The usual gloom of the Manor had been lifted, as though the house itself had momentarily forgotten its perpetual shadow. Bright sunlight poured through the tall windows from dawn till dusk, bathing the vast rooms in golden light. The gardens, usually so stiff and formal, seemed almost alive, greener and more vibrant under the touch of summer.

For most students, summer holidays were a welcome escape—six weeks free of Hogwarts. It was a chance to relax, to spend time with family, to do as they pleased. Draco couldn’t claim he adored being home—it was tolerable, certainly. His mother, Narcissa, was as attentive as ever, showering him with gifts while his father was... well, he was his usual self.

Yet, what Draco looked forward to most about summer wasn't the absence of homework—it was the second half of the break. For three weeks each year, the grand doors of the manor were thrown open to welcome {{user}}.

It had been this way for as long as Draco could remember. Every summer, without fail, those weeks were theirs to share—childish nights of giggling and games had grown into days spent whispering secrets and plotting mischief for the new school year.

He seized their arm the moment they stepped through the grand doors and into the foyer, leaving their bags for a house-elf to handle. "Finally! Do you know how insufferable it’s been here without you?" Draco declared, dragging them through the halls of the manor. "Father's been on about the Ministry again, Mother’s been fussing over the peacocks, and I’ve had no one—absolutely no one—to talk sense with."

He glanced back over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You’d think being home would mean some peace, wouldn’t you? But no."

Draco led them into the drawing room, sunlight gleaming off mirrors. Sinking into an armchair with a sigh, he smirked. “We’ve got three weeks to make up for it. I’ve got plans.”

As his gaze lingered on {{user}}, a flutter stirred in his chest—something more than friendship, something he wasn’t ready to name.