Chapter Three : Tea?

In a room so quiet and dark anyone's thoughts might start to wander. Thoughts about conversations never had, arguments lost, what to have for breakfast and what exactly does the giant squid eat?
Some might think about the future or get a sinking feeling that just won't go away. Sometimes the silence likes to play games with people. Is it actually silent or is that breathing in the corner?

On this night, in particular, thoughts about a strange conversation with an even stranger being wander the mind. It had been a few days before he had to leave home for school.

A cloaked figure, a dark room and an odd conversation.

Had he dreamt the whole thing? Perhaps someone was messing with him? Could it have been a potion? It wouldn't have been the first time something was slipped into his drink.
Shit. This was not helping him sleep. Stretching out he flopped onto his side. He hadn't thought about that conversation since the beginning of the school year, too much else had gone on. Fixing the cabinet took a lot longer than he had anticipated and ended up being a little more compllicated than he would've liked. Then Potter had been on his case all year. Not that anyone could blame him really, plus he had been right. For the most part.

The constant letters from his father hadn't helped matters much either. Nor had the slight burning in his right arm all year when there was nothing there. Then that last matter. His decision. What's going to happen to his family? What would happen to him?Clearly he wasn't going to sleep tonight.

Pulling on some shoes he quietly left his room. Wandering the halls of Hogwarts did little to settle his mind but it was better than lying in the darkness. He was well aware that he had done little to fix past actions and he still caught himself going back into old habits. But at least now he was trying.

"A bit cold for a night walk I should think." Too lost in his thoughts to notice his headteacher standing infront of him, the sudden voice stopping him in his tracks.
"Care for a cup of tea?" It didn't really feel like a question, more like he was being told to do so. He was led to the headteacher's office, up some very tall winding stairs. As soon as he entered the large room he felt warmth wash over him. It was almost too warm, he could feel his cheeks reddening, clearly he hadn't noticed how cold it actually had been.

Professor McGonagall looked at the boy infront of her. For someone with so much bravado usually he looked so small. Small and very tired. A mug of tea gently held in both hands, head bowed and so very pale.

"You've not been sleeping have you?" Another statement.

"Um... no not really." He wouldn't look at her. Obviously he felt uncomfortable around her, but this was not the first time she had to deal with an awkward child.

"Biscuit?" That made him look up. Slightly confused and a bit warily he took a custard cream from her. She waited for him to eat it before telling him the news. "Your family has made it to the safe house."

Head shot up once again and grey eyes widened. Shoulders realxing, posture loosened and jaw unclenched. Glad to be able to help take some of his stress away Professor McGonagall offered a gentle smile.

"They got there early this morning. Both completely unharmed." Finally a smile. A small one but it was there.

"Thank you Professor."

"Not at all. It's my job." She let him drink his tea in silence and revel in the fact his family was now safe once again. If only she could see what was going on in his head. He had always been a troublesome child to her. On more than one occasion she had caught him bullying other students, using a slur against the muggle-borns and just being downright awful. However she always fet as if something else may have been going on.

If she really thought about it Draco and Harry were almost the same person. So what was the difference between them? Why did one bully and one did not? She knew Harry grew up in a terrible household and she thought Draco may have had a similar situation but no way to confirm that. Obviously Draco had grown up in the wizarding world while Harry had not. Also adding on that Draco grew up in a bigoted family, essentially in an echo chamber of what his parents believed.
Still that didn't give her a suffcient answer. Harry had a similar problem, it's not like anyone around him had stuck up for him or shown him anything different to what the Dursley's had. So what was it?
Ah. Something clicked while she studied the boy infront of her, still cradling his mug with both hands. Harry had friends. Actual friends. She knew that Draco had other students around him, Crabbe and Goyle if she remembered correctly, but had they truly been his friends?

The more she thought about it the more it seemed less likely. Hermione and Ron helped keep Harry on the straight and narrow. Did Draco have anyone like that?
The other students around him all benefitted from being his friend. Status, wealth and power. Then there were the girls who fawned over him. Did they like the person or the idea of the person?
She couldn't help but wonder how different he could've been if he had real friends around him. Outside of the Slytherin house. Away from people who wanted to gain something from him.

"Draco, may I ask you something?" He looked to her again.

"Uh... sure?"

"Are you close with your family?" A deep frown graced Draco's face as he watched her. Did he think she was tricking him or something? She waited.

"Ye-yes. I would say so..."

