One Life Ends…

 

Chapter 2

 

Draco’s first instinct, after that incident, was to go after the being that did it and hex him into oblivion. In fact, he was heading that direction when his father’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. Face red, eyes ablaze, he turned his head and glared at his father. “Let me go! There is no way I’m going to allow someone to insult me like that let alone spit on me!” Lifting his shoulder to shrug off his father’s hand, he stilled when it clamped down harder on it.

“Let it go Draco,” Lucius told him, tone commanding though sounding a bit weary.



“He spit on me father! You cannot think that I would allow such an insult to go by unchallenged!” Draco spat out, face reddening more. “I’m a Malfoy and not going to let such things go by.”



“Leave it alone, Draco. Just let it pass and forget it,” Lucius replied, tone growing more weary. Slipping his hand down his son’s back to rest there, he guided him over to the table with the rest so they could sit down and eat.

For Lucius, this was becoming the norm since the final battle with Voldemort. Though, before that, he would have not bothered to step in and stop his son, now he did for various reasons. Mostly, the big one was, that since the Ministry had basically given them a free pass for what was done, he would admit that it was because of several large donations to the right places, such things were now commonplace. All his life, he had been able to buy his way out of trouble with no repercussions. This time, that hadn’t been the case. Dumbledore, in trying to help them after the final battle, strongly suggested that they let justice run its course. But he didn’t want to chance spending any more time in Azkaban so he had taken the route that had worked in the past. That had been a huge mistake.

After the end of Voldemort, public opinion on many things had changed so they weren’t about to let such things slide as they had in the past. This time around, the Malfoy’s had been ostracized and weren’t welcome many places. Though they had money and their status as they always had, no one wanted anything to do with them nor were they allowed to socialize as they had in the past. No one wanted anything to do with them and they were shunned by almost all in the Wizarding World, including those who held the same kind of views they did, so that those beings wouldn’t be looked on with suspicion. As they all knew, in times like those after the war, suspicion abounded and it wasn’t all that uncommon for a ‘witch hunt’ to ferret out sympathizers to take place.

The first year was the worst for all of them, but especially Draco. When he went back to Hogwarts to finish his final year, he was all but hounded out of the school by most of the student body. He had been very much alone without any kind of support system in place for him to deal with it. Most of the student body had known by then what he had done and refused to have anything to do with him. For his boy, that year had been more difficult than anything else he had ever had to endure. After that, it hadn’t gotten any easier either.

It had been his boy’s wish to go on to university. To all of them, that sounded like a good idea and would be something that would get the boy out of the country for a while so things could cool down. Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened. It seemed that what had happened in Britain had spread far and wide. When Draco had shown up in school, there were all kinds of whispers and gossip about his role in the whole nightmare. Though he had made it through the school year, it hadn’t been easy. No one befriended him and he wasn’t welcomed by any club or organization that he had tried to join. Within a month, once his roommate had learned who he was and what he had done, he had insisted on moving out, not wanting to be roomed with a Death Eater. The university, sensitive to all the chaos that had happened in Britain and being ever fearful of something such as that starting in his school, had acquiesced. That was a harbinger of what his upper education years would be like. He was alone and friendless. Only Pansy Parkinson still had anything to do with him. The young man that had finally come home to Malfoy Manor was much changed, dour and angry with the world.

Most times, after going on to higher education, the child would strike out on their own and find their way in the world. That hadn’t happened with Draco. Not only did his one child not want to face the world, preferring to stay in the manor and sulk in his room over the way the world was treating him, but he couldn’t find any kind of job. In the past, the Malfoy name would open all kinds of doors for a being, both in Britain and abroad, thus ensuring a good paying job in a field you wanted. That no longer was the way. The Malfoy name was mud and it was actually a deterrent to finding a job of any kind. At first, when his son had sent out feelers for positions, the response had been enthusiastic and an interview arranged. That is where it went downhill. When potential employers found out that it was Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius, that was wanting the job, he was quickly turned away with every excuse in the book. Even outside Britain, it had been the same. No one wanted the being that had helped Voldemort, despite the circumstances behind it, working for them.

In the end, it was an unlikely source that had come to their rescue; Dumbledore. The old wizard, still in charge of Hogwarts, had come to both of them with job offers. Since the aging man knew that Draco had been forced into something that he didn’t want to do because of the evil bastard’s need for revenge on Lucius, he was willing to help. Though the choice hadn’t been a popular one among the staff or students, both Draco and himself had gone on to teach in various positions at the institution. Though his son didn’t like it, he had done so.

