“I’m ready to begin work whenever you need me to Father.”
“Very well, you shall come with Monday, we have some meetings to attend to.”

“That’s fine, I’ll be ready.” This was hard business, being so stiff and formal all the time, but young Malfoy was finally getting used to it. He had suspicions of his father’s offer, and it was quickly rewarded.

“Good, we’ll be going to Knockturn to meet with some people about The Ministry.”

“What are the meetings to be about?”

“As I said Draco, The Ministry. It has new policies and people, and we must be ready to bear influence on both if we are to thrive in this new order of things.”

“Are you supporting Robards then?”

“No this family will not support that coward. I could respect him a little bit if he had chosen the other side and been part of the victory, but instead he fled. There are other options to pursue, and you will be a key part of those discussions.”

This was what Draco had been afraid of.

“Really, you are aware that I’m only 19 years old?” So much for the formality, though he stopped short of the sarcastic drawl that he was aching to break out during times like this. Lucius seemed to sense this, but then again his own sneer never truly left his face.

“You are the scion of this family Draco and thus a leader of those who share our views.”

“What makes you so sure that I still share your views of the world? This is our longest conversation in over a year.” He was not rewarded by so much as a flinch, bluffing though he was.

“Because you have no other choice, no other options. The Potter side will not take you, and you want the ease and influence that our money will allow you. Be at breakfast by 7:00 am Monday morning, we leave an hour later.” With that, he left the room, not bothering to close the door behind him. Draco, relieved that he would not need to be dining with the family during the weekend, flipped the door closed himself with his wand and sat on his bed, pondering.

Monday morning would be here soon enough.

End Chapter