We were back at the Manor and as always I had looked back at my childhood house - it wasn't a home. It looked dimmer that usual. I went to my room that I'd claimed over the years, it was next to Draco's at the end of the hall. Everything in my room was black, Narcissa had allowed it since it was my family's colour. Obviously the Malfoy's colour was that Slytherin green, but I liked something different from the dorms at school. 

I was already lonely and so I went into Draco's room.

"What if I had just come out of the shower or something?"

"I wouldn't look, I don't want to be scarred for life."

"Thanks for the complement." I laughed and dropped on his bed as he put on his black blazer.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Dress like that when you get here? You did it when you were younger because you didn't understand yet but the last few years you changed, you wore what you wanted at Hogwarts. But why do you still dress like this when you get home?"

"It's not that I don't like these clothes, I still wear them for certain occasions."

"Obviously, but I mean to dinner, I'm going like this, your father isn't here."

"Exactly." I exhaled and got up to where he was putting on a tie. I turned him so he faced me.

"Just because your father is fucking women around Europe that doesn't mean that you're the new man of the house." I took off the tie and the blazer leaving him in a shirt and suit pants. I unbuttoned the nicely done up shirt at the top so he looked more relaxed. "There, still formal clothing but more comfortable."

"You're actually going like that?"

"I just said that for point of argument. I'll chuck on a skirt and take off the sweater." He nodded, but still looked stressed.

"Draco, look at me." He looked down, tears begging behind his eyes. "You're turning 18, you're not becoming your father. These holidays will be fine, they're probably your last anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"We both have a vault at gringotts full of money given to us by our disgusting families, wouldn't you want to leave the nest, get the job you want and get the fuck away from here."

"I hadn't even thought of that."

"Once we're 18, those vaults are ours."

"How will you get the key?"

"I took it years ago and turned one of the fancy spoons in that place into a replica. I asked Mcgonagall to teach me first obviously." He smiled in amusement.

"Of course you did, okay go get dressed and then come back so we can go down together."

"Why?"

"I don't want to be alone with my mother."

<><><><><><><>

We had dinner and it was a little too quiet, considering Lucius wasn't here. I wasn't quite sure why. I had put all my clothes in my drawers and dropped on my bed. It smelt so clean, I'd guessed Narcissa had the elves wash all the sheets regularly, regardless that no one was sleeping in them. 

Just when I thought I could relax I flinched as the window shook. I turned and saw a dark grey owl. I got up and opened the window and hopped inside. I stroked it's dark feathers and went to get the letter I expected to find. But there wasn't one.

"Nice to see you Kali, but I'm guessing you're here to take my letter, not deliver me one." She nodded and I laughed to myself. I sat at the desk and got out some parchment and some ink and I began writing. 

Dear Mattheo,

You are insatiable, having your owl come all this way to pick up my letter, 

I couldn't believe it.

I'm safe at the manor in my room and I've been fed, so you don't need to worry.

I'll see you at Draco's party. 

From Davina

I stared at its smiling and then I got up to get my perfume, I sprayed once on the letter and then I folded it up and attached it to his owl. I opened the window, watching it fly off. 

I laughed again because within several minutes, Kali returned with another note attached to her talon. I got it from her and opened it up, I had left the window open for her to leave again but she stayed, now I was intrigued. 

Dear Davina,

You promised that you'd write so I was only making it easier for you to get your letter to me. But I think you're worse than me, spraying your perfume on the letter, that's just teasing. You're just lucky I didn't apparate to you right at that moment. 

Yours, Mattheo.

I smiled and set down the letter, I was still wondering why Kali still perched herself at my window. She was always very pretentious and I guessed she was waiting for a treat. I stood up and walked over to her and gave her some treats that sat near the window seal. She smiled and stood there a moment before flying away. I closed the window and turned around to go back to my bed and I jumped. 

"What is wrong with you, can't you make a noise." He was laughing hysterically as he stood up from my bed and came over to me.

"I'm sorry." He cupped my face and kissed me while still giggling in between. 

"You said you weren't going to apparate."

"I said at that moment, I apparated after the moment."

"Oh okay," I said sarcastically. "Why did you come? It's getting late."

"I wanted to see you."

"I know."

"Why, do you want me to leave?"

"No, but you won't be having much fun, I'm about to have a shower and then I'm going to sleep."

"That's okay, I'll wait."

"Aren't you tired?"

"I'll be fine." I smiled.

"So stubborn." I said as I grabbed some clothes and headed in my bathroom. I showered quickly so he wasn't waiting long. I felt a little bad, and I think he's also staying away from home, from his father. I didn't want to bug him about it, but he looked tired, almost sad, maybe even worried. 

I put on my joggers and a cropped tee and I walked out. He was laying on my bed, hands behind his head and sleeping. I dried my hair with my wand and laid next to him. He deep breathed, which indicated he wasn't fully asleep. I got closer to him a laid on his chest looking up at him. 

