Defiance

Chapter 6: A Potter and a Mudblood

Ever since that moment on the train, I never gathered the courage to talk to the mysterious girl with the bushy brown hair and bossy voice. And now that it was Christmas, I wouldn't be seeing her for a few weeks since I was going to go back and live at the Malfoy Manor. So I decided to get some of my father's advice before approaching her.

Today was the day I arrived at home and my mother was standing at the door waiting for my arrival. She gave me a huge hug as soon as I stepped foot into the mansion. I guess she really did miss me. My father on the other hand looked disappointed.

"No time for babying Draco," he screamed at my mother. She released her arms from the hug and led me towards the salon.

"Now Draco," my father sneered as he said this, "How was your time at Hogwarts? Did you continue the family legacy or completely destroy it?"

I started with a calm tone, "Of course I continued the legacy father. I am basically the leader of the Slytherin house, everyone respects me and I even have two bodyguards: Crabbe and Goyle." I tried my best to order my words in a way that would make my father proud because I really needed him to be in a good mood.

But as expected, my plan did not end well.

"Is that so, Draco? Well I've been hearing otherwise," he began in a cool tone. "Have you met the Potter kid?"

"Yes, father. I saw him the day I went shopping for my books, wand, and equipment. And I saw him again on the first day of Hogwarts." I again made sure to chose my words carefully in order to get a sense of how I should ask my next questions. "He got sorted into Gryffindor. I know Slytherin is the best house and Hufflepuff is the worst, but Gryffindor isn't bad right?"

My father was shaking his head with a frown on his face, definitely not a good sign. "Draco, I know I've never told you my opinion of the Potter boy, but now is the time. You are about to receive an important lecture." 

His serious tone made me wish I was still at Hogwarts. Nonetheless, I followed my father into our discussion room which is where I had been lectured for the past few years of my life. I've come to memorize this room down to the smallest detail because I would often look around the walls in boredom as my father went on and on trying to raise me. The marble floors complemented the soft soothing gray tones of the walls. A large mahogany table sat in the middle and the never ending clutter of papers always gave me the impression that my father was an extremely important figure. I just never knew why he was so important. 

"So, Draco," he maintained the serious and now somewhat frightening tone on his voice. "I want you to know that the Potter kid did not defeat the Dark Lord, contrary to popular belief. You will find out more information when you gain my trust." He paused for a moment and his piercing gray eyes held my gaze. "For now, let information be an incentive for you to do everything I order you to. Do you agree?"

With that stare and frightening voice, I didn't even have the choice to refuse so I gave a quick nod of my head.

"Good, now listen here. I need you to pay close attention to Potter when you get back to Hogwarts. Treat him as your competitor. Always try to prove that you are better than him and flaunt your authority around anyone and everyone. Understand?"

"Yes, father," I responded with a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"And most importantly, get to know him well, all of his weaknesses. All of his secrets. Anything that would be useful for you to show your power over him when the time comes. And you will report everything back to me during the summer holidays. Keep notes, both mental and physical, but beware that not a single soul, alive or ghost, will ever know what you are assigned to do. Understand, Draco?"

"Yes, father. Anything else you need me to do or understand?"

"No, that is it for now. And remember, the more information, the more trust you gain. Now go to your room." He slowly removed his eyes from my gaze, stood up, and began to leave.

"Father, wait!" He turned his head sharply, apparently taken aback by my request. "I need to ask you something." My father sat back down and motioned for me to continue. I suddenly started getting sweaty and nervous; I had a slight feeling that what I was about to say would not gain any of my father's trust but rather lessen any chances I had to please him. However, I decided to ask the question I've been thinking about for so long.

"Father, you are familiar with every student enrolled in Hogwarts, correct?" I waited to see his slow nod before I continued. "Well, I met this girl on the train. She's a first year just like me. She seems really nice and I want to be her friend. But she was sorted into Gryffindor. I don't know if there is a problem with that so I decided to ask for your advice."

My father studied my face carefully before responding. "Are there not enough Slytherin girls for you Draco? Why are you so interested in this girl?"

I hesitated before clarifying, "Well, none of the Slytherin girls seem very friendly, father. They all just want to be around me because I'm a Malfoy. But this Gryffindor girl, well I've never talked to her but she seems different."

My father sighed, "Draco, there are more important things for you to worry about then girls right now. Especially if they aren't Slytherins. Do you happen to know this girl's name?"

"It's Hermione, father. Hermione Granger," I answered ever so sweetly that I was in total shock when my father's face reddened and he jolted up from his chair, screaming.

"Out of all of the girls at Hogwarts, a MUDBLOOD catches your attention. A MUDBLOOD Draco? HOW DARE YOU!? Do you even know what a mudblood is?"

His response definitely made me question everything. "Yes, father. I know what a mudblood is and I remember all your lessons about 'mudblood filth' not even deserving to step into Hogwarts. I just never knew she was one of them."

"Well, now you do. Now go to your room, I can't stand looking at your face again. And don't you dare even think about mentioning her name again! Or any mudbloods for that matter."

As I stormed off to my room, I tried comprehending everything. It's true that I never even talked to this girl, hardly any girls except for working with the other Slytherins at Hogwarts, but she felt special for some reason. But now she was out of the question. To gain my father's trust, I decided to not just ignore her but I would have to make her regret the day she found out she was a mudblood attending Hogwarts.