Pie and Prejudice
Harry was amazed by how in mere hours after the Task, Fred and George managed to get all of the Gryffindor population, it seemed, on board with them to organize a party for himself and, for a strange reason he couldn’t quite grasp, Draco Malfoy.
“It’s both a thank you and an apology,” Fred had explained to him at lunch, or tried to at least. “You see, Malfoy Jr has had a real turn around this year and even saved our pride and joy Champion, so we thought, how about we repay him?” George added and the two had left to continue organizing their little party before any more questions could be asked. Draco was kept in the dark all day, naturally, and Harry and Hermione were left a little nervous as to what to expect from the upcoming party.
“Expect drama.” Fred had said during break, where the Gryffindor trio had tracked the older students down for answers. “Surprise.” George had added. “Noise!” Lee had jumped in. “And pie, of course.” Angelina had given that as the final hint, and they weren’t very good hints at all. Ron didn’t seem to care whether this party would be a good thing or a disaster, only saying he looked forward to the pie, but finally, at supper the day after the Task, the twins walked over to the blonde Malfoy with sly grins on their faces.
“We would like to invite you,”
“Oh gracious savior of our prized Champion,”
“To a well planned party at Gryffindor tower,”
“Tonight,”
“At 10:00,”
“Where we will enjoy food and fun,”
“And make you feel welcomed as one of our own.”
The twins had left as quickly as they had come, laughing together as they ran to make sure everything at the tower was ready, and Draco watched them go, a suspicious expression on his face. “Did you know--” All three of his Gryffindor friends all shook their heads. “We have no clue what they’re planning, Draco.” Hermione said--she had gotten more comfortable with saying his first name now, and used it to address him constantly, “With Fred and George… You never know.” Ron said, shaking his head but grinning at the thought of what was in store as he finished his food quicker. Draco found himself doing the same.
“You don’t reckon they’ll do anything… rash Harry, right?” Hermione whispered as the group led Draco to Gryffindor Common Room, whispering so as not to worry the already slightly perturbed but also excited boy behind them. Harry shook his head. “It’s like Ron said,” He whispered back. “You never know with these guys.”
They finished climbing the stairs, Hermione asked Draco to cover his ears so he wouldn’t hear the password and he did so, as Harry said it; “Merpeople.” The Fat Lady eyed Draco suspiciously but nodded and the portrait swung in for them. “Come on in, I suppose…” She said and they led a now eager Draco through the portrait hole and into the red and gold themed Common Room.
Inside Fred, George, Lee, and the occasionally helping Angelina and Alicia had organized the tower into a fit for a party space. There were streamers hanging this way and that, confetti in the air, cheers from students in party hats, and a wide gold banner was stretched across a window opposite the entrance and between the dorms reading, “WELCOME DRACO MALFOY!”
Once he had gotten over their own astonishment of the changes, Harry turned to see Draco was standing gobsmacked at the door, his eyes glistening only slightly. “Are you crying?!” Ron exclaimed in astonishment to which a couple students who heard over the applause laughed and Draco wiped the thin film forming on the surface of his eyes away quickly, shouting, “No!”
“Welcome, Draco Malfoy!” Fred announced, quoting the banner as he and George came to stand in front of the students, hands behind their backs. Draco stepped towards them, wiping the surprise off his face so he could cross his arms and resume his usual ‘bully exterior’, “We’re so glad you could come.”
“We’re so thankful for all you have done for our dear friend Harry.” George said as Lee dragged Harry between the twins and the boy looked between them in surprise but grinned. “You’ve made quite a turnaround we never expected, and we’d all like to say thank you.” Harry laughed as the two stepped forwards, shaking his head at their antics.
“So,”
The crowd behind him began to snicker.
“Thank you,”
Fred and George both stood in front of Draco now, each having a hand on one shoulder. Harry looked towards them and felt his jaw hit the floor, his eyes widening in horror.
