The Sorting
“Is it true? They’re saying all down the train that Harry Potter is in this compartment. So it’s you, is it?”
“Yes”
“Oh, this is Crabbe and this Goyle, and my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.”
A stifled cough
“Think my name’s funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.”
“You’ll soon find that some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.”
A cocky smirk and an offered hand.
“I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.”
~1~
Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾ , Euston Rd, London, England - 1 September, 1991
Draco stood on the bustling platform alongside his mother waiting for the train to arrive, still looking back on the dream he had been plagued with for the past month. They had left the manor early that morning at his mother’s insistence, “Mother? When is Father supposed to meet us here?” Draco asked, looking up at her as he gripped the trolly tightly so as to not let it roll away.
“I’m sorry Dragon, he had a meeting with the minister. I meant to tell you while we were leaving the manor.” Mother said softly as if knowing the fallout of Draco not getting what he wanted was sure to come.
However Draco simply sighed, a deep contrast to the fit he would've usually pulled in a situation like this. But instead of throwing the fit he longed to throw he simply stared at the ground, resigned to this fate. He promised me… Draco couldn’t help but turn his gaze to stare distantly out onto the platform and watch the other families as they hugged and began their teary goodbyes.
Draco had never longed to be someone else more than in that moment, standing alongside his stoic mother and his father nowhere to be seen. What he wouldn't give to be loved so openly like that, no responsibilities and no worries about having to be so formal all of the time.
The whistle of the train and the sound of the breaks snapped Draco out of his trance of watching the other families. He looked to his mother, perhaps she would initiate a hug– he highly doubted that she would give such open affection, but a child could dream.
She, of course, did not give him the hug and emotional goodbye he wanted. Instead she brought her hands to his shoulders, turning him to face her and not at the train as it pulled into the station. “Draco, I know your father spoke to you about befriending the Potter boy.” Mother whispered to him while her eyes grew soft and almost motherly for once.
Draco nodded in confirmation, Father had spoken to him about befriending the Potter boy. He had said that it would help bring honour back to Malfoy house, especially if Potter turned out to be the new dark lord like so many suggested.
“I want you to know that you shouldn't befriend him if it is just for social gain, that is not fair to you or him.” This made Draco blink up at her, Is she– telling me to go against Father’s wishes? The thought seemed foriegn, it wasn’t like Mother to ever disobey Father’s wishes.
“But Mother, Father will be–” Narcissa held up a hand to stop him but they both knew what would happen if Father found out that she had told Draco that it was alright to disobey him..
“I know, but let me deal with that when the time comes, just enjoy your time at Hogwarts sweetheart.” She bent down as she said this, something Draco never imagined seeing as Mother hated risking her robes dirtying. Mother drew him into her arms in a slightly awkward embrace, whispering into his ear a quiet, “I love you, my sweet Dragon.”
~2~
Draco made his way down the aisle of the train, glancing into compartments that were packed full of students as dozens of sparklers flew through the air, zooming around the bustling train. Every single one he checked was filled with unfamiliar and older faces. Where are they? Draco asked himself as he made his way down to the end of the train car and looked into the last compartment on the train car. This one, however, had two familiar faces in it, unlike the others that filled the train car.
The door quickly opened before he had the chance to even think about opening it and he was tackled by a mess of flying limbs, “Draco, Darling!” The hag crowed in her annoyingly high voice.
“Pansy, you cow! Don’t tackle me like that!” Draco quickly pushed her away, while straightening up his robes and smoothing his hair back down fruitlessly. “Look what you’ve done! You’ve ruined my hair!” Draco complained and stomped his right foot angrily, a few strands falling back down to lay on his forehead.
“Now, now Draco,” a low voice came from behind Pansy, a slight italian accent accompanying and mixing with a british one, “I’ve always told you that you look better with your hair not matted down with all that hair gel.” Blaise popped up from behind Pans, chin easily resting on the cow’s head. He had that supid look in his eye again, like he knew so much better than Draco.
“Shut up.” Draco glared at his horrible friends.
“Oi! Get out of the aisle!” An older student demanded, he looked like a fifth year student. Draco quickly scrambled to get inside the carriage, almost tripping and falling in the process, dragging his trunk behind him. A flush erupting to take over his face as Pansy cackled and Blaise smirked at his embarrassment.
“Clumsy today, eh Malfoy?” Blaise states with far too much smugness for Draco’s taste, making Draco’s flush of embarrassment deepen and spread to his ears.
“Shut it Zabini!” Draco snapped back, running his hand through his hair to try and smooth out more hairs that had fallen out of place because of his stumble. “Where is Vincent, Greg, and Theo?” Draco quickly asks to try and distract them from their taunting of him.
“They aren’t here just yet, but should be soon though. You know that Vince and Greg are never too far behind you.” Pansy answers with a teasing smirk as she checks her sharp, catlike claws she called nails. Draco would never be able to understand how she had convinced her father to get those daggers at such a young age, They are so unlady-like!
“I’ll go looking for them then.” Draco stated as he quickly put up his trunk on the rack above Pansy’s seat, ready to make his mistake.
“Do you wish for us to join you?” Blaise offered with a less than pleasant look on his face at the idea of having to stop his reading, everyone knew not to separate Blaise from a good book.
“I can do it on my own, thank you very much. I’m not some newborn flobberworm.” Draco quips back with curtly, trying not to show his annoyance too much at how much his idiotic friends were getting under his skin.
