Chapter 1: Compass

Title: Unexpected Choices

Author: Miishii

Category: Harry Potter

Main Pairing: N/A

Disclaimer: The world and Characters of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling. I tried to kidnap them all once with a devious plan involving three paper clips, four miles of yarn and an entire silo full of grapes… but what is easily executed in theory can go horribly, horribly wrong in reality…my therapist says I'm making great progress though and they'll try letting me out of the jacket next week... d-(^o^)-b

Warning: There are scenes of violence and course language, viewer discretion is advised. Also a few facts will and have been changed since nothing ever is the same when different choices are made. I am not all that sane so you have been warned. Oh yeah, there is abuse in this story. Lots and lots of abuse…

A/N: Just to let you all know I am all for the Slash, the Yaoi, a supporter of the limp wrists if you will. As such many of my stories will feature such relations and if you can't handle it then don't read! Honestly, if you ignore such warnings then you deserve to get offended. Just saying, If you still want to read then continue, Much love!

ooo

Choice: it is defined as an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. But such explanations don't tell us the difficulty of making such decisions or how in the choosing your life can be changed, and so can the very course of fate itself, forever…

ooo

Stormy grey eyes stared silently up at the black tapestry hanging in place of the green and silver house crest that had once hung above the dark and noble table of Slytherin. The whole Hall was shrouded with black, the mood somber and the atmosphere heavy as people trudged in and sat down quietly. Even the most rambunctious students sensed the tension in the air and kept their heads down, their moods dampened and subdued. The usual lively end of the year feast was thus far muffled and burdened with the weight of death, the silence at the Hufflepuff table made conversation difficult and those who did choose to speak did so at a whisper. All the Slytherin's could feel the tension in the air and their small group became even more isolated with it, suspicious eyes of the other houses driving them further into themselves as they met stare for glare. It was almost as if with one mind they filed in and sat silently at their table. Not a single Slytherin spoke, not a single one moved. Their eyes, like Draco's, stared up at the black banners above them, faces set in stone. They knew, better then anyone, what those black banners meant for them and their world.

They knew the moment the feast ended their lives would then forever begin to change.

"The end," As one the Slytherins turned their heads to face Dumbledore who now stood addressing the entire school, his eyes sad an his expression…old. "of another year." Draco had been the only Slytherin who had not moved at the sound of the headmasters voice, his eyes almost serenely staring at the gently swaying black fabric of the tapestry above him. He didn't look away.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here enjoying our Feast with us." Grey eyes finally let themselves slide over to the headmaster, who stood for once in normal black robes and raised one wizened hand and goblet towards the ceiling as he spoke to the subdued children before him. "I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory"

They did it, all of them, Draco's chilling glare rousing the straggling Slytherins as benches scrapped the floor. The entire hall stood and raised their glasses and as one spoke in a loud, low, rumbling voice, "Cedric Diggory" A few students shivered at the intensity of that joined voice the walls of the school seeming to dull in sadness from it.

Draco glanced at his Slytherins, their faces pale for reasons other then the death of a schoolmate. Diggory had been a pureblood and a well liked one, even amongst the damned of Hogwarts. He would be missed. Benches scrapped the floor once more as all resumed their seated positions, the Hufflepuffs no longer held back their tears and sobs broke out among them. Dumbledore continued on. "Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker and he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about. " Draco lowered his head in respect for the dead and it was with lead in his stomach that he, and the rest of Slytherin, listened to the words they knew to be true but dreaded to hear.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort"

A panic whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief and horror, only the Slytherins did not act surprised and all seemed unaffected by the news. But a keen eye would be able to detect the slight tremor that shook them and how several paled at the confirmation of Voldemorts return. For most the choice they would face was clear and easily set, but for others there would be no choice for them. Their paths where paved for them the moment the monster rose from his assumed death. Draco and his friends would be given no choice for they where groomed for the darker side since the very day of their birth.

"What are we going to do?" Came the frightened whisper on his left. Dumbledore continued with his speech as Draco turned towards Crabbe whose face was pale and for once without his usual mask of zero rumination. Only Draco knew the true characters of those that most considered his thugs. Despite the popular belief that he had no heart he could feel the usually hardened organ melt for his two followers. They where his only friends and he could see the fear in their faces as they looked to him for guidance, guidance he wished for himself. He knew, deep down, that Crabbe and Goyle may not survive the upcoming war, for there would be one. Lowering his voice he didn't try to sooth their fears for that would be useless to them. They would need the fear to keep them sharp and as a reminder to keep their heads and take caution. "You keep your heads down." He muttered to them, his expression calm "Your fathers are not prominent members in the circle and you're both only 14. The Dark Lord won't be looking towards you for another three to four years."

