3 CH-2: The Party Begins

Disclaimer: I'm definitely not one of those Potterheads and my knowledge about Harry Potter is a mix between the books and Movies.

Enjoy at your own risk.

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Located in southwestern England in Wiltshire stands a grand mansion, characterized by its imposing structure adorned with varying shades of silver, black, and gray. This architectural marvel likely dates back to the Victorian era or perhaps even earlier.

The entrance to the mansion's grounds is equally impressive. A towering, meticulously trimmed yew hedge flanks the driveway on both sides. The driveway itself is perfectly straight, leading through ornate wrought-iron gates and directly to the front door.

While the mansion conceals much of its sprawling grounds from view, there are hints of a vast landscape beyond its walls. The garden boasts a striking fountain, and albino peacocks gracefully roam the lush lawns.

As captivating as the exterior may be, the interior of the manor is no less magnificent. It boasts a multitude of rooms designed to cater to various daily activities. These include a dining room, a grand hall, a comfortable living room, a well-appointed office, an alchemy lab, an indoor garden, rooftop pet pens, a compact astronomy tower, and even a dueling stage located in the basement, which also houses several prison cells and torture chambers.

But today is a special day, as the manor's main entrances and halls are adorned with meticulous decorations.

Missy, the House Elf, is diligently setting up a diverse array of food on the table, while Narcissa is using her charms to embellish the curtains with the Malfoy family emblems, ensuring that everything is absolutely perfect for her little boy's seventh birthday.

Lady Malfoy paused as her eyes drifted towards the grand clock hovering above the fireplace.

"Hmm, it's nearly time for the guests to arrive." She murmured to herself.

"Missy." She called, and the house elf appeared at her side in an instant.

"Yes, Mistress?" Missy responded, giving Narcissa a respectful bow.

"Fetch Draco and bring him to the main hall."

With a snap of her fingers, Missy vanished from the room and reappeared in the manor's expansive library.

It was as if the books were enchanted, swirling around in the ceiling like stars in the night sky. In the midst of this celestial display sat a young boy on the floor, a large book in his hands. His long, blonde hair billowed in the ethereal breeze, but his dark eyes remained fixed on the book.

"Master Draco." Missy called politely.

—----

I spent the majority of my afternoon in the library, exploring the sections of the shelves that had been approved for my perusal by Narcissa.

In the wizarding world, the number seven holds a special significance. I have various theories about why that might be the case, but one thing is certain: at the age of seven, a child's accidental magic becomes more noticeable, and they can gradually begin to control it. Muggle-born children with magical abilities are also identified at this age.

One of the reasons the seventh birthday is celebrated so grandly in Pureblood families is that it marks this significant turning point. Today happens to be my seventh birthday.

Lucius has sent invitations to nearly everyone, except for the families he considers inferior, such as the Weasleys and the Longbottoms. Essentially, those families who are less well-off and those who fought for the Order of the Phoenix.

Over the past five years since the fall of You-know-who, Lucius has been steadily manipulating the Ministry. He has effectively placed a puppet leader at its helm. Cornelius Fudge is a fool drunk on power, blissfully unaware that he's being manipulated by Lucius. I'm quite certain I'll meet him today.

I'll also be introduced to the heads and heirs of other Pureblood families, which I'm looking forward to, though not excessively so.

I've encountered Crabbe once, when his obese father and his promiscuous wife visited the mansion. I was three years old at the time, and the fat son of a bitch nearly took a bite out of my arm.

Pureblood children often appear rather simple-minded. I suspect that excessive inbreeding and the propaganda about Mudbloods have narrowed their worldviews considerably, making them easier to manipulate.

On other matters, I wouldn't say the past six years have been particularly productive, but they haven't been too bad either.

Narcissa never allowed me to read books about actual magic or how it works. Children attempting magical experiments with little understanding and without adult supervision can lead to permanent side effects. Some of these side effects include lesser magic aptitude and sensitivity.

So, I decided to take a step back and quell my thirst for magical knowledge for now. But that doesn't mean I have no understanding of it at all.

As mentioned earlier, I spend most of my time reading about Magical History, Herbology, Magical Creatures, and Ancient Runes.

And today, I was re-reading a book called 'Twelve Thousand Marvels of Merlin' when Missy suddenly appeared next to me in the blink of an eye.

"Master Draco." She said politely. "Mistress is summoning you."

I closed my books and stood up; it's never a good idea to keep a mother waiting, and I learned that quickly.

Missy gently extended a single finger and touched my arm. I felt a sudden twist in my being as the ground beneath my feet vanished and reappeared. My surroundings changed, and I found myself in the grand hall.

"Draco, where is your birthday attire?" Narcissa inquired as soon as I appeared, though I didn't respond, knowing it was more of a rhetorical question. "Missy!"

The house elf knew exactly what to do and disappeared, reappearing almost instantly with a set of tailor-made black and gray suits.

Before I knew it, I stood with my messy hair slicked back, my pajamas replaced with a suit, and shiny black shoes completing the look. Narcissa matched my attire with a long, dark blue one-piece dress.

Suddenly, someone appeared at the mansion, and with just the clicking of his cane, I knew it was Lucius.

"Ah, excellent, you're ready. It's almost time for them to arrive." He remarked as he walked towards us and positioned himself alongside, facing the entrance.

—---

Sooner than I anticipated, guests started pouring into the mansion. Most of them arrived by apparition and Floo powder, while others showcased their wealth by arriving in carts.

Today marked the first time I was participating in any kind of official event with my family. In Pureblood society, children were introduced to other families at the age of seven because that's when their magical abilities fully manifested. Until then, children were raised within their families with little interaction with the outside world.

Often, there were other reasons for this practice. Until the age of seven, it was challenging to determine if a child had magical abilities or if they were a Squib. In case a child turned out to be a Squib, it was easy for the family to claim that the child had died in an accident or that there had never been a child to begin with.

The magical society is not all rainbows and unicorns; it is cruel and unforgiving.

It's no wonder the original Draco turned out the way he did. He had won the genetic lottery, belonging to one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Britain and Europe. He was a pure-blood wizard, so it was no surprise he felt superior to most at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, he let his arrogance define him.

Speaking of less-than-impressive individuals, my eyes wandered toward Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, the two minions or henchmen of Draco Malfoy from the books. They were both quite overweight and as unintelligent as the books portrayed them.

They tried to conduct themselves with some semblance of Pureblood manners, politely introducing themselves and wishing me a happy birthday.

However, I couldn't help but notice their red-rimmed eyes, runny noses, and leash marks under their suits.

They were probably 'disciplined' by their parents to be on their best behavior.

My gaze shifted to others—the Greengrasses, the Parkinsons, the Notts, and the Bulstrodes. These were all families with children my age who would attend Hogwarts with me.

I also observed other families that had come today, but they didn't appear too eager to mingle with a group of former Death Eaters, such as the Bones, Abbotts and the Browns.

After the greetings and introductions, it was finally time for the party to commence.