“Just don’t trip on your way out, Darling!” Was thrown at him as he made his way out of the compartment, this was quickly followed by Pansy’s shrill laugh and Blaise’s cool chuckle.
Draco couldn’t help but speed up his pace in his effort to block out their mocking.
~3~
Draco didn’t stop searching for Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle even after the train began to move. They had almost definitely gone to the compartment by now, but he simply could not bring himself to return to it after that embarrassing stumbling debacle. He knew that deep down he was overreacting over the whole situation, that Blaise and Pansy would forget soon enough.
Draco thought about going back to the compartment only after he bought a few sugar quills and chocolate frogs from the passing trolley. Perhaps the chocolate frogs can be a peace offering for taking so long. Draco reasoned as he sucked on a sugar quill before turning around determinedly.
He looked into other compartments as he made his way back to his own. He hoped to catch glimpses of his future classmates, maybe there could be some future Slytherins sprinkled into the groups of children. Deep down Draco couldn’t help but hope to see the boy with green eyes, maybe he would get answers as to why the boy had been appearing in his dreams so prominently. Was he the one who is the reason for these dreams? If so then was it some kind of dark magic?
“Have you heard?” A girl giggled with her friend as they squeezed past Draco, not paying him any mind just he did not pay them any mind, they were below him. “Harry Potter is on the train, I heard the Weasley Twins bragging about meeting him!”
That was something that piqued his interest, however. Father had warned him all about Weasley’s, how they were nothing but blood traitors and had too many- Draco quickly stopped that line of thinking, it reminded him of the dream. He allowed his thoughts to turn to Harry Potter and the warning his mother had given him on the train platform.
A friendship with Harry Potter would be extremely beneficial to the Malfoy name, it would give them an even bigger boost in status, an inside look into the potential of the rumoured next dark lord, and it would give Draco a leg up on his fellow Slytherin classmates. Despite all these logical reasons, however, something inside him said that this logic wasn’t right. But why was it not right? It was exactly what his Slytherin family wanted and yearned for, power and influence, so why couldn’t he just suck it up and stop acting like some damned Hufflepuff.
“Have you seen a frog?” A wobbly voice asked, making Draco break out from his stupor. Draco looked down and actually found a boy shorter than him. The boy had a round face, which was home to two brown eyes. Both of which were filled with tears that threatened to fall at any moment. “I lost my frog, his name is Tr- Trevor and- and-” the boy’s tears seemed to just grow and spill out from the corners of his eyes.
“You lost a frog? Did you not keep him in a cage?” Draco asked snidely, looking the boy up and down critically. Where have I seen him before? Draco asked himself, raking his mind for answers. Perhaps they had met at one of his Father’s parties? Or maybe those ministry balls that Draco loathed to be at? Or maybe- “What’s your name, boy?” Draco hissed out while narrowing his eyes at the golden haired boy.
“Longbottom, N- Neville Longbottom, H- Heir to the Ho- House of Longbottom.” The boy, Longbottom, stuttered out while sniffling, quite the opposite of how he imagined the Longbottom heir to be. Didn’t Father say that his parents were in Gryffindor? That they fought the dark lord? They produced this? The boy whimpered and cowered under Draco’s smouldering glare, as if to only reinforce how un-Longbottom this boy was. “And- And I did keep him in a cage but he just- just up and dis- disappeared and-” He didn’t seem to be mentally capable of producing anything more than that kind of response to Draco’s earlier question, which wasn’t even that hard of a question, which Draco thought was pathetic really! This boy must be as daft as his parents. Gryffindor’s are all the same!
Draco barely suppressed a huff of annoyance at the blubbering mess of a boy in front of him. What am I even doing listening to this? I have things to do, people to meet and connections to make! Draco thought before moving past the boy, bumping his shoulder against the boy’s shoulder hard enough so the boy would hopefully stop making a fool of himself. Really, if he is an Heir then he definitely should show more decorum than that.
He had only taken about three large steps before he registered the messy sobbing coming from the boy behind him. The sound seemed to have some kind of magical effect him as it seemed to freeze Draco’s steps in place, glueing him to the ground and making him unable to move. A sick bile began to rise up and into Draco’s throat, an almost constricting feeling that made him feel as though he would vomit up slugs.
Help Him
“You said you lost a frog, correct?” Draco stayed facing forward, staring blankly in front of him, barely registering the words falling from his lips. He didn’t wait for the boy to reply before saying, “I’ll ask around on my way back to my seat, if you don’t find him then just double back around and check with me.”
“R- Really?” A hopeful, sniffling voice called from behind him.
“Yes, now clean yourself up and act like a true heir to The House of Longbottom.” Draco hissed as he slowly came back to himself and began walking the way he was originally.
~4~
It wasn’t until Draco was halfway back to his carriage before what happened registered in his mind. What was that? Why did I offer to help a pathetic boy like him? These questions ran through his mind on repeat, but only one was the reason why he came to a stop in front of a closed door. What was that voice?
He tried to think what could’ve possibly come over him, did it have something to do with the dreams he had been having? Why would he even agree to help that blithering idiot of a boy? So what if he was a Pureblood heir-
Suddenly the conversation Father had said to him last night at dinner popped into his mind ‘...make friends with the right people. Including Harry Potter…’ Befriending Longbottom– that would be close enough to befriending Potter, right? It would help show people Father wasn’t a death eater. Why would a Longbottom ever be friends with the nephew of the deathe eaters who tortured his parents if he was evil?
