Chapter 2
He runs onto platform 9 3/4 without instruction from his father or mother. He's done this many times before and he doesn't want to waste time. He wants to find Harry and sit with him. The other three follow onto the platform. Lucius nods at Draco. The best he will get for approval.
"Be good," his mother says, "write often."
Valara and I nod.
"Make us proud," his father says. Draco resists rolling his eyes. Of course, his last words are about pride.
They nod again.
They take their trunks onto the train, and he glances into each compartment. He doesn't know if Harry is here yet but if he is he doesn't want to miss this chance.
"Harry," Lara says. She is staring into a compartment.
"Valara, Draco, would you like to sit with me?" he asks.
"Thank you," Draco says.
"Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full," a young Ronald Weasley says.
Potter nods. "There's room, right?" he asks.
Draco shoves their trunks into the compartment spaces for them. He takes Ron's and puts it up there too.
"I'm Ronald Weasley," he says.
"Draco Malfoy," he says.
He snickers. "Sorry, I actually quite like your name," he says.
"Valara LeStrange," she says.
"LeStrange, like?" he asks.
She nods.
"Oh," he says. He looks at the doors. Draco rolls his eyes. Ron doesn't have to sit with them.
"Ronald," comes a voice.
The twins walk up.
"Fred and George, nice to meet ya," one says. He points at himself and his brother.
Bile climbs in Draco's throat. All the terrible things they went through the physical and emotional pain. He heard about it after it went down but he felt sick then too. At the time he pushed his sympathy down and played up on being malicious. He needed to continue in the battle. He saw his body later he didn't know which was which, never finding it necessary. He was marching to his own demise.
Regulus bites his ear. "Ow," he says.
Ron leaves to say goodbye to his parents. Draco sits across from Harry and Lara sits beside him. They talk to Harry about the rest of his summer which he says was not exciting.
Ron comes back. "Are you really Harry Potter?" he asks.
"Yes. I'm him. I mean, yes," Potter says.
"Can I see the?" he asks. He points at his forehead.
Smooth, Ronald. Draco turns to Lara and mocks pointing to his forehead. Lara hides her giggle behind her arm.
Potter nods. Draco used to think Potter was arrogant but seeing him here, now. Maybe not. Maybe he just wants to be a normal person, but everyone pushes him to be a hero.
Draco attempts to put Regulus in his cage like Lara did with Artemis. Regulus refuses to go into his cage, so he sits on Draco's shoulder. He occasionally climbs down his arm so now the leather goes down to his fingers and loops around his neck, fingers, bicep, and forearm. He has a perch too he doesn't know if Reggie will go to the owlery.
"Who is this?" Potter asks.
"Regulus," Draco says.
"He's incredible," he says.
"So is your owl. Did you find a name?"
"Hedwig," he says. He smiles at the bird in her cage.
"Brilliant." Everyone's else's bird will listen and go into their cages. He pokes Reggie's beak and sticks his tongue out when the bird faces him.
"How about you?" he asks Valara.
"Her name is Artemis," she says.
"All I've got is Whiskers," Ron says. He pulls a fat rat out of his pocket. Draco covers his laugh with a cough. Ron glares at him.
"That is a large rat," Lara says. She glances at Draco and smiles.
"All he does is sleep," he says. He pokes the fat rat. "Do you know what house you're going to be in?"
Potter's face scrunches up. "House?" he asks.
Right. Raised by muggles. Draco explains the houses and Ron interjects with his opinions on the house.
"Gryffindor sounds good," he says. He messes with the hem of his too large shirt.
Ron says, "As long as it isn't Slytherin. There hasn't been a Slytherin that didn't turn out evil."
I roll my eyes. There are plenty of Slytherins who either did nothing after Hogwarts or helped the community later.
"I don't think that's true. Anyways, all the houses seem good to me," Lara says.
"I prefer Slytherin," Draco says.
Ron rolls his eyes. "You would," he says.
Draco ignores it.
Regulus ruffles a bit.
"Calm down, Reggie," Draco says. He brushes his fingers against Regulus's feathers.
He nips his ear.
"What?" he asks.
His eyes go to the door.
"Oh, someone is going to open the door," Draco says.
Regulus coos.
The door slides open. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his," a girl says. Hermione Granger as a kid.
They shake their heads.
"Oh, were you practicing magic?" she asks. Draco looks around the compartment. At some point Ron pulled out his wand, he's holding it startled. "Go on then," she says.
He tries some weird spell that should turn his rat yellow, but it doesn't work. Draco is not surprised since the spell just sounded like he was saying a bad poem.
"Anyone else going to try?" she asks.
Draco pulls his wand out. "Repairo," he says. Potter's glasses fix where they were broken in the middle.
"Impressive. I'm Hermione Granger," she says. She holds out a hand.
"Draco Malfoy." He shakes it.
"Valara LeStrange." She gives a small wave.
"Harry Potter." He nods one.
"Ronald Weasley."
"Nice to meet you all. You've better change we'll be there soon," she says.
