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Chapter Six:

Draco woke up the next morning burrowed under his covers, lying on his stomach with one leg drawn up so that his foot was rested against the opposite knee and his butt slightly in the air. He’d been having a pleasant dream but that’s all he could remember.  He vaguely remembered Harry and cuddling happening, but no sex things. Which was fine considering Draco didn’t yet have any interest in such things.  Rolling onto his back he stretched then opened his curtains and squealed immediately seeing two pairs of big soulful eyes on the other side.

“Mistress Lenore sended us. She insist that we need to be safe before her is willing to do anything. I be Mossey, and this be Wodbey. What we need to do so her and little master be safe?”

Draco heard Theodore snort, and while sitting up glared at his Godbrother before turning his attention back to the elves. Draco guessed that while Mossey looked to be your average common house elf, Wodbey was a throwback minor elf like Hades and Ares because he resembled the two of them quite a bit.  Slipping out of bed, Draco knelt down to be closer to Mossey’s height as he spoke to the two elves.

“Zeus or Hera,” He called quietly before speaking to Mossey who was trying her hardest to hide her fear behind bravado. It was easy to tell that neither elf had been treated well. Both of them were wearing dirty, stained pillow cases. Mossey was shaking while Wodbey was hovering closely behind her, and Draco couldn’t miss his balled up fists.

“I know that you are used to a master who treats not only the two of you poorly but also treats his wife and son badly. My guess is that the only reason you stayed was because you wanted to be able to protect or heal them as best as you could. I want you to know that I find that both honorable and commendable. I promise you that as Lenore and Gregory’s Lord I am going to do everything I can to get them out of that situation.”

Before Draco could continue Hera popped in still wearing her mourning dress, which was tradition for the first 6 months of mourning. Hera, this is Mossey and Wodbey. They are coming to us from Cousin Lenore and her son and both are joining our household. Although the plan is to eventually make them officially PA Elves with Mossey being assigned to Lenore and Wodbey being assigned to Gregory. They will need some training from two of our elves. Before that can happen though I would like to see them in official Malfoy outfits and taken to the enclave to be checked out.”

“What about mistress? It will be bad for her if we no is there.” Wodbey insisted eyeing Draco doubtfully.

“Hera is going to assign someone to go and watch over your mistress. I’m thinking Aphrodite, because she is one of my bravest female house elves. At the first sign of danger she will pop Lenore out and take her to the Cottage until I get her permanent new home worked out. Hera, tell ‘Dite to help Lenore pack up as much as they can before it gets to be too dangerous. If she thinks that she needs Hades or Ares I am ok with that. Things I can replace and will do so without question. I can’t replace Greg’s mum. Any questions?”

“When do we gets new bonds, and will Mossey and Wodbey be able to have room together? Old master no allowed relationships between house elves, but Wodbey and Mossey be together since before we move houses.” Mossey asked and Draco tilted his head to one side in consideration.

“Well first off, I have no issue with the two of you being together and if you want to formally mate and have babies you have my blessing. You wouldn’t be my only bonded pair of house elves. In fact, Hera here is bonded to Zeus. They share the duties of managing all the elves that work inside of the house. As to the new bonds…”

“I would like to wait until you’ve received healing from the enclave. That way, I know you are both in tip-top physical and mental health and are making decisions because you want to do it and not out of fear. You have my word as Lord Malfoy that you waiting will not affect in any way what I do for your mistress or little master.

“Gregory is one of my best friends, and I know what his mother means to him. I will not let her suffer any more than she already has if I have the power to prevent it, and I do.”

“What the trick?” Wodbey asked, looking skeptical, and Draco slowly shook his head no.

“No trick. I promised myself a long time ago that I would be a better Lord than either my father or my great-grandfather were. My house elves were my friends when I was small because they were the only real consistent playmates that I had. I’ve never beaten them and all those under my orders have been advised they are not allowed to physically punish themselves. I’ve never had an issue with my elves that we haven’t been able to talk through. I know what physical punishment is like, and I would never do it to one of my elves.”

“Yous… yous understand?” Mossey asked creeping closer and Draco nodded solemnly.

“I do,” Draco swore and after she seemed to study him for a long while before eventually looking to Wodbey before they both nodded.

“We will go for healing. We believe that you will protect our mistress.”

