Minister and Mentor (Arley)

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The trial for Arley went smoothly. Draco wondered what would have become of the boy if he hadn't stepped in. He believed Arley was in the right for what he did, protecting his mother. However, his attitude in court and aggressiveness toward a Ministry Official, even one such as Rylyn Conner who Draco did not entirely put his own faith in, was not a good sign. The boy may not have needed to be punished... but he certainly needed guidance.

Arley reminded Draco of Harry Potter in a lot of ways. But at the same time, he reminded Draco of someone he could have been at that age if he had wised up to the ways of the world. But Arley was not where he needed to be either, at least from Draco's viewpoint. Draco doubted he could put Arley there, but he could steer him in the right direction. The Minister also certainly couldn't spend his entire time helping the boy, but he could make time to do his part. He was glad the boy would also be able to continue on with Hogwarts that year. Good people worked there. They had a good Headmistress. They could help Arley where he could not.

So now, he sat in his office and awaited Arley's arrival for an opening discussion.

@arley

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Arley made it out of the trial with a rather light sentence, community service, it really wasn't that bad but, he still was annoyed with the fact that there where even any ramifications, no matter how small. But the Minister of Magic had stepped in on his behalf and for that he was grateful. Though he didn't know how to interpret the Minister's actions, was this a good or bad thing? It was a thought that lingered in Arley's head.

But now he was making his way to the Ministers office, he was still nervous, but still relieved that he wasn't going to be expelled. He was being escorted there by a guard, who said nothing the whole time; all you could hear was the clacking of their footsteps echoing in the wide corridors. They finally made it to the office, And the guard spoke with a deep monotone voice. "The Minister is waiting inside," and with they be walked off.

Arley opened the door and walked into the office. A serious looking Draco Malfoy at the helm of the desk. "Hello Minister, you wanted to see me?"

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Draco wasn't crazy about having a guard escorting the boy to his office. It was more of a customary thing than anything, considering Arley had just been given a sentence for a "crime". However, if the guard was disrespectful or hostile to Arley then the Minister would have a word with the man. For now, he gave Arley a small smile as the boy entered his office.

"Arley, please sit down, my boy," he said, motioning to the chair. "I was just about have lunch. May I offer you tea and sandwiches?" No sooner had he said that then the lunch was brought in. The assistant anticipated that Draco might invite Arley to dine with him and added an extra cup and a saw to it that a few extra small sandwiches were prepared. Draco thanked her and she left. He then turned back to Arley.

"Arley, I want you to know that while I cannot make this fifteen hours easy for you, I will make it fair," he said. "I do not believe you committed any crime in defending your mother. I would have done the same if it were me. What I do wish to do is challenge you in a manner that will work to your benefit. I see the potential for greatness in you, but I want you to see it yourself." He stopped so Arley could respond before he went on.

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The Minister motioned for Arley to sit and he did, he also offered him tea and food, "Please," Arley said as a woman walked in with a tray of tea and sandwiches. He was starving and grabbed a sandwich as the tray hit the table. Arley had finished the sandwich before the woman had left, be looked as if he hasn't eaten in days.

The Minister explained to him that he couldn't make the community service easy for him, and that he believed that he committed no crime, things Arley already knew but he listened intently to the man that saved his school career. Then he said he was going to challenge him and that he saw greatness in him. That perked Arley's curiosity, he wondered what was in store for him, the minister paused.

"A challenge? I will do whatever is required," Arley said trying to conceal the excitement in his voice. Before Draco could speak again Arley spoke. "Sir I have something to tell you, about 2 days ago I was with a friend from school in Diagon Alley and we took a wrong turn and ended up in Knockturn, some men followed us and then proceeded to attack us, I defended both of us, and I was surprised when it wasn't brought up in court. They attacked us trying to capture me, my father....Do you know of a man named Sargon?"

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Draco watched as Arley devoured the sandwich. He wondered what the boy had been through to be so hungry. He has his assistant return.

"Could you have another plate of sandwiches prepared?" he asked. "And also have a meal prepared for this young man to leave with later on."

He then turned back to Draco and to business.

"As I said at the trial, I am attempting to open a program to aid young wizards and witches who had gone through troubling times as I myself did as a youth," he said. "I trust you know my story and how I was involved with Lord Voldemort. It took some time to rise from that, and it was not easy. I want to prevent other youths from falling into such darkness early on. I look at you as someone who can reach out to them. Therefore, your fifteen hours of community service will be spent reaching out to these other youths, and showing them that their Minister cares and wants them to be upstanding members of wizarding society. The more you and I take in, the stronger the program will be."

