"What conditions?" the three asked in unison.
"You'll teach me as well," Henry replied.
"Teach you?" Draco asked, his surprise evident. "Teach you what?"
"Teach me your family histories, your traditions, your perspectives on the world," Henry explained. "I cannot know everything, and what you understand, I may not."
Draco nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the fairness of the exchange. "That seems reasonable."
Pansy spoke up immediately. "My father told me considerable detail about the Parkinson family history. I can certainly share it with you."
Daphne added softly, "The Greengrass family has knowledge passed down through generations. If you're interested, I would be happy to tell you."
"Then we have an agreement," Henry said with finality.
The following evening, after dinner, Henry had just settled by the fireplace when Draco approached him with obvious purpose.
"Your Highness," Draco said in a low voice, "will we have lessons tonight?"
Henry studied him, noting the barely concealed anticipation in the boy's expression despite his attempt at casual inquiry. After all, he was still a child, and his desires weren't difficult to discern.
"You wish to begin?" Henry asked.
Draco nodded eagerly, and within moments, Pansy and Daphne had joined them, settling onto the nearby sofa. Crabbe and Goyle were notably absent, likely pursuing their customary evening activity of acquiring snacks from the kitchens.
"We'd like to as well," Pansy said brightly.
"Then let's begin," Henry said with an inviting smile.
The group arranged themselves around the fireplace. Though other students occupied the common room, they occupied the far side, far enough that the group's conversation wouldn't carry to them.
Henry reclined against the sofa, his demeanor relaxed and open. "However," he said, "you'll teach me first tonight."
"We'll teach you?" Draco's incredulity was plain. The idea of teaching His Highness anything seemed to violate some natural hierarchy.
"Yes," Henry confirmed. "Didn't we agree yesterday that you would teach me your families' histories and traditions, as well as your way of understanding the world?"
Draco and Pansy exchanged a quick glance, then both looked toward Daphne.
"Who should begin?" Daphne asked softly.
"Draco," Henry decided. "You start."
Draco straightened, his expression becoming serious and attentive. "I assume you're familiar with the Malfoy family's history dating back to the Norman Conquest," he began formally.
"I'm aware of that," Henry confirmed.
"But do you know precisely why the Malfoy ancestor was held in such high regard under William the Conqueror?" Draco pressed further.
Henry shook his head. "No, I don't."
Draco lowered his voice, clearly excited to share knowledge Henry lacked. "Because he was a wizard, William the Conqueror himself knew this. Several wizarding families accompanied William during the Conquest besides the Malfoys. William required them to fight on his behalf, to consolidate his rule, and to neutralize his magical enemies."
Henry absorbed this with a nod, understanding the implications immediately.
"This arrangement is recorded in royal archives," Henry observed. "Wizards and Muggle nobility have cooperated for centuries."
"Exactly," Draco's tone grew more enthusiastic. "Wizards operated in secrecy while Muggles wielded open power. Wizards fought for Muggles, and in return, Muggles granted wizards land and status. Once the Statute of Secrecy was enacted, this cooperation became hidden, but it never truly ended."
He cleared his throat, preparing for his most important point. "The Malfoy family has consistently excelled at maintaining these secret partnerships. Regardless of who holds power, we invariably secure ourselves a position."
Henry understood the Malfoy family's pragmatism better than even Draco himself did. Their ability to survive and prosper through centuries of shifting power made them nearly unique among pure-blood families.
Pansy interjected eagerly. "The Parkinsons operate similarly. My father explained that our family motto essentially translates to 'follow the flow of events.'"
"Follow the flow?" Henry asked for clarification.
"Yes," Pansy hesitated, recognizing that the phrase might be misunderstood, and quickly added, "It doesn't mean acting as a fence-sitter without principles. Rather, it means observing where power is flowing and then positioning yourself appropriately."
Daphne contributed her own perspective quietly. "The Greengrass family holds similar wisdom. My father always says that one shouldn't approach the center of power too closely, but one must remain close enough to perceive its direction and momentum."
Henry nodded with genuine appreciation. These pure-blood families had perfected the art of survival through centuries of careful observation and strategic positioning.
"Your Highness," Draco asked curiously, "what are you thinking about?"
Henry emerged from his contemplation with a slight smile. "I was considering your families' traditions. They're quite remarkable."
Draco looked surprised by the assessment. "Remarkable? I thought you might consider us opportunistic."
Henry raised a finger, shaking his head gently. "It's not opportunism—it's survival wisdom. Your families have endured for centuries not through fortune, but through shrewd understanding of how power operates."
A pleased smile crossed Draco's features. "My father would appreciate hearing that evaluation."
Pansy then recounted the Parkinson family's history. While not as ancient or celebrated as the Malfoys, the Parkinsons held secure standing among the "Holy Twenty-Eight." Their hereditary lands lay in northern England near the Scottish border, a region historically marked by constant upheaval and conflict. From this turbulent environment, the Parkinsons had developed a unique survival philosophy: maintain a low profile while always preserving alternative paths and contingencies.
"My father always says," Pansy explained, lowering her voice with obvious meaning, "that the Parkinsons never commit everything to a single outcome."
Henry posed a careful question. "Did your family support..." he paused deliberately, avoiding speaking the Dark Lord's name aloud. In the wizarding world, such caution was prudent; the Dark Lord had cursed his own name, and Henry preferred not to tempt fate by speaking disrespectfully of such a powerful figure, however indirectly.
Pansy's expression grew troubled, and after a prolonged silence, she spoke in a strained voice. "We did support them."
She paused before continuing. "But not entirely. My father explained that the family divided into two factions, one openly supported the Dark Lord, while another observed carefully from the shadows. Once the Dark Lord fell, those who had remained distant stepped forward to manage the aftermath and salvage the family's position."
Henry nodded with understanding. Dividing loyalty between competing powers was a time-honored strategy among ambitious families throughout history.
"Preserving an escape route represents its own form of survival wisdom," Henry said approvingly.
"Exactly," Pansy confirmed. "That's why the Parkinsons persisted where others didn't. Many families wagered everything on the Dark Lord's victory. Now they're either extinct or have been forced to abandon their prominence."
The conversation continued at length. Draco recounted the Malfoy family's experiences across generations, some ancestors had demonstrated remarkable shrewdness while others had proven foolish; some had achieved spectacular success while others had narrowly avoided complete destruction.
Pansy explained how the Parkinsons had navigated countless upheavals, discovering their equilibrium within each new power structure.
Daphne described the Greengrass family's accumulated wisdom, knowledge passed down through centuries that had become their greatest strength.
Henry listened with genuine attention, occasionally asking clarifying questions. Though these families' stories varied in specifics, they shared an underlying common principle—each had discovered their own path between pursuing power and ensuring survival, a balance that required constant recalibration.
They had perhaps never achieved the most glamorous status or greatest heights of power, but their longevity was nearly unmatched.
"Your Highness," Draco suddenly asked, "do you think our family is managing well?"
Henry considered his answer carefully before responding. "There is no inherent good or bad—only what proves suitable or unsuitable for your circumstances."
Draco's brow furrowed with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Your family's traditions developed over centuries," Henry explained deliberately, "when the wizarding world operated very differently and your family's situation was entirely distinct. These traditions represent answers that were appropriate then. But traditions themselves are not eternal answers. They require periodic reassessment."
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Early chapters: [email protected]/palevolt100