I Never Had a Choice

Chapter 40- Trafalgar Square

I stood silently and watched the coin flip out of my shaking hand. I breathe in as it arced in the air before it fell back down towards the earth, only to come in contact with water instead of the hard pavement. I flinch slightly as the water from the fountain splashed up with the impact of the small coin.

As I watch my ever changing reflection in the fountain, I notice the dark circles around my sunken eyes. I notice how my skin seems to have clung to my skull like shrink wrap. The month of sleepless nights has started to takes its toll on me.

"Are you doing alright, young lad?"

I jump when I hear someone speaking to me. I turn to look at the older man. He has flaming red hair that's starting to thin out on top. His square glasses make his face look smaller than it actually is.

"I didn't mean to scare yeh," the man says in a heavy Scottish accent.

"Uh, it's okay. I was just lost in thought and you startled me," I reply.

"Do you come to Trafalgar Square often? I seem to find myself here a lot since I moved to London," he states.

I stare back at the fountain, "I used to come here with my mother when I was home from school."

"So you went to a boarding school, did yah?"

"I still do."

He looks over at me, "Then what're you doing here? Holiday vacation?"

"Something like that."

He looks down at his shoes, "So, if you come here with your mother, where is she? I'm sure she's lovely."

I look over at the older man, I know he's trying to be friendly so I don't want to tell him. Instead I say, "She's at home waiting for me."

Right then, I look up and see a small blonde haired boy in the other side of the fountain. His crystal blue eyes shine in the sunlight. His pointed features are shocking because they make his face seem older than the boy it is on.

The man I was talking to sees the boy I'm looking at, "Say, that boy looks like you. Are you related? His mother seems to know you."

I look at the boy's mother.

My mother.

I grin a little, "No, not related. Just someone I used to know."

"Alright, well, I'll go then so you can go say hello. It was nice talking with yah, young lad," the man says as he walks away.

I can't be bothered to look at him. I'm too mesmerized by Mother's beautiful face.

I make my way closer to Mother and my six year old self. I get close enough that I can hear me saying, "Mommy, when I get older I want to be in Slytherin. Oh! And I'll make daddy happy by being friends with good kids. Ones that he'll like. I can't wait to go to Hogwarts!"

"Shh, Draco," Mother says, "we're surrounded by muggles. You can't talk about Hogwarts here."

Six year old me puffs out his chest, "I am a Malfoy, I can talk about Hogwarts if I want to! These muggles need to know about the best school in all the whole world!"

"Draco, darling, you can't go there for several more years, enjoy being little while you still can. Anyways, stop running around, we need to go home. Your father will be home soon and Dobby will have dinner finished as well," Mother insists.

"Yes, Mother," younger me complies and follows Mother towards the crowd. Before they get lost, Mother turns around, looks me in the eye, and simply nods.

Then, she's gone and I'm standing in my room at Hogwarts again, clutching the Travel Turner.