For himself, his life wasn’t much better. But, despite what was going on and how no one would associate with him, he was better equipped to handle it, then go on much as he had in the past. After Voldemort fell the first time, he had dealt with something similar though not on the scale of this. However, he would admit that it was hard to handle. Unlike Draco, he had been able to do so with his normal stoic behavior, unwilling to let anyone know how much it was affecting him. Narcissa, however, hadn’t been able to do that.

During Draco’s freshman year in the university, she wasn’t able to take any more and asked for a divorce so that she could move on to another country and try to start over. Though it hurt, he could understand that so he didn’t put up a fight over it. No sooner than the ink was dry on their divorce decree, she had moved to America, taking back her maiden name in an attempt to start over. Though he was saddened by the whole thing and missed Narcissa, he moved on and tried to make a new life for himself out the shambles that was left.

Now, teaching and having something to do, had assisted him in that. It was as though it gave him something worthwhile to focus on, though History of Magic wasn’t the topic he would have chosen if given his druthers, and it did make it easier for him to move on. Draco, however, wasn’t able to put it behind him. Instead of focusing on teaching Arithmancy and throwing himself into that, he dealt with everything by putting up a front and challenging everyone that dared say anything. It felt to him that his son was putting up a front of the tough guy that challenged you over anything that was said to cover up the cowering boy hiding beneath. To him, it seemed as though Draco didn’t realize that if you let it go and didn’t react, people would move on to provoke someone they could get a rise out of. Along with that, it was as though his son was trying once more to gain back the fear and respect that he had held during his earlier years at Hogwarts by employing the same methods. Since the times were different, it no longer worked. From what he knew of his son, the part that others didn’t see of him, he knew his boy was wounded and not coping well with all that had gone on. He hadn’t been able to move on and build a life from the ashes of their old one. Now, that left him with keeping him on a leash and trying to put out all kinds of fires started from his son’s confrontational attitude.

He was grateful that Draco seemed to slump slightly then allow himself to be guided to the table rather than shrug it off then chase after the group of men to confront them. This would make things far easier on the both of them. However, he was sure that the whole thing wasn’t over. From his experience, Draco wouldn’t forget what was done and wouldn’t let it go. He would just have to wait and watch his boy for signs that he was looking to find some revenge and, hopefully, put a stop to it before it went too far.

Settling in his chair, he picked up the menu, ignoring the murmurs of those there about the incident, then said, tone the same as it always was, “I heard the food here was excellent and there are such choices! Anyone heard any recommendations for the fare?”

Sensing that the elder Malfoy wanted to move on from the uncomfortable scene, the others in the group began to discuss the food options, talking about what sounded good and what didn’t.

 

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As the sun was setting, Draco was wandering the streets of the small town, looking in shop windows here and there, popping into a few when he saw something he wanted, then just wandering his way towards the beach. If anyone had asked him, he would have told them, like he did his father, that he was just out for a stroll in the wonderful evening weather, sight seeing along the way. That wasn’t the truth though. Really, he was trying to find that bastard he had a run in with earlier. There was no way that he was going to allow a slight of that magnitude to go by unchallenged. Sure, he knew, somewhere deep down inside, that it was petty, but he couldn’t help it.

Wandering around, he kept glancing down at the beach, planning what he wanted to do. While doing that, he listened to some of the local gossip about the group. From what he heard, they were called the Bums because they were all basically beach bums around here, children of privilege that spent their time lounging on the beach. For the most part, they lived here year round, vacationing elsewhere during peak tourist season. Though there was a core group of them, mostly men, the numbers fluctuated and there were many that hung around with them from time to time. Along with that, he learned that the one that had spit on him was called Jay. He was the odd one in the bunch since he lived alone and had no family. That didn’t mean squat to him though, he and that idiot were going to have a long ‘talk’ that he was sure would end up with Jay being on the end of several hexes. By the time it was all said and done, Jay would know not to mess with a Malfoy. He might not be in the best circumstances right now in his life, but no one got away with that kind of crap with him.

Smirk firmly in place, he decided that the confrontation was coming soon since he heard a comment from one of the shop keepers that the Bums were all on the beach goofing around. There was, the way he saw it, no time like the present to go and handle things. Once that was done, all of the idiots would think twice before they said something like that to him again.

