Drop/Add

Drop/Add

by JadedDana

"Thank you, sir. `e should be up shortly. I´ll just go check on `arry in th´infirmry now." With that, the half-giant ducked and left Dumbledore´s office. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and frowned lightly. The expression looked odd on the normally cheerful headmaster, as if his muscles weren´t certain how to form the unusual look. After a moment, though, the twinkle suddenly returned to his eyes, and he swiveled around to open the large file cabinet behind him. After a moment´s riffling, he grabbed a file and placed it under a few documents on his desk. Quickly snatching a lemon drop from the candy bowl on the corner of the desk, he pulled out a blank parchment and began to write.

A moment later, there was a hesitant knock at the door. Without looking up, Dumbledore quietly whispered Alohamora and the door creaked open. He could sense a figure standing in the doorway, but he still did not look up from what he was writing. After about a minute, the figure coughed. Dumbledore finally looked up, pretending to have just noticed his guest. A small smile graced his face.

"Why, Mr. Malfoy. How nice to see you. Have a seat." The boy entered, a slightly puzzled expression showing through the rather impressive poker face. Dumbledore internally applauded his approach-the boy could use an unpleasant surprise, and Dumbledore being pleasant was clearly unexpected, after he had nearly gotten two classmates killed. "Now. Why don´t you tell me why you are here." That trick always got them.

Malfoy frowned for a moment, glanced down at his immaculately clean hands, and then up. He clearly had no idea what to say to avoid punishment. "Hagrid sent me, sir." When Dumbledore just waited, Malfoy slowly continued. "There was an...incident in Care of Magical Creatures."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly. Although he already knew exactly what had happened, it would do the boy good to try to explain it. "Ah? What happened?"

Malfoy looked down at his hands. "The sabertooth tiger, um, attacked Potter and Granger." The miniscule twisting of his hands confirmed what Dumbledore already knew.

"I see."

Silence. Malfoy fidgeted.

"Sir, I...Am I to serve detention?" He looked very nervous-his fidgeting was getting more pronounced.

Dumbledore looked at him for a moment. "Is there some reason you should?" Malfoy looked trapped. The headmaster decided to take pity on him. "Professor Hagrid has informed me that you were in charge of ensuring the cage remained shut. Clearly, Care of Magical Creatures class holds so little interest to you that you can not even remain watchful on the second day of classes. Am I right?"

Malfoy looked somewhat relieved, and also somewhat annoyed that the headmaster described him as incompetent. He did not, in any way shape or form want to be compared to Longbottom-even if it did mean he avoided a very serious charge, of maliciously attempting to harm or even kill classmates. He only mumbled a `yes, sir´. Dumbledore sat up a little straighter and pulled the folder he had previously hidden into plain view.

"Well, you are a fifth year, so I suppose that is far enough along that an elective could replace the class. Would that suit you?" Malfoy nodded, looking more relieved. Dumbledore looked at the folder. "Well, there appear to be none of an appropriate level during the current class, but lets see...ah, yes. I see you have an empty slot right when second level Muggle Studies meets."

Draco´s slight grin froze. He knew he was trapped.

"Yes. That would be a perfect substitute. Here is your revised schedule." Dumbledore handed a slip of paper to Draco. He took it mechanically, trying not to appear horrified. Dumbledore grinned. "Now, I suppose I must take 10 points for your negligence and the trouble of changing your schedule, you understand? Now, hurry off. I´m sure you´ll want to owl for the textbooks for your new class. Oh, and why don´t you take a lemon drop?" With that Dumbledore turned back to the letter he had been writing, apparently again unaware of Malfoy´s presence in the room.

After a moment, Draco stood, took a lemon drop, and quietly left. The door closed behind him of its own accord. Immediately, Dumbledore stopped writing. He glanced at Fawkes, who had watched the entire exchange from his perch near the fireplace. "Well, Fawkes, do you think that will do him any good? Maybe I can suggest a few field trips." The phoenix trickled out a few notes, and the headmaster smiled, before taking another lemon drop and, humming under his breath, turned back to his paperwork.