I Sure Love Mysteries
"Malfoy? He's a right prick,"
"A bastard,"
"I don't really have an opinion of him, sorry,"
"He's obviously jealous of Harry Potter,"
"Prick,"
"Jerk,"
"I think he's an asshole,"
He comes from a very prestigious family, but he's a dick,"
It was all the same. No matter who he asked, muggleborn, pureblood, Slytherin, Gryffindor, it was all the same answer. People either didn't have an opinion, or they hated him, which was interesting considering their conversation yesterday. Draco Malfoy was pleasant (maybe a bit fun) to talk to, he listened to Leo's explanation on bruises and asked questions about it too. The only other person to do that has been Luna. Anyways, the point is that Draco Malfoy contradicted everything Leo's heard about him in a thirty minute conversation. Which begs the question; what happened with Draco Malfoy?
Something changed with Draco, it wasn't anything significant yet, but it was enough to leave Leo reeling. Something caused this slight change in Draco, and Leo was going to figure it out. he really did love mysteries, and Draco was the perfect one to crack.
Meandering through the halls was something Leo often did, except now he was gathering information. No one else thought Draco had changed. Leo reckons it could be a part of his personality that only comes out in one-on-one conversations, but that would mean that someone would know about this. It could be a part of his personality that only comes out when he lets his guard down, but Draco would be stupid to let his guard down around someone that he just met. Or maybe, everything he heard is true and this change is a recent development.
Leo hadn't detected a spell placed on Draco, but he could be wrong. With that thought, Leo entered the library and made a bee line to the restricted section. He needed books that looked into personality altering spells. His finger slowly skimmed the titles. The working theory was that Draco genuinely wanted to change, but you could never be too careful with things like this, and Leo was nothing if not thorough.
Finding a book that seemed to pertain to the subject at hand, Leo tucked himself into a corner, knees to chest, and began to read.
Mutatio Cordis was first created by Johnathan Freeces in 1312 and was first used on himself in order to win the heart of Margaret Winchester. Unfortunately, the spell doesn't change your personality, but your heart. Freeces' intense love for Winchester turned into a furious rage directed at her existence.
Johnathan Freeces drowned his once love, Margaret Winchester, in the Black Lake. Winchester's death was deemed too tragic and her soul too volatile to become a ghost. Her soul was bound and locked away in Hogwarts' vault in Gringotts.
Freeces escaped capture and reportedly died in the New World in 1492.
Two books and three hours later, Leo could confidently say that Draco was under no kind of spell or potion. Which left his most probable theory: Draco Malfoy decided to change his ways. What caused this, and whether or not Draco was aware that he was changing remained unknown. Leo stood up, putting the book back onto the shelf, he arched his back and stretched and carefully made his way out of the restricted section. He's one step closer to solving the mystery. This is the most fun he's had since first year, when he learned of this world.
"Oh, hello Leo,"
Leo froze and spun around to come face-to-face with the subject of his thoughts the past day and a half, Draco Malfoy. "Draco! Hi!"
Draco raised an eyebrow and looked up at the 'Restricted' sign above Leo's head. "Having fun?"
Leo turned his head to look at the old, faded sign. "If you don't tell then I won't tell anyone about Hermione punching you again," he said hurriedly.
Draco's other eyebrow joined the other so that they were both raised, eyes wide, and lips slightly parted in shock. "Are you blackmailing me?!" Draco asked, his voice conveying how shocked he was at this development.
Leo made a gesture with his hands as if he was weighing something. "Negotiating more like," he hummed.
Draco's face evened out into an emotionless mask. "With blackmail,"
"With the information needed to make sure my terms are met," Leo let a small smile slip onto his face.
"You think you're funny?" Draco asked, a little of that pureblood arrogance in his voice.
Leo laughed. "I've been known to crack a joke or two," he took a couple steps forward and stood on his toes to peer at the book Draco held. "Werewolves?" Leo questioningly looked at Draco who was looking at him, a certain softness in his features before they cooled over again.
"I managed to decrypt Professor Moody's lecture, and I think that we'll be covering werewolves, and since he's an awful teacher, I'm going to teach myself,"
Leo rocked back onto his heels and tilted his head, his hair flopped to one side as he took on a thoughtful expression. His eyebrows furrowed, and his nose scrunched up before relaxing just as quickly. "you know, now that I think about it, the only time I properly understood anything in Defense was when Professor Lupin was here,"
"That does seem to be the case unfortunately,"
Leo raised an eyebrow at the phrasing. "I miss him. He gave me chocolate when I was sad," he smiled sadly.
