In the Snakes' Pit
At dinner after the D.A. meeting, Blaise said, “Draco, the Snakes are getting a little giddy. They saw Theo confronting you this morning, but now he remembers nothing. And some are questioning where our loyalty lies because of our friendship with the Gryffindors. You should speak to them, especially if you plan on bringing the Gryffindors into the snakes' pit.”
Nodding thoughtfully Draco answered, “Alright, I’ll speak to them tonight.”
“Enough of that. Dinnertime is gossip-time. So, Drakey-poo, spill the beans. You promised details of what happened with Theo and you had some sexy vibes going on with Golden Boy.” Pansy moved closer to Draco and looked at him expectantly. If they served popcorn for pudding, she would definitely be eating a shit ton of it right now.
“Fine”, Draco sighed. “Theo thought I’m betraying the Dark Lord because he saw how I was throwing myself at Potter at yesterday's party – which I have no recollection of, by the way. So, he wanted to take Slytherin leadership from me and make me his, I quote, ‘obedient little bitch’.”
Pansy put her hand over her mouth and gasped “That bastard! And then?”
“Well, naturally Theodore was no match for me and I defeated him easily. Potter saw everything, hiding under his stupid invisibility cloak. How he never got caught is beyond me, he’s so clumsy, honestly, it’s so cute. Anyways, Potter was very impressed and that’s why they invited us into the D.A.”
“Uhuh, now Potter and you nearly kissing!” Pansy waggled her eyebrows.
“Ehm”, Draco blushed and shot a look towards the Gryffindor table, finding green eyes already staring at him. The Slytherin blushed a deeper shade of red and looked away, clearing his throat. “He helped me adjusting my posture for casting the charm, that’s all”, Draco said hotly.
“Oh, Dray, I don’t believe you one word. There was a lot more going on, I saw it all.” She leaned into Blaise and whispered conspiratorially, “I need a pensieve. That moment was so precious while it lasted…Those seconds before the first kiss are the best. And I could’ve witnessed it.” She sighed dramatically and turned to Draco, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at him “I will never forgive you, if your first kiss with Potter isn’t in front of me. Now, back to the juicy details. Tell me, where did Potter touch you? What did you think about when casting the Patronus?”
“Oh, look at the time! I better get to the common room and prepare my speech. See you later, ta” Draco fled the Great Hall, ignoring Pansys cries of “Wait, what about my details?”
“I don’t understand how he can talk about Potter's eye colour for hours, but when it comes to the interesting parts he get’s all shy.” Pansy sighed and let herself be comforted by Blaise.
When all Slytherins were assembled in the common room, Draco noticed Theo watching him with narrowed eyes. The blonde gave Pansy a little nod in Notts direction. She immediately went to his side and grabbed his arm, whispering something in his ear which made the boy blanch.
Satisfied, that a possible troublemaker was managed, Draco faced the crowd.
“It came to my notice that some of you are questioning the activities I’ve taken up with the Gryffindors. Let me set this straight: I myself have chosen to form an alliance with them and if the war breaks out, I’m siding with them.” The Slytherins gasped and whispered.
“Let me assure you, though, that I don’t expect you to follow me. I’d rather you all stay out of the war. However, I want you to carefully consider all angles and perspectives. I want you to question what you were taught as kids. Some of you maybe experienced some interhouse friendships and realized that there are all kinds of wizards and witches who are not inferior to us purebloods. When you’ve done that, you are free to choose your actions. I’m not leader of Slytherin so I can dictate your life. Everyone of you has a responsibility of their own and I respect that. I’m your leader to show you all your options and voice my concerns. What you do with that is up to you.”
Draco looked over his people and asked, “Do you have any questions about my standing, right now?”
Tentatively one fifth year girl asked, “What will you do, if you encounter us on the battlefield as your enemy?”
“My loyalty lies first and foremost to my friends and family. All Slytherins are my family, so I certainly wouldn’t hurt you. My goal would be to immobilize you and take you to a safe place. That is when you’re not immobilizing me first” Draco answered.
“What is your relationship with Potter?” a third year boy wanted to know.
“That’s complicated. Let’s just say we’re friends.” “Yeah, for now”, Pansy smirked and a few girls giggled.
