Amid the Falling Snow

Chapter 5: Disastrous, To Say the Least

Draco stood in front of the mirror, staring vacantly at his reflection. He was feeling uneasy about the dinner he had to attend at his parent's house. Something was odd about the invitation; something he couldn't quite put his finger on. All he knew was that he wasn't to hear the last of his parents. After brushing the comb through his hair one last time, he Apparated to what most people referred to as Malfoy Mansion.

God, what was he doing? Agreeing to meet with his parents? Had he gone insane? Not too long ago, he had left because he had enough, and now he was on his way to have a 'lovely' dinner with them? His father would only have invited him for one reason: to persuade him to be a part of another evil scheme (mostly Death Eater uprisings, all of which Draco was highly sceptical about.) After everything that had happened, he thought his father would have learned, but of course, he yearned for power, to be evil.

After taking a swig from a bottle of liquor he kept in his coat (there was always a chance he might need alcohol), he slipped it back into his pocket and knocked on the door. No one answered. After a few minutes of impatience (in other words, Draco knocking furiously on the door), his mother answered.

"Draco, darling! You mustn't knock on the door that loudly," she greeted, as she let him inside. A simple hello would have done just as well, Draco thought to himself.

He glanced around at the vast hallway before him. Just as he had left it; bitter and dark. Somehow they had managed to convince a few house elves to stay at the manor to do the housework. How they did that was beyond him.

"How are you doing in that...place you call a home?" his mother asked, trying to look as pleased as possible. She wasn't trying very hard, for disgust was very evident in her face.

"Fine. Just because it's an apartment, doesn't mean it isn't nice. In fact, I'd prefer it over living here any day."

His mother frowned, but said nothing. Draco wondered why she didn't snap at him. Something was different about her, he knew that for sure. At that moment, a house elf slipped in, telling them that dinner was ready, and Draco didn't have the chance to ask her.

When they went into the dining room, his father was already seated, putting food onto his plate. Lucius looked up, but no greetings were exchanged between the two. After Draco and his mother put their food on their plates, silence ensued. Only the sound of chewing and forks clanking could be heard. A great start to a dinner that was.

Finally, Lucius cleared his throat. "Draco, how is the shop going for you?" Something was up. His father never cared about how he was doing, nor did he ever show interest in his life.

"What do you want from me now?" Draco answered immediately.

"I'm shocked that you would just assume that of me. I was merely asking how your shop was running," he responded a little too quickly. Draco noticed that he didn't look him in the eyes when he spoke.

"That's a load of shit, Lucius."

"Lucius? Is that who I am to you now? No longer your father, am I?" he snapped coldly.

"You were never my father. A father doesn't pressure his son to join the Death Eaters! A father doesn't ignore his son! A father doesn't raise his son to be a conceited, arrogant, snob that the entire school loathes above all others!" Draco shouted, now annoyed.

"I did the best I could under the circum-"

"Under the circumstances? Under what circumstances?! Too busy killing people to give a damn about your son?"

"Draco! You will not speak that way to your father!" his mother reprimanded.

"No, Narcissa. Let him speak."

Draco glared at his father. "I'm finished. Care to elaborate on what you want me to do so I can go home?"

His father sighed, and cleared his throat. "I've been discussing with a few ex-Death Eaters that are interested in a possible uprise. You're fairly young and a lot faster than we are. They, er, suggested you lead it."

Draco couldn't believe the nerve his father had to ask him that. "Absolutely not. That's in my past. I'd rather die than ever join in with those good for nothing idiots that have nothing going for them except a guaranteed cell in Azkaban."

"Very well. You've made your choice. You're turning against your friends. They won't be happy."

"I don't have friends," Draco answered. He then stood up and put on his coat. "Thank you for the meal, mother."

"Goodbye, Draco," she replied, hugging him. "And be careful out there."

He Disapparated to his flat, shaking his head. His father never knew when to quit. He was worried, though. The possible uprising of the Death Eaters was never a good sign, and he feared greatly that the first to go would be Muggleborns, and he had to find a way to stop them.

***

Draco hadn't seen Hermione in a while, and thought he'd pay her a visit. He soon found that it was not a good idea. He was almost to her house when he saw a guy with flowers in one hand and hugging her. They were talking in low voices, and every now and again Hermione laughed at something he said. Draco did nothing but stand there, crestfallen. He thought she would have come around, but he supposed he was wrong. His one and only love was gone.

Hermione glanced up and saw Draco standing there. He turned and fled, not wanting to speak to her again. She had shattered the already broken pieces of his heart into even smaller bits.

"Draco, wait!" she called after him. He kept walking, ignoring her. "Draco! It's not what you think!" she cried, louder. But he couldn't hear her, for he had already slammed the door to his own apartment, a single tear slipping down his face.

He just couldn't believe she did that to him. Lead him on like that. The least she could do was meet a guy away from him, so he didn't have to see the bastard. That was it. He would have no more to do with her. What was he thinking, befriending a Mudblood? The Death Eaters could have her for all he cared.

No, he was overreacting a little. He couldn't help it, he was mad and he had every right to be. Well...maybe not. It wasn't as if they were dating. She was allowed to date whomever she wanted. They were just friends. Just friends...