The day had finally arrived. The preparations were all in place and a few early guests had already begun to arrive. Draco hoped that the event would act as a turning point in their community, to raise some sort of equality awareness. He wasn't sure how many he'd be able to actually sway with his input though, as his family had been somewhat disgraced after the fall of Voldemort. Many of the other Pureblood families looked to them as traitors for turning in a majority of their own, and, despite the fact that his parents had aided the Ministry in the recapturing of those Dark Wizards, quite a few of the lower born families remained distrustful of his family and their motives. Not that he blamed them. They had a right to be. However, it made his upcoming task all the more difficult. He would receive opposition from both sides of this issue.
It'd be especially difficult to gain the trust of the Muggleborns, and he wondered how many would actually make an appearance tonight. This issue concerned them most of all, but he knew they had to have their doubts. Not to mention the fact that, along with their appearance, they'd practically be inviting some ridicule from the Pureblood families who were present. Any Muggleborn who'd ever been in the manor before had been either tortured or killed, something which was difficult for Draco to even consider. Just how many of their deaths had taken place here? Especially with Voldemort around. He knew it spoke volumes all in itself that he would willingly invite them into his home now, and under friendly terms at that. Maybe it'd be a favorable point from them, but it was also a point against him in the minds of the elitist families.
But he had their attention, if nothing else.
He tried not to let his doubts weigh him down too much, but as the minutes continued to count down, drawing him closer to the actual event, Draco could feel his anxieties increasing. What if it didn't work? What if it all was just a waste of time? What made him think he could possibly convince anyone? Did his opinion even really matter? He shook his head and breathed in as he buttoned his shirt in the mirror, telling himself to try and stay calm. He exhaled the breath he took and it shook a little, outwardly carrying the nervousness he felt. There was no backing out now. He had to at least try, didn't he? He owed people that. What was there to really lose anyway?
He had the support of his parents, of Goyle and Astoria. and possibly even of Harry Potter himself. There was nothing to be afraid of. He had to face it; to stop running and hiding. That's all he'd ever done in the past. It wasn't enough to have an opinion on something. He had to actually fight for it. Besides, the worst that could happen would be for absolutely nothing to change, in which case he'd simply have to try even harder. He tried to hope that his family name still meant something. That people could be made to see things from his perspective, and to actually trust it. He was more than willing to work for it.
Draco grabbed his suit jacket and slung it over his arm, inspecting his appearance in the mirror a final time, still trying to calm his breathing and overcome his nervous anxiety, before he turned to leave his room, walking down the hall and trying not to let the sounds of the waking event in the ballroom set him any further on edge. He entered the parlor, where he knew Goyle and Astoria were waiting, and smiled in silent greeting to them both. They'd each arrived that afternoon to help him finalize things, and he couldn't be more grateful for their assistance. He wouldn't be going out there alone, and that thought continued to help him commit himself into actually going through with this.
As the ancient grandfather clock against the far wall ticked down the minutes, the pendulum swinging back and forth, Goyle mused silently at the surreality of it all. In theory, it hadn't actually been all that intimidating. It was another idea Draco had, and one he had made sure to offer his support, but now that they were mere hours away from the event itself, from the grand proclamation his friend would make, now that it was no longer just an idea...he had to admit, it was strange. And only getting stranger with the passage of each minute. He could only imagine how Draco must be feeling about all of this, how nervous he must be.
It was such a complete shift, from everything they had always known, from everything they had always tried to stand for, it was no wonder so many would have a difficult time trusting the sincerity of it.
The Malfoys had put up appearances once before, as had Goyle's own family, after the Dark Lord's first demise. They had done it to save themselves from a fate worse than death, opting to take the safer, smarter route. It would have tarnished their reputation, just as it had when their parents had been captured at the Ministry some four or five years ago, now.
