The Echoes Of Yesterday

The Echoes Of Yesterday…..by Samayel

Chapter 8: Difficult Days Ahead


There was a look of unrestrained relief on Draco’s face, and Harry tried very hard to maintain his professional demeanor. It was rather trickier than he’d thought, keeping his distance from this likable, yet mercurial and complex young man who bore the name that still bit at Harry’s heart. Harry hurried forward, moving to the next topic.

“That having been said, we do need to discuss Hogwarts life and how to blend you into it. It’s a little more complicated than it sounds. You are eighteen, and as an adult in the eyes of the wizarding and Muggle world alike, you retain the unique option of leaving when you please. Let me be clear on this point…while you may have freedoms that other students do not, if you should abandon Hogwarts to avoid responsibility or accountability for your behavior while studying here, you will not be readmitted. This institution’s rules regarding appropriate conduct and the treatment of other students and staff will be followed to the letter.

You will not be part of the House system, since that would create a disruption to the other students, not to mention an unfair advantage to the House that received you as a member. You may take that as a compliment, since it’s an acknowledgement of the fact that you’re considered to be well ahead of even our seventh year students. You shall have your own quarters, and you may dine alone or with the rest of the school. You may also leave the school grounds and visit Hogsmeade whenever you find yourself with the time to do so.

Additionally, though you have specifically cited a desire to study Defense Against The Dark Arts, I will need time to measure your skills myself, and prepare a curriculum accordingly. You strike me as a young man who rises to whatever task is before him, and deals poorly with idle time. I think it would be appropriate for you to take additional classes here in subjects that weren’t covered heavily at Durmstrang. They have no formal course in Divinations, and I suspect the course would be of interest to you, especially since Firenze, the centaur, is our professor for that subject.”

Draco had looked a bit irritable about additional classes at first, but his expression shifted to one of naked interest when Firenze was mentioned.

“Really? A centaur? Just like in the Greek myth…the one about the teacher of noble sons. Brilliant. Durmstrang had a course in esoteric mysticism, and I’m conversant with the definitions and mechanics of most forms of divination, but I have no practical experience with that sort of thing.”

“Yes. Excellent. Firenze has greatly improved our curriculum on that subject and I think we can arrange for you to join his class on Mondays and Fridays at noon. I can talk to Professor Chang about her advanced course in Arithmancy. She has a few exceptional students in a special class for that subject, and I see you had high marks in it at Durmstrang. They meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings at nine. I see that Durmstrang has no course in Care Of Magical Creatures. There are only two seventh year and three sixth year students in a combined course for that this year, and I’d like to recommend that you join them Wednesdays at three.”

Draco seemed noncommittal at best, but willing to defer on the subject, he looked a little sheepish, drawing Harry’s attention.

“Yes?”

“Well, technically, they did have a course about magical creatures…but it was called Eldritch Taxonomy. Mostly how to kill things and what to do with the bits afterwards. Potion ingredients, wand materials, that kind of thing. I don’t suppose it really compares well though…since ‘care’ sounds quite a bit different.”

“Very! Do me a kindness and don’t tell Professor Hagrid about the Taxonomy class. He has a great respect for all living creatures, even the frightening or grotesque ones, and you’d be surprised how many useful things you might learn from him. Now, as for myself, I mean to have you sit in on my courses from fifth year and up when you can, though you may study the material I give you while class is in session if you wish. We’ll work on building a curriculum for you Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings before supper, just after my last class of each day. I will be contacting an old friend of mine as well, since you show an aptitude for magical theorems and formulae, and if it can be arranged, Hermione Granger-Weasley may be visiting to work out some class time with you.”

“THE Hermione Granger-Weasley?! The one who wrote ‘Quantum Physics And Its Applications And Operations In The Magical Universe’? I almost saw her speak at the World Of Magic Symposium in Brussels, but I couldn’t get permission to attend. I was fifteen and school was in session. Please tell me you can get her to come, even if it’s only for a day!”

Harry was a bit taken aback by the overwhelming excitement he saw, and a little impressed by the fact that Draco had clearly done some research at a level far beyond most people’s abilities…even Harry’s. Granted, Harry had studied and taught DADA for fifteen years, and was the best at what he did, but Hermione was in a league of her own. To be honest, there wasn’t even a league, and she was actually blazing a trail of her own through the magical wilderness. He also wasn’t used to people reacting with far more excitement over her than for him…it was actually a little chastening.

“Well, if the notion interests you that much, I’ll ask her as soon as I can, and I’m willing to venture that she’d be happy to meet anyone so enamored of her work. Mind you, she can’t visit often…she has quite a life of her own, and that involves her husband and five children, but she still makes time here and there to visit Hogwarts and instruct on Theoretical Magic. The idea is that, though the emphasis will be on Defense Against The Dark Arts, as you requested, you will not have considerable idle time. Since you cannot be graded in the traditional fashion and aren’t a student in the traditional sense, we will offer accreditation in these topics only if you meet or exceed our expectations. I should add that Hogwarts’ expectations are not low. Do you think you can handle this?”