“Thank you. As I said, Hera will take you for a new uniform and then to the enclave. I know we don’t have a bond yet, but I want to make sure those that will be seeing to your care know who will be responsible for the payment. If you need me for anything while you are there, the council should know where to find me, but you can also call for Apollo, who is my personal attendant house elf, Hera, or Zeus. You are one of mine, bond or no bond, and I take that commitment very seriously. So, take care of yourselves and I will worry about everything else.” All three elves bowed before they popped out leaving Draco to deal with his roommates who both were staring at him.

“Anything else you want to add to your plate, Drake?” Blaise asked and Draco just huffed and then stood to get dressed to go down to breakfast.

“No, I already have far too much on my plate and not enough competent adults in my life to help me with them. Let’s go eat. I’m famished this morning.”

Quickly the three boys finished dressing then headed down to eat in the sparsely filled Great hall. Because it was so early in the morning with only the NEWT level students really having to be up for any tests they have that day. The minute Draco sat down three owls swooped down from the rafters of the great hall to deliver their communications. One owl being Archimedes, which hopefully meant a reply from Cousin Sirius.  The second owl was a familiar great horned owl that Draco knew to be named Karnar and belonging to his accounts manager. The third was the same familiar tawny owl that belonged to his mother. Pocketing the first two messages, Draco immediately opened the third needing to know what his mother had said.

Draconis,

I feel as if in my last letter I was too harsh with you. I know that it was not you but that filthy know-it-all mudblood who cast the killing blow that sent your father through the veil. It is she that is responsible for our current situation. I am sure the only reason you didn’t immediately come to me was because you were afraid of my response. I have faith that you would not have gone for any reason other than to help your father.

If this is true please my son, come home. Your mother needs you. Our True Lord wishes to speak with you and I would be eager for you to take your father’s place amongst his ranks. I trust you know what an honor this is and what a mistake it would be to turn it down.

Let me be clear with you however, because there are those around me who do not believe in you as I do. If you did indeed knowingly and willingly betray your father and Our Lord… If you have turned your back on me and believe that you are going to just get away with it… If you think that these two new Lordships over the House of Malfoy and Black will save you then you are seriously mistaken. I will come for you with the full power of Our Lord behind me. 

Come home before you make a mistake that you cannot come back from. 

Your Mother,

Dowager Lady Narcissa Malfoy

“Letter from your mother?” Draco heard and looking up saw his Godfather standing there watching him with open concern on his face. With shaking hands Draco handed over the letter before taking a deep breath and filling his plate. He was making himself a breakfast sandwich with his eggs and sausage when Snape spoke again.

“You obviously cannot go home. I am honestly concerned about you going anywhere by yourself. So, I suggest that you keep your friends close, especially Crabbe and Goyle. I wouldn’t leave the castle grounds. The quidditch pitch should be ok but do not go as far as Hogsmead. If you can stay in the castle, even better. The headmaster has given you permission to use my floo for any business duties you need pertaining to your Lordships. He also would like to speak with you when you’re done here. The password today is sour gummy bears. If you’d like, come see me when you are done and we can fine tune your schedule and accommodations for next year.”

Draco nodded understanding and put his sandwich down before lifting his eyes up to look at his Godfather. “I will come see you. I think we should touch base today and I might as well get my assignment for potions for the summer. If I have to be stuck in the castle I might as well get my homework started.”

“Good, then finish eating. I am told that you barely ate over the weekend, and I noticed you picking at your dinner last night. You need to keep your strength up. Enjoy your breakfast and we will talk later.”

After finishing one sandwich, Draco grabbed two more slices of English toasting bread, as his mind wandered through all the info from this morning. “Tell me what we can do, Drake.” Blaise said quietly sitting to Draco’s right. Layering eggs, sausage and tomatoes Draco took a big bite before shrugging.

“I don’t even know. Actually, I do. I can’t deal with Pansy right now. I know that she is mad at me, and I anticipated her being upset about Dumbledore. As much as I don’t want her to be sold to Lestrange… I don’t know what I am supposed to do to help her. I hate that and it makes me feel like I am letting her down, but I just… tell me what I can do.”

“Short of marrying her which none of us are prepared to let you do there isn’t much you can do Drake. Which is why she’s really mad at you and that isn’t fair. You aren’t some all powerful entity and you have more on your plate right now than is fair. Let us handle Pansy. We’ll also take care of making sure Greg and Vince get into the right classes and that they get all of their assignments.”

Draco nodded, rubbing his temples, then froze and tilted his head to one side. “Do we know if either Ram Goyle or Stone Crabbe were at the battle on Thursday night? If so, they should be in jail and that should make things easier for us. I know that Vincent’s aunt that lives with them is as bad as Stone is so I am not as concerned about her health or safety.”

