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The gleaming scarlet steam engine chugged its way into King’s Cross Station. It was exactly 6:30 and the train was right on time. Eager parents crowded the platform expectantly, craning to see their children once again. They stood on tiptoe, peering over the heads of other parents.

Narcissa Malfoy stood with her husband at the far end of the platform. She wore fancy cornflower blue robes and a look of excited impatience.

“I hope he’s been eating well,” She fussed. He looked a little bit peaky when he came home for Christmas last year.”

“Cissa,” Lucius sighed. “You’ve sent him sweets every other week since then. Although I hardly believe that’s the nutrition he needs, if he’s eaten a quarter of it then he’s more than fine. In fact, he may be quite obese.”

“Pish posh, love,” Narcissa waved a hand dismissively. “He’s a growing thirteen-year old boy who does a lot of activity on that Quidditch team,” She sniffed. “He needs all the calories he can get.”

Lucius rolled his steely eyes and narrowed them, scanning the crowd for his young son. He raised an eyebrow solely as he noticed a boy with short, spiky blonde hair halfway down the train. “Narcissa…” He nudged his wife and pointed at the boy. “Is that Draco?”

“Where?” She squinted slightly, looking, before widening her eyes in surprise. “Well I don’t even believe it! What has he done with his hair? He looks like a hooligan!”

“He’s gotten tall,” Lucius observed as they began to walk towards Draco. Their son saw them and broke conversation with Pansy Parkinson and began to wade through the crowd towards them.

“Mum, Dad!” He called as he reached them. He hugged his mother briefly.

“Goodness, Draco. You’ve grown at least five inches,” Lucius said as he clapped Draco on the shoulder. Draco nodded, “Yeah, my robes are getting kinda short.”

“And your voice is changing too,” Lucius pointed out. “It’s quite a bit lower.”

“Yeah. It’s been changing really fast,” the young Malfoy nodded. “I remember you had said that it’s a Malfoy thing, right?”

Narcissa laughed brightly, “Honey, I think your father has been a baritone since he was thirteen. It’s quite a Malfoy thing.”

“Well, we’re just going to have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and get you some new robes, Son,” Lucius said. “We just got you new robes three months ago and you’re going to need several new pairs, I am thinking.” He paused and looked at Narcissa, “Or, you’re just about your mother’s height. I’m sure you could wear some of her dresses…”

“Dad!” Draco whined as Lucius and Narcissa laughed. Draco had pulled his face into a scowl much like his father’s and was overreacting spectacularly at the remark.

“Amazing,” Lucius commented to Narcissa. “Send your child to Hogwarts for three months and they send you back a teenager. Incredible.”