But, this? This would be different. It wasn't the same as making up a lie about having the Imperius Curse placed on you, to have been forced into doing the Dark Lord's bidding, and from there, going on to carry out the same elitist ideals that had convinced you to join the man in the first place. No, this was a total reversal. It was taking a firm stance against those ideals, it was putting the Pureblood pride aside, centuries upon centuries of ancient tradition and bigotry, and speaking out against the very thing the Dark Lord had stood for. Selling out fellow Death Eaters could be misconstrued as cowardly, this much was true, but making a stand like this couldn't possibly be misunderstood for anything short of what it was: bravery.
It was funny. He wasn't accustomed to associating that word with Draco, of all people, but now that he actually had the opportunity, he found he rather liked the idea of it. They were finally growing up, finally stepping out into the open, and Draco was paving the way, just as he always should have. The role of leadership was one he was well-suited for, and he honestly hadn't had much of a chance to prove himself. No one had truly been a leader under Lord Voldemort. Even those he trusted most of all, who he placed in leadership roles, they still answered to him, and they had to follow every last command, without question, under fear of death. And, besides even that, the individuals he trusted most tended to be the ones who were most obsessed with him, most loyally obedient, and what sort of leader was that, who rarely took the initiative to think for themselves?
No, now that he was finally gone, there were many doors that had been opened, for everyone, and they just needed the chance to see it. Hopefully, this convention tonight would give them that chance.
The sound of the clock chimes pulled him from his reminisces, and he tapped the arm of the couch with his forefinger. It wouldn't be long, now. He glanced to the side, where Astoria was also waiting, and he offered her a simple smile. She had been having such a wonderful influence on Draco lately, acting as a calm stronghold in the frequent whirlwind that were his emotions, and Goyle couldn't ever thank her enough for that. Lord knew the guy needed it.
As the thought crossed his mind, he heard the sound of someone entering the room, and he averted his attention toward the source of the noise. When he realized who it was, he returned the smile with one of his own, giving him a slight nod of his head. "Draco," he greeted.
He took a brief moment to glance over his appearance, and he could already feel a rising concern. The Malfoy heir looked just as nervous as he'd thought he would.
"How are you holding up?" he asked only, the smile shifting to a knowing look. The poor guy never was any good at hiding his feelings.
"Gotta be honest, I don't know if I could take it. Everybody's talking, but what's anybody saying?"
Posts: 13
Blood Status: Pureblood Affiliation: Reformer Occupation: 7th Year at Hogwarts Age: 17 Relationship: In a relationship with Mr. Draco Malfoy himself
The sound of rapping echoed throughout the small sitting room, mixing in with the ticking of the grandfather clock across from the sofa where the pair were seated, as a melody played from the brunette's phone through the earbud placed in one ear. She glanced at the source of the monotonous sound, giving a small sigh before she tilted her head to one side and continued the tapping of her foot and drumming of her fingers against her thigh as the beat went on. Astoria had been waiting for about fifteen minutes so far, accompanied by Mr. Goyle sitting beside her, for the boy upstairs who was still fixing himself up for the party that was quickly approaching. He was probably fiddling with his outfit, or his hair, making sure he looked absolutely perfect for the event. She found it a little amusing how much he was trying to make an impression on these people, how seriously he was taking it. But, she also admired that about Draco. He had cared about everything he was planning to discuss today for a long time, years, but he was only an hour or two away from actually stepping up and expressing that opinion. So, while she found it semi-amusing, she could understand exactly why he was so nervous.
She let her eyes wander around the quaint room, taking in the few decorations set up here and there. Everything really did look perfect. But, she wouldn't expect any less from the Malfoys. They always had such an impressive house. It was so big, and always clean. Honestly, it looked ready for a party any day. Their family was just like that, though. They reveled in the finer things in life, and were always prepared to impress should someone stop by unannounced.
