Harry Potter and the Unsettling Discovery

Harry Potter and the Unsettling Discovery

Ch. 3

The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.--Elie Wiesel

After Harry had fled from the hallway, Draco was left with even more to go over in his mind.

Draco's father had written that morning, and he was to leave for home after his last afternoon class to finally meet the Dark Lord. Draco couldn't say he was especially excited. He was curious, he was nervous, and most of all, he wondered why his father had set up this meeting in such haste, and on such short notice.

And now this confrontation with Harry...

Draco headed up to the headmaster's office. He knew he was early, but he was really just eager to get this meeting over and done with. As he reached the statue he recited the password Snape had given him (Jujube) and climbed the stairs beyond. His knock on Dumbledore's door echoed strangely in the small stone space. At Dumbledore's solemn "Enter" Draco opened the door.

"Good afternoon, professor, I was sent a letter this morning..."

"Yes, yes, Draco, of course," Dumbledore interrupted. "You are to be sent to Malfoy Manor this evening. Though, I must say, you are a bit early."

"Yes, professor, I was...My father...I'm anxious to see..."

"Very well, I will prepare a Portkey for you now." Looking over his glasses at Draco, Dumbledore opened a desk drawer and placed a stone upon his desk. Pointing his wand at it he whispered, "Portus."

Draco looked down at the rock as it momentarily glowed blue, before turning back to a sandy pink color. Dumbledore stood upright as Draco merely stared down at the stone. After hesitating for what seemed to be a long time, Draco lifted his arm to touch the rock. Just as his fingers were a mere inches away from it, he found Dumbledore's hand wrapped around his wrist. Startled by such a quick movement from such a seemingly old man, Draco merely looked up at the headmaster.

"As headmaster at Hogwarts I am very protective of my students, and if I feel anyone or anything is threatening one of them..."

Was that a threat? Draco couldn't tell. He simply stared at the professor before nodding curtly and reaching again for the rock, but Dumbledore's grip tightened.

"If you ever need anything, Draco, anything at all...My door is always open for my students."

Draco didn't know what to make of that invitation, but he did sense an urgency from Dumbledore, just as he had from his father's letter.

"Yes, professor," he said, reaching out again for the rock. Just before his finger landed on the surface Draco noticed that the rock was vaguely in the form of a heart.

He concentrated on the shape of it as the wind gushed around him. Landing on the walk outside Malfoy Manor, the rock slipped from his grip and crashed onto the paving stones, breaking into two clean pieces.

He kicked them aside as he entered the gates of Malfoy Manor.

End Chapter Three