“And his mother is out of the picture right?”

Draco growled at the mention of Vince’s mother and stuffed the sandwich in his mouth, biting down on it angrily. “His mother is worse than mine, and my mother is playing mind games with me. Vince’s mother left him when he was small. The woman that he’s forced to call mum is his father’s longtime girlfriend who Vince hates. So, we don’t care about her either.”

The table fell quiet as the three of them finished their breakfast. Once his second sandwich was done as well as a yogurt parfait. Draco wiped his mouth then stood. “I am going to see the Headmaster and then I am going to see Sev. I will be happy to give a rundown of my conversations when I am done, or at least what I can say. Let’s plan for a meeting this evening after dinner?”

Blaise and Theo nodded and waved to Daphne, who was coming in with Greg and Vince. Once out of the Great Hall, Draco hurried towards the headmaster’s office, blurting out the password once he reached the gargoyles then hurried up the stairs. Reaching the top, he took a deep breath to center himself before he knocked and entered after being welcomed in.

His first thought upon seeing the Headmaster was that he’d aged decades in the few days that Draco had been gone. His second was that Pansy was correct and had every right to be upset. In front of him was the man that hated him just because he’d sorted into the wrong House.

“Mr. Malfoy, thank you for joining me…”

“Did you know that the first time I felt a stinging hex was when I was five. I spilled milk at the dinner table and made my father angry. I was so pleased the first year because I’d worked so hard to get good grades. My father though was less than pleased.

“You see, because he was on the board he knew that I hadn’t beaten the know it all mudblood and therefore I’d disgraced the family. He beat me with his cane so badly that I couldn’t stand. He had me thrown in one of the dungeon cells and refused to allow either mother or Apollo my pa elf to come heal me. I lay there on the cold stone for three days with no food, no potions, not even any muggle medicine, only water. The only reason that he eventually let me out was because mother convinced him that I stood the chance of being permanently injured if Severus was not allowed to come heal me.”

Slowly, Draco moved forward, lip curled in a sneer of disgust until he could take a seat in the chair in front of the desk. “I am not alone in my abuse. We purebloods may be pampered and spoiled but we live under high standards. Sometimes too high to ever be able to meet. We all came into this school excited because finally we’d have some freedom and safety. Then we got sorted into Slytherin.

“Yes we have some bullies. I admit freely that I’ve been a bully myself. The way I look at it, if I do it, if I keep the negative light on me then the others can just be themselves, or at least as much as they are allowed to be. You see we were all so excited and then the sorting happened. Our Headmaster looked at us as if we were scum. The Gryffindors booed and hissed at us and were allowed by staff that was at best indifferent.

“We are the bad ones. We are the troublemakers and the bullies and the miscreants. We are the ones that the teachers point the finger at first no matter who started it while people like Ron Weasley are excused as just being a boy.

“I am so mad at you! You treat us horribly. You think only the worst about us. And now what? Now that I have more power than you could ever have imagined in your worst nightmare you want me to trust you? Confide in you? Join you? Why should I? Why should I trust you with not just myself but my friends and those I have taken into my personal protection?”

“I am not sure you should, but fortunately, I have other more capable people around me that are trustworthy. I admit that I have done things that I am not proud of for what I reasoned was the greater good. I’ve manipulated people with potions, spells and hexes. I’ve assumed the worst of the innocent and given second changes to the irredeemable. I overlooked the plights of not just the snakes but of the child that many call my favorite because I thought that it was necessary.

“I did many things for the greater good, but many of those things were not good let alone great. I am sorry Lord Malfoy for everything I have done to you and yours. I am not sure that I am fit to be doing this any longer.”

“So what… You get to create all of these issues and then run away and leave them for someone else to fix? I will admit that I believe you wield far too much power. And if you have really done all these things…. What are you not telling me?”

Draco watched as Dumbledore froze in his seat and seemed to curl into himself under Draco’s scrutiny. “My boy,” Dumbledore started but was stopped immediately when Draco curled his lip in a growl.

“I am not your boy. I am Lord Black-Malfoy or Lord Emrys. If you really insist I will take Lord Black-Malfoy Emrys, but I prefer that in formal situations only.  What aren’t you… No, you know what? I need someone more impartial. Apollo!”