This was the deciding verdict in Draco’s mind, he would befriend Longbottom, not Potter –no matter how much he wanted to– and show people his family was good. It would help prove Father was never actually a death eater and it would help their reputation! He turned to the door of the carriage that was beside him and opened the door to it, ready to ask its occupants if they had seen a toad.
However his mouth and body froze as he took in an eerily similar sight of the train compartment from the dream that had been plaguing his mind night after night for the past month. In front of him was the boy from Madam Malkin's, the very boy that was plaguing his dreams. Across from him sat a redheaded boy with freckles that peppered his face. A Weasley no doubt- Draco’s mind freezing as he realised what was happening.
The dream was coming true, just like the one in Madam Malkin's. Surely this is a coincidence, right? Somehow Draco wasn’t convinced by this.
"Draco?" The same shy voice from the robe shop snapped him out of his stupor. This was when he noticed that the green eyed boy had turned to look at him curiously while the Weasley boy was looking at him critically with his nose scrunching up slightly.
"Hello." Was all Draco could say, Why did I come in here again? He asked himself but for some reason he could not rationally think, Just like at the robes shop. He compared in his mind.
“Harry, you didn’t say you knew a Malfoy.” The name Malfoy was spit out by the redheaded oaf, Definitely a Weasley.
Draco didn’t even realise that Weasley had said the green eyed boy’s supposed name “Excuse me, the Malfoy family is a very respectful,” and pure “bloodline! Unlike Your’s Weasley!” He hissed back as his eyes narrowed at the lanky boy, noticing how he even had a smudge of dirt on his nose. Too poor to even take a bath? Draco teased within his brain, but felt a smallest bit of regret at the thought. What the-
“Hey! Wait!” The relatively silent boy across from the Weasley called, drawing back the attention of the two boys who were glaring at one another.
Draco looked at the small boy who was made to look even smaller with the ill-fitting clothes he wore, for the first time the thought crossed his mind that he now had the chance to ask for his name. Before he could ask, however, his eyes slid ever so slightly up from his broken spectacles to the forehead that wasn’t nearly as covered as it was on the day in Diagon.
And there was where the legendary scar was, sitting there as if it was no big deal that the very real Harry Potter was sitting in front of him. “Salazar Slytherin!” Draco yelped as he took a small step back, luckily the walkway was free from everyone so the only ones to see his break in composure were the two boys in front of him. “You’re Harry Potter!” He yelped once again, he couldn’t even help himself from being star struck at being in the vicinity to the boy who was the main character of the bedtime stories his mother used to tell him-
That very thought was caught off by how he had dozens, hundreds of dozens, of news clippings about the boy in front of him. A boy he had spoken to so casually in the robes shop. Of course said boy's expression at Draco exclamation could only be described as one of uncomfortability.
“Pl- Please don’t act like it’s a big deal.” The boy stuttered out, looking not only uncomfortable but also slightly annoyed at the prospect.
“C- Course I won't. I was just surprised.” Draco floundered for words as he tried to gain his mental and physical footing. “Not everyday you meet a celebrity by surprise.” That made him internally wince, it made him sound like he only cared about Potter being a celebrity. By the looks of it Potter didn’t like that either, as his face turned to look as if he had put a dozen acid pops into his mouth.
The idea of that doubled with the sour look Potter was making made a laugh burst past his vocal wall. The loud sound seemed to surprise everyone involved, Weasley’s face turning into an ugly purple colour while Potter’s mouth turned from sour to that sickeningly sweet smile. Draco himself, though, was the most surprised by the blatant betrayal of the instincts that had been practically beaten into him since he turned five.
Luckily he was saved by a large body bumping into him, “Draco there you are!” a familiar gruff voice called, making Draco turn to glare at who dared to bump into him.
“Vince? Greg? What are you two doing here? Where is Theo?” Draco asked quickly, trying to distract himself from his embarrassing mess up from earlier.
“Back at the carriage, Blaise sent us to go looking for you.” Greg grunted out, his face tight with false seriousness.
“And to look for the sweet trolley,” Vince commented, “But someone bought it out.” That brought a sour look to his face, making the shorter of the two grunts look as though he was a disgruntled pug.
“Sorry, we didn’t really think before buying everything.” Potter called apologetically from his seat, drawing Draco’s attention back to him. That was when he really truly noticed the piles of sweet treats that littered the compartment. “You can have some candy from here if you want?” Potter offered while he motioned to a pile near Weasley.
“Really? Thanks!” Vince practically lit up as he reached into the pile to no doubt grab a chocolate frog that he loved so much. He, however, retracted his hand with a yowl of pain, a pain caused by a rat that was hanging off one of his fingers.
“Get it off! Get it off!” Crabbe yelled as he shook his hand in an effort to get the rat off his finger, however it only made the rat clamp down harder.
“Crabbe!” Greg called worriedly as he tried to reach out and help only to be scratched by the flailing rat.
“Weasley! Control your rat!” Draco snapped at the red headed boy, glaring a bit panickedly as Vince began to cry from the pain of the sharp teeth piercing his skin.
