Fathers, Godfathers, and Godsons...Oh My

Chapter 18

The four serving detention were all resentfully hard at work, watched over by Mr. Filch and his cat as they cleaned up the disgusting bed pans that were obviously under some kind of spell as they seemed to reek worse with each night. Then they’d been dragged to the dungeons for a few hours of caldron cleaning before being shoved into the kitchens for dish washing duty, “Hello, Mr. Filch.”

Nott jerked around, staring at the mudblood as she came into the hospital. It was after curfew, yet she was walking freely? The old groundskeeper nodded to her and left the room, the door closing behind him with a evil sneer on his face. Nott started to stand and found himself flung into a bed, held down by ropes wrapping around his body.

Penbrook jumped to his feet and slid helpless to the wall, body sticking to it like a fly stuck in glue. The two Hufflepuffs Smith and Cauldwell looked at one another and wisely chose to stay on the ground. At this point pride didn’t matter because Hermione Granger knew how to subdue them without lifting a finger. Just her wand.

“I do hope you’re all paying attention because I hate to repeat myself. I maybe just a mudblood to you but I can and will back up any threat I make...and I will make one. Draco Dumbledore is my friend. It’s means something to a Slytherin, it means even more to me. Imagine me at my most loyal, with the magic that I know, and magnify it because what he can’t defend himself from, I will defend him in his steed. It is a wizarding oath and I give it freely so make no mistake, I will avenge him at my leisure. So plot and scheme to your heart’s desire...and know that my revenge will strike you when you least expect it.”

She ended her spells and spun on her heels, walking out of the door that Filch held open for her. He gave them a hateful sneer and jerked his head, “Potions awaits you, little buggers.”

***

Draco wasn’t consciously trying to make the werewolf miserable, but at the same time he didn’t feel guilty about it. It was just like with Harry when his best friend was ‘Potter’, except he didn’t mock him or try to humiliate him. He just didn’t like the man. Or trust him. Which was why his grades started to suffer by the end of the third week.

So he sighed as he rode the moving staircase up to the door and opened it, freezing as Albus greeted him, Remus already sitting. He silently glared, moving around the chairs, “Draco, have a seat, please.” Uh oh, this wasn’t a father son kind of talk. It was a Headmaster pupil kind of talk. What the hell had Lupin told him...no good mongrel. He sat down stiffly, looking at his hands and waiting for someone to start talking ‘adult’ to him, “Draco, look up, please?” He sighed and did so, glancing at Albus who smiled, “Now, I think the two of you have gotten off on the wrong foot...I think we need to discuss that.”

Grunting, “Sorry you were an ass, there. It’s discussed.”

“Draco! You will not talk to a Professor in that manner.”

Glaring, “Well he was one! He practically called me a liar to my face and in front of my friends. No apology or anything and I’m supposed to be the one that’s sorry?! I’ll rot in hell first.”

“DRACO.” Not a shout. Just a very severe tone. He looked down. Oh hell. Albus breathed slowly before speaking, “You will stop this incessant childishness at once.”

Looking up snidely, “Or what?” His eyes widened, hands slapping over his mouth. He had not just said that. But judging by the look on Albus’ face, he had, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that...I’m sorry, Albus.”

Albus pursed his lips, lightly touching his steepled fingers before sweeping his eyes off of his contrite son to glance at Lupin who was both shocked and horrified. Remus was starting to understand what Albus meant by two personalities trying to settle themselves in the boy. They seemed to be polar opposites of one another. One part sweet and mischievous, reminding him of Sirius when he’d been at Hogwarts, the other part snide and...well, Snape-ish.

“Now, I think that we’d best discuss this calmly, while I will sit back and listen...as referee.” And the look Draco caught left it clear that he would be polite, which is what he was refereeing. Draco sighed and turned his attention to Lupin who was trying like hell to formulate his words. It took longer than he’d expect and he started to idly swing his legs, thumping his heels against the chair, “Draco...”

He sighed again, louder, at the warning tone but stilled and Remus had finally gathered himself together, “I do apologize for the misunderstanding that we had. If you had simply told me in a little more detail about your parchment letters all of this could have been avoided.”

