Draco stood, still as a stone outside the headmaster's office. Draco was terrified his mother had sent him a letter telling him to be aware of Professor Moody, that he was unstable, and should he cause any trouble to write to her and not his father. The professor had then decided to introduce them to the unforgivable curses, which shook Draco to the core. In no uncertain terms did the Professor imply his father was a death eater to the entire class, and only evaded imprisonment by claiming the use of the imperious curse. He then went on like a mad man torturing the spider, in front of Longbottom.

Draco knew something dark was coming, his family had yet to come out and tell him, but Draco was fairly certain about one thing and one thing alone the Dark Lord had returned. He wasn't entirely sure if he agreed with everything. Yes, he was far superior to Weaslebee, that he knew, but was Weaslebee superior to Granger? He wasn't entirely sure about that; she was incredibly smart.

Draco sighed, he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing standing outside the headmaster's office, but he knew he needed to speak to him. After what felt like forever, the stairs spun open and the headmaster himself stood at the base of it. "Draco Malfoy," the headmaster greeted, "Please, follow me." Draco processed to follow the headmaster, but not before checking his surroundings to make sure no one had followed him. Dumbledore extended an arm towards an empty chair "Please take a seat." Draco quietly sat down and looked around the office, portraits of many previous headmaster's sat looking at him.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore asked, Draco didn't say anything at first looking to the portrait, his eyes settling on one who was staring at him intently. The man had a bushy long beard, and was wearing an oddly large hat, the plaque below his name reading "Phineas Nigellus Black." Draco blanched, realizing what he said in this office may end up in the ears of a family member. Draco gave the portrait a cold stare before turning his attention to Dumbledore.

"Is he related to my mother?" Draco asked.

"Phineas Black." The portrait responded. "Of the noble house of Black. Who would your mother be?"

"Narcissa," Draco responded.

"Oh dear boy, it has been many years since I have passed, you will need to be more specific."

"Narcissa Black." Draco continued. "Daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black."

"Ah, you must be a Malfoy then." The portrait responded. Draco nodded.

"Your family finally got their claws on a Black I see. You must be the son of Adrianus." Draco's eyebrows furrowed.

"Lucius." He replied. The eyebrows of the old man raised. "Tell me this, who did your aunts marry?"

"Bellatrix married into the Lestrange family, she is currently in Azkaban," Draco replied.

"I see," The man replied. "What a shame." Dumbledore was watching the exchange with curious eyes.

"And the middle sister?" The man asked.

"A muggle-born." He replied.

The man's lips narrowed to a thin line. "Shame," Draco said nothing but looked at the man and finally spoke.

"Sir, I mean no disrespect, however, I do need to speak to the headmaster, in private." The man's lips narrowed even further, and he huffed.

"A Malfoy, through and through." He replied before disappearing.

"Sherbet Lemon?" Dumbledore asked, extending an odd candy toward Draco.

"No thank you, sir," Draco replied, Dumbledore nodded and placed the treat down, taking one and unwrapping the wrapper and placing it into his mouth.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Malfoy?" The headmaster asked.

Draco took a deep breath. "To be completely transparent, I am not entirely sure," Draco spoke.

"What you will find Mr. Malfoy, is that help will always be offered to students at Hogwarts, one must simply ask."

Draco nodded. "What I say will stay between us? It won't end up in my father's ear?" Draco asked.

"Absolutely not, you may tell me whatever you please," Dumbledore responded.

Draco took a deep breath. "Sir, there is more going on than the Ministry is telling us, isn't there." It wasn't as much a question as it was a statement. The older man looked at the young man and become tense. It was obviously a lot worse than he had suspected considering he of all people was concerned. Considering who the boy's father was.

"What makes you say that?" The old man decided to respond. He knew he would have to tread this subject lightly with this particular student.

"I am not stupid sir. I see things, more things than most of my classmates." Draco responded. "They are either shielded by their parents or are living in the muggle world and don't know what exactly is going on. My parents are trying to hide this," He took a deep breath. "I am not stupid; I can tell things are happening. How my mother is far more concerned about me, even when I am with my father- especially when I am alone with my father. She has never acted like that before. While Professor Moody is under the impression I am daft, that is not the case. I am aware of what happened the year I was born." Draco responded. "Portraits talk as you know." The young man looked tired but had perfected the cool indifference traditional of a Malfoy.

"No Draco, you are indeed not stupid. You are very intelligent." Dumbledore began. "You are right Draco, things will never be the same again." Draco breathed deeply, acknowledging the confirmation from the older man. "May I ask why you didn't ask your father this?" Draco looked the man in the eye and boldly spoke.

"I am not entirely sure I can trust my father." He said.

"What scares you?" Dumbledore asked.

"What I may be expected to do," Draco replied. The old man looked into the man and knew exactly what the boy feared, he feared being marked. He feared becoming a death eater, and that in itself made Dumbledore smile with pride.

"Why would that scare you?" Dumbledore pushed. "It is to my knowledge that you are not particularly fond of muggle-borns." Dumbledore was genuinely curious to hear the boys' response, he had after all kicked out one of his ancestors, obviously in fear of a living relative being made aware of this conversation.

"I am not sure," Draco replied. "My father does not like them. I am not sure if I care." Draco continued. "My mother, she has a sister who married a muggle-born, and she doesn't seem to care, she misses her more than anything I think," Draco responded. "Granger, annoying as she can be, is the top of our class. I don't think I can say whole-heartily that I am better than her. I think she might actually be my equal. Now, Weasley, I can say I am better than him! He is a pure-blood and she is not. How does that make any sense? What I am taught is that I am better than her and she shouldn't be able to do things I can. She does them, sir, she does them better. It just doesn't make sense to me, sir. I was hanging out with Crabbe and Goyle over the summer, and I saw my cousin. She looked happier than I, and she has less. It just doesn't add up." Draco stopped looking up at the professor surprised by his own revelation.

The old man stared at the boy; pride evident on his face. He was having trouble believing this young man was indeed the spawn of Lucius Malfoy, but he sure had the looks to match. Regardless, Dumbledore saw an opportunity. "Mr. Malfoy, you are right indeed, it does not add up." Draco looked at the old man with what looked like relief. He suspected the boy had been sitting on this for some time. "Miss. Granger is indeed very intelligent." The old man continued, "However, I am not sure we can say one person is better than another. Mr. Weasley, I am sure has his own strengths that we have yet to become aware of." Draco rolled his eyes at that, and Dumbledore ignored the boy and continued. "For now, Mr. Malfoy, I would like you to enjoy your year. Enjoy your youth for it so quickly passes and will pass sooner now than usual." Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Should the time come that something is expected of you, we shall have another discussion." Draco nodded.

"Thank you for your time, sir," Draco spoke standing up to leave, he had reached the door when Dumbledore called out.

"Mr. Malfoy," Draco turned around. "I am very proud of you," he continued. "Should you ever have any further revelations or feel the need to talk, my door is open." A small smile took over Draco's face.

"Thank you, sir."

A/N: Hello! I know this chapter is a little bit dull but I hope you can all understand the need for it.

Review please!