"Fine," Severus finally told Dumbledore. The feast was about to begin, the train had arrived some time ago and a few professors were in a room next to the Great Hall. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and finally Lupin were talking, trying to find an agreement with Snape.
He had been really reluctant about the situation. Just having Lupin around was infuriating for him. And this time, it wasn't even because he wanted the job. It was just because it was Lupin. To the other professors, he was saying that it was because he was a werewolf and that it was dangerous when it wasn't the real problem. Like McGonagall had reminded him, "Is that what you really think? You seemed pretty inclined to help Mr-" and Snape hadn't let her finish, annoyed. Of course, he couldn't complain about having to make the potion for Lupin when he had already been doing it for three years in order to help Draco.
The new teacher really didn't want to bother them because of his condition but Dumbledore had been clear: there wouldn't be any problem at all. It would be like during his school days for the exception that he wouldn't be the only one, this time. Lupin, surprised and curious, had asked who was the other werewolf, but Dumbledore had refused to say anything until the beginning of the school year. Then, McGonagall had explained Draco Malfoy's situation and Lupin understood.
Still, Snape was the Head of the Slytherin house, he was in charge of Malfoy. Not only he had been during his first two years at school but he had been making his potion since the young boy had been bitten. Being close to Lucius, he had agreed to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion as soon as the Malfoys had asked him for this favour. He had been making the potion for him every months, had made sure that he was taking it every day of an entire week before the cycle and had usually been walking him to the Whomping Willow. Malfoy was a bit short on his first year, he definitely needed someone to help him reach the knot. He had grown up a bit over the first summer but it was now a habit, they were just walking there together. During those times, Draco was really quiet, not that Snape really wanted to talk.
And now, apparently, he had to talk Malfoy into letting Lupin share the passage for him to hide too. He didn't want to leave Draco around Lupin during those nights but he couldn't say no. So, he agreed, "Fine."
And he stormed out.
.
"Mr. Malfoy," a cold voice called, covering the voices of the students. Snape directly recognized the boy he was looking for thanks to his white blond hair, even if there were a few students around and his back was facing the door Snape had just opened. The noise in the entrance stopped, especially the laughters coming from the Slytherins. Once again, Malfoy was mocking Harry because he had fainted in the train. But he stopped laughing too, staring at Harry for a last second before he turned around. Everyone was looking at Snape, intrigued.
The professor directly noticed that Malfoy had grown up during the holidays. His face had changed a little bit too, he was looking more like a young man already, not like a kid anymore, even if he was only thirteen. His hair were also a little bit longer, not styled the way it had been since he was really young. And there was no doubt that he would be bigger in his other form too. Snape's black eyes met Malfoy's. "Follow me."
It wasn't a suggestion and Draco didn't take his words as one anyway. Plus, Snape sounded annoyed. Harry, Ron and Hermione were staring at him. Snape didn't mind the stares, he was still looking at Draco. The students were still silent when Malfoy finally moved, making his way between some second years. He walked past Snape to go in the hallway and Snape glanced at the trio for a second before he turned around to accompany Malfoy, closing the door behind him with a snap.
"You think he's already in trouble?" Hermione asked, still looking at the door. Harry smiled and Ron chuckled.
"I certainly do hope so," he said. So did Harry, he was already annoyed by Malfoy who was bothering him for the third time in a few hours. They didn't have to talk about it anymore though, another door opened and McGonagall called Harry and Hermione to talk to them in her office.
.
Back in the room Snape had left a few minutes before were standing Lupin, Malfoy and himself.
"Mr. Malfoy, this is your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Snape began. Malfoy, having his most contemptuous look on his face was looking at Lupin already, his eyes going from his head to his feet, and then back to his face. He couldn't help but smirk. Snape's lips were also curled up. Lupin didn't mind, he wasn't even surprised actually, knowing the Malfoys reputation and his history with Snape. Actually, he was even smiling kindly at Draco. Again, Malfoy looked at Snape, he still hadn't say a word since his teacher had called him. He looked at Lupin from the corner of his eyes.
"Oh I know him all right," he finally said, referencing to their short meeting just outside the castle when he was making fun of Harry because he had fainted. It was actually the third time he was seeing him, since he had seen Lupin sleeping in Harry's compartment earlier. Snape slowly turned his head to look at Lupin who had his hands joined behind his back and who was still looking at Malfoy.
