Of a Slytherin Mind
Draco Malfoy had always loved the Hogwarts Express, not that he would freely admit that to anyone, but the train ride to and from the school brings him a sense of ease and accomplishment, like a gateway to another adventure. Going to Hogwarts for the first time, eight years ago was still one of his best memories, one that he still uses to bring forth his patronus.
Now, as he goes back to the school he partially helped bring down once and partially helped rehabilitate, Draco was feeling a sense of unease and not just a little hint of trepidation.
Though most people would have known about his and his mother’s roles in the war, he was still a branded Death Eater, unwilling or not. Spy or not. It didn’t help that the person who had depended on during the whole bloody ordeal was still secretly fighting for his life in the US.
Not for the first time, Draco thanked Merlin, Salazar and the Smartest Witch of her Age that Severus Snape was still alive. It was also not the first time that he secretly thanked Hermione Granger – er – Black for having a bagful of life saving goodies that helped slow down the poison from Voldemort’s pet snake. It was definitely not the first time that he felt bad for owing the terrible trio so much that he *always* choked up and stay *mostly*silent whenever he sees them, and boy does he see them a lot these days.
Even his father was thankful, though Lucius Malfoy would never admit it to anyone outside of his son and wife. Draco remembers the last time he visited his father in Azkaban prison, now devoid of dementors, though no less depressing.
Flashback
As per usual, Draco was led by a stone faced auror through the dank, damp and dark walls of Azkaban. He was only thankful that there were no more dementors in the dingy prison, though it was still very gloomy. He guesses that’s what prison was supposed to be like anyway.
It was a week before going back to Hogwarts and he and his mother had decided that he should take this month’s visit to Lucius. After all, Draco would be in Hogwarts for the foreseeable future and only one family member once a month was allowed to visit. It was a consideration not many inmates had, but his father did – not because of his usual cronies but because Lucius, Narcissa and to some extent, Draco were spies for the Order of the Phoenix, though only Severus Snape, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Albus Dumbledore knew.
It was a shock to everyone to know that most of the “inside” problems that the Dark Lord faced during his second resurrection was due to the Malfoys. That the Dark Lord’s best soldiers were often incapacitated were due mostly to Lucius and Severus feeding them all sorts of undetectable potions or casting seemingly “harmless” hexes behind their backs. That they often get misrouted and looked a fool was thanks to Narcissa’s charmwork.
Truly, by the Battle of Hogwarts, half of the Death Eaters were mad and in turn made Voldemort mad as well. It led to the capture of most of them, though two of the most dangerous ones got away – Dolohov and Greyback.
Draco could hear the taunts and the screaming from the Death Eaters that he and his family helped put away. He took solace in the fact that Lucius would be coming out of Azkaban in several months – another agreement they had with Kingsley. The 10 year sentence was only to appease the masses who were out for blood, after a year in Azkaban, Lucius would be let out for “good behavior” and put on “wand restriction” for the next 9 years.
Draco didn’t mind, his father did do some heinous crimes, even though under duress and his father knew it to be true as well. It was Abraxas’- his grandfather’s, fault that their family had gone to the dogs, him and Thoros Nott who wholeheartedly pushed their own sons to be enslaved to the madman they called “friend”. Draco was only happy that Thoros died before he could have Theo marked. Theo wasn’t built for the Death Eater life after all.
All his musings came to a stop when he reached the small, enclosed room where his father waited. Draco took a deep breath and nodded to the auror who was waiting to open the door for him.
He took in his father, chained to the solitary table in the middle of the small room with two doors, one he came in through and the other he guesses leads to the cells. Lucius looked good, for someone who have been imprisoned for a few months. His hair was not as shiny, but it was well kept, his father had a short shadow of hair on his otherwise patrician face and his prison clothes, though ugly, looked clean. There was also an underlying smell of lye soap in the air, which meant his father was able to shower at least.
“Father” he said as he sat down on the metal chair across the table from where his father sat with his hands chained to the middle of the table.
“Draco, my boy” his father had a smile, which was nice to see. He had had very little to smile about in the past couple of years.
“I’m about to go back to Hogwarts next week, part of my probation to finish my NEWTS.”
Lucius nodded, “That’s good. Do me proud. Though I’m sure the mud-ahem-muggleborn would definitely outdo you once more?”