They shuffle around in the compartment. Draco taps the seat so Regulus will move off his arm. He hops onto the seat. Draco changes into his robes. He removes the arm guard and puts it back over his robe sleeve. He needs to think of a way to make this easier maybe shorten the sleeve or make the sleeves leather?
Regulus perches back on his shoulder. They arrive shortly after.
"First 'ears, first 'ears," Hagrid says.
They circle around the half-giant.
"How are you 'Arry?" he asks. He seems to think he whispered but the entire group hears his question, and they move around trying to see the wizarding world's savior.
"Good," Potter answers.
"Good, good. 'Ello there, Draco," he says.
"Hello, Hagrid," he says.
"Nice to see you all again. Four to a boat," Hagrid says to the first years. He points to the boats docked in the lake.
Draco climbs into a boat with Potter, Ron, and Lara. They float across the lake. "Wow," Lara says, "It's beautiful."
Looking at it now it is beautiful but when he last saw it, it was in shambles and death was everywhere. Regulus nips my ear. Draco huffs. Is Regulus going to try to eat his ears every chance he gets?
Hagrid escorts them to the entrance by the dining hall and disappears. McGonagall stands in front of them.
"Get ready for the sorting ceremony I will come back soon," she says.
"What is the sorting ceremony?" Potter asks.
"My brothers told me we have to fight a troll," Ron says.
"It's a hat," Draco says. A sometimes very talkative hat.
They turn to me. In the past he would relish in the spotlight, but currently, he's uncomfortable. He hunches his shoulders in and ducks his head.
"It's a hat that tells you your house," he says.
They look between each other. Then shake their heads.
McGonagall comes back and leads us through the dining hall.
"Wow," someone says. Draco looks up.
"Enchanted to look like the night sky," he says. Hermione says it too.
They exchange a look. It's weird to talk civilly with any of them he hated Potter for years. He insulted all of them. It's strange to talk to them not bad, but strange. He gives Hermione a small nod and follows the group. The hat sits on a stool in front of the teachers and older students.
"I'm gonna beat Fred and George," Ron says.
They walk up to the stage. The hat sings its song.
McGonagall calls people from a scroll of names.
Hermione Granger goes to Gryffindor again.
"Valara LeStrange," McGonagall says.
The hall fills with gasps and whispers.
Valara goes up the steps and sits on the stool. The hat is on for a moment before, "Ravenclaw," the hat says.
She sits at the Ravenclaw table with her head down. A few people clap.
"Draco Malfoy," she says.
She places the hat on his head. It shouldn't have sunk down. Last time it grazed his head and it said Slytherin.
"Aw difficult. Very difficult," it says, "You're intelligent and can be cunning. Your bravery is far more than most. Where to put you, where to put you? You have all the desirable traits of a Slytherin, the intelligence of a Ravenclaw, and the bravery of Gryffindor. Do any of them stand out more than the others though?"
It goes silent. Did the hat give up? Regulus, who refused to leave even though he was asked to, is walking up and down my arm. He has his arm straight out which is uncomfortable, but he doesn't want him to fly off into the castle...or at all. He would probably find his way back at some point, but he is comforting.
"I think I figured it out. That's why you're going into," it says.
"Wait!" Draco says.
The hat pauses. "Yes?" it asks.
He sighs "This is a weird request, but could you tell me what house Regulus would be in?" he asks.
"The bird?" it asks.
Draco nods. Regulus can't be a normal bird.
"If you could get him in here," he says.
I click my tongue. Regulus rubs his head on my cheek and stays in the hat.
"Slytherin," it says.
Draco rolls his shoulder and Regulus goes back to pacing Draco's arm.
"Thank you," Draco says.
"One of the strangest requests. Why did you ask?" it asks.
"Can't you read minds?" Draco asks.
It laughs. "I want to know what you'll say," it says.
"The shopkeeper said something strange. I wanted to see if it helped," he says.
"Well, I've decided your house...again," it says, "Slytherin!" he shouts to the dining hall.
McGonagall takes the hat off. "Definitely different," Draco mutters. The house is the same, but something is different.
"Draco," the hat says.
"Yes?" he asks.
"Remember the houses are not hard lines but suggestions of what I see you needing. I think Slytherin will help you. I've had many, many students sorted but you are the one that I have had the hardest time sorting. You have attributes of them all even the ones that seem unlikely but remember Slytherin will get you closer to your goal," it says.
"Thank you," he says.
"What was that?" McGonagall asks.
He looks around. Everyone is staring. "Can the hat speak to you without it being on?" he asks.
She looks at Dumbledore who shrugs.
"Not that we know of, Mister Malfoy. What did you hear?" she asks.
"Nothing, professor," he says. He stands up and go to the Slytherin table. Most the table are clapping.
Harry Potter is in Gryffindor again, but it takes longer. Maybe Draco just didn't pay attention last time.
Ron goes to Gryffindor.
Dumbledore gives a few announcements about not going onto the third floor or the forest or they could die. Normal magical school problems.