However the boy stayed in place, a bit frozen from the chaos his dumb rat was causing. He was snapped out of it when Potter finally decided to step in, “Ron! Stop Scabbers.” He ordered with a yell, managing to raise his voice over Vince’s crying.
Weasley finally jumped forward to try and get the rat, who’s name was Scabbers apparently. He just barely was able to pry apart the rat’s jaws and teeth from Vince’s poor, bloody finger. That didn’t stop him from whimpering and crying, bringing his hand close to his chest.
“Ke- Keep that away from me!” Crabbe whimpered out, backing away from the clearly feral rat and its insane redheaded owner.
Draco glared at the blood traitor in front of them, “How dare you! He wasn’t doing anything wrong! When my father hears about this you are going to be expelled!”
At Draco’s comment the red headed boy’s face slowly began to become just as red as his hair, which, if Draco wasn’t so angry, he would’ve found it impressive. “Oh yeah? Well it won’t mean much coming from a Death Eater!” Weasley spit back with, the words feeling as though they had burned Draco with Fiendfire, making him retract for a moment before he recovered.
“How dare you! My father is not a Death Eater! Those lies were dismissed at his trial!”
“Only because he paid them off! Everyone knows that!” Weasley fired back with, it made Draco burn with rage hearing such lies about his father coming out of a blood traitor's mouth.
Before he could say anything Vince whimpered loudly, pulling Draco’s attention back to the poor boy. Greg was holding him like he was a scared pygmy puff while Vince was shaking like a leaf, small tears pricking his eyes. Goyle looked up to make eye contact with Draco, not outwardly defying him but silently begging to go back to their Slytherin compartment.
“I don’t need to deign you with an answer, Weasley, when I know that you only speak blood traitor lies. Now if you will excuse us, we are going to go back to our compartment and get Crabbe some medical help.” Draco said coldly, turning around as Greg pulled Vince into the hallway and was rushing away. Draco moved to follow them at a much slower pace, however, when he glanced at the silent Potter his body froze.
His mouth opened against his will, words falling from it without his permission just as it had earlier with Longbottom. “You’ll soon find that some wizarding families are-” better “- more traditional than others, Potter. If you want to learn about our world and your culture, instead of just bringing more muggle hypocrisy into it, then you know where to find me.” And then he left. He left behind the boy he had been told whispered stories of by his mother, lest his father hear. He left behind the boy he wished would be his hero and his friend, but he knew that he could not– would not use him the way father intended.
He could only hope that the boy would choose their world over the blasted muggle one.
~5~
Draco didn’t end up going back to the compartment until the sun went down and the sky grew dark so that his friends wouldn’t ask questions. They were sure to have been told by Vince and Greg about what happened and Draco didn’t feel like talking about how he had ruined his only chance to befriend Harry Potter before they were sorted.
When he did eventually go back to the compartment it was only to grab his robes so he could change in the bathroom. When he walked in he found that Vince and Greg were asleep, Theo was staring out the window, Blaise was reading some book, and Pansy was checking her makeup in a handheld mirror. The three who were awake looked up when he opened the door and stepped inside. No one said a word as Draco opened up his trunk and pulled out his robes before leaving to go change.
They still didn’t say anything even after Draco returned from changing into his robes and sat between Theo and Pansy for the rest of the ride. Pansy did, however, lean against him and put her head against his shoulder. A feeling of gratitude clenched his chest as he accepted the silent comfort, leaning against her slightly in return. Thank you.
Draco stayed like that until the train began to slow down, Theo perking up slightly, “Guys, I can see the station!” He called excitedly, the loudest Draco had heard from him in a very long time. It was even loud enough to break Vince and Greg out of their deep and snoring slumber. Draco quickly scooted closer to Theo to get a better look out the window and at the train station as the train began to slow down more.
A voice echoed through the train, “We will be reaching Hogwarts station in five minutes’ time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.”
Finally the train screeched to a halt and immediately exploded into a flurry of movement. Students rushed through the hall of the train, pushing and shoving each other, rattling the door multiple times when a student was pushed against it.
Blaise was the first to rise, pulling Draco’s attention back to him and causing Draco to rise along with him, his heart feeling as though it would burst from nerves.
It wasn't until they all stepped off the train, with a few bruises from other students, did it really hit Draco that this was it, the most important night of his life. I either join my ancestors in Slytherin house or forever be known as the Malfoy who broke tradition. The very thought made his hair stand on end and almost made him break into hives. Father wouldn't be happy.
~6~
"A Malfoy doesn't cry , Draco."
A kick to the gut
"A Malfoy doesn't smile, Draco."
A smack to the face
"A Malfoy doesn't laugh , Draco."
A pulling of the hair
"A Malfoy doesn't feel , Draco."
Disappointed, cold, grey eyes glaring down
"A Malfoy never shows weakness , Draco."
~7~
“Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here!” A gruff voice called, snapping Draco out of his daze and making him turn his attention to where the voice was coming from. He and the other future Slytherin children quickly elbowed their way through the crowd of older students who were walking the complete opposite direction.
Where are they going? Draco asked himself as they finally made it to the group of other first years, luckily without being elbowed in the ribs. When they joined the crowd Draco finally noticed the oversized man who was still calling for first years. He was at least triple their size as eleven year olds, and was about as wide and they were tall. The giant of a man wore a tattered coat, how was he able to find clothes that are that big? Draco asked himself as the man turned around and began to lead them to who knows where.