A dark look on his face, “So this is my fault?”

“What I mean to say is that...er,...” He trailed off, unsure how to reach the boy who was not seemingly willing to budge.

Albus rose swiftly from behind his desk and Draco tensed for a scolding. He became even more wary when Albus took his hand and pulled him to his feet. Instinctively his free hand moved towards his bottom to protect it even though Albus made no such move, “Professor, I propose that we discuss this after dinner time. In my quarters say at eight?”

Remus nodded in agreement to air, Albus having already dragged Draco out of the room. Draco hurried to keep up, looking very wary as Albus navigated the staircase with an ease that still amazed him. And he didn’t relinquish his hand one bit, so there was no chance to escape. Past the portrait and they were in the living area, Dumbledore’s voice firm, “Sit Draco.” Draco did so and opened his mouth to protest, “You will not speak. You will sit there quietly and you will listen, do you understand?” Why is it that adults tell you to be quiet, then ask if you understand? Followed by an ‘answer me!’. He decided to nod quietly and Albus accepted that.

Albus conjured an old fashioned tea set and let it brew over the fire, sitting down in another chair and letting his frazzled nerves rest. The boy was trying today but he knew it was all a part of growing up. And he hadn’t accepted Draco into his life just for his pleasant moments.

“Draco, Professor Lupin has been out of the wizarding world for some time. Coming back into it is a bit of a...well, culture shock. What I mean to say is it would not occur to him that you children would have been creative enough to develop a system of communication beyond owl and parchment. Frankly, son, you above anyone should be quite aware it’s never been done before. Of course the man would be confused.”

Crossing his arms, “He called me a liar...”

Grabbing the bridge of his nose, “Draco...”

Hitting the arm rest, “I don’t lie! I bend the truth but I don’t lie. I don’t like it when people call me that and I don’t like him.”

The boy was usually so intelligent and mature it amazed him. At other times, though, he was worse than Harry with his single-minded determination. And in this case he did not want to listen logically about Remus Lupin. Sighing, “Very well. Since you refuse to listen to me, you leave me with no other choice...”

Draco stilled, looking a little worried, “What, um what choice?”

“You’re grounded. For the weekend, now go to your room.”

Draco’s jaw dropped, “But, but that’s not fair! You’re not father during the school year, you’re the Head-master! You can’t-...”

Albus sat up slowly and calmly and completely serious, “Draco I am going to count to three. And you will be in your room by then and if you are not, then you will be spanked like a child since you continue to insist to act like a child...one.”

Draco gaped and shook his head, “But, you...I just...you can’t be...”

“Two.”

There was an increasing tone of warning and Draco backed up, continuing to sputter out denials and half finished sentences. But as Albus stood, ready to say the number three, Draco bolted for his room, yelled out the password and dived inside before he could be spanked for disobeying. He panted and hit the stone floor with his fist, tears burning his eyes but he refused to let them fall. He just stayed down there on the ground and sulked.

***

Draco mumbled, half awake as he was picked up off the ground and carried to his bed. He shook his head and pouted, “Da...I don’t wanna go to sleep...” A second figure moved the covers down while his pajamas were charmed onto his frame and he was put to bed, “Da?”

Albus’ blue eyes twinkled at that. Draco was always so proper when addressing him. Headmaster, sir, even Albus or father. Da was an unusual slang for him and very appealing, “Yes, Draco?”

Shrugging, eyes closing and snuggling into his pillow, “Just making sure it’s you...” He stilled and shot up in bed, eyes wide. Snape jumped back but Albus didn’t seem surprised, as if expecting it, “I don’t have to slay the unicorn tomorrow, right?”

Severus hid a snort and Albus slowly shook his head to reassure Draco’s sleep addled mind, “No, Draco, I’ve taken care of that...you just rest...”

Yawning, he nodded and closed his eyes, head hitting the pillow and out like a light. The two men shared an amused look and quietly exited the room, Lupin having leaned in a bit and caught part of that. All three of them sat around the fire and quietly discussed matters until the early part of the morning.