Along one wall of the room was a glass table, set with trays and glasses for the event. She was a little tempted to just eat a few things while she was waiting, just to hold her off until everyone arrived, but...well, she could wait for the party. She didn't want to be rude or anything. Though, they probably wouldn't care too much if she just took one. They had already gotten tons of extras and put them in the pantry, ready to bring forth should they run out, and she was only one person. It's not like it would make much of a difference, and she highly doubted they minded. Making up her mind, Astoria slipped off the sofa and made her way over to the set-up. There were mini-pies, a fruit tray, cakes, and all kinds of random treats set up. Grabbing a small serving plate, the girl selected a combination of fruits, two of the pies, a few crackers with cheese and salami on the side, and a glass of juice. She had been waiting around for the majority of the day, after all. She'd gotten hungry.
Making her way back to her seat, she set down the plate on the coffee table in front of her before taking a stem of grapes and leaning back to get comfortable. She lifted the bunch to her lips and bit into one, pulling it off the branch before chewing, the sweet flavor flooding her mouth. The fruit they served always tasted so fresh, and this definitely didn't disappoint. She sat for a bit, just enjoying the food she'd brought for herself and the pleasant tune still flowing through her device.
Turning her head to the side, she looked at the man she'd spent most of the evening with, who looked as calm as ever. She really never saw him get too worked up, though. He usually just kept to himself, always had a level head on his shoulders. Draco definitely needed that. There was no doubt Greg was probably the best-suited friend for Draco. He was so supportive, while also giving him space to figure things out for himself. He was mature, and willing to stand up for his friend. He was just a cool guy. When his head turned to offer her a smile, she returned it with a slight smirk before turning her head back to look around the room, popping a cherry into her mouth in the process.
When she turned to look at the entrance of the room, she spotted the boy they had both been waiting on making his way toward them, his jacket slung over his forearm, dressed up in all black and wearing a slightly anxious expression. She offered him a small, encouraging smile, but otherwise left him to respond to Greg's question.
Draco smiled a little wider at the knowing look he received from Goyle, the implication not at all lost on him. His friend could always see right through him. Not that he typically made it all that difficult to do so. His feelings had a tendency of giving themselves away before anything else could. "That obvious, huh?" He said as he continued towards the pair, trying his best to keep his tone light.
He stopped beside where Astoria sat, set his jacket carefully against the back of the sofa, and then tilted his head down at her, a brow quirked in amusement at how comfortable she appeared. Even all done up as she was, she was still absolutely herself and entirely content with that. And she looked beautiful, something which he would definitely try and remember to mention to her later on.
His smile softened as he took a seat at her side, before looking over at Goyle with a small shrug. "But, yeah...I suppose I'm holding up alright. Considering." He shook his head, still feeling that maybe he'd gone a little mental for doing this. "Not everyday I willingly go out to face the firing squad, so to speak." To face so much judgement, distrust, and even loathing from some. To possibly invite a room filled with rejection if it all went badly. They were all things he'd spent his life trying to ignore, even lashing out against, but which he now intended to face head on. It went against all of his natural urges, really. He tried not to dwell too much on what the outcome might be, but it was also proving very difficult for him to ignore the possibility.
Goyle listened quietly as Draco tried, and failed, at a lighthearted tone, although his smile did grow a little more genuine. He was glad to see it. After crossing the room, there was an unmistakable fondness that came over his expression as he stared down at Astoria, and the Slytherin smiled a little to himself at the sight of it. That was precisely the kind of thing he had meant. She really didn't have to do anything, other than be herself, for her to have that same extraordinary effect on the Malfoy heir. He already seemed more at ease than he had but a few seconds ago, and as he relaxed onto the sofa, Goyle again felt a wave of gratitude toward her. Just for being her.
"No," he agreed with his friend matter-of-factly. "It isn't. Although," he glanced briefly to the ceiling as he considered it, "I suppose it is something you're going to have to start getting used to."
If things went well, if they didn't go well, he was still going to be receiving a lot of attention from this. A lot of hate. There was just no possible way he'd be able to sway everyone, and there was quite a force to be reckoned with, on both sides of the debate.
