Just your average 6th year

By serotonin

Trolls, death, Christmas surprises, near fatal Quidditch matches, it's all in your average 6th year at Hogwarts.

Chapter 3 – a little bit of counsel

~~

I am woken up abruptly when the train pulls to a stop at the station. In the corridor, I can hear people talking as they get off the train. Slowly I get up and smooth the creases out of my robe. I make sure that my wand is still safe in my pocket, before walking out of the compartment. There is nobody left on the train, and I find that there are only a few people left on the platform by the time I get onto it.

I trudge my way up the path to where the horse-less carriages are. There are only three left, so I climb into the last one; there is nobody in it but me. I sit there for a moment before it begins to lurch away. There must be nobody else left at the station, else wise the carriage won't leave unless there are at least four people in it.

When the carriage pulls up at the Entrance Hall, I get out and watch as it leaves. Professor McGonagall is standing in the doorway, glaring at me. I carefully step past her, and keep walking down the hall for a moment, before turning back. She has shut the door, and is walking toward me now. When she sees me standing there waiting, I receive another glare.

"What are you waiting for Malfoy? The feast is just about to start."

"Professor..."

"Yes Malfoy?"

"Professor, I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore."

"You will have to wait until tomorrow I'm afraid."

"I need to speak with him now Professor. It's urgent."

"What could be so urgent that you have to speak with him right now Malfoy?"

"I can't say Professor. But I must talk to him. Please?"

Professor McGonagall is shocked, I can tell. Her eyes have gone wide, and she doesn't say anything for a moment. You'd think that she's never heard a Malfoy say please in her life. But then again, I can suppose that she hasn't.

"Alright, Malfoy. But you will have to wait until the feast is over I'm afraid."

"Must I go to the feast Professor?"

"Why shouldn't you?"

"Because I really don't want to Professor. I can't explain why, but it's the same reason why I need to see Professor Dumbledore so urgently. Please, Professor?"

"Well, I guess you can wait in Dumbledore's office for the duration of the feast. You know where it is?"

"No."

"Well, if you..."

I listen to her instructions on how to get there, and what to say to the stone gargoyle to get in. McGonagall made me promise that I would behave myself while I was in there. What is it with people and making me promise them things today? First it was Potter, now McGonagall.

I watch as McGonagall walks into the Great Hall to get ready for the sorting. I am glad that the doors are closed behind her, because I don't want anyone to know that I'm here right now. Instead, I start walking past the doors and down the corridor that will eventually lead me to Professor Dumbledore's office. I take my time getting there, because I know that the feast could last a long time.

I've reached the gargoyle now. McGonagall said to say lemon drops to it, so I do. It springs to life and jumps aside, leaving a large gap in the wall. I step through it, and onto a stone spiral staircase. As soon as I do, the staircase begins to move upwards slowly, until I come to a polished oak door that is slightly ajar. Pushing it open, I look in to see a circular room that is lined with pictures of old men and women, presumably Hogwarts previous Headmasters and mistresses.

I carefully step into the room, and shut the door behind me. There are chairs sitting in front of what has to be Dumbledore's desk, so I sit down in one of them. Looking around the room, I see that it is actually much larger than I first guessed it to be. There are many shelves and cupboards filled with numerous things that I can't identify, as well as a whole section of shelves that are filled with books. I stand up and walk over to the bookshelves, to see what kind of books Professor Dumbledore keeps in his office. Pulling one out at random, I read the title. 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare. I open it at a random page and read it aloud.

"JULIET. O Romeo, Romeo!—wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name.

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

ROMEO. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

JULIET. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

What's Montague? It is nor hand nor foot

Nor arm nor face nor any other part

Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,

Retain that dear perfection which he owes

Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;

And for thy name, which is no part of thee,

Take all myself."

I find myself entranced, and take the book back to my seat, and turn back to the very first page. I begin reading it, and though many of the words are archaic and unfamiliar, I find that the language only makes the book all the more enchanting.

I have just reached the section that I opened up to before, but I hear a flapping sound, and put the book down. Flying toward me is a large bird, it looks to be a phoenix, and it perches on my knee. I never knew that Dumbledore had his own phoenix. It looks me in the eye for a moment, before it let out a soft, quavering note. I lift my hand and gently brush it against its plumage. The phoenix rubs its head against my hand, before beginning to sing again. I do not know how long I sat there with the phoenix on my knee, but I am startled to see Dumbledore in front of me now.

"I see you have meet Fawkes Master Malfoy."

"Fawkes sir?"

"My phoenix."

"Oh. I see."

Fawkes has stopped singing now, instead he just sits still on my knee, looking at me.

"You wanted to see me Master Malfoy?"

"Yes. Professor...I need your help."

"What do you need my help for Master Malfoy."

"Please, don't call me Master Malfoy. It makes me think of..."

"Draco?"

"They're dead Dumbledore."

"Who are dead Draco?"

"My mother and father. They're dead."

"I see. Would you care to tell me how?"

I carefully tell Dumbledore the whole story, starting from when I got up to get a drink from the kitchen. When I get to telling him of what happened in the round room behind the house, I find that my voice won't come. I look down at my lap, and am surprised that Fawkes is still there. He looks at me with wide eyes, before gently rubbing his wing against my face. I am filled with strength, and turn back to Dumbledore and continue my story.

I have finished telling him of everything that happened, up until I entered the train at Platform 9 and ¾. He seems to understand that I don't want to say anymore, and instead just sits thinking for a moment. Then, he speaks.

"Well Draco, I do not really know what can be done at the minute. I will go to your manor, and arrange the removal of your parent's bodies. I will also arrange a suitable funeral for them, which you may attend should you wish to. But as for this dark lady, I do not have enough information to go on. Was she a Death Eater?"

"I don't know Professor. Trixie never said."

"Well. I must investigate this myself, and when I know more I will inform you. As for now, you must return to your dormitory, and get some sleep."

"What of the manor? What of me? Who will be my guardian?"

"We shall settle that in time. Right now, you need rest."

"I guess I do Professor."

"I will talk to you again soon Draco Malfoy."

"Goodnight Professor."

I wait for Fawkes to move off my knee, and return to his perch, before walking out of Dumbledore's office. I don't know what I was expecting, but that was definitely not it. I never thought he would be kind to a Slytherin, much less a Malfoy. I ponder this as I walk back to the dungeons, and the Slytherin dormitories.

~~

So short, I know. But next time, we shall see what Harry has to say about this.