Winds of Change: Headmistress's Office

[draco lucius malfoy]

Draco Malfoy knew something had to be done, and strangely McGonagall had agreed to meet him. He was surprised by that, assuming the current Headmistress would have a vendetta against him for his responsibility in the death of her colleague Albus Dumbledore. His dad always said the lady had a matyr complex when it came to her students, she would go to any lengths to make sure her students were well protected. Yet, Draco could not believe for a second there wasn’t any ulterior motive to her hearing him out. There had to be a reason, of course there did. He had never thought she would consider his request. So, he dressed in his best black suit, and apparated to Hogsmeade in order to make due on his time. He was right on time as he went up to the castle. A teacher met him at the gates, and lead him through the wards up to the school. Oh how he had missed this place. He would be eager to be more active in his job as school governor when school resumed. Hogwarts had been a home away from home, one where the dark lord couldn’t reach him, not up until his sixth year at least. Draco ran a hand through his hair as he was led up to the second floor to the Head’s Tower. The teacher gave the password, and he went into the office, taking a seat at the desk of Minerva McGonagall. He looked up at her, sincerity in his voice.

“I can never make up for what I have done in this war, a life I necessarily didn’t choose myself. There were circumstances, I just wanted to save my family. I went about it the way I was trained to as a child. There is no excuse for such. But after the war, I know there are children of ex-death eaters who feel as I did in school. Out of place, alone, and children in that sort of predicament can do dangerous things. So I think I may be of more use to re-establishing the school then I ever was as a student. Just let me know how I can help. If you need votes passed by the governors, I have a lot of influence.” He looked up at her seriously, not knowing what else to say but waiting for what she would say. He could do as much as he needed to do. He had to make up for what he had done. Maybe Astoria would see him a worthier candidate if she realized he was doing some good in the world. He was a charismatic politician these days, even if that was not a life he would have chosen for himself. He looked up at McGonagall.

“Being a politician was not what I wanted. I always wanted to be a teacher, but because of circumstances, well, I suppose I don’t have the necessary grades for it. But I have learned from the past. I am not the boy I was, nor am I the man I should have been, but I am trying to change, and I am willing. Willing to repay society for the deeds I carried out in this school in the Malfoy name. I wish to help. Let me help Professor.”

Tags: Minerva McGonagall
Word Count: 555

[minerva rose mcgonagall]

Minerva looked at Malfoy, keeping her feelings out of her face. After more than fifty years in the classroom, she was excellent at reading people, and she was fairly confident that he was sincere. The part about him always wanting to be a teacher was nonsense, of course, but perhaps he believed it. After all, Minerva did find it plausible that Draco’s ambitions to enter politics had been dictated by his father. It was easy to see how Draco, floundering after the realization that everything he had believed was no longer acceptable or flat out wrong, would have made himself believe that he had always wanted something different, and it was only Lucius’ plans and goals that had been destroyed by the war.


Malfoy’s true career aspirations, however, were not the important part of what he had said. He was absolutely correct that there were many children of death eaters attending Hogwarts, and they needed to be taught tolerance and compassion without being made to feel inferior about the choices their families or even they themselves had made or the beliefs they had held. The Slytherins needed to be made a part of the school again. They needed to earn equal status among the houses and be freed from the stereotypes that had haunted Slytherin house for as long as Minerva had been alive at least, and it needed to happen without assigning responsibility for the past actions and attitudes of the house to the current students.


However, Malfoy himself had been a part of that past, and did bear responsibility for some of the enmity between Slytherin and the other houses, for the reputation of the Slytherins as cruel, prejudiced, and Dark. He had earned that reputation fairly, through his actions and attitudes. His repentance seemed genuine, but Minerva had little doubt that it would not be so easy to shake off the prejudices he had held for a lifetime. Minerva would have to test him before she allowed him to influence the students. Dumbledore had done the same with Snape, testing his loyalty during the war before offering him a teaching job. Dumbledore and Minerva, after all, were first and foremost teachers. And teachers evaluate through tests. Minerva had the perfect test for Malfoy – in a way, he had suggested it himself.