Hopefully the war would be over by then and which ever side won would be lenient towards the two large brutes he called friends.

"But what about you, Draco? Your Da-"

"Shh"

Goyle stopped speaking and turned to face the front with no argument or hesitation. Their trust in Draco's decisions was still as strong and true as when they where toddlers. While the mask Draco wore was usually of a coldhearted snake and bully, Crabbe and Goyle hid behind partially faked idiocy. While not complete morons, Inbreeding has caused a few deficiencies to their learning abilities. Crabbe, for instance, suffered from a sever case of Dyslexia which often caused him to react in anger from the frustration of it and Goyle suffered from short-term memory loss. It was random at times but often took hours and hours of repetition to keep what they learned in school to stick. It was only Draco who had been patient enough to befriend them as children and it was his stubbornness that refused to let him give up on them. As he held their true selves secret, they held his. Dumbledore and everyone else in the hall began to stand again each reaching for their goblets.

Draco didn't move. He wouldn't toast to pure luck for it would just encourage such reckless behavior and he refused to toast to someone who where so lost in their own self pity that they missed the obvious things right in front of them. Wizarding savior his ivory white arse, a true savior would save everyone…not just those society deemed 'good' or 'light'. As everyone else rose Draco stayed seated with his back straight and posture rigid. He could feel Harry's eyes on him and turned to meet those cursed green orbs. Grey and green clashed, and Draco knew that the worst would be thought of him again. He could see it in the anger that flickered like fire in the other boy's expression and he knew that any hope he had of freeing his two friends from their fate died the moment Harry looked away and the great hall spoke as one once more.

"To Harry Potter…"

ooo

The rest of Dumbledore's speech was ignored, the feast passing by quickly and the somber group of Slytherins all rose and exited the great hall as one, their departure like a fading shadow. Draco was silent as he and his year mates made their way into their dormitory and the separate years divided and filtered out as the sixth and seventh years called council in the common room. Despite the fact that they did this routinely at the end of every year everyone knew it wasn't to advise the sixth years as usual, the younger snakes knew it was a meeting in regards to more serious matters.

A dark pair of eyes caught his own and Draco nodded to Blaise as the other indicated towards one of the many nearly hidden doors leading away from the common room. Snapping his fingers Draco caught the attention of Crabbe and Goyle and motioned towards Zambini, they both nodded and lumbered after the other and out of the room as Draco turned to follow. Their silent colloguy hadn't been noticed and the others made it out of the common room unhindered and unseen, but Draco had no such luck, for as he turned he caught another's eye and his departure was prevented. He forced himself not to jump or even twitch as a large hand fell upon his shoulder and clamped down like a vice causing his expression to tighten as he fought off a wince. He knew for a fact he was going to bruise and he calmly regarded the owner of the hand with cold eyes.

"Flint" Draco acknowledged looking coolly down at the others hand still grasping his shoulder and raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the appendage. The taller youth didn't get hint and instead tightened his grip as he smiled with crooked teeth and squinty eyes, his head bent forwards as he looked down at the small boy in his grasp.

"Draco" He grinned and Draco found himself staring at the others teeth thinking over all the spells he knew that could straighten them out. Why the other had never gotten them fixed he may never know but they made him even more grotesque then he already was. Flint didn't seem to notice Draco's distraction and tried to steer the other towards the couches. "Where do you think you are running off to? We called council did we not?" Draco was like a stone and he ignored the painful and rather forceful pressure on his shoulder, not moving an inch. In all appearances they where just talking, but a battle of strength and wills was being fought as Draco felt his calves strain against the pull on his shoulder. You don't know how hard it is to keep your posture perfect and expression relaxed when a gorilla that was beaten with the ugly stick is yanking on your upper body.

"If you have forgotten, Flint, I am a fourth year. It will be two more years before I am to sit a council, why I am being reminded of this years council escapes me." The entendre was not lost on Flint. Why would Draco need to talk about the war when he was not yet of age for it. They all knew the dark Lord would not be looking to recruit a bunch of children, but rather capable adults that had enough power to be of assistance to the cause. Flint's eyes narrowed and his smile caused Draco to suddenly feel nervous as the grip on his shoulder relaxed completely until the hand just sat there.

"You should know better then anyone, seeing who your father is." The air in the common room suddenly became tense and the hand on his shoulder slipped up towards Draco's cheek, one long finger trailing down it almost like a tear as the other snorted slightly and shook his head. "Keep lying to yourself Malfoy but you and I both know we'll be seeing each other again real soon…"

The eyes of the older Slytherins could be felt on him as his hmm'd as if disinterested at Flints insinuation, pale hands calmly smoothing out the rumples Flints grip had put in his robes before he let stormy grey eyes glare up at the other youth. Flint seemed like a fool under that gaze and Draco watched the others face heat up in anger, his fists clenching with it. Draco sneered at the others lack of control and sniffed in a snotty way as he turned to leave, his pace even and graceful as he made his way to where his friends where most assuredly waiting for him. Flint's voice called out after him causing him to pause, his hand on the door handle as the others words cut deep into his mind.

