A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Chapter 26

Draco scratched his head with a frown, looking around a pile of his clothes for the pen he’d dropped, grumbling about house elves who had yet to clean his room. He stumbled over something slippery, disappearing into a pile of toys and clothes with a squeak. Apparently Minerva had let on to Albus his utter lack of exposure to toys. He’d received a new toy almost every other day and now had a room full of them. Actually, his entire room was a disorganized mess, “Draco?”

Albus frowned to himself as he took a look around for himself, startled when Draco fought his way to the top and holding up a pen in triumph, “Found it!” Grey eyes glanced to him, “Oh. Hi, Albus.” He grimaced and fought to get free, “Did you want something?”

Lifting the child out of the mess, “Actually, yes.” Placing him back on his feet, “I was wondering why you’ve let your room get as unkept as you have.”

Shrugging, “The house elves haven’t been cleaning.”

Frowning further, “Draco the house elves keep the halls and classrooms clean. They run the kitchens and clean laundry given to them. It is not for them to tidy your room or put away your toys.”

Draco tilted his head, “Why not?”

Albus blinked down at him in shock, “Because you are more than capable of doing those things yourself.”

Scoffing, “Why should I? It’s their job.”

“And what is your job?”

Scrunching up his nose, “I’m a child. I don’t have a job.”

Thinking to himself for a moment, “I see. So you feel you should just be required to play and study for your classes, is that it?”

Nodding to himself with a smile, “Yep.”

Nodding slowly, “Very well.” Draco’s smile slipped, his mind catching up that he was definitely missing
part of the conversation. Albus turned around, not saying anything further.

Draco paused for half a moment before tossing his pen on his desk and hurrying after the Headmaster, “What? You had that tone like I was missing something.”

Albus hid a smile that the boy was picking up his hints so quickly, “Well, it just seems a shame that you don’t wish for money of your own.” The blond’s face formed a question mark of incomprehension, “Young boys and girls, ones that are too young to work for money of their own, will do chores around the home in exchange for an allowance every week.”

Hands on his hips in outrage, “You’re not going to give me pocket money for the school year?!”

Giving Draco an innocent look, “Now why on earth would you receive money for doing nothing in return?”

Draco jaw just dropped open, staring as the old wizard moving around the living room, making tea before settling himself by the fireplace. He gave the boy enough time for that thought to settle into his mind before calling him over to sit next to him. The Slytherin moved slowly, shocked to the core and not able to quite recover from it. It had never occurred to him, in all honesty.

The portrait swung open, Harry slipping in with a grin, which slipped when he noted Albus’ semi-serious expression and Draco’s stunned features, “Should I come back later?”

“Not at all, Harry, you’re just in time, my boy. Come sit here with Draco. There are some things we must discuss.” The brunette entered cautiously, sitting next to the blond on the sofa, “Now, I was about to brush upon the topic of chores and an allowance of sorts for completing those chores.”

Harry stood back up, “I’ll let you two talk, then.”

“Sit down, Harry. This will concern you as well.” Harry blinked owlishly but sat back down while Draco was starting to look petulantly angry, “Now, seeing as you are both too young for employment and pocket money is always a must during the school year, I thought perhaps a set allowance for completing a set number of chores, with rewards for doing extra chores.”

Harry grinned, “Neat.”

Draco slowly crossing his arms, “What if I don’t want to do house elf stuff?”

Nodding, “Then you shall receive no allowance, nothing more.”

Huffing, “That’s not fair. Father never made me do stuff when the bloody servants could do it.”

Harry looked at Draco with a glare, “You’re comparing the Headmaster to that wanker?”

Glaring right back, “I’m just saying-...”

“You’re such a spoiled brat, Malfoy!”

“Boys.” They both turned their glares on him, Harry looking away with a scowl while Draco’s glare remained.

“Besides, it’s not fair. He’s an orphan and doesn’t have anything. He shouldn’t get the same-...OW!”

Draco turned around to punch Harry back and found himself hauled to his feet and pulled back against his guardian. With a scowl he rubbed his punched thigh while Harry glared from the sofa, “Harry. That was not appropriate and you will apologize for striking Draco.”

