Relinquished

Chapter One – Concealment and Discovery

He knows that it’s her, so why is she denying him.

Draco Malfoy stepped of the boat on the jetty on the island of Lefkada in Greece. The sun beat down on his pale skin and he could almost feel it burning. He squinted despite the shades he wore. He turned around to survey the bay, and could see the mountain reaching out into the sea. He turned around to hand his mother off the boat too.

“Why did you insist on making me accompany you?” he asked her. She batted at his shoulder playfully.

“Who else would I bring but my favorite man?” she said smirking. She pulled a large oversized hat onto her head, and glanced around, “I could’ve sworn Hektor said he would meet us at the boat,”

Just then a large Greek man hurried forward. Narcissa raised her hand and waved.

“Missus Malfoy!” he exclaimed loudly.

“Oh, hello Hektor,” she said.

“Missus Malfoy, such a pleasure to see you again. And this must be your boy huh? Mister Malfoy, Hektor Onesiphoros,” the older man said holding his hand. Draco shook it.

“Right this way, Missus Malfoy, I have the villa all prepared for you,” Hektor waved them forward, motioning for a boy to grab their bags. Draco bent and picked up his own, sparing the boy too much work.

They were led up a brief stone stair, where a small car was waiting. Their bags were loaded into car’s hatch, before they were ushered inside. Hektor took the wheel, and the boy climbed into the passenger seat. Draco was rather uncomfortable, his long legs meaning the small back seat was rather cramped for him. His mother smiled at the look of exasperation on her sons face and looked out the window as the car being to move.

Draco watched in interest as the car began it’s climb up a winding paved road. He watched children running, people working and people laughing. A whole jumble of happy noises, which made him lean his head back and smile.

The small car came to a halt. Draco had a bit of difficulty extricating himself from the door, and his mother stifled a giggle at his expense. He shot her a warning look and she held her hands up in surrender.

Hektor and the boy quickly unloaded the bags and Draco caught his first look at what he would be calling home for the next two months. Narcissa had suggested they both get away from England for a time. The war had come and gone, and although Lucius had been safely locked away in Azkaban and therefore in no real danger from either side, Draco had been forced into hiding, hunted by both sides. Not able to help him, Narcissa had just about gone insane with the worry. He had only been able to send her cryptic messages, for fear of them being intercepted. If not for the wits and skills of his friend and teacher, the blond never would have made it through to the other side, nor to the age of twenty five, which he was due to turn in a month. Acquitted of all charges by the new Minister of Magic, and given back his life, Draco had finally been able to return to the world. Although innocent in the eyes of the law, the public were much harder to convince. He had found that most people don’t forgive easily. He had been ostracized and taunted almost everywhere he went. Eventually shutting himself away from the world, and spending time only with his mother. She hoped that spending time here in Greece, away from the pressures of the Wizarding World in England, that her son would learn how to smile again.

The outside of the villa was rendered beige and it had tall windows. The second story balcony looked out towards the ocean. Draco followed his mother inside. She turned to watch her son. He’d grown so handsome, like his father. She worried about the scars she saw in him though. Nothing blemished his ivory skin, but she could read mental anguish in his eyes, and it worried her so.

“What do you think?” she asked light-heartedly. She turned and opened up on the wooden shades so the sun seeped into the room.

“It’s very nice, mother. As you well know,” he replied.

“Yes, yes, very nice,” Hektor interrupted, “This way to bedrooms, Mister Malfoy.”

Draco followed him up a set of stone stairs, and down a rather narrow hall. Hektor opened the door for him, and he stepped through into a spacious room. There was a huge bed, with heavy curtains of mustard yellow velvet. Near the window was a large wooden desk, with a tapestry covered chair. From the window he could see the hills of the island rising up, lush and green. His room opened out onto a smallish balcony. He stepped out onto it. From the side he could see the shore and he stared as turquoise blue water stretched out as far as the eye could see.

“What do you say now, Draco darling?” he heard his mother say from inside the doorway.

“It’s beautiful mother,” he said stepping back through the doorway, “I think I need to stretch my legs. Do you mind if I go for a walk?”

“Of course not darling. You go, I’ll unpack our things and see about getting something rustled up for an earlier dinner,” she said moving over to him and guiding towards the hall.

He leaned down and pecked her on the cheek.

“You’re the best,” he said. He took the stairs two at a time, and dashed out the door. He hit the hill at a jog, but slowed his pace to take in the scenery. It really was peaceful and lovely here. Everything seemed much cleaner than at home in England. He supposed that was because of all the white or beige buildings. He meandered about a bit before settling on heading towards the beach.

He passed a man selling fruit from a wagon, and paused to purchase an apple. He took a bite out of it and a small moan of pleasure escaped him. It tasted great.

When he got to the sandy beach, he took of his shoes and socks and walked for a bit still munching on his apple, feeling the rough texture of the sand beneath his feet and between his toes. He felt tired, but it felt so good to be out of doors for the first time in over a year, that he just wanted to relish it for a bit longer.

He plonked himself down in the sand and leaned back onto his arms. He closed his eyes and turned his face into the sun. A squeal bought his attention back to earth and he turned to watch the two children playing in the shallows, a woman nearby watching them laughing. A smile played on his lips. He glanced up and down the beach, just watching the other folk about. There was an older couple who strolled hand in hand towards the jetty. A teenage couple sat in the sand, shyly holding hands. Out on the rocks there was a girl in a white sun dress, frantically scribbling onto a large pad of paper. She was different to the other people he saw about. Her skin was tanned, but her hair was lighter. She had a mass of hair pinned up, with small tendrils falling over the back of her neck. She also seemed taller than a lot of the locals. Maybe she was holidaying too. He got up and started to stroll towards her. Her frame was slight but elegant. He watched as her graceful fingers moved over the paper. As he approached, he could see that she was drawing. It was a crude sketch of the boats bobbing around in the bay. Suddenly she turned to look at him, as though she had sensed him watching her.

For a moment they just stared at each other, before she looked away and back to her drawing. He was stunned. That was a face he knew only too well. That was the face of many a school related humiliation. That was the face of the only person he'd ever met that hadn't ever been intimidated by him and the power his name represented

“Granger?” he asked, stepping closer. The woman ignored him. He moved behind her, and touched her shoulder.

“Granger?” he asked again. She looked at him and shook her head.

“I’m sorry sir, but you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” she said.

“Oh rubbish, Granger, I’d know you anywhere,” he said.

She stood and faced him.

“Look, I’m sorry, but I’m not your friend,” she said. The reached down and grabbed a basket that had been hidden from his view by her body. She stuffed the sketch pad inside.

“Good day, sir,” she said. She pushed past him and started down the beach. He stared after her for a bit, before he broke into a jog to catch up to her.

“Look, miss, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding,” he said once he’d matched her pace.

“That’s fine,” she replied not looking at him.

“My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy,” he said, holding out his hand.

She stopped and looked at his extended limb. She looked up into his face and then back down at the hand. She shook her head and carried on.

“Wait a minute,” he said grabbing her arm.

“Let go of me,” she said dancing out of his grasp.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

She reached into her basket and pulled out a wand.

“Back off!” she hissed. He took a step back.

“Ok, Ok,” he said, “Gryffindor to the core, huh?”

Her eyes widened and she blushed. She turned and ran off down the beach. He watched her go and didn’t attempt to follow her. When she got to the road, she looked back at him. He waved casually. She fled down an alley, and was lost from his sight.