Draco Malfoy was not having a good year. At first, the thought of a crazed murderer chasing after Potter had been… while not pleasant, it wasn't an unwelcome thought.
Of course then that had to go get mucked up by the "crazed murderer" turning out to be his blood traitor cousin AND Potter's godfather.
Add to that the fact that said blood traitor was innocent of the crimes he was accused of, subtract his rightful inheritance, and you had an equation that lead to a very upset Scion of house Malfoy.
The inheritance bit hurt most, at least, according to his father. Without the guarantee of the Black fortune, the family would have to restrain itself. At least, he and his father would. His mother was surprisingly unperturbed by the turn of events.
Maybe she had planned in case something like this had happened?
A single knock upon the dorm room door broke him from his musings.
With a casual wave of the wand, the door swung open.
There in the frame stood the head of House Slytherin.
"Mister Malfoy, your presence is required in my study by hour's end. Do not be late."
"Yes, Professor."
Precisely 45 minutes after Professor Snape's message, Draco stood at the door to the potion master's personal library.
A simple three beat knock would alert anyone within to his presence.
"Enter."
The nasally tone of the Professor ushered him inside.
As opposed to the Slytherin Common Room, Snape's Study was meticulously clean and, normally, well lit, with a roaring fireplace with fine furniture laid before the hearth.
Today was clearly not normal.
The room was being lit only by the fire in the hearth. One of the chairs faced away from the door, to the fire itself, and the other - which Snape was rising from - was angled to face both the chair and the fire, in a sort of "V."
"Mister Malfoy." Snape turned to the other chair, "I take my leave."
As the professor made to leave, he paused, and in a rare show of support, placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, before gliding out of the door and shutting it, leaving Draco alone with whomever Snape deferred to.
"Heir Malfoy. Sit."
The voice was vaguely familiar, but the tone left no question. This man was of purer breeding. He knew how to command respect.
As Draco turned to sit in the vacant seat, he finally saw who it was he was meeting.
Sirius Black. Lord Black.
The pause was only a moment, those uneducated in how efficient magical business could be would not notice. But this was Lord Black.
"Did I not instruct you to sit, Heir Malfoy?"
"M-my apologies, my Lord Black, I was… caught unawares by your presence."
Sirius didn't even look at the boy beyond a sideways glance. He nodded.
Draco sat, back stiff and rigid, jaw clenched.
"I admit, Heir Malfoy… were it not for Black blood, I would not desire to speak with you. However, you are my cousin's son. You are of my own flesh and blood."
For the first time, he turned his head and locked eyes with Draco, grey to grey.
"I apologize for the speed in which I removed your title as Heir Black, but please understand that it is the least of the changes to be made in our family… one that, possibly, could be reversed."
Draco's eyes widened slightly. A lord of an ancient house was apologizing to him.
"What must I do to earn the title, my Lord?"
Sirius leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees and steepling his fingers.
"I want you to answer a single question. Honestly."
"Ask away, my Lord."
"What are your thoughts regarding Blood Purity?"
Without hesitation, Draco began to speak.
"Blood Purity is the surest sign of both magical power and magical potential. It separates wizards from-"
"Stop… those are the words of Lucius Malfoy. A weak and spineless man, who was unfit to marry a Black daughter, and unfit to sire a Black son. I want to know what Draco Malfoy believes. You are free to take your time and think. My schedule is clear for the day."
It was a subtle gesture. One that Draco might not have noticed had he not been so focused on the conversation.
Lord Black was treating him with respect. He was ready and willing to sit with him for the day and simply allow Draco to think. He was being given full permission to speak his mind.
His father would never…
"Blood Purity… is nonsensical."
Sirius quirked an eyebrow.
"Elaborate, if you please."
"The concept of Blood Purity as a physical barrier to and from 'lesser' wizards and witches is ridiculous. Rather, Magical Purity produces a cultural barrier that is continuously collapsing inward due to the influx of Muggleborn and Muggle Raised wizards and witches. It is destabilizing our economy and our society at large. If it continues, our society will likely cease to exist within the century."
Sirius nodded.
"And, have you any ideas on how best to approach this collapse?"
"Men like The Dark Lord and my father would prefer to remove the outside influence entirely, giving rise to the philosophy of Blood Purty. Others, like the Weasleys, would seek to try and dissolve the barriers as quickly as possible, so as to shock the system in place, or afford us with ample time to rebuild and adapt."
"And you?"
Draco shrugged.
"My father would wish me to follow him blindly. I do not see any alternatives. However, I am not so arrogant as to believe my own wisdom outweighs others."
Sirius slapped his knees.
"That is what I was looking for. That… is the Slytherin cunning we need."
"My Lord?"
"For as brilliant as she is, Narcissa is stubborn and set in her ways, willing to twist for her family, but unyielding. Andromeda is equally stubborn, but more rebellious against tradition. I myself was a rebellious sort, but that does not mean that I do not understand the value of tradition. But I spent a decade in Azkaban. My mental ability is not the same as it once was. The Black family needs new blood. New ways forward."
He stood and knelt beside Draco, placing his hand upon his shoulder.
"Draco, I stripped you of the title of heir Black because I have retaken my Lordship and could potentially sire an heir still. However, of all those who share the Black Blood, I believe that you have the potential to help our family rise beyond its greatest heights."
"Moreso than…"
"Even Harry, yes."
Draco nodded, a slight scowl on his face, at the reminder that he and Potter did indeed share family. His great grandfather, Pollux, was the brother of Dorea Potter, paternal aunt of Fleamont Potter, who in turn was the Paternal Grandfather of one Harry James Potter. And there were very likely even earlier marriages between Black and Potter, meaning that it was more than likely they shared blood.
"You don't like him."
"I suppose I lack subtlety regarding that."
"Any reason why?"
"Pride."
At Sirius's raised eyebrow, Draco continued.
"Before first year, Potter and I encountered one another on the train… I admit that I was a stupid, ignorant child, parts of which I've yet to outgrow. I still followed my father's ideology blindly… made a few unsavory comments regarding the company he keeps, offered a hand in friendship in an admittedly ham-fisted manner, and allowed my ego to be bruised. Ever since then, I've maintained the image I presented."
"Why?"
Draco shrugged.
"In Slytherin, one is expected to fall into rank based upon the unspoken social hierarchy. The Malfoys are pure blooded, rich, powerful… and horribly bigoted. Some, like my father, believe wholeheartedly in the ideology of those akin to The Dark Lord. Others, like myself, will play the part convincingly enough."
"Ambition… and cunning. No wonder Lucy's family has been Snakes for centuries."
"My mother is one of those 'Snakes.'"
"And between the two of us, I'd expect her to have the better sense for politics… which brings me to my next point… Draco… I am considering dissolving Narcissa's marriage to Lucius."
Draco breathed slowly.
"May I ask why you are choosing to tell me?"
Sirius smiled sadly.
"Because I know better than anyone what to look for when family is… less than ideal."
Draco nodded, his eyes growing distant.
Lord Black… Sirius… wasn't just telling him to tell him. The unspoken question was there. And it was liberating.
"I suppose… as some might say… I'm putting it all on 'Black?'"
It began as a chortle. Then a chuckle. Then a giigle and a guffaw. It then dissolved into full on laughter between the two of them.
Then Sirius did something Draco hadn't experienced in years.
As his elder cousin swung him around, arms wrapped tightly around his torso, the realization of how much he had yearned for an affectionate family struck the young boy like a stunner.
After all, he was only 14.
