A/N: Hello all, debut fic, hope you like!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its affiliates. I do, however, own this plot : )
CHAPTER ONE - FERRET
His eyes held a hint of sadness, swirling in their silver depths, as he regarded the letter that lay before him. The parchment had crease lines, it was worn around its edges, the result of constant folding and unfolding. Ghosting the tips of his fingers over the bottle green ink, which had started to fade, he knew he had to make a decision.
He had been invited to complete his seventh and final year, an unusual and unexpected invitation if any, and he longed to be within the castle's stone walls again. But he was reluctant, for reasons both obvious and subtle. He was hated – something which he was of course used to, but in the past he had had support where it had counted. Now, he doubted many Slytherins would return to Hogwarts, many opting to complete their education, if that, at Durmstrang.
He stood and stretched, feeling his muscles strain painfully, then rolled his sleeves back. The Dark Mark was fading, but it was there nonetheless, the snake's tongue weakly flicking against his wrist. What a stupid decision, he mused. What a reckless scramble for power, for recognition, all with the wrong side.
He was still cold, still driven, ambitious and proud, but he was no longer stupid. He would go, he deliberated, he would go and he would endure.
The Hogwarts Express shone with a new vigour, as if itself rejoicing the death of the Dark Lord, proudly puffing steam along the platform. Draco scoffed. He wore a hooded robe, drawn low over his telltale platinum hair, and was striding carefully along the train's length. He sighed as he sighted none of his former Slytherin cohort. Hoisting his trunk into an empty compartment, he sat, idly twirling his wand.
He was very gifted in most things magical, having had private tutors most of his young life. With a flick of his wand he transfigured his shoes, which he had taken off upon making himself comfortable, into two ferrets. Ever since being unceremoniously bounced around as one, he had obtained a soft spot for the creatures.
They were both black, their fur gleaming as much as his shoes had, a clever little sparkle in each eye. With twin squeaks, they began rocketing around the compartment, and Draco was reduced to uncontrollable laughter. The compartment door began to slide open and with a flick of his wand, Draco transfigured the animals back into his shoes, catching the one that hurtled straight at his face with a Seeker's deftness.
Lavender Brown stood, towing a beet red Weasley behind her, giggling like a maniac. Draco tugged the hood lower over his face and regarded the pair from the shadows.
"Oh, sorry, we thought this was empty," squealed Lavender, turning to place a forceful kiss on the freckled boy's slightly open mouth. Draco shuddered as he caught a glimpse of her tongue diving eagerly between his lips. I'm blind, he thought, dear sweet Merlin, they've blinded me.
The compartment door shut and Draco openly grimaced, pressing a finger to his twitching left eye. There should be a warning before they did things like that, especially when it came to that long armed idiot. He preferred to regard Weasley as an organism that did not, under any circumstances, perform any remotely intimate acts. Fire-crotch was sexless, in his eyes, and the exhibition he just witnessed was challenging his beliefs with a vengeance.
Nauseated, he stretched and propped his long legs against the seat opposite him. The compartment door banged open and a livid Hermione Granger thrust a wand at his face. Merlin, did he ever catch a break?
"Where is he," she snarled, "where is that cheating son of a-"
"Language, Granger."
She blinked, taking a hesitant step forward, squinting slightly.
"Malfoy?"
"Indeed."
He watched her tongue dart out to wet her lips, feeling his brows pull into a frown as she closed the compartment door behind her.
"Granger, you're in my space."
She ignored him.
"Did you see him?"
"Who? The orang-utan and his tart?"
She flinched at the word 'tart', then nodded stiffly.
"I have no tact when it comes to matters of your heart, Granger, so I'll just say it. They barged in not a second ago, tongue-wrestling."
The colour had drained from her face and her dark eyes began to shine with unshed tears. She was trembling. His lip curled.
"Granger, as much as I adore your company, could you please move your pity party elsewhere?"
She shot him a nasty glare, the brunt of which was muted by the tears that threatened to fall, and stood so suddenly he almost toppled backwards. She paused, blinking.
"Malfoy, why are you holding your shoe?"
He glanced down and, for reasons he still did not understand, lightly tossed his shoe at her, which she caught with surprising agility. He flicked his wand and a black ferret sat in her hands, glancing up at her. Instead of screaming and running, as he'd fervently hoped she would, she giggled as it snuffled playfully at her fingers.
She cooed and he wrinkled his nose, glaring at the ferret, which flipped onto its back allowing her to scratch its tummy.
"Traitor," he muttered, snarling at the animal, which only blinked innocently back.
"Does he have a name?"
Draco glanced up at the witch, who was giggling as the ferret mewled its happiness.
"Yes, his name is Right Shoe. Original, isn't it?"
She threw an unimpressed glance his way, then tickled the animal under its chin.
"I think I'll name you Nyx," she murmured, laughing as the ferret leaped up to her shoulder.
"Granger, it's a shoe. I'm transfiguring it back now," he said, picking up his wand, scowling as she cradled the animal to her chest, throwing him a disgusted look.
"Don't do that!"
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Why the hell not, Granger?"
"Because it knows what it's like to live now," she stated immediately.
"If I turn it back into a shoe, I don't think it would be too offended. I hardly think it will get its laces in a knot."
He chuckled at his pun, but stopped awkwardly as she stared at him.
"You just made a joke," she murmured, petting the ferret absently. He looked away and transfigured his other shoe into another ferret. She grinned as the one she was holding leapt out of her hands to join its friend on the floor.
"What name goes with Nyx?"
"Orion."
She stiffened, but didn't dare look up at him, and he scowled at himself for answering her.
She leant forward and tapped her wand on Nyx's head, leaving a patch of white.
"To identify him," she explained.
He wordlessly flicked his wand at Orion, watching as the ferret's fur lightened into white, leaving a patch of black at its forehead.
"It's like Yin and Yang," she said, smiling.
Unnerved by her friendliness, he sneered.
"Yin and what?"
"Never you mind," she mumbled, petting the ferrets, then turned to walk out of the compartment, shutting the door lightly.
Staring at the closed door, then at the ferrets, he sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. The hood fell from his head and he reached up to his trunk to fish out a pair of dragonhide boots, since he clearly would never see his hand made, Venetian leather Berluti shoes again.
"Stupid ferrets," he muttered, pulling on the boots, glaring at Nyx and Orion, who gave him twin animal grins.
He paused before pulling on his boots, sliding the compartment door open slightly. He smirked as he heard a resounding slap and a strangled yell. Oddly comforted, he sat back and stretched. It was always a good day when the weasel was taken down a notch or two.
A/N: So how was that? I know Draco might be a little OOC here, but don't worry, his horridness will return with a vengeance. Reviews would be wonderful : )