“Mr. Malfoy. I am sure you remember Professor Lupin. He was a very valued Professor here, and an extremely selfless and brave member of the Order of the Phoenix. He was also a very dear friend of mine. I am sure you know all this, as much of it was widely spoken about after his death in the final battle. However, I am going to tell you some things about Remus Lupin you might not know.” Minerva paused. gathering herself together. It was important to do this calmly, as Dumbledore would have. Malfoy, with his pureblood upbringing, would have little respect for emotional outbursts.


“Remus Lupin was bitten by Fenrir Greyback when he was very young, through no fault of his own. Thereafter, he was treated very badly by anyone who discovered his condition, even those who had previously been friends. He had no expectations of being allowed to attend Hogwarts, but Professor Dumbledore offered a solution. A werewolf would not be allowed to attend Hogwarts, so Remus would simply have to ensure that no one discovered his affliction. Remus came to Hogwarts, eleven years old, expected to keep a secret from everyone except his Professors. And mind you, at this time there was no wolfsbane potion. Remus often missed three days of class per month recovering from a brutal transformation. Despite this, Remus managed to keep his secret from all except his dormmates.”


Minerva paused, then decided not to mention Severus Snape. It had not been Remus who had told him the secret, after all, but Sirius. “This alone would have been a major feat. But in addition, Remus became a prefect. He was habitually calm, consistently considerate and helpful, and without exception, overwhelmingly kind. I do not know that I have ever encountered a student who was so universally liked. However, when he left Hogwarts, nearly everyone turned their back on him, treating him with indifference or worse as they discovered his secret.” Minerva could see that Malfoy had no idea where she was going with this, but he knew he had to listen to her, and he had to at least feign interest and respect. She was enjoying this – it was about time someone started remembering Remus Lupin the way he ought to be remembered.


“Remus Lupin was a great teacher and a war hero, and while at Hogwarts he never harmed another student and was an example to his peers. And yet, it is still illegal and politically impossible for a werewolf to attend Hogwarts openly. After all Remus Lupin has done, that is a travesty. You say that you will help me with the Board of Governors, Mr. Malfoy? Well, this is what I need help with the most. Fenrir Greyback, a man who I know you to be acquainted with, made a habit of targeting young children during the war. As a result, there are several werewolves rapidly approaching Hogwarts age. I want them to attend. And I think that you can help me make that happen. There are four who are due to start in September, so we have about two months to accomplish something if we want them to be able to begin at the right time. Do you think we can do it?”


Minerva sat back. No matter what he said, she benefited from this. Either she would know that Malfoy had not overcome his prejudices as much as he would like to believe, and she would limit his influence over the school, or she would make significant progress on one of the projects closest to her heart. In the best tradition of Albus Dumbledore, the champion of students gone astray and king of second chances, she hoped it would be the latter.




word count: 1013
tags: Draco

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[draco lucius malfoy]

Draco Malfoy sat there listening to this woman. He knew almost immediately if someone were lying to him. And he had respect for Severus Snape, Remus Lupin however he did not really know. He listened to her speech about the man, keeping his face neutral, his emotion not showing on his face. Of course, this woman would test him and he should have known that. However her test was a rough one, he had been jeered at because his cousin Tonks had married Lupin and had a child. Werewolves for him was more then just opinion, he had been severely tormented by the Dark Lord and his supporters because of it. This would prove a hard task for him. With Kingsley as Minister there was better hope for passing this sort of legislation. Draco was not sure how to go about this. He looked up at the Professor.