“Very,”
“Fred, George, wai--” Someone behind him sprang forward from the crowd to grab him--Alicia--and restrain him from stopping the twins as they rose the things in each of their hands and Draco had no time to react before,
“Much.” The twins pushed their pies in the blonde’s pale face, and every Gryffindor at Hogwarts besides Harry burst into hysterical laughter, even Ron and Hermione, pointing, jeering, and stomping their feet at the boy clad in Slytherin green who stood dumbfounded in front of them all, whads of apple filling and cream dripping from his nose to the floor.
He stood there, alone, for what must’ve been an eternity, before raising a hand to his face, turning to find a mirror to see what he looked like, then clasping a hand to his mouth, lifting up his robes and trying in vain to wipe the disgusting stuff off, then turning and bursting for the portrait hole.
He tripped over an invisible wire, a dung bomb exploding around him and a pale tied to the ceiling tipping to dump some sticky, sappy substance all over him.
Syrup.
He stood still again, frozen, head bowed, no doubt blood thirsty and furious, but then had vanished, bounding out the portrait hole and down the steps and out of sight, leaving only some footsteps of maple syrup on the carpet, and not even a second glance towards the hundreds of students behind him, who cheered as he ran.
Gryffindor’s throughout the entire Common Room were still laughing well after Draco had fled, but Harry remained still, frozen, and horrified.
“Did you see his face?” “Or lack thereof!” Ha ha, ha ha, so funny…
“Serves him right. Does he think he can just act like a good guy after all those years?” “Finally, we get to bully him for a change, right?” “Right!” Cheers. So loud. They aren’t, but to Harry, they feel louder than even the cheers of all three schools at the Task yesterday.
“Harry?” He looks up to see Hermione, looking worried, clutching Crookshanks--who probably got scared from the noise--and reaching a hand towards him. “Are you okay?” He looked around at all the banners, at the students cheering and passing butter bears. At the twins reenacting the whole thing already. At Lavender and Parvati giggling while Ginny reformed the letters on the banner, which Harry didn’t dare glance towards to see what they now read. At Seamus and Dean passing out slices of pie as Lee got on top of the sofa in front of the fire and announced it. At Ron amidst it all, oblivious to his friend’s horror, and laughing along with them all, elbowing Hermione and saying something Harry couldn’t hear as his ears felt like they had filled up with cotton, but he could still see the bushy haired girls quick grin before she slapped him on the shoulder. He can’t blame him--had he not known half the things he’s seen and knows about Draco Malfoy now… he’d be laughing with them.
But he did know, and he had seen, and in a second, Harry was sprinting out the portrait hole after Draco.
-*-*-*-
He doesn’t know how far he’s run, he doesn’t even know where in the castle he is, all Draco can register is the hot apple and cold cream on his face, the syrup slipping down his robes, and their voices in his ears. Laughing, jeering, pointing… He tells himself they’re awful, that he should turn around and throw a pie right back in Fred and George Weasley’s face. But he doesn’t, because there is the other, louder voice in his head too, telling him he deserves this for all the bullying. Saying now he’s gotten a taste of his own medicine, and he has to live with it.
Fresh, cold air meets his lungs, and he finally registers that somehow he’s managed to run right up to Astronomy Tower, and now stands on the balcony, hands gripping the stone overlooking the castle grounds, great dollops of cream dripping down into the abyss below.
He could be sick, but it wouldn’t change his already dirtied face.
Deeming them irredeemable due to the immense amount of syrup layered onto them now, Draco slips out of his robes and turns them inside out to wipe the cream and apple off his face, then throws them to the ground, now feeling like a popsicle in the cold night air, but at least he doesn’t feel dirty in just his clean uniform.
Why?
His mind asks, his thoughts echoing in his head as he gazes out at the snowy grounds below, eyes stinging either from the air or from tears--he can’t tell the difference nor does he care.
Why! His mind is shouting, and no matter how long he stands there, gripping the stone so hard his hands might bleed, he knows he won’t get an answer. A fraction of his brain, the weak part that’s been growing bigger now that his bully exterior has gradually died throughout the year, wishes his mother hadn’t left Hogwarts that morning. Wishes he could run to her instead. But she did leave this morning, and now he’s alone at the top of this tower, panting in a way he can’t tell is from exhaustion from running or sobbing or both and he doesn’t care.
