Draco was brought back to Dumbledore's office. This time, they entered the main office, where Dumbledore's great desk stood. It was a deep cherry color, and simple, yet very beautiful all the same. Draco was surrounded by oddements that he'd never noticed before. Strange contraptions that made tinkling sounds, or shimmered in the candle glow that illuminated his office. When he sat down in the large red velour chair before the desk, he had the senastion of almost sinking into the seat.
"Well. It's been quite a week for you, Mr. Malfoy, hasn't it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Why am I serving detention now?" Draco asked irritably.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles as he replied, "I am not precisely having you serve detention in the traditional sense, Mr. Malfoy. By the by, may I call you Draco? Yes, Draco, I believe it is actually in your best interest that you remain here this evening."
"How do you figure that?" Draco asked.
"I fear Lestrange's friendly mood will not last. It appears that you have managed to break up the so-called friendship between Mr. Lestrange and Mr. Snape. That feat alone makes you worthy of high merit, Draco. Though I fear it may have repercussions," Dumbledore sighed.
"Oh, you mean the rumors he's starting to spread about me and Severus?" Draco spat as he rose from the seat (with some difficulty) and stood behind it. "I'm rather surprised they made it all the way up to you so fast."
"I care very little about your percieved sexual orientation, Draco, if that is what you are talking about. Besides, if all Lestrange were to stop at were rumors, I would consider it unworthy of my attention. No, I fear he's got more planned for you."
Draco shrugged. "Talk is cheap, Professor. When he backs it up with words, I'll worry about it," he said, with more bravery in his voice than he felt.
"Please have a seat, Draco. I haven't gotten to know you very well, and I would very much appreciate it if you would tell me a bit about yourself. For instance, I would sincerely love to know what makes you so high-strung?"
"I'm not 'high-strung!'" Draco protested shrilly, gripping the back of the chair tightly.
"Then again, I suppose if I were Lucius Malfoy's son, I'd be high-strung too. Oh, do sit down, Draco. You needn't hide behind the chair. In fact, we might be able to share a bite to eat, if you haven't eaten enough with Severus before, that is," Dumbledore offered, as he waved his wand over his desk. On it appeared a set of two sandwiches and some pumpkin juice. Draco stepped around the chair and sat down quickly again. He took a bite of the sandwich, then realized that he was supposed to be talking, not eating.
"You know, everybody always thinks that I'm just this abused little boy because the great Lucius Malfoy is my father. It's not true. He doesn't beat me or anything like that. He just expects a lot from his son, that's all. Actually, I expect a lot of myself," Draco explained.
"Draco, I never meant to imply that your father beat you. I figured that he would try to hold you to a very high stndard, however, and that can be quite stressful to a young boy trying to find his true path in the world," Dumbledore pointed out.
Draco became annoyed. "Look, don't tell me about how difficult my father made my life. Since arriving here from that dratted door last Monday night, I have encountered nothing but obstacles and troubles! I have teachers I cannot trust, fellow students that might try to harm me, and even my friend keeps more secrets than a house-elf! If there is something I'm supposed to be doing here, than why am I getting such a hard time doing it?"
"Are you feeling out of place here, Draco? I could understand it completely if you are having trouble adjusting," Dumbledore sympathised.
"This had nothing to do with adjusting to Hogwarts, this has to do with Colton, Foxworth, Lestrange... I, I admit it, I'm getting a bit scared." It killed Draco to admit that especially to Dumbledore. "I never was in real danger in the Hogwarts I came from. Not like this. This was..." he trailed off. He was going to say, "stuff that Potter had to deal with," but the words died in his mouth. Imagine, he used to be jealous of the boy! What a fool he was!
"Do you miss your friends, Draco? From your time?" Dumbledore asked. "Did you have a girlfriend?"
"To tell the truth, I don't know if I miss Crabbe and Goyle all that much. Well, they would have been good to help me out in a fight, they're both really big guys, you know. Very intimidating, to anyone who didn't know how they really were. Come to think of it, I don't know how they managed to learn how to use a toilet instead of their pants without my help."
