The Boy Who Never Was - A Harry Potter Fanfic

Lucius Malfoy, who was part of the crowd was also part of the embarrassed group.

Seeing an opportunity, I straightened my robes and approached him with the poise and grace Daphne Greengrass had drilled into me during etiquette lessons. She had been relentless at my request, ensuring I could navigate the social minefield of purebloods with finesse.

I gave Lucius a polite, respectful bow, careful to convey the appropriate level of deference without appearing subservient—a delicate balance Daphne had forced me to perfect. Lucius's eyes flickered with recognition and approval at the display.

"Mr. Malfoy," I began smoothly, my tone adopting the polished cadence I knew he would appreciate, "might I request a brief private discussion? Matters of mutual interest regarding Hogwarts and our respective positions there."

Lucius's cool gaze lingered on me for a moment, assessing. He gave a faint nod. "Very well."

I turned slightly, gesturing toward Tracy Davis, who had been standing nearby. Her eyes widened in shock when I beckoned her forward.

"Ms. Davis, I would appreciate your presence as a witness," I said with a cordial smile.

Tracy sputtered slightly but quickly composed herself. "O-of course, Sky."

Hermione, who had been within earshot, crossed her arms and scowled. "A private meeting? Without me?"

I sighed, knowing her well enough to preempt the storm brewing. Before she could launch into a protest, I leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Her words froze in her throat. Her face turned crimson, eyes wide, lips slightly parted in shock. She seemed completely petrified, as if I had hit her with a full-body bind curse.

Around us, her parents exchanged wide grins, clearly enjoying the spectacle, while a few onlookers smirked knowingly. Draco Malfoy, however, let out a disgusted scoff from the side, his sneer practically radiating revulsion.

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, in contrast, seemed entirely unbothered by the display, with Lucius maintaining his usual composed expression and Narcissa offering the faintest of approving smiles.

"I'll explain everything later," I whispered with a grin, enjoying the rare sight of Hermione Granger utterly speechless.

I excused myself from my group with Tracy and Malfoy Senior.

With that, I seized the moment of her stunned silence to approach Tom, the innkeeper.

"Tom, might we trouble you for a private room? Somewhere discreet," I requested with a confident nod.

Tom, who had clearly witnessed more than his fair share of odd requests over the years, chuckled and gestured toward a door at the back. "Of course, young master. Right this way."

With Lucius and Tracy in tow, I stepped into the room, ready to lay the groundwork for what could be one of the most influential partnerships of my young life. 

Lucius was guarded, but the real negotiation began in the private room Tom had provided us in The Leaky Cauldron. I started by carefully laying up privacy wards, casting them with precision around the room. Lucius observed quietly, his eyes narrowing with interest as he recognized the spells as being well beyond first-year level—third or fourth-year, at least.

"Impressive," Lucius murmured, his tone carrying a note of genuine approval.

Satisfied with the wards, I chose not to waste any of our time. I pulled out a chair for Tracy, as decorum dictated, earning a shy but blushing glance from her as she took her seat. Once she was settled, I took my own seat, folding my hands together, and leaned forward slightly.

"Mr. Malfoy, I wish to discuss an acquisition regarding the Vanishing Cabinet currently located in Borgin and Burkes. I believe it holds value for me to study, but as it is situated in Knockturn Alley, I require your assistance in securing it. I am willing to make arrangements to ensure its acquisition is smooth and discreet. However, I understand that you are a man who values advantages, particularly for your family. If there are terms that would benefit your son during his time at Hogwarts, I am open to hearing them."

Lucius's expression shifted ever so slightly, the flicker of calculation in his gaze unmistakable. He saw an opportunity.

"A reasonable approach, Mr. Kingston. My son is my priority, and I would see him succeed. However, I have reason to believe that his path within Slytherin has been... less smooth than anticipated. Would you be willing to enlighten me on the exact nature of these difficulties?"

I inclined my head. "Indeed. I will be frank with you. Draco's conduct has made it difficult for him to gain the respect he desires. He has displayed certain brash tendencies that, while bold, are more akin to Gryffindor recklessness than Slytherin cunning. His outward displays of prejudice have also alienated potential allies."

Lucius's jaw tightened slightly. He had suspected based of his interactions with his own constituents, something has been feeling off ever since Draco was sent off to Hogwarts.

I took the opportunity to retrieve a neat folder from my bag, filled with copies of receipts and detailed accounts of Draco's spending habits that I'd gathered through my business dealings. I slid it across the table to Lucius. "This is a summary of Draco's expenditures at Hogwarts. You are welcome to keep it. You will find it... enlightening."

Lucius accepted the folder, flipping through the pages with a practiced eye. He let out a slow breath, his anger evident. "This is thorough. I will address this with Draco. However, I trust I can count on your discretion regarding the source of this information?"

"Im not one to talk behind people's backs or lie. It becomes too messy and keeping track of every lie is just a set up for failure in my opinion. That being said, unless Draco curbs his openly displayed hostility to everyone not pure-blooded, there is not much I can do for him in terms of support or helping him improve his own connections. What I can provide at the very least is indifference from everyone who he has annoyed. This accounts for at least 80 percent of the schools population by the way. Even with his typical everyday catchphrase, he has not done himself any favors."

Hearing this had Lucius looking very disappointed. 

"May I ask, what catchphrase my son has been spewing in school?" Lucius looked as if he was close to approaching a nice shade of pink.

"Tracy, would you like to do the honors?" I asked light heartedly.

Tracy just shook her head no. She was not one willing to pull this typical trigger.

Well someone needs to.

"Malfoys typical catchphrase that he says everyday without fail is and I quote "wait till my father hears about this.""