Chapter 3.
Yes?
DISCLAIMER: None of the people, places, settings etc, are mine. I just wish they were.
Draco stared at his teacher, who seemed to be in a trance. How old was he? He could only be as old as his father. . .Draco stopped himself. He couldn't think of his father. But the letter. . . how had his father known so much of the future? It was almost scary. It was dated the day after his birthday, seventeen years ago. The day after he had been born. Why had he given it to Snape? Why not Crabbe's father? Or Goyle's for that matter? They were both totally trustworthy, and they were closer to Lucius than Snape had ever seemed to be. He could have given it to his mother, even. But he had specifically said something about his mother. . . Draco read the letter again.
To Draco, As I write this, I am watching over you. So small. . . so innocent. You won't be as and when you grow up. I will always watch over you. This is partly why I am writing this letter. You will know that I choose to back Voldemort in this struggle for power. Why? Because he will win. Maybe just in the short term. I suspect strongly that his downfall is near; not every Death Eater in his inner circle is faithful. I know that for a fact. But has he not won, already? We have very different views, the Dark Lord and I. But because I value my life, I don't argue. It never does to argue with people with as much power as he. But still, I insist, he has won. Why? Has the Ministry not been thrown into disarray? Will it not take, at least twelve, thirteen year to repair? I think so. I hope to be there when the Lord comes back from his fall from power, that I am certain will happen. . .and soon. Now. This is why I write to you. I am not a loved man in society. Admired, yes, but not love. There is an important difference between those two words, and you must learn it. There are two types of men in this world. There are some who are blind enough to see only a man's wallet; Fudge being one of them. At the moment, there is rivalry between Fudge and Crouch for the position of Mister of Magic. Only the gods know why! Because of Fudge's talent for seeing the wallet only, he will win. This I know for sure. What was I saying? Ah, yes, there are some who see the wallet, and there are other's who look deeper. Beware of those who look deeper! Dumbledor is one. Despite what the Dark Lord says, Dumbledor is not a fool. He accepts muggles for what he perceives them to be, but is no fool. Quite the opposite, unfortunately. Still he is a man to be respected; treat him with caution when you come across him. I will try and send you to Durmstrang, where I believe you could have a more. . .appropriate education for a Death Eater's son, but I think that Nar. . .your mother will want to keep you in this country. Never mind. Hogwarts has one saving grace however. There is one truly wonderful teacher of mine in Hogwarts, Professor Severus Snape. I hope he will live to teach you Potions in Hogwarts; he is a good friend of mine. Despite his rather. . .over bearing appearance, he is a wonderful man underneath. . .if he will let you get that far. . . I will not hold you much longer, Draco. I am now dead, I know, and that is why you are reading this letter. There are other things I should really tell you . . .but cannot bring myself to do so, as it would effect. . .another, who is much dearer to me than my very life. It is not vital information however, you will live a better life with out it. Do not worry. I suspect that my death was caused by murder. Possibly suicide, but if it was, you would not be reading this. Murder. . .yes. Watch your back, my son, and find people to help you watch. Value your life, do as you think will benefit your future, not what you think is right. You will live longer this way. Trust me. I hope to teach you well. I will try. If it is appropriate, tell Severus, or at least, Professor Snape, to you, the following; revenge was sweet when we we're younger. . .is it still? Memories are best when they kept are left unstained. Don't worry, he will understand. . . if he chooses to. I will have to see what the future holds from here onwards. And now I must be gone. Do not brood over my death, or plot for revenge. You will only get yourself into trouble that a dead man isn't worth. And remember this one thing. Keep the Malfoy Pride and Name. Do not worry about what they think.
Lucius Malfoy.
Post Script: Do not show, or tell your mother about this letter. Or anyone else for that matter. If you feel that you must talk to some one about it, find Severus and show this to him. You can talk to him. He knew me best. From your loving father, L. M.