As it turned out he led them down a slippery, dark, narrow path that went down a slightly steep hill that was surrounded by trees. Draco couldn’t help but look fearfully into the woods, are there really werewolves in there? He thought, shaking slightly as a slight chill swept past and ruffled the leaves.
“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” The large, gruff man called out over his shoulder and they slowly turned. His words were quickly followed by a “Ooooooh!” from many of the children.
Draco didn’t understand, not until he finally got around the bend and caught sight of that magnificent castle that sat atop a high mountain. It was surrounded by a dark lake that reflected the light that had escaped from the many windows. He was so stupefied that he barely heard the tall man call out, “No more’n four to a boat!”
Luckily Blaise was less awed than Draco, grabbing his elbow and practically dragging him down to one of the boats that lined the shoreline. He pushed Draco in first, which was what finally broke Draco once again from his torpor. Why has this been happening so often? Draco thought briefly as he sat at the front of the boat so he could only hope to get a good view of what would be his new home for about the next 7 years of his life.
“Everyone in?” shouted the man, which brought Draco’s attention back to him. He was so large that he needed a boat all to himself. The very idea almost made Draco laugh at the ridiculous nature of it. “Right then— FORWARD!” The boom of the man’s voice startled Draco, making him jump ever so slightly. Behind him he could hear Blaise snort in laughter, “Shut up.” Draco muttered under his breath, directing it at his horrible boatmate.
As the boats started to depart from the shore in a united movement Draco turned a little to see who else had joined his and Blaise’s boat. It turned out that Pansy had joined as well as a girl whom Draco recognised from the ministry functions he was forced to attend. Susie? Sophie? No and no. Something with an S. He didn’t get much farther than that before he turned his attention to the fleet of boats they were in.
The boats glided across the water smoothly yet quickly. As if made of glass. Draco thought as he glanced over the edge of the boat and at the water. He looked back up quickly, seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the castle. It began to tower over them as they began to approach a wall of ivy.
“Heads down!” The man practically roared, making Draco follow his instruction instinctually. Are we not going to slow down? Aren’t we going to crash? Draco thought anxiously as the boat showed no signs of stopping.
Instead of crashing, however, they ended up going through the wall of ivy, which tussled Draco’s hair ever so slightly. It better not have messed up my hair even more. Draco thought bitterly, but didn’t have much time to dwell on it before the boats were pulling into a dock that was connected to the rocky and slightly broken stone stairs.
The tall man was the first one to leave, helping the other students out of their boats. Draco, of course, refused assistance by someone who was almost definitely a half-breed. He did, however, allow Blaise to help him out of a boat, who bowed to him deeply and dramatically. “My Liege~” Blaise practically purred, making his slight italian accent even thicker than it usually was. It almost made Draco blush, almost.
“Shut it, Blaise.” Draco muttered as he stepped out of the way so that the two girls could be helped out of the boat by Blaise. He watched and looked around as the rickety dock was quickly filled with dozens upon dozens of first years.
“Oy, you there! Is this your toad?” The question from the tall man made Draco look towards him, his height almost being laughable as he towered over the little eleven year olds. In one of his large hands he held a toad, poor thing must be terrified- Draco cut that thought off and replaced it with another. Sweet Slytherin that was such a Hufflepuff thought.
“Trevor!” Longbottom called out, pushing out from the crowd of first years, running up the wet stone stairs. Honestly how stupid is he to run up wet steps? Draco thought while he watched the boy hold his hands out to the large giant of a man.
The tall man handed it to him carefully, “Yeh keep ahold of it, don’ wan’ Professor McGonagall to see it escape again.” he instructed, it seemed like his west country accent seemed to grow thicker and thicker by the minute.
When everyone had finally made it off the boats they all collectively moved towards the stairs, where Draco, Blaise, and Pansy met up with Theo, Greg, and Vince. Theo was curiously looking around as Pansy and Blaise both seemed to be scouting for those could possibly be fellow Slytherin classmates. Greg and Vince seemed to just be ready to get sorted and be able to eat the famous Hogwarts food, and Draco couldn’t help but agree slightly. The sugar quill he had on the train wasn't nearly enough to replace the missed lunch and the small breakfast from that morning.
The tall man turned around one last time when they finally reached the top of the slightly slippery stone stairs and stood in front of a tall, oak door that looked as though it had seen better days. “Everyone here? You there, still got yeh toad?” He asked but did not wait for an answer as he turned back around and knocked three times on the castle door with his gigantic fist.
The door swung open not a moment later to show an older witch with black hair, green robes, and a stern look on her face. “Firs’ Years, Professor McGonagall,” The tall man said. So that is the head of Gryffindor house. Draco thought, a bit surprised she wasn’t wearing her garish house’s colours.
“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.” McGonagall instructed as she opened the door wider and stepped aside to let the group of eleven year olds inside. The name sparked a thought inside his mind, So that is the groundskeeper who gets drunk and almost burns down his wooden hut? Typical that he would be a half-breed. Draco thought bitterly, almost failing to not sneer and break his cold exterior.
When he finally made it inside he couldn’t help but blink at the size of the entrance hall. I expected it to be bigger, Draco thought as he looked around the room that was about the same size as their grand entrance. The marble staircase was eerily similar except for the fact that it wasn’t nearly as bright as the Hogwarts one.
