A/N
Hello, world! Here I am again with a little plot that popped up today and brought me out of my motivation-lack and writer's block.
It is written in a huge bout of ideas and I hope it isn't too confusing.
Let me know what you think of the idea, and what you'd like to happen!
Enjoy reading!
Exchanging Family
Walking the Hogwarts grounds in the dark was beautiful and scary at the same time. The castle stood proudly above the forbidden forest and the black lake, its windows throwing sparkling lights into the night. Like a diamond breaks the light into thousands of tiny spots when illuminated by a small light.
Dumbledore loved seeing Hogwarts in her nightly glory. The huge walls standing strong all the things to come. The ancient castle was home to so many souls and did her job in protecting her inhabitants well for centuries. The thick walls and long corridors had been a shelter, home and place of magic for a long time and would continue to be so for the hundreds of years to come.
The best part of being headmaster was definitely wandering the castle. Equal on which time of the day or night, Hogwarts held many surprises for the attentive walker. This night was no different from others. Albus was on his way back from a late-night stroll around the lake. A walk around the grounds always helped him to clear his mind and order his thoughts before diving into the business of the next day. The headmaster enjoyed the cool, clean air and the calmness lying over the castle and the nature. When Dumbledore ascended the main stairs leading to the entrance, he felt something odd going on.
There was a small uneasy feeling emerging from the depths of Albus' mind. He was not able to name it but somehow the castle always let him know if there was anything out of order. Ever since Albus had become headmaster so many years ago, Hogwarts had told him where things were out of order. The castle created a strong bond to each headmaster to ensure the safety of the many students and staff. Now Albus felt this little something tugging at his mind.
The headmaster pushed open the main doors and walked through the entrance hall, following the corridor in the direction of the dungeons. Somehow his feet seemed to walk on their own without corresponding where. Dumbledore concentrated on the feeling now spreading through his entire body. It pulled him along and the headmaster trusted his connection with the ancient castle.
There were many things not even a headmaster could understand. The castle was magical in her very own way. There was magic from every century, every student and staff, every animal and plant inside those walls. Ancient magic protecting the castle against every foe ever thought of.
Curiously Dumbledore walked down the first set of stairs, then the second and through a dark corridor. How the students of Slytherin house could navigate in such confusing corridors was quite a riddle to him. All the inhabitants had, at one point in time, been to the dungeons. But most of them had never bothered to explore the darker corridors and corners where shadows masked the unknown.
But maybe that was why Salazar Slytherin had chosen the dungeons for his house's quarters. Like the dark corridors, few people actually tried to look behind the faces of those children and adults Slytherin brought into society.
To Dumbledore himself Slytherins could be a secret. He had worked and known many of them but for a Gryffindor like him, the snakes held surprises every time. Their way of thinking astonishing him every time they were far ahead in their heads, their way to analyse every situation and comprehend what impact small details could have on them.
About Gryffindors one knew most of their thoughts and feelings, because none of them kept quiet. Just like everyone knew about the tower and the red and gold. Slytherins, hidden in the dungeon, cunning and determined, could blend in so many backgrounds like second nature. Green as deep as the ocean or bright like the first leaves in the spring. They were a mystery, no doubt. But Albus loved all his children in his school. Students and Staff alike were dear to him and he valued their presence too much to not care about them.
The headmaster continued following the invisible force further down a still bright corridor. Hogwarts pulled him along the walls, through a dark corridor and towards a brighter one. Slytherin common room lay long behind the headmaster. When he arrived at the third corner, Albus suddenly heard quiet sobbing and a high cooing voice.
Maybe it was one of the new first years being homesick? But usually the younger students weren't out of bed at this time of the night. Slowly Dumbledore tiptoed around another corner. Now the slight pull from the castle's magic stopped. The sobbing grew louder and now he was able to understand the soft words spoken.
"Young Master has to stop crying. Must be strong. Young Master should go to Master Professor Snape..." the high squeaking voice told in a much firmer tone but was just answered by a louder sob.
Moments later a trembling voice whispered: "I can't, Abby. He said it's too dangerous. He... He s-saw..." the boy sobbed.
Now Dumbledore was certain this was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen and a house elf. It seemed as if the boy didn't want to confide in Severus Snape. If the elf suggested this, the crying boy must be a Slytherin. None of the other houses would even think about going to the stern man with a problem. None of them knew how much Severus cared for his little snakes. He supported them in any way possible like every head-of-house.
"Young Master wipe away tears now. I's will bring young Mater down to kitchen and make hot chocolate, yes?" the elf tried but Dumbledore heard no response. As quietly as possible the headmaster looked around the corner into the next corridor.
The torches along the walls were lit with a dim light, just enough to keep some shadows in the corners of the window. On one of the windowsills sat a boy, knees drawn up to his chest and arms folded on them. His face was buried in his arms and his blond hair fell over his forehead and arms. The child was only clad in his pyjamas, as if he had just been woken up.
A small house elf stood next to the boy patting his shoulder in concern. The small creature seemed to be at a total loss. The boy was still sobbing into his arms. The elf, Abby, had tears in her eyes and held a handkerchief in her free hand. Dumbledore decided to make his presence known to the pair.
Slowly he stepped out from his corner and calmly walked up to the boy and the elf. The boy's shoulders were trembling, and his hitched breathing told Albus he was still crying. The boy was indeed a Slytherin student and Dumbledore knew who he was instantly as he saw the tousled, usually neatly ordered, blond hair more clearly.
