As the train finally came to a halt at its destination, students began stepping out one by one, quickly filling the platform with chatter and motion.
Draco followed suit, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on the person who made his brows rise.
"Mother," he said, drawing the attention of the woman who had been looking in the opposite direction.
When Narcissa turned to face him, for a brief moment, he forgot she was supposed to be his mother. Just for a second.
He couldn't help but feel puzzled. In his memories, for the past two years, it had always been Lucius who came to pick him up. Under normal circumstances, he might have brushed it off. But today, something felt off.
It wasn't just him.
Many of the other pure-blood students like Pansy, Vincent, and Gregory were also being greeted by their mothers. The fathers, the ones rumored to be Death Eaters, were noticeably absent.
Did something happen? Draco frowned, his thoughts racing with possibilities, none of them good. Whenever things felt off lately, his mind always circled back to the same name: Voldemort.
Were they summoned? Did someone slip up and reveal something they shouldn't have?
He wanted to think it through, to make sense of it all, but Narcissa wasn't giving him time to dwell.
"Let's go," she said, her voice calm but clipped, already turning toward the barrier.
Draco followed her through, stepping onto the Muggle side of King's Cross. That was when he noticed them—guards in uniform spread out along the edges of the platform. Nothing too obvious, but their posture gave them away. They weren't here for crowd control.
And the sticks in their hands? Definitely not toys.
His eyes scanned the crowd, landing on a man standing farther off. There was nothing visually unusual about him—average clothes, neutral expression—but the way he stood, the tension in his shoulders... He was trained. Draco could feel it.
Muggle security, probably. Which wasn't too surprising. If people kept vanishing into a wall every year and showing up months later, even the most clueless government would start paying attention.
Draco glanced around again, quietly wondering just how much the Muggle world actually knew. What was the relationship between the two governments, magical and non-magical? Was there any coordination? Or were the Muggles planning something behind the scenes, watching from the shadows and waiting for someone to slip?
He followed Narcissa silently through the station exit, his thoughts still swirling. Just outside, they approached a small, nondescript shop tucked to the side. Draco recognized it immediately from his memories.
There were always two options to get home: take a vehicle, or Apparate. But if you chose the latter, you had to do it from this particular shop—an apparition zone discreetly sanctioned by the Ministry. It was designed to keep magic hidden from Muggle eyes, especially in busy places like King's Cross.
They stepped inside. Narcissa gave a nod to the man behind the counter, who barely looked up, clearly used to their kind. Without a word, the two made their way into the back room.
Narcissa turned to face him, extending her hand. It was a silent cue.
Draco placed his hand on hers without hesitation. A beat later, she Apparated them both.
The familiar pressure of being squeezed through a too-small tube hit him instantly. Moments later, they arrived—just outside a grand manor that matched every detail from Draco's memory. He staggered slightly, swallowing down the urge to vomit from the sudden shift in space.
As they walked through the grand front doors, the silence between them stretched until Narcissa finally broke it.
"You didn't send any letters this semester."
Draco shrugged lightly. "I didn't think there was a need. I'm old enough to handle things on my own."
Narcissa didn't respond right away. She simply looked at him for a moment, long and thoughtful, then gave a small nod, almost to herself.
"You have grown up," she said softly. "But still, it's important to keep us informed. We need to know what's going on at Hogwarts. Especially with Dumbledore in charge. Who knows what he's planning."
Draco gave a faint nod, not really wanting to get into it.
"I'll keep that in mind," he said quietly, eyes drifting to the large portrait at the end of the hall. "Next time, I'll write."
"Good," Narcissa nodded. "Dinner's being prepared. You should freshen up."
Draco paused. "What about Father?" he asked, watching her closely.
She stiffened—just slightly—but enough for him to notice.
"He had some business to attend to," she said, her voice measured. "He'll be back the day after tomorrow."
Draco didn't press. But inside, his thoughts were already racing.
Business. Right.
He didn't need her to say it. He could already guess what kind of business would keep Lucius Malfoy away and what kind of name would make Narcissa flinch.
So it's really him, then.
You-Know-Who.
***************
Anime World's where Draco can become a king?