The White Peacock (A Draco Malfoy Fanfic)

Chapter 33: A True Slytherin

It was time to start packing, it was the night before we were all heading back home for winter break. Anabelle, Cherry and I would be heading to Cherry's family's lake house, where we would be hosting our Christmas party. My parents had to travel to the US for Christmas, usually we would always travel during this break for my fathers work, but this year I didn't feel travelling, they understood, however they were disappointed to not be spending this holiday together.

"Is this from your parents?" Anabelle says picking up an opened letter on my bed.

"Yes, they just wrote to let me know they arrived in New York safely, and that they miss me terribly" I say glumly.

"Must be nice receiving a letter that contains more than 3 words from your parents" Cherry says slamming her trunk shut in annoyance. Cherry didn't have the best relationship with her parents, they were cold and distant and threw money at her, so they didn't have to actually be present in her life. However, this relationship only grew more distant when she had come out to them just before our last summer break.

According to Cherry, they took it as best as she could have hoped for being conservative purebloods, but as she just mentioned the only letter they wrote to her since returning to school was a note saying see you at 9am, so that we knew what time to meet them at the station tomorrow.

Cherry kept her sexuality hidden for most of her life, mostly because she hadn't really understood it, but in fifth year after she had met Luna Lovegood in our DA classes, she was instantly smitten with Luna's warm whimsical personality, and later that year came out to us. We were obviously thrilled, mostly to actually hear her be excited about liking someone. Even if her parents refused to acknowledge who she really was, she always had us, her second family who loved and supported her.

I walk over to her grabbing the letter from her parents, and with a flick of my wand I disintegrate it into dust, making her smile.

"Should we head to the great hall for some dinner? I'm all done packing" Cherry says

"You guys go ahead; I need to finish up some stuff before we leave tomorrow" I say to them evasively. I needed to help Malfoy with cabinet tonight, we needed to make some kind of progress before we both left tomorrow.

It had been a week since I had agreed to help him, and every night since then we had been in that room mending the cabinet. We would spend hours repeating the incantation to fix it, I had read about these cabinets once, the magic involved was so complex that one person mending it would have taken twice as long, he needed me.

He was different, he wasn't as cold and distant, however he wasn't particularly friendly, he was almost starting to behave like his old obnoxious self, as he slowly relaxed knowing he wasn't alone anymore. It was weird being alone with him, mostly because of how different it was compared to other times we would be alone together. We never spoke, unless it was about the cabinet, its like we both wanted to pretend everything that happened between us never happened. Our time together was full of silence, denial and quick stolen glances that made my heart flutter. 

I tied up my hair with some green ribbon I found lying around, and got out of my uniform, throwing on t shirt and comfortable trousers. Halfway towards the seventh floor I realise I forgot my jumper; fuck why am I so scattered? I cannot be bothered heading back all the way to the dungeons. I arrive at the seventh floor and head towards the tapestry when I suddenly hear footsteps approaching behind me, I stop in my tracks and quickly turn to see who it was.

It was Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore" I blurt out.

"Miss Murphy I was hoping I would run into you at this time of the evening" he says to me. This was confusing, why was he not surprised to find me on the seventh floor at this time of the night? Something was wrong, could he possibly know what I was doing?

He chuckles as he studies my expression, "I see that calculating expression on your face, I think this might make a bit more sense if you accompanied me to my office, there is something I think we need to discuss" he says firmly.

My heart started beating faster in anticipation as we made our way towards the staircase leading to his office, I couldn't handle the suspense of the situation, I wasn't even sure he knew who I was till this moment, and here he was looking for me specifically, needing to speak to me? he obviously knew what was going on with me and Draco, of course he did, he is the great Dumbledore, he is one step ahead of everyone.

Except now he was one step ahead of me, this was bad. Was I about to be expelled? Banished from school grounds or was I in more severe trouble? In trouble with the law? I enter the office nervously, and he gestures me to a seat across from his desk.

"I apologise for how cryptic I have been behaving, but I trust you probably know why you are here with me now" he says sternly

"Yes, I think I do" I admit shamefully.

"I knew you would, you always have demonstrated remarkable intuition, ever since your first year, which is why you are someone I have always kept a close eye on" he continues saying. He has been watching me? this doesn't make sense.

"I don't understand Professor" I say back to him

"You know when people think of Slytherin, or should I say the traits that make you a Slytherin, it is often associated with a negative connotation, don't you think?"

"I suppose" I say back at him

"What I notice is when a Slytherin is good, they are the best, they can be great" he says sternly

"I thought Gryffindors were the best" I scoff

"Yes its true Gryffindors are courageous and brave, and they have strong sense of doing what is right, however I find that a strong moral compass can cloud one's judgement, it can hide the bigger picture, the bigger goal" he says firmly.

"I'm sorry Professor but what does this have to do with me?" I say

"You my dear inhabit those traits strongly, you are a true Slytherin, you know how to make the most of every opportunity, you know how to use everything you have to get what you what, while earning the respect of your fellow peers, while having people admire and trust you, however every action you take isn't always based on what is right or should be done, because you see beyond that, you know better, which is why you chose to help a death eater fix that vanishing cabinet, instead of coming straight to me" he says calmly. My eyes widened at his words, he did know, he knew everything.

A smile forms on my face, "Of course you knew what he was up to this whole time, and you are protecting him too, aren't you?" I say in amazement.

"Yes, just like you Margot, I too see him for who he really is, a scared lonely young man who doesn't want to be evil, although it does not excuse his actions, he doesn't deserve to die, neither does his parents and neither does Professor Snape" he says gently

"You know about Professor Snape?" I say in shock

"Yes, there is much that you don't know, much that not anyone knows, but seeing you help Malfoy, risking your loyalties to Potter and your friends,  I have chosen to trust you, because I am going to need your help" he says firmly

"I am flattered sir, but I'm a little confused, why not trust Harry, isn't he the chosen one?" I say to him

"He is, and Potter will be the one to save us, however he cannot know everything, mostly because of the connection he shares with Voldemort himself, but also because I don't know if he would understand" he says. I look back at him confused.

"You see unlike yourself Potter has had so much loss in his life because of Voldemort and his followers, therefore he has a a lot of anger and his perception of this war is very black and white, much like Granger and Weasley, but I believe you would understand, and understand what needs to be done for the greater good, because you are special, and I know one day you are going to be great" he says calmly

"I'm listening" I say firmly