Authoress Notes: Ah well...it's late... Anyway, I'm working on the ninth chapter but will be out of the country for a bit so the ninth will be somewhat delayed.

Harry Potter does not belong to me, it never has, and it never will.

A huge thank-you goes out to Blonde Dragon who is a great beta--couldn't have done it without you.

I'm sorry if I didn't make it clearer before, but an ereptor eruditis is a spy.


Chapter 8/ A Meeting with the Headmaster

The night seemed to stretch forever; dark skies spanning the horizon, the soft brushing of stars just barely kissing the tops of the trees. The silence was heavy, but not oppressive as it wrapped the secluded courtyard in stillness. From the silence and the darkness merged a calm so placid, so heavy that it almost seemed a breach in time itself. As night slowly faded to give way to dawn, the lingering hues of blue and gray cast light upon the courtyard's walls, making the stone entrances throw their shadows into the dark hallways behind them. The sky was painted with long, dragging strokes of pink hue, the beginnings of dawn forcing the stars to become nothing more than a faint shimmering memory.

Draco Malfoy sat on a stone bench in the middle of a courtyard, the other three benches forming a circle around him. He shifted in his seat; the smooth, cold surface chilling him through the fabric of his robes and adjusted the green scarf around his neck. Long, tapered fingers idly traced the carved patterns inthe bench and Draco found his mind following the path of his finger andcompletely devoid of thought.He glanced over at the other benches which had unusual forms curling around their legs. One had a snake coiled around the back leg; another had a raven pecking a front leg. The remaining two had a griffin and a badger situated underfoot in true Hogwarts' unity form.

He withdrew his fingers and switched his gaze to the sunlight that had dawned across the horizonin shades of pink and gold. The night had completely disappeared and the sounds of birds could be heard high-pitched and shrill in the distance. He pulled up his sleeve and glanced at his watch: 6:53. The blonde stood and briefly shook out his legs, mindful of the white bandage around his foot. Casting one last look at the sunrise before him, he turned on his heel and walked towards the arched entrance of the courtyard.

Pausing for a moment, he glanced over his shoulder to take in the peach-infused glow that had illuminated the entire courtyard behind him. Draco rested his eyes on the fourth stone animal, admiring the way the stone relic of the benchwas coiled up, ready to spring with a hint of a forked tongue near the corner of its mouth. Tearing his eyes away from the thick, winding serpent, he stepped out from the lighted courtyard and through the carved arch as the dancing sunlight played off his light hair.

Draco arrived at the Slytherin table for breakfast early and sat down in his usual spot as he waited for other students to arrive. Only a few students were scattered around the Great Hall; not surprising since classes wouldn't start for another hour or so He poured himself some tea and absentmindedly traced the golden rim of his cup, letting his thoughts stray back to his morning.

He doubted any of the students—much less the teachers (save for perhaps Dumbledore)—knew of the courtyard. The courtyard had four entrances on all sides, but the hallways just beyond the doors were practically deserted. Many of the west wing classrooms were too small for the present student body, so they were simply abandoned – the same went for the other hallways. Draco had found the courtyard on the last night of his fifth year.A midnight stroll had brought him to this courtyard, and finding it untouched he had come back to it sometimes.

The blonde fingered the smooth handle of his cup and sat in silence as his tea grew cold.

Over the course of thirty minutes, most of the students filed into the Great Hall and took their seats at their respective tables. Draco looked up at the entering students year-mates but didn't say anything. He hadn't said anything to them since his greeting on the Platform. So he was not the least bit surprised when the Slytherinsbrushed past him, not even greeting him good morning. It looked like Crabbe and Goyle had been torn—they had hesitated for a moment, alternatively looking from Draco to their other classmates. Pansy, making up their mind for them, quickly dragged them away, an icy look on her face.

The blonde focused his attention back to his rubbery eggs and toast, acting like nothing had happened. Well, Draco, he thought, what exactly did you expect? He pushed around the eggs on his plate with disinterest, in no mood for food.

He felt dozens of eyes on him, not just from the Slytherins, but from other Houses as well. Draco concentrated on his toast, ignoring the relentless stares directed towards him.

"…and for you, Ms. Holen….here is yours, Mr. Brown—I certainly saw that—now….ah, yes…Mr. Malfoy—"

Draco looked up to the Head of his House, who was a welcome interruption from the tense air around the otherSlytherins. Professor Snape was holding out his schedule, concern flickering in his eyes. The blonde accepted his schedule and slipped it into his bag, nodding slightly at his godfather as if to acknowledge the older man's concerns,

Snape paused and regarded his godson with slight worry on his face. "Mr. Malfoy, Professor Dumbledore wishes you see you in his office immediately," he said, his eyes lingering on Draco before moving to give the rest of his students their schedules.

The blonde stood while brushing the crumbs off his robes. He picked up his bag before slowly walking out of the Great Hall, glad to be away from the relentless staring.