They eat their feast of foods. Draco feeds Regulus food too.
Crabbe and Goyal ignore Draco. Strange but good. Draco didn't necessarily want Crabbe and Goyle to be his lackeys last time and especially not now. They would likely report every movement that Draco made to their families. He looks at the Gryffindor table. Ron is eating and talking to Potter. Potter looks up and smiles when he sees him. Draco smiles back. It seems strange smiling at Potter or really at all.
"You know Harry Potter?" Millicent asks.
"I met him when I was getting my robes and rode with him on the train," he says.
"You seem friendly with him," she says.
"Yeah. I guess we are friendly," he says.
It throws him off because they are friendly maybe even friends. They're definitely on their way to being friends. He looks at the professors on stage. Severus is looking at Draco then nods and continues eating. McGonagall glances at him and then looks away. Dumbledore is staring at Draco his eyes twinkling.
I can't kill him he might be a danger to the Dark Lord, but he isn't a bad guy. He cares from what I've seen. "I-I can't," I say.
Severus steps in and does it.
Dumbledore falls out the window. I try not to scream to let them see how much it affected me. I feel sick.
Regulus bites my ear.
"Ow," Draco says. He rubs his ear.
Regulus chirps then eats meat off his plate.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Valara are staring at him. He must have been pretty loud. He waves them off and eats more.
"Slytherin, follow me," one of the prefects yells.
They follow them to the Slytherin house. They get inside after an explanation about the portrait and the passwords to get in.
"Boys dorms over there," one prefect says.
"Girls over there," the other says.
They go to their dorms. Draco falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.
He wakes up and blinks at his surroundings. He needs to remember what happened first year in as much detail as possible. The troll that Quirrell spotted was during the Halloween feast. He heard that Hermione was in the bathroom and Potter and Ron saved her. He should try to help there. He needs them to trust him.
Regulus screeches.
"I'm up," Draco says.
He gets up and gets dressed. He goes to the Great Hall. Lara is at the entrance leaning by one of the doors.
"Good morning," he says.
Lara stands. "Ready for breakfast?" she asks.
"Ugh. You're one of those morning people?" he asks.
She laughs. "Sorry, I'll try to tone it down until you have your morning tea," she says.
He rolls his eyes. "Let's go," he says.
Regulus puffs his feathers up.
"What, Reggie?" he asks.
He rubs his head on his cheek.
"Yes, yes. Good morning," he says.
Lara stares at me.
"He's a morning bird, such a cuddler," he says.
We go inside to breakfast. Potter and Ron sit together at the Gryffindor table. Where's Hermione? Oh. They weren't friends in the beginning.
Potter waves.
Draco waves back.
He stands. Draco tilts his head slightly. What is he doing? He looks at Harry's almost full plate. He sits at the Slytherin table watching Potter weave through the tables. Potter sits beside Draco. Lara stands and comes over too.
"What are you doing?" he asks.
Potter shrugs. "I wanted to hang out with you," he says.
"Same," Lara says.
"Should I just bring you a Slytherin tie? You can be an honorary member," he says.
Harry laughs. "I think I can make green work," he says.
Draco shakes his head. "I think, red and gold does you well," he says.
"I think you can make every color work," Potter says.
He chokes on a piece of sausage. "Thank you. Is Ron going to join us?"
He shakes his head. "He's worried about getting in trouble," he says.
"Would you really get in trouble for sitting at another house's table?" Lara asks.
"Only if you're causing trouble from what I remember," he says. The other give him questioning glances. "My dad said that. I don't think it happens too often."
"So, it should be fine since we're just hanging out right, Draco?" Harry asks.
"Should be," he says.
If he calls me Draco maybe he should call him Harry even in his head. Friends don't refer to each other by their last name. Or he doesn't think so, but he didn't have many friends before.
"If you're so worried maybe I should just sit at the Gryffindor table," Draco says.
"Would that be a good idea? I don't think the Gryffindors like you much," Pansy asks.
"They don't, but maybe I could sit with them and make them like me more," he says.
"For everything Gryffindor is, they are not forgiving," Blaise says.
Draco laughs. "The hat wanted to put me in Gryffindor," he says.
Harry laughs. "We could have spent every waking moment together," he says.
"I think I'll pass," Draco says.
Harry frowns.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Draco says.
He smiles. "But you're already so fond of me," he says.
Draco rolls his eyes. "Sure, Harry," he says.
The munch on the food at the table. Draco feeds Reggie occasionally. He looks at the Gryffindor table. Ron is glaring at them. Fred and George are arguing over something. Hermione is talking to Parvati Patil. Neville is talking to Seamus and Dean. Fred and George stand up. Draco stands too.
"Reggie, stay here and save my spot," he says, "I'll be right back."
He follows Fred and George out of the dining hall.
"Fred! George! Wait."
They stop.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" George asks.
"I want to apologize. I am so sorry," he says. He knows they don't know what he's apologizing for, and an apology will never be enough anyway, but he needs to say it.
