An unfamiliar flavor of pride seized me at the knowledge of Harry's love bite on my skin, and I suddenly couldn't just sit in my room waiting for him. I have to show this off.

Since it was the weekend, I changed out of the uniforms Harry's Room had provided us, and donned something a bit more casual. My day-to-day wardrobe was mostly monochrome, but I settled on an ash-grey thermal long-sleeve and black slacks as I ventured back out into the world.

The neckline for this shirt was purposefully off-the-neck, and I left the first two of the three buttons undone. Not only was I proud of something on my skin for the first time, but I was at ease. Having lived an entire life uneasy, it felt like giddiness. My gait fell into a familiar strut as I decided to visit the library.

Being the weekend, barely any students littered the desks and chairs as I strode in. My feet found my comfort corner instinctively, and I casually perused the bindings of all the Potions-related books Hogwarts' library had to offer. Most of them, I'd already read, but when I found one I hadn't, I withdrew it and found an empty seat. One leg crossed over the other as I opened the cover to find the table of contents. 'Sailor's Potions' it was called. I was just beginning chapter one when movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

Who should it be but Blaise Zabini peeking out from behind a bookshelf. We locked eyes, and when he didn't immediately turn and flee, I sighed and returned my attention to my book. Nothing can sour my mood today. Not even Zabini.

Eventually, though, he did approach, although somewhat cautiously.

"M-Malfoy," he addressed me.

"Not interested."

"Look, I… Know I've been avoiding you, it's just-"

"Like I said," I cast a pointed glare at him, and he halted. "Not interested."

I uncrossed and crossed my legs as I made a show of turning my attention back to my book.

Please just leave me alone. You wouldn't be speaking to me if you didn't have a favor to ask, but whatever it is, the answer is clearly no!

"You have to talk to Potter!" He blurted out. Confusion raised my eyes back to his unwillingly. He was obviously very far outside his comfort zone, and he'd piqued my interest just enough to listen. "He's been so absorbed with you, but if he continues to neglect the Slytherin house, all this pomp about inter-house unity will be just that."

A very Malfoy snigger sounded in my throat.

"Aw, is someone getting bullied?" The mental image of Blaise getting shoved against a wall invited another chuckle from me. "You saw what he did for that first-year anyway, why are you really here?"

"Yeah, but that was a first-year! What about the rest of us? Of course, you have no idea what we're all going through-"

"Harry stands up for people who deserve it. I've changed, have you?" I spat back at him, my hackles raised. The memory of his hatred for muggle-borns and 'blood traitors' was fresh in my mind. He's just like Him.

"What happened to second chances? Isn't that what he's all about? Please, Draco, you have to talk to him."

"I don't have to do anything." Slamming my book shut, I sighed. No. I won't let my good mood turn sour. "You want protection, earn it."

"How the hell-?"

"As if I'd stick up for you." Ah, fuck. I stood and approached him menacingly. "You're probably doubly disgusted that I'm fraternizing with another guy AND a halfblood at that."

His expression changed to one of terror, and I found this pleased me. I want to see him cower.

"Recently I've found it's useless to pretend to be something you're not. So why not just own up to it? You deserve the hatred of your peers, you who think you're so high and mighty over them. You're exactly the kind of filth Harry wanted to rid this world of."

Blaise did, in fact, cower from me. Satisfaction bloomed in my chest as he took a few faltering steps back, but that was when it hit me.

What am I saying?

My legs halted, and I grimaced.

Who am I to dictate who gets a second chance and who doesn't? Do I even deserve a second chance? Am I really still this person?

A growl tore from my lips, and Blaise began to turn as if he would run.

"Wait," I said. "I… Have no right to place judgement on you." My words wriggled through gritted teeth as I basically apologized to him. His terror changed to confusion as he hesitantly turned back toward me. Shit. "If…" I sighed. "If you're really having that hard a go of it, I'll…"

The hope that shone in Blaise's eyes somehow irritated me.

"Oh, just fuck off, will you? I'll… I-I'll talk to Harry…"

"Thanks," he said earnestly before turning tail and escaping.

I returned to my chair and fell into it with a sigh. There goes my good mood…

After the interview with Dumbledore, I knew my next destination. Slughorn would be in his office, perhaps already slightly tipsy, if I knew him well enough. Sure enough, when I'd knocked on his door, I was met with a slurred "Come in!"

"Ah, Harry m'boy! What can I do for you?"

As I came to sit across his desk from him, he began pouring a second glass of whatever concoction he had in his flask.

"I… Actually have quite a difficult question for you, Professor."

Having filled the second vessel, he offered it to me. Obviously, I turned it down.

"Difficult? All the difficulties have passed, boy, what do you ask of me?"

He downed his own drink before what would've been mine. I grimaced.

"You… Don't know anything about Morsmordre, do you?"

The glass in his hand came back down on his desk with a tink as he eyed me suspiciously.

"What reason do you have for questing for such knowledge?"

"I'm looking for a way to remove a Dark Mark." His expression sobered somewhat as I continued. "You see, I've been talking with Dumbledore-"

"Dumbledore?" He interjected incredulously.

"His portrait," I clarified. "And he spoke of something called a blood pact? Could the Dark Mark be similar to that?"

Slughorn grumbled into his empty glass, and I suddenly lost all hope of his helpfulness, when suddenly he perked up.

"Actually… And, this is quite painful for me to describe, Harry…" He frowned up at me. "Tom was an inquisitive boy when I knew him. You must understand, any knowledge I equipped him with was with the best intentions."

"Of course, sir. But please, if you could shed any insight into this, I'd very much appreciate it."

His liquor breath drifted across the desk to burn my nose, and I was suddenly reminded of the night Draco and I had drank.

"He… Asked about a permanent state of the Imperius curse. At the time, of course, I had no answer for him but questions. Why would he require an eternal slave? What plans did he have? I should've known…" He suddenly started weeping, and I sat uncomfortably across from him. Eventually, he continued. "He left without an answer from me, but I b-believe his endeavors led him to the Servus Totalus spell."

Servus Totalus. Could it really be that simple?

"Thank you, professor. I'll… I'll let you resume your weekend. Sorry for bothering you."

"No, I'm sorry…" He reached out as if he would take my hand, but I was a full desk's length away, and his hand dropped to the surface. "I shouldn't have…"

"It… It's not your fault, either, professor."

He turned a piteous expression up at me just before I fled the room.

Servus Totalus.