"You're no better then any of us Malfoy, You'll see. The Dark Lord will brand you and like the rest of us you'll bow because that is the path that you where groomed for! You can't escape fate Malfoy! Remember whose side you're on."

Draco lifted his head and gazed back at all the sixth and seventh years staring at him, and tilted his head to the side a little. The temperature of the room dropped drastically with his gaze yet a small smile graced his face. Without a word Draco left the still and silent room, no one moving until the door slid shut with a quiet 'thd'.

ooo

The door that Draco had taken lead him down a small tunnel like passage which branched off at random times and twisted at odd moments. Doors appeared and disappeared as he walked down the darkened path and candles caused strange shadows to dance on cold stone walls. It was never questioned as to why the Slytherins referred to their house dormitories as the snake den but most did not know the double meaning behind those words. No one outside of Slytherin knew about the tunnels and no one in Slytherin knew the tunnels better then Draco. Yet even he knew he wasn't even close to discovering all the secrets that lay within his own house dormitories and he doubted he ever would. It wasn't long until light illuminated the halls from behind a closed wooden door and Draco rapped a knuckle against it a few times quietly, the slightly muffled knock echoing eerily into the darkness.

He wasn't surprised when the door was swept open roughly and he was practically carried into the room by an over excited Goyle. He patiently waited while the other checked him over and sighed as the bigger boy slowly calmed down. When they had first arrived at Hogwarts the older Slytherins had taken it upon themselves to haze the younger years but it was a well known fact amongst the three friends that when Draco got scared or embarrassed he got snippy, a fact which didn't go over well when facing the mean spirited youth of Slytherin. Most often then not Draco returned with his body more injured then his pride. He never once outed those who did it nor did he back down. In fact he retaliated in such a way no one could actually pin the acts on him. He was silent in his retribution and it gained him the respect and fear of his fellow Slytherins. For the last four years his reputation grew and soon he made a name for himself as Slytherin's Ice prince. He displayed the same aloofness now in the presence of Zambini and controlled his friend with merely a look.

Goyle backed off allowing Draco to properly enter the room under his own power and it gave the smaller a chance to look around. It was a sitting room, with a small table low to the ground and close to the large and roaring fireplace. The stone itself was not the dull grey one most often saw on the upper floors but had been enchanted to keep a silver sheen to it instead. The furniture was of black twisting metal and padded with deep green cushions and the ceiling above them was carved stone that rose in a dome shape above them giving the illusion of wide space. Movement drew his eyes towards the figure sitting calmly on a chair by the fire, his legs crossed and gaze fixed on the flickering flames.

"What kept you?"

Blaise Zambini was a tall dark skinned youth whose mother was far freer with herself then she was with her money. He had garnered most of his appearance from his mother, with dark eyes and long lashes that brushed against smooth skin. He moved with liquid grace that Draco had to admit made him a bit jealous at times and had more muscle then he should at fourteen. With broad shoulders indicating towards more expected growth Blaise Zambini was often the topic of most girls gossip. Not that there was a lot to gossip about besides his appearance, for Zambini was a mystery even unto his own house. His family had always been neutral between the light and dark, and he had no close friends, choosing instead the companionship of a good book rather then social chatter. He strayed away from the limelight and was often overlooked or forgotten by his peers.

Draco could recall the only moments he actually spent with Zabini, besides meals and class, was when they shared their routine meeting in the library where they sat silently next to each other without a word between them and studied or read until they both stood and left without a sound. He had never been called out by the boy before and Draco could think of nothing the other would want to talk to him about and he was immensely curious as to why Zambini did so now.

Zambini waited for Draco's answer, which came naught a moment after the others question. "Flint" he said crisply with all honesty in his voice. He was not planning on elaborating on it beyond that and refreshingly enough the other youth didn't pry but instead leaned forwards and motioned for Draco to sit across from him, Crabbe and Goyle standing sentry by the door. As Draco gracefully took his seat Zambini got straight to the point.

"You are probably wondering why I am here." It was blunt and something that amused Draco immensely, for he figured Zambini would be one to verbally dance rather then plow forwards.

"It was a question that had occurred to me, yes"

"I am here in regards to anonymous parties which seek council. Your council to be exact, and they wish for your guidance." Draco's eyebrow rose and he tensed slightly, the only indication to his nervousness at such a declaration. "They are torn between their families, lineage, blood and friends and are unable to lay loyalties to any specific group. So they asked me to relay a message. They pledge their loyalties …to you." Draco no longer tried to hide his surprise.

