Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 32 -Theories

32 - Theories

Published: 12/4/18

William Weasley watched the young Malfoy heir with great curiosity. The boy's immediate fear and guilt upon the revelation he was teaching the class was clearly apparent in his demeanor. Since the first look, Draco Malfoy hadn't lifted his head or eyes once and was openly shaking. Bill couldn't help but feel sympathy for the thin, broken boy.

He started going over the lesson plan, but thought back to his appointment with the headmistress two hours ago when he arrived to her office via Floo. She had asked him to come early. He hadn't been planning on having a discussion about the welfare of one of his new students before his first class.

"William... how do you feel about Draco Malfoy?" his old head of house asked, without much small talk.

"I can't say I've given him much thought... until this past summer. His entire existence seemed to drive a wedge between Harry and my younger brother and sister. Harry hasn't been to the house since."

"But how do you feel, Bill?" she pressed. "Mr. Malfoy is at least somewhat responsible for your... injuries."

"I don't hold grudges. He was what 15? I messed up myself when I was that young and I didn't have any excuse. Besides, the scars look cool."

"Well, you still haven't changed, William. Why I ask... is that Draco has requested your class... of course not knowing you would be teaching it. I need to know if I should remove him or not?"

Bill eased back into his chair. "I asked you not to tell anyone I was coming, so my siblings wouldn't take the class just to be closer to me. Neither one has expressed any interest in Goblin Politics or Curse-Breaking. I didn't even think that Draco Malfoy would be an issue."

"Is he?"

"No. He can stay."

"That's good, but... I have other concerns. Mr. Malfoy... he's emotionally unstable, right now."

"How so?"

"Between Azkaban and whatever Voldemort did to him, he's very traumatized. He's been harassed greatly. With my concern toward protecting his mind from further harm... I need to know that you handle him there. He needs some kindness, sympathy."

"You want me to help him?" he said, looking her straight in the eye, not completely incredulous, but she was asking a lot.

"I want you to be a teacher and a mentor. I don't think apathy will work if you have Draco in your class. You will have to talk to him or I will have to transfer him to another class. There can't be a middle ground on this. He's already taunted and tormented in one of his classes and I have a duty to protect him from being abused. On the other hand, Harry will never forgive you if you don't treat him right."

Bill frowned. He honestly wondered what she was implying by that statement. He had been curious about Harry's motives since the beginning. All the information that he had to go on, labelled Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy all but sworn enemies.

"I will do my best to help him then."

"You're sure?" she said, surprised by his outright willingness.

"Yes. The war was hard on everyone. I won't abuse him further. As long as he is civil, I will treat him like any other student. Actually, I'll treat him better, if need be. Does he even have a desire to learn Curse-Breaking?"

"I can't say that's the field he wants to go into, but he certainly likes challenges. He got an O in Arithmancy as well as Defense Against the Dark Arts for his OWLs and he's very progressed when it comes to nonverbal spells as well as wordless chants."