Draco stared at the letter. There was so much of it that didn't make sense. Maybe he should as Snape? No, not now. Try to decipher it yourself first, he told himself, and put the letter back into its ageing envelope reverently. He wondered what his father had meant about Snape and the whole revenge and memory thing. It seemed to make sense to Snape, because he was miles away, lost in thought, again. He looked at Snape, who was sitting absorbed in thought, staring at the fire. What else had his father said about Snape? Ah, yes. . . Hogwarts has one saving grace however! There is one truly wonderful teacher of mine . . .of mine? pondered Draco. What could that mean? They were good friends, according to the letter, but. . .of mine? It really doesn't make sense, he thought. Dammit, WHY did his father have to be so cryptic? There were sphinxes out there who made themselves clearer! He felt a surge of hate towards his father, for being dead, for leaving letters that didn't make sense, for leaving him. . .he stopped himself. He was being unreasonable. "I said earlier that it would be better soon, Draco." A voice broke through his thoughts. Snape was talking to him, his silken tones finally returning into his voice. Draco couldn't help but be pleased that Snape was still calling him Draco. . . " . . .and it will. You will get used to it. The human mind is a wonderful thing for adapting situations like this. . .You realise that you are now the master of Malfoy Manor?" That caught Malfoy of guard. Of course he was! He hadn't thought of that before. . . "It will be hard. Your father held an awful lot of power, which will now fall to you. It is important that you don't get carried away with it." "Yes, sir," said Draco, head spinning with the shear enormity of what Snape was telling him. He looked back down at the letter. Was all the information in the letter important? Was it important that he understood it all? He didn't know. He felt Snape watching him, not with the usual expression that he wore when looking at anyone. When he looked at Draco, it was normally with favour against someone else, usually Potter. When he looked at Potter it was with loathing, Longbottom it was sneering distaste. But this was different. With out even looking, Draco could tell that Snape was. . .smiling? Surely not! Hardly daring to believe it, Draco looked up to see his teacher smiling across at him. It wasn't a leering grin, or a knowing smirk, it was an honest, slightly lopsided smile. "You'll do fine, Draco. I know you will," he said, and stood up. Draco was in shock. Snape had smiled at him! And told him that he would do well! It wasn't that exceptional, really, but. . .he had seemed so honest, open all of a sudden, not the dark, slightly sinister Snape he was used to. Draco stood up also, but instead of making to leave as he had planned, he impulsively caught Snape's arm. Snape turned around to face him, no longer smiling, but still seeming more . . .pleasant, friendly, even. "Yes?"
DISCLAIMER: None of the people, places, settings etc, are mine. I just wish they were.
Draco stared at his teacher, who seemed to be in a trance. How old was he? He could only be as old as his father. . .Draco stopped himself. He couldn't think of his father. But the letter. . . how had his father known so much of the future? It was almost scary. It was dated the day after his birthday, seventeen years ago. The day after he had been born. Why had he given it to Snape? Why not Crabbe's father? Or Goyle's for that matter? They were both totally trustworthy, and they were closer to Lucius than Snape had ever seemed to be. He could have given it to his mother, even. But he had specifically said something about his mother. . . Draco read the letter again.
To Draco, As I write this, I am watching over you. So small. . . so innocent. You won't be as and when you grow up. I will always watch over you. This is partly why I am writing this letter. You will know that I choose to back Voldemort in this struggle for power. Why? Because he will win. Maybe just in the short term. I suspect strongly that his downfall is near; not every Death Eater in his inner circle is faithful. I know that for a fact. But has he not won, already? We have very different views, the Dark Lord and I. But because I value my life, I don't argue. It never does to argue with people with as much power as he. But still, I insist, he has won. Why? Has the Ministry not been thrown into disarray? Will it not take, at least twelve, thirteen year to repair? I think so. I hope to be there when the Lord comes back from his fall from power, that I am certain will happen. . .and soon. Now. This is why I write to you. I am not a loved man in society. Admired, yes, but not love. There is an important difference between those two words, and you must learn it. There are two types of men in this world. There are some who are blind enough to see only a man's wallet; Fudge being one of them. At the moment, there is rivalry between Fudge and Crouch for the position of Mister of Magic. Only the gods know why! Because of Fudge's talent for seeing the wallet only, he will win. This I know for sure. What was I saying? Ah, yes, there are some who see the wallet, and there are other's who look deeper. Beware of those who look deeper! Dumbledor is