"I beg your pardon?"

Zambini seemed pleased with his reaction and reached into his robes, groping around until his hand clasped onto something. Without flourish or emotion he pulled a thick vellum envelope from it's hidden spot within his robes, the color of it contrasting drastically with the others dark skin and black uniform. He held it towards the still stunned Draco. "Within this envelope are a list of names which pledge themselves to you and your leadership, a secret alliance with you as their figurehead. They will follow you, whatever your decision. It's enchanted, if you accept the responsibility you may open it and thus agree to a vow of secrecy, otherwise throw it into the fire without breaking the seal and walk away."

Grey eyes met brown and Draco put on an expression of arrogance and gloating. "I'm a Malfoy, its only natural that others would notice my importance and acknowledge it." A chuckle escaped him but Zambini didn't pull the envelope away, nor did his expression change. Instead those deep eyes stared right through him and Draco dropped the act, his stance no longer one of arrogance but of nervousness as he hesitantly took hold of the envelope. "What makes you so sure of me? Don't you believe I'd abuse this? I'm a prat after all. I'm a Malfoy, evils spawn, the most Slytherin, the most pure."

Zambini leaned back and regarded the blond before him and nodded. "You're right." He stood and smoothed out his robes. "You are the most pure." Draco's expression didn't change but Zambini could feel the others confusion. "It has been noticed." He said quietly and his eyes flicked towards the door where Crabbe and Goyle still stood. Draco's eyes widened slightly but he said nothing. Zambini merely smiled and headed towards the door as Draco's gaze fell to the envelope and he fingered the seal while leaning towards the fire.

What was he to choose?

He looked up at Zambini when the other paused at the door. "Our lives are made up of choices Draco, and despite what you think there is always a choice. You have a list of those who believe in you and will follow you no matter your choice, but it is up to you what direction that choice will take you." Their eyes met once more "You're not alone in this Draco, you will find that there are many who would willingly go to war for you, I should know…" He opened the door and stepped into the hall "I'm one of them."

The door shut quietly yet the sound was heavy in the now silent room.

Draco could only stare at the spot Zambini had previously stood, his mind having gone blank. When the bloody hell did people start to actually like him? Or see him as anything besides the evil, cold-hearted prince he posed himself to be? Where had he messed up? 'It has been noticed' that's what Zambini had said. Did they see the truth behind his closeness to his thugs? Did they notice the friendship? How would that make him trustworthy enough to lead people into war, or choose their side? Why had the other announced his loyalty to Draco when his family had always been neutral? Would he willingly throw himself into battle because of Draco's say so?

"Why?" Draco asked quietly as Crabbe flopped into Zambini's empty seat. Goyle came up behind Draco's chair and Draco could feel their silent communication over his head. "The light side has their savior…now those lost to the light need one too" Crabbe muttered quietly, his voice a comforting rumble in the quiet of the room.

"Yeah," Goyle piped up from behind Draco's chair "And you're the 'prince' remember? Where would you be without your loyal subjects?" Draco aloud a chuckle to escape him since it was what Gregory had been going for and gave his friends a small smile as his eyes fell to stare at the fire once more.

ooo

To my most noble son and heir,

I send this letter in anticipation of your return to the Manor this upcoming summer as well as to inform you of our newly arrived guest, a traveling lord, who has taken up residence in our most honored home. It is to our great pleasure that he has chosen our manor to reside in and you shall be required, upon your return, to help see to it that he is comfortable and taken care of in a manner befitting of a Malfoy.

He is a wise and noble man and it is my expectations as your sire and father that you will not waste this opportunity to learn form his knowledge and experience. He is reclusive and of a quiet nature and wishes to stay out of the limelight, for his name is widely known, until he deems it desirable to make his appearance once more into society. Understand me when I say that it is required that you keep his appearance at our home silent and bound, even unto your close friends. I believe that it doesn't need to be said that you must evince a manor that is befitting of a Malfoy at all times whilst our lord is here.

Your mother sends her love and we await your return,

Lord Lucius Malfoy

ooo

The universe was mocking him, Draco was sure of it. He knew from the moment he awoke to Pansy's cheerful singing and it was confirmed when a smiley face pancake appeared in front of him at breakfast. It was clear to him that the galaxy was trying to shove the happiness of everyone else down his throat while his own life was spiraling down the loo. It was with a disturbing amount of malicious glee that he mutilated that damned happy breakfast, despite his lack of appetite. The atmosphere of the day was the exact opposite of Draco's inner mood; one that was caused by the by the knowledge he now bore and the choices he was soon to be forced to make.