"There are... special circumstances, do you know those?" Snape asked Malfoy, speaking slowly as he took a step towards Lupin. Draco could see the way Snape was looking at Lupin and clearly, he didn't like the new teacher. There was so much hatred in his eyes that Draco wondered if they weren't about to catch fire in their sockets. "Your professor here, is like you, Malfoy."
Draco raised an eyebrow, skeptical. He was about to say "yeah, I saw that right away" very sarcastically but he stopped himself. Instead, he paid more attention to Lupin, who was still silent, smiling though being clearly uncomfortable. And tired. And ill. He was probably as pale and looking as sick as Draco, he was clearly poor, had scars on his face, and looked exhausted.
"Surely not," Draco said, losing his smirk and now having a solemn look on his face. He then helped himself, walking slowly around his new teacher, examining him. Lupin met Snape's eyes who still had this nasty little smile on his face. Now, Lupin was getting a bit annoyed, even if he knew that he had to take his time with Draco. When McGonagall had explained what had happened to him, she didn't forget to mention his behavior at school and the way he had been raised. He knew Malfoy was mean, really insolent and thinking he was superior. He wasn't going to tell him anything, he had just met him and if they had to share the Shrieking Shack for now on, he'd rather be in Malfoy's good books. Plus, he actually truly wanted to have a sympathetic relationship with him, this kind of situation wasn't happening often.
When Draco finally stopped in front of Lupin, tilting his head as he met his professor's eyes, Lupin cleared his throat.
"Nice to meet you again, Mr. Malfoy," he said. The pleasure wasn't shared, clearly, if it was even real coming from Lupin. Yet, he was still smiling at Malfoy. "I heard a lot about you from your Transfiguration teacher," he said before he held out his hand. Malfoy ignored the gesture and turned around.
"If that's all you wanted to tell me, I'm gonna get going," he said coldly to Snape.
"Not so fast," Snape said, "You will have to make some compromises, either you want to or not," he explained. Draco closed his eyes as he sighed before he turned around again, glancing at Snape. "Believe me, it wasn't my idea."
.
When Harry and Hermione finally went in the Great Hall, the Sorting Ceremony was over. Harry glanced at the teachers' table where he saw Hagrid in his usual seat. But there was no sign of Lupin or Snape and Draco wasn't back yet either. Crabbe and Goyle looked lost without him and apparently, they had kept a place for him in front of them and next to Pansy Parkinson who was looking everywhere to see if Draco was coming back.
Dumbledore explained the situation about the Dementors before the door next to the teachers' table opened. Lupin came out first, still with a kind smile on his face and he sat at the table. Dumbledore proceeded to introduce him as well as announcing that Hagrid was going to be a teacher too. Loud cheers were heard, especially from the Gryffindors, and after the silence came back, Dumbledore was about to let the students eat when Draco burst out of the door next to the staff table, which was still open. He didn't pay attention to anyone, not to Dumbledore, not to McGonagall who stood up and followed him with her eyes, taken aback. He certainly didn't want to look at Lupin right now and he walked fast towards his classmates, looking extremely annoyed, furious even. He then sat behind Fred and George, right in Harry, Ron and Hermione's range of vision and Snape went to sit at his table, looking oddly satisfied as he glanced at Lupin.
As soon as Malfoy had sat down, the food appeared and the students began to eat, soon forgetting what they had just witnessed. Pansy moved to be closer to Draco and put one hand on his shoulder, the other on his arm. She wasn't talking too loud but from what the trio heard, she was asking what had happened and what was making him so angry. They thought they heard Malfoy mumbling that he didn't want to talk about it with her, very coldly. It didn't seem to stop Pansy. She kept asking and during a minute, they thought he would just continue to ignore her but in the end, he suddenly removed his arm from her grip, making her suddenly move forwards. She would have fallen from the bench if she hadn't put a hand on it and if the other hadn't gripped the edge of the table. Draco didn't mind at all and she looked as shocked as the trio did. Even Crabbe and Goyle, who were very slow, looked surprised and uncomfortable.
"Why don't you mind your own damn business?" Malfoy said aggressively, getting a bit closer to her face when he said the last word. Pansy slowly moved on her side to let him have some space, she didn't say anything else to him during the rest of the feast, staying close to her girl friends. Draco didn't talk at all during the rest of the evening, he didn't look at anyone, he just stared at his plate and didn't even eat all that much.
