InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "There's one hundred of you!?"

Ted Tonks (ted_isme) wrote in resurrectio_rpg,
@ 2009-03-21 07:22:00

Who: Ted and Draco
Where: The Leaky Cauldron
What: Draco could use a drink
Rating: PG?
Status: Complete!

Ted, contrary to popular belief, recalled what it was like to be young. And though he had been lucky to live a good childhood, he did remember some of the trials and tribulations about it. And knew very well that this recent generation had it harder than most. That was why when Draco, perhaps jokingly and perhaps not, said that he wanted a drink Ted didn't really bat an eye in offering to take him.

No. That was a lie. He did hesitate for a moment, but not for Draco's age. But simply because it was Draco Malfoy. Andromeda and Dora had been crafting a relationship with the boy, he knew, but Ted had stayed away. It was worry on his part that kept him away mostly. Worry that he'd extend a hand only to have it slapped away. But even that worry couldn't keep Ted from extending said hand when someone needed it most. And Draco..well, he needed it. Idly, Ted wondered what Andromeda or Dora would say about this.

So that was why Ted was at the Malfoy Manor, waiting now for Draco. When he saw the lad, young man really, he gave a bit of a smile. It was just sad that their first 'hang out time' was under such circumstances.

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tainted_faith
2009-03-21 09:07 pm UTC (link)

It would have been a lie if Draco said he didn't feel awkward about spending time with his estranged uncle. He had gotten to know Tonks really well over the year and had even talked to Andromeda via the journals enough, but he had kept his distance from Ted, not even participating in the man's class. It wasn't that Ted was a muggle-born that bothered Draco, but that he didn't know how to act around him. Technically they were family, but there were no blood ties. He was also a big factor in Narcissa and Andromeda having to part ways so Draco felt odd around him. However, Narcissa seemed to have grown to warm up to him so...why not give it a try? Especially when the man was offering alcohol?

Draco joined Ted where he waited in the sitting room. Lucius had refused to say hello, but Narcissa had paid her brother in law a visit at least. Draco bid his mother goodbye with a kiss to her cheek before he turned to Ted, holding a hand out. "Hello, Uncle."

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ted_isme
2009-03-22 12:50 am UTC (link)

The awkwardness went both ways, to be truthful. This was his wife's blood nephew. His own nephew. And really, he and Ted couldn't be more different. It was sad that something like this was what had to happen to give them something in common.

"Draco." Ted smiled a bit and took his hand, giving it a good shake before letting go and motioning that they should be going. "How are you holding up?" It was a quiet question, and Ted wasn't expecting a real answer. Not yet.

"Is the Leaky alright with you?"

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tainted_faith
2009-03-22 12:58 am UTC (link)

Draco tried to smile in return, he really did, but it just didn't land. However, most of that had to do with his feelings about Ernest's passing rather than Ted. Ernest had been part of Draco's childhood and had even tried reaching out in his last year, but Draco had never properly gotten the chance to reconnect with the man. Hence, thinking he'd never have the opportunity again hurt Draco in a way he didn't want to admit. Holding his head high was the only thing Draco knew to do and so he did it then, even in front of this supposed family member. "It's fine, Uncle." He ignored the question about his well-being. If he replied, he'd lie so best not to answer at all. "How's Aunt Andromeda? And Tonks?" Those were safe enough subjects and he actually did care to know.

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ted_isme
2009-03-22 01:17 am UTC (link)

It was alright that Draco ignored the question. He might have ignored the question himself if it was posed to him. "They're holding up alright enough. Everyone is still in a state of shock, I think." Admitted quietly.

Ted was also feeling slightly awkward because he didn't quite know how to handle Draco on a good day. He knew how even less at the moment. So they traveled in silence to the pub, and Ted opened the door for his nephew. "I don't imagine you saw it, Draco, but when Ernest drank..he laughed even more than normal." He smiled, thinking about his friend. "We'd have a good laugh over nearly everything."