What he wouldn't give, if for just a moment, to be anyone but whom he were. Then he could run to a teacher or hell, even to Dumbledore, without the fear of suspicion or distrust. But then if he were someone other then who he was he wouldn't need to. He'd be just like everyone else, laughing and running around like a barbarian, with no need to hide behind a societal mask to appease his father or to keep appearance for his mother. Everything he was had been forged by his parents, he never had to face anything for himself before.

His choices, his decisions he never really made any for himself. He was in Slytherin because that was where Malfoy's went; the hat chose that for him. His friends, his prejudices, even what he wore each day, was all chosen for him. He never had to choose anything before. When he was a child if he saw two toys he liked he never had to pick one over the other for his parents would buy both. He never had to actually do anything for himself; house elves did it for him. For his entire life he was cared for. Now he faced a choice that could not be made for him, now he was to choose not only for himself but for others as well.

What was he to choose?

Sighing Draco looked away from the happy students milling below him and instead raised his eyes to the cloudless blue sky above. The astronomy tower was the perfect place for when Draco needed solitude; it was a spot many would not venture to unless forced. Seemingly endless stairs discouraging any thoughts the lazy students of Hogwarts may have ever had of venturing up those ancient steps.

It was Draco's favorite spot and had been since he first came to the place while he had been spying on Potter and his friends in first year. He hadn't intentionally gotten them in trouble either but had merely wanted to see the dragon they had been carrying. He apparently still had a lot to learn about sneaking around then because he had no idea he had been spotted until McGonagall had materialized out of the shadows behind him, she had scared him enough that he couldn't stop the words that escaped him as he tried to save his own butt from getting into trouble. He told the hardheaded woman that he had been trying to find her since it was her students that he had overheard getting into mischief.

She had not believed him until she had caught the two dorks at it. Then she had tried to even it out by punishing him as well. The golden trio had not been pleased, to say the least and bore even more resentment and animosity towards Draco from that moment on. Even McGonagall seemed to think bad of him and he was sure, that had he been a Griffindor, she would have rewarded him instead of punishing him. Being a Slytherin had taught him to be used to being judged unfairly but that had been the first time he noticed it in the teachers as well. I mean think about it, the trio had disregarded all personal safety and the rules when they had gone after the troll but they had been rewarded for it. But he gets out of bed and gets punished? Not fair I tell you!

Shaking his head at the memory Draco huffed out a breath of air and used a tempus spell to note the hour. He sighed when he realized he had stalled as long as he dare and took only the briefest of glimpses to look out at a sight he had a feeling he would not see in a good long while. Then, without pause, he turned away and began his descent back into the castle.

It was time to return home.

ooo

"Lord Voldemorts gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open…"

Dumbledore's words echoed through his brain as Draco sat silently with his two friends as the train sped southwards towards London. The world blurred together outside the window and Draco sat without moving whilst he stared at the passing scenery. He spoke not a word as his eyes fixed themselves on the colors flying passed them and his hands clasped an ever-ink quill and a pad of parchment before him. This was a common occurrence with Draco, for him to be writing something or jotting his thoughts down but what was not common was his lack of movement and it was this particular lack of animation that had his friends staring at him instead of their usual game of exploding snap.

He didn't notice Vincent and Gregory as they shared a worried look before they continued to stare at him in silence. Draco sat in a way that made you think of royalty for he lounged in the hard seats of the train rather then slumping or slouching like a normal teenager. He didn't fidget or twitch or move save for the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, and had it not been for that repetitive movement he could have been thought petrified or dead. The usual pile of summer homework sat completed and safely tucked in a dragonhide folder with the Malfoy crest embroidered on the lower left corner, safe and ready for when he gave it to Gregory to study over the summer. It was an annual thing for Draco to finish his summer homework before ever leaving the school and giving it to his two friends to study over the summer. Vincent would help Gregory by tutoring him thus improving his own grades and Gregory would read Draco's homework repetitively until he could easily understand what was wanted of them and do his own. Spells kept his homework crisp and clean and the folder made sure nothing got lost or misplaced. It was a system Draco had started when they had first begun their education and it still held true to this day. It worked and that was all that mattered to Draco.

Draco had a fear that this may be the last time he and his friends shared such preparations for their futures and he knew he would do anything to make sure they had one. Dumbledore's words filtered through his head again and he came to a decision. "I think," Draco began and paused to blink in confusion at his two friends gasping and clutching themselves on the ground. He hadn't taken note of the rising tension in the compartment and had been oblivious to the silence that had stretched for the last hour. His words had not only cut through the silence but it had startled his friends out of their seats.

"What are you two doing?" He asked in an exasperated and amused tone, raising an eyebrow elegantly as he tilted his head to the side to stare at his weird friends. They where predictable but sometimes, like now, they confused him.

