"It is a common mistake to glorify those you have tricked, to imagine that you have toppled their cleverness by your own subtlety. Arrogance leads men to imagine their adversaries great, in retrospect." - Lucius Malfoy



"And then what happened?" asked Professor Lockhart. Their carriage hit a bump right as he spoke, and he jostled up against Horace Slughorn's enormous belly. The short trip from the train to their quarters should only take a few more minutes.

"Then the little bastard spewed his infernal drink right into my eyes and coughed for several minutes. 'Swallowed the wrong way,' he said. And apologized profusely, but of course he'd just been trying to keep me from peeking into his mind. The funny thing is, I don't think the boy's had Occlumenency training, although with a Malfoy who knows?"

Gilderoy smiled broadly at that. "So, you think he just guessed or suspected you might invade his mind? Seems paranoid. At least young Draco has learned my lessons about ambushes, but still... all signs point to him being somewhat estranged from Narcissa."

"Estranged or not, she may still have taught him. Assuming it isn't a ruse. Anyway, of course I accepted his apology and went back and cleaned myself up. And while I was doing that he calmly explained that he'd hired Grindelwald as a tutor for history, Transfiguration, and what not, and that they'd gone into business together. He wouldn't go into details, so I suspect it's something not-quite-legitimate, but probably not terrible either. He also mentioned seeing your date with Narcissa..."

"And did you? Peek into his mind?" Gilderoy asked.

"No need to be so touchy and try to change the subject, my dear fellow. I have no idea how young Malfoy got the impression that I was courting his mother – not that it wouldn't be pleasant – but I have a reasonable understanding of how I am viewed by Witches. I don't begrudge you the experience."

Professor Lockhart merely crossed his arms across his chest and cocked his head.

"Erm. Well, yes, of course I peeked into his mind. The Headmistress asked and I am but her humble servant. But I was only looking for anything untoward, not a full scale rummaging around. In any case, his story about Grindelwald is true. What little I saw before getting a face full of that drink – you'd be surprised how sticky it is, who drinks sticky liquids? - confirmed it. The business is inconsequential. No, that's not the worrisome part."

Gilderoy started tapping his foot softly.

"No, the part that worries me is the gaps in young Malfoy's memory."

"Gaps?" said Lockhart, alarmed "How many? When?"

"You should know that's not how it works, Gilderoy. At least twice over the holidays and who knows how many prior to that. Sloppy work, too. Imprecise. Of course Draco just chalked it up to tiredness, but he's worried about them at some level."

The carriage pulled up to a stop, they were right outside the front gate of Hogwarts. They could see the students just starting to walk on campus, Hagrid and the non-Heads of House leading them along.

"And are you going to tell the Headmistress?" asked Professor Lockhart.

Horace Slughorn pulled out a handkerchief and started rubbing his forehead. "Well, I have to. Part of the job."

Professor Slughorn started to ease his way out of the carriage, but the Offense Professor put his hand his arm. "I have a … confession … that may affect your decision. Hear me out."

Minerva McGonagall stared at Professor Slughorn. "Are you not feeling well, Horace?"

"Perhaps something I ate disagreed with me." Professor Slughorn could see the flicker of disapproval before the Headmistress controlled her emotions. No, she'd never make a good Occlumens. In fact Professor Slughorn had eaten lightly at dinner, but he'd snacked constantly on the train trip up while hosting his little get-together. He stared back across the Headmistress's desk. She looked less fierce than last year, as if the toll of the job had washed over her and she'd started to relax into it. The office looked mostly as it had during his earlier tenure as Potions Professor, except the one giant frame behind the desk, labeled "Albus Dumbledore." Other portraits had been shifted to make space for the latest addition to the wall, but unlike the rest of the portraits, there was nothing to see.

Just a blank canvas. The sight unnerved him.

"Well then, about Draco Malfoy. Anything of note? Should we be worried about him? He's very ambitious, more so than most of your House..."

"Minerva, all of my students - make that all students - are ambitious. Everyone dreams of being the next Merlin or Idlewind or Flamel or whoever kids emulate these days. What sets Draco apart from the rest of them aren't his dreams but the dedication and training to follow through. I never thought I'd say this, but he'd make an excellent Hufflepuff. Don't fear Draco's desires, admire his execution and tenacity. That boy has steel in his spine, probably because of his father's murder. But, since you asked. He's not getting into anything nefarious with Grindelwald. It's a poorly thought out business. I personally think that he's going to take a bath on this investment but Draco isn't going in with any illusions. He thinks making money will be nip and tuck, but even if he lost everything he's put into it – a considerable sum – he's gotten private tutoring with an excellent Wizard and turned the entire Jugson clan into an ally."

