11 Feb : Freedom Day Who: Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley When: sometime in the morning of Feb 11th, 1999 Where: Starts at Malfoy Manor Rating: R Status: Complete
Draco hadn't really slept much the night before. He'd laid down in his bed after writing a rather lengthy (for him at least) journal entry. Lay down, but his mind was racing. There were so many memories that raced about in his mind, keeping sleep from him. Usually he only slept three or four hours a night...he had spent many sleepless nights in Azkaban, and many more than that during the war. Sleeplessness and he were old friends.
After tossing and turning, he finally gave up, and made his way to the baths. He soaked in hot water for an hour or more, silently. Days could go by without him saying anything at all, even to his mother who lived at the other end of the Manor. They were still not as close as they once had been. The last two months had been as close to hell as Draco had been through, as she amused herself with re-establishing ties to the old pureblood families. Ones with daughters of age to be married. They had quarrelled about that only the other day. She was pushing him to make an appointment to see Asteria Greengrass. It seemed the girl was quite taken with him in school, and wished to go out walking with him. Draco nearly snorted. It was as if they'd been transported back three centuries.
Besides...he had plans for such things. And there would probably be doing a damned sight more than 'walking'.
He tried to sleep again, but it was no use. He was awake for the duration. He sent for an elf. He might as well eat breakfast while he waited for the hellcat to come fetch him. He ate quietly, reading over some more letters denouncing him in the Daily Prophet. He didn't know how many minutes, or hours, had passed when a house elf came to him. "There be a lady here to see you, Master," it said in its squeaky, high voice. "She says she is expecting you, but the Missus did not say anyone to be coming."
Draco looked down at the creature, ignoring the fact that his heart was now residing somewhere in the vicinity of his throat. "You will show her in," he said firmly. "The lady is my guest." He was actually pleased that the spell he had remembered to cast to allow her admittance if she should choose to use the gates to arrive had worked. It had taken a week's worth of research to ferret it out. The magic that protected the Manor was strong and old, but it would obey the master of the house. He had planned on simply waiting in his study, as if these meant nothing; just another friend coming to visit, but as the seconds ticked away, he found his feet moving, sending him behind the elf before long, and then 'Never mind, I'll do it myself," as he opened the door of the Manor and waited.