The small house elf squeaked in surprise as the headmaster of Hogwarts stopped next to the windowsill. It quickly stood in front of her master in protection.
"What could bring a young man like you to sitting on a windowsill in the depth of the night, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked gently. His low voice and careful approach didn't change anything because the boy startled and nearly fell off his seat.
The young Malfoy heir looked up at the headmaster with red, tear-filled eyes. The silver-grey orbs filled with sorrow and despair paired with shock.
"I... um...headmaster I..." Draco stuttered. Then he quickly caught himself, wiped off his face on his sleeve and hopped down from the windowsill to stand before the ancient wizard. His feet at least should be warm in the black slippers he wore.
"Now, what is it that keeps you awake and out of bed, my boy?" Dumbledore asked. He looked at the blonde with a small twinkle in his eyes.
"I'm fine, Sir. I just couldn't sleep. I'll go to bed immediately, Professor." Draco said and started to walk down the corridor.
Dumbledore did not want to let him go. Normally someone who couldn't sleep was not sitting on a cold windowsill being comforted by a small elf.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Albus called and was satisfied as the boy stopped. "Please don't lie to me." The headmaster went along to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. Draco flinched but he didn't try to get away.
"Please just let me go to my dormitory, headmaster." The teen pleaded. Dumbledore was shocked to hear a plea from the usually stoic, reserved boy. This kid was nearly a carbon copy of his father. Always with a guarded expression ready to show everyone the wealthy aristocrat he was. Dumbledore was shaken out of his stupor as he felt a timid tug at his robes. He looked down to see the small elf standing beside him. The golf-ball like eyes mirrored the struggle inside her head.
"Young Master Draco needs help, Master headmaster, Sir." Abby whispered and winced as Draco hissed at her:
"I don't need help, elf. Shut up!" But the small elf did not listen. She tensed visibly and closed her eyes. Then she blurted out: "YoungMasterlosthisparentstonightheneedshelp!" With that Abby ran to the next wall and slammed her head against it. She had gone against her master's orders, but it had been necessary. The boy needed someone to care for him now. Someone without connections to the Dark Lord.
At hearing this Draco bolted away from the headmaster and tried to run but a slender but strong hand wrapped itself around his upper arm and held him back. The new information had shocked him. Yes, Voldemort had much power these days and was continuing to increase it. Many muggleborns and their families had been slaughtered over the last weeks, but the Malfoys were high ranked Death Eaters. Why should they die?
"Draco?" Albus asked quietly. "Abby stop it! Draco what happened?" He said a bit louder. Suddenly the boy went limp in Dumbledore's grip, his knees gave away under him and he collapsed to the floor.
Dumbledore was pulled downwards, too and after a short moment he carefully laid an arm around the sobbing teen. Draco went stiff under the touch but soon he slumped against Dumbledore's chest and cried bitterly.
A brief conversation with Abby told Albus what had happened this night. Lucius had been confirmed as a Death Eater at the ministry and had been arrested three hours ago. There had been a speed-trail to get him off to Azkaban. Narcissa had been too shocked by her husband's arrest. She had tried to get him out, but the evidence had been too grave. Wherever they had dug up those details, Dumbledore would look into that.
Voldemort had been furious beyond anything when he heard about the arrest of his right-hand man. He had questioned Narcissa. When she had told the Dark Lord there was nothing they could do since Lucius was already in the deepest cell in Azkaban, Voldemort had killed her on the spot. Out of overflowing range.
Not a very honourable death for a woman who did anything to protect her son and husband. Dumbledore suspected the elf of summarizing quite roughly but a Death Eater meeting meant Severus had been there and might be able to fill him in on the missing parts of information.
Albus forced his shocked mind to think. When Voldemort did not try to free his precious servant, his army must be too weak for a big attack. That was better than nothing. Maybe they had one or two other years until the Dark forces were strong enough.
For now, it was more important to find a solution for the boy. Against common belief, Albus Dumbledore did not favour Gryffindors over the other houses. Each and every child in Hogwarts was somehow like a son or a daughter to him. Regardless of their background he tried to protect them all. And now it was the young Malfoy heir who was in some way orphaned now. His mother dead and his father locked away with no prospect of release.
Albus sent Abby off to bring Severus to the headmaster's office as soon as he arrived. Then he apparated the sobbing teen and himself into his office. There were some benefits in being the headmaster, after all. He had set up the anti-apparition wards himself and Dumbledore was therefore the only person able to pass them.
When Dumbledore was back in his office Draco hadn't noticed the change. Only when he felt a thick blanket being draped around him and a warming charm cast on him, he realized it.
Suddenly he became all too aware of him clinging to the headmaster's robes and sobbing without restraint. Embarrassed, he pushed away and wiped his tears off of his face. Draco felt his face blush and his ears burn. Hastily he tried to smooth his hair. Then he got up from the floor and pulled the blanket tighter around himself.
Dumbledore sat in one of the visitors chairs now, looking sadly at him. Remembering his manners, Draco looked directly into the headmaster's eyes. Then he squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Sir" He said and tried to keep the trembling out of his voice. "Thank you for the blanket. May I go to my dormitory now?" Draco was met with the sad gaze of the headmaster.
This might have been the first time this boy had cried like he had wanted to. Albus knew Lucius Malfoy taught his son quite early that the display of emotions in public was not acceptable. That was certainly the reason why young Draco had searched the loneliness and the comfort of a family house-elf rather than another person. And that in the night he technically lost both of his parents.
So - What do you think?
Poor Draco - Who should he go to, now that he is alone?
leave a review, please:-)