"It's not a test Draco. You can answer as you like."

"I... We are close." This time said with more conviction. However Professor McGonagall knew there was more to it than this. She gestured for him to go on.
"Though I suppose we may have different ideas these days..."

"Oh? How so?" Draco had gone back to looking at his tea. The frown still set deep on his face.

"Well I'm not sure my father would've approved of me going against... my orders..."

"What makes you say that?" She tried to lead his thoughts somewhere he would be able to vocalise.

"The first time that he joined the Death Eaters was because he truly believed in them and their beliefs. But this time it might've been fear more than anything."

Professor McGonagall let him sit with his thoughts once again. Now was not the time to push him too hard, she didn't want him to stop talking. If she could help set him straight then she would do everything she could.
It seemed, to her at least, that there had always been a seed of doubt within Draco but he had been to scared to let it grow. Or perhaps he just didn't care to doubt his parents. He was rather spoiled after all.

"He did seem enthusiastic about me being chosen... I think that was to save his own skin though. He did mess up quite badly." Draco continued quietly.

"How did you feel about it?" She watched the boy stiffen at her question. A very slight frown appeared on her face. It was like the question was foreign to him.

"I... wasn't particularly happy about it if that's what you want to know?" He asked her glancing at her quickly.

"I just want to know how you felt about it Draco, nothing else." A deep sigh left the boy.

"I know I've been a prick. I can see that now, but I've never wanted to hurt anyone let alone kill someone." Now that much was obvious to Professor McGonagall. He was not the nicest of people but he was no killer. She had heard a rumour about him trying to use an Unforgivable on Harry, but it had not been confirmed to her.

"Well being able to see and admit that you were wrong in the past is the first step to making up for it."

"Yeah well school kind of forces you to see it."

"What do you mean?"

"When a mudbl- sorry. When a muggleborn is just ahead of you every year how can you still call them inferior really?"

"True. Not that it's stopped anyone before. Including your father I pressume." Draco scoffed slightly.

"He wasn't exactly pleased with me."

Had Draco been under a lot of pressure at home before this year? Apparently so in Professor McGonagall's mind. What were his father's expectations? The more she sat with Draco the more she realised she knew very little of the boy. Did anyone really know anything about him? Dumbledore could predict his actions however that's not truly knowing him. It was obvious to anyone that he was too much a coward to kill anyone.

"He could see your potential."

"I guess you could say that."

"Is that not how you see things?"

"I did at first. Now it just seems to be all an act. To keep the family name strong." That made sense Lucius was a very proud man.

"I don't claim to know what goes on in your father's head, but I think he had high hopes for you outside of his pride." Draco just nodded. It seemed like he wasn't interested in continuing this line of conversation with her.

"Other than not sleeping, are you well Draco?" Best to change subject Professor McGonagall decided.

"Uh yeah I guess so."

"You guess so?"

"Well uh... people are...um" He stammered a little.

"Interested in you?" She finished diplomatically for him.

"Yeah." He sighed rubbing a hand down his face and then finishing his tea.

"It'll blow over." Again he just nodded. "Summer holiday soon you can join your family and relax for a while."

"Do I have to?" He asked, sitting up straight and looking at her. Well now if that wasn't a cause for concern she didn't know what is.

"You don't want to?"

"Honestly Professor I'd like to be left alone." She could see it agin. Just how worn out he really was. It takes a lot for someone to challenge something they thought to be true their whole life. It takes even more to disobey someone who was holding your family hostage.

"You can always stay here. A few other students are. As well as myself and a couple other teachers." His face lit up slightly.

"Thank you Professor." A small smile had appeared on Draco's face.

"Not at all. I'll have Dobby collect some of your possessions for you."

"What?! Won't that put him in danger?"

"He'll be alright. He's told me a lot about a very young Malfoy who used to have a soft spot for him." A light pink blush grew over the boy's face and he looked away again. She smiled at him.
"We'll get it sorted tomorrow."

"Thank you..." He mumbled not wanting to look up.

"Well I hope I've been able to help put your mind at ease, even just a little bit." Another small nod.

"I'll get going now Professor. Goodnight..." He stood and walked towards the door.

"Goodnight Draco, sleep well." He looked over his shoulder with a smile before disappearing through the door.

McGonagall leaned back in her chair and looked towards the portrait of Albus Dumbledore.

"See, I told you he was an interesting student." Earning a glare that would turn even Medusa herself to stone.

"Shut up Albus."