It didn't stop Harry and his friends from being in a good mood. If Malfoy was in trouble, then, they were even happier. Still, Harry couldn't help but glance at Snape and Lupin during his meal, wondering what it was all about. He didn't know that a few minutes before, in the room, Malfoy had started to become really annoyed.
.
"Why should I have to make any compromises?" He had asked. Snape had pursed his lips and Lupin had looked embarassed. He didn't meet Malfoy's eyes when this one gave him a glare. They could make out the noise of the students and Dumbledore outside of the room and for a second Snape had wondered if the teachers were hearing Malfoy who was already speaking a bit louder.
"Look, I really don't want to-"
"I didn't ask you," Malfoy said coldly to Lupin who was about to say that he didn't want to annoy anyone. Lupin let out a heavy sigh, this time, as he tilted his head a bit. Oh, McGonagall had told him all about Malfoy's temper, of course. Clearly, she was happy not to have him in Gryffindor. Still, he didn't imagine he could talk like that to one of his professor, Malfoy or not. He didn't imagine that he could show so much disdain to somebody just because they were shabby, or just not equal to his usual standards. Especially since he was a werewolf too. Snape stepped in.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, I think we both know how wise it would be for you to show your teacher more respect," he said, looking now at Draco who only glanced at him, his eyebrows still frowned. "So," Snape then articulated slowly, "Why don't you stop acting like a prat and listen silently to what you have to do?"
The mention of him being a prat seemed to be enough for him to shut up. Or was it just because it was Snape? Because Lupin could see that Draco was infuriating with anger. His jaw and his fists were clenched but he wasn't looking at anyone anymore. After all, Snape was the Head of his house, he was the one making his potion and walking him to the passage. Lupin also knew that Snape was close to Lucius Malfoy, he probably met Draco way before the boy had joined the school. Lupin guesssed that they probably had a very different relationship from the one Snape had with the other students.
Which was true. They were closer and Malfoy knew were his place was when talking to Snape. Still, it wasn't usually annoying his teacher when Draco was being mean, on the contrary, he was often amused, especially when it came to Potter. And he was clearly his favorite student out of all. Yes, they were... close.
But even for Malfoy, thinking that was weird. Firstly because he didn't have this kind of relationship with anyone, none of his friends knew about him being a werewolf and Draco was way better off this way. And secondly because Snape wasn't the kind of person showing emotions or affection. Still, he knew that they were somehow close. Because Snape was sometimes calling him "Draco" instead of "Malfoy". Because of their conversations. Because of the look he was giving him sometimes. Because the very first time Draco had to be all alone since he had turned, when he started going to Hogwarts, Snape had told him everything would be alright. He knew that Snape would always be on his side and that right now, he was just trying to make him understand how important all of this was.
He couldn't say no. Hell, Snape couldn't say no. Because of Dumbledore, the Muggle-lover. It was making Draco feel sick. He didn't want Lupin near him. He didn't know him and he had never been around another werewolf, especially during a cycle. He was more anxious about the situation than angry, really, but that's what was irritating him.
So, instead of saying anything, he listened to the conditions. He couldn't talk about Lupin being a werewolf. He also had to share the Shrieking Shack with him.
"Can't he go in the Forest?" Draco heard himself ask. He wondered if he was sounding as bitter as he thought he did. Snape glanced at Lupin.
"I'd rather not," Lupin said. "I want to make sure everyone is safe."
There was a moment of silence. No one said anything. Snape and Lupin were looking at Draco and he wasn't looking at anything, really. He was trying to sort out all those new information. Lupin talked again.
"Of course, if it doesn't go well, I'll leave you there alone," he said. They heard some noise again outside and Lupin cleared his throat.
"Malfoy," Snape said, still waiting for Draco to say something. It was a few seconds before Draco licked his lips and nodded, coming back on Earth.
"Yeah. Alright, then. Ok," he said, speaking quickly. He still wasn't looking at anyone and after another awkward silence, Lupin decided that it was time to join the feast. He would have another occasion to talk with Draco if they needed to. And he actually wanted to learn more about him, to really know him. He could remember how lonely he had been in the beginning of his school days, when no one knew. He had friends but they weren't in the confidence at first, it made him feel not only lonely but guilty. He also had been bitten when he was young, even younger than Draco, he knew how difficult and traumatizing it must have been for him. No wonder Draco was so mean with everyone, if he was feeling like it was unfair.