There was a teasing quality to his tone, much like how he used to tease Draco when he was younger. Draco felt a bit teary at the sound of his father’s voice. Lucius had had to play the coldhearted pureblood for far too long that he had missed his warm father. The father Draco grew up with would often play around and tease him. He truly missed that ever since that changed in his second year.
The year that Lucius decided to get rid of all of the Dark Lord’s artifacts and unknowingly unleashed hell on Hogwarts. Lucius would never tell, but Narcissa and Draco felt their Head of House’s guilt for the possession (more like enslavement) of one Ginny Weasley. Lucius, since then had slowly but surely made sure that the Weasley’s were given some type of reparation or another – specially since he knew the Weasley Head of House was a miser and was likely not giving any help to his younger brother.
A trip to Egypt they “won” or their eldest son’s “surprise promotion” to work in Gringott’s closer to home, the third born son’s placement in a high ranking office right out of Hogwarts. No one but the Malfoys would ever know that it was Lucius behind all of it. That it was Lucius who made sure that Arthur Weasley became Head of House automatically when his bothersome elder brother had died was also a secret the former Malfoy Patriach would bring to his grave.
“Not a muggleborn, father. Hermione Granger turns out to be Sirius Black’s only child and the current Head of House Black. Mother is thrilled, Aunt Andromeda as well.” He said evenly.
He had front row seats to watching Lucius Malfoy process, stumble and process some more.
It was glorious to see his always poised father flounder for something to say.
In truth, they both knew that Lucius was calculating what those certain pieces of information meant for their family. The fact that it was Hermione Granger was althemore interesting to him, specially if it meant that his wife reconciled with her sister because of her.
“Well…” Lucius started and then leaned back on his metal chair as far as the chains would let him. “I did not see that coming.”
“No one did.”
“And how is Ms. Black taking it all?”
“As well as could be, I guess. Maybe it’s the war, maybe it’s everything else, but she seems to just let things happen right now. It’s a bit disconcerting, to be honest. Granger was always a force of nature, dragging Potter and Weasel one way or the other, kicking and screaming. Now she lets mother and Aunt Andromeda take her shopping, banking, property inspecting… I think she’s overwhelmed.”
That he called Andromeda “Aunt” twice was not lost to the elder Malfoy.
Lucius eyed his son shrewdly. “Ah, yes. One would be overwhelmed I suppose, to come from such a humble background and then elevated to the very top of wizarding society.”
“She wasn’t from humble backgrounds, father.” Draco’s tone was a bit on edge. “Her grandparents raised her mother like a pureblood, her grandparents were both squibs from the Dagworth-Granger and Nott lines. And her mother raised Hermione the same way- language, etiquette and dance lessons were norm. Her mother is magical – thought she did not attend Hogwarts.”
His father only raised an aristocratic brow at him.
“I see the fascination hasn’t left.”
“Father.”
“Draco.” Lucius drawled, slight smirk evident on his handsome face.
“She’s my cousin!”
“Technically only by magic, not by blood.” Lucius smiled, it was a mischievous smile. “Your children would not only be smart and beautiful, they would be powerful as well! Not to mention they’d be the richest babies in the world. Imagine, Dagworth-Granger, Nott, Malfoy and Black fortunes at their fingertips!”
“Can we not?” Draco was getting agitated and closed his eyes as he prayed to the four founders for strength.
Smirk. “Fine… Tell me about your mother and the manor…”
End of Flashback
Draco was the first of anyone on Platform 9 and ¾, that being said he was also the first one on the train. He did not appreciate the crowd that was sure to come. He knew that most Slytherins his year were coming back, so are the terrible trio – he must really find a new name to call them. Most of his year needed their NEWTS in order to move forward from the war. It was sure that a majority of them would be here today.
The old Draco would have loved the notoriety that came with being well known, as he surely was now… the new Draco, not so much.
Specially since he was known to be a Death Eater.
Known to have let Death Eaters into Hogwarts.
Known to have almost killed the beloved headmaster.
Known to have switched sides at the final battle.
Known as a spy.
Draco knew both sides were weary of him now. The light side most likely does not believe his and his family’s stance. The dark side probably – no, seriously – wants his head.