Harry huffed and looked away, mumbling until Albus raised his voice and repeated his command. Gritting his teeth, “I’m sorry I hit you.”

Albus nodded slightly, giving Draco’s shoulders a light shake, “Now you will apologize to Harry for your inappropriate remark.”

Draco gaped before looking mulish, “I will not!”

“You will or you will be grounded for the week.”

“But we’re supposed to go to Diagon Alley in two days.”

“Then you will miss it.”

Draco looked away miserably, Harry frowning as he could see tears of frustration forming though Draco held it in. He wanted to feel bad for the blond, but the orphan thing was a bit uncalled for. Sighing forcibly in an overly dramatic fashion, “I’m sorry for calling you an orphan.”

“No, Draco. You will apologize for the slight.”

Tilting his head up to frown in confusion, “That was the slight.”

“You implied something else as well.”

Doubt settled lightly in Draco’s mind as he tried to remember what he’d said. He really didn’t remember saying anything else, other than he didn’t have anything. Draco’s eyes widened, “Oh.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed, “Oh? You talk about how I don’t have anything because the Dursley’s didn’t care enough to give me anything and all you can say is OH?!”

Frowning, “I didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t trying to imply that so I’m sorry. I was just saying that you don’t have as many things as I do and it’s not fair that we get paid the same but I have to work more for it.” Looking a little earnest, “I really was only insulting you because you were an orphan...which I shouldn’t have. Honest.”

Harry frowned lightly before rolling his eyes with a shake of his head. He’d gotten used to the fact that there were some things that Draco just would not get. Not because he was mean but just because of the way he was brought up, “Fine.”

Albus had already released him and rather timidly Draco sat next to the brunette, not sure he really was forgiven. Plus in the back of his mind he started thinking about Cassie and the twins and wanted to kick his own ass. Sitting back down as well, “Now boys, the reason the cleaning of your rooms shall be equal is because though Draco has more choices, the amount of space around your beds is close to equal.” Albus looked over his glasses at Draco who squirmed but stayed quiet, “Now, Harry, since you’ve helped Draco to create the mess in his room already, perhaps you should offer to help him clean it. I will consider that your first weeks worth of chores.”

Draco looked excited, “How much do we get?”

A small grin tugged at his lip, “We’ll start with one galleon a week for cleaning your room.”

Harry tilted a head a little, “How much is that, anyway?”

Draco turned to stare at Harry, “One galleon is 17 sickles, of course.”

“I believe Harry means in muggle dollars. One galleon is 17 sickles, which is 493 knuts. It’s all very
close to 5 pounds.”

Grinning, “So we each get one galleon a week just to keep our rooms clean.”

Nodding, “Yes and there will be chores that I and other Professors will assign throughout the year which
will mean even more pocket money.”

Harry jumped up and started tugging Draco in excitement, “Come on you lump! The faster we clean your room, the faster we get paid.” Draco grumbled softly but let himself be dragged away.

***

Draco scrubbed his sweaty hands on his pants before taking the list of supplies. No roster, just supplies. Frowning up at his Godfather in question, “You’ll receive your courses when everyone else does, but we felt a trip to Diagon Alley was called for. The Headmaster will be taking...all of you.” Harry fairly hid behind Draco, his own supply list in hand and trying to avoid the potions master.

Snape chose to ignore the boy, knowing he’d be glared at by his godson were he to make a scene. Cassie and the twins hurried down the corridor, skidding to a stop and looking to Draco after giving Snape a careful glance, “Problems?”

Draco shook his head, “Nope. Ready to go. You?”

She shook her paper and saluted, “You ‘betcha.”

He grinned and glanced at his Godfather who nodded goodbye and spun to go back to the dungeons. Harry
watched him go, “How does he do that?”

Draco glanced up absently at Severus’ swirling robes before turning, “Spell.”

Albus materialized behind them, “This way, children.”