Lupin opened the door to leave the room and Snape approached Draco.
"You'll tell me how it goes," he told him and Malfoy frowned a little, finally looking up at Snape. He met his eyes. He wanted to shout and to tell him how unfair it was. He even thought about accusing Snape for the situation when he wasn't responsible for anything. It was Dumbledore's fault. And at the same time, could he blame him? After all, he had also accepted him in the school when no one else would have. He gritted his teeth, still staring at Snape. "Being angry isn't going to change anything."
Draco knew so he didn't need to hear that. He didn't want to hear that. It was making him even angrier. He just left the room and Snape smirked. He was glad that Malfoy didn't seem to like Lupin at all.
.
Hermione was in the library, getting some other books for one of her homework. Even if it was the very beginning of the year, she had already a lot of work with all the classes she was taking. So, before heading to the Great Hall for lunch, she decided to come take what she needed with her. But she couldn't reach the one she wanted and she already had some in her hands. She had been struggling for a few minutes already when she heard the door of the library being pushed open.
"Excuse me," she quickly said, still trying to reach the book, "could you help me with that?"
After a few seconds, Hermione thought that either the person she had called hadn't noticed she was talking to them, or that it had been some Slytherin who didn't want to help her. She wasn't right about the first thought but she was partly right about the second. It was a Slytherin, but not some Slytherin. It was Draco Malfoy, already looking a little bit more energized, even though he was still very pale. He also looked way more calm than the day before. When he finally approached and that she glanced at him, she rolled her eyes. Of course, it had to be him.
He had spent the breakfast making fun of Harry, she really didn't want to see him right now, especially if he was about to make fun of her too. Plus, he wasn't saying anything or helping her, he was just staring, not even smirking.
"It's fine, I'll get it myself," she said, shaking her head a bit. Her fingers were almost touching the book but she had been on tip-toe for the last few minutes and she still wasn't able to get it. Malfoy didn't move, though, he was staring at the books she was already holding with an expression saying it all. He was like Ron and Harry, wondering why the heck she would need all those books for. Then, he slowly looked up to see her hand, her fingers trying desperately to touch the book with her cloak's sleeve going down her arm, letting him see the white sleeve of her shirt. He frowned a little, torn between the idea of enjoying this moment a little longer and the idea of taking the book for himself.
And finally, Hermione saw another hand coming near hers but being careful not to touch it. It wasn't new for her to see Draco making sure they never touched, like she was some dirty thing. Even when his cloak was brushing against her, he was acting like it was disgusting and was frantically trying to rub the "dirt" off. What actually surprised her is that he was going to take the book for her. It seemed weird, was he really going to take it for her? Or was he just going to annoy her and leave with the book? She stopped trying to reach it and looked at Malfoy who took the book very easily before he looked at her again.
He glanced at the book, raised an eyebrow and looked up at her. She held out her hand, waiting for him to give her the book but he ended up giving her a little smile as he took a step backwards. She rolled her eyes.
"I really don't have time to play your little game, Malfoy, give me my book," she said, annoyed already.
"You need to say the magic word," Draco said, slightly amused. Making fun of Harry and his friends was helping getting his mind off the conversation he had had before the feast the last evening.
"Malfoy, give me that book!" Hermione said, clearly not amused, just as Madam Pince passed near them. She stopped, glancing at them. Malfoy sighed and bit his lower lip as he handed Hermione the book before he smirked again.
"Need help taking the entire library with you?" He asked, glancing at the books in her hands. Hermione ignored the remark and surprised him instead.
"Are you sick? You look awful," she said. Draco raised an eyebrow, trying to understand. Either she was just making fun of him, or she was asking because... Well, because he looked sick. He decided that she probably wasn't worried for him and that she was just trying to insult him. After all, he already looked like that the two last years, why would she ask now? He didn't want her to be worried anyway, what a shame it would be. And people needed to stop asking if he was sick. He narrowed his eyes.
"Well, at least for me, it's just for today," he said, implying that Hermione was always looking awful. Hermione gritted her teeth, staring, but she didn't really react. It had been a long time since the last time she had shown him that he had really hurt her. Draco gave her an amused smile and she sighed as she finally walked past him to get out of there.
"Very funny, Malfoy."