Draco Malfoy had been in the headmaster's office three times before, but the room still unnerved him somehow; forced him on the edge of his seat, unsure of what could happen. It could be the portraits lined up against the wall facing him, all of the occupants either pretending to sleep or peering at him curiously, whispering amongst themselves.

He settled back in his chair and regarded the headmaster before him with suspicion gnawing his insides. He politely declined the offered lemon drop and waited apprehensively for Dumbledore to start.

"Mr. Malfoy," the old wizard began, steeping his fingers and looking at Draco over his half-moon glasses. He opened his mouth and paused, as if waiting for the right words to form. "No sense in beating around the bush is there?" His eyes twinkled, but only with a shadow of their former (?) happiness. "The events—over the summer—at Malfoy Manor—"

"—Are none of your business." Draco replied with forced calmness in each syllable, though his eyes flickered a stormy gray, piercing the headmaster with his stare and belying the calmness. Ten words issued by Dumbledore had tensed his entire body to the point he was coiled up and ready to springat a moment's notice.

Dumbledore nodded slowly and rested his chin on top of his fingers, weighing his words carefully. He sighed, a deep rumbling full of regret and sadness, before speaking. "Mr. Malfoy, I am fully aware that you do not wish me to intrude on your…personal…activities..." he trailed off, looking for any reaction from the boy in front of him at his words.

He found none save for the steely gray eyes narrowing in suspicion as Draco's face completely closed off. The old wizard continued while leaning forward in his chair, seriousness lining every word he spoke. "Mr. Malfoy, you are a student in this school, and being a student in this school ensures that you have the safety and the resources that Hogwarts can provide. Whether or not you chose to utilize this protection is your choice, and only yours." Dumbledore settled back against his chair, letting his words sink into the thick, tense air around them.

"Choices, Mr. Malfoy," he started again, filling the silence with his slow, deliberate words, "Choices are ours and only ours to make. It is our choices that make the way for our future.Our dreams may fuel our actions, but ultimately, it is our choices that determine what we fight for." He paused. "Draco, I am fully aware of what has happened over the summer concerning you and the Death Eaters—"

"—Headmaster," Draco cut in forcibly, his eyes flickering a dangerous shade of mercury as a storm built up from within "With all due respect—sir—"

"—No Draco," Dumbledore interrupted sternly. "Let me finish. When Veritaserum was used on you, the Death Eaters effectively found out your plans as an ereptor eruditis. There is now little chance for the Order to utilize your position nowas the son of Lucius Malfoy, Death Eater." He paused. "Mr. Malfoy, although it may not seem like it, we do have the ability to gain control in this situation. We must act quickly to determine what role you will play in all of this."

"Professor Dumbledore," Draco said coldly, "what about Snape?"

Dumbledore regarded the boy in front of him intently. "Professor Snape, Mr. Malfoy—and what about him?"

"I thought that he was a…spy…if—if he is an ereptor eruditis for the Order, could he not be the spy for the Order? What if you had another spy enlisted for the Order?"

Dumbledore shook his head slowly, closing his eyes in terrible exhaustion while the lines around his eyes deepened. "Draco, I am afraid that I cannot discuss this with you. I am willing to discuss your situation; however, those of others are not for you to be concerned about."

"No?" The blonde cut in sharply, his eyes once more a hardened gray. "You are telling me that the other ereptor eruditis, the other spies for Voldemort are not my concern? Should I not be concerned for them? Should I not have anything to do with them simply because I am too young? Tell me Dumbledore," He bit out with cold force behind his words, "is it not my right? It is!—I should know!"

Draco had moved to the edge of his seat, his hands clenching the armrests with white-knuckled strain. His face was rigidly impassive except for his dark mercury eyes that flashed with thinly veiled frustration.

"Draco," the Headmaster began in a firm voice, "it is not your right, even if you think it is." He took on a slightly softer tone now, peering at Draco sadly over his half-moon spectacles. "Mr. Malfoy, there have been only two ereptor eruditis spies in this war—and even then their lives have been confusing and dark. Their futures—unclear and complex—I do not wish to place that burden upon your shoulders. However, if you do chose to become a spy and work to establish a useful status, that is entirely your choice."

Draco did not reply, nor did he make a sound. He looked away from his Headmaster as an oppressive silence, heavy and uncomfortable, settled around the two wizards. It was quite a while before Headmaster suddenly spoke, his words dragged down with regretful sadness for the boy in front of him.

"Well Mr. Malfoy, it would seem that this discussion is over. I believe you have a Potions class to attend to; may I personally congratulate you on your excellent O.W.L, marks." Albus Dumbledore smiled with gentle sadness at the young Malfoy, who quietly rose and exited the Headmaster's office, shutting the door with a final click


Authoress Notes: You are more than welcome to review. :)