A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Chapter 4

Draco sat down wearily, one of the last to arrive to breakfast and slowly eating though he wasn’t hungry. He’d woken up this morning with the realization that he wouldn’t be going back to the manor. That he would never be seeing his mother or father again. It hit him like a bludger to the chest and depressed him beyond the telling. He was thankful that he would never have to worry about being harmed but...they were his parents. For better or worse he loved them. He’d spent nearly twenty minutes sobbing in the shower before he’d managed to get his control together and push his emotions to the back of his mind.

Blaise Zabini sighed as he sipped tea, “This summer is going to be as dreary as the others...”

Millicent Bulstrode shrugged, eating carefully around her jam covered toast, “Then write or read.”

Glaring lightly, “I’ll be in a militant academy all summer, you flubber worm, I cannot.”

Draco ate with his fellow Slytherins, ignoring Blaise and Millicent arguing and sending Pansy almost indecipherable looks. But she could see. The gratitude. The acceptance. The misery. Like usual his hand had inched it’s way into her palm and she let him hold on tight. Leaning in towards him, “Are you coming back on the train?”

He gave her a small shrug, glancing up at the head table, Dumbledore talking to McGonagall and gesturing towards the hall. It was going to take some getting used to. Seeing this man as a guardian, one that he’d mocked for years, apparently for no good reason, “I’ll ask.”

Squeezing his arm, “I hope so. We could have a couple of hours to just talk.”

He gave her the tiniest of grins and turned back to his breakfast. If only they could have more than a
few stolen hours here and there. Draco thought about that possibility wistfully. It would be simply amazing if he could get more time with his best friend. But she was under house arrest during the summer, so she couldn’t possibly owl him. And during school Slytherin was not the best of places for privacy. For as secluded from the rest of the school as they were, one must be very careful around other Slytherins. But Pansy saw his expression and knew instantly what he truly wanted. She thought for a moment, playing with her eggs before a plan slowly began to form.

The Headmaster, eyes twinkling in mischief, slowly rose and addressed the hall, “Students. One last item of business before you depart for the summer. As many of you know, I am not just another old Headmaster to run this school as it always had. I aim to reform it. So, next year you can expect some radically different programs. Your parents will all receive owls with all of the important information. That being said, one of the new programs mandated by your attendance will be weekly pen-owls with a young person from a different house. In your bags you will find the name of this person. I would also keep in mind that at the beginning of the fall session you will be turning in your letters to your Head of House so I would advise cooperation less you fail our new mandatory class of social awareness.” There were groans all around and Albus nodded with a smile, “Have a pleasant summer.”

Pansy actually had a small bag slung over her shoulder. Opening it in curiosity, she groaned silently and closed it. Hermione Granger. But after glancing at Draco a wicked thought entered her disturbed little mind and she modified her plan just a bit. This could work.

***

Draco waited for the right opportunity but time was running out. It seemed that this was the day that students were constantly surrounding the Headmaster, saying their goodbyes or he wishing them well. He had to wait till almost the last minute. Taking a deep breath, he walked up quickly, a look around to make sure no one was watching, “Headmaster?”

Smiling down at the boy, not at all shy about showing his affection for him. He of course cared for all of his students, but a select few could always count on his undivided attention. As his ward, Draco had it now and always, “Albus, Draco...you might as well grow accustomed to it.”

Blushing lightly, toeing the stone floor with his shoe. He’d never felt so unsure of himself before. And he had this feeling it would only grow before it got better. Secretly his hand found the golden watch hooked to his pocket and started playing with it under his robes, “Albus...sir...could I ride the train back to London?” Seeing the man’s objections forming, “I just want to spend some time with Pansy. And I could take a port key back. Please, sir?” He abhorred begging. But he’d stomach it for Pansy.

Minerva came up the steps, stiff as ever, “Headmaster, the carriages are ready and the students are gathering.”

Albus nodded, glancing down at the wary Slytherin and his voice tinged with a faint amount of regret. It was no secret to any professor of Hogwarts that Draco was now entirely in his care. Nor was it a secret that though Lucius Malfoy now had no legal sway over his son, the man’s reach was far from impotent. All the staff were on high alert to ensure no one kidnaped the boy, “I wish you had asked sooner rather than later, Draco-...“

McGonagall saw the way the small Slytherin’s face fell and felt the need to do something. The boy had only just begun to cheer up and she didn’t want his happiness destroyed so soon. And she’d been close enough to hear everything, “Headmaster. If I may. I needed to make a few stops in London anyway. I could take Mr. Malfoy with me, as long as he doesn’t mind the small delay before returning.”

Draco glanced at the Transfiguration teacher in wonder before looking back and shaking his head. He didn’t mind at all, considering she was doing him a very big favor. And he’d never been to London proper. Now that he thought about it he was more than surprised. He was quite certain the strict woman hated him considering how poorly he did in her class. Albus’ eyes twinkled once more, “Then go, Draco, by all means.”

***

“Granger.”

Hermione turned around warily, stiffening when she recognized Pansy. The two of them had never really exchanged pleasantries. She was always in the background of Draco’s group. And since the girl had been there during the infamous ‘meeting’ she knew the girl was very tight with Draco. Squaring her shoulders, “Parkinson.”

Pansy glanced at her and her companions, then flicked her gaze over to one side of the castle and walked over casually, leaning against the stone courtyard. Hermione glanced over at Ron and Harry who were eyeing her curiously, “Mione?”

“I’ll be just a second-...”

Ron grabbed her arm, “She’s a Slytherin!”

Gently extracting herself, her expression stern yet pleading, “And we’re just talking.” She nodded at Harry who relaxed and walked over to the girl, “Yes?”

The brunette played with her straight locks for a moment, affecting a bored expression before piercing the muggleborn witch with her vivid green eyes, “You’ll be my owling partner over the holidays, I’ve already found out.” Hermione nodded slightly, having already found her own tag, “Since it’s school related my father will have no choice but to let me owl you. I have a further...request...” Hermione waited patiently, knowing it was taking a lot for the Slytherin to ask this of her, “I would like you to send a secondary correspondence to Hogwarts, I will attach them in coded form along with my required letters.”

Being the clever witch that she was, she knew what Pansy was asking, “Why not have your owl send this letter directly?”

Sighing slightly, sending a bored flick over to a group of Slytherins watching them intently, “Because father would know exactly how long one letter would take. I cannot risk suspicion of a second...and he needs my support too much.”

Hermione had this feeling that almost everything Pansy did had to do with Draco. Supporting him. Protecting him. Like older sister to younger brother. And with all of this change in the air, she wondered if they were all on the verge of something. It felt like it. It felt like their lives had been on hold, waiting for this moment. Leaning against the castle and gazing out at her friends and then the Slytherins, she realized something. Who they were was shaped as much by family as it was by friends, “Do you think he would mind a mudblood’s friendship?”

Pansy flicked her gaze over at the chestnut haired witch, “You’re the cleverest witch in our age. Unlike most of these dunderheads you could keep up with him. And as a casual reference, he doesn’t talk about you like that when it’s just the two of us. He does it mostly to please his father, I believe...I think if you gave each other a chance you’d be closer than he and I are.”

Hermione gave a small smile, starting back for her friends but conveying that she appreciated knowing that, “I doubt that.”

But the brunette saw what others could or would not. It had always been her gift. She’d seen the need that Draco had for a confidant and she’d provided it. It would be years from now, but she could see a different development between the two of them. One that would shake the very foundation of the wizarding world. Whispering a quiet promise, “I don’t.”

I'm a terrible tease, I know. Next stop, London for Draco.