A/N: I am writing this story strictly for pleasure; all characters are blatantly borrowed from the wonderful world created by JK Rowling and no profit is being made. Sigh... Also thanks to Pippin without whom this story would not be what it is.
There's a line in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when Harry meets Draco about Draco's mother being at Ollivander's looking for wands...
Chapter 3 - Very Curious
"Master Draco Malfoy, you is getting up now, sir. Young Master's mother is wanting you downstairs now, sir," squeaked a high-pitched voice.
Draco moaned and rolled over, totally ignoring the annoying voice of Bode the house-elf, and pulled the sheets over his head.
Bode pulled the covers back off Draco's head. Draco flung out an arm and knocked the house-elf across the room. Bode whimpered as he struggled to his feet.
"Bode is sorry, sir, but Master Draco's mother was most insistent." Bode bowed low, his large ears brushing the floor.
Draco rolled back over and sat on the edge of his large feather mattress. The dark green velvet window drapes were pulled back, allowing early morning light to illumine the room. Highly polished dark mahogany furniture gleamed in the sunlight. Silver and green bed hangings graced his four-poster.
Draco squinted at the clock. Seven thirty a.m. Much too early for him since he'd stayed up late trying to eavesdrop on whomever came to the house last night. Whoever that was, he was very important. Draco had been ordered to his room immediately after dinner, instead of being allowed to listen to the Quidditch match on the WWN. Draco had listened at the drawing room door but didn't recognize the voice speaking to his mother, and only heard a few words before an Imperturbable Charm was put on the room. He wondered if it had anything to do with his father or the Dark Lord. Nobody was giving him any information.
He's my father, Draco thought angrily. I have a right to know what's going on.
After taking care of his morning business in his obsidian and silver bathroom, he pulled on his dressing-gown and headed down the stairs.
He found his mother in the front salon, a coldly elegant room. Sparkling mirrors edged in gold and silver leaf were spaced in a regimented line around the walls of the room. Morning sunlight poured in the large windows filtered by sheer panels and ice blue silk draperies. White marble surrounded a cold fireplace and covered the floor. One large light blue patterned Oriental rug covered the area in front of a Louis XIV desk, behind which sat Narcissa Malfoy.
Narcissa was dressed in her normal attire, formal dress robes of black silk, with accent colors of blue and green in subtle patterns. Her white blonde hair was up in a chignon, not a wisp out of place. Elegantly manicured nails tapped lightly on the desk as her cold blue eyes gazed on her son.
"It's about time, Draco. I sent for you fifteen minutes ago," she stated flatly.
"I was asleep, Mother," Draco began.
Narcissa cut him off. "In the future, I expect my summons to be answered promptly. You have nothing better to do this summer than come when I call you," she said.
"Do you know what I have here, Draco?" Narcissa then asked rhetorically, fingering a piece of parchment on her desk.
"No," he answered.
"Don't say 'no' to me like that, young man. I have here a bit of news from Hogwarts. It seems that your O.W.L. results are not up to the Malfoy standard. Out of a total of twelve possible O.W.L.s, you have managed to obtain six, and only two of them Outstanding. Of course, Severus awarded you an O in Potions. He's always been very helpful to us. Much to my surprise, the only other O you received is in Astronomy. You didn't even obtain an O.W.L. in Care of Magical Creatures, when you are clearly superior to that brainless oaf who teaches it. What is your explanation for this?" she asked coolly.
Draco didn't answer.
"What do you think should be done to a boy who doesn't study? Who allows an ugly little Mudblood to obtain all twelve O.W.L.s?" Draco started. "Oh, yes, I have my sources," Narcissa told him. "Hermione Granger received high marks in all classes. Tell me, Draco, how is it that she, with no magical background at all, should beat you, the heir of one of the oldest pureblood families?"
Draco just stood there, seething. Oh, how it galled him to be grilled by his mother over being beaten by Granger!
"And, of course, there is Harry Potter," Narcissa went on ruthlessly. "Did you know, Draco, that Harry Potter, the perfect little prince of the wizarding world and the cause of your father's incarceration, received eight O.W.L.s?"
"Potter got eight O.W.L.s because he's Dumbledore's pet," spat Draco. "It's always Potter this and Potter that. Every time he twitches the professors are all over him," he went on contemptuously.
"Silence!" Narcissa hissed. Her usually well-modulated tones dropped to a sinister whisper. "It is a sad day indeed when a filthy little Mudblood and a half-blood can beat a Malfoy. I happen to know that our Dark Lord was busy, shall we say, 'distracting' Mr. Potter's attention last year and still he managed to surpass you. It is not to be borne. No, stay where you are!" Narcissa commanded as Draco shifted restlessly.
Long nails tapped quickly on the desk as his mother thought about the problem.
"I do believe, Draco, that it is not entirely your fault that your marks are not what they were expected to be," said Narcissa consideringly. "I do remember purchasing your wand myself. I wanted only the best for my son and bought what I considered a powerful wand of dragon heartstring and ash. Apparently it is defective. That can be the only acceptable reason you failed."
Draco knew better than to contradict his mother while she was this angry.
"Go upstairs this instant. We are going to visit Mr. Ollivander's shop. You must have a wand suitable for the task ahead of you when you take your place in the proper order. Yes, only the best will do. And Draco," she continued menacingly, pinning him with her cold blue eyes, "do not disappoint me again. It would not go well with you to come in behind Harry Potter a second time. You will not receive a third chance."
"What do you mean, Mother?" asked Draco, horrified.
"Never you mind. Just get dressed. We're going to Diagon Alley."