Their eye widen and jaws drop slightly. "Why are you apologizing," Fred says.
"It isn't important, Fred. Just know I'm sorry and I think a lot of your pranks are really funny," he says. He did enjoy them especially when Dolores Umbridge was teaching at Hogwarts. He may have been working under her, but he never liked her. She injured people at the school and her focus was on Harry. He opens his mouth to say more.
"How did you know he was Fred?" George asks.
"We haven't done pranks yet," Fred says.
"It isn't important but thank you and I'm sorry. Bye," he says.
"Wait, mini-Malfoy," George says.
"Yes?" he asks.
"I don't know what you think you've done but we forgive you. Just remember you have to help out with our pranks if we ask. Should have accepted the hat's invitation to come to Gryffindor."
He raises an eyebrow.
"We have a tendency of lip reading," he says.
"Next time, then," he says.
He goes back into the dining hall. Regulus flaps back onto his shoulder.
"Where did you go?" Harry asks.
He looks at the doors. "I just needed to ask someone something. What did you talk about while I was gone?" he asks.
"Not much," Blaise says.
He looks up and sees Ron still glaring. Draco waves him over. He rolls his eyes and turns away. They finish their food and stand to leave the dining hall.
"I think we should sit at the Gryffindor table at dinner," he says.
"You're going to do it again at dinner?" Pansy asks.
"He's my friend I don't see why we should be separated because of houses," he says. He understands some friendly competition but having this big of a separation cannot be helpful.
Harry smiles. "I'd like that. Still want me to grab the tie?" he asks.
"I think it'll make me look cooler," he says.
He rolls his eyes. "I've got to go to class. I'll see you later," he says, "If you bring me a Slytherin tie I'll bring you a Gryffindor."
"Bye, Harry," he says. Harry walks down a hall and turns. Draco sees Hermione go down a different hall and laughs a little. Harry is already lost.
"Are you really going to give him one of your ties?" Lara asks.
"I don't see why not," he says. There is a roster of who is in each house and the teachers know who is in each.
"Couldn't that get you in trouble?" Lara asks.
He shrugs. "I don't see why it would," he says.
Blaise and Pansy talk behind us.
He runs back to his room and grabs a tie. He stuffs it in his pocket. He goes to his first class, history of magic.
He's tired by the time he gets to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Quirrell stutters through class. He doesn't teach them anything because everything is 'too scary.' Harry and Draco make faces at each other and try to stifle their laughs. They go to Charms next. Flitwick talks about what he expects for the next year. He gives the same speech ever first day of the year. Draco could probably say it with him.
They go to dinner, after their classes and doing some homework, and unlike during breakfast where many professors and students were absent everyone is here. Draco enters and goes straight to Gryffindor's table.
Harry smiles. "Hello, Draco," he says.
"Hello, Harry. Mind if I sit here?" he asks Fred.
Fred scoots over. "Go for it, mini-Malfoy," he says.
"Thank you, Fred," he says. He sits down.
Draco piles his plate with food. "Did you bring it?" Harry asks.
He nods. He pulls the tie from his pocket. "Here, Harry," he says. He holds the piece of silver and green cloth toward him.
He hands Draco a Gryffindor one. "Thank you, Draco," he says.
Fred and George laugh. "You're trading ties?" George asks.
"Not exactly," he says, "We just each have the other for." I wave the tie. "educational purposes."
"Draco Malfoy, may I speak to you later?" Dumbledore asks. He passes behind them.
"Of course, headmaster," he says.
He smiles and leaves.
"I would like you to reconsider this offer, Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore says, "professor Umbridge does not have your best interests at heart."
"Professor, father says I should do this so I will," he says.
He sighs. "Alright, Mister Malfoy, but please be careful," he says, "I have a feeling these next few years will not be easy on you."
"Professor, with all due respect-" Crabbe and Goyal enter. "Butt out, Dumbledore," he says.
He tries to convey his apology with his eyes.
"Mister Malfoy," he says. He extends his arm to the exit.
He leaves.
"Ow, Reggie, are you trying to eat my ear?" he asks.
He rubs his head on his cheek.
"Yeah, sure, apologizing after nearly taking my ear off," he mutters.
"He has been trying to get your attention for a while," George says, "Your ear is bleeding a little."
"You, sir, are a brat. Go deliver this to my mother and father," he says. He attaches a letter to Reggie's leg.
He rubs his beak on Draco's cheek.
"Yeah, yeah. I forgive you. Go," he says.
He flies away.
"Mail delivery is typically in the morning, isn't it?" Harry asks.
He shrugs. "I forgot," he says.
Regulus gives him comfort and he didn't want to go to classes without him.
"Oh. Did you see the news?" Harry asks.
He shakes his head.
"Someone broke into Gringotts," he says.
His jaw drops. Of course, he knows this.
"When?" he asks.
"The day we were there," Harry says.
"Wow," Draco says, "Oh, I have a birthday present for you."