McGonagall led them across the lagged stone floor, the rising of voices filling the hall coming from a doorway to the right. Instead of leading them there she opened a smaller door not too far from it and motioned for them to go in.
When all the students were inside they stood shoulder to shoulder. Far closer than Draco would prefer to be but luckily he had Pansy and Blaise on either side of him with Vince, Greg, and Theo standing behind them. Professor McGonagall stood in the doorway, her hands rested in front of her as she looked out into the sea of children. “Welcome to Hogwarts,” Professor McGonagal said, her voice slightly raised.
“The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into her houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like family within Hogwarts.” She said before continuing, “You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.”
“The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards.” Primarily Slytherins, Draco thought proudly. “While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.”
“I wonder how long she has been practising that speech.” Blaise muttered under his breath to Draco, drawing a slight smirk and even a small chortle from him.
“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.” She directed her gaze to a certain few students as Pansy pulled her compact mirror out to straighten up her hair and the little bit of makeup she wore. “I shall return when we are ready for you.” And then she left the chamber.
“Dray, darling, how do I look? Any hairs out of place?” Pansy asked as she kept looking at herself in her mirror, not even deigning to glance at Draco.
“You look like your usual cow self.” Draco responded as he looked around the chamber they had been left in. It was decently sized, about the size of his personal washroom at home, and it didn’t have any painting lining the walls.
“How exactly do they sort us into Houses?” He vaguely heard Potter ask, but tried not to care or listen even as his chest clenched slightly at the longing of being Potter’s friend.
He blinked when he saw an army, about twenty, ghosts began to come in through the wall behind him. Someone, obviously a mudblood, let out a bloodcurdling scream— which set off a chain reaction of many other jumping, shrieking, or also screaming. Draco only rolled his eyes as he stayed in place and did not outwardly show how that scream affected him.
The pearly white ghosts flew above them, many didn’t notice the group of children even as they were right above them and even as the screams became evident. Draco was pushed closer to Pansy and Blaise as the group of children pushed to hurdle together more, as if being more of a unit would protect them.
The door creaked open not long after as McGonagall walked back inside and saw the many ghosts that now chilled the chamber as well as the many terrified children. “Move along now,” she called to the ghosts with a sharp tone. “The Sorting Ceremony’s about to start.”
The ghosts began to slowly float away through the wall opposite to the first years. Draco watched them leave with curious eyes. Did all of them die here? Or did they just have a strong bond with Hogwarts? He asked himself, wondering if anyone else also had these questions.
“Now, form a line,” Professor McGonagall instructed, motioning in front of her, “and follow me.” Then she turned and left the chamber, expecting them all to follow.
Draco ended up being behind Pansy but in front of Blaise, protected by both sides as expected of the both of them. As the line began to move Draco couldn’t help but feel like a bundle of nerves even as he held his head high and turned his nose up.
Nothing could’ve prepared him for the beauty of Hogwarts, none of his mother’s stories or Uncle Sev’s descriptions. When he walked into the hall he felt as though his breath had left him and looked around in awe. Magical candles floated above their heads which drew his eyes up to a ceiling that looked like the night sky. It’s so real. Draco thought, hardly believing that there was a ceiling there at all.
Before he knew it they had walked the length of the hall and congregated as a small group at the very front by the long teacher’s table. Draco glanced at Uncle Sev, slightly comforted at the sight of his Godfather.
He looked back to the front and watched as McGonagall set a small, four-legged stool at the top of the small stage. On top of which she placed the slightly fraying sorting hat. He could tell that the children who weren’t warned were confused, especially when the hat came alive and sang.
“Oh, you may not think I’m pretty
But don’t judge on what you see,
I’ll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might be in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at hearts,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps Slytherin
You’ll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don’t be afraid!
And don’t get in a flap!
You’re in safe hands (though I have none)
For I’m a Thinking Cap!”
And like that the hall bursted into applause when the hat finally finished it’s song, even Uncle Sev but his was far more of a slow clap. The hat bowed to the four tables before becoming still once again, as if it was a regular wizard's hat once more.
McGonagall stepped forward and grabbed the hat from the stool with her left hand as her right was occupied by a long roll of parchment that was at least the length of a House Elf. “When I call your name, you will come up here and I will place the hat on your head so that you may be sorted.” She instructed before turning to the list,
“Abbott, Hannah!” She called before looking into the crowd of first years. A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled to the front, up the steps, and sat on the stool. McGonagall carefully placed the hat onto her head, which promptly fell down to cover her eyes. Not even a moment later the hat shouted out “HUFFLEPUFF!”
The table to the right cheered as the hat was lifted from her and she jumped up from the stool and went to the Hufflepuff table excitedly.
“Bones, Susan!” McGonagall called, the other girl from the boat walked forwards far more gracefully. The name was far more recognizable that the Abbott girl, this girl’s Aunt was the head of the DMLE.
“HUFFLEPUFF!” The hat shouted again which had the girl going to sit beside Abbott when the hat was lifted
“Boot, Terry!” That was a name Draco didn’t recognise at all, Probably a mudblood then. He reasoned.
“RAVENCLAW!” The table second from the left cheered and clapped and the boy joined them at their table.
“Brocklehurst, Mandy!” She was put into Ravenclaw, definitely a Mudblood.
“Bulstrode, Milicent!” She was put into Slytherin and definitely a pureblood.