"I'm surprised you'd see them that way. Aren't they supposed to be your friends?" Dumbledore asked in a puzzled voice.
"I hung out with them. I was supposed to. They come from good families. So does a girl I know; she's from a good wizarding family. My father thinks she would be a good match for me. I don't. I have nothing in common with her. Shouldn't you have some things in common with a girlfriend?"
"Yes, I think you should have many things in common with a girlfriend. Have you found a girl like that?"
"I don't know. I thought I did. But now, I'm finding there's another girl I'm interested in... I guess it's not really cheating on a girl if she's not actually born yet, is it?" Draco asked.
"Well, I must admit, no one I know has ever found himself in a situation like that. I suppose you must figure out that one for yourself. Based on your situation, you might find that door reappearing anytime. But, what if it doesn't?" Dumbledore looked keenly at Draco. "I see that you have become good friends with Severus Snape. And, you must realize that it is already April. What do you plan on doing if the door does not reappear in time for summer holiday?"
"Um, I have a plan..." Draco answered, though he knew that was a bunch of crap. In truth, he hadn't given any thought about summer yet. "I would have done anything to have a friend like Severus in my time. But, when I knew him; you must have figured out that I knew him from my other life," Draco sighed. "Maybe I can stay with him, if I pay my own way, of course. I don't have to stay here all summer, do I?"
"Well. Normally, I would be glad to see a young person that didn't have a family of his own could turn to a surrogate family of sorts. But I fear in this case, Severus' living situation is not ideal. He only lives with his uncle. He would rather spend the summer here. You must know that it has come to pass in the past that students that were in need were able to stay here over the holiday. Unfortunately, I would have to prove that Severus had no guardian, which would never work. His uncle is more stubborn than he is, I fear. And the man walks that very fine line between stern and abusive, I fear. Severus is too proud to admit it, but I believe that his uncle is a detriment to him. No, I fear that you would not be able to stay with him."
Draco's mind began to churn. He'd think of something; he was a Slytherin, they always find a way. "I had no idea his family life was that bad," Draco frowned. But then a grin curled his lips. If he had his way, he and Severus would both have a blast this coming summer.
"Ah, I see that the idea of you remaining at Hogwart's is growing on you. Good, good. Now then, since it's gotten so late, I suggest that you remain here for the night. I can have the house-elves bring some of your things up here, and you look like you are tired enough to sleep for a week," Dumbledore told him. And so, mostly because he wasn't energetic enough to argue, Draco was tucked in by the house-elves up on a chaise lounge by the fireplace.
"Sleep well, Draco," Dumbledore told him, then turned to leave.
"Wait. I want to ask you something," Draco spoke up. When Dumbledore turned back around, he added, "Why do I keep feeling like I'm floating around, and don't have my feet on the ground ever?"
"My dear boy, your life has suddenly become so uncertain. You haven't any family now, not like you used to have. The stability you had is gone. But I want you to know that I will strive to help you in any way I can, Draco. Until that door reappears, there are one or two of us here that you can trust. I only ask one thing in return, if I may," Dumbledore said.
"What is it?" Draco asked.
"That you help me to understand Sytherins. I have been trying to see things from every students' point of view since I became Headmaster of Hogwarts. I can understand the fierce loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and I can see why a new discovery would make a Ravenclaw experience joy. Needless to say, I can associate with the thrill of victory that a Gryffindor feels when defending honor and truth. But for some reason, I just cannot see things from a Slytherin point of view."
Draco turned over to lay on his stomach, and he set his chin on the back of the chaise lounge to give Dumbledore an enigmatic grin. "So, you want to know what makes a Slytherin click, do you? I think I shall have to call upon some others to help me define it properly. But make no mistake, I do intend to explain the Slytherin mind, heart and soul to you, Professor. I relish the opportunity."
"Sleep on it," Dumbledore advised, and left Draco to stare into the flames beside him before falling into a deep slumber, even though he didn't have his securtiy dagger with him.