The house elf popped in wearing his formal mourning attire giving a low formal bow before standing with his hands clasped behind his back. “I need Professor McGonagall if she is available to come and join us. If she is not, my cousin Sirius will do. Or maybe we need both on second thought. This situation needs someone other than just me to hear this confession. I refuse to have to take on the responsibility for this. Please…”

Draco stopped and when his lip trembled slammed up his occulmancy shields locking his emotions behind the sturdy walls. Closing his eyes, Draco began resting potions and their ingredients as he had done since Severus first began teaching him potions. He found that doing so soothed his chaotic mind. “I am sorry Draco.” The headmaster murmured softly and Draco just shook his head as he tried to force his emotions into place.

It was becoming too much. Too much grief. Too much let down. Too much sorrow and pain. When he felt hands touch his shoulders he startled and opened his eyes to find himself looking into the concerned grey eyes of Sirius Black as McGonagall seemed to be interrogating Dumbledore.

“Please don’t ask me to be responsible for the school too,” Draco pleaded and Sirius’ face fell.

“Oh, kiddo. No, no you aren’t responsible for the school. Tell us what happened. What was said? This was supposed to just be a meeting about if you two could work together and your accommodations for next year.”

“Apparently, the Headmaster is a much worse person than any of us suspected. He confessed to manipulating people with potions, spells, and hexes. Hermione. The Weasel. He said he didn’t think that he should do this any longer. There’s something he isn’t saying but I can’t…

“I need someone else to be responsible for these decisions! I’m only sixteen! Why does he get off so easily? Why does he get to create a huge mess and then leave when he gets called out? Maybe he’s right. Maybe he should leave because right now I can’t imagine trusting him, but there is more than what he’s said to me and I can’t take hearing it alone.”

“What aren’t you saying, Albus?” McGonagall asked, sounding outraged as Sirius took a seat next to Draco, clasping their hands together. “Out with it, Dumbledore,” Sirius growled.

Dumbledore looked as if all the fight had been taken out of him. Draco tried to imagine feeling sorry for him but the only feeling he could pull forward was contempt.

“I’ve spent the last few days since our discussion thinking about my actions over the last several years. Questioning decisions that I have made and actions that I have taken. I told myself as I was doing them that it was for the best. It was for the greater good, and that meant that it was ok. If I had to sacrifice one person to save a thousand that was regrettable but it was the right thing to do.

“The more I thought about what I’d done the more that I realized I’d become the thing that I hated. I don’t belong here any longer. I should not be headmaster. You were right Minerva. I don’t belong around children.

“I’m not even sure I belong outside of Azkaban. I’ve put Harry in positions to try and influence him to be willing to sacrifice himself when the right time comes. I have positioned Ms. Granger, and pushed Ronald into being a certain type of way because I didn’t want Harry to have too many loving supportive relationships.

“I thought it was ok because they were just muggle born and Blood Traitors. I told myself that they should just be grateful that they had a place in this chess match I have been playing with other people’s lives. After realizing how far beyond what is right I had gone I went to Neumengard to see Gellert. His defeat is the one truly good thing that I had ever done. Only when I got there the protective wards holding him in were down and he was gone.”

“Gelert Grindelwald is gone? Escaped? He’s free out in the world?” Minerva asked, sounding horrified. “How long has it been since you checked in on him?”

“Years,” Dumbledore confessed, and Sirius Black growled but the headmaster wasn’t done.

“Lord Black-Malfoy asked me why I get to just leave after I’ve created this mess, and the answer is that I don’t have much of a choice. I won’t fight whatever you all decide but even if Azkaban is the decision I won’t live long enough to be there for long. I have been living with morbus tabescens (the wasting disease) for some time now. I see a specialist outside of the country and they recently told me that I only have a matter of months left, two maybe three if I am lucky.”

“So you just get to get away with everything that you have done,” Drao spat angrily, shaking his head and struggling to withhold tears. “I hate you. I don’t want you to be my headmaster any longer. I won’t say I am happy you are dying because that is beyond the pale. I can’t…

“You are a monster and I will make sure that once you are dead and Riddle is gone that the world knows how evil you were. Deputy Headmistress I formally request that my Head of House be able to go over whatever decisions I need to make with the Headmaster about next year with me and that once done he informs you. I will also tell you that I will be using whatever power I have to ensure that you are named the next Head of this school.

“That is with the understanding that Professor Snape is named Deputy. I think that it’s beyond time that the Slytherins have an equal say in this school. If you want my cooperation going forward then unity and fairness will be the theme of the year. I’m… I’m done. I’m going to see Severus and I am taking Sirius with me.”