Draco nodded at what Goyle had said. It was absolutely true. From this point on, things would change in one way or another. Whichever way this went tonight, he was going to receive opposition. He supposed though, that it really depended on how much opposition he would receive. He already expected that some of the elitist families wouldn't be swayed, but he felt he'd feel more disheartened if the Muggleborns couldn't be persuaded to trust him on top of it. That he couldn't make amends to them. Or, at least, that his amends wouldn't be accepted. Part of him felt he deserved nothing less, but another part of him wanted it more than most anything else. He was hopeful for it; hopeful that he could eventually become a better person. That they would allow him to pursue that with them.
"Well," Draco sighed, looking to the ceiling as well. "At least this time..." a small smile returned to his face. "I can make it clear where I stand." He remembered that defining moment very vividly, where he'd had to make a crucial decision during the final battle. For a moment there, he was tempted to stay right where he was. Even despite Voldemort’s threat to kill anyone who chose not to join him, he’d actually wondered if that really would be the worst thing. He hadn’t wanted to go back to that. To the nightmare Voldemort had turned his life into. His father had called out to him, and Draco had looked away, ashamed to even meet him in the eye. But then his mother had called to him too, and he found he couldn’t just ignore them both. It shook him enough to push himself forward; to pursue his survival again, for them as much as for himself. He couldn’t stand the thought of letting Voldemort kill him in front of them, or worse…risk them getting killed trying to protect him.
However, as he left his classmates behind, he was conflicted. It still felt wrong to cross back over. He hadn’t known what the right thing to do in that moment was. Hope had seemed lost, and he’d chosen survival over staying behind. Of course, that had all changed once he’d seen that Potter was still alive. There was still a chance. He’d acted instantly, knowing he had to do something. So he’d helped Potter, really helped him. However, he’d always had to wonder whether that was just for his own survival too, out of fear of what might happen if Voldemort defeated Potter, or if it was motivated by actually doing the right thing for once.
He’d always wished he’d done more than he had, for Potter and for everyone else, but he’d always been such a coward. He’d never liked that he always felt so afraid, and he’d always been envious of the courage he’d seen from Potter. Even now, he was so strongly tempted to just forget the entire thing. His willpower, at least, seemed to be overcoming it, and he held onto it as tightly as he could. He hoped it would hold out. Not just here but...for the duration of the foreseeable future.
As Goyle had said, it was something he would have to get used to. He wondered if time would make it any easier. But at least, as he’d just said, it would finally be clear where he stood. He didn’t have to question what his motivations were this time, as it certainly wasn’t about ensuring his survival. He was absolutely doing the right thing, and he was determined to overcome his fear to actually accomplish that.
"Gotta be honest, I don't know if I could take it. Everybody's talking, but what's anybody saying?"
Posts: 13
Blood Status: Pureblood Affiliation: Reformer Occupation: 7th Year at Hogwarts Age: 17 Relationship: In a relationship with Mr. Draco Malfoy himself
When Draco came over to where she and Greg were seated, giving her that amused look for a moment before taking his place on the sofa, Astoria just gave him a wink in return before scooting closer to the arm of the couch to give him some more room, and pulling out her earbud. She leaned over to pick up the glass she'd left on the table in front of the trio, and as the boys exchanged their few words, she just sat and listened, taking in the concerned look in those brown eyes, and the slightly more relaxed expression reflecting through the young Malfoy's baby blues. Honestly, she was concerned for him, too. She couldn't really imagine the amount of pressure he and others were putting on him, and the event hadn't even begun yet. He had always expressed his views in the interest of his friends, his parents, or just the magical community in general accepting him. Now, he was standing up for what he believed in, and she couldn't be more proud of the Slytherin.
However, no matter how worried she was, she was going to be standing beside him down this new road, doing her best to support him and give him some relief from those pesky feelings. He put too much thought into these things sometimes, so if she was able to make him forget his worries every once in a while, she was more than happy to help.
