Draco Malfoy: Back to the Beginning

Chapter 3

Draco stepped out into the streets of Diagon Alley, with his father right behind him. He took a moment to look around and saw many familiar faces. Hundreds of people were going in and out of shops, all getting supplies for their upcoming year at Hogwarts.

"Come along, Draco. We need to stop at Gringotts first," Lucius said as he laid his hand on Draco's shoulder and led him through the crowd.

When they entered Gringotts, they were immediately greeted by Barkor, the goblin who had been maintaining the Malfoy vaults for generations.

"Welcome, Mr. Malfoy. How can I help you today?"

"My son and I need to retrieve some money out of our vaults for his Hogwarts supplies."

Barkor started to lead them towards a cart and said, "Ah, congratulations Young Mr. Malfoy, though I assume his acceptance wasn't a surprise coming from a family like yours."

Lucius scoffed as they all entered the cart. "They let just about anyone into Hogwarts. One of the main reasons I wanted to send Draco to Durmstrang, but my wife insisted on Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts is still an impressive school for a wizard," Barkor reminded, and the cart started to move to take them to the Malfoy Vaults.

"Severus is at Hogwarts as well," Draco added.

"Yes, it was your mother's main argument. Though I must agree that Severus being at Hogwarts with you will be most beneficial for your schooling," Lucius admitted, and soon they had reached the vault they needed.

Barkor walked in front of the main Malfoy vault and the two Malfoy's followed in suit.

"Key please," Barkor asked, with his hand held out.

Lucius grabbed the key from his pocket and handed the key to the goblin. Barkor took the key to the vault and opened it to reveal Malfoy Fortune inside. It was filled high with coins of various values. The Malfoy family had money, and everyone knew it.

Lucius handed a bag to Barkor and said, "Fill this with five thousand galleons."

Barkor followed the order quickly, but Draco was confused. Five thousands galleons was an absurd amount of money for school supplies even if it would be all brand new. Draco knew better to question his father right at this moment though, so he didn't say anything about it.

When Barkor had finished, he had handed the bag of coins back to Lucius, and they all took the cart back up to the ground level off the bank. Draco followed his father out and back into the busy streets of Diagon Alley.

"We should head to Ollivanders first to get your wand. A wand is the most important thing a wizard owns. It's the way you can control your magic and not have it control you."

Draco nodded and continued to walk alongside his father to Ollivanders, but before they entered the wand shop, Lucius handed his son the bag of coins they got from Gringotts.

"This is your responsibility now. Everything you buy today will be paid for by you with the money in your hand."

"But why so much?" Draco asked once again thinking about the absurd amount of galleons that were in the bag.

"It's one thing to know you have money, son. It's another to actually have it in your hands. Today is the day you'll start to learn what that means," Lucius explained and led them into the wand shop, which was surprisingly empty

Draco's nerves started to rise as he looked around the shop. He remembered feeling like a small, powerless kid when first walked into the shop, and now he didn't feel any different. The stacks of wands seemed to tower over him, and he used to think he would spend hours here looking for his wand. Ollivander was expectantly good at his job though and it only took a few tries, so this time he knew his wand would find him again.

"Welcome Mr. Malfoy, I've been expecting you to come into my shop sooner or later," Mr. Ollivander greeted as the Malfoys approached the counter, and took a moment to analyze Draco before walking over the many shelves of wands.

Draco waited beside his father till Ollivander returned with a wand for him to try out. "Dragon Heartstring, Vine, 12 inches," Ollivander described and handed the wand off to the blond haired boy.

Draco waved the wand, and though he didn't expect it to be his, he was startled when wand boxes started to fly off the shelves. He quickly sat the wand back down on the counter and jokingly said, "Probably not that one."

Ollivander smiled and replied, "Most definitely not." The older wizard packaged the wand back up, and retrieved another for Draco to test.

"Try this one. Hawthorn, Unicorn Hair, 10 inches."

Draco smiled as he picked up his wand, and it instantly felt comfortable in his hand. He confidently gave it a wave with the knowledge that it was going to work like it did before, but that didn't happen. The lightbulbs burst, the glass that shattered fell to the ground, and the only light the was left was streaming in from outside the shop.