"Really?" he asks.
"I kept forgetting to give it to you, but I grabbed it this morning," he says. He pulls a book about wands out and set it in front of him he pulls some snacks out and put them on the book. He finally finds the pair of gloves he bought after meeting him when he got the stuff to make my arm a perch for Regulus.
"Here," he says. Draco hands him the gloves. "They help with grip on brooms for quidditch."
"First years aren't allowed to play," Ron says.
He nods. He forgot that isn't until later. "He hasn't ever played so I figured I could teach him," he says.
"Mind if I join?" he asks.
"That could be fun," he says.
What is he saying he never want to get on a broom again. He just needed an excuse to why he bought Harry gloves there is a large chance of him never getting to use.
"Right. Thanks. I'm sorry about glaring this morning," he says.
Draco shrugs. "He's your friend. You can sit with us tomorrow," he says.
He smiles. "Alright," he says.
Harry is grinning at his food.
"What's so funny about your food?" Ron asks.
Harry shakes his head.
"You're beaters, right?" Draco asks Fred and George.
They nod.
"You play quidditch?" Fred asks.
"I used to be-train to be a seeker, but I don't play anymore," he says.
"Why?" George asks.
Crabbe's fire spreads. Goyal gets grabbed by Ron and Hermione. Draco gets grabbed by Potter. Crabbe falls into the flames. Draco clutches Potter's robes. Sure, he wasn't the smartest, but he was still a human. He didn't deserve to die. He should have been saved not Draco.
"Draco?" Harry says.
He blinks. "Oh, uh, the reason I no longer play is because...well I just-I mean, well you see...I guess the best explanation is-"
"Draco, Professor Dumbledore is expecting you," Percy says.
"Yes," he says, "Well I've got to go. See you, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Neville, Hermione."
He stands and leaves the dining hall. Why couldn't he think of a response? He typically has a response to everything.
Draco creeps up to Dumbledore's office. He reaches the top of the stairs. He says, "Lemon drop." And he goes into his office.
"Mister Malfoy," he says.
"Draco," he says. He doesn't know how much he wants to be associated with Malfoy lately.
"Draco, you knew the password?" he asks.
Draco looks at the door. "I asked McGonagall before coming here," he says.
He smiles a little. "The reason I wanted to talk to you is bec-" he says.
"Listen professor," Draco says, "I just wanted to sit with Harry, I didn't think it would be a problem and it isn't even a formal dinner. The ties are just for fun. I can return his and get mine back but really, I do think it's very strange that we are so separated at this school. I just want to hang out with my friends. Please do not get angry with Harry over this."
His eyes twinkle as if they're laughing. "Draco, I just wanted to ask if you have been adjusting well to school. I know being put into Slytherin was not a surprise, but you seem to be...different than I or anyone else expected," he says.
Draco's jaw drops. "Oh. I guess everything I said was unnecessary," he says.
He shakes his head. "I understand and if you would like to sit with the Gryffindors occasionally I see no reason why not. Please, sit with your house during the formal meals," he says.
"Right, professor, as for the Slytherin thing. It was not a surprise, but I am happy. I think I will have fun and learn a lot," he says.
He nods.
He turns to the door but then turns back. "Professor, the hat said it could see me in any house, but Gryffindor is all about bravery...I'm not brave," he says.
He strokes his beard. "I would not be so sure, Draco. You ended your little rant by asking for something for a friend. I think you are far braver than anyone would believe," he says.
Draco opens his mouth, blinks, and closes it. "Professor, what would you do if you knew something that you could never tell anyone else?" he asks.
He stays silent.
"I guess I've told one person, but I couldn't possibly tell them everything it would be too much pressure," he says.
Dumbledore eyes Draco. "If it's something you believe is not to be told then tell in another way. If you cannot write it show it. Muggles have boxing," he says.
"What is-"
"The Quidditch pitch is available often," he says, "Goodnight, Mister Malfoy."
"Goodnight, professor," he says.
Why does he do that? It's so annoying. Draco leaves his office. He goes back to the Slytherin common room. Blaise and Pansy are talking on the couch.
"Do either of you know what boxing is?" he asks.
A nearby third year says, "I do."
"Okay?" Draco turns to look at the older boy.
"It's something muggles do. They have a bag or another person and punch at each other or the bag with gloves on their hands," he says.
Draco plays with his finger. "He wants me to fight?" he whispers.
"What?" Pansy asks.
Draco waves her off. "Goodnight," he says.
"Goodnight," Blaise says. Pansy eyebrows furrow.
Draco goes up to his dorm and gets dressed in his sleep clothing. "He wants me to fight?" he asks no one. "I don't get it," he says.
He flops onto the bed and closes his eyes. Does he think Draco has some kind of anger issue? He rolls over and covers his head with a pillow.
He wakes up covered in sweat being nipped by Regulus. He showers. He walks down to the common room. He can't get Dumbledore's suggestion out of his mind. "Good morning, Draco," Lara says.
