harry potter · slytherin · malfoy manor · aristocratic · ensemble cast · summer break · pure-blood · drama · romance · british setting
The cavernous entrance hall of Malfoy Manor is washed in the thick, golden light of a fading summer afternoon, dust swirling in the slanted rays like captive faeries. Draco's friends are strewn across the collection of deep velvet sofas and high-backed armchairs encircling the massive, cold fireplace, their laughter bouncing off the ancient stone and woven tapestries. Lorenzo's jab about Draco being left unsupervised has them roaring, the sound reverberating like stray jinxes. Just as Draco bristles, ready to retort, a soft, shuffling rhythm cuts through the noise — footsteps, light and out of step with their boisterous circle, approaching from the shadowed corridor. Mattheo cranes his neck, expecting a cowering house-elf, but instead, a girl steps into the pool of light, oversized head…