At his "fire squad" comment, she gave a small laugh. That was actually a pretty good way to describe the magical community. They were always prepared to shoot down any ideas like these, taking any precautions they can to keep people from disagreeing with the way they normally run things. Or, at least not discussing those disagreements.
When the blonde boy went silent, she turned to look at him and offered a genuine smile. "You're right. Even if this doesn't go well," she began, placing an arm around his shoulders, "you'll know you were standing up for what you believe is right. And, you can be proud just knowing that you were brave enough to try."
Plus, this may even have a positive effect on people who always thought he was either a stuck-up pure-blood, or a pushover. He invited a lot of people to this event, including many who always hated the Malfoy boy because he didn't try to understand their views, and never accepted what they believed in. But...perhaps by doing this, more people could come to accept him than the number Astoria knew would immediately reject his ideas. Even if the rest of the magical community had an issue with it, what sort of friends would they be if they didn't stand by him?
As Caelia Malfoy clasped the chain of her pearl necklace, she took one final glance into her vanity mirror. The red shade of her lips popped against the pale complexion of her skin as her eyes glistened with their intensity. The purple dress hung pleasantly on her figure as she observed its appearance. Well, of course it hung pleasantly. That's why she bought it. She hated wasted money on frivolous things and they quickly became frivolous if they didn't aid her image. However, tonight, everything was perfect. She looked perfect.
Thoughts about the event occurring that evening brought a purse to the refined woman's red lips. She was used to these formal occasions, of course. She had hosted a majority of them back in her day. They were always the talk of the magical community. Everyone desired a place on the guest list. The Malfoy balls were the closest to nobility that some of those lower class witches and wizards would ever be.
The talent for hosting seemed to skip this particular generation, though. Her grandson was hosting a party this very evening that, honestly, brought an unparalleled amount of shame onto the prestigious pureblood house. Did he have no respect for tradition? She thought Lucius had raised him better than that.
Caelia held her head high at these final thoughts, taking one final passing glance at her reflection before exiting her chamber. She walked purposefully down the hall and placed a graceful hand along the railing as she slowly descended the grand staircase. As she approached the bottom, she overheard a voice that left a bitter sting in her ears. Astoria Greengrass. In Caelia's opinion, it was really that girl's fault Draco was acting out this way. He was such a respectable and true pureblood before that manipulating child started poisoning him with her radical views about blood equality and other similar nonsense. She would not stand for it in this house if she had any say.
The Malfoy grandmother's heel clicked on the pristine floor as she reached the bottom. She sent a disapproving glance at the arm the despicable girl currently had slung around her grandson, but decided against commenting. That could wait until later. For now, she allowed her gaze to sweep across the other inhabitants in the room as she waited for them to acknowledge her presence. If Draco refused to say even a polite 'hello' to her, then her displeasure with the boy would be even more severe.
Last Edit: Jul 14, 2016 3:02:59 GMT -5 by Caeila Malfoy
"I lost the will to please those who do not like me."
As Draco felt Astoria's arm slide across his shoulders, he felt an instant wave of comfort and he glanced over at her as she spoke to him with a reassuring smile. It was nice to hear those words from someone else, almost as if they were a confirmation that he really was doing the right thing. Everything could so easily become very confused inside his own head. He answered her with a fond, grateful smile in return and then nodded silently as one hand came to rest over her knee.
He really was fortunate to have her beside him, and Goyle as well. It was empowering in it's own way, and it helped him gain some insight into how Potter had always managed with stay strong. Having a pair of people who meant so much to you as supporters was the most assuring thing in the world, not to mention the added support of his mother and father. He could never have imagined that this would be the way to achieve such a great measure of pride from his father. It was strange how significantly a little time could change things.
