It Happened One Hallow's Eve

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 28 ~ A Talk with Mr. Malfoy

Severus walked down the long corridor, through the double doors, past his office and into the Slytherin common room. Three students were in there, one of them Draco who was playing a game of wizard’s chess with a housemate.

“Mr. Malfoy, a word in my office if you please,” the Potions Master said, startling all three students. They didn’t hear him come in.

“Yes sir,” Draco said, swallowing.

It seemed the broom was up.

The blonde wizard rose from the table and followed Severus up the hall to his office. Severus opened the door and discretely stuck his foot out as Draco walked in, causing the wizard to stumble and almost slam into his desk.

“Pardon me, Mr. Malfoy,” the wizard purred as Draco recovered, looking at him wide-eyed. He was sure the Potions Master had tripped him on purpose.

“Sit down, Mr. Malfoy,” Severus said, walking around his desk and seating himself. Draco sat in the cushioned wooden chair in front of the Potions Master. Severus kept a more comfortable chair in his Head of House office than he did in his potions office. He made his charges comfortable when he spoke with them, although he wouldn’t have minded a few retractable spikes for Draco’s ass right now.

“Firstly, I would like to tell you I found out about your altercation with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter today. I am taking ten points from you for lying to me about how you came to be in the condition I found you in,” Severus said.

Draco looked as if he wanted to protest.

“Before you think I am playing favorites, Mr. Malfoy, I saw the incident as it occurred in Miss Granger’s mind via Legilimency, rather than heard it by way of mouth. Because both Miss Granger and Mr. Potter double-teamed you, I felt you had a right to defend yourself as best you could, so there will be no repercussions concerning the bruise you gave Miss Granger. But that will be the end of this incident. There will be no retribution on your part.”

Draco let out a sigh of relief. He had believed since the Professor was fucking Hermione, he would automatically be severely punished by the wizard. Severus arched an eyebrow at him.

“However, Mr. Malfoy…you did provoke the witch. By the way you approached Miss Granger, I presume your father wasted no time informing you that Miss Granger and I are involved. Am I correct?” the Potions Master asked him.

Draco nodded.

“And it is clear by the way you approached Miss Granger, that you feel she is…how did you put it to Mr. Potter? Ah yes. My ‘slut,’ the wizard said in a calm voice.

Draco looked uncomfortable. Severus narrowed his eyes at him.

“I am waiting for a confirmation of this, Mr. Malfoy,” Severus said. “You did say that, did you not?”

“Yes sir,” Draco murmured.

Severus looked at the wizard for a long moment.

“Mr. Malfoy, what is the definition of a slut?” the wizard asked him.

“A woman who sleeps around with any and everybody,” Draco replied.

“Mr. Malfoy…I am very aware of your attempt to make Miss Granger your secret paramour, and your offer of “paying her way” in exchange for sexual favors. I am also aware that she turned your offer down and told you she was not interested in you in that manner. Is this true?” the Potions Master asked him.

Draco reddened.

“Yes sir,” the young wizard mumbled.

“Then you must agree, Mr. Malfoy, that Miss Granger would not sleep with any and everybody, because she denied you. Correct?” Severus continued.

“Yes sir,” Draco answered him.

“And even after you forced a kiss on her, she denied you…running away,” the wizard said, his eyes glittering.

“Yes sir,” the wizard replied, turning an even deeper shade of red.

“So logic would dictate, judging by the witch’s reaction and denial of you, that she is not a slut, Mr. Malfoy,” Severus concluded.

“Yes sir,” Malfoy admitted.

“You said that to make her feel ashamed of her relationship with me. To make her feel cheap and easy. To hurt her and embarrass her. You will not do this again, Mr. Malfoy. You will not say anything about our relationship to Miss Granger or anyone. Do you understand me?” Severus said evenly, “Because if you do, Mr. Malfoy, you will answer to me, man to man, not student to teacher. I want this to be very clear. I…will…hurt…you. Because you are attempting to hurt what is mine.”

Draco looked up at him…a question in his eyes that he didn’t dare ask. Severus considered him.

“I will tell you this only once, Mr. Malfoy…to try and help you understand. My intentions toward Miss Granger are honorable. She is not a quick shag or a plaything I plan to discard. The witch is brilliant and has a good future ahead of her if we can thwart Voldemort. My objective with the witch is eventually matrimony. I have been alone and miserable far too long, and Miss Granger is of the temperament and intelligence to make a good wife and companion for me. I have suffered for the wizarding world long enough and it is time for me to find my own happiness. I believe Miss Granger will provide this for me. So, this is about more than fucking a student, Mr. Malfoy,” Severus said.

“But…she’s a mudblood!” Draco blurted out.

Severus caught himself at the slur. He took a deep breath remembering he was talking to a wizard who had been brought up with erroneous beliefs all his life.

“Mr. Malfoy…Draco…I am going to say this in the hope that your brain has not been so muddled by this doctrine of pureblood superiority that it can still reason. You are designated a “pureblood” because of your line of descent…all of your ancestors are full witches and wizards, correct?” Severus asked Draco.

“Yes sir,” Draco said proudly, “Back for generations. No muggles in our family.”

Severus scowled at him.

