A Reason To Be

Chapter 1

**One month later**


For a month, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been Draco’s home. The only occupants of the enormous castle during the summer had been Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. Apparently Albus made his home here at Hogwarts year round. Draco never asked. Severus Snape did have a residence off the grounds for the summertime, but at Dumbledore’s request he had stayed at the school as well. There were always house elves there as well. Hagrid was also there; his home being on school grounds, he did come into the castle occasionally though Draco rarely saw him. He preferred it that way. There was one other person Malfoy shared his new home with; Firenze. The centaur joined the Hogwarts staff the last school year, to teach Divination. It had become clear to everyone that while Firenze was grateful to Dumbledore and he was polite when the occasion called for it, he did not seek out the company of humans often. Draco did not blame him in the least.

The three had not gone straight home after Draco’s hearing. Also at Dumbledore’s request; Snape grudgingly accompanied Draco to Diagon Alley. Malfoy withdrew money from his Gringott’s account for some necessities. His personal belongings had been confiscated when he was removed from Malfoy Manor. He was in need of clothes, a wand and a broom; among other things. He still could afford to have the finest of everything, and he bought just that. Bags of clothes that Madam Malkin had magically tailored to fit his exact size and form perfectly, the newest model of the Firebolt and of course a new wand. Ebony with a Dragon Heartstring, in Draco’s opinion it was better than his last.

As he had stood in Madam Malkin’s shop, the witch taking his measurements, he caught his reflection in the mirror that hung on the wall. His hair had really grown quite long, he just now noticed. When he looked in the mirror, Draco had trouble seeing his own reflection. His father’s likeness kept getting in the way. The long hair really brought it out; he looked very much like Lucius and he did not like it at all. Draco found himself cringing at the thought of his father.

“Professor Snape?” Draco turned slightly and spoke in a reserved voice. Snape was standing off to the side, arms crossed and waiting for the witch to complete Draco’s large order of clothes.

“Mr. Malfoy?” Snape said in his usual cold and uninterested tone.

“After we are done here, I would like to get a haircut.” Draco stated, turning back to the mirror, looking over the outfit he had on. It had not been a request; he was simply stating a certainty to the professor. They proceeded to do just that. The barber they chose cut off all of Draco’s hair, as per his request. It was now very short, only an inch or two. Without his ever-present hair gel his hair looked wild, going every which way. It would stay that way; he had decided not to buy anymore of the hair gel. He no longer looked like Lucius; he no longer looked like the old Draco either.

At the school, Albus gave him his own room. It had an adjoining bathroom and was spacious and richly decorated. It was not as grand as his rooms at Malfoy Manor, but it was more than adequate. And he was given the choice that when the school term began he could choose to stay in the Slytherin dormitories or remain in his own room. It did not take long for Draco to opt to stay in his own room. Although he very slowly he had began to warm up to Dumbledore after a while, most of the time he chose to stay in his room.

Albus had presented Draco with two rules, other than the normal ‘do not destroy anyone, yourself or the school’ rule. The first one being that on Sundays he was to eat his meals with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Other than that he could eat whenever, wherever and whatever he wanted. The second rule was that during the summer, since it was such an informal setting, Dumbledore requested that Draco call him Albus. Of course when the rest of the student body was present it was back to Professor Dumbledore. The young man found that he could tolerate those rules. And thus did they exist together.

****

Draco paced in front of the doors of the Main Hall. It was past sunset and for some unknown reason Dumbledore had requested that he be at the doors to the Main Hall at sunset. He also said that Draco should bring money with him, a generous amount. He had done so, and now he waited, with waning patience, for the old man to appear. He had no idea what Albus was up to, or why he had been so secretive about it.

‘Shit, I feel like a fool. I actually do what I’m told for once and here I sit.’ Draco thought to himself. He stopped pacing and now was leaning against the cold, stone wall. Just as his back hit the stone, Dumbledore walked up from behind him. The young man turned and looked at him, waiting for him to say something. The old man raised a bushy eyebrow as he looked Draco over.

“Draco…” Dumbledore said in a quiet voice, very conspiratorially.

“Albus…” Draco replied, his voice was not so quiet, and had a curious and questioning tone to it.

“Did you bring your…funds?” Albus inquired. The professor clasped his hands together, waiting for an answer. Draco patted the inside of his robe to indicate that he had indeed brought a bag full of coins. Draco began to ask him what was going on but Dumbledore raised a hand to silence him. He then motioned for Malfoy to follow him as he began walking down the darkened corridor.

Draco followed, he didn’t know what the hell he was doing or where they were headed but he followed none the less. His mind began to reel with thoughts of all the things the crazy man before might be planning.

‘That thought scares me, and I’m fearless.’ Draco thought to himself sarcastically. But he didn’t question the headmaster, he merely kept following him.

Dumbledore led Malfoy out of the castle, across the vast lawn towards Rubeus Hagrid’s hut. Of course Draco was wondering why they were going to Hagrid’s hut. He wasn’t thrilled about it either; he was not fond of the giant, furry man. Draco began to protest but realized it would do no good for there they were; on Hagrid’s doorstep.

Albus gently knocked on the great, wooden door. The door opened slightly and Dumbledore slipped in and motioned for Draco to do the same. When he entered he looked around the rustic house at its other occupants. Seated around the table were Hagrid, Professor Snape and whom Draco recognized as Madam Rosmerta; from Hogsmeade. They all had serious, suspicious looks on their faces. Albus then turned and looked Draco dead in the face with the gravest of expressions.

“Draco, what you are about to witness is a sacred and very secret act. It has been in practice almost as long as you have been alive. I tell you now that you will breathe a word of this to no one, or you shall suffer terrible repercussions the likes of which not even I can save you from. Do you understand me?” Albus asked him, looking the young man dead in the eyes. Draco absorbed all that Dumbledore had told him and presently nodded and swore his silence. When they heard his promise, the others nodded and took their seats around the wooden table.

‘Merlin, what has been going on here? What are they going to do? What are they going to do to ME?!?!’ Draco thought with a small tingle of panic. He was brought out of his inner debate when Dumbledore raised his fist to the heavens in a dramatic gesture and spoke in a booming voice.

“So be it! Let the Tuesday night poker game commence!”