A few more names that he didn’t recognize were called before McGonagall shouted out, “Crabbe, Vincent!” Vince barely made it up there, and the stool creaked under his weight. Draco bit his lip nervously but that quickly disappeared when the hat immediately shouted, “SLYTHERIN!”
Next was “Davis, Tracey!” Who was sorted into Slytherin, so she was a half-blood most likely.
A few more were called and sorted before Greg was called up, “Goyle, Gregory!” He looked slightly sick as he stumbled forward and sat on the stool, which actually didn’t creak under his weight. The hat once again shouted, “SLYTHERIN!” immediately when it touched his head.
Next McGonagall called, “Granger, Hermione!” Which made the girl who Draco recognised from the book shop to dash forward and sit on the stool excitedly. This time the hat took a few minutes to decide, silence blanketing the hall for about 3 minutes until the hat finally shouted out,“GRYFFINDOR!” This made the far left table once again erupt into loud and excited cheers. Explains why I hate her so much. He thought as he glared at her walk towards the Gryffindor table.
“Greengrass, Daphne!” was called after her, which was once again a pureblood name Draco recognized. Luckily the hat had the good sense to shout out “SLYTHERIN!” much to the Slytherin table’s silent glee, clapping in a much more subdued manner just as they had the whole time.
Once again it was a bit until Draco recognized a name that was called, that name being, “Longbottom, Neville!” The boy stumbled forward clumsily, this time not holding his toad in his hands but instead seemed to have stuffed him into his pocket. It surprised Draco when the hat called out “GRYFFINDOR” after a minute or two on top of Longbottom’s head. The boy certainly didn’t look like a Gryffindor when the hat was lifted off his head, his eyes growing fearful as he walked to the loud Gryffindor table.
And then, after two more people, McGonagall finally called, “Malfoy, Draco!” He moved forward with head up and his shoulders back, even as it felt like his soul had left his body. It wasn’t until he was sitting on the stool did he fully comprehend that it was happening, the moment he had been looking forward to his whole life. And then the hat was placed upon his head and fell into his eyes, hiding him from the world.
But it didn’t call out Slytherin right away– No, instead it talked into his ear. “What’s this? A seer? No— No something different… Now let’s see what’s inside of here…”
Just put me into Slytherin like I am meant to be, you stupid hat. Draco thought angrily, glaring slightly at the hat. “Oh you definitely would thrive in Slytherin, very cunning– but also not a bad mind either…. Yes– Ravenclaw would help to further your knowledge– No? Well then, better be— SLYTHERIN!” And finally Draco could release a sigh of relief and relax ever so slightly.
The hat was taken off of him, the light of the hall blinding him for a moment before Draco got up gracefully and went to the Slytherin table and joined Crabbe and Goyle.
Once again he didn’t really find anyone of note until Theo was called up, “Nott, Theodore!” the hat sat on his head for about three minutes before shouting, “SLYTHERIN!” And then Theo joined the Slytherin table, sitting across from Goyle.
Pansy was called directly after, McGonagall shouting out, “Parkinson, Pansy!” The hat had barely touched her head before it called out, “SLYTHERIN!” Which had to be something that Pansy was sure to lord over his head for the rest of their days. She came to sit next to Draco excitedly, the smug look on her face only cementing Draco’s thoughts.
Many more names were called, making Draco become bored until McGonagall called out, “Potter, Harry!” Which made him perk up way too quickly, making Pansy elbow him a little and grin teasingly at him. He didn’t bother giving her a response, instead focusing on Potter as he now sat at the centre of attention of the whole hall. Each House eagerly wished for Potter to join their ranks, except for about a half of the Slytherins.
He sat under the hat for a solid four minutes before it finally shouted out the deciding words, “GRYFFINDOR!” Just like that Draco’s heart was on the floor, stomped on and shattered by his hero. He was supposed to be my hero. Draco thought numbly, looking down at the table in front of him and barely registering the next names being called.
It wasn’t until Weasley was called that Draco was at least slightly broken from his heartbroken trance. “Weasley, Ronald!” The hat was barely on his head for a moment before it was shouting, “GRYFFINDOR!” Allowing Weasley to join Potter excitedly at the Gryffindor table. To which made Draco glare bitterly at the excited look on Potter's face and look of pure euphoria on Weasley’s.
Finally McGonagall called the final student up, “Zabini, Blaise!” The hat was placed onto his head just as carefully as it was with everyone else. The hat sat there, and sat there, and sat there, until 7 minutes had gone by with the hall in complete silence. Blaise didn’t move a muscle, not even a little twitch. He simply sat there in complete silence until finally the hat shouted out, “SLYTHERIN!” And just like that the sorting was over.
Blaise joined them at the Slytherin table as the hat and stool were put away. The tables remained empty of food still, drawing sad looks from Vince and Goyle. But even Draco had to admit that he was starving for some food right about now.
He looked up, his eyes moving to the head table and at Dumbledore as he stood to address the school. “Welcome!” he said. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!” and then he sat back down. For some reason it made the whole hall, excluding the Slytherin’s and first years, erupt into cheers and clapping– As if he had said the most prolific speech in the history of wizarding kind.
“He is mad, he has to be.” Pansy muttered under her breath hatefully, glaring at the grinning Headmaster. His famous twinkle that was in his eyes was on full display. It was only when he heard gasps of delight did Draco look back to the table to see that it had been filled while they had all been paying attention to Dumbledore. The table was filled with familiar foods that almost made his stomach grumble with how hungry he was.