"Mat?"

"Mhm," he replied, still keeping his eyes closed.

"I know I'm a factor, but why don't you want to go home?"

"No reason." He looked down at me and then closed his eyes again. 

"Come on, you look so down, just talk to me."

"You said you wanted to sleep just go to sleep."

"Mat, just tell me, I would never judge you, I just don't like you being sad."

"I'm not sad." Now he sat up, making me get off him. 

"Something is bothering you."

"It's nothing."

"Mat."

"Davina, it's fine." He got a little serious and it shocked me a bit. He's never really spoken to me this way.

"I just want you to be okay, I don't want to make you mad." He deep breathed.

"Davina, just drop it," he barked. He was almost threatening me, I didn't know why, but I started to tear up. I got up from the bed and went to the door before he could notice.

"I'm just going to get a drink of water. I won't ask you again, I promise." I walked out and headed down to the kitchen. I didn't really want water. I leaned on the counter and wiped away the tears. I guess now I know not to ask. 

"Dav? What are you doing up?"

"Oh, um, I was thirsty. Why are you awake?"

"Same, you okay?" He asked noticing my eyes. 

"Yeah, fine."

"What's wrong?"

"Just Mat and I had a little fight."

"Through owl?"

"No, he apparated to my room."

"Oh, what happened?"

"It's fine, I was just asking if he was okay. He looked off, I don't know. Then he just kind of snapped."

"That's weird, he has never been angry, at least not seriously. Did he do anything?" He asked, his face stern for a moment. 

"No, no, he didn't, I was just shocked." He nodded, his face relaxing. 

"Is he still here?"

"Yeah, I told him I was getting water, he looks really tired so he's probably asleep." Draco nodded. 

"Don't worry, I'm sure he's okay. Like you said, he's tired." He gave me a hug and then went back upstairs and I followed shortly after. When I got back in my room he was gone. I exhaled and curled up in my bed and turned off the lamp. All of a sudden I was cold... during summer. 

<><><><><><><>

"Dav? Dav wake up." I rubbed my eyes opened and found Mat crouching beside my bed. 

"What are you doing?"

"I just came to apologise. I didn't mean to make you upset, I just... I was stupid."

"It's okay, you were tired."

"Yes, but there's something else." I sat up and he came next to me.

"I'm here to listen."

"It's about my father."

"What's wrong with him?"

"You know how there's the history of what my father did to the Potter's and his group of followers?"

"Death eaters, yeah of course, my parents were part of it, so were Draco's, and Blaise's, and Theo's, and Enzo's."

"Right, well aren't we a fun group." 

"Go on."

"I think, I think that he's planning something again."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there's nothing major but I got home and I wanted to go get this old firewhiskey that we have downstairs for Draco's birthday and he full on threw me out. Literally, got his wand out and threw me up the stairs and then yelled at me to never go down there."

"He threw you? Why?"

"No sure, but he's definitely hiding something, but he's never been angry, just weird, and the tips of his fingers were stained black and it looked like it was spreading." I swallowed, getting reminded of a memory. My father had the same thing on his hands.

"Mat, that means his doing dark magic, very dark magic."

"I thought so. But I don't think he's alone."

"Do you think he's recruiting? Is that why my father isn't home, and Draco's, and why Enzo's and Theo's father's came back here, and why Narcissa is acting very suspicious." All of a sudden everything clicked into place. 

"I guess so."

"Oh my god, Mat. You can't go back, you have to stay here, you can't go back home, it's the centre of his whole thing."

"Calm down it's okay Dav you don't have to worry."

"I'm not, I'm angry. I hate my father so much, it's like he brought me into this world to make me suffer, I hate him, I hate him." My hands were shaking, and he grabbed hold of them.

"Dav it's okay, just breathe. It could just be a coincidence."

"It's not, there are no coincidences when it comes to ex-death eaters. We're not safe anywhere." It seemed as if everyone I knew was a death eater or lived with a death eater.

"It's just my place, everyone will go there, it's okay."

"What if you have to join, and Draco and Theo and Enzo. What if my Father makes me join?"

"Slow down, none of that will happen, I'll make sure of it. For all we know they're just having a stupid reunion."

"I doubt that."

"Come on, stop stressing, It's okay, please." He deep breathed, "I shouldn't have told you."

"No, it's okay, thank you for telling me. I'm okay."

"You should sleep."

"Don't leave."

"I need to grab my things."

"Hurry."

"It's okay." He got up and left and I curled myself up again, shivering. After several minutes he came back with his packed trunk and got back in bed. He brought me into him and I felt warmer while he rubbed circles in my back.

"Shh." My eyes fluttered closed and he kissed my forehead sending me to sleep.