“I do not pretend to not have some animosity towards people who are below the standards my family has taught me to uphold. I will face severe animosity once more for even suggesting to change the legislation. However if the children go to Madam Pomphrey and regularly take their potion, and their status is not made public to the student body, I see no reason I cannot push the legislation. With wolfsbane potion and the new minister, your request is indeed possible, it is just improbable. I will have to let my own prejudices be put aside if you wish me to do this. I do not pretend I do not have concerns over your request. I will tell you a story Professor if you will listen. I have extended you the same courtesy perhaps you can do the same.” He looked up at the Professor. He would go through with her request, Professor Snape held much genuine concern in the welfare of the students of Hogwarts. His godfather had put a lot of store in him, Severus had once told him he alone could break the cycle, but Draco had not known how hard it would be for him to do so. If her first request was any indication then this would be a very dangerous, and hard task indeed. Draco crossed his hands and leaned back in his chair, peering over his hands.

“When I was a boy, my father told me that the pride of a Malfoy could not be conquered by those inferior in his view. My grandfather Abraxas was a firm believer in the fact Muggleborn, werewolves, and muggles were a threat to society. As I became a death eater, the Dark Lord personally jeered me over the man you speak of. Tonks and Remus’s wedding was considered a serious and grave taboo. This is primarily my concern with this. The public view of such a suggestion as to allow creatures to attend a school of magic. I know most pureblood society believes that the danger of a werewolf learning magic gives them yet another weapon to harm others. That will be the primarily opposition I will face. It will come off as a protection of the welfare of the students. I am willing to try to put my own prejudices aside, and help these children, however, I myself will require backing from the school, due to the war, those who were placed in regard like for instance Potter, Weaselby, and Granger’s support would be good as well. This will put me at odds with my father, my mother on the other hand has recently begun to have a relationship with her sister Andromeda, and Lupin’s son Teddy. I can use to that to my benefit. Teddy I believe shows proof that werewolves can have normal lives, as much as I might detest such. I will do what you require.” Draco sighed heavily. This was a hard road to go down for him, he had never once been at odds with his father, and he seriously was not sure how to respond to that. He rubbed his face, thinking of the repercussions of this action.
Tag: Minerva M.
Word Count: 678

[minerva rose mcgonagall]

Minerva was pleasantly surprised that Malfoy had been so quick to agree to her proposal, but then she supposed that he would not have come to see her at all if he were not prepared to do whatever it took to restore his status. Still, Minerva had some concerns, and one of them had to be addressed right away.


“Mr. Malfoy, although I cannot speak for Mrs. Tonks as to what kind of relationship she envisions developing between you and her grandson, I can tell that she will not take kindly to his name being exposed to the type of media frenzy that is likely to occur when we bring this to the Ministry. Neither,” Minerva added meaningfully, “will his godfather. The four children who hope to begin Hogwarts this fall understand what they are making themselves vulnerable to and have agreed to try it anyway. Teddy Lupin and his family have made no such commitment.”


Minerva knew that Malfoy would understand this, at the very least. The Malfoy family had kept their reputation spotless until the second war. And he would certainly pick up the hint that Andromeda would not be inclined to reconcile with a relative who had fed her grandson to the wolves – no pun intended.


“Anyway, Mr. Malfoy, I think it would be beneficial for you to meet the children. I am sure you will be asked many questions about them throughout the process.” Minerva pulled four files from her desk drawer and slid them across the desk to Malfoy. “The first two are twins.” She said, waiting for him to open the files.


“Sophie and Jacob Ellison. They are extremely bright and well mannered, so we shouldn’t have any problems on that score. You can read about their family and financial background on your own time. The next should be Owen Peters – he reminded me a bit of Hannah Abbott, very sweet but easy to frighten, so you’ll have to be nice to him. And then Samuel Anderson. He’s the one we might have to worry about. He’s had a very rough life, and unlike the other three, he’s not one to turn the other cheek. One of the reasons Remus Lupin managed at Hogwarts is that he put up with the most outrageous insults without reacting. Mr. Anderson will not.”


Minerva sat back and waited for Malfoy’s reaction.
word count: 401
tags: Draco

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