The Dragon Breezes In

~Chapter 5~

~Defence and Darkness~

For the next few days I didn't speak to Harry or the other Gryffindors. We had agreed not to. The Weasel still didn't trust me; he kept shooting me death stares whenever he saw me. I glared back at him, it was a childish thing to do, but it had to be done.

I told no one about my mother but I think Crabbe and Goyle knew. Damn them, always knowing everything that went on, just because their fathers were involved with the Dark Lord. I was surprised that they even had the sense not to talk about it. They weren't my loyal minions anymore, their fathers must have told them not to be and probably to stay away from me.

I didn't skip anymore classes, I went to the next Defence against the Dark Arts lesson and after all, it was important.

I walked into the classroom gloomily, there was Potter with his mates in the corner up the back, he grinned slightly when he saw that I had actually shown up to class. I took a seat in the other back corner next to Zabini and slumped in my chair.

When Dumbledore entered the classroom the atmosphere changed, the students quieted down quickly and the Gryffindors of course looked at him admiringly.

"Good morning class!" he said cheerfully. "Last lesson we caught up on some work that should have been taught to you last year," he glanced at me, his eyes twinkling when he mentioned the previous lesson, "It has come to my attention that, unfortunately you didn't learn very much last year at all. But alas, never mind! We shall try our best to catch up."

It was true that we learnt absolutely nothing last year with that Umbridge woman, even for the select few that actually read that stupid book she set us.

I looked at the Gryffindors, they were smiling happily at Professor Dumblebum. I looked at my fellow Slytherins, at first glance I could tell they were not pleased at the prospect of doing extra work. I don't blame them really, I wouldn't be happy about it either if it was a different subject.

"Now there are a few things I want to tell you about duelling and Unforgivable curses." He cleared his throat and looked down on the class through his half-moon glasses. "Unforgivable curses are illegal, unless of course the witch or wizard has used the same curse during the duel. The ministry has allowed for unforgivable curses to be used against certain people." I knew that he was talking about the Dark Lord and I swear I saw him glance at Potter. Gee, no pressure Harry.

Then a thought occurred to me, I raised my hand, Dumblebum nodded at me to go ahead.

"Professor, I was just wondering if it was legal to use Unforgivable curses on animals because that's what Mad-eye did in one of our classes."

He eyed me curiously, a few students even turned around in their seats to look at me. Perhaps it was because I rarely took interest in class.

"No, it is in fact illegal to perform them on animals."

I nodded and slumped back into my seat.

*Flashback*

"Please Daddy, don't hurt the poor mouse!" I sobbed.

"You shall address me as Father! And stop crying! Malfoy's don't cry!" he looked down at me with his cold grey eyes, clearly furious. I gave one last sniff and tried to pull myself together.

"Look at the mouse Draco!" I didn't dare look at it I was so afraid. "Look at it!"

I peered at the poor creature, it was fluffy and white with a tiny pink nose and thin whiskers.

My father smirked and pointed his wand at the defenceless mouse. I fought back a sob.

"Crucio!"

It was terrible; I could see the pain in those tiny eyes as the mouse's body twisted grotesquely. My father laughed cruelly as silent tears feel down my face.

"Advada Kedavra!"

The mouse was still.

I shivered, that was the first of my Dark Arts 'Training', I remember thinking my father was mad, I saw the inhumanness in his eyes and the evil smirk on his lips as he took satisfaction in killing helpless creatures. I hadn't even remembered this event when I asked about the Unforgivable curses; I must have blocked it from my memory. I must have only been about 6 or 7 years old when it happened.

"Draco? Partners?"

"Yeah...."

"Well? Are you coming?"

"Oh, sorry Blaise, wasn't with it, so what are we doing?"

He rolled his eyes and groaned.

*~*~*~*

"What are you doing in the insomniac's hangout?" I heard a voice behind me say. I was in the Astronomy Tower because I couldn't sleep and I knew this would be a place to think.

I turned my head to see Potter sit down beside me.

"Insomniac's hangout?" I asked.

"Yeah, the Astronomy Tower is always open to insomniacs," he stated.

"How kind of the Astronomy Tower....I couldn't sleep."

"Oh, I know how that is, why couldn't you sleep? Is it a usual thing?" he asked.

"No... well sometimes," I admitted.

"Is it..." He turned away.

"Is it what?"

"Do you know why?"

I looked at him, his emerald eyes were filled with curiosity. "Well, I sort of remember... things from the past," I said quietly. "What about you, why are you still awake?"

"I don't really sleep much anymore," he sighed.

"Why?" Heh, it was my turn to ask.

"I guess it's the same as you really, I remember shit that's happened." I could tell that there was more to this. Harry cleared his throat. "So what do you think of Dumbledore's lessons?" he asked, clearly changing the subject.

"I've only been to one," I pointed out.

"Oh yeah...so what did you think of Dumbledore's lesson?"

"Well, let's see, it was better than Umbridge's of course, better than Mad-Eye's, better than Lupin's and a hell of a lot better than Lockhart's, as for Quirrel's, I assume it was boring as I slept right through lessons most of the time."

"So...you think Dumbledore's a good teacher?" he asked, slightly amused.

"Oh, of course, the best we could have but I suppose you already know that."