[RM] The Student Becomes the Teacher

The Red Moon series

Phase One: The Student Becomes the Teacher

---


It was the start of another school year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. The past year had held all the excitement as the 5 years before it. Harry Potter had found himself inside a web of plans all designed by the Dark Lord Voldemort as a means to destroying the Boy-Who-Lived. Once again Harry Potter, with the assistance of his two friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, had once again escaped the clutches of the Dark Lord, sending the dark wizard back to his drawing board.

Now, as Harry Potter's seventh year begins, changes have happened around him, which he is oblivious to. However, this story is not about the great Harry Potter. In contrast, this story is about his arch nemesis at school, Draco Malfoy. This boy, destined to be one of the next great Death Eaters has some problems of his own, all of which begin on a dark night in the middle of August. But our story does not begin in the summer, no, it begins on that first day back to school.

---

As the students sat at their tables, antsy to get this year's sorting over with, one student in particular seemed even more disinterested in the event than any other. Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table with his chin propped up on his palm, his gaze going anywhere and everywhere but the sorting taking place. He didn't see the importance of it happening before the entire student population. He recalled his own sorting and it wasn't anything exciting, so he wondered why they all had to sit and wait for it to happen every year like something fantastical would suddenly happen. Of course, nothing ever happened.

"Why weren't you on the train?"

Draco's gaze slid to the corner of his eye for a brief moment before continuing its pointless search around the Great Hall,

"I didn't realize you missed me that much," Draco drawled,

"If it wasn't for Pansy's whining the entire time I probably wouldn't have noticed," Blaise hissed back, "Now after listening to her pine for you the entire ride I'm quite curious as to know why, my friend, you were absent on the train."

"I had better things to do than waste pointless hours on a train. So I portkeyed here a few minutes you arrived. Happy? Can we cease this pointless interrogation?"

"It was pointless, sorry," Blaise quieted his voice even further as to assure himself that only Draco would be able to hear, "I know what happened."

All at once, Draco froze. His gaze stopped wandering and for a few seconds, he even stopped breathing. He was sure that his heart had even forgot to breath in that moment after Blaise said those words. Blood suddenly running cold and all heat left from his body, Draco finally turned to look at Blaise directly. After his initial shock, Draco resumed back to normal and his eyes narrowed,

"Don't tell me I need to kill you Blaise-" he said under his breath,

It was Blaise's turn to look away seeming disinterested, "You don't. I've never betrayed you since birth, why start now?"

Draco felt a tension in his body, which he hadn't realized, was there leave. "How?"

"Later," Blaise replied as he joined in the monotonous clapping with the rest of the Slytherins as another first year joined them.

---

As Draco prepared himself for bed, he looked around his room. He had always wanted private chambers at Hogwarts so he could have peace and quiet to himself, but this year above all others, he needed it rather than wanted it.

"Draco?"

Sighing at the familiar voice, he left his bed chamber and went into his own common room.

"What good is it to be Head Boy when I have a pest like you still around me at night?" Draco asked as he sat down in an arm chair before the fire.

Blaise, who had already made himself comfortable in another arm chair chuckled, "It's your own fault for telling me how to get in. You have it easy though, apartments of your own, far from everyone else. Where are the Head Girl's quarters?"

"Somewhere on this floor. Easier to find each other in case of emergency or some bollocks like that," Draco explained before sarcastically adding, "Now what, praytell, do I owe the honour of having you here?"

"You wanted to know how." Blaise said simply.

For a fraction of a second, Draco remembered that initial shock. He sighed deeply, "Go on then."

"I was there," he held up a hand to stop the retort from escaping Draco's lips, "Near the end. Just seconds before it ended, I had arrived. I would have gone to you but by the time I got out of my shock, you had already apparated away."

"You never mentioned it after. I do recall us having a few drinks a few days later at my mansion," Draco reminded coldly,

"Oh, I did. I just waited until you were pissed before I said anything. The truth comes out when you're drunk," Blaise said knowingly.

Draco scowled at his friend, "And it didn't take me long to get drunk that night- I wanted to forget what happened."

"Does Dumbledore know?"

"Of course he does, why do you think I was able to portkey here?" Draco snapped,

"So what's going to happen to you?"

"Nothing. I continue life as always. No one besides you, Dumbledore and Snape know and I continue on having it that way. Not even Voldemort knows and I'll do everything I can to make sure it stays that way. If he ever finds out, I'll end up like my parents," Draco said bitterly.

