A few words: Just a quick thanks to everyone who has read my story and to those who have been kind enough to leave reviews. :)

I feel the need to note: I realize the story is slightly AU - I'm leaving books 1-5 as an ambiguous shady history that I don't feel the need to expound upon. Also, I realize characters are...not at all canon. Just as a heads up, if the thought hasn't already crossed your mind.

I actually have a decent amount of the story written, albeit rather unsequentially. So, updates shouldn't be that hard for me to muster. I know how painful it is to read a story you arn't sure will ever be finished, so just thought I'd reassure those who decide to stick with.

And onward ho! :)

"I'm impressed, Mr. Potter. We should have Seventh year Defense material finished before Yule."

Harry attempted to control the warmth seeping from his chest at the praise.

"Perhaps we could start something…more interesting. Animagus, advanced stealthing charms, a few curses that you may find use of on the battle field?"

Harry's eyes brightened at the prospect. Indeed, he would love to continue, especially if he would gain such valuable knowledge. And to think he was expected to face Voldemort with fingers crossed and a ministry approved curriculum!

Hermione ran into the Gryffindor common room, eyes bright and determined. She easily spotted Harry lounging in front of the fire with a questionable book on his lap. Without warning she grabbed his hand and pulled the surprised boy out of the tower.

"You've got to hear this, Harry! I was just talking to Malfoy, and I can't believe the stuff coming from his mouth! I don't know whether to be skeptical or shocked or elated or…but he suggested you should know as well, which I completely agree with. And I told him I could find you easily, which I did.."

Harry complacently followed, curiosity getting the best of him. Slipping into an empty classroom, the two saw Draco Malfoy calmly writing what appeared to be a letter. The blonde put away the parchment before looking up.

"So glad you could join us, Potter." There was a surprising lack of sarcasm in the words.

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure." Harry replied while Hermione rolled her eyes. Taking it as a cue, Malfoy jumped into the topic without warning.

"As I was relaying to Hermione, it isn't about blood. It's about tradition and culture. Before Hogwarts was founded, it wasn't an issue because muggleborns that made it to the wizarding world were introduced when they were extremely young, or not at all. Those who made it into the wizarding world were usually abandoned by their families in early childhood and adopted into so called pureblood families. A few rituals later, the child would belong to the family in all but birth. Muggleborns adopted by our families wielded a significant amount of power - otherwise their accidental magic would not have been noticed and feared by their families. True, this wasn't always the case and powerful children lived without knowing what caused them to be different, but it worked out for the most part. Most muggleborns didn't even realize they had magic, and those who did made business of it. No harm done to either world because such businesses were limited to simple charms, fortune telling, or medicines.

"Back to the issue of blood purity, most pureblood families aren't at all pure because of the sheer number of muggleborns that were brought into our world in such a fashion. And if you want to get really philosophical, the first wizards had to appear from somewhere, which makes me think they were born from muggles as the earth's magic started to manifest in humans. But that's mere speculation.

"Once Hogwarts was built, any muggleborn could attend a boarding school that would expose them to our world. Children of lesser power were sent letters as long as they showed a sliver of accidental magic. Look at our class now - nearly half are muggleborn. None knew of our world until they turned 11. An age young enough to teach them our knowledge, but old enough to bring to our world muggle prejudices and fears. To add to that, the children were, and still are, connected to their muggle world. It would have been cruel to rip muggleborns away from their families, but the introduction of muggle ideas tore apart the wizarding world. It turned into a struggle between those who wished to keep the worlds separate and those who wished for our world accept new ideas. New ideas responsible for the fear of so called dark magic and magical creatures.