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	tainted_faith 2009-03-22 09:36 am UTC (link)
	Shock didn't begin to cover the emotions Draco felt about Ernest's sudden death, but he held his mouth shut (for once). "Thank you," he said, stepping inside just before Ted. He couldn't help that the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he thought of Ernest getting drunk...especially with Ted. "A right funny sight I'd reckon." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ted_isme 2009-03-23 10:39 am UTC (link)
	"That it was, my boy. We'd give him hassle for whatever he said." We being whomever was around during the outing. The older man couldn't help but chuckle a little and navigated the way up to the bar. Taking a seat, he waited for Draco to do the same, and then motioned to the bartender. "Order what you like. I'm a fan of the ale myself." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

tainted_faith
2009-03-23 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Draco had to admit that he was impressed to find Ted treating him like an adult and not some child. Granted, Ted had only met him earlier that year, but that didn't ordinarily stop professors from seeing their students as kids. "Ale, hm?" It seemed very common, but...what the hell? Draco had agreed to see Ted on a whim; he might as well see what the man was all about. "If it's awful, you'll have to explain yourself." He cracked the barest hint of a smile.

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ted_isme
2009-03-24 11:23 am UTC (link)

Ale was quite common, but that was the beauty of it. Sometimes the more simple things were the ones that were the best. At least that was Ted's way of thinking.

At the twinge of a smile, the older man lifted his eyebrows and offered an encouraging one of his own. "If it's awful, I'll make it up to you by ordering one of those fancy drinks with an umbrella in it."

Yes, he was teasing.

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	tainted_faith 2009-03-24 11:50 pm UTC (link)
	Draco's immediate reaction was that of defense. He wasn't a bloody *woman* woman for pity's sake. However, as he looked at Ted's kidding face, he couldn't bring himself to utter an insult. The man meant no harm. "Funny, Uncle. Very funny." He accepted his glass from the bartender, sampling slowly. "Not bad," he admitted. "Next round on me!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ted_isme
2009-03-27 12:45 am UTC (link)

Ah, there we go. Ted genuinely believed that many misunderstandings could simply be cleared up with a well-placed witticism or joke. It was simply sad that others didn't see it as such.

Thanks be to Merlin, Draco looked like he might just yet. "There are different kinds, of course. But sometimes the fancier the thing the further away it gets from being good." He tipped his glass toward Draco in a bit of a salute. "I'll hold you to that, Draco." Said with a smile.

Then he became somber for a minute and sighed, rubbing his free hand over his face. "To missing people. And to not forgetting. Ever." This salute was to Ernest, the wretched man. He left them all too soon.

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tainted_faith
2009-03-27 12:50 am UTC (link)

Draco's faint smile vanished when Ted reminded him of not only Ernest's loss, but Angus' as well. Draco had never felt such pain until his sixth year; he had always found himself to be untouchable. Life taught him a hard lesson even without the badges and laws crushing his soul. "Ever," he agreed quietly as he raised his glass. He set it down after a long gulp. "Sometimes I wonder how he managed to get his foot through our door...thought it was always business, but..." He sighed. "There was something about him, wasn't there?" He was only sorry he never told Ernest as much.

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ted_isme
2009-03-27 12:59 am UTC (link)

"There was definitely something about him." The older man agreed after taking another drink. "Man didn't have a mean bone in his body, and that transcends a lot of the bad blood that's lingered over time."

Speaking of bad blood, he glanced to Draco and studied the young man briefly. There hadn't been any between them, for which Ted was thankful. It made the awkwardness that much more easy to start to get over. "I'd imagine that he probably garnered a few smiles from others while visiting your home."

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tainted_faith
2009-03-27 01:06 am UTC (link)

Draco inwardly cringed at the use of the term "bad blood" as his father's words about mudbloods sprung to mind. Things had changed, but that didn't mean Lucius fancied his son bonding with his muggle-born uncle. It didn't even mean Draco really wanted it. He didn't know what he wanted. Still, Ted was filling a void others left behind in the moment and Draco couldn't help latching on. "I think he drove Father mad," Draco confessed, a slight smirk spreading over his face. "They parented differently that's for sure. He did get me out of some really boring parties though. He'd fix my wrinkled robes right up and Father would never even know."

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ted_isme
2009-03-27 01:18 am UTC (link)

Being part of that so-called bad blood, Ted never thought about that particular term. Not in the context that the likes of Lucius Malfoy used it at any rate. So any cringing was currently lost on the older man. He was simply commiserating with another person who lost a friend.

"Ahh. And anyone who can get you out of a few boring parties is a friend for life." Ted grinned then, nodding knowingly. "My mother would have these ridiculous Christmas curry parties. Adult things, stuffy to a child. My favourite adults were the ones who would smuggle me out." While, granted, the very Muggle Tonks family get togethers were nothing like the ones held at Malfoy Manor, Ted could share in the memory of wanting simply to get away from the throng of people. And adoring those who helped him do it.