Draco was shocked. This was his wand. Why didn't it work? he thought, What did I do wrong? He had to give the wand back though and try a different one.

"We'll just try another one," Ollivander said and took the wand from Draco. As the wandmaker was searching through the shelves for another wand for Draco to try, he paused on a specific wand and looked over at Draco once more.

"Draco this wand is very unique as it has multiple cores within it. I have only made a select few on wands like this, and it can give the holder immense power. They are very hard to match because the wizard had to perfectly fit all the qualities the wand has. Where one core lacks the others make up for it, so the wizard needs to be very well rounded. I have a feeling though that this wand will work for you."

Draco cautiously took the wand from Ollivander, not wanting to break it after hearing what a unique wand it was. He gave a strong wave, and a soft light emerged from the tip. The light overtook the room and filled the darkness that resulted from the last wand he tried.

"It seems my assumption was right, Mr. Malfoy," Ollivander said, satisfied that the wand had finally found its wizard.

Draco smiled proudly and looked back down to really take in what the wand looked like. It was made of hawthorn wood and about 12 inches long. The wood was engraved with an elegant design wrapping around the entire length. It was beautiful, and felt more like his wand than his old one every did. He couldn't exactly describe it, but he felt like it understood him better.

Ollivander packaged up the wand, and Draco handed him ten galleons from his bag to pay for it. Draco took his wand from the wandmaker and left the shop, with his father behind him.

"What do you need next?" Lucius asked his son once they were back out in the crowded streets.

"I need books for my classes."

"Let's go to Flourish and Blotts then."

When Draco entered the store, he realized he got lucky with Ollivanders being empty. The store was packed with witches and wizards all trying to buy books for the upcoming school year. He looked down at his list to see what books he needed and searched through the shelves to find them.

As he walked through the rows of shelves, he remembered the bookshop owner was a strategic businessman. None of the schoolbooks were placed near each other, so he had to look through all the books in order to find the ones he needed. Luckily he found them quickly and went straight to the counter to pay for them. With his new books in hand, Draco walked to the front of the shop where his father was waiting for him.

"Did you find them all?" Lucius asked.

Draco nodded and replied, "Yes Father." The two left the crowded shop quickly, but before he could lead them to the next shop, Lucius had something to say.

"I just got informed that there is a crisis going on at the Ministry, so I'm going to have to leave you here to do the rest of your shopping without me. Severus should be here any minute to help you finish buying your things, but I'll need to leave now. I told your godfather to meet you inside the bookshop, so you should wait for him there and don't give him any trouble. Do you understand?"

"Yes Father," Draco replied, and he watched as his father apparated out of Diagon Alley.

He walked back into the bookshop and realized that every witch or wizard had a parent right behind them, helping them shop and looking the happiest they could be. He didn't know why he expected more out of his father this time. Lucius was always leaving important moments in his life for work, but pat of him was hoping that he was sent to some alternate universe where his father actually cared for him. He was only the Malfoy heir in his father's eyes and never his son. He used to think that was a good thing, but after years of being treated like a heir he wanted nothing more for his father to care for him like a son.

Like Draco was told, Severus entered the bookshop only minutes later and looked across the shop in search for his godson. Draco saw Severus first and walked over to where he was standing. He began to feel guilty that his godfather had to come all the way out here just to help him shop.

"I'm sorry Lucius made you come to help me finish shopping."

"Don't apologize for Lucius's poor plan, and he didn't make me do anything. I was just working on my potions when Lucius asked me to meet you here, and even if you don't believe it, I do like spending time with my godson," Severus reassured, "Now hand me your list."

Draco handed him his school list, and Severus looked it over before asking, "Do you want to get your potions supplies first or your robes?"

Draco instantly replied, "My robes," knowing it would take a while for him to be fitted.

"Let's head to Madam Malkin then," Severus said, and they left the busy bookshop.

Draco followed his godfather through the doors to the robe shop and was relieved to find it not as crowded as the bookshop was. As soon as he was noticed, Madam Malkin quickly ushered him to one of the fitting stands that had mirrors lined in front of it.