"Good morning," he says. He walks toward the portrait then turns back. "Why are you here?"
"You seemed pretty out of it yesterday," she says, "so, I asked Blaise to let me in."
"I guess. Want to come to breakfast?" he asks.
"Yep," she says, "Wow, already wearing the tie?"
He looks at his chest. "I guess so," he says.
They leave the common room. They go to the dining hall. He sits down. Regulus nips at him. He looks at his leg. Draco holds out a finger. Regulus puts his foot on it.
"Sorry. Let me take that," he says.
He takes the letter.
Draco,
Ravenclaw is not a bad house. It's good you got into Slytherin, as expected. I am happy for you both. It is unfortunate that Lara and you are not in the same house. Take care of each other. Be good. I expect you both to get good grades and make us proud. Send us a letter if there is anything you need.
Sincerely,
LM and NM
P.S. We love you.
He shows the letter to Lara. 'As expected?' Now he wishes he had gone for Gryffindor.
"G'morning, Draco," Harry says. He sits in front of him.
"Good morning, Harry and Ron," he says.
"Good morning," Ron says.
"Harry, what would you think if someone told you to box?" he asks.
His face scrunched up in confusion. "I would think they're strange," he says.
Draco raises an eyebrow.
He sighs. "Maybe that I seemed angry?" he says.
"So, what would you to do the equivalent here?" he asks.
Ron taps the table. "I think it depends on the person. Fred and George would play pranks. I would do wizard's chess," he says.
Draco sighs. "So, I need to find something to take my frustrations out on?" he asks.
The Quidditch pitch is available often.
"I think it's more that you need to express yourself," Lara says.
He bites a piece of bacon. "What do you do, Lara?" he asks.
She says, "I draw."
He shakes his head. "I don't do art," he says, "You should show me some of yours sometime."
She nods. "Just remind me," she says.
"I don't know what I like doing either," Harry says.
Draco groans. You'll know soon enough. It used to be what he loved to do too but he can't think about a broom without feeling sick.
"Why don't we spend our free hours trying to find something you like?" Lara asks.
He shrugs. Is it really that important? Why can't he just do his schoolwork and hang out with his friends? He groans.
"I'd like to help with that," Harry says.
"Thank you," Draco says. Except yours will be here quickly and I'll still be repressed according to Dumbledore. He shoves more food into his mouth.
Quidditch practice comes too soon for Draco's liking. He doesn't steal the Remembrall. Goyle does. He's the ringleader? Interesting. Harry takes off after him.
"Idiot," Pansy mutters.
Draco laughs. "He'll be fine," he says.
Blaise and Pansy turn to him.
"What?" he asks.
Regulus chirps.
"Right, I guess that would be strange. I just meant he's very confident, confidence is key," he says.
Blaise and Pansy look more confused but turn away.
Harry gets called by McGonagall. Then he disappears into the castle.
Classes go by slowly. Draco wonders down the hall the hour before dinner and meets Harry and Ron outside the library.
"Okay, so what should we try first?" he asks.
Harry bounces. "I'm Gryffindor's quidditch seeker," he says.
Draco smiles at him. "You're the youngest in twenty years, right?" he asks.
"Yeah. It makes me feel so alive," he says. He goes on a rant about how amazing flying is and Draco tries not to let his annoyance show. He isn't annoyed with Harry just with the fact he doesn't have the happiness Harry does.
"Is that what happened after McGonagall took you?" Draco asks.
Harry nods.
"I'm impressed. Congrats on that," he says.
"Thank you, Draco," he says. He smiles.
"Good job, Harry," Lara says.
He says, "Thank you, Lara."
"So, my idea for Draco is stargazing but not the same way that the classes have us do. Just looking at the sky and enjoying it," Ron says.
Draco hesitates. "I don't see how that releases my anger. Won't we be caught?" he asks.
"Not if we're careful," Ron says.
Draco sighs. They're never careful.
"Alright," he says. He doesn't have anything to lose.
"I couldn't help but overhear," Hermione says, "I really don't think you should do that. You'll lose our houses points if you get caught."
Ron rolls his eyes. He mutters, "Annoying."
Draco rolls his eyes. It's kind of funny considering he'll fall in love with her.
"I guess we'll start with mine," Harry says.
"Okay," Draco says.
He leads them to the Gryffindor room entrance. Lara and Draco stop and look at each other before entering. Ron pushes them a little. They go through the painting.
Harry pushes Draco onto the couch. He goes up a set of stairs. He comes back with a book.
"This used to be my cousin Dudley's, so some pages are missing," he says.
"What is it?" Draco asks. It's torn and it's about the size of a regular book but thin.
"Tongue twisters. I used to do them when I was locked in my cupboard," he says.
"Locked in your cupboard?" Draco asks. Unless it's some kind of muggle saying that does not sound good.
His cheeks turn red. "My aunt and uncle used to have me live in a cupboard under the stairs," he says.
Draco's nails dig into his palm. "Oh. So, what are tongue twisters?" he asks.
