They walked endlessly it seemed, twisting down various staircases and traveling down corridor after corridor. But finally, they emerged near the entrance hall and the large doors of the Great Hall loomed up before them. Dumbledore stopped and looked at Draco. "Pull yourself together, Professor. It is far too late in the year to get another potions master."

"So I've heard," he mumbled.

"I have every confidence in you. And you must trust me."

"You told me that four years ago, and I just couldn't do it."

"But Voldemort held a threat over your head back then. There is no such threat now. Trust me. Trust Harry. Everything will be all right."

He nodded, trying to believe the old man.

"Well," said Dumbledore touching the door rings, "here goes nothing." He pushed the doors opened. The hall was ablaze with floating candles that reflected off the shiny surfaces of the long tables. But instead of students lining the benches, there were row on row of parents, squinting at the archway. Their expectant expressions flattened somewhat on seeing Dumbledore, but their eyes narrowed into suspicious slits when Draco came into view.

Draco realized what it must feel like to walk to the gallows as he made his way down the long aisle to the front. A flashbulb exploded and he glared at the photographer. Oh great. The Daily Prophet is here to finish me off.

He moved to the front podium where Dumbledore took his place and Draco stood beside him. He clasped his hands behind his back to keep them from trembling.

"Welcome, parents! Welcome to Hogwarts!" said Dumbledore. "I know it has been many a day since some of you have trespassed these old halls, and not so long for some. I imagine everything looks a bit smaller to you." He smiled, but no one made any reaction. "As you know, it took some three years to rebuild and re-charm the castle, from its foundations to its towers. But our staff is back, the children are here, and they are learning again those important steps to become a competent witch or wizard. I am confident you will be pleased with the education of your youngsters just as parents have been pleased over the many centuries of Hogwarts' existence. True, we have had our problems. What school has not? But time and again we have overcome them. I am well pleased with the progress of this term and look forward to many more years of fine scholarship, athletics, and happy events." He measured the crowd. No one seemed to have moved a muscle. If Draco wasn't certain Dumbledore hadn't done it, he would have suspected the old wizard had Stupefied the entire audience.

"And so, to that end, we have invited you all here to address some questions you may have of our new but very competent Potions Master. Without further ado, I give you Professor Draco Malfoy."

Dumbledore retreated to his usual seat and Draco licked his lips. He moved painfully slow to the podium, trying to feel the confidence the headmaster said he had in him. He grabbed the edges for dear life and looked out at their faces. He couldn't help but compare the feeling to his trial two years ago.

"Good morning," he said, not expecting a reply. He cleared his throat, wishing dearly for a firewhiskey. "I am Draco Malfoy…and as some of you know…" He eyed the sea of faces and suddenly sighed. "Who am I kidding? All of you know who I am. All of you know the school was closed and needed repairs because of me. And all of you know I was a Death Eater." He waited for this to sink in, and as it did, he noticed several women near the front cringing back. "I'm terribly sorry for it all. I'm sorry I hurt so many good people. I'm sorry I even caused the deaths of some. I'm sorry I ever got involved with Voldemort. I'm sorry I was so stupid. And I apologize to you who had to endure the fear and horror of Voldemort's reign of terror. But just for the record, I was under that fear and terror, too. He threatened the lives of my parents. Not that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were names that you would find pity for. I know that, too. But they were my parents and Voldemort killed them, and I miss them." He stopped. An unexpected lump filled his throat and he waited a moment until it subsided. "I didn't go to Azkaban-" and here there were some reactions, murmurings among the crowd. "The Wizengamot instead broke my wand and essentially banned me from the Wizarding world. And I went. Because I thought I deserved that punishment at least. For two years I lived…as a Muggle." They murmured again, some even laughed softly. Draco lowered his eyes and stared at the carvings on the podium. His grip on the sides of it tightened. "It was a very interesting experience. It taught me a lot. Mostly it taught me how much I took being a wizard for granted." The murmurings quieted. "I had no expectations that my life would change. I reckoned I'd live that way the rest of my life. Then one day, I ran into Harry Potter."