 

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Lounging around the bonfire a couple of the members of the group built, Harry watched, grin in place, as several of his friends played a game of beach volleyball. Since most of the participants had ingested large amounts of alcohol, this was interesting to see. And, honestly, it was good for several laughs for all of them. Like usual, no one was taking any of it seriously and it was just done for fun so none of the participants were going to take offense at the laughter that was being generated when they pulled some bonehead stunt or move.

It had been a good day, as most were since he had moved here, with them just hanging out on the beach, relaxing and having a good time. None of them had to worry about the things of the past nor were the bad times they had all experienced, of one sort or another, talked about or discussed. They all seemed to just be living for the here and now, not worried about what might come or what had happened. That made things relaxed and fun to be around.

Looking up into the sky, he watched the sun start to set, a smile on his face. Full dark would be on them very soon, then they would be joined by some of the residents that lived here year around for the usual festivities of drinking and fun. It was something all of them enjoyed. Usually, they had a good time then split up before midnight to go home. Tonight, it was his hope, that he and Cuth, Cuthspid Wendell, another of the Bums that was a couple years older than he was, could slide off a ways down the beach to have fun together, something they had done in the past and the other party involved had been hinting towards several times so far tonight. That was fine, he was all for a quick romp to relieve some tension.

Since leaving, he had come to accept that he was gay and didn’t have a problem with it. For a long time, early on when going to Hogwarts, he had suspected that his bent was towards his own gender rather than the opposite one. After leaving, he had accepted it then moved on. Being here, he realized that most didn’t give a damn what gender he preferred, hell most didn’t even ask, so he had been able to deal with it better than if he had to handle all the stuff he would have back with those he had known for so long. Especially when it came to Ginny.

Thinking about her, he sighed and felt bad. Really, he did care for her, a lot too, but that part of things wasn’t meant to be. For a long time, when he was struggling to accept that he wasn’t interested in females, he had thought he loved her. Even after he left, he had kept up a steady correspondence with her, professing that when he came back they would pick things up again. But, after 5 years, that ended as well. Ginny, tired of waiting for him to decide to come home, had chosen to move on. Though he had been saddened by the owl post that had brought him that news, another part of him was relieved. Since he accepted the way he was, it saved him a nasty confrontation with her over the whole thing or him having to tell her that it was done. Sure, that was the coward’s way of doing things, he knew that, but this time he wouldn’t beat himself up over that fact. Hell, after all he had gone through, he deserved the easy way out once in a while.

Lying next to Cuth, they kissed a couple times, nothing hot and heavy but still it made him tingle all over, then relaxed, watching everyone else. Since these kinds of things happened between many in the group from time to time, nothing was ever said about it, nor was it viewed weirdly. Most just ignored it and said nothing. That was something that he liked. Things like that made him more comfortable with that part of himself.

Lying there, his mind was wandering around on many things, nothing serious, when Mike sat down next to him. After a nod hello, he went back to watching the game until Mike cleared his throat. Glancing at his friend, Harry asked, “What’s up?”

 

“There is a little blond ferret heading our direction. From the look on his face, it appears that it’s not going to be for a friendly chat either,” Mike chuckled, eyes twinkling. Jerking his head the direction of town, he took a sip from the bottle he was holding then grinned.

Startled, Harry sat up, breaking away from Cuth then looked in the direction Mike indicated. Sure enough, there, headed right for them, was Draco Malfoy, sneer firmly in place, looking thunderous. Giving an internal sigh, he didn’t know what to do. Certainly, all of them together were more than a match for the ferret and if Malfoy thought he would come out on top in a fight with them, he was seriously wrong. Then there was the fact that he was itching to get some revenge for all the stupid idiot had done to them while in school, especially since he had learned so many interesting spells and hexes while abroad. But he couldn’t do that. As he well knew, each spell you cast carried a magical signature. Though he could disguise a lot of things when it came to his person and he had a different wand than he used to, that was the one thing he couldn’t. If he cast a spell, any reasonable wizard or witch who knew him in the past could figure out who he was from it. Most certainly, that wasn’t what he wanted! He had hidden out far too long for the stupid ferret to cause him to reveal himself. Now he had to think of what to do about this and how to go about it in a way that wouldn’t reveal who he was, if it couldn’t be defused, and then escalated.