Draco glared at them. “If there aren’t any more serious questions, I have another announcement to make. Today Pansy, Blaise and I attended a D.A. meeting. Our secret training is suiting us better but their level at advanced spells is pretty high.”
“Can they do the Patronus?” A seventh year exclaimed.
“Yes, all of the D.A. members can do that. I can do it, too now. Expecto Patronum!” Draco led his snake circle around every Slytherin once. The Slytherins whispered excitedly. “Are we going to learn that, too?”
“When you’re okay with Potter, Weasley and Hermione teaching you, then you are going to learn it, yes. I have to admit, teaching you the Patronus isn’t my expertise, so we have to rely on outside help.”
Draco clapped in his hands. “Alright. I will vouch for the three Gryffindors coming into our territory. All in favor?”
The Slytherins hissed loudly.
“All against it?” Draco asked and smirked when he was met with silence.
“How did you know where the entrance to the Slytherin quarters is?” Draco asked suspiciously when he greeted the golden trio outside of the Slytherin common room a few days later.
When they entered, Hermione looked around in awe. But Weasley and Potter seemed unimpressed. Draco narrowed his eyes at them, boring his silver eyes into Potter's emerald ones until the Gryffindor squirmed and sighed in defeat.
“Ok, ok. Stop looking at me all reproachfully, Draco. Ron and I polyjuiced into Crabbe and Goyle in second year and confronted you about the heir of Slytherin.” Potter had the decency to look sheepish while Weasley grinned smugly.
Draco harrumped and linked arms with Hermione. “Well, I assume without Hermione you would’ve tried to barge in with your stupid invisibility cloak and get busted before you could even take a look into the common room.” He then proceeded to drag her trough a labyrinth of corridors and stairs to the training room, the Gryffindor boys in tow.
“Attention, everyone. Our guests are here.” Draco announced and the trio was greeted with curious whispers and stares. “Don’t be too hard on Hermione because she’s cool. I don’t care what you do with those two Gryffindorks over there.” The blonde smirked, and Potter shouted an indignant “Hey!”
“Maybe you should introduce yourselves first”, Pansy suggested.
“Yeah, ok, uh. Well, uhm, hi” Harry greeted and flushed a little when he was scrutinized by the Slytherins. “Eloquent as ever, Potter” Draco sneered and the Slytherins giggled.
“Shut up”, Harry muttered. Louder, he addressed the group again. “As you all may have heard, I’m Harry Potter, a Gryffindor. But the Sorting Hat wanted to put me into Slytherin, so I hope you’re going to accept me at least for our practice meeting today.”
“What the fu–“ “Language, Pansy! There are children present!” Draco admonished Pansy’s shocked yelling. In all the uproar Potter’s revelation caused, all Draco could think about was what Potter would look like in Slytherin robes. The green would’ve accentuated his eyes just superbly.
The Slytherins’ inhibitions seemed to be broken because they bombarded Potter with questions and requests.
“Can we call you Harry?” – “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Show us your Patronus, Harry!” – “Expecto Patronum!” – “Oh! Ah!”
“Did you really get onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team because Draco showed you how to fly?” – “Well, I guess you could interpret it like that…”
“Say ‘Slytherin rules!’ in Parseltongue!” – “Uhm. Slytherin is kinda crazy!” – “So cool!”
“Are you going to die soon because of high sugar? Draco says you’re putting too much sugar in your tea and that’s not healthy.” – “No? Wait, Draco talks about me?”
“Aaaand that’s enough questions! We should get on with the practice, don’t you think? Great!” Draco shooed them all away from Potter and they grudgingly began to practice spells. “Right, you better make your rounds now, Potter”, the blonde pushed the Gryffindor into the nearest Slytherin group.
Taking a calming breath Draco turned to Pansy. “I think, I have to discipline them all.”
“Nonsense, Draco. They mean no harm. It’s not their fault you talk so much about Potter.” She giggled. Traitor. Draco huffed.
“At least they’re accepting Potter in their midst.” Pansy gave Draco's hand a squeeze.
“Yeah, seems like it’s going well” Draco said, looking fondly at Potter who was currently hogged by the first years, explaining while wildly gesticulating how he fought the basilisk while the kids looked up at him in awe.