He then listened to Arley as spoke of his father and what the man tried to do. The man's name was familiar.

"What I have heard of this Sargon is not pleasant," he said. "But if he is trying to bring harm to you and your friends, I can place you under the Ministry's protection."

@arley

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Arley nodded in thanks when he requested the meal to take home, at the same time eating another sandwich. He stopped eating when Draco turned back to him.

He listened to Draco as he told him about his plan for helping the troubled youths of the wizarding community. He smirked at the Minister and opened his mouth to speak, noting that Draco's plan would take more than 15 hours. "So that's my 15 hours? I'm sure you realize that your plan is on a scale set for years, not mere hours. And knowing that I am a student you figure I have a better chance at swaying the others to join, is that assumption correct?" He asked carefully, he didn't want to sound as if he was striking a deal. "Of course I'll do it, not that I have a choice. But I mean that I'll do it after community service is done, because I do know your story, and I agree with you...nobody my age or younger should be exposed to such darkness so early in their lives," he said taking a breath.

He then listened to Dracos answer about his father. "I don't want protection, honestly I shouldn't even be saying this to you..but, I want him to come for me, I want to lure him out so that I can kill him."

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Draco smiled and nodded at Arley's acceptance of his proposition, and his willingness to help after those hours were over.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said. "I wasn't going to force you into continue to promote the cause after the fifteen hours were over, but I did hope that you would find enough of a satisfaction in it to wish to continue on. You do have school again in a few months, and I certainly don't want this to interfere with your studies."

Draco then raised an eyebrow at the boy's belief that youth should not be exposed to such darkness and corrupted during an innocent time.

"Very well said, Arley," he replied. "I knew it was a wise decision to recruit you. I will of course have others working with you from time to time, and I certainly don't expect you to look for lost souls in Knockturn or any place like that."

Draco sighed when Arley said he wanted to kill his father. Draco now truly knew he was looking in the mirror and seeing a reflection of his younger self.

"Arley, please hear me out," he said. "My father was a wicked man. He was a Death-eater, and many dark deeds were done because of him. People were hurt, even killed. He tried to turn me into the same monster, and after the Battle of Hogwarts, I felt the same way you do. I wanted him to die for what he did to me, and was even tempted to kill him myself. But over time I looked into his eyes and do you know what I saw? Not a monster... not a killer or a dark soul... but a man who was lost, and a man who was to be pitied. An empty, pathetic wizard. It took a long time for me to forgive my father and to love him again. I cannot say that you will ever do that for your own, but if you ever get the chance look into his eyes... deep into them until you see what he really is. You may be surprised."

@arley

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Arley couldn't help but laugh at Draco's comment about his studies. "I assure you that it won't interfere with my studies and thank you for not forcing the situation, but I think this is a good cause and I could see it going somewhere, and I like the idea of being at the head of it," he smiled at that thought. He was happy he said that he wouldn't be going to Knockturn looking for lost souls. "I hope not, I've had enough of that place for a while."

When Draco told him to hear him out, he did. And Arley understood what he was saying and where he was coming from...well maybe not totally. "I am sorry, but he isn't a lost soul like your father was, he is a monster, he will come gunning for you and the ministry, and you will see that he is deadly efficient at achieving his goals. Watch the Prophet in these coming weeks and you will see his name, or his face. He cannot be put in prison, he WILL [ /b] escape, the only verdict for a man like him, is the same as it was for Voldemort. Death." Arley said coldly.

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Draco nodded when Arley said it was a good cause and that he would enjoy assisting in it.

"Very good," he said. "I'll have the specific information ready for you tomorrow. You've had a trying day today and it would be inconsiderate of me to have you begin so soon after a stressful trial." Well there was that and Draco knew his mind would be more focused after rest, which was essential given how his behavior was at the trial.

Draco then sighed as Arley went on about how his father must be killed, and how Sargon was on the same level of Voldemort. The boy seemed to indirectly downplay Lucius Malfoy in the process.

