Chapter Nine
Draco packs his trunks in the fireplace and goes to the dining room.
"Are you packed?" his father asks.
Draco nods.
"You're leaving as soon as you're done eating," his mother says.
Draco nods. He eats his toast and eggs. They go to the fireplace, and he gets in. His father and mother don't even floo in. They wave as the flames transport him.
"Draco," Mrs. Weasley says.
Draco smiles. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley," he says.
"Molly is fine," she says.
He hums. "Did you enjoy having Harry at the Burrow?" he asks. He wishes he was there too.
She nods. "The more the merrier. You're always welcome to join us too," she says.
"Hopefully one summer." Probably not. He needs to stay with his parents to see if they are up to anything.
Fred and George walk up to them.
"Need help with those?" Fred asks.
"If it's no bother." His father's last angry outburst damaged his wrist.
They take his trunks to the train.
"They treat you better than anyone else they know," Molly says.
Draco laughs. "Strange," he says. He hasn't done anything to make the twins like him.
Fred and George come back.
"We put you with Hermione," George says.
"Thanks. Best get on the train," he says.
Molly hugs Fred and George then Draco. He goes rigid even when she releases him. He turns around and leaves. His foot catches on the edge of the train's step and he stumbles.
"Why are you so red?" Hermione asks.
Draco groans. "Affection," he whispers. It was weird. Molly just hugged him out of nowhere.
She raises an eyebrow and then shrugs.
Neville and Blaise come to the compartment.
"Mind us joining?" Blaise asks.
Draco raises an eyebrow to Hermione.
"We haven't seen Ron or Harry so sure there's plenty of room," she says.
They push their stuff into a compartment.
"How was your summer?" Neville asks.
Draco shrugs. "Boring. I mostly did house and homework," he says. He also found some weird books but that's a story for later.
"I went on a trip with my parents. You?" Hermione asks.
"I visited my parents and helped my grandma." Neville fiddles with his wand.
"I was in France most of the time then came back a couple weeks back," Blaise says.
"Nice," Draco says. "France is beautiful."
Hermione nods. "I wonder where those two idiots went."
Draco rolls his eyes. "I saw Molly, so they probably got lost on the-what in Merlin's beard?"
They turn to him.
Draco points out the window. A car is flying alongside the train.
They turn and watch.
"A flying car?" Neville says.
Someone falls out and grabs the door.
"Is that Harry?" Draco asks. Ron has red hair and they're the most likely to do this. He rubs his temple.
Hermione squints and nods.
"Well, we found them," Blaise says.
"What are you looking at?" Pansy asks. She stands in the doorway.
Draco waves his hand to the window.
"Is that-?" she asks.
"Yeah," Draco says.
She chuckles. "They're going to be in so much trouble," she says.
Draco nods. They're going to die. How did they not die sooner?
They lean back and ignore the idiots outside.
"Anyway, Hermione, I got you a couple of books," he says. He pulls them out of the trunk. He planned on giving them their gifts on the ride anyway. "I have gifts for those two also, but they seem preoccupied."
She rubs the bridge of her nose.
"You think they're going to get expelled?" Blaise asks.
Draco shrugs. No, they will not. He remembers something about a flying car the first time too and they still went to school.
"Might die before that. Did you see how bad they were at driving?" Pansy says.
Draco nods. He hands the book about Hogwarts to Hermione. "It seems basic, but it is really detailed and goes until 1971," he says.
Her eyes widen. "Thank you, Draco," she says.
"You can reject this one, but I thought you might enjoy it," he says. He gives her the other book. "It talks about the history of pure-blood wizards and their relationship with half-bloods and muggle-borns."
She nods. "I understand your worry, but I think it'll be good to know," she says.
Draco smiles and nods. "I thought you would say that. It is probably skewed toward pure bloods since it was at my house," he says.
She flips through the pages. "Thank you, Draco," she says.
He pulls out the last book and leaves the journal covered in his trunk. "I want to read this one, but I don't mind you borrowing it later," he says. She likes all knowledge, but he wants to know everything about animals since they seem to be linked.
"What is it about?" She wiggles and puts her books in her trunk.
Draco holds the book out toward her.
"Wow. This is really detailed," she says, "Do you think Newt Scamander wrote it?"
Draco shrugs. He is the leading expert in the field. "It might be his. Similar style, but it seems weird that it wasn't published," he says.
"Maybe he didn't want people to use the information wrong," she says.
"I can understand that. There's a lot of sensitive information," he says.
She nods and hands the book back. "Protect this book," she says, "it'd be disappointing for it to be mass-produced. I won't even borrow it."
Draco smiles. There are few people who understand the importance a book can have. He wanted to offer her the chance.
"This nerding makes me uncomfortable," Pansy says.
Draco rolls his eyes. "Just because you don't know how to read doesn't mean everyone has to be like that," he says.
She laughs. "I'd be scary if I could read," she says.
Draco laughs. "The all powerful and knowledgeable Pansy Parkinson," he says. "Chilling."