No matter how much he wanted to fill his plate with food, he would not allow himself to so shamelessly scarf down the food like Crabbe and Goyle. Instead he filled his plate with reasonable portions of roast beef, boiled potatoes, some peas and some carrots. He filled his goblet with pumpkin juice, scrunching up his nose slightly at the thought of drinking something so plebeian but it was the only option.
He nearly choked when he looked up to find a ghost sitting beside him, a man with a tall powdered wig who was covered in chains and had blood covering his chest. It took Draco a moment to comprehend who was sitting next to him, “My Lord.” Draco said while lowering his head into a slight bow.
The Bloody Baron looked pleased, straightening for a moment and nodding back to Draco, “You must be Heir Malfoy, a pleasure to meet you.” The response made Draco straighten up and puff out his chest with pride, I knew I took something away from Uncle Sev’s advice!
~8~
Draco was able to keep room in his stomach for dessert, choosing to eat a slice of tiramisu. He practically hummed with delight when got his much needed taste of sugar and coffee, Blaise also seemed quite happy, also getting a slice of the coffee flavoured treat and savouring it.
Once everyone had finished the desert vanished before their eyes, much to the disappointment of Crabbe and Goyle. Dumbledore once again got to his feet, making the hall quiet quickly. “Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.” He looked around the hall as if to check that everyone was listening to him.
“First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.” The Headmaster seemed to direct his gaze towards the Gryffindor table far more than the others when he said this. “I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridor.” Again his gaze was directed towards the Gryffindor table.
“And finally,I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.” Even with the very serious threat of death Dumbledore seemed to think it was all a great laugh. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. Uncle Sev was right, he really is insane.
“That is all! Off to bed, Prefects please show the first years to the common room.” And just like that he clapped his hands, magically opening the main door. Many of the students jumped up and quickly left the hall, except for the first years and fifth year prefects.
Draco led the group of Slytherin first years to the two Slytherin prefects. The boy, who had dark hair and even darker eyes, glared down at the little eleven year olds. The girl on the other hand had long dark braids and chocolate coloured skin, she looked at the little eleven year olds kindly. “My name is Claire Hopkins and my partner here is Anthony Fawley.” The girl said while motioning to herself and her partner.
“Please follow us to the Slytherin dormitories.” Hopkins said as she turned and began to lead them out the hall and down to the dungeons. She pointed out multiple classrooms and notable landmarks on the way down, “That’s the library, which closes around 9:00, about an hour before curfew. Miss. Pince is really relaxed about her rules when it’s around exam season but won’t be if you damage any books.” Hopkins pointed out more than a few classrooms, as well as Uncle Sev’s office. “Professor Snape is our head of house, if you need any help his office hours depend on the day. Usually he posts the schedule by his office within the first week of term.”
They finally made it to the dungeons and stood in front of a black, stone wall with intricate carvings of snakes and shields. The password usually changes monthly, this month's password is ‘Basilisk’.” After she said this the stone wall began to part, revealing a room full of green and silver.
“Welcome to the Slytherin common room.” The boy, Fawley, said smugly from behind the group of first years, ushering them to get inside before the wall closes.
“Yes, welcome to the Slytherin common room. There are plenty of places to relax, study, and play games here. The bookshelves that line that wall to the left are full of past textbooks and extra helpful reading material for classes.” Hopkins said, motioning to the bookshelf she was talking about.
“To your right is the fireplace and at the back wall are windows that show under the black lake.” Fawley said, moving to stand on Hopkins’ left side.
“Dorms are over there, just beside the bookshelves. The girls will follow me to the girl first year dorms while the boys will follow Anthony to the boy first year dorms. Your luggage has already been checked and moved to your dorms, so all you have to do is unpack and wake up early tomorrow.” Hopkins instructed, motioning for the girls to follow her.
Pansy turned to Draco to give him a bright smile before following Hopkins down to the girls' dormitories. “Okay, boys, you follow me.” Fawley instructed before turning into the hall that they had motioned to earlier and leading them to the door at the very end of the left side.
“This is your dorm, pick a bed and stick with it. You’ll be stuck with that one for the rest of your schooling.” The prefect instructed as he opened that door to show a moderately big room with five green canopy beds. “You’ll get your schedules down at breakfast tomorrow, which starts at 7:30 am to 8:50 am.” And like that the prefect left the first years to choose their beds.
Draco quickly walked forward to pick the back left bed, it was in a darker corner of the room and gave him the tiniest hint of privacy. It was also right next to a window that showed the murky greenish-blue water of the black lake. Blaise ended up picking the bed in the right most corner, straight across from Draco. Crabbe and Goyle chose the beds on either side of the door, as if they were the guards of the dorm. Finally, Theo chose the next closest bed to Draco, other than the bed that Blaise had chosen.
Before long they had all changed and had blown out the candles, retreating to their own beds. When Draco was in the safety of his own bed, the curtains drawn in around him, did he allow himself to curl in on himself.
I made my Ancestors proud, Draco thought, hoping it would sooth his hidden anxieties. But then why do I feel as if I messed up so badly? He cuddled up under the blankets on his bed, as if that would protect him from the feeling of wrongness that filled his heart and swirled through his brain.
If only I could get rid of my feelings, Father.