Gregory righted himself and shared a look with Vincent that made Draco realized he had missed something. Waving his hand pompously he brushed the thought aside. "Anyway as I was saying, I think he should try…er asking, I mean…" Draco stumbled over the words, the sentence being harder to spit out verbally then it had been to think up in his head. Clenching his teeth together he reluctantly drawled out the words that he knew would haunt him in the future.

"I think we should ask Potter and the golden for help."

Silence blanketed the compartment once more as Draco was looked at in shock. His friends could not believe the words they had just heard and Draco took their shock quite calmly, even if he suddenly felt like washing his mouth out. Ew gross, next thing you know he'd be saving people, openly defying the dark lord and parading around in red and gold. Colors that would completely clash with his complexion you should know.

"Draco?" Gregory asked confused.

"Wait, what?" Vincent alliterated.

"I said it once and that's all you're getting. Now come on…how bad can it be?"

Draco's face did a weird contortion as he tried to force his expression into one of confidence. He gave up and went for sourly instead, bloody hell but this was going to be painful.

Gregory looked down at the scowling blond and followed the other out into the hall, Vincent brining up the rear.

"Right…hopefully he has a plan B"

He sighed as he slid the door shut behind him.

Voices drifted out passed the closed compartment door and Draco had to try several times to work up the courage to open it. This may amuse you but it's bloody well harder then it looks and Draco took a look behind him at his two friends, regarding them critically.

"Smile Vincent, Gregory your robes are rumpled." He patted down Gregory's robe and fixed his own hair nervously, stalling for time until he could think of nothing else preventing him from just going into the compartment.

"Try to look friendly, can't have them hexing us before we even ask now can we?" He gave them a smile but it fell quickly and he made sure his wand was close, you know, just in case. He didn't need to look behind him to know Vincent and Gregory were doing the same. "Here goes nothing"

He reached for the door, Grangers voice reaching his ears.

"-ee, so she can't transform. And I've told her she's to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. See if she can't break the habit of writing horrible lies about people."

Draco took a deep breath and opened the compartment door.

"Very clever, Granger" Draco complemented, hoping to get things off on a better note then he usually did. He looked over at Potter and Weasley noting their tension and glares. Granger was calm and held little emotion as she looked at him as if ignoring his presence in the compartment. She was good but Draco was better and he could sense her curiosity.

"So," Draco began, slowly advancing into the compartment deciding to not make any sudden movements. He had heard Hagrid say it was best to approach skittish animals like that, and Weasly was looking twitchy. He tried to smile at them but he could feel it quiver on his lips. "you caught some pathetic reporter, and Potter's Dumbledore's favorite boy again." He narrowed his eyes "Big Deal." If they were celebrating over those matters then they where missing a very big picture. Voldemort was back, as the bloody savior of the wizarding world Draco believed Potter should be more focused on what lies in wait for him now.

Potter avoided his gaze and he could feel it easier to grin.

"Trying not to think about it, are we?" He asked softly looking at the three Griffindors. Draco didn't want to think about it either but it was a subject that couldn't be ignored. Ignoring it lead to being unprepared, they must realize this?

"Trying to pretend it hasn't happened?" He guessed at their faces. They where avoiding it, ignoring it, pretending that the world was still safe and secure and gentle. It wasn't the safe world they had once known. There was a war brewing, and Potter was at its core. They would have to face this fact sooner or later. People where going to die, people they cared about and it was going to happen soon.

Potters face became stony, his eyes beginning to burn behind the vibrant green and his voice was tense when he spoke. "Get out."

Draco could not, and would not, have himself get kicked out before he asked for help. Merlin's Beard Griffindors were a touchy lot. He had yet to say anything insulting or mean and they where already getting tense. Better just get it all out before he was hexed out of the compartment.

"You've picked the loosing side Potter!" He nearly snarled trying to get the other to see reason. Dumbledore was just as bad as Voldemort and Potter was merely a pawn, it was going to get them killed. "I warned you! I told you you ought to chose your company more carefully, remember?" Or at least hide how much they mean to you. Draco knew that displaying such emotions would make such friends targets. It's why no one in his family is overly affectionate, why he was cold to his friends in view of others, and why he couldn't trust himself to get close to anyone. Potters face looked strange so he tried to elaborate, tried to make him remember. "When we met on the train, first day at Hogwarts? I told you not to hang around with" His eyes glanced over the weasel who made a rude gesture at him, he scowled "riff-raff like this!" He jerked his head towards Weasley who was being silently reprimanded by Granger.