This was not a time to be seen, so he had ducked into the last carriage on the train and waited to be found. He wasn’t sure who would be looking for him, but then again, he had a couple of nice books on him that he can read if he does end up alone for the rest of the ride.
He was surprised when the door to his carriage opened and Theodore Nott came in, bouncing with energy like he always does.
Draco raised a well-manicured eyebrow at the tall Slytherin in question.
Theo only winked and smiled in return as he arranged his belongings next to Draco’s. He unceremoniously plopped down rather gracefully on the seat beside his friend and drawled.
“Sooooo… Nice summer?” He joked.
Draco could only grin. “You could say that. I was dragged all over the place by my mother, my aunt and my cousin.”
Theo looked confused at his proclamation and Draco grinned as his friend tried to puzzle out the words that he just spouted.
“Aunt? Cousin?” Theo finally gave up pretending to understand.
“Yes, my Dear Aunt Andromeda, recently re-instated into the Black Family was with us almost every day since the beginning of summer.” The ironic use of “summer” as opposed to end of the war was not lost to either friend.
“You reinstated her? I thought you weren’t allowed to claim the Black lordship?”
“Hmmm?” Draco was really enjoying dragging it out. “What? No, it was the Head of House’s decision. As well as Andromeda’s post as the Black’s representative to the Wizengamot.”
Theo gave an exasperated sigh and jokingly punched his friend on the arm. “Spill it, prat! I know that Sirius Black is dead, so is every single Black male, so it’s only you, your mother and her sister and grandchild.” Theo sat up straight. “Wait, was it the grandchild? Is Professor Lupin’s son the new Black Head of House?”
In another life, if Andromeda was not cast of out of the family, and Sirius did not sire any children, that would have been true. As the grandson of the eldest living Black closest to Sirius’ or the main line, Teddy Lupin would be the Black Patriarch.
But it was not this timeline and so Draco decided to have mercy on his friend. He also noticed that more and more people were on the platform and were boarding the train. He didn’t want Black Family secrets to be spilled before the official announcement came out of the papers.
“Actually, the Black Family’s Head of House is related to you to, and I have her permission to tell you, though she also wants to talk to you herself.” Draco started.
Theo’s brown eyes, widened at this news. As far as he knew, he was the last Nott. With his father dead, he was the last of the Nott line. To find out that this was not true was like a dream to him. A part of him was also wary that this relative would turn out to be like most of his other family members – cold, indifferent and sadistic.
“Don’t look like that, you know there are squibs in your line, every family line has them.” Draco scoffed.
Theo finally found his voice as he said, “So this new Lord or Lady is the product of squibs then? The closest squib I know of the Notts was my grandfather’s brother, but he was killed off rather quickly once his magical status was found out.”
“Ah, no.” Draco said, unaware that his friend did not know of his father’s sister. “Turns out your father has a squib sister that their parents sent out into the muggle world when her magic did not manifest. Seems there’s a whole community of squibs living in the muggle world where most affluent wizarding families send their squibs to, and your aunt was sent there where she then met and married another squib from another rather famous line.”
Theo, rather than be put out by the news, seemed to grow more excited and was practically bouncing off of his seat. “So I have a cousin? A cousin who is also the Head of House Black?” He said excitedly, pulling at Draco’s shirt sleeves.
Draco yanked his arm and pretended to tut at his friend.
“Will you not?” He said haughtily, but without any real heat. “Technically, yes you do, but that’s not the cousin who is also the Head of my mother’s house.”
Theo glared at Draco and sighed prettily while crossing his arms. “Can you just spit it out?”
The blonde only laughed and held his hands up when Theo huffed and playfully went for his wand.
“Alright, alright.” He laughed. “Technically, you do have a cousin, though she is not Head of House Black, she is Head of another House. It is your cousin’s daughter, who also happens to be Sirius Black’s -her husband’s - daughter, who is Head of House Black.”
Draco looked on in mirth as his brown haired friend’s eyes widened even more and his jaw dropped.
“Your cousin is Head of House of Dagworth-Granger. You cousin’s daughter and my mother’s Head of House is none other than Hermione Granger, or rather, Hermione Dagworth-Granger-Black.” Draco finished smugly.
“Wha ---” Theo could only gape at his friend. “Ew, I had a crush on my cousin?”
And if possible his eyes went even wider, almost popping out of their sockets, and then the tall brunette jumped up stared at his friend.