She laughs.
The train stops.
"Do you think they survived?" Neville asks.
Draco shrugs. He climbs in a carriage. "Let's just enjoy the feast and see if they come in," he says. He's going kill them if they died. Neville and Blaise get in with him.
They stop and Draco gets off the carriage. He pauses. The carriages are not pulled by magic. Thestrals. Two on each carriage from what he can see. He holds a hand out to one of the creatures. It butts its head against his hand.
"Wow. You're incredible," Draco says.
The thestrals rub against his hand again. He moves to the other.
"Do you roam along the edge of the forest with the others?" he asks.
They snuffle.
"Draco, did you finally lose your mind?" Blaise asks.
Draco rubs his temple. "Thestrals," he says.
Blaise rolls his eyes. "I'm hungry. Let's go. You can talk to your imaginary friends later," he says.
Draco pats them both and steps away. "Thank you," he says.
They pull the carriage away.
They go to the Great Hall and sit at the tables. Dumbledore talks about the dangers of the forest and going out after lights out in the dorms. Draco ignores it. He'll probably go in the forest and mess around after dark. The sorting ceremony goes as expected. Each person goes to the house they did the first time. At least the ones Draco remembers.
The Slytherins scowl and mutter around him giving him dirty looks. So, he probably should not have pushed for the house cup to go to Gryffindor last year. He ignores them too and eats.
Draco leaves the Great Hall full and tired.
"Draco," Lara says.
Draco smiles and turns. "Hey, Lar," she says.
She smiles. "I missed you this summer," she says.
"I missed you too," he says.
She hugs wraps her arms around him. His body goes rigid, but he forces one arm to move to pat her back.
"Letters were not enough," she says, "I wanted to find you on the train but got distracted by some Ravenclaw talking about her museum trip."
Draco shrugs. "I was watching Harry and Ron make a mess and give some stuff to Hermione," he says.
She steps back. "Good."
"Did you enjoy your time with Andromeda?" he asks. Her letters made it seem like it was good, but he wants to see her react.
"Their family is amazing," she says, "They have a lot of muggle objects. It's incredible. They have boxes that play little people and boxes that can contact people far away."
"Tell me about it at breakfast. I'm pretty sure our prefects will throw us into the Black Lake if we aren't at the house meetings," he says.
"Isn't that where you stay anyway?"
Draco rolls his eyes. "Bye," he says.
She laughs and leaves.
He trails down to the Slytherin common room.
"Did you see Harry and Ron?" Millicent asks.
Draco shakes his head. "Also, I told my father I gave you some books one about Hogwarts and the other pureblood relationships in case he asks," he says.
She nods. "I'm guessing he wouldn't approve of Hermione getting them," she says.
He raises an eyebrow.
"Blaise and Pansy filled me in on everything. I always miss the most entertaining things," she says.
Draco rubs his temple. "Entertaining or annoying?"
She shakes her head with a smile and pats his shoulder. She walks away.
"Harry?" Draco says. He pats the necklace.
"Hello, Draco," he says.
Draco sighs and puts up a silencing spell. "So, you didn't die. Were you expelled?" he asks. He moves his books out of his trunk and locks the journal in his bedside table.
"No. We are in a lot of trouble though."
"Wow. Starting the year right," he says. It's not a surprise they're in trouble. If they flew the car near London there is a chance someone non-magical saw.
"We couldn't get on the platform," he says.
"They have alternatives," Draco says. He rubs his temple.
He groans. "I know that now," he says.
"You can talk to me anytime and you didn't think to ask me?" he asks.
"I didn't think-"
"Exactly. You didn't think. You could have gotten hurt or killed or exposed the entire wizarding world with that car. I was worried. I saw you hanging by the door and couldn't help." He couldn't do anything without potentially causing more harm.
"I'm sorry, Draco. I'll try to contact someone next time," he says.
"Good. I don't want you to get hurt. Did either of you get seriously injured?" he asks. He figured Harry wasn't since he's talking but Ron could have.
"No, but Ron's wand is broken."
"Oh," he says, "I'm glad. Tell Ron he is also an idiot. Breakfast at the Ravenclaw table."
"Okay. I'm sorry we scared you, Draco. Good night," he says.
"Good night," he says, "Don't do anything else stupid."
He opens to the window. Regulus flies in. "Have you been waiting for me?" he asks.
He coos.
Draco shrugs. "I forget things," he says.
He nips at me.
He laughs. "Alright. I'm going to sleep," he says.
He rubs his cheek on mine.
"Good night," he says, "Thanks for coming back."
He slips into a restless sleep.
"You have to do it," his mother says.
"I can't," Draco says. "He doesn't deserve this."
"Draco, you have to, for the family. For me. If you don't, we'll be in danger," she says. She stands up and leaves.
Draco rolls over and sobs. He has to find a way to kill one of the most powerful wizards. He's failed at everything so far...he's also not sure he wants to do this anymore. But he can't not do it.