Why…
“Good evening, Draco.”
He spins around, reaching for his wand on instinct before realizing it’s still in the pocket of his robes. But that’s not a problem, he realizes immediately, because the source of the voice poses no threat to him. He squints his eyes and sees as from the gloom of the inside of the tower, Professor Dumbledore steps out, hands folded behind his back, one eyebrow raised. “Mind explaining to me what is going on?”
“Professor,” Draco chokes out, shaking his head as if to banish any thought that the Headmaster would pose a threat to him and straightening. “It’s er--Nothing sir. Is it past curfew already, sir? Apologies, I lost track of time… Sir.”
Maybe he’s not acting enough, or maybe it’s simply because Draco Malfoy would never use ‘sir’ that many times when talking to Dumbledore, but the Headmaster catches on immediately, and shakes his head, his eyes twinkling as usual, stepping towards the blonde.
“Ah, I see. You don’t want to tell me. That’s fine, but may I ask… why? Do you think you may be in trouble? Were you doing something that could place you at risk? Or, how about this… Someone asked you not to tell me?” Draco’s eyes widen in horror and the suspicion rising up in Dumbledore’s fades immediately as he pieces together that it is most certainly not the last one, though he had hoped it would be, for personal matters of his own. Draco makes no other moves though--no signals as to the real ‘why’ of why he is standing at the top of Astronomy Tower in only his school uniform.
“Hm, not answering still? That’s fine… Let me ask you this, then; How do you think it was that I found out you were using the Room of Requirement?” Draco shrugged. “You have eyes everywhere?” He guessed, as a joke really, but Dumbledore smiled, nodding. “Yes, actually, it was exactly that. Mrs. Norris is quite a friend of mine, actually, and as you should know that sharp cat finds a way to keep an eye on everything happening in the halls of Hogwarts that isn’t supposed to be happening, including your argument with Harry, and you boys’ first discovery of that mysterious room.” Dumbledore turned to face Draco now, who turned to look at him as well. “Have you ever wondered how you managed to open the door to the room, despite your mind being focused on possibly a hundred other things other than wanting to know how to fight a dragon at that moment?”
Draco shook his head, and Dumbledore leaned towards him slightly for dramatic effect as he whispered, “It’s because you’re an Occlumens, and a rather accomplished one at that.” He stepped back, and Draco raised an eyebrow, looking very confused. “Sir… I’m not sure I understand. Don’t you have to train to be an Occlumens? I’ve never gone through a day of training… How can I just… Be one?
Dumbledore shook his head. “That’s what most of your age are taught, but in actuality Occlumency started out as a practice people were born with skill in. They’re natural liars and incredible at hiding their emotions. Most move on to be Wizard Chess Masters, but I have some who worked for me in the First Wizarding World against Lord Voldemort,” Draco flinched, “And I know some I was fighting against. If my memory serves me well, your mother and her sisters were all quite accomplished Occlumens, but never to the degree you are, especially at this age.
Draco pressed his lips tight in a line and looked out towards the lake, gripping the stone beneath his hands a little harder. “Why are you telling me this?” He asked to which Dumbledore smiled. “So that you know, Draco, that the little voice I know you must be hearing in the back of your head right now has been one that you’ve unconsciously pushed down your entire life, and it’s nobody's fault but whatever being decided to place this power in your heart when you were young. The best bullies are ones who can hide their emotions so, naturally, you've been doing so to incredible degrees without knowing it for years. But you don’t have to now. If you listen to that voice, and instead choose to use your power to block out the bad in your mind, then you won’t feel this hopeless. Then you’ll be able to march back to your friends, and prove to them you are more than who you were at the start of the year and in the past. Do you understand that, Draco?”
The blonde licked his lips. He looked down at his hands, clenching his eyes tight and reaching back into his mind. He feels the voice there, the little ball of light, and the black hand that clamps it down. For the first time since before he can even fathom knowing, Draco releases that hand, and lets the ball go. It grows, slow and steady in his mind, and he nods his head with it, feeling a smile grow on his lips.