But, he didn’t have much time to think about it. As soon as Draco saw them, he made a beeline in that direction, scowling in a way that would have done Snape proud. Zeroing in on the one called Jay, he pulled out his wand, hex on the ready at a moments notice. Stomping over to all of them, he glanced around then hissed out, “Do you all have a problem with me? If you do, then now is the time to tell me why!’

Chuckling, Mike took another long pull from his bottle then said, “I think it was obvious that many in this group have a problem with you, Malfoy. Hell, I was at Hogwarts the same time you were, I know what you’re like. Nasty piece of work, you are.”



Sneering at the dark headed man who had spoken, Draco said, “That was a long time ago, get over it!”

“Why should I? It appears that you are still the same whiny, nasty little ferret you were back then,” Mike shot back casually, not getting at all ruffled by Draco’s ire.

The ferret reference galvanized Draco into action. Pointing his wand at Mike, there was a hex on the tip of his tongue when his arm was grabbed and yanked away.

Harry, unable to watch Draco do the same things he used to all over again, he acted without thinking. “Malfoy, knock it off! We weren’t bothering you at all. Just go back to wherever it was you are staying and leave us alone you stupid git,” he snapped out, eyes flashing.

Rounding on Jay, Malfoy snarled at him, face flushed tomato red. Though there was something about him that seemed vaguely familiar, he couldn’t place what it was. Nor, really, did he give a damn right at this point in time. That was something that he would consider later on when this was done and over with. For now, he was going to make it clear that no one messed with this particular Malfoy. “You! You’re the one that spit on me!” He was going to hex him to the point that all of them would think twice before coming across with any comment his direction. Yanking his arm free, he pointed the wand in Jay’s direction and had uttered the first couple letters of the spell wordlessly when he stopped cold, eyes widening.

 

 

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Knowing full well he couldn’t start throwing hexes, Harry’s mind raced over what he could do, knowing the fight was on. Then, quickly, it clicked. Though he wanted to grin about the evil plot he had just hatched, he didn’t, knowing that would give Draco a heads up about it. Stepping back, Harry concentrated and let the transformation take place. In under a minute, a large red, three-toed, wingless Japanese dragon stood in his place. Glowering down at Malfoy, it opened its mouth and hissed, showing its powerful fangs in hopes of backing the ferret down before it progressed any further.

Since most of the Bums had seen him use his animagus form before, they cheered loudly, clapping. Having been schooled at Hogwarts, they were all taught that it was impossible to become a magical creature of any kind. But, since the being they knew as Jay had learned how to do it in the Far East, he was taught differently, thus having the form of what was known as a Japanese Tatsus. It was, honestly, no matter how many times they saw it, an awe inspiring sight. But, to confront a bully like Draco Malfoy with such a thing, was something that was worthy of watching. Almost as good as the ferret incident the way they saw it.

Glaring at Malfoy, Harry couldn’t resist putting a bit of fear into him. Opening his jaws a little wider to ensure that he saw all the jagged teeth, he then drooled on him slightly, long strings of saliva dripping off his fangs down onto the obviously frightened Draco. Though he knew he should quit there and transform back, he couldn’t bring himself to do so. This was the first time that he had a distinct advantage to drive home the point that he didn’t want messed with and he planned to take it. After shooting the ferret one last glare, he turned his head to the side then let loose a long jet of flame down a deserted stretch of the beach. The heat from his fire instantly made a pathway of pure glass from the melted sand.

That being done, knowing it was enough to drive his point home, he transformed back, standing there glaring at Malfoy when it was complete. Stepping closer, he hissed out, “I’m the last being in the world you want to mess with Malfoy! I don’t need a wand to deal with you as you just saw. I would strongly suggest that you think about what could have happened to you if this had progressed any further or thought that you should start throwing hexes in my direction. Believe me, in that form, they wouldn’t work.” With that, he backed off then glanced at the smooth glass now covering part of the beach. Grinning widely, he then said, “And I would think long and hard about confronting me again. Next time, I won’t be so nice.” Turning to his friends, he nodded to them, knowing it was best to leave now rather than stick around to see what came next, then said, “I’m going to head out for the night. I think the mood for anything else is rather shot to hell.”

When he saw them nod at him, and a few cheered at what he had done, he turned then headed towards his home, all but whistling and grinning at what he had managed to pull off. Though Draco didn’t know it, Harry Potter had finally trumped him in a way that no one else had managed before, putting fear into him in a most spectacular way. That felt good, oh yes it did! It was better than anything he could have imagined when he went to Hogwarts. And it was a moment that he wouldn’t soon forget either.