Nodding with a sigh, he followed the Headmaster onto the grounds and held his hand as he and the others
were portkeyed to London. He took a moment to get his bearings, Harry stumbling against him and shaking his head, “I hate those things!”

Harry grinned, “Wasn’t so bad.”

Rolling his eyes, glancing down at his list and raising an eyebrow. Just how many courses was he taking this year, “Sir?”

Admonishing gently, “Albus, Draco.”

Smiling a little, “Albus...how many courses am I taking?”

Looking down questionably, “You did say you wanted a full schedule.”

Shrugging, “Sure, but I’m also curious.”

“Well then, you have your basic courses of course...a few electives...” Draco raised an eyebrow. A few electives? From his understanding only one elective per student was even allowed,”...then of course we have started a few specialized courses.” Okay, he liked that idea and he was sure Hermione would to, “So, shall we start with books or save them for last?”

Cassie tried to peer over his schedule, settling on her feet and grabbing his parchment, “What the hell do you need all of this for?!”

He snatched it back, “I don’t know. That’s what I was asking, thank you.”

Harry rolled his eyes, “Can we leave them on the corner. Please?”

Albus lightly patted the top of his head, “Sorry, they’re here to stay.”

Scuffing his sneaker, “Darn.”

Draco glared and shoved the brunette, “Ass.”

Sticking out his tongue, “Draco. Harry. Enough. Now, where do we start?”

Frowning in thought, “The book store lastly since they would be the heaviest.”

Nodding, “Very well then.”

Harry nudged Draco, whispering, “Pushy.”

Draco frowned, “You pushed me first.”

“I did not. And it’s an expression. An adjective for attitude.”

Draco just stuck his nose up in the air and ignored him, yelping and jumping away when he was tickled by the twins who had been silent observers until now. Harry threw his arm around his shoulders and pulled him along, distracting him into ignoring the twins soon enough.

Needless to say by the time they wandered their way down to the book store they were laden down with packages and supplies. Thankfully the iron works shop they had just left gave them a cart for toting their things, with the expressed understanding it would be returned. Even shrunken it was still a load and Draco snickered to himself, wondering how Weasley was going to pull it off.

Harry sent him a disapproving look, whispering, “I know what you’re thinking.” It just made Draco giggle.

Albus had one of the shopkeepers following them around, rattling off titles for books they had or signing a list of ones that would be ordered and sent to Hogwarts. He perked up when he heard his guardian ask about speciality books in languages such as elf, fae, and vampire. Those were jotted down for ordering as well as some rather expensive books on wizarding history and the latest compilation of any and all known potions, their ingredients and their effects.

Harry looked morose, “Please don’t tell me that’s for me. Potions sucks.”

Draco didn’t even blink, “No, Potter, you suck. Potions is brilliant.” Harry blew him a raspberry and Albus chuckled.

“Children, please. Now, first of all no Harry, those potions books aren’t for you. We will have a new
potions teacher for some of the classes in the autumn and I’m collecting books-...”

“Third years potions, right? Please say yes, please.”

Shaking his head, amused, “I’m sorry, Harry, but he’ll be teaching first and second year. However, he will be teaching all remedial classes for potions.”

Cassie and the twins started jumping and clapping, chanting in unison, “No more bat for us, hey, no more bat for us, yea.” Draco glared, not amused.

“That’s my godfather, you degenerates.”

All of them stopped and stared, “We weren’t talking about Professor Snape, how dare you say such an insulting thing about him.”

He glared as they innocently batted their eyes at him and stuck out his tongue, “You suck. You all
just... suck...” Turning away with a pout, he glanced at the small stack of different colored inks and an idea stuck in his head. He frowned in thought, looking from the stack of parchments behind the counter back to the ink and it just clicked in his head.

Cassie jumped, “Candy store, right Headmaster?”

“I remember only making that promise if you behaved yourselves...I seem to recall quite a bit of fighting...”

Harry elbowed Draco and they all formed a line, giving him innocent looks as if to say that couldn’t even imagine who he was talking about because they had all been perfect little angels. He chuckled and herded them towards the counter, “Well, since you’ve all behaved so well...”