“I do.” He whispers, and lets go of the stone. Let’s go over his thoughts. Let's go over his heart. Opens his eyes, looks to the stars, the constellation he was named for, easy to spot as always and burning bright against the night, and lets the tears fall.
Dumbledore smiles at him, feeling some of his own tears sting at his eyes, and nods. “Well done, Draco. Well done…”
“Draco!”
They both turn to see Harry has arrived and is pushing the door open, clutching his side and panting for air as he stumbles towards his friend, hands outstretched.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I didn’t know they were gonna do it, they didn't tell me… Believe me, oh please believe me! I’m so--”
Draco cuts him off by doing something that both sends chills down his spin--that most certainly aren’t from the cold--and horrifies him; he takes one stride forward and wraps him up in a tight hug, burying his head in his shoulder and holding his so tight Harry’s sure he’ll either never let go, or break some of his bones while hugging him, or both.
“I believe you…” The Malfoy boy whispers after a long moment. And Harry smiles, burying his face in his shoulder too and hugging back.
Dumbledore’s smile widens, and the tears slip down his cheeks as the scene before him changes in his mind, involuntarily, to that of a young red headed thirteen year old and golden haired fifteen year old, one clad in black and one in red, clutching each other in the same way, daring each other never to let go.
But then they broke apart, and Dumbledore snapped himself back to the present, stepping forward to nod at the two boys with his usual smile and twinkle in his eyes. “I see you two have done quite well in getting along for the Tournament, haven’t you?” Draco went a little pink in the cheeks as Harry chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, Professor. Guess so.” Dumbledore shook his head. “I’m not complaining. In all honesty my colleagues and I were getting quite tired of your antics throughout the years; we’re all very happy to see the Potter and Malfoy boys not trying to kill each other constantly.” Now all three of them laughed together.
“Harry,” Dumbledore said when he’d cleared his throat and the others had stopped laughing as well. “Mind telling me what went on that led to Draco arriving here and interrupting my nightly routine? Or is it going to remain an eternal mystery?” Harry looked to Draco who nodded, to indicate he was okay with him telling the Headmaster, and so Harry did, revealing the whole story of how Fred and George had slyly orchestrated the party and told everyone but Draco, Harry, and their friends what they had planned for the night. And of course, he told him about the pranks they did plan and pull off as well.
“Well,” Dumbledore said, nodding and looking both impressed and amused, but not surprised, by the lengthy story, before gesturing towards the inside of the tower. “How about we sit down for a moment? I have a story that reminds me of this that might enlighten you two…”
Inside the tower Harry and Draco sat themselves at a desk at the head of the makeshift classroom while Dumbledore pulled out a chair and sat in front of them, folding his hands on top of the desk and smiling. “Draco, do you recall any story of your banished Aunt Andromeda?” The blonde flinched, which told Dumbledore enough. “I would think so. Harry,” He turned to explain things to the dumbfounded boy, “Draco’s mother, Narcissa Malfoy, whom you have met three times now, if I’m correct? She had two older siblings, you see, one of which being her sister Andromeda Tonks--then Black. Yes, Harry, she was Sirius’ cousin.” Harry pursed his lips, looking between Malfoy and Dumbledore once, taking all of this in, then nodding for Dumbledore to continue.
“Andromeda, while placed in Slytherin House, was very different from the rest of her family, in the sense that she always had an underlying opinion that the prejudiced beliefs they tried to enforce were wrong. When she met her husband, a muggleborn named Ted Tonks, he became the first person she told this to, and he tried to welcome her into his circle of Gryffindor friends. The problem was, Gryffindor’s held some prejudices too. Believe it or not, when young Andy was first introduced to Ted’s friends, a certain Arthur Weasley began to bully her, as her sisters and their Slytherin friends had for years then.
