Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it belongs to JK Rowling, etc, etc. Anyone who thinks I do own Harry Potter is an idiot.
A/N:
Potter: A History
Potter's Secrets
Draco always tried to avoid his father at all costs. It was just simpler that way - for both of them. For Draco, he wouldn't have to endure his father's ever-present scorn. And for the elder Malfoy, he wouldn't have to look upon the face of the son he considered a disappointment.
Unfortunately, it didn't always work, and especially when his father was actively seeking him. On those times, it was better to just face the music and get it over with. So it was that Draco found himself outside the door to Lucius' study. He raised a hand, poised to knock. His fist shook nervously.
Draco closed his eyes, his jaw set angrily. He always felt this way when forced with the prospect of facing his overbearing father. At times like these, he had to admit his father was right to disdain him. He was weak. A coward. He couldn't even bring himself to knock on the door of his father's study.
`Do you intend to stand out there all day boy?' His father's voice reached him through the door, the word "boy" spoken mockingly.
Draco swallowed, blushing, but finally managed to open the door and enter. He tried to walk with his head held high, but as soon as he saw Lucius waiting for him by one of the many bookcases lining the room, he felt his resolve fail, and he looked to the ground. He stopped in the middle of the room, a plush green rug under his feet. A large serpentine contraption hung above him, candles placed in strategic locations to illuminate the entire room. His father proceeded to ignore him for the next few minutes, before he eventually crossed, passing Draco without even a glance, and took his seat behind his desk. The chair resembled a throne, which is exactly what Lucius intended.
He finally looked at his son.
`Well?'
`I…' Draco cleared his throat. `Sir, you wanted to see me?'
Lucius stared at him with a fierce expression. `And why do you think I did that? For the pleasure of your company?' His sarcasm was plain, and cut into Draco as well as any knife. `Speak fool! Tell me what you have learned about Potter.'
He took a breath. He could do this. He had valuable information. His father was sure to be proud of him.
`I do have something,' he said, clenching his sweaty palms.
`I don't have all day,' Lucius reminded him coldly.
`Sorry, sir,' Draco replied, his eyes boring a hole in the rug under him.
`Do you find something interesting about my rug boy?'
`Sir?'
`Look up,' his father said sternly, `and meet my eyes. You are not speaking to my rug.'
`Sorry, sir.' Draco met his father's contempt filled gaze and desperately wanted to look back down at the rug. He just about managed not to.
`Potter?' Lucius reminded him.
`Yes, sir,' Draco began again, `I… I spent a lot of time with him since Easter. He appeared very cold to me. He's elusive and distant. He doesn't offer any information about himself. So I just decided to ask him. I asked him about his parents. How he felt about them. About what happened to them.'
Lucius smiled. `How the Dark Lord murdered them like animals.'
`Yes sir,' Draco said. `He said… he said he didn't care. That he never knew them, so it didn't matter to him.'
`Interesting.'
`But it's not true,' Draco blurted out.
`Oh?'
`No, sir. I found a picture of the Potter's in one of his books. If he didn't care about them, then why have the picture? I think he does care; he just didn't want to tell me. He lied to me. He's full of secrets, sir. I know it. I feel it. It just doesn't make sense. Nothing about him seems to fit.'
`Is that all?'
`I… yes, sir…'
`Then leave.'
`Yes, sir.'
`And Draco,' Lucius said, stopping him as he reached the door.
`Sir?'
`You keep watching Potter. Note everything he does. I have some interesting plans for your second year at Hogwarts. They just might reveal Potter's true intent. Continue to befriend him and report back to me everything, no matter how inconsequential you may think it to be.'
`Yes sir.'
Draco lingered by the door. He had something else he wanted to speak to his father about, and as he was here, he might as well get it over with. However, that was easier said than done. He might like his friends to think he could manipulate his father into anything, but the truth was - he was terrified to ask for anything from the head of the Malfoy house.
`Do you have something else to report boy?'
`Sir, I… I…' A thought occurred to him. `Sir, I could use a little help. I mean, if you want me to learn all of Potter's secrets, I need to get him to trust me. Potter indicated he might like to be the new Slytherin Seeker next year. Could you arrange his?'
Lucius regarded him with his usual hard expression. `And I assume you want on the team as well boy?'
Draco glanced at the ground. `Yes, sir.'
`Very well. It will be done. Now leave me.'
`Yes sir, thank you sir.'
Draco quickly rushed out of the room. Once outside, he leant against the wall, and let out a relieved sigh. At least he had achieved his agenda. Potter and himself would be on the Slytherin team next year. It was a small victory, but he'd take any when it came to his father.
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