A Walk Down Slytherin Lane

Lucius had watched Draco for a long time, first with approval, then with uncertainty and now with confusion. The boy had changed in more ways than one, his body had matured, his voice had grown deeper, he'd become altogether quite handsome. And yet, Draco seemed oblivious to the lingering eyes of girls he passed on the street. He never talked about any girls, he'd briefly touch the subject of Pansy when Lucius insisted but he'd only assure his father that it was nothing serious, "she wasn't even his girlfriend" he assured him. Not that she hadn't tried. Draco would often mention in disgust her persistence along with the interest of others. Still, his thoughts were devoid of girls and he never talked about any of them...except one. Hermione Granger.

Why would Draco talk repeatedly about this girl who he claimed to hate so much, this girl, though he mentioned her once a day, aggravated him to no end, and yet she was the one he talked about in his letters. He hardly mentioned Ron Weasley or Harry Potter in his letters these days; he would only refer to them in context with his rants about Miss Granger. At first Lucius had supposed it was because she was a mudblood, she deserved deeper loathing than the other two. Still, 6 years was a long time and the references to her had changed. In his first year Draco had talked only of her as a filthy mudblood, a know-it-all, his words were filled with complete and true disgust. He had gone to school brought up well; his opinions were clear and focused. Hate and disgust filled his senses, he'd been taught to face mudbloods and muggle-lovers with revulsion and abhorrence. Lucius had been proud, his son would make a good dark wizard when he grew up, his opinions were the right ones, and his sneer admirable. The way he treated Potter and his companions was as it should be.

Then, the second year arrived and even though Draco's letters were laced with triumph and excitement Lucius was able to decipher hints of fear. His son hid behind a mask of pride and purebloods, of witty comments and cruel sentiments. And yet Lucius realized that his son was unsure, that he felt it was unjust that squibs and mudbloods were being picked off. His mind was young and he was scared, he didn't know what to think, but Lucius left him to his opinions, not realizing that it was at this time that a father's words shapes his son's opinions. The year ended and a letter came with details on the recovery of the mudbloods, in lengthy detail, especially about Miss Granger. Even as Draco attempted to hide his relief behind words of venom, his obsession could be seen to the vigilant and ever-observant eye of Lucius Malfoy.

Still, Draco was young and his pride still in tact, Lucius refused to see what he did not wish to see and Draco refused to share with his father that which he was not willing to accept himself. Many a time during that summer before his 3^rd year, Draco Malfoy could be found in his room, daydreaming at his windowsill. When Draco returned to school his confidence and dignity was restored. Hardly two weeks had passed, if that, when a letter came home about the gamekeeper teaching Care for Magical Creatures and the event that would soon become the Infamous Hippogriff Attack. Lucius instantly saw through the story but, like a loyal father, he took the bait. It was during that 3^rd year that Draco had stopped to mention girls, he was becoming a teenager and he'd realized how handsome he'd become. He was attracting glances and for the first time he was noticing. In the letters that came that year there were many sentences that Draco had crossed out before sending, if Lucius looked closely he could faintly read the word "Hermione". One more event marked the change of this year, an event that was told to Lucius not through his son but by Mr. Crabbe on a visit to the manner. Mr. Crabbe mentioned during the conversation an instance where Hermione Granger had slapped his son. Draco had never told him of the insult and Lucius' interest was immediately sparked. What had prevented Draco from telling him? Was if fear of what Lucius' reaction would be? Could Draco have been ashamed that a girl had slapped him? Either way Lucius knew that Draco could have gotten some vengeance on the brat, this brought another question. What if that was why Draco hadn't told him, he didn't want Hermione to get hurt?

His fourth year had come and so many things had changed. Nothing stood out more in Lucius' mind than the letter he'd received following the Yule Ball. He'd expected an enormous description of Pansy. Instead his son had described Hermione, her dress, her appearance, Draco's surprise, and more than anything his disgust for Krum. Disgust, that's what Lucius had interpreted it to be at first. Draco had devised the letter well, he'd convinced him that Krum was to be pitied and was no longer worth knowing, but when Lucius looked back at the letter later with suspicion budding and fear as a guide, he was able to discover that it wasn't pity or disgust that drove his son to write so heatedly about Krum, it was jealousy. Of course, Lucius didn't realize this until more than a year later, things became busy with the return of the dark lord. He was too busy to fully notice his son's lack of interest. He didn't understand why Draco didn't want to help, why he didn't laugh about the different ways to torture mudbloods anymore. Still, there was too much on Lucius' mind for him to really notice.

5^th year began and things seemed to be going smoothly, the Ministry suspected nothing and at Hogwarts the new Miss Umbridge was treating Draco favorably. Then there came the letter where Draco explained how The Quibbler was affecting the school, he talked about how Lucius' name had been mentioned and the whispers that were going around school. The thing that puzzled Lucius most was Draco's line "Hermione did this to me, she did it", were the words written in anger, confusion, or in the midst of bitter tears?

But now Lucius found himself in jail and the only news he got about his son were the whispers that came through the walls with the prisoners. The Dark Lord is using him to kill Dumbledore. Will Draco be strong enough or has he grown weak? Where Lucius once saw a strong youth filled with noble opinions was a young man wandering dazed and confused and looking towards a mudblood for enlightenment. Had his son really sunk so low? Had so much happened that Draco no longer understood what he represented? Did he not remember the responsibilities he carried and the role he was destined to play? The letters spoke with venom but they did not cease to talk of her. She was an obsession and nothing else mattered. So much had changed. Slytherins walk the path that has been laid out for them, few have the courage to break away and get lost in the world. Tom Riddle and Lucius walked the path with confidence, positive that it was right. Sirius Black did not. Now it is Draco Malfoy's turn, will he have the courage?