“They deserved it, really, not Andromeda, as any insult she had given was forced. She didn’t believe any of the things she said, but knew they were what she was supposed to say. They just couldn’t see past the green on her robes. This would continue even as she and Ted began dating, and they wouldn’t see Andromeda for what she really was until she joined the good side of the War, and was banished from her family with her marriage to a muggleborn.
“Now, the point of me telling you all this, is because history repeats itself, and prejudice is born only from prejudice. Harry, you have befriended Draco and your friends Ron and Hermione have as well, but have you dispelled all your previous misconceptions of your formal rival?” Dumbleodre paused here, and when Harry only could glance at Draco for a split second before turning away and pointedly staring at a wall he said, “I thought not. And Draco, though you have tried your hardest to not see them that way, do you still sometimes feel an insult on your tongue while looking at Harry? Or the need to say a particularly very bad word in reference to Miss Granger? Or poke fun at the economical position of the Weasley’s whenever you see Ron’s redhead?”
Draco glared pointedly at a wall opposite Harry’s.
“Of course you have. It’s only natural. Prejudice’s take time to dispel, but all do eventually, just as they did with Miss Andromeda. You just need to continue being best friends to show the other Gryffindors that you have become a better person. And, Harry,” Dumbledore turned to him, and Harry tore his gaze from the immensely interesting wall reluctantly. “You will have to work to show your friends that not all prejudices are permanent. Do you boys think you can do that?”
Harry and Draco glanced at each other, feeling deja vu from when Dumbledore had first requested they work together, and nodded now, a little less annoyed by the situation as they had been then. Dumbledore smiled. “Thank you. Now, get off to bed. You are both well past curfew now and probably still exhausted from the Lake. Don’t let Filch catch you and rethink my request to him not to give you detention tonight. Go on!”
The boys stumbled for the doors to the stairs and ran down as fast they could, bumping into each other and laughing as they went, but making a silent pact in their heads to follow Dumbledore’s instructions to the best of their abilities, and always remember that story of Andromeda and Ted Tonks (Draco especially wanted to, as he’d never heard anything but horrible insults about his Aunt before).
-*-*-*-
The next morning Gryffindor ate their breakfast as normal, and Ron and Hermione sat waiting for Harry and Draco, the ones who sat near them and saw the Slytherin eating with them every day both feeling triumphant about finally dispelling him from their precious space and a little guilty that he had been so humiliated he hadn’t even shown up for breakfast.
“It serves him right.” Seamus had told the worried Creevey brothers as he gulped down Pumpkin juice. “He’s a bully--he finally got what he deserved.” Dean nodded his agreement and the boys shrugged, feeling if these two older kids thought so, they should agree.
“Look, there they are!” Hermione gasped, breaking out of her glare on the two and tapping Ron’s shoulder. He hurriedly swallowed his sausage and craned his neck to see where she was pointing, grinning as he caught sight of Harry and Draco indeed walking towards them. He then felt his grin sink as he saw what was in Draco’s hands.
“Harry…” Hermione whispered as he sat down beside her and Draco leaned in between Fred and George’s heads a few feet down the table. “He’s not going to do anything… rash, right?” She asked, just as she had yesterday questioning Fred and George’s actions. Harry smirked a bit, craning his neck to get a good glimpse at the twins too. “Maybe…”
“Hello boys,” Draco whispered to them to which Fred and George each turned to grin at him. “Have a good party?” They nodded, opening their mouths to speak but being cut off when Draco already shoved the pies in their faces. “Good. I did too.” He said and headed off, turning his back on them and everyone else in the Great Hall so he could prance out without looking back.
A second passed. George licked the pie on his face, nodding his approval. “Cherry.” He said and Fred licked his own pie too, “Key lime.” He exclaimed and, tension broken, everyone across the table broke into laughs and everyone close to the twins picked up spoons to get their serving of key lime and cherry pie. Harry laughed along with them as Ron stood to get his own filling and Hermione shook her head, groaning “Boys,” with a hint of a smile on her lips.
If anything could be said about that day, it was this; from that point on, Fred and George Weasley gained a newfound respect over Draco Malfoy, something that, for those pranksters, was nothing but hard earned.