Chapter Text
It all happened so quickly. Everything was normal in the Great Hall. Everyone was eating and laughing. Draco was relaxed as he rolled his eyes and grinned at his fellow Slytherins being foolish. He just turned 15 a few days ago, and it was pretty calm just like today.
Until the post owls flew in.
A school owl carries a red envelope. Draco smirks and prepares to laugh. When it is dropped in front of him, though, the smirk is wiped from his face immediately. Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy's eyes are all diverted to him. Draco is sure his face is paler than ever when he sees who sent it to him:
Lucius Malfoy.
He hesitantly opens it, and his father's familiar shouting.
"HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A MALFOY!" Lucius shouts. "WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT YOU BEING GAY?! MY SON! GAY!"
Draco's hand flies over his mouth, and his eyes widen.
"No.." he whispers.
"YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THIS FAMILY! WAIT A MOMENT! YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE LAST NAME MALFOY EVER AGAIN, YOU HEAR ME?! I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THE SIGNS WHEN YOU WERE 6! YOU WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HARRY POTTER!"
Draco's face lights up scarlet. It was true. His eyes travel to the Gryffindor table, praying that Harry left earlier. His prayers are ignored when Harry Potter's piercing green gaze locks with his.
"I RECKON YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A LITTLE CRUSH ON POTTER, DON'T YOU?! YOU'RE THE MOST DISGUSTING THING I'VE EVER SEEN! I REGRET THE DAYS I'VE EVER CALLED YOU MY SON! THAT WILL NEVER BE THE CASE AGAIN! I HAVE NO SON! YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME, DRACO!"
Draco feels his heart shatter. Before he can stop them, tears fall down his face. "Father, no! No!" he cries. "You can't do this to me!"
"YOUR MOTHER CANNOT SAVE YOU NOW! YOU'D MIGHT AS WELL BE A MUDBLOOD BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO MAGICAL PARENTS! I HOPE YOU'VE GOT WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED, YOU MUDBLOOD! YOU'RE AN ORPHAN, JUST LIKE THAT POTTER! YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! YOU NEVER EXISTED IN MY EYES! I HATE YOU! HOW DARE YOU BETRAY US LIKE THIS?! WHEN THE DARK LORD RETURNS, I WON'T BE THERE TO SAVE YOU WHEN HE KILLS YOU!"
The Howler rips to shreds in front of him. Everyone is stunned to silence. Their eyes are all locked on his shaking and crying form though. He suddenly slams his chair back and sprints out of the hall, sobbing his eyes out. Even Professor Snape looks after him with sympathy in his dark eyes.
When Draco slams the door shut to the boys' bathroom, he slams his back against the wall and slides down. He screams as loud as he can. His eyes burn and throb from the tears, and his head feels like someone is crushing it. His whole world just came crashing down under him. He's not even Draco Malfoy anymore. Without that he's...
Nothing.