“I am not sure that is wise,” Dumbledore started and Draco literally growled at him eyes full of hatred and his fists clenched tightly at his side.  “I don’t give a fuck what you are sure and not sure of you monster. Deputy Headmistress McGonagall if you wish to talk with me later, then I am willing to do so with Severus present. For now I am leaving before I am unable to withhold what anger I have been able to lock up.”

Then turning and shaking his head Draco grabbed Sirius hand and pulled him out of the room and down the stairs.  Fortunately, his cousin didn’t say anything until they reached the sanctity of Severus’ personal quarters. Opening the door with the emergency code that he had long ago been given, Draco hauled Sirius into the doom and once the door was shut immediately burst into tears.

He cried as if everyone he knew was dying. He cried as if his entire word was destroyed and maybe it was. The more he cried the harder that it became to stop it. He cried for his lost youth. He cried for the father who now would never be the man that Draco needed him to be. He cried for the mother that he knew he could never trust again. He cried for the years wasted asking himself what his house had ever done that the headmaster of his school hated them so much.

He cried and cried and didn’t stop until he literally couldn’t anymore.  At some point he became aware of a potion being forced down his throat and tried not to fight it. Eventually he felt himself being moved as his Godfather and cousin Sirius spoke quietly in his ears. Eventually, he curled up in his favorite chair and closed his eyes letting himself drift off to sleep.

When it was apparent that Draco had fallen to sleep, Severus stood and stared at Black who was lingering near the middle of the room. “How are you here and what happened?”

Sirius sighed and waved his hand to the sofa getting a nod from Snape who settled into the chair near where Draco slept. “Were you aware that Dumbledore is dying?”

“What!? How did this come out?”

Getting comfortable, Sirius recounted what he’d heard admitting that he didn’t think he’d heard the entire conversation between Dumbledore and Draco before he got there. “He was so furious that he was shaking and angry crying.”

“His occulmancy shields failed? That won’t go over well, but he’s been under a great deal of stress. So Dumbledore has been doing terrible things. Potioning Ms. Granger? I will start on a cleansing potion for her to take immediately.

“Mr. Weasley is a different matter as it sounds like he didn’t use potions or such just more traditional manipulation methods. Thus it will be much harder to get through to him, if we are able at all. And Gindelwald, I don’t even know what to think about that. I vote we pass the information on to Amelia Bones and let them deal with it. At least for now. I agree with Draco that he at least has more than enough on his plate, as do we all.”

“Will you do it?” Sirius asked turned on the couch to face Severus with one arm laying across the back of the sofa. “For that matter do you think that Dumbledore will actually resign so that Minerva can move into his spot? I know that Draco is the Earl of Southport, but that has very little to do with the school. So, it isn’t as if he can force Dumbledore out. Can he?”

“Actually, yes, he can. From the way I understand it Merlin and Arthur along with their descendants were granted places on the school board when there was an heir active. So, Draco or his proxy, which will eventually be you, will have a spot. As to taking up the Deputy Headmaster’s spot, yes. I think you will find that there is very little that I won’t do for Draco.”

“Knew you’d do it,” Draco murmured sleepily and Severus arched an eyebrow at him while trying to hide a smile.

“I thought that you were asleep brat.”

“Tried but I have too much going on in my head. Thank you for giving me the potion to calm down though. It all just felt too much. I don’t want more big responsibilities!”

“Nor do I want them for you. Tell me, do you want to live down here in the dungeons in a suite next year? You can also live in  a suite in Gryffindor towers because that is where your soulmate is or you and Potter can get a shared suite or set of suites separate from any of the houses. It’s up to you and he.”

Draco whined softly and sank his fingers into his hair pulling but his Godfather quickly grabbed them. “Let go. You don’t have to decide today. Talk to Potter about it. Let me know by the end of the week. What classes do you want to take?”

“DADA, Potions, Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration, Ancient Ruins, and Arithmancy. I want to be a Healer with a Potions Mastery.  My Dragon Guardian Irtheas Brenvroth has already agreed to let me study under him if I got at least EEs in all of those subjects, but I told him I would get at least 4 Os. Potions, Herbology and Ancient Ruins are sure Os. That just means I have to get at least one more. Of course I will be trying for 7 O’s, but I am hedging my bets there.”

Draco sighed happily and turned his gaze to Sirius who smiled at him. “Thank you for coming. I appreciate it.”

“I will always come when you need me, Draco,” Sirius promised, and Draco curled back up in his chair again. This time sleep drew him under, and his last thought was of his soulmate Harry Potter.