Snakes Bite
AN- This story is of my invention, but all characters and original inventions go to the great J. K. Rowling.
-HARRY-
"Draco, I really don't think I'll be accepting your offer, but I'll be making one of my own. I don't need you to show me who's worthy. But you can hang around with Ron and I. Maybe I can show you," I say.
"With Weasley? You want me to hang out with him?" Draco Malfoy spits.
"No, I don't care either way," I say.
"Take it or leave it," Ron smirks.
Draco spins on his heels and leaves the cart in a huff. I almost regret offering my friendship to him. He doesn't really seem like he's used to having anything other than what he wants.
"Draco Malfoy?" Ron whines, "The whole lot's been in Slytherin for centuries."
"I don't think that's such a bad thing," I say.
"It is. You-Know-Who was a Slytherin and so were his followers," Ron sighs.
Honestly, Ron's acting like Dudley when he doesn't get what he wants with all this sighing and moping and throwing a fit. The both of them need a nice dose of reality.
"Vol-sorry, You-Know-Who's followers were in Slytherin because he was in Slytherin. It isn't Slytherin's fault. If he was in another house then they would be too. Why wouldn't he go to people with the same interests and abilities?" I say, "And you are not required to be my friend, Ron. If you cannot be civil, than you can go follow Neville and help him find his toad."
"I guess you have a point. But that doesn't change the fact that nearly every dark wizard has come from Slytherin," Ron says.
"But has nearly every wizard that's come from Slytherin been dark?" I ask.
-SORTING TIME-
Malfoy, Draco is called to the front. The Sorting Hat can't have possibly touched more than one pale blond hair when it shouts, "Gryffindor!" Draco looks shocked and slightly disgusted. His so-called friends, already placed firmly in Slytherin, turn their backs to him.
"See, Ron? Nothing is definite," I say into Ron's ear. Before long we're in Gryffindor too. We walk to Draco and ask him if we can sit with him. He moves scarcely a fraction of an inch, allowing only one of us to fit on either side of him. Ron growls under his breath, but he does not leave me and for that I am grateful.
"I just cannot believe this," Draco mutters.
Ron rolls his eyes and focuses on his food.
"Believe what?" I ask.
"I'm in bloody Gryffindor! I don't know what that smelly old hat is thinking, but my father will hear about this. I belong in Slytherin!" he says.
I sit quietly and follow Ron's lead while Draco fumes loudly to anyone who will listen.
"What on earth qualifies you to Sort yourself, Draco Malfoy? I myself have read Hogwarts: A History and the Sorting Hat has never misplaced a wizard," Hermione finally says.
"Don't you dare speak to me, you filthy little Mudblood," Draco spits.
The entire table gasps. Just at that moment, Professor Dumbledore dismisses us. We follow Percy to our rooms.
"Still think I was wrong?" Ron asks.
"What's a Mudblood?" I ask.
-NIGHT-
"Harry, are you still awake?" Draco whispers.
I roll over towards his voice and debate whether or not I want to answer him.
"Harry?" he whispers.
No other covers rustle, so the room must be asleep, or pretending like I am, hoping that he will just go to sleep and leave me alone.
"Yes?" I ask.
"You didn't talk to me at dinner," he says.
"I had nothing to say," I say quietly.
Draco's bed squeaks and I think that maybe he's gone to sleep at last. Maybe my wish has been granted. What would I have said to him if I did have something to say? Probably the same thing I'd say to Uncle Vernon if I were to say anything at all.
"Did I do something?" he asks so quietly I'm sure he's saying something else.
"What?" I ask.
He repeats himself quietly and I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I was too quick to accept defeat.
"Yes actually. The language you used… I like Hermione, even if she can be a bit annoying. It was rude. You complained about Gryffindor like you got the plague for your birthday," I say.
He says nothing at all.
"I stood up for you, but Ron was right and so were you. You deserve to be in Slytherin," I say.
I wait five minutes for him to reply and then I go to sleep.