The arrogant smirk was back in place, which was good, since Harry had pushed a few touchy subjects during their conversation and really didn’t wish to explore them in more detail until later. He already had a few things Minerva would like to know, and the boy seemed fairly cheerful about the outcome of the interview. All in all, it had gone better than he could have hoped.

“I can handle just about anything once I’ve put my mind to it. I take it that there is a means for me to acquire materials for these classes?”

“Yes. I’m told you paid a considerable sum to attend Hogwarts for a year as a special student, and consequently, now that we have agreed on a series of courses for you, the books and supplies you require will be sent to your quarters by tomorrow morning. Will that suffice?”

“Thank you. I’m very much looking forward to all of this, sir. I’ll see you at breakfast then?”

“Of course, along with the rest of the school. I believe that completes our interview, Mister Malfoy. Get your rest while you can, you’ll be as busy as the rest of our students very soon. That will be all.”

Draco Malfoy rose from his chair and gave a formal short bow, then sauntered out of the room with more confidence than he’d entered with. Harry mused over what he’d learned while he readied himself for a short Firecall conference with Minerva.

It was somewhat disorienting, associating the name Draco with someone so very different from the man Harry had known. This young man was possessed of a searing intellect, and was terribly high strung. He was nowhere near as adept at hiding his emotions as his father was, and he seemed far more driven than any pupil Harry had ever had. The cruel irony that they had both lost their parents to murder while barely out of infancy struck Harry as well. If Harry was any judge of such things, the young man’s bravado and arrogance was likely a front, hiding insecurities and fears in the oldest tradition of adolescence. The question of the hour was what kind of man would emerge from the shell the boy left behind?

Harry scattered a hint of Floo powder across the surface of the coals, then popped his head into Minerva’s office when the Firecall was accepted.

“Hello, Harry. Come on through if you’d like. I’ve nothing but a bit of paperwork to keep me company right now, and the break would be most welcome.”

“Right then. Be there in a moment, Headmistress. Harry withdrew from the Firecall and took the Floo properly. Hogwarts was not fully attached to the magical world’s Floo Network, but rather had its own independent and closed system, operating entirely within the castle, with limited access to other places. A second later, he stepped out of Minerva’s fireplace and dusted his robes off before taking a seat.

Minerva MacGonagall looked a bit impish. It was probably because Harry, despite all the histrionics, was doing what she’d expected of him after all. It still annoyed him to no end that he’d been pushed and shoved into this against his will, but John Prewett’s efforts hadn’t been in vain. Harry felt quite well for a man who’d just spent nearly a half hour chatting with the son of his murdered lover. It reeled the mind when he thought of it carefully, but it hadn’t been anything like what he’d imagined.

“You look quite well, Harry. You had a productive meeting with Mister Malfoy, I take it?”

“Very much so. I can’t say this will be easy, but I can say with a certain confidence that I think the Ministry is worried without good cause. He doesn’t really seem any more rash or hasty than other people his age, and the insolence and arrogance we were concerned over seem to be the result of intellectual isolation. I imagine it would be hard to fit in with other children with a mind like his. Shades of Hermione back in the day. I’m a little concerned with his poor control of his temperament and his sharp tongue, which I expect we’ll see again before the year is done, but other than that, I think he’ll be a remarkable student and a credit to whatever endeavor he chooses to undertake as an adult.”

Minerva raised an eyebrow. “He certainly won you to his cause a bit quicker than I expected. I’m glad you’ve come around, but don’t be too quick to dismiss the Ministry’s interest in this. Youth rarely blends well with exceptional power. You were and are a rare case, and I’ve always credited Albus’ influence with bringing the very best of you to the forefront of your character. Many another person would have abused their fame and talents, and remember that this is a new environment for Draco Malfoy. He may not react as positively as you hope, now that he is no longer a student of Durmstrang and possesses a fortune to be reckoned with and considerable power at his fingertips. Tell me what you’ve learned, and I’ll keep it in mind before I compose a first report to the Ministry.”

“Well, it seems as though he felt that his talents were being held back by his instructors at Durmstrang, largely out of jealousy for his innate gifts. He freely admitted that his disciplinary record was the result of arguing with his school’s instructors on a fairly regular basis. Being the star pupil didn’t exactly lend itself to instant popularity with most of the other students, and he shows a marked and believable preference for studying over social activities. As I said, he reminds me quite a bit of Hermione at that age. Further, his primary goals seem to be establishing himself as the leader in the field for his generation, with tutoring by me as his final accreditation. I expect he’ll probably look at teaching or writing on the subject of DADA someday.”