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tainted_faith
2009-03-27 01:28 am UTC (link)

It was weird to think about muggle parties. Did they do the same things? Act the same way? Draco half wondered if they had odd rituals like his family did for them. "I don't know why adults even bother children with it. It seems like it should be reserved for punishment or something." He beckoned over the bartender and requested another round after slipping the man a tip. "Mr. MacMillan and my Uncle Angus...that's Theodore's father, mind you, were always good for distracting though." He laughed, clearly remembering something. "Father caught me playing under a table covered in chocolate I sneaked during one Christmas party and he was so angry. He was going to spank me for not acting properly or some rubbish like that. Mr. MacMillan came over and he...he looked madder than I had ever seen. He barked something about children being children and snatched me away...well. Father seemed perfectly scandalized, but...he didn't spank me that night." Draco looked down into his full glass. "I guess he was one of my favorites back then."

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	ted_isme 2009-03-27 12:11 pm UTC (link)
	That was a very Ernest thing to do, Ted knew. And he smiled, thankful that Draco had some sort of advocation for him. Lord knew that Ted would have quickly made himself unwelcome (if there had ever been an attempt) quite quickly. "He easily made his way as people's favourite, I think." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	tainted_faith 2009-03-27 09:52 pm UTC (link)
	"How did you meet him?" Draco found he was genuinely curious. He didn't know much about Ted at all despite spending some of Christmas with Tonks. It seemed like Ted was the elephant in the room during their talks. It was better not to mention him rather than risk ruining the moments. But, really, what stopped Draco then? Nothing. Nothing at all. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ted_isme
2009-03-28 02:38 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, it's quite a boring story Draco." Ted pish-poshed a little, but was smiling into his drink. He looked back up again and lifted his eyebrows. "I wasn't always a professor, you know. I used to write for the Prophet. Freelancing mainly, and for the sports section." When the Prophet began getting too political, and skewed in the direction that Ted didn't believe in, he transitioned quickly to a Muggle news revenue, but that was neither here nor there.

"I met Ernest at a Quidditch game some time ago. We were in the same line for something to eat and struck up a conversation. I'd imagine this was when you and Ernie were around nine or so." He chuckled, "In fact, I think Ernie was brought up. Said that he'd be a far better referee than the one that was out there. I was inclined to agree. That referee was absolute rubbish. A travesty to the game." Though he never picked up the same fierce love for football, Ted was something of a Quidditch fanatic underneath mild manners.

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tainted_faith
2009-03-31 05:22 pm UTC (link)

Draco chuckled. "Ernie never did want to play, but he'd probably make a good rule enforcer. Certainly reminded Teddy and myself of the rules enough back then." Of course, it had all ended their first year. Sometimes Draco wondered if life would have changed had he kept that friendship. Still, he knew one couldn't change the past no matter how hard he wished for it and left those dreams for the latest hours of the night.

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	ted_isme 2009-03-31 07:56 pm UTC (link)
	Ted smiled then, chuckling. "There's always one in every bunch." One rule-keeper to remind the others, that was. Speaking of Quidditch, it was always a safe subject. And Ted was curious, besides. "How was it, being up there? You were good." He had seen Draco play before he left school. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	tainted_faith 2009-03-31 07:58 pm UTC (link)
	Draco's eyes widened in surprise. "You saw me? Really?" He didn't think anyone outside Severus (and least of all Ted) cared enough about the Slytherin team to watch, let alone praise Draco's skills. How many times had Potter bested him through sheer dumb luck and stolen the glory? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ted_isme 2009-03-31 08:17 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course I did! I enjoy watching all of the teams play. And appreciate a good Seeker when I see one." He held his glass out in cheers for that, whether or not Draco clinked with him in good nature. It interested him that Draco seemed so surprised, and also made him a little sad. He didn't blame Draco, naturally. It just was what it was. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	tainted_faith 2009-03-31 11:19 pm UTC (link)
	Flattery did get far with Draco Malfoy. His expression honestly relaxed and his smile widened as he clinked glasses with his uncle. "Well, then, to good taste!" (Reply to this) (Thread)

	ted_isme 2009-04-02 02:20 pm UTC (link)
	He laughed, "To good taste." Agreed heartily. Then the older man lifted his eyebrows, "So what was it like up there? I was never talented enough to play, though my friends and I played a few pickup games during the summer." Oh! Ted smiled again, remembering something. "You and your mother should come over for dinner soon, by the way." (Reply to this) (Parent)