The way his and McGonagall’s relationship had progressed over the years continue to baffle Draco whenever he took a moment to consider it, which he generally refrained from doing. It felt like enough of a blessing that he was even allowed to teach and he had spent the last seven years proving his worth as a potions professor; convincing students, parents and teachers alike that he really<span style="font-style: italic">had</span>turned over a new leaf and had been putting in the work to become another person.<br/>That was how he could find himself sitting in McGonagall’s office, preparing for his eighth year as Hogwarts potions professor and, hopefully, the first as head of Slytherin house.<br/>Originally, he had been shying away from the title, not wanting to become too associated with what people expected from him. Now though, he felt like he had put in the work of showing that he was something in his own right and not the villain that had all wanted him to be.<br/>“I have settled in comfortably, thank you,” he said, always bordering on the edge between formal and familiar when it came to talking with the headmistress. More than anything, he deeply respected Minerva McGonagall and he was her forever grateful that she had decided to take a chance on him when very few people would have been willing to.<br/>“And it’s good to see you too, headmistress.”