Minerva raised a hand and Harry paused. “Harry, before you dismiss the impact of his time at Durmstrang, I think you should be made aware of what discipline means. Here, it is detentions and the loss of privileges, but at Durmstrang it is often corporal punishment, especially after repeated offenses. I want you to consider for a moment the stability of a mind that would argue with authority after being routinely punished by use of a switch across the back or by a whip. More than mere stubbornness is at play here.”

Harry was aghast. His stomach roiled for a moment before he could even speak.

“Minerva! That’s…that’s barbaric! Outrageous! Do you mean that those marks on his record, dozens of them, all signify beatings? It’s unconscionable! The Ministry shouldn’t be investigating him, they should be looking into what kind of maniacs would inflict something like that on a gifted child!”

“I agree entirely, Harry, but that is sadly beside the point. Durmstrang still clings to ancient traditions that Hogwarts discarded decades ago. At question is this: was that boy’s pride so overwhelming that he would endure seven years of regular beatings, almost monthly, or did he have or develop some purpose or intention that drove him to conflict with his teachers even under threat of physical punishment? More importantly still, could their abusive treatment of him have left a lasting hatred for all forms of authority? Ideally, if we can resolve that he has no harmful intentions, I can make a final report to the Ministry and his name will be dropped from the rolls of those who are ’observed’. If you feel strongly that he means to make the most of his education, help me prove it. If at all possible, I hope to see a young man leave here healthier and wiser for the time he spent. That should be a goal you agree with…I hope. But…we must also consider that he is highly intelligent, and may, by all reports, be capable of manipulating people quite skillfully. Take the lad at his word if you wish, but keep your own counsel as to his intentions. Those aren‘t yet entirely clear to us.”

Harry was still stifling outrage, reminding himself that Minerva was not the source of what angered him. It was horrifying to think that youngsters were subjected to such treatment anywhere in the wizarding world, and if it hadn’t been for the influence of John’s well-brewed potions, Harry was sure he’d have been trembling with fury right now. As it was, his face was hot with the kind of anger he hadn’t felt since he was much younger.

It was decided in that instant. It wasn’t entirely conscious, but in that moment of seething anger, Harry drew a line in the sand of his soul. Draco’s only child deserved better than to have suffered such things, and if Harry was to have any say in it, the boy would have a better impression of authority before he was finished here. If it took enduring an uncomfortable presence or difficult memories, so be it, but Draco Malfoy would know that not all people were so cruel or petty. Harry was certain that Draco was no Dark Lord in the making, but he was troubled, and that would have to be dealt with carefully.

John Prewett might be helping Harry along the way, but perhaps with John’s advice to soothe his own tired and frayed nerves, Harry could bring the young man to open up a bit more. There had to be a way to make this work…and Harry meant to find it.

“I agree. I’ll do my best, Minerva. I don’t know how anyone could endure that kind of thing and come away with a healthy view of the world, but there has to be a way for us to make sure he’s on the road to a decent life. I’m not sure I can do anything about the way I feel, and I don’t think any of you will ever really understand how much I miss his father, but I owe his father this much…I will find a way to do the best I can for Draco, even if it drives me half scatty in the process.”

Minerva smile at Harry’s wry smirk, and nodded approvingly. Albus’ portrait had woken up and applauded lightly, smiling down at them.

“Here, here to that! Good show, my boy! I’ve never known you to run from difficulty…if anything, you were always one foot into it before you knew what you were doing, but you always found a way, and you always did the right thing in the end. Proud of you as always, lad, proud of you as always.”

“Albus is right, Harry. I have every confidence that you’ll be the key to resolving this, but don’t forget to take better care of yourself…or John will never forgive me, and I won’t hear the end of it for a long time to come.”

Harry made his peace with the task ahead of him, but the lingering concern was still with him…what damage was done to this boy before he made it to Hogwarts, and was it even the sort of thing that could be dealt with here?

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Draco Malfoy returned to his private suite, slipping off the long robes he wore for classes. His wand flicked while he muttered spell after spell, warding his room with all the caution of a practiced Auror. When his room was silenced and sealed from all intrusion, even the mildest of scrying, he turned to the heavy chest of oak at the foot of his bed.

The spells upon it bordered on Dark, and required the greatest of care to remove, spell by spell, in the proper order, to avoid serious harm. He opened the chest with a quiet intensity, and withdrew from the very bottom of it a single book, bound in fine leather and gold. This he placed upon his desk with reverence, and with a small knife he nicked his finger, letting three drops fall upon the golden lock of the book, whispering breathily to it all the while. The softest of clicks could be heard, and he opened the slim volume near the center, turning a few pages until he found the one he wanted. Then he began to read, candlelight flickering into the night, eyes fixed firmly upon the pages of the book, until exhaustion brought him low.

TBC!!!