'Well, not everything,' he thought as he caught movement from the corner of his eye and shifted his attention over to see his grandmother standing in the entryway, looking smug, displeased, and expectant. Her critical eyes stared right into his and he sighed, before hesitantly offering what he knew she wanted. His hand, though, tightened a little over Astoria's knee as he struggled against saying something snarky to the woman. "Hello, grandmother." His tone was tight and obviously restricted, but he had made up his mind to at least try and start the evening off as civilly as possible with her. Things were bound to escalate very quickly with her as the evening progressed, after all. "Good of you to join us."
A small, answering smile formed at the corner of his mouth at Draco's remark, at the smile he watched develop on his friend's troubled countenance. It seemed this was it, then. They were finally taking a stand this time, rather than merely supporting a cause, first of all, because it was how they were raised to view the wizarding society, but, secondly, once the Dark Lord had risen to power and taken control of everything, out of fear for the repercussions.
He listened silently as Astoria voiced some of his own thoughts, as she reassured their friend that he was doing the right thing, that it was something to be proud of, and that, even if nothing was accomplished, even if this night ended in complete disaster, the mere attempt was worth something. It took so much courage to do what he was doing, for Draco especially, given his disposition, and he was glad to hear someone else acknowledging this, as well. Not only that. She had taken it a step further than he had, by making sure Draco knew how much this meant.
The moment of comfort was fleeting, though. As quickly as that grateful, even mildly relieved expression crossed the young Malfoy's face, it vanished, to be replaced by an immediate tightening of his overall bearing. The relaxation from a minute earlier left the room, as Goyle watched every muscle in his friend's body tense, in reaction to whatever he had spotted in the doorway. As to what could have elicited this response, the Slytherin didn't even have to wonder. He knew exactly who had entered the room, exactly who had taken only a second to destroy the calm Astoria had been able to provide her boyfriend, before he even turned his eyes to rest on the Malfoy matriarch. When he did, he fought to keep the glare from his countenance, instead adopting a neutral expression, more for Draco's sake than hers.
However, when he heard the obvious change in his friend's voice, he couldn't help the subtle frown from forming. The old woman's attention was otherwise engaged, though, she was so preoccupied by both Draco and Astoria, as it was, that he hardly thought it would make any difference. Besides, how was she to know what he was frowning about?
A small smile formed on the older woman's face at the acknowledgement from her grandson. At least he had some manners. Even so, his tone was another matter. He didn't sound happy at all to see her. What an ungrateful child he was, acting entitled as he proudly sat beside a girl who was practically a blood-traitor. That other friend of his was hardly any better if he supported this nonsense.
Caelia's expression shifted into a frown. The Goyles were a proud family, not as proud as the Malfoys, but still proud, and they wouldn't stand for this anymore than she would. Perhaps a talk with all their parents would do some good and, hopefully, put this talk of change to rest. No one wanted any change. The world was perfect the way it was with Purebloods on top and the riffraff bowing at their feet, hoping to bask in their shadows.
The Malfoy woman then forced a tight smile onto her face as she answered Draco, "Why wouldn't I be here? This is my home, after all. It's been my home longer than yours, actually, and I would never miss a party thrown within its walls. That's what tradition is all about, and where would we be without those traditions, Draco? Hm?"
"I lost the will to please those who do not like me."
Hermione Granger: Ironically, the same thing happened to me. I'm glad you brought it up
May 24, 2016 2:50:37 GMT -5
Hermione Granger: It looks wonderful, though, doesn't it?
May 24, 2016 2:50:49 GMT -5
Draco Malfoy: It does I've been so excited for it since I first heard about it. Always been my favorite, after all. Combine that with you and it's nothing short of perfect. We definitely need to see it together.
May 24, 2016 2:53:18 GMT -5
Hermione Granger: Oh, we absolutely do! It's always been my favorite, too, but I know how much it's always meant to you. You've always sort of reminded me of how the prince was before he became the Beast, haha!
May 24, 2016 3:10:37 GMT -5
*
Draco Malfoy: Ha! Yes, and then somewhere during that whole transition...I became my father
May 24, 2016 3:20:39 GMT -5