Tea

We were still taking care of those awful mandragora's. At least they were maturing and they'd help cure the attacked students. Severus had immediately cured my face upon lying his eyes upon me. Potter and Weasley still had those awful pink spots on their faces. He was also more than happy to give Potter and the Weasley's detention. Greg and Vin were elevated to two hospital beds, were they woke up the next day. I had not talked to Ginny since I was attacked. Nor had I tried to retaliate. Or was I going to.

I was relieved that after herbology we had a free hour. We had to choose our classes for next year, but my father seemed to want me to beat Potter and Weasley in their classes. However those idiots seemed to sign in to the most useless classes at Hogwarts. No way I was going to sign up for divination and although sharing classes with Greg and Vin was bound to be nice, no way I was going to sign up for care of magical creatures.

When I quickly walked into Severus classroom, he quickly looked if I was alone and then closed the door and conjures two cup of tea. "Draco, I though you would never come by and visit you dear godfather," he said silkily.

I smiled happily at him. "Thanks, for punishing those Gryffindors."

"The pleasure is all mine," he replies smooth. "I trust you have already chosen you electives?"

I bite my lip. "It's father." I feel frustration rushing through me.

"Isn't it always Lucius," Severus then sneers. "What is it now?"

I sip my tea. "He wants me to beat Potter and Weasley, which, of course, is no problem, but he wants me to take the same subjects as those idiots, so I can be better in those. I cannot take divination. It is a laugh. It is ridiculous. Besides I would even be unable to take a decent elective. And I hate care of magical creatures. I will not go near something horrible like a hippogriff or a flubber worm in my life ever again if I have the chance. Besides, those subjects are hardly useful."

Severus smiles warmly at me. He even seems quite proud. "Well, I would not expect your father to understand that sorts of thing. Probably wants to give you some horribly boring job in the ministry. Would not shy away from buying your way in. At least you'd be well-paid, but hardly anything interesting." He looks just as frustrated as me. "Well, we could not waste talent on something as utterly humiliating as divination, now can we? I'll talk to your father. I'll imply how much you are already better by just not having chosen subjects like those."

I feel relieved.

"So arithmancy and study of ancient runes will be your electives for next year," Severus concludes. I hesitate. "Well, speak up, what is it, Draco?"

Sometimes it is like Severus can see through me, at least he and mother seem to know me, my father just projects who he expects me to be onto me. Hardly fair.

"Granger will probably take the same electives," I reply rejected. "It will never be good enough for father, will it?"

"I'll talk to him," Severus replies. He does not deny my words. "Never forget how proud your mother and I are of you, Draco. I think you are doing very well at Hogwarts. I could not care less about that insufferable know-it-all."

He looks intently at me, as if daring me not to say what else is on my mind.

"I wish to take muggle studies."

Severus does not smile in reply, nor angry or disappointed. "Why?" His face seemed devoid of emotion.

I feel myself turning red. "I like being informed. You know that. All I have been told about muggles is that they are disgusting and below us. That is hardly and informed view. I'd like to decide for myself what I think of muggles and muggleborns. Granger, as much as I'd loathe to admit it and as insufferable as she is, is an incredibly talented muggleborn witch. Her manners are a lot better than many purebloods, though she might not be aware of certain customs. A far cry from what my father always told about mudbloods.

Severus looks contemplating at me. "This better stay between us, Draco." He warns. "Muggle studies at Hogwarts is hardly informative. It is given by a pureblood witch, she has a poor understanding of everything muggle. I'll inform you myself. I grew up in the muggle world." He what? I feel quite shocked. How could I not know something as big as how he grew up around muggles about him? But maybe, I did not know so many personal things about him. Severus was after all a very guarded man. "It would be nice spending more time with my godson. Go with you to muggle London. I had never thought that you would grow up into such a respectful, wisdom-seeking and thoughtful young boy. You definitely did not get that from your father."