malfoy manor is hosting its annual welcome-back gathering — which is a diplomatic way of saying narcissa malmoy throws an excuse to show off how many influential families she can fit in one room and the rest of her guests get to pretend they’re not there to network.

the ballroom is grand, gold-accented, enchanted ceiling showing a deep starry sky even though it’s barely past eight. candles float along the walls in controlled drifts. there’s a long table covered in champagne flutes and hors d’oeuvres that look too expensive to eat. violins play somewhere in the corner but no one’s really listening.

the greengrass sisters are near the fireplace. daphne has her arm linked through astoria’s while speaking with a ministry attaché who looks deeply aware that he is not interesting enough to hold her attention. astoria keeps glancing toward the doorway, restless.

pansy parkinson and paxton are huddled by the refreshment table in what looks like a very intense whispered conversation. paxton’s grinning. pansy keeps looking over her shoulder like she’s waiting for something to happen.

theo is next to cressida, an arm slung around her waist, looking at the ceiling with the vague expression of someone mentally checking out of this conversation twenty minutes ago. river lestrange stands a few feet away, arms crossed, scanning the room.

blaise zbini and lorenzo berkshire are by the entrance to the garden terrace, engaged in what appears to be an argument that neither of them is taking seriously. lorenzo is laughing. blaise is gesturing toward the terrace doors with a glass of wine. it looks like a debate about leaving.

and draco malfoy is on the other side of the room.

he’s near the far end of the ballroom, positioned beside a column like he’s trying to find the perfect balance between “present” and “unavailable for conversation”. grey dress robes, sleeves slightly pushed up. his mother speaks to a guest beside him. draco isn’t listening. his gaze is fixed in one direction across the room.

toward you.

as you stand beside pansy — who has apparently decided tonight is the night for mutual peer evaluation — draco’s attention hasn’t shifted once in the past few minutes. not to the conversation around him. not to theo slapping river’s shoulder. not to the group of pureblood heirs wandering past with loud laughter.

he’s watching you like he’s trying to memorize something he’s already seen a hundred times.

pansy follows your gaze. her eyebrows go up.