"That's rather ... involved for a twelve year old."

"He also views it as an investment to help him understand Muggle business practices. I don't really understand, perhaps Professor Asimov would have better insights. Remember, Madame, A great plot threatens multiple victories It sounds better in the original Latin, but certainly the most basic tenet of Salazar's cunning was written over Malfoy's first bassinet. As far as Draco is concerned, he's already profited. He might win several more times over."

The Headmistress considered this, but she seemed satisfied. "I see what you mean about ambition versus execution. And what about his date with Miss Granger?"

"Now now, Minerva, you said you were investigating Dark Secrets and didn't want to know about minor peccadilloes, didn't you? I didn't delve into his memories like a voracious grubworm..."

Minerva sighed. "No, of course not. I just don't want to see that girl get hurt."

Professor Slughorn got up. "Of course not, she's charming. And while I happen to know that he had a few ulterior motives for the date - No, I didn't see that in his mind, but I do keep myself informed - but it was just a date. If the lad isn't smitten yet, he's well on his way."

"Yes, well. Do keep me informed about Draco. And the rest of your House. I don't want to expel another single student, is that clear?"

Professor Slughorn agreed, said his goodbye and showed himself out. He started the long walk back to his quarters, Occlumency barriers up even though alone. Perhaps he should have told Minerva about the gaps in Draco's memory. He would have, except that Horace Slughorn had been doing digging of his own. He'd wondered where the two most famous second years, students who should have rightfully been guided and mentored by himself, spent their days. It certainly wasn't in classes. He'd been shocked at the amount of power wielded by those two, but months of quiet talk and letters had confirmed it.

Potter practically ran Hogwarts and Peverell, albeit from behind the scenes, and had major influence in the government. Horace Slughorn knew any secret he told the Headmistress would be heard by Harry Potter.

And that wouldn't do, because of the other worrisome thing he'd glimpsed in Draco Malfoy's mind. Despite Lucius Malfoy's death, Legilmency against a Malfoy remained an enormous risk but Draco's actions looked alarming enough to risk. So he'd agreed to the Headmistresses request and asked point blank what Draco did during his break right as he'd probed Draco's mind.

Draco had instantly thought of his actions with Grindelwald, but they weren't his primary reaction. No, the clearest image was Draco locked inside his own vault, writing a letter to Harry Potter. Professor Slughorn could see Draco scratching the words onto the parchment.

And if you are Voldemort – or should I say, Tom Riddle - ...

The thought had stunned Horace Slughorn more than the barrage of soda hitting his face a second later.

How had Draco Malfoy worked out that Tom Riddle was Voldemort? The name Tom Riddle meant nothing to someone Draco's age. There were probably only a handful of people who'd made the connection, not counting those who understood only a few seconds before death. He himself had taken years to piece it together, then decades to finally admit it to himself.

And a twelve year old boy had solved it ... in a year or two at most.

It made Draco's other suspicion much more plausible.

Horace Slughorn never planned to feed any information about Draco Malfoy back to Harry Potter. At least, not until he finished his own investigations. He'd only shared his secret to Professor Lockhart as insurance. When operating against Voldemort (or any other Dark Wizard) it didn't do to keep too many secrets. That made you much more valuable dead than alive, or got yourself tortured for information. No, best to give a dedicated and persistent opponent an easier way to discover your secrets. Also, if his lie to the Headmistress did get revealed, he'd be able to spin it innocently if he'd shared it with someone else.

Maybe not enough to save his job, but enough to keep his reputation. He consulted with another Professor, at least.

Surprisingly, Gilderoy's confession provided a compelling excuse to lie to the Headmistress in good faith. It had been such a lucky stroke, Horace wondered that he hadn't accidentally spilled Felix Felicis into his tea. Now even if the worst happened and the Headmistress caught him in a lie, Horace Slughorn would have a reason that even she'd balk at condemning. And an ally in Professor Lockhart.

That young fool desperately wanted to hunt a Dark Wizard.