"Draco?" Blaise began in an uncomfortable tone. Draco looked at him in question, "You didn't eat anything at dinner. Aren't you hungry?"

"I ate earlier when I arrived. Dumbledore, Snape and I had a discussion in Snape's office and while we were there I ate because Dumbledore noted I looked like I hadn't eaten in weeks," Draco rolled his eyes exasperatedly,

"Had you not eaten in weeks?" Blaise questioned again in that uncomfortable tone, but this time, it was accompanied by concern.

"I had not," Draco replied before casting a glare at Blaise, "And don't get any infantile notions or fears in your head about that."

"Sorry- Draco?"

"What?" he spat,

"What about Quidditch this year?" The question came at a whisper as if Blaise thought it would break Draco if it were asked any louder.

The expression that crossed Draco's face looked as if it had broken him. He was silent before answering, "I don't know."

Blaise, being Draco's closest friend, had only seen that expression once before on Draco's face. He had only let his guard down once before and it was the night when Draco found out that both his parents were dead.

"Don't worry mate, we'll figure out something," Blaise offered.

However, no words of appreciation or gratitude would come from Draco. "Go away," was all he muttered before getting up and heading to his bed chambers. The slam of his bedroom door was the last noise Blaise heard from him that evening.

With one last look of concern towards Draco's door, Blaise got up and left the Head Boy's chambers.

---

"It's a good thing I've never been a morning person," Draco muttered spitefully as he left his chambers and headed down to the Great Hall. After reaching the main floor, he saw Blaise leaning casually against the wall by the Great Hall's doors. Draco brushed past him towards the Great Hall but in seconds, Blaise was by his side and stopped his progress,

"What?" Draco scowled as he shook off Blaise's grip on his shoulder and stared straight into his best friend's eyes.

"I was in the Great Hall earlier and you know how it's been made so it reflects the weather outside-" Blaise said in a warning tone,

Draco continued walking and pushed open the doors to the Great Hall, Blaise following in silence. As they sat down at the Slytherin table, their food appeared before them. As Blaise began to eat he stopped and looked at Draco quizzically. He got a glare in return.

"DRACO!"

The glare disappeared and an expression of great distaste replaced it. Pansy sat down in front of them and glared at Draco,

"Where were you yesterday? I didn't see you on the train and then at dinner I didn't even get to sit beside you! THEN, once dinner was over, you left before I could even talk to you," she whined,

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone, especially you Parkinson," Draco growled in a low tone. He stood up and left the Great Hall.

"Well he's in a right mood," Pansy huffed as she began eating, cutting her food violently,

"Shut up," Blaise spat before spooning one last morsel of food into his mouth and running after Draco.

---

Draco rubbed his right temple as a pain thudded in his head. Turning the corner, he didn't see the person who also was turning the corner. In a moment after a few books had become airborne, Draco found himself stumbling backwards, only gaining balance after bumping back into Blaise.

Draco looked down at the person responsible for the collision (because, of course, he wasn't to blame), "Watch where you're going, Weasley! You're almost as bad as your brother," he sneered before walking away.

"Damn Malfoy, I oughta - what are you doing Zabini!?" Ginny questioned as Blaise began to collect her books.

Unconsciously, he had got down and began gathering her books for her. Standing up with her books now in his possession, he helped her up with his free hand before shoving the books into her arms. Ginny remained silent being unsure of how to respond to the first kind act ever administered by a Slytherin. About to say some sort of words for gratitude, Ginny stopped herself when she glimpsed at the expression on Blaise's face just before he ran after Draco: worry.

When Blaise caught up to him, Draco stopped and turned abruptly to look at Blaise, "I don't need you to follow me everywhere!"

"Draco, obviously something's wrong," Blaise pointed out,

"Then if there is, I can handle it myself. I don't need you fighting my battles for me Zabini! Next time, mind your own bloody business. What are you, another bleeding heart of Gryffindor!?" Draco snarled.

Blaise held up both hands as a gesture he'd stop. After a second of silence between the two friends, Draco turned on his heel and walked away. That's how it remained for another week, Draco spoke to no one and was never seen with anyone. After the third day of school, he had even stopped showing up at meals. The only contact he'd have with anyone was when he'd go to his chambers after his Head Boy duties and Blaise would be standing at the entrance, leaning against the wall. He'd look at Draco in question and Draco would merely nod. Satisfied with his answer, Blaise would push himself off the wall and leave Draco to his own thoughts.

