A Different Life

Draco silently stood in front of his father in the drawing room. Mr. Malfoy was angry with his son and looked it. "How dare you!" he said in dangerously quiet voice. "I can accept you being friendly with the Girl-Who-Lived because she's famous. I can also accept you being friends with the Bones girl, because she's from a respectable pureblood family, even if they don't end up in Slytherin. But you being friendly with the Longbottom boy!"

"The Longbottoms are a respectable pureblood family," pointed out Draco.

"In the past, yes," responded Mr. Malfoy. "But now they are no better than blood traitors! You know the parents of the Longbottom boy fought against the Dark Lord. I have also been informed that you are also friends with a Mudblood girl and a Weasley."

"The Weasleys are purebloods," muttered Draco.

"Yes, but they're blood traitors! They're no better than Mudbloods, what with that foolish Arthur Weasley's love for Muggles."

Draco drew himself up and looked his father squarely in the face. "I don't care. Beth made me see reason and I will continue to be friends with them. Nothing you can say or do will stop me."

"Oh really?" his father hissed. Mr. Malfoy was furious now. "Bend over that chair, Draco Lucius Malfoy!"

Draco froze. The last time he had to bend over a chair was when he was eight. He had done something that had angered his father so much that he'd received a spanking.

"Do it!" roared Mr. Malfoy. Draco did so and his father raised his cane. Draco bit his lip. This was not simple spanking, where has father had hit his bottom ten times with a hand. This was something much more serious.

The cane landed on Draco's bottom, leaving a stripe of pain. More blows proceeded after that. He continued to bite his lip and clenched his fists, determined not to give his father the satisfaction of hearing him cry out.

After twenty-five strikes, the beating ended. "Stand up," snapped Mr. Malfoy. Draco did so and faced his father, somehow managing to keep the expression of pain off his face and instead glaring defiance.

"You didn't learn your lesson at all, did you?" demanded Mr. Malfoy. "Maybe I should put you under the Cruciatus Curse."

Draco couldn't help showing a flash of fear. A beating with a cane was one thing, but the Cruciatus Curse was another. Witches and wizards older than him who knew pain had screamed and trashed when subjected to it. He knew that he wouldn't be able to keep quiet if tortured with it. He instantly bowed his head.

"I'm very sorry, Father," he said in a humble and penitent voice. Sorry for having you for a father, he thought. "I was corrupted." By you, he thought. "I won't behave like this again." And by that I mean making you think I'm sorry for what I've done.

Mr. Malfoy looked satisfied. "Hmm, you're starting to learn. But your punishment's not over, Draco. You will be confined to your room for the holidays and cannot leave except to use the bathroom. You may not send any letters at all, and Dobby will have orders to not deliver any messages for you. Your meals will be brought up to you. I will make arrangements for you to attend Durmstrang in the fall, since attending Hogwarts has corrupted you. You may leave, Draco."

"Yes, Father," said Draco, bowing. He then left the drawing room and went upstairs to his bedroom. Fortunately for him, his father didn't know about his special notebook, so he still had a way of communicating with his friends. He needed to write to them and figure out what to do. He certainly had no intention of attending Durmstrang and be separated from his friends.

Guys, don't send any mail to me, he wrote in his notebook. I won't get it. Just write to me in your notebooks. My father is angry with me for my choice of friends, mainly Hermione, Ron, and Neville. I can't send any mail to you guys, and Dobby has orders not to deliver any messages for me. I'm also confined to my room except to use the bathroom and Father plans to send me to Durmstrang. I have no intention of going and I'm going to find a way out of it.

Several minutes later, there was a reply from Hermione. That's horrible, Drake. Luckily we have the notebooks. Don't worry, we'll help you with your finding a way out of your situation.

An hour later, Ron replied. Maybe you shouldn't have decided to be friends with me, Drake. I know my family are considered blood traitors.

I'd still decide to be your friend if I had to do it all over again, Ron, Draco wrote in reply.

We'll do our best to help you, then. I'll ask my dad if he has ideas if I can't think of any.

Draco, you can't go to Durmstrang! wrote Neville a few seconds later. The Junior Marauders won't be the same without you. Like Mia and Ron said, we're helping you. Though I don't have any ideas at the moment.

It's all right. You've got the rest of the summer. Anyway, I'm thinking on a solution too, you know. I -

Draco stopped writing as he noticed Beth's handwriting. Draco, I'm going to ask Mum, Sirius, and Uncle Remus for advice. Hermione called awhile ago and told me what you wrote. I tried thinking of ideas to help you, but the only thing I could come up with is for you to run away like Sirius did. I don't know if you want to do that, though. I'll get back to you later with any advice I'm given.