"He was a werewolf," Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"And? He was nice, supportive, and a good teacher. Who cares if he's a werewolf, he genuinely cared about his students," Leo crossed his arms and glared at Draco in silent challenge.
"Do you not remember when he transformed and almost killed Potter, Granger, Weasley, and Professor Snape!" Draco growled out, he followed Leo into the hallway as they exited the library.
"Yes, in fact, I do. I also remember that his former best friend, Sirius Black, had escaped Azkaban and was believed to be hunting down the last living relative of his other best friend whose death was believed to be caused by Sirius Black! Honestly it's no wonder he lost track of the days," Leo could feel his anger rising as he responded to Draco's bigotry.
"That doesn't change-" Draco started.
'Doesn't change what, Draco?" Leo stopped and spun around, causing Draco to come to a stop, and spread his arms out before letting them fall to his sides. "That he's the victim of a violent crime yet we treat him like some kind of animal! He's still a fucking person!" Leo turned back around and started walking off. "God I can't believe how much of an arse you're being!"
Draco didn't like where this was going. He had finally made a friend and it was going to end before it even truly begun. "Leo, I didn't-"
"Fuck off Malfoy! I'll see you tomorrow," Leo stormed off.
Draco stopped following Leo. He stood in the middle of the corridor in fear. He had to apologize, but Leo didn't let him apologize. He had to apologize.
Draco drug his feet around the next day. He hadn't even had a friend for two days before he fucked it up, and over something as stupid as the treatment of werewolves. Although, Leo did have a point, a very small point but a point nonetheless. Maybe he should apologize. Now for the real question. How does one apologize to a friend? He truly didn't know, but there were a few people he knew would know. Unfortunately, he wasn't on good terms with the majority of them. But there was one person that he didn't think would immediately turn him away.
"Excuse me, Luna? Could I talk to you for a minute?" Draco asked.
"Of course Draco,"
Draco led her to a secluded hallway, turning towards Luna. His whole self screamed awkwardness. Draco's eyes focused on the floor, his shoulders nearly reached his ears. His hands clenched and unclenched.
"How do, uh, how-" Draco took a deep breath, partially relaxing his stance. "How does one apologize to a friend?" Draco seemed to shrink in on himself.
Luna's slight confusion dropped and a soft smile slipped onto her face. "it's just like apologizing to anybody else. As long as you mean what you say and they're a true friend it'll all work out,"
"You think so?"
"Yes, I do,"
"Okay, thanks Luna, I really appreciate it," Draco shyly smiled at Luna.
"You're welcome Draco,"
"I'll see you around!" Draco beamed and ran off.
"Well that was an odd interaction," Luna watched as Draco ran off, tilting her head slightly.
Draco was not hiding behind a corner. He wasn't waiting to ambush Leo with his apology. He didn't catalogue ever possible exit in case this went wrong. He was Draco Fucking Malfoy, and he didn't cower! He didn't-
"Why are you hiding behind the corner?"
Draco startled slightly and looked over at the source of the voice. Leo. Fucking. Andrews. Fuck, he wasn't ready for this. What did Luna say to do again? Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. "I'm sorry!" he blurted out.
Leo tilted his head. "You're sorry for hiding behind the corner?" he questioned.
"No! Oh for Merlin's sake. I'm sorry about everything I said!"
"That's quite a lot, care to elaborate?"
Draco hugged himself, his eyes never settling on one place for long. "For what I said about Professor Lupin, and werewolves in general. I-I didn't listen to anything you said, and-and I still don't really understand your point, but if it's that important to you, then I would like to. Understand, that is," Draco spoke slowly, like he wasn't quite sure about what he was saying until it was halfway out of his mouth.
Leo chuckled. "Draco that was the single handedly the most awkward thing I've ever heard. But as long as you're willing to try, then that's enough for now," he smiled.
Draco breathed out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, I've never done this before. I had to ask Luna for advice,"
Leo bent over with the force of his laughter. "You got advice and still came up with that?!"
"It's not my fault! All of her advice was to just apologize!" Draco defended himself, smiling.
"You sure there wasn't more to it?" Leo teased, leaning against the wall.
"Maybe a little more," Draco showed his fingers almost touching, a small grin on his face.
"Oh, just a bit?"
"Just a bit. But I believe I owe it to you to actually listen to your stance on werewolves," Draco stepped around the corner into the main hallway, Leo bounding up behind him.
"Yes!" Leo clapped his hands. "Now shut the fuck up and listen, I'm about to educate you!" Leo beamed. Draco really was a mystery, but maybe it was one that didn't need solving.