"Harry," Draco says. He sits in front of Harry and Ron at the Ravenclaw table.
He looks at the table. "I really am sorry, Draco," he says.
Draco rolls his eyes. "You're an idiot," he says. He points at Ron. "You are too."
"We were already scolded by the professors," Ron says.
He raises an eyebrow. "You're trying to tell me to not scold you? After what you pulled?"
He looks at the table.
"You could have contacted someone and even if you couldn't, you could have waited for Molly and Arthur. You didn't just put yourselves in danger but the train, the people in London, and the wizarding world at large. But most importantly, Harry, Ron, you could have gotten hurt or died. Next time you do something stupid make sure I'm there to make sure you aren't in danger," he says.
Harry whips his head up. "What?"
"I hate missing out on something so interesting," Draco says.
Ron sighs. "Whatever. We won't steal a flying car again," he says.
The owls fly in with the mail. A bright red envelope lands in front of Ron.
Draco laughs. Looks like there's still one more person who needs to give Ron a piece of her mind.
"Seems like it's time for another scolding, Ron."
Draco grins.
He picks the envelope up. "Do I have to open it here?" he asks.
"It'll only get worse if you wait," Draco says. He could wait but getting howler in the Great Hall is the best punishment.
He goes to put it in his pocket, but Harry takes it.
"What is this?" Harry asks.
"A howler," Lara says, "Once it's open it will 'read' out what is written on it."
He nods. "And Ron should open it? Here?" he asks.
Draco nods with a huge smile.
Harry opens it and it starts screaming.
Draco devolves into laughter. Blaise is also laughing with Pansy and Millicent. Hermione is giggling. Lara is trying to stifle a laugh. George and Fred are laughing too.
Ron is as red as his hair and Harry laughs beside him. By the end, Ginny is also red because of her mother's sweet ending to the letter.
Draco wipes at his eyes. "That made my day. Thank you, Harry."
He smiles. "Anytime," he says.
Ron groans. "I can't believe the betrayal," he says.
"Don't think of it as a betrayal. Think of it as revenge," he says.
"Draco was terrified, so you deserve it," Pansy says.
Draco slaps her arm. "I was not terrified. I was in awe of the idiocy. I couldn't believe I saw something so stupid."
She rolls her eyes. "Sure, that's why you were staring out the window for another hint of them and nearly dove out when you saw Harry tumble out," she says.
Reggie squawks.
"How would you know?" he whispers. Louder he says, "Regulus agrees with me."
Pansy pats my shoulder. "I'm sure," she says.
"You're not the one who knows Reggie," he says.
Pansy shrugs. "Call it intuition," she says.
Lara nods. "Reggie seems like he would agree with us," she says.
Draco groans. "No teaming up against me before noon."
Hermione smiles. "You should tell them about your detentions."
Ron groans. "Why did ya have to mention it?" he asks.
Draco leans forward. "Yes. What do you have to do?"
"Polish trophies," Ron says.
"That isn't that bad," Draco says.
"Without magic," he says. He pouts.
Draco laughs. "What about you, golden boy?" he asks.
"Answer Lockhart's fan mail," Harry says.
Draco laughs until he cannot breathe.
"It's going to be torturous," Harry says.
Draco shrugs. "Should have thought of that before you took a flying car to school," he says, "At least drive it well next time."
Ron drops his head. "There will be no next time," he says.
Draco sighs. "I'll drop it for the moment but next time you think of doing something so stupid don't forget to tell me so I can find an alternative," he says "Or join you."
Hermione groans. "This is going to be so bad."
Pansy laughs. "There's the hidden Gryffindor spirit," she says.
Lara pats Hermione's shoulder. "Good luck."
"Ron, here. I don't condone what you did, and I should make you suffer but I feel like it would be worse if you didn't have it." He holds the box from Olivander's out.
Ron takes it and opens it. His eyes widen. "Oh," he says.
"Don't break it," he says, "I will not assist you again." Which is lie he would help again. He doesn't want to, but he would.
Ron holds the wand between his hands. "Thank you, Draco, really, thank you," he says.
Draco shrugs. He doesn't know what to do with appreciation. "You're welcome. Use it well," he says.
He nods and places it in his pocket.
"Two down, one to go," Blaise says.
Draco glares at him.
He smiles.
"Harry yours is a bit bigger. Let's go so we have time to get to class on time."
He stands with Harry, Hermione, and Ron and they go down to the dungeons. He lead them to his bed. He grabs a long narrow package from under the bed. He hands it to Harry. He takes it and unwraps it.
"I'm going to be spoiled, Draco," he says. He holds the broom.
"We all are," Ron says.
Hermione nods.
He shrugs. "I just thought you should have the best of the best for Quidditch this year. I'll root for you," he says, "And you need a wand to do magic. Hermione needs to know everything."
Harry hugs him. "Thank you," he says.
Draco pats his back. "Have fun. We need to go," he says.
Draco leads them back to the main hall. Harry runs to the Gryffindor tower. Hermione and Ron wait with Draco.