He felt bad that Potters feelings for them may get them killed and decided to point it out to him "Too late now, Potter! I warned you" The stupid savior should have hidden his feelings better, should have thought about what would happen if his enemies resurfaced. "They'll be the first to go, now that the Dark Lord's back!" He thought back to his father and his malicious smile "Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first!" He quoted as Gregory's eyes fixed themselves on Weasley's hand which had by then crept into his robes. "Well-second," Draco thought out loud "Diggory was the f-" Draco was cut off when the large hands of his friend wrapped themselves about his waste and hoisted him up into the air and against the others broad chest as they spun, the world exploding around them naught a second later.

He was blinded by the blaze of spells that blasted from every direction, deafened by the bangs and nearly crushed when his friends fell unconscious on top of him. He waited, wide eyed as the proverbial dust settled.

"Thought we'd see what those three were up to." Came a voice from beyond the door. Draco Struggled from under his friends and was ignore by the Griffindors entering and residing within the compartment. He in turn ignored them, staring down at the mess his friends where in shock and horror.

"Interesting effect," Came another voice, similar to the first but with a slight difference to it. Draco decided he immediately disliked those voices. For the first time in his life someone actually pissed him off. "INTERESTING EFFECT?" He exploded, rising to his feet and rounding on the identical twins, who quickly backpedalled into the corridor. "INTERESTING EFFECT! WHY YOU BLUBBERING FLEA-INFESTED, MAGGOT EATING SONS OF A WHORE!" A spell came at him from behind and he dodged, the curse hitting the first twin right in the face and doubling him over. Draco spun to face his attacker and was met with three wands. He ignored his own and advanced on the three before him. Ron shot off another spell that Draco allowed to hit him. It was a stinging hex but was nowhere near as painful as a crucio so it was easily ignored. He stayed on course and shoved Granger to the side where she landed rather gracefully onto the seat; Potter was met with a foot to his stomach and a chop to Weasley's hand made him drop the wand. As Potter gasped for air on the ground and Granger stared at him in shock, Draco did what he had wanted to do for a long time. He lifted a hand and backhanded the redhead.

Silence descended on the compartment.

"You judge us," He began glaring down at the 'savior' still on the floor "You judge us But you know nothing of us! You know nothing our history; our culture or our traditions and you dismiss our beliefs out of hand like a child dropping its parents jewels down the crapper! You don't even try to understand why these traditions and beliefs are still around, and why so many of us still believe in them. You will find out, Potter, that there are some things that you cannot comprehend as you are and it is only looking to our past that we find the right path to take. Yet you are so willing to erase all that and repeat the very mistakes our forefathers have written about. To turn a blind eye and deaf ear…" Draco took a step forwards and was staring down at Potter as if regarding him from a higher plane of existence.

"You're ignorant of our ways, blinded by what society thus deems as right. You see the world in black and white, the lines of justice and false truth so finely defined for you by the doddering old fool of a headmaster. You don't even have the common decency to challenge anything your so-called trusted mentors and advisors have fed to you but instead you swallow their poison unthinking. You think naught for yourself but follow the word of others like a sheep led by its Sheppard. In case you've forgotten, Potter, your precious Dumbledore was Grindlewald's best friend and the Dark Lords teacher. He too has been a washed by the darkness and you'll come to see that his light is a false one and not as bright as you would so love to believe, Yes" He hissed smoothly as he leaned towards Potter until their noses nearly touched, green eyes staring wide eyed into molten silver, their magic swelling between them and holding all who were whiteness paralyzed with it. "Who do you think let your precious godfather go to prison without trial?"

He leaned back and tilted his head to the side, his hair settling about his face giving him the appearance of the ice prince he was so widely known as. "Oh yes, I know all about that. I know of his innocence…but then again so did Dumbledor. He was the one, after all, who had to have cast the fidelus charm in the first place, he would have been present for the shift, would have known of Black's innocence. It was he who sent you to your mother's sister, despite your parent's will stating otherwise. He who let your godfather, the one who would have taken you in and raised you, go to prison. For wouldn't it have been a shame to have you raised by someone who loved and cared for you, wouldn't it have been a shame to know about the Dark Lord and Death Eaters from an early age, To start your training and education early so you'd be prepared when the time came, to face the evil that killed your parents with confidence. It would have been a bloody shame if you had been raised with wizarding traditions, with magic. Would have been against his so well thought out plans for your future if you were able to look at things from all points of view, to be able to see through the coddling lies he's fed you. He keeps things from you doesn't he? He doesn't wish for you to have all the facts because he knows that you may eventually believe yourself an individual rather then his tool martyr. He plans for you to die Potter, we in Slytherin can see this, and then he will once again have the public looking to him, the genteel old man who cradled and mentored you whilst you lived. So here I stand, bearing the cruel truth of the world before you hoping to rid at least some of the rose color from the lenses of those hideous eye sores you call glasses. We came in here seeking help and were met with unwarranted hostility, but you can't change how things were Potter. Only by our choices can we change the paths we're preordained to take. To think I believed you would hear us when you're so collared by falsehoods…"

He sneered and rounded on Granger who shrunk under his gaze. "You dislike being judged by who your parents are, your blood purity and where you come from but you judge us by those standards as well. There is a reason why many in Slytherin despise you. You are a hypocrite and you make assumptions on people without the knowledge you need to do so. Your thoughts are muddled by the books you read and you are blinded by what you think you know." His eyes were like staring into a violent storm, lightening flashed behind them and Granger curled further within herself. "If anything remember this Granger; history is written by the victorious, no fact is truth and only in fiction do we find ourselves honest."