one. Despite what the Dark Lord says, Dumbledor is not a fool. He accepts muggles for what he perceives them to be, but is no fool. Quite the opposite, unfortunately. Still he is a man to be respected; treat him with caution when you come across him. I will try and send you to Durmstrang, where I believe you could have a more. . .appropriate education for a Death Eater's son, but I think that Nar. . .your mother will want to keep you in this country. Never mind. Hogwarts has one saving grace however. There is one truly wonderful teacher of mine in Hogwarts, Professor Severus Snape. I hope he will live to teach you Potions in Hogwarts; he is a good friend of mine. Despite his rather. . .over bearing appearance, he is a wonderful man underneath. . .if he will let you get that far. . . I will not hold you much longer, Draco. I am now dead, I know, and that is why you are reading this letter. There are other things I should really tell you . . .but cannot bring myself to do so, as it would effect. . .another, who is much dearer to me than my very life. It is not vital information however, you will live a better life with out it. Do not worry. I suspect that my death was caused by murder. Possibly suicide, but if it was, you would not be reading this. Murder. . .yes. Watch your back, my son, and find people to help you watch. Value your life, do as you think will benefit your future, not what you think is right. You will live longer this way. Trust me. I hope to teach you well. I will try. If it is appropriate, tell Severus, or at least, Professor Snape, to you, the following; revenge was sweet when we we're younger. . .is it still? Memories are best when they kept are left unstained. Don't worry, he will understand. . . if he chooses to. I will have to see what the future holds from here onwards. And now I must be gone. Do not brood over my death, or plot for revenge. You will only get yourself into trouble that a dead man isn't worth. And remember this one thing. Keep the Malfoy Pride and Name. Do not worry about what they think.
Lucius Malfoy.
Post Script: Do not show, or tell your mother about this letter. Or anyone else for that matter. If you feel that you must talk to some one about it, find Severus and show this to him. You can talk to him. He knew me best. From your loving father, L. M.
Draco stared at the letter. There was so much of it that didn't make sense. Maybe he should as Snape? No, not now. Try to decipher it yourself first, he told himself, and put the letter back into its ageing envelope reverently. He wondered what his father had meant about Snape and the whole revenge and memory thing. It seemed to make sense to Snape, because he was miles away, lost in thought, again. He looked at Snape, who was sitting absorbed in thought, staring at the fire. What else had his father said about Snape? Ah, yes. . . Hogwarts has one saving grace however! There is one truly wonderful teacher of mine . . .of mine? pondered Draco. What could that mean? They were good friends, according to the letter, but. . .of mine? It really doesn't make sense, he thought. Dammit, WHY did his father have to be so cryptic? There were sphinxes out there who made themselves clearer! He felt a surge of hate towards his father, for being dead, for leaving letters that didn't make sense, for leaving him. . .he stopped himself. He was being unreasonable. "I said earlier that it would be better soon, Draco." A voice broke through his thoughts. Snape was talking to him, his silken tones finally returning into his voice. Draco couldn't help but be pleased that Snape was still calling him Draco. . . " . . .and it will. You will get used to it. The human mind is a wonderful thing for adapting situations like this. . .You realise that you are now the master of Malfoy Manor?" That caught Malfoy of guard. Of course he was! He hadn't thought of that before. . . "It will be hard. Your father held an awful lot of power, which will now fall to you. It is important that you don't get carried away with it." "Yes, sir," said Draco, head spinning with the shear enormity of what Snape was telling him. He looked back down at the letter. Was all the information in the letter important? Was it important that he understood it all? He didn't know. He felt Snape watching him, not with the usual expression that he wore when looking at anyone. When he looked at Draco, it was normally with favour against someone else, usually Potter. When he looked at Potter it was with loathing, Longbottom it was sneering distaste. But this was different. With out even looking, Draco could tell that Snape was. . .smiling? Surely not! Hardly daring to believe it, Draco looked up to see his teacher smiling across at him. It wasn't a leering grin, or a knowing smirk, it was an honest, slightly lopsided smile. "You'll do fine, Draco. I know you will," he said, and stood up. Draco was in shock. Snape had smiled at him! And told him that he would do well! It wasn't that exceptional, really, but. . .he had seemed so honest, open all of a sudden, not the dark, slightly sinister Snape he was used to. Draco stood up also, but instead of making to leave as he had planned, he impulsively caught Snape's arm. Snape turned around to face him, no longer smiling, but still seeming more . . .pleasant, friendly, even. "Yes?"