---

It was in the middle of the second week of school when Draco finally spoke to someone. Potions had just concluded and as he was closing his text and packing his things, Professor Snape approached him.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'd like for you to tutor a younger student," Snape said in a tone that expressed his dislike of having to teach a student who needed extra tutelage in the first place.

"Professor-"

"It was Professor Dumbledore's request, not mine. So if you have a problem with it, speak with him, not me. Until you've done that, you can come here directly after dinner and beginning the sessions."

Draco sighed exasperated and rubbed his temple, a familiar thud in his head again, "How long are these sessions?"

"Just a few hours,"

"Who is it? How bad are they Professor?" Draco asked, he had a feeling he would want to see Dumbledore as soon as possible to get him out of the situation.

"They have the lowest potions level in their year. It's a Gryffindor," Snape answered,

"Professor! I'm not teaching an idiotic Gryffindor Potions!" Draco suddenly announced,

"Well then Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you say that to the Headmaster." Draco let out a frustrated sigh, "And what are you waiting for? Class has already ended and yet you're still here!"

Scowl painted on his face, Draco grabbed his belongings and left. The potions master could never be pleased, favourite student or not.

---

He had been bewitched. That had to be the answer. Afternoon classes were starting and Draco had already finished his meeting with Professor Dumbledore. The problem was, Draco wasn't quite sure how it ended with him still having to tutor some dense Gryffindor. On his way to Transfiguration, he attempted to recall his arguments to Dumbledore. He couldn't exactly remember what they were, only how transparent and weak they were; Dumbledore was able to dissuade each of them. If he hadn't been bewitched during the meeting he must have been bribed one way or another. Yes! That was it. Draco's step quickened slightly as he recalled some of the things Dumbledore had told him,

"This student is in dire need of assistance in potions Mr. Malfoy, and who better but the top student in all of Hogwarts for potions to help them?"

A sneer crossed his face, the Headmaster sure new how to compliment a person into complete silence. After that Dumbledore had continued on about the importance of student-to-student tutoring and why he should do it. When Draco had attempted to argue once more, Dumbledore had said something about it being a way to keep his mind off other things then somehow - somehow - Dumbledore had managed to dismiss him without actually doing so. Draco couldn't exactly remember how it happened, but the Headmaster had made it clear that the discussion was over without saying it was. Instead, from an outside point of view, it seemed like Draco had ended it by saying exasperatedly that he needed to get to class.

Fortunately, Draco was able to slip into the classroom moments before Professor McGonagall entered the classroom herself. He slipped into a seat beside Blaise and began to think about what tonight would be like tutoring the student proclaimed to be the worst of his year in potions.

---

Blaise let out a laugh as he walked down the hall with Draco after they had finished their dinner. Draco, of course, hadn't eaten anything.

"Sod off," Draco hissed, shoving Blaise away from him,

"Oh, I wish I could, but I want to see this pathetic student that you're teaching potions to. I bet the boy's so bad he has a higher explosion rate than Finnigan! I cannot believe you let Dumbledore manipulate you into not getting out of it," Blaise laughed again, holding his stomach. It was only in the presence of Draco did Blaise show his true self; his true self being a carefree Slytherin who wanted nothing more than to end the whole basis of the light and dark side and to eliminate all thought of war - he had seen too much death in his seventeen years already.

As they turned the final bend to the Potions room, Draco felt his stomach jump into his throat as he saw the student standing outside the classroom, leaning against the wall. Draco sighed exasperatedly as he felt a familiar thud in his head,

"Bloody hell," the words had left his mouth before he realized it.

Blaise muted his laughter when the student looked up at them and their own face showed complete disappointment and dread.

"Malfoy."

"Weasley."

"Definitely not a boy," Blaise muttered before throwing Draco another grin and leaving the two.

"Let's get this over and done with," Draco said crisply as he walked past Ginny and into the empty classroom. Of course, Draco thought, Snape would let him weather this alone. "Oh, and Weasley,"

Ginny looked at him cautiously from the seat she had chosen,

"Try not to blow us up."

"I'll try not to blow myself up, that's as best as I can promise."

Draco glared at her as she began to take out her material. Things had gotten from bad to worst.


(Phase 2: Taste of Poison)