(no subject)
Since pretty close to the moment of birth Draco was placed in the care of nannies. As an infant he had a wetnurse to care for him, Narcissa finding the day to day care of infants distasteful. Lucius found the screaming irritating. This was not to say Draco was ill cared for. No- he had the newest toys, the most expensive clothes, all the accessories. When the Malfoy Family appeared in public with wee Draco, his pram was at least ten times better than any other pram in sight. Appearances were important, after all.
Neither was this to say that the Malfoy parents did not care for their son. It was just that the life they led, and had led, meant that only limited time could be spend on the infant.
Draco's nanny while he was a toddler was a strict old woman, more than capable of foiling his every attempt to get out of her care. Draco was allowed a few brief minutes each day in Father's study in order for Lucius to instruct him in the noble history of the Malfoy family, the importance of Blood Status, and the degeneracy in which the wizarding world now found itself. As a four year old, Draco took little in- the importance lay in that it was Father doing the instructing. Father sharing his wisdom with Draco. Father present at all.
By the age of five it had been drilled into Draco's young mind that if he sat still and listened and Did Not Touch (as he had so dearly wanted to as a child), the time spent in the study with Father was lengthened. This was the best of rewards for Draco, who otherwise would not see the busy and important man at all.
Mother was more erratic. She would drop into the nursery one day and spend half an hour introducing a new toy to him and the rest of the week he would see her only on his way up to bed. But Mother would always give him a cuddle and a kiss and ask him how his day had been and what he had done. It was a highlight of Draco's day, to share to brief minutes with Mother, to get close to someone loved.
So Father was importance and dignity and all that was right with the world and Mother was warmth and comfort and smiles. He never lacked anything, he long ago learned that while screaming would not bring mother and father to him, it would eventually result in more toys if they heard his displeasure.
Tutors were introduced to Draco the year he turned six. The first smelt funny so Draco did not like him, but Father said he had to stay. The introduction of the Tutor meant the expulsion of the Nurse, which Draco found to be very much in his advantage. It was easy to escape the Tutor, to creep about the Mansion and find some time to himself. The House Elves learned to keep out of his way- if he saw one he'd order them to stick their ears in the oven, because he knew they had to.
Malfoy Manor was the best house for a child of five or six. There were endless rooms of antique artifacts (he soon learned not to touch those in spelled cases because they were Dark Magic, and one almost cost him a finger). He spend hours hiding from the Tutor and discovering that generations of Malfoys had lived in this house before him. All of them, according to their protraits at least, proud and upstanding and great witches and wizards. Draco was pleased that he was one of them, and not a degenerate (as Father called them).
He was careful always to avoid Father and Guests during these times. Draco was not allowed to be seen by the guests without Father and Mother present, or else they would be angry. Draco couldn't quite understand that. It was alright at parties. Father and Mother were Important People, and often had parties where other Important People came to drink and talk and glare at other people behind their backs. Draco was paraded in front of them, Hello, it's a pleasure to see you again, I hope you're enjoying yourself this evening, Sir and Madame. He was aware enough to notice that just because someone smiled at you did not mean they liked you, and he soon learned to pretend not to understand what some of the Important People said in front of him. That made him feel a little giddy inside, that he was tricking them and they didn't know.
After one party he told Mother what a tall lady in a red dress had said while ignoring him. Mother had dropped the crystal glass she'd been holding and forgotten all about the dessert she'd promised him. Draco kept what he heard to himself after that.
It was the first time he learned that the things he said could have power over others. Father had always had the power- to make Draco proud or ashamed, but now, he was discovering, he could do the same himself.
He did alright with his lessons. They were boring and uninteresting, and Draco much rather wanted to practice on the broom Father had given him for the Winter Solstice (Christmas was for muggles and filthy muggle-lovers). Mother spoiled him a lot, now that Draco was Grown Up. Anything he asked for or showed an interest in she bought for him, which was great.
Not so great was the day when Draco has nearly eight when Draco knocked a vase over, burst into tears and allowed Narcissa give him a comforting cuddle in front of a particularly important Guest. Lucius said nothing at the time, but the next day in Father's study he all but yelled at Draco for his childish ways, shaming the family name and being such a clumsy fool- it's a wonder you weren't drowned at birth.
Draco swore to never cry again. To never be clumsy again. To never allow Mother near him again. If Father yelled it meant that Draco had Done Wrong. And Father was always right about these things.
(Of course, Draco never succeeded in such plans. He cried when he fell off his broom when he was twelve. He broke the grandfather clock while racing his broom inside. He gave in and let Mother kiss him on the cheek sometimes, but only if there was no one around.)
When he turned ten Father bought him a proper racing broom because Draco had worked hard and done well in all his classes. He took great joy in boasting to the other kids he spent time with about it, making sure to rub it into Zabini's face that Draco had one and he didn't, because his father was too poor. Zabini sometimes had to wear old clothes, and his broom was only a child's one- and he almost punched Draco for teasing him about his father. He missed and punched Crabbe instead.
Draco decided having Crabbe around wouldn't be such a bad idea. Pain was a bad thing in Draco's mind (Father had only ever hit him once, for breaking a vase in the upstairs study). Besides- if he started fighting with people, he'd get his robes dirty. He came to an agreement with the boy. Crabbe would keep Draco from getting hurt, and Draco would would have Crabbe as a friend, Father said that the company of a Malfoy was a very valuable thing indeed, so it appeared to be quite a fair trade.
Dinnertime (Dinner with Father and Mother three times a week had been organised once Draco had reached his eight birthday) became a tense time, as Father and Mother began to discuss where Draco should be sent to school. Lucius was adamant that only Drumstrang would, in his words: turn him into a wizard worthy of the Malfoy name. Mother would plead and cry to keep him from being sent so far away. Draco tended to side with her- the stories he had heard of Drumstrang scared him, and besides, Crabbe was going to Hogwarts and the two of them had a deal.
Father caved in to Mother eventually, and Draco wondered at that- because how could anyone change Father's mind when it was made up? But preparation for school soon banished any other thought. As a Malfoy he would be one of the highest ranked wizards at the school, he would have the respect of everyone and, of course, he would be sorted into Slytherin.
He was feeling very smug the day Father and Mother took him to buy his school supplies. There were a lot of kids wandering around looking lost and confused. Draco, who had been to Diagon Alley many times before, felt that he was vastly superior to them and looked forward to them all respecting the Malfoy name when he went to school.
The boy in the robes shop must have been slow, Draco decided after the encounter. Not knowing what the houses were, and thinking that the fat, oafish man outside had been normal.
TBC.