Madam Malkin casted a spell to start getting Draco's measurements and discussed with Severus what type of robes his godson needed. Once Severus told her, she started Draco's fitting.

"Are you going to Hogwarts this year too?" the boy beside him asked, drawing his attention away from Madam Malkin and towards him.

Draco instantly recognized the raven haired boy as Harry Potter. He remembered how excited he was when he first met him on the train, but that was when he thought they would end up being good friends like father wanted.

He knew better to think like that now. Potter wasn't friends with people like him. A bully, blood supremacist, and from a death eater family. But to be polite he answered, "I'll be going into my first year there," while still looking into the mirrors.

"Me too. I'm Harry Potter. What's your name?"

"Draco, Draco Malfoy."

"Do you know what Hogwarts is like?"

"I don't know much, but from what I've heard it's an amazing place. It's hard to describe because everyone's experience is different. You'll love it though. Or, at least that's what everyone says," Draco tried to explain vaguely.

Potter looked like he was about to reply when Madam Malkin interrupted their conversation by saying, "Mr. Potter, you're finished," and started to lead him away from the fitting stands to pay.

Before she could though, Potter said, "I'll see you at Hogwarts Draco," and waved goodbye.

"See you at Hogwarts," Draco said with a subconscious smile.

As he waited for his fitting to be done, he thought over the conversation he just had. He never thought he would be able to have a civilized conversation with Potter, but he had changed since he was last eleven. The only problem was this life hadn't, or at least he didn't think it had. He still wasn't completely sure this wasn't an alternate reality he traveled to, especially after that conversation.

Soon Madam Malkin informed him too that his robes were finished, so he got of the stand and paid at the counter.

"Are you ready to move on?" Severus asked as Madam Malkin handed Draco a bag with his new robes inside.

Draco nodded, and then his godfather asked, "Do you want to get lunch now? It's already past two."

"Can we go to Rosa Lee's?"

"Of course," Severus replied, and they left the robe shop.

Rosa Lee's was a tiny teahouse that not many went to, but Draco had often been taken to by his godfather. When they entered, Draco sat down in the small booth in the corner they usually sat at.

A waitress came over and handed them each a menu. "Can I get you anything to drink while you look over the menu?"

"We'll have Earl Gray Tea," Severus ordered.

Draco grabbed a menu and looked it over. He almost always got a grilled chicken salad when they came here, but he always had to look at the menu to see if he ever wanted something else.

It felt surreal to Draco that he was sitting here with his godfather. Just yesterday Severus was going to help him get out of the Manor and away from Voldemort, but he had been sent here instead.

He knew there was very little possibility of him getting back to that timeline, so he didn't know what to do.

Should I tell someone like the note suggested? If so, Severus would be the only one I trust enough to tell, but what am I supposed to say? Hey Sev, I just travelled five years into the past and have no way of getting back but don’t worry, the future is terrible. Bloody hell I sound mad, Draco thought as he still looked over the menu.

“How are you Draco?” Severus asked.

“I’m good,” Draco answered calmly, not looking up from the menu

Severus looked unconvinced and pushed Draco’s menu down, causing him to look up. “Are you sure? Something’s different with you?”

“I’m just nervous about going to Hogwarts this fall,” Draco said, deciding now wasn’t the time to say what happened to him. He needed to figure this out on his own before he brought someone else into this mess.

The waitress came back with their tea before Severus could reply. “Here’s your tea. Are you all ready to order?”

“Yes, I’ll have your ham sandwich with a side of chips,” Severus ordered, and then the waitress turned to Draco.

“I’ll have a grilled chicken salad,” Draco said, and the waitress left to put in their orders.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine at Hogwarts,” Severus reassured, going back to their interrupted conversation.

“I just don’t want to disappoint father,” Draco lied knowing he didn’t care what his father thought of him anymore.

“Your father is a hard man to please, but I know you’ll be great in my potions class. Your progress in our lessons these past months have shown you’re going to be more than acceptable and I hope you’ll know how to use what you learned this summer in your other classes.”