He will definitely ask about his aunt and uncle more later but right now it looks like Harry does not want to talk about it. He opens the book.
Lara grabs my hand. "Calm down, Drac," she says.
He straightens his fingers and listen to Harry.
"It's basically just words and phrases that are hard to say," he says.
"So, it'll help in Charms?" he asks.
Harry freezes. He says, "Yeah. It can be just for fun though."
"May I see it?" he asks. He takes the book from Harry and nods. It will definitely help him with his Charms pronunciation.
"You're really different than I thought you'd be," Ron says.
Draco looks at him over the book.
"I said that out loud, didn't I?" he asks.
Draco nods.
His face turns red. "Sorry," he says.
Draco waves him off. "It isn't an issue. Better than you thought, right?" he asks.
He nods.
"Good," he says.
He does the "tongue twisters" and tells the others how it will help them in class if they become proficient because it might not be the same words, but your mouth gets used to the sounds it needs to make. The hour passes quickly.
"Time for dinner," Ron says.
They exit the common room. "That was very helpful, Harry," Draco says.
He groans. "It was supposed to be fun not helpful," he says.
"It was fun too," he says. It was fun and what made even more fun is how it was fun and helpful for his abilities to develop.
He smiles. "I'm glad," he says.
They go to the dining hall and sit at the Gryffindor table. The Gryffindors mumble or whisper to each other.
"Why do they keep bringing those Death Eater spawn here?" one girl asks her friend.
Her friend says, "I don't know but I bet they're just using Harry and Ron."
Draco bites his cheek. Lara would never use someone and maybe he would in the past but he's trying to be better. Sometimes it seems impossible to change when no one else believes. Regulus nips his ear.
He looks at Harry and coos.
Draco says, "Yeah. I know."
He sits beside Ron across from Harry. Lara sits beside Harry and talks to Fred.
"Are you okay?" Harry asks.
Draco nods. He glances down the table.
He says, "Oh."
"Don't listen to them, miniature Malfoy," Fred says, "I think it's really brave of you to sit with us."
A lump gets caught in his throat. No one has called him brave. Well, now the hat, Dumbledore, and Fred but no one before that. He let Fred die and now he's comforting Draco? Sure, he wasn't there but maybe if he had stood up a little sooner...
"Are you okay?" George asks.
Draco nods but his eyes seem to be on the brink of watering.
Regulus screeches. People at Gryffindor and across the hall cover their ear or turn to them.
Draco stands. "I need to take Reggie out," he says.
His friends stare at him. He rushes out of the room. He gets outside and tears roll down his cheeks. He covers his mouth, so the sobs are muffled. He sinks onto the floor. Regulus rubs his head against Draco's cheek.
"Thank you," he says. He takes deep breaths and closes his eyes. His stomach growls. He goes back inside. He sits down.
"Regulus didn't stay out?" Ron asks.
He shakes his head. "He just needed a moment to calm down. Now, I'm hungry," he says.
He eats, pushing spoon and forkfuls of food in his mouth.
"Mini-Malfoy, I have to know what the hat was saying during the sorting ceremony it was on your head for a long time," George says.
"It couldn't decide where to put me. It didn't say much about Hufflepuff. It thought about Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw for a while," he says.
"Did it tell you why you shouldn't be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?" Fred asks.
"It said I had the desirable traits for all four. Gryffindor it makes sense and Ravenclaw just isn't quite right. Mostly it kept saying Slytherin would help me," he says.
"How does you not being in Gryffindor make sense?" Harry asks.
He messes with his fingers under the table. "I'm just not brave. I don't know why the hat said I was," he says. He knows that they keep saying it but it doesn't feel right to describe Draco Malfoy as brave.
"You're sitting here wearing a Gryffindor tie," Fred says.
"That isn't bravery I just think that this is something that should be done even if no one else does," he says.
"Oh, mini-Malfoy, I think you just gave us the definition of bravery," George says. He does not remember the twins being this nice.
Reggie chirps.
"See even your bird agrees," Fred says.
"Traitor," he whispers.
He nuzzles against his cheek.
"Now, you're acting sweet to get out of this," he says.
He nips right by his ear.
"Brat," he says.
He coos.
"You shouldn't coo when someone calls you a brat," he says.
He chirps.
Harry, Ron, Neville, and the twins laugh.
"Meet us in the trophy room at midnight," Ron says. He stands and leaves.
Harry leaves too.
Lara stands. "I have to go study," she says.
He rolls his eyes. "Did they just leave me here alone?" he asks.
Fred and George laugh.
"Hermione Granger, right?" he asks the girl beside him.
She nods. He used to think she was a "filthy mudblood." During the war though she was more courageous than anyone else. Definitely more so than he.
Regulus nips my ear.
"Really? I'm surprised my ear is still attached to my head," he says.
She laughs then covers her mouth.
Draco says, "You can laugh. I'm talking to a bird that refuses to leave me unless I'm asleep, the people I came to sit with left, and I'm pretty sure professor Dumbledore thinks I am constantly on the verge of hexing someone."