He took a deep breath. He was on the verge of losing all composure and he didn't want that to happen. Not now. Not with that damned photographer poised to take another picture of him.

He heard Dumbledore shuffle behind him and he straightened, pulling himself up with the strength of the podium. "Professor Potter…he…ah…he took pity on me." There were sounds of astonishment and disbelief. Indeed. Harry Potter taking pity on Draco Malfoy? Of all that happened in the Wizarding world, that was the most unlikely event to ever occur. Draco waited until the noise died down. "Well he did. He got me a job at Hogwarts for the summer and I was quite grateful to take it. And then Albus Dumbledore-seeing how I'd changed-offered me the post of Potions Master, which I was also happy to take. More than happy. Humbled. Now I know that's not a word generally associated with a Malfoy, but I am here to tell you that I was humbled. It isn't something I like to admit to you. But there it is." He took another breath and stepped away from the podium to stand in front of it. It made him feel a little like a target. "Now I know you all hate me. Some of you have children that went to school with me and you well know the kinds of things I did while I attended Hogwarts. All I can say is I'm sorry but it's now in the past. I don't know why Professor Dumbledore was willing to give me a chance. I can tell you, if it were me, I wouldn't have done. But he is definitely not me. So I know you have questions and things to say, and I am here to answer those questions and to listen."

Draco's heart clamored in his chest. He felt it as a strong pulse throbbing in his neck. He hoped he wouldn't faint…and then he hoped he would.

"You have no business taking the charity of Hogwarts after what you did!" shouted an angry man from the back. He was seconded by many other voices.

Draco nodded to them all. "Believe me, I know that. I can't explain it. Everyone has been so kind and compassionate. It has truly taught me to cherish those traits."

"How do we know you've given up the Dark Arts?" asked a woman near the front.

"I have. Professor Dumbledore is keeping close tabs on me. I don't want to have any connection with my past like that."

"But you were arrested at the beginning of the term for Death Eater activity."

He turned to the man. "That was a false accusation and all charges were dropped by the Wizengamot. It was a mistake."

"What sort of potions are you teaching our children? I don't want them getting Dark ideas."

"I teach the standard curriculum of potions instruction for underage wizards, Madam. The books and syllabi are available for you to see at any time."

"How are you competent to teach potions?"

He looked back at Dumbledore. "I…performed the N.E.W.T. requirements with an O, sir. And I am being tutored now to complete the Hogwarts education that I missed while… while the school was closed."

"That doesn't explain why Dumbledore would allow a dangerous Death Eater anywhere near our children."

"Well, Madam, I am not dangerous now." Someone snorted. "You may recall the post was filled before by a reformed Death Eater as well: Severus Snape. He, too, had a hard time making people believe he had reformed. In fact, he turned out to be quite the hero in the war."

"The jury is still out on that one, young man!" yelled someone.

"No, sir. It's not. The Wizengamot made a judgment and awarded Severus Snape the Order of Merlin, first class. Posthumously."

A man in the center of what was usually the Gryffindor table stood up. "The fact of the matter, Mr. Malfoy, is that we just don't trust you. And here, just this morning in the Daily Prophet-"

"That story is false! There is no truth whatsoever in those charges. And I will be vindicated-if those charges are ever actually made."

The man stepped forward, his robes swaying about him as he strode toward Draco. Draco braced himself for a hex. The man raised his hand but there was no wand in it. Instead there was a parchment that looked suspiciously like something official. "Consider them made. Draco Malfoy, you are hereby charged with sexual impropriety with a student of the school-" the audience gasped- "and as a governor of the school board, I am ordering you to stand down as a teacher."


On to Chapter Six
"Teacher Interrupted"

Back to Chapter Four
"For Fun and Prophet"

Chapter Index

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