"When your father orders you to kill one of the finest and most noble wizards who ever existed, then we can speak more on this subject," he said. "Until then, allow me to close this topic with this advice: When you go out to end your father's existence, be prepared for two things- one, to become the very evil you believe you've killed and two, to dig both his grave and yours." And that was all Draco had and would say on the subject for now.

"Let's get back to you, Arley," he said. "What does one with so much potential for greatness wish to do with his life?"

@arley

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ey nodded thanks, "I appreciate the consideration, and I'm not really tired, I'll probably practice my incantations," he smiled, "Without a wand of course," he was telling the truth but he thought it was a little funny.

The next comment sent anger flashing through his body, he kept in control but couldn't allow . "It's not about the finest or most noble Wizard," he spoke calmly. "Its about every Witch and Wizard. You said you want the kids to know you care for them, but you are doing that through me. These other people you can reach out to, though that's not the point....Look I don't mean to be disrespectful, but when Sargon starts killing people, who will they blame? The Ministry? Sure, but ultimately its you at the head of it and at you is where there fingers will point.
I believe what you said, and maybe he would be better off in prison, but please....put a stop to it before I do," with that he stopped and apologized for his outburst.

"Well I want to be an Auror, or the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts,"

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Draco was not trying to scare or intimidate Arley, but he was gradually becoming more insulted with the boy downplaying what he had been through in order to justify his desire to kill his father. Draco was trying to prevent Arley from making a mistake that would haunt him the rest of his life.

"Do you think it was only Albus Dumbledore who fell because of those like my father?" he said. "The Death-eaters haunted the world and left a multitude dead in their path! I have fought hard to see to it that such a nightmare does not happen again! I have fought hard to make this Ministry strong so that men like your father do not haunt our streets for long! And now I am fighting hard so that young wizards like you do not destroy your own lives by taking that of another, even one as wicked as Sargon! However, as much as I am trying to help you, I will not stand back and have you question my worth or the worth of the Ministry simply because I am trying to help you become something more than Sargon's son! And if you take your father's life, that is all people will say of you- 'he is nothing but a murderer just like his father'. You are better than that, Arley! Am I clear? The Ministry will tend to your father! This matter is closed!"

Draco then calmed, but looked at Arley with sharp eyes. Arley apologized, but once Draco Malfoy was offended, it was still hard for him to forgive. He then sighed when Arley said he wanted to be an Auror or the DADA Professor at Hogwarts.

"Aurors do not kill for revenge, but only when they absolutely have to," he said. "The Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor is a retired Auror himself and would tell you the same. If you wish to be an Auror or to teach future generations how to combat dark magic, you will have to overcome your own thirst for vengeance."

@arley

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Arley listened to Draco rant, it didn't scare him, he was actually more interested in the man. He seemed to regret what he did in his past, and he wondered why he would hold on to something from so long ago. He simmered down and eyed Draco intently at what he was saying.

Finally he couldn't hold his tongue. "I understand what you are trying to do, and I thank you. But this isn't about revenge," he said standing up. "Its about stopping someone who is willing and able to bring destruction on everyone and everything. You said the matter is closed and I'll respect that, but this man wants to see the world burn and he won't stop until its completely set aflame, and I also hope you and the Ministry deal with him, or I will and if they say I'm no different than him. Fine I am willing to take that risk, at least I'll be able to sleep at night knowing I saved lives, even if it means taking his. I'm sorry to say it Sir, but its how I feel." He turned to walk out the door, paused and looked back at Draco. "Think about what I've told you about my father Minister, I may be a young, but I am not a fool. I'll think about what you told me, but if you can't imprison him then I'll get a shovel,"

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Draco hoped Arley would understand in time. But he could understand the boy's anger all too well. He let the boy speak his mind before he left, despite having told Arley that the matter was closed. Draco could give advice all day, but when the day came for Arley to confront his father, it would be all up to him, and Arley would have to make the right decision.

Draco would say no more to Arley about his father after that, and would be quick to change the subject if Arley brought it up. Concern over the wicked man would be given to the proper authorities. Draco's job to was help Arley in the task of building up what he hoped would be a great program for troubled youths. Perhaps by helping other young wizards and witches from falling into darkness, Arley could see the error of his own thoughts and not fall into darkness by doing the wrong thing in the end.

"Good day, Arley," he said. "Get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow." And that is all he would say to the boy for the day. Once the boy was gone, Draco rose to leave the office himself. He would go to the Aurors and speak them on the matter of Sargon.

(End)

@arley