I turn back to the witch who has her hand outstretched, gesturing for me to enter the floo first. I begrudgingly comply.

I land uncomfortably on the ground after apparating to the station and look around at the busy platform. Muggles everywhere. I crinkle my nose in disgust. I hate being around them. Forced to act like some commoner. I roll my eyes as Theo dusts himself off.

“This way please,” says the pencil skirt lady. I breathe out my nose and follow her.

“This is stupid. They can’t actually make us do this, can they?” Theo asks me as we walk.

“It looks like they are. I don’t know if we’ll be able to get out of this one mate,” I respond solemnly.

“Great,” he mutters.

The station is packed, small children running and families hurrying along. We follow the pencil skirt witch to a plain platform and she strides over to a burly looking irishman. I follow her hesitantly.

“This is Rowan. He will be escorting you to Yorkshire. Your luggage is already on board in your compartment. The Ministry of Magic appreciates your cooperation.” Her prepared statement is dull and annoying.

I nod my head curtly and glance back at Theo. Now is our last chance to run for it, but something tells me two former Death Eater kids on the run wouldn’t last very long, even with our connections. Being morally good is the trend now. He shrugs defeatedly. I guess we’re doing this. I sigh and thank the witch. She nods at me and I step onto the train. It’s fucking ridiculous how fast this is all happening.

We find our compartment with Rowan’s help, who promptly leaves after shutting (and I’m pretty sure, locking) the door. I slump into a seat, exhausted. Just this morning, I was sipping my tea in the library at Malfoy Manor, only half worried about the trial. Now I’m on a fucking train to Salazar knows where. Theo took the seat opposite me and is now asleep as the train rattles off. I stare out the window at the passing countryside. Our compartment is cosy, with boring seats and a large window. There’s a small mirror on the back of the door and I rise and check my reflection. I carefully comb my silver blonde hair into perfection and brush off my dark black suit with silver buttons. My eyes fall to my cufflinks.

M

The symbol stares back at me, as though it can sense how low I’ve sunk in the past few hours. My father would never have been caught dead in a situation like this. I sigh. I’ve thought about contacting him. But I don’t want to. For a Malfoy to mess up…it’s shameful. He’s barely avoided prison time, instead been shackled with house-arrest on our American plantation. I could write to my mother but she would most likely tell my father and he would most likely disown me. Stupid old bastard.

“Who, you? Cause you’re not wrong there.”

I hadn’t realised I’d spoken aloud until Theo responds.

“My father,” I respond lazily. “He’s a right fucking git.”

“Agreed,” Theo says, stretching lazily. “Whatever, don’t think about that. Think about how hot the girls in Yorkshire are gonna be.” He grins at me.

“Ha yeah,” I laugh humorlessly. I wish Theo would just be honest. It’s obvious. And it’s not like I care. But Theo’s father cares. Most Pureblood families care. So he keeps quiet. Flirts with girls loudly and openly. I’m not even sure he fully knows himself. And it’s not my place to tell him or push him. But fuck, I wish he’d just be honest.

An hour of silence goes by. Then an hour of wizard’s chess where I absolutely whip Theo like a thestral. After Theo gives up, we return to silence. I reach up and pull down one of two suitcases that was packed for me. Opening it, I find a note from Starry, my favourite house-elf. I grin as I read it.

“Dear Master Malfoy, I hope your journey goes well. I’ve packed you suitable clothes, some sweets for Master Nott, several books, parchment and ink, and several packs of cigarettes even though I abhor you using them so sir. We will keep the manor in shape for your return. I will forward your mail to your new address sir.”

I smile as I pull out the snacks Starry packed. Theo’s head whips around at the crinkling of plastic.

“Is that for me? What have you got- Oh chocolate frogs!”

I throw my head back laughing at Theo’s giddiness.

“Here,” I chuckle, tossing him a frog. I sit down and open my own, popping the chocolate into my mouth quickly before the charm takes effect. “Who did you get?” I ask.

“Ugh. I got fucking Potter. Stupid attention seeking scarface.” Theo groans and chucks the card on the seat frustratedly. I laugh and flip over my card.

“Oh Merlin, I got the Scarlett Seer.” I could cry. Theo doubles over laughing.

“The famous prostitute? The one who could blow your mind and your-”

“Yes. That one,” I snap, irritated. “Isn’t this supposed to be a fucking children’s candy?”

Theo guffaws and snatches the card out of my hand. “It’s pretty tame on the description, just says she was a popular Seer. I’ll fucking say.”

I shake my head. Theo giggles some more at the card and for a second, it feels okay. It feels like we are fourteen again, back on the Hogwarts express, trading chocolate frog cards and being stupid young kids. I miss those days.

“Well maybe it’s a sign. Maybe there are prostitutes waiting for us at the station.” I snort. Theo is an idiot. Eventually, the train pulls to a stop and Rowan comes and unlocks our compartment door. We grab our luggage and stow our wands. No magic allowed. We exit the train and step onto the prostitute-less platform. Theo sighs and looks disappointed. I roll my eyes.

“Where do we go from here?” I ask Rowan. He frowns at me.

“You wait for your sponsor to come get you. I don’t know who you’ve been assigned to, but you are together.”

I nod. That’s a relief. I hadn’t even considered what we would do if we got split up. Theo seems to be feeling the same relief. Rowan leads us slightly outside the station and points at a dirty bench, covered in chipping green paint. I frown at it. The whole station is dirty, many muggles rushing by dressed in farm clothes and dirty boots. There is even hay near. Hay. Malfoys don’t do hay. Or chipped green painted benches.

“Uh, isn't there a nice hotel we could check into? Or at least somewhere clean?” I ask.

“Sit on the fucking bench. Wait. Don’t complain,” Rowan growls fiercely. He shoots us a threatening glare and I clench my jaw. You have got to be fucking kidding me. I sit gingerly, gritting my teeth as I do so. Theo follows suit.
“This is ridiculous. They can’t just dump us here, in this sodding place and expect everything to work out.”

“Too fucking bad.” And with that, Rowan leaves. Theo and I are sat here like a pair of dumbstruck trolls. I groan in frustration and run my hands through my hair I put so much effort into perfecting. I’m so angry I can barely think. Half an hour passes as I stew in my silent bitterness. I’m so fucking pissed I barely notice the man walking up to us until Theo elbows me in the side.

“What?” I snap angrily. Then I notice the farmer coming over to us. He has a long grey beard, wears dirty clothes, and looks like he wants to be here about as much as we do.

“Are you the prejudice pricks I’m supposed to be picking up?”