Chapter 8
June 5 - Malfoy Manor. Draco's room
"Mister Malfoy, are you aware of what you are doing?"
For a second, I stopped breathing. "Blaise what are you doing here." Leaning against the door frame of my room, Blaise Zabini, smirked at me. He was clearly dressed in clothes one wears to attend some sort of party. His tall frame dressed in pristine, charcoal wizarding robes.
"This," Blaise strode across the room. He appeared extremely excited, as he dropped various of magazines and papers on me. It appeared that the Golden Trio and I were making headlines. "Am I in need of a new best friend? Do I still need to celebrate your birthday today?"
"Oh, it's my birthday?" Funny, how before this moment I wouldn't have realized it.
"Hmm, if I recall correctly Snape wanted to see you today," he approached my desk, glancing over my shoulder to take a look at the letters scattered over it. "You still haven't replied to Professor Mcgonagall letter?"
"Headmistress." I respond softly. "She's Headmistress now." I can clearly picture Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes. I stare at the Hogwarts' letter in the midst of all the hate mail; they never seem to stop coming.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that all students are welcomed to redo the previous year. You have been selected to be part of the new 8th year. Due to your academic excellence in the previous years (excluding last year); ability to lead others; and your resourcefulness we are pleased to inform you that you have earned the position of Head boy. All further instructions of your duties will be given on the train's Head Cabin. Please arrive an hour before departure. If you decline the position of Headboy, we await your owl no later than June 30.
The school term starts on September 1st. On the following sheets are the necessary equipment and books needed.
Sincerely,
Minerva Mcgonagall
Headmistress
"Are you planning to accept?" Blaise's voice penetrated his brooding mood.
"Does that even merit a response?" I retorted. "How can I possibly accept it?"
"Draco, I know for a fact that this was owled over a week ago. And you still haven't responded." I peevishly pick up one of the tamer hate letters. I lift it up for inspection.
"What is this supposed to be?" Blaise easily dismisses it.
"Obviously a hate letter. Read it." Blaise's facial expressions goes through very minute changes. To most, it would appear as if he were indifferent to the words he just read; knowing Blaise so well, I could tell he was extremely upset.
"Is this the worst one?" his voice barely above a whisper.
"That's the nicest one you'll find." I see him start to make a fist. He slowly returns the letter. He picks up all the letters on my desk. One by one he separates the hate mail from real mail. When they are only a handful left, he hands me the remaining that are left.
"Those people have no idea what it meant to be under his thumb. I still don't have a clue as to what you had to endure," he sighed, "Do me the favor and accept the position. Show them that the Malfoys' survived to be a better influence. Show me that the boy who used to run free on the Malfoy grounds still exists. And above all stop moping in your room. Yes, people died. Yes, sadly they were the ones who didn't deserve to die. But those same people are those who believe in second chances. The ones that would want you to live in a better world. Where people are free to marry who they choose to marry. A world where there is no distinction in blood. A world only we can make happen."
As he spoke, through my mind I saw Dobby, Professor Lupin, my cousin Nymphadora Tonks, my cousin Sirius Black, and Professor Dumbledore. Would they give someone like me a chance? They were all brave. Sure I deflected during the Battle at Hogwarts; but there was so much I could've done to save others beforehand. Can I even make a difference if almost nobody believes there is good in me? I raise my eyes to the badge on my desk. The gleaming letters in Head Boy made me wonder if I could one day live up to those expectations.
"Draco, how long are you going to wait to finally start living again?"
Am I living now? I glanced around the room. It didn't appear lived in; there was nothing personal in the room apart from the now neat pile of letters. "I'll do it. I'll be your Head Boy."
Blaise simply smiled at me. "Great, but I want proof. Send the letter now, before you change your mind."
I puffed out a little. "You don't trust me to keep my word?"
"Don't get you knickers in a twist. It's assurance," Blaise handed me a quill and paper. " No Slytherin worth his salts wouldn't ask to see you physically write it and send it."
I rolled my eyes at him. Yet, that blank piece of paper scared me. It terrified me. Some of my class mates didn't react to kindly when I helped rebuild the castle. I was worse than a Blast-Ended Skrewt to them. They don't believe that I deserved to be pardoned of the allegations against me. If it wasn't for me, so many lives could have been saved. Yet, Potter and Hermione believed in me. They were brave for me, maybe, just maybe it was my turn.
Dear Professor Mcgonagall,
I would be pleased to be the next year's Head Boy.
Yours truly,
Draco Malfoy
The green wax dripped unto the paper, as it was drying, I carefully pressed it with the Malfoy crest. I went near my owl, Hermes. "Send it to Mcgonagall." I watched as Hermes flew out into the open blue sky.