"It's a great tactic, very Slytherin if I do say so. I can assume your mother gave you constant affection, she seemed like the type to really care about a child, you didn't need to win her affections. Your dad, a different story wasn't he? The only time he ever gave you affection was when you acted like a Malfoy and used your name and money to get what you want or when you act like a death eater. Think about it, actually think about it and tell me if I'm wrong."
Draco wanted to blast Potter but knew he needed to stall until he came up with a way to escape, he thought that he could humour Potter. He remembered his childhood, he had to admit that his mum did baby him. That was a fair point, and then he thought about his father. He thought about his childhood and his interactions with his father and….and….P….Potter….potter was right! Now that Draco thought about it, he realized that Potter was right! Bloody Potter was bloody right!
His father loved it when Draco insulted the muggleborns and called them mud-bloods, his father had barley shown an interest in him when he was younger but as soon as he was ten, his father started caring, probably to prepare him to be a Malfoy and represent the family properly. He noticed the little light in his father's eyes the first time he said mud blood.
"Tell me Draco, which do you value more?" Harry brought him out of his thoughts "your loving mother or your father who only accepted you once you started acting like him?"
"SHUT UP!" Draco shouted, his wand gripped even tighter "you don't know what you're talking about?"
"Don't I?" Harry asked "in case you've forgotten Draco, I used to live with muggles who hated magic. Not all muggles are like that, most of them are really kind but I drew the short straw and landed with the worst ones possible. They beat me because I was different, Draco, they nearly killed me because I was different.
They wanted to make me a mindless slave for them to order around and harm for their own pleasure, do you know what I did? Once I learned magic, do you know what I did? I escaped them and now I'm my own man and I AM FREE! Draco, I am happy, I have a happy life because I chose to live my own. You don't have to be your father, you don't have to be a death eater, you don't even have to be a Malfoy. Just be yourself, I promise you, you'll feel a lot better for it."
"The dark lord will kill me, he'll kill me and…"
"Draco! He is a joke! His real name is Tom Riddle and he is the son of a squib and a muggle yet he is the self-appointed 'pure-blood champion', he is proof of what I've always been saying. Blood has nothing to do with talent, me and him are both half-bloods and we have pretty much all the pure-bloods in England cowering in fear. Would you like proof? Because I can provide it for you. Stink, Dobby"
"Yes master" The elves popped in
"Go and get Salazar from the chamber of secrets please" Harry spoke politely and the elves popped off, the Slytherin's all collectively widened their eyes.
They couldn't believe what they had just heard, some were not even sure that they actually heard Harry say Salazar and the chamber of secrets. A few seconds later the elves popped in with a painting, the man in the painting had long hair and a long beard, both were white and he was dressed in green robes. It didn't take a genius to deduce that this was Salazar Slytherin.
"Harry!" Salazar screamed joyfully "I thought you were leaving! Ellie is very upset but she'll get over it eventually."
"I was leaving but I ran into a little snag" Harry gestured to Draco
"HEY!" Salazar shouted "are you going to let that girl go or am I going to have to get out of this portrait and deal with you myself?!" Draco turned white and quickly let the girl go, who as a way of saying thank you, punched Draco right in the nose.
"Nice punch" Harry praised her
"I agree, wonderful technique" Salazar added
"Thank you sir" The embarrassed girl nodded and moved out of the way
"Now Harry, you mentioned a snag? Anything I can help you with? Just say the word."
"Yes, I was hoping you could tell everyone about Voldemort"
"That brat!" Salazar spat "why on earth do any of them want to learn about that cocky little shite?"
"Well you know how I told you he about him and his army of death eaters?" Harry replied "Draco, the blonde one, I'm trying to persuade him not to join. Admittedly it'd be easier and much more enjoyable to kill him but I'm feeling charitable today"
"Very well" Salazar looked at Draco "listen up pretty boy, if you chose to join Tom's army then I will give my heir full permission to kill you."
"Your heir?"
"Yes, Harry Potter is my chosen heir" Salazar answered, the Slytherin's all looked at Harry like he was a superhero "Tom might be by blood but I have chosen Harry to be my heir and thanks to him defeating Tom, he can officially be recognized as my heir."
"But…but why not…"
"Why not Voldemort?" Salazar interrupted "because he is an idiot, despite being a half-blood he is under the impression that only pure-bloods are suited to magic."
"But you hated muggles!" Draco argued
"Who said that? The history books? Books aren't always right, I never hated muggles or muggleborns. I just said that muggles shouldn't be allowed to come to Hogwarts and that muggleborns should be taught magic somewhere before they're allowed to come to Hogwarts so they could catch up with those who were already using magic. This whole blood superiority is the result of massive misinterpretation by others, I have no problem with muggles, squibs or half-bloods." Another bombshell dropped on the Slytherin common room, Salazar Slytherin himself had basically proclaimed the blood system to be bullshit. Draco couldn't even speak.
"Now, is that all?"
"Yes" Harry nodded "thanks Sal"
"Anytime Harry" The elves took the painting and popped away. Harry rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a small vial filled with a certain potion. He tossed it to Draco.
"Here you go, that will remove your dark mark for you, if you choose to take it. If I was you then I would take it, go to your mother the go to Gringotts. Your father might be in Azkaban but he won't be permanently, take all you can and run. If you and your mum need help then I can get you to a safe house.
This is your one chance Draco, your chance to prove that the you're not just a death eater. Your chance to live in a world where you can be yourself and live a happy life with your mother, and maybe even someone special if you can find them. Make your choice Draco but know that it is your choice, not your dads and the consequences will be on your head. If you need a safe house then have your mother contact me, if you chose not to accept, then I can live knowing I gave you that chance."
Harry turned, he winked at Daphne before leaving the common room. Draco Malfoy, slumped into the couch behind him. Everything that just happened had hit him like a pack of wild hippogriffs and he could barely process it all, he didn't notice the looks from the other members of the common room as he shoved his head into his hands. Blaise and Theodore had a sympathetic look, they still thought he was a total and utter asshole but they understood and silently instructed the common room to leave Draco to think.
....
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