"How are things at Hogwarts? Anything new or out of place happen?" Lucius asks, his hair just moving on his shoulders as he talks. Draco fights with his conscious.
How does he want me to answers?
Does he know how I'm going to answer?
This is a trick. That's one thing he knows sure. This is a test to see if he will mention Nebula's disappearance or even her name.
"Nothing, just classes that are slightly changing. We may be getting new teachers but, when isn't that heard in the halls of Hogwarts?" Draco says taking a quick glance out the window, there almost home. Thank goodness. Being with his parents, especially his father, is nerve wrecking for he doesn't know how to answer correctly without receiving a punishment later on.
"Ah, one thing that never changes, the humor and gossip of new teachers.." Lucius sighs as Draco tries to remain calm in this situation. "What about your academics?"
"Top of the class. I may be the male Perfect next year for Slytherin, more like I will, for there are no other males that can dominate me in that house." Draco puffs his chest out a little, earning a small chuckle from both his parents.
"Draco, the Perfect. That sounds quite excellent, oh and also, we have a guest who is staying over at our house." Draco holds his breathe just for a second, hoping it would be someone he can tolerate. For some previous guests of his fathers were very odd and pesky.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot about that, where shall he stay?" His mother speaks, for once this whole ride.
"Oh, in the guest room near the kitchen I suppose, he needs space to work on what he is doing right now.."
"Oh yes, yes," the family gets out of the carriage and on to the stone that leads to the Malfoy Manor. The jewel of houses in all the wizarding world. Upon entering his mother pulls him over to the side. Lucius notices this and becomes suspicious.
"Don't be too long, I want Draco to meet this guest, I know he will enjoy his presence.."
"Of course," once Lucius is far away for the two she grabs Draco's shoulder and pushes him down to ear level, "you need to leave."
"What?"
"Hush! Draco, you need to leave, the guest is Nebula's father, and he will do anything to get into your mind." Nebula's name brings up the anger and fear that is cooped up inside him that he can't show to anyone.
"But mother, why do you bother telling me?" His mother sighs and leans in closer to his ear. Making sure he is listening closely to what she is going to say.
"You care about Nebula," Draco opens his mouth to deny his feelings but his mother gives him that look and he shuts up right away, "he will get into your mind, he will know all of your thoughts, there is no way to block him Draco. If anyone finds about you harboring feelings for Mr. Quests daughter you will surely get the worst, and I don't want that to happen.."
"What is the worst that can happen?"
"He could kill Nebula."
Draco stares straight into his mothers eyes. Those four words just made his emotions cringe and want out of their cage. There's no way that her father would kill her. None. None! It isn't acceptable!
"Draco, he knows where she is. He is the only key to getting her out of, wherever she is.." He shakes his head at her. This whole thing is wrong, no matter how you look at it.
"This isn't acceptable. I can't lie and try to learn the truth just for my own...wants.." He gets out, a light blush forming on his cheeks. Nerissa raises her eyebrow and stares down at her son, not believing what she is hearing.
"Draco, I know you better than you know yourself, you care for that girl immensely, even if you try to deny it. I know the truth, and you cannot run away from the truth, it is always there and it will always be there. I know how much she means to you, I know my son. I know what he would do for her to be safe.."
Draco draws back and his mothers win in this match. He shakes his head and glances over his shoulder.
"But, how will I find out the place that she is at?"
"Just leave that to me." And with that conversation done Draco walks to find the guest, that is actually Nebula's father, making things far more awkward than they should be.
His father and her father are in a small conversation of their own, it ends quickly once he is seen.
Draco takes in the figure that is the guest. How different he has changed, he no longer looks fully human. Mr. Quest was normally a tall man with a serious face and didn't show much emotion, but now he's taller, his is just skin and bones, with a sanity that goes up and down constantly. The once barely laughing man is howling like a lunatic, not to mention the mark upon his arm gives it away that he has changed, drastically.
"Draco, it's been a while son, actually not too long," he laughs, it's mixed with giggles that are disturbing to hear.
"Yes Mr. Quest, it has been a while.." He says back to the 'man' ahead of him. Though the last time would have been summer when he tried to kill Nebula's mother and herself. And don't forget the Quidditch field, that too was last year.
"Well, I thought you'd bring up the small accident you ran into with me, that was quite a show my worthless daughter put on, thinking she could defeat me, ha!" Draco tries not to be affected by what she was just called, worthless. She isn't worthless. She's anything but that.
"It didn't seem important to bring up, must have slipped my mind.." He chuckles and lays his boney hand on his shoulder.
"Oh it must have.." from behind him the snake emerges once again. The same crimson eyes and daunting fangs.
This conversation is going to be an interesting one..