"Muggles in particular are prejudiced because they are raised with limitations. Those raised from birth surrounded by magic learn to accept anything as a possibility. We are taught the true nature of magic and to respect it. We practice magics that have not been legal for centuries because they fear what they do not understand. We are taught to accept what we cannot know and to utilize what knowledge we are given access to. Notice that what we are taught in school, "light magic," always has a theory, an explanation, a clear-cut end result, and no side-effects. The Malfoy library is filled with tomes that speak of magics that blow my mind. Earth magic, emotion magic, wandless magic, family specific magics such as your parsletongue, blood rituals, and the like. In reality there is no dark or light magic. Such labeling is merely Ministry propaganda fueled by the fear of the Old magics. This "progressive" agenda has left the wizarding world weak. There is no sense of community because we introduce single units with no blood ties. Our world is dumped with strangers every year, all of who will fuel the fear. They don't see that the beauty of magic is that it isn't meant to be understood or categorized. That we should embrace all possibilities without trepidation - magic can feel emotions, did you know?

"I'm off track. Basically, the wizarding world split and the two sides have evolved into what we have today - Dark against Light as you hear it, Tradition against its destruction as we see it. Obviously, they have the advantage. We are limited to our families, while recieve new members every year. They have complete control over Hogwarts and outweigh us in the Ministry. Lords for each side have come to pass, but they are winning. They are the majority - they have the political and social advantage. Of course we have more magical power, but that does nothing but add to the fear and the ever growing number of laws against us. Over the years the propaganda has accumulated, especially the past century, although I must admit it is with good cause."

"I presume you mean Voldemort?" Harry asked, cutting into Malfoy's passionate speech.

"The Dark Lord was powerful, thirsty for knowledge, and willing to wage a war against the light - all qualities admired by Old families. Sure he was cruel, but he was willing to vie for our cause, which was what our side needed. I'm not too clear about his past, and you two probably know more than me, but due to an abused childhood at the hand of muggles, he wished to eradicate all traces of them. He was a Dark Lord who preached blood purity, and despite his ignorance of the Old Ways many families joined him. Most Old families don't care about blood purity, but it was close enough and would reach the same goal of preserving our traditions. Eventually some families bought into the blood purity shit he spouted, but I doubt too many were upset when he fell. We aren't interested in torturing muggles or killing muggleborns or groveling at a madman's feet. We wish to recreate the Old world where we were a tight community free of fear and prejudices. But those who have the Dark Mark are unable to escape his servitude. My father and Severus have both been trapped by that wretched mark for years. Severus deflected because his mother was too weak to teach him our ways. My father has done what he can to survive. Of course, there are nutcases like the Lestranges and the Macnairs, but those families have always been known for their cruelty.

"Thanks to Voldemort, and before him Grindelwald, our cause is tarnished with a horrid reputation. Very few people recognize us as the victims that we are. Our world is diminishing so rapidly, I fear my children will only hear of the Old families as a distant legend.

"To put it bluntly, I am courting you both to our cause. Potter, despite being the poster boy for the light, I believe you are more sympathetic to our cause than you let on. I believe you are more than familiar with the fear I speak of. Our side needs you, and not only because Voldemort is a threat to us. Hermione, despite being a muggleborn, you display many characteristics of a member of an old family, with your thirst for knowledge and openness of mind. More so than several I know."

Hermione blushed at the compliment while Harry looked pensive. The three sat in silence until Harry spoke up.

"Are we the only being courted?"

"By me, yes. But others considered worthy should be courted as well. Did you know it is illegal for adoption of muggleborns? Something about corrupting their young, malleable minds. This is our alternative."

"Well, that certainly answers a lot of questions. I appreciate you sharing, Malfoy."

"Yes Draco, we will definitely consider your proposal," Hermione chimed in.

"You two do realize you will need to swear an Unbreakable Vow to keep everything quiet," Malfoy clarified.

"Of course."

Harry and Hermione easily made the vow, making it impossible to discuss such matters to anyone outside a member of an Old family. Hermione made arrangements with Malfoy about their next study session before she and Harry parted with Malfoy. The two made their way back to Gryffindor tower, thoughts weighing heavily on their minds.