“YOU have a crush on YOUR cousin!”
Draco immediately stood up and put a hand to Theo’s mouth.
“Shut up!” He ground out while frantically looking out the glass door of the compartment to see if anyone was out lingering in the hallway.
Theo was able to wrestle himself out of his friend’s hold and was practically huffing. “Salazar’s Pants, she’s OUR cousin! Gosh, we really are Purebloods, aren’t we? Lusting over our own blood! Though, for me, it was only ever in fourth year, but Merlin – she was fit that year!”
He then turned around and glared at the other boy, “You! You, on the other hand have been lusting over her since she clocked, or was it slapped you? In third year wasn’t it? Salazar, mate! Now you’re closer than ever! You gonna propose or what? Courting maybe? But she doesn’t know ---”
Draco was truly frantic now as Theo was almost shouting. Not that there was anything technically untrue about what he was saying, but then no one knows of Granger’s status as of yet, and he did not want to be the one to spill the beans to all of Wizendom.
“Will you please shut your trap, Merlin, Theo!” He all but roared.
Both tall boys were standing now, looking a bit comical at how they dwarfed the whole cabin though it was only the two of them inside. Both were breathing quite hard, one due to his own rant, the other due to stress. Draco had no intentions for all of Hogwarts to know of his foolish infatuation over his not-so-cousin. He knew it was useless anyway, he just didn’t want to be the fool – more so than usual that is.
Before either boy could speak further, the door to the compartment opened and in came their friends, Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass was not far behind. Gregory Goyle was nowhere to be seen, but that was expected as the boy was sentenced to Azkaban for willingly taking the mark and taking joy out of the torture of his classmates last year.
“Hey boys!” Pansy sashayed inside and took the seat opposite to the boy’s own, unaware of the tension in the cabin.
Blaise on the other hand clocked the air of something right away.
“You alright, mates?” He asked before taking a seat beside Pansy, who was already not paying attention to them but was already filing her nails while Daphne fussed on the placement of her things inside the compartment.
Both Theo and Draco eyed each other and in silent communication decided to drop the matter for a later time. Draco, because he truly did not want to talk about Hermione Granger with all of his friends, and Theo, because he needed to know more before he made his position clear. It was the Slytherin way and both boys understood it, so with a small nod to each other, both boys straightened themselves and sat on their seats.
Draco smiled at his friends. “No, nothing, just measuring who got taller over the summer.”, he said breezily.
Daphne scoffed. “That’s not a thing Draco. We did not have a summer.”
“Speak for yourself, Daph, I just spent the last weeks sunning myself on the Italian Riviera.” Said Pansy snootily.
Blaise, still eyeing his two mates only snorted as Pansy was hiding with him in his Italian Mansion since they technically were not Death Eaters or even closely tied to them, they were still Slytherins and prejudice and paranoia ran deep, even after the war. Both teenagers were housed by Madam Zabini as no one wanted to be on the wrong side of an agitated survivor or grieving family’s wands.
“Get off it, Pans, we don’t have to pretend anymore, remember?” replied Daphne.
Pansy only raised a brow at the other witch and continued filing her nails while saying “Who said anything about pretending? I'm just a shallow pureblood who wants to give up Harry Potter to the Dark Lord."
For a moment, there was still silence in the room, with the only sound coming from Pansy’s rather aggressive way of filing her nails.
Blaise started smiling, a lopsided grin which showed that he knew his friend well, and her sarcasm was top tier and known specially in the Slytherin House. Draco mirrored that smile and soon, everyone was smiling – which then turned into laughter when Pansy non-chalantly said,
“It’s not like I have a crush on the guy. I only spent the last few years sending hexes to the witches who hang off of him.”
The Slytherin friends all could have died laughing there and then in their own little bubble, where they can be themselves and none of the outside world knew just how much they were not like the kids that they portrayed at school. For example, no one outside of Slytherin or even their friend group will ever know that all the men in the compartment had a thing for mudblood Hermione Granger at a time or another, nor will anyone know that Pansy Parkinson, Draco Malfoy’s so-called girlfriend was more like a beard and a cover for both of their heart’s true feelings – one for a buck toothed, know-it-all mudblood and the other for a scarred, bespectacled chosen one both of the red-and-gold persuasion.