"Are you?" she asks.
"I could, but, no, I probably will not," he says.
"Why do you think that he thinks that?" She asks.
"He told me I should box," he says.
"What?" George asks.
He says, "Harry said it's something muggles do, and your hands are wrapped or in gloves and you hit other people or a bag."
"Why?" Fred asks.
"To take anger out. Those three thought he meant I should find a hobby," he says.
They nod.
Regulus nudges his head on Draco's cheek.
He looks at him. "What?" he asks.
He looks toward the professors. Quirrell is saying something but none of the other professors are looking at him or responding. There was a crazy rumor that Quirrell was talking to Voldemort somehow. Or Quirrell is crazy.
"It could be true," he whispers.
"What was that, miniature Malfoy?" George asks.
"Nothing," he says. He looks at the table of professors, but Quirrell is now eating silently. "I would love to discuss potions with you sometime."
"Are you especially talented in potions?" Hermione asks.
He laughs. "My godfather is Professor Snape. He's been teaching me since I was young," he says.
"Oh," she says.
"No need to look so scared. He's really not that bad just a little...cold," he says.
He's part of the reason he stood up to the Dark Lord. He learned he had Severus killed and couldn't stand more people dying like that. So, he finally said something.
"Right," she says.
"I have to go but just let me know if you want to discuss potions or any other class. I pretty much know Hogwarts' curriculum," he says.
The others look surprised.
"With the exception of seventh year," he says. There was war at that time, so he didn't learn much. Sixth year he still attempted to get top grades to make his father happy during the day and he spent the nights trying to make him happy by helping the Dark Lord. He shakes his head.
"I'll think about it," she says.
He nods and leaves. He goes to the Slytherin common room. Blaise and Pansy are on the couches talking.
"They just left me alone at the Gryffindor table," he says. He pouts.
They laugh.
"Come sit with us next time I need Slytherins to back me up," he says.
They nod.
"Promise?" he asks.
"I promise," Blaise says.
Pansy nods.
He drops beside Pansy. "I'm drained but I still have to meet Ron and Harry around midnight," he says.
"Go to sleep. I'll wake you," she says, "I wanted to finish my conversation with Blaise."
She turns her attention back to Blaise.
"Thank you. Good night," he says.
He goes to sleep on the couch.
"Draco, it's time to go," Pansy says.
He opens his eyes. His head on her lap. He blinks up at her.
"You were having a nightmare, but calmed down after your head was in my lap," she says.
"Thank you," he says.
He stands and fixes his robes. Now that he thinks about it maybe going out at night with Harry Potter, who everyone seems to want to kill, is not a good plan. He already agreed.
"I'm off. Are you coming along?" he asks.
They shake their heads.
"I'm too tired. Let me know how it goes," Pansy says.
"Me too," Blaise says.
He nods.
"Goodnight, Draco," Blaise says.
He leaves through the painting and heads to the trophy room. He sees Ron and Harry. Hermione is there with her arms crossed and a glare. Neville is there shaking.
"Hello, Gr-Hermione," he says.
She nods. "I warned these two not to sneak off, but they wouldn't listen. I decided to come along so we wouldn't lose any points," she says.
"Thank you, Hermione," he says.
Harry and Ron wave.
"Hello, Draco," Harry says.
"Hello, Harry," he says, "and Ron and Neville."
"Hello." Ron has a huge grin on his face.
"'Ello," Neville says. He looks like he's about to vomit on the floor.
They turn to walk to the astronomy tower.
Meow.
"Crap," Draco says.
How does he know to check? Probably because Ron said it in the great hall. They hide behind a suit of armor then run into the hallway. They slow down out of breath only to run into Peeves.
"Peeves, please, don't," Harry says.
He looks at each of us. His mouth splits into a teeth baring grin.
"Students out of bed," he yells.
They run again. Turning and going through doors until they reach a locked door. Draco waves his wand, it opens. They enter the room. Hermione looks me up and down.
"Wordless magic? Impressive," she whispers.
"I try to perfect spells before moving to the next one," he says.
He's also had a lot of practice with this spell. Eventually he didn't want to keep saying the spell and he learned to do with without.
She nods.
They stand by the door waiting. A whimper scratches Draco's ears. Ron tugs on Harry and his sleeves. They turn and are met with a huge dog. A three headed dog. They scream and run through the door. Draco relocks the door before running after them into the hallways.
Hermione says, "I'm going to bed before you do something stupid and get us killed, or worse, expelled."
"Her priorities are a little off," Draco says.
Ron and Harry nod.
She stomps to the Gryffindor dorms.
"Night, Draco, see you at breakfast," Harry says.
"See you at breakfast," he says.
He hugs me and then goes. Ron waves as he walks. Draco waves back. Neville trails behind them shuffling his feet but staying close. Draco goes back to Slytherin. He falls asleep as soon as he is changed into his pajamas and in bed. That dog was standing on a trap door.