“That is impossible. All witches and wizards of today are descended from muggle-born witches and wizards. There was a time when humans had no magic, Draco. They did magical rituals utilizing spirits and such, but had no magic of their own. Whether or not their use of ritual eventually imbued them with magic is a matter of conjecture, but the first true witches and wizards were born of non-magical people. In essence, Draco…there is no such thing as a pureblood. Only witches and wizards that married each other. They can still be traced back to muggle-borns, their magic passed on by blood.”

Draco stared at him.

“In fact, Draco…if you look at muggle-born witches and wizards…it is they who are the most pure, because they are born with magic where there was none. Truly miraculous. Their power comes from beyond blood and bone. They are closest to true magic and the progenitors of what we all are…the reason we exist. Muggle-borns are the head of the mystery, the Originals, and usually much more powerful than those of us who have had our magic passed down. This is why Voldemort truly wants to destroy them…because of their purity and power. They are the witches and wizards who hold True Magic. He hates them for that, and hates muggles for their ability to produce such wonders. He covets all power and wishes to stop the natural order of the magical world. You have to rid yourself of your prejudices, Draco and see the world how it truly is.”

Draco stared at him. He had never heard this view of muggle-borns before, and as much as he hated to admit it…it made sense…especially why Voldemort wanted to destroy them and took such pleasure in killing muggles who produced them.

“You see, Draco, my wanting to marry Hermione Granger is no shame. It would be an honor in my estimation to be accepted as a husband by her. She is an intelligent, powerful witch and her blood will strengthen my line, my children will be intelligent and powerful as well. So you can see why I have claimed her before any other could. I see the witch for what she is, and what she will become. I want her in my life.”

Severus studied Draco for a moment.

“You know Draco, I brought you in here fully intending to beat the shit out of you for forcing that kiss on Hermione, but I realize that someplace in your maladjusted soul, you are attracted to the witch, and I suspect you always have been. I’ve watched you interact with her over the years and it would have made more sense to ignore her than constantly waste energy picking at her. I suspect that had she not been muggle-born, you might have attempted to court her…be her ‘boyfriend.” She’s intelligent, loyal, pretty though not what most would consider beautiful. If she had been pureblood she would have been perfectly acceptable to you. Instead, you tried to find another way to have her…hide her away so your shame at being attracted to a muggle-born witch wouldn’t be known, and if it were found out, she would be considered little more than your personal prostitute…something else perfectly acceptable to your social strata. Many rich wizards keep women after all, women considered unsuitable in polite society. But it didn’t work. Hermione is not the kind of witch you can buy,” the Potions Master said.

Draco hung his head.

“So, I am going to be magnanimous and give you ‘one strike’ Draco, especially since you didn’t know the witch is mine…”

Severus’ eyes glittered.

“But be warned. Now that you know Miss Granger is involved with me, I want you to treat her with respect. If you can’t do that, then stay away from her entirely. I will not be so lenient next time. And I don’t want you spreading our relationship around the school. It is not illicit, but at the same time it could cause Miss Granger problems she doesn’t need to deal with in her last year. Do I need to make you take an Oath, Mr. Malfoy?” the Potions Master asked reverting to his formal address.

“No sir. I won’t say a word to anyone,” the wizard replied.

“Good,” Severus said.

Draco stood to leave. Severus stopped him.

“Sit down, Mr. Malfoy. There is something else I wish to say to you. I want to commend you on your decision not to be a part of Voldemort’s plans. It is obvious you have finally realized what I realized years ago about the despot. That living in a world ruled by him would be worse than not living at all. Our world is not perfect, Mr. Malfoy, but it is free. We must keep it that way,” Severus said to the young wizard.

“Now you and I are riding the same broom. We are both traitors to the Dark Lord. It must be harder for you, for you have gone against your father as well. I imagine it was a difficult decision…”

”Not as difficult as you might think, Professor,” Draco said, his gray eyes going distant. “I saw what happened at the Revel, and I could see that happening all over the wizarding world if Voldemort comes into power. How father could accept that is beyond me. How anyone can accept….”

Draco’s voice broke and he fell silent.

”I understand, Draco. Believe me, I do,” Severus said. “That is what we are going to stop on the fourth, thanks to your forewarning. You have shown yourself to be a true and loyal member of the Light, despite your Dark Mark. History will remember you if we are successful. You’ll be honored.”

Draco looked at the Potions Master. He had never thought about that aspect of it. His decision to warn Dumbledore squarely put him on the side of Light. Malfoys had been considered dark wizards from time immemorial. Dark as in evil. Draco knew he had dark tendencies, but he never really liked being considered ‘evil.’ He preferred to think he was just “complicated.” Now, he would be able to claim the Light.

Suddenly, Draco felt better than he had in days. Even his residual anger at Hermione and Harry evaporated for the moment. Severus saw the light in the young wizard’s eyes and nodded. Another had been pulled back from Voldemort’s darkness.

“You may go, Mr. Malfoy…but keep in mind all I have said to you,” Severus said. “No more altercations with my witch.”

“Yes sir,” Draco said, bowing and leaving the office.

Severus watched him go.

Well, that had turned out a lot differently than he thought it would. Good thing too. He would have had a hell of a time explaining Draco’s broken and bruised condition to the Headmaster.

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A/N: Ah, Severus is mellowing. Thank goodness. Lol. A beating and an obliviate would have been rather fun, but Draco isn’t all bad. I couldn’t do it to him. :) Another interesting theory on muggle-borns and why Voldie hates them. Ah well. Next chapter is going to be transitional and fast moving. We need to get to the night before the Final Battle, and the battle itself. Well, anyway please review.