There was a knock on the door and he quickly hid the notebook. "Come in!" The door opened and Dobby came in with a tray containing Draco's supper.

"Thank you, Dobby," said Draco, taking the tray of food.

"You is being welcome, Master Draco," said Dobby. "Dobby is sorry that you is being locked in your room."

"I'm dealing with it, Dobby," said Draco. "You may go now." Dobby bowed and left.

Draco quickly ate his dinner and looked in his notebook. Susan had just written. (Drake, is it true that you're going to be sent to Durmstrang and that your father is very angry with you? Because that's what Nev said when he firecalled me before dinner.)

Yes, it is, he wrote in reply.

(That's horrible! We won't let that happen. I'm going to ask Aunt Amelia for advice. She works in the DMLE and should be able to come up with something. Be strong and have faith.)

Thanks, Sue, I will. Draco then put the notebook away and thought. Actually, why couldn't he run away? Sirius was the head of the Black family now, and Draco was half Black through his mother. He knew that Beth would be glad to have him live with her, and her adoptive parents would be happy to take him in. But how was he leave his room?

Dobby appeared to take the tray away then. "Wait!" exclaimed Draco, thinking of an idea. He grabbed a pair of socks from his trunk and then found an old sweater and pair of pants. He then shrunk the clothes so they were elf-sized and handed them to Dobby. "There, you're free now and no longer have to serve the Malfoy family and take orders from my parents."

Dobby stared at the clothes. "Master Draco, you mean you is setting Dobby free?"

"Yes, Dobby. I know you've never liked working for my parents and would probably want to be free and find someone kind to work for. Now, before you leave, would you do me a favor?"

"Name it, Master Draco," said Dobby eagerly.

"Could you transport my trunk and owl to the home of Sirius and Natalia Black, in Gryffin Aerie on Roselea Street in Elmbridge? And then use the house-elves' form of Appariation to take me there?"

"Of course, Master Draco." He snapped his fingers and the trunk and owl cage disappeared. Draco then looked around his room to make sure there was nothing else he wanted to take and then let Dobby transport him to the Black home.

The Blacks got the surprise of their life when Dobby and Draco appeared in the middle of the living room. "Draco! What are you doing here?" asked Beth.

"I'm running away like Mr. Black did," responded Draco. "Er, are you willing to take me in?"

"Of course," said Natalia, smiling warmly. "Beth told us about your situation and we were planning to let you know we'd take you in if you decided to run away. How did you get here?"

"I freed Dobby and then asked him to transport me and my things here," answered Draco.

A screech interrupted him and they went out to the hall to find his trunk and eagle owl in cage. "I'll take your things up to the guest room, Draco," said Sirius. "If your father doesn't disown you for this and tries to take you back, I'll exercise my power as Head of the Black family and dissolve the marriage between your parents."

"Thank you, Mr. Black," said Draco.

"Don't call me that, it makes me feel old," said Sirius. "Besides, I'm your cousin. Sirius or Uncle Sirius will do."

"Okay, Sirius," replied Draco.

Beth hugged him. "This is great, Draco! I will love having you live here. I'm going to call Hermione and tell her and then we can write to Sue, Ron, and Nev in our notebooks."

She explained how telephones worked and then called Hermione, who was happy to hear that Draco had escaped home and was now going to live with the Blacks. Beth and Draco were about to write their other friends the news when Natalia informed them that Dobby was now in their employ and would be paid for his work. They were happy to hear that and then rushed upstairs to contact their other friends. Susan, Neville, and Ron were also pleased with the news. It was arranged for them all to visit at Ron's house tomorrow.

Draco then got settled in his new room. He told Beth everything that his father had done, but made her promise not to tell the rest of their friends. They didn't need to know that his father had hit him with a cane and threatened to do the Cruciatus Curse. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he managed to keep them from falling. She enveloped him in a hug and patted him on back.

"You were brave to stand up to your father and take a beating without crying out," Beth said gently. "I don't know if I could have done the latter. I was yelling and crying when my scar hurt so terribly while I was touching Quirrell."

Draco pulled away from the hug and averted his face, embarrassed by his display of emotion. "I guess," he said.

"You were brave," said Beth firmly. "You may be a Ravenclaw, but you've also got some of the Gryffindor courage."

Draco nodded. "Thanks for making me feel better. I want to be alone now, though, Beth."

"Okay, Drake. Good-night." Beth got up and left. Draco read for a couple of hours and then he brushed his teeth, changed into his pyjamas, and went to bed.