Draco just nodded. Classes were the last thing he was worried about. He didn’t want to alter the future and going to Hogwarts only upped his risk to do so, but he had changed since he was eleven. He wasn’t going to be a blood supremacist bully just because his old eleven year old self was. He didn’t get the new chance at life he was hoping for, but he still got one. He wasn’t going to waste it being a coward like before.

The waitress came back to the table a few minutes later with their food in hand.

As Draco’s salad was placed in front of him, he suddenly lost his appetite. He knew what was happening. Oftentimes in the past, he lost his appetite when he became overly anxious like he was now. He needed to eat though, so picked at his salad.

They ate quietly, and once Draco had finished enough of his salad, he stopped eating to not further upset his stomach. He looked at his godfather and saw he had also finished his food.

“What is left on your list to buy?” Severus asked his godson.

“I need to get a new cauldron, telescope, and father wanted me to get my own owl.”

“We can get your telescope first and then your cauldron set.”

Draco agreed, and they both got up from the booth. Severus paid for their food, and they left Rosa Lee’s to go to Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. The telescopes were located towards the back of the shop and were sold in multiple different colors. Draco picked out a black one with a silver stand and went to the counter to pay for it.

After Draco had paid for his telescope, he and Severus left that shop and entered an apothecary shop for Draco to buy a new cauldron set. Draco looked through the different brands and bought the set that his godfather recommended was best for the school year and his own potions work.

When he finished paying, they walked the streets of Diagon Alley until they reached Magical Menagerie to find him an owl. Draco went straight to look at the owls which were in cages lined in shelves while his godfather went to the front counter to talk with the shop owner.

His father had just gifted an owl to him before he got on the train last time because he forgot to buy one when they went shopping, so he was excited to be able to pick out his own owl this time. He made sure to look at every owl, yet only one caught his eye.

The owl had all black feathers that shimmered in the light and, according to the tag on his cage, was named Nyx, but its eyes were what amazed Draco. Each eye was a different color. The right one was a stormy gray, and the left was a bright green. When he put his hand up to the cage, Nyx didn’t squawk loudly like the rest of the birds. The owl came closer to the bars of the cage and let Draco stroke his feathers.

“You want out of this cage don’t you?” Draco asked, not expecting a response, but Nyx let out a hoot when he did.

“Well I think it’s settled then. You’ll be coming home with me,” Draco said, and he took Nyx’s cage off the shelf and up to the front counter, where his godfather was conversing with the owner.

When he set the cage on the counter, the two older men stopped their conversation, and the shop owner spoke to him first. “I see you chose Nyx. I’m surprised he didn’t give you any trouble. He isn’t too fond of others, but from what your godfather has said about you, I’m sure you’ll make a perfect pair. Your eyes even match his right one.”

“He’s marvelous. How much?” Draco asked as he got out his bag of money.

“Ten galleons.”

“And you’re sure this is the one?” Severus asked.

“I’m sure,” Draco replied and handed the owner ten galleons from his bag.

Draco and Severus left after saying goodbye, and Draco asked, “Can we get ice cream before we go back to the Manor?”

Severus checked the time, which was a little past five in the evening, and replied, “I suppose we still have time before we need to be back for dinner, but I’ll need to send all your supplies and Nyx back before we do.”

Draco gave his godfather all his shopping bags and Nyx’s cage, and Severus flicked his wand, sending all the bags back to Draco’s room in Malfoy Manor. After that, they entered Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor, which wasn’t too crowded due to it being close to dinner time.

Draco went up to the counter and ordered an Apple Crumble ice cream for himself, and Severus ordered a plain Vanilla. They were handed their ice cream and sat at a table along the front window. They often got ice cream together, and while Draco switched up his flavor from time to time, Severus always got the same.

“Will you ever order a different flavor?” Draco asked.

“I like this flavor, so why change it?”

“It’s boring that’s why.”

“Well some would say I am too.”

“That’s only because the don’t know you like I do

“And that’s okay because I don’t want everyone knowing me as well as you do.”

When they finished their ice creams, it was already five thirty, so Severus said, “We need to head back to the Manor. Your father will be waiting for us.”

Draco agreed and they left the ice cream parlor. Severus grabbed his godson’s hand and apparated them out of Diagon Alley, to Malfoy Manor.