He then rounded on the weasel that was still staring at him in shock, his cheek reddening nicely. Draco sneered at him. "Get over it." He stated before turning on his heel and leaving the three reeling in the compartment as the train sped onwards.

Out in the corridor the twins and Draco stared at each other, one red head continuously bleeding from the nose and kneeling on the ground as he tried to stop the flow. The other twin gripped his wand tightly as he stood slightly in front of his brother as if in anticipation of a dragon attack. Draco immediately knew he was going to hate these particular Weasley offspring as well. But he also knew what he was obligated to do, so he merely reached for his wand; causing both brothers to jump to alertness and point their own wands at him defensively. Draco pointed his to the ground and they relaxed slightly. "I apologize about the slur I made in regards to your mother, my actions where not befitting of my name and I am truly sorry." He gave a small bow before whipping his wand towards the still bleeding nose of one Fred Weasley.

"Hǣlan" he said firmly before either twin could react.

Then, without another word, he left silently casting Leviosa on his two unconscious thugs and floating them down the corridor. Behind him Fred noticed that the bleeding had stopped.

Fred and George looked at each other in confusion.

"Ok, what the bloody hell just happened?"

ooo

It had been two hours after the incident with the so-called golden trio and Draco was still getting the tentacles off Gregory's face. It helped that he knew what spells had been cast but he had no idea what ones had hit which friend. That had taken some time to sort out and despite Vincent complaining about the fact that his nipples where a weird orange he had righted them out the best he could. He was no healer and had no wish to be, wounds and afflictions were just gross after all and he would have to actually touch people. Ew, no…Draco had no desire to be a healer.

Sighing lightly he got ride of the last tentacle and looked over Gregory's face. Well…It looked normal now but Draco had no idea if he was affected anywhere else.

"Vincent, check out Gregory would you?"

Vincent looked up from where he was peering critically down his own shirt, presumably at his discolored nipples, and shrugged. "He looks all right to me." He went back to staring at his own chest while Draco rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant you oaf, Check to see if he has matching nipples or something."

"Not gunna"

"It's 'going to' and why the blooming hell not?"

"I just don't want to stripe my friend, ok?"

"Merlin's Beard Vincent don't be such a baby. Just take a quick look."

"Why don't you look if you're so keen on seeing what Greg's packing."

"Don't make it sound so perverted!"

"It is perverted! You want me to strip my friend while he's unconscious!"

"Is this because of that closet incident in second year?"

"I don't want to talk about it"

"Coming out of the closet with Gregory in nothing but your skivvies is something everyone loves talking about."

Just when Draco feared Vincent was going to get violent with him a groan made them both turn to the unconscious youth between them. "Gregory! Are you ok?"

Gregory Goyle blinked dazedly before rubbing at his head and looking around. "Did I fall asleep or something?" He asked in a confused manner.

"No, some stupid Gryffindors wacked us a good one." Vincent muttered annoyed.

Gregory looked up at Draco. "I don't remember" he said slightly ashamed and lowered his head. Draco placed an arm around his shoulders and knelt down next to him. "It's probably for the best that you don't…er, you had tentacles."

"Tentacles?"

"Yes"

"Where?"

"Your face."

Gregory reach up and felt his face with his hands before breathing a sigh of relief and looking at Draco. "They're all gone?"

"Yes"

"And there where none anywhere else?"

"I don't know."

"What? Why?"

"Because Vincent doesn't love you anymore."

Gregory looked at Draco for a moment in silent communication and Vincent became tense when Gregory turned to look at him, his face a mask of hurt.

"And I thought we had had something special in that closet."

The roar Vincent let out startled not only Gregory but also the Hufflepuff second year passing by their door. The hufflepuff then swore never to choose a compartment near the Slytherins ever again and rushed off to hide out with his friends on the other end of the train.

ooo

But even as Vincent and Gregory false wrestled on the ground, and Draco chuckled safely out of the way, their merriment was short for the train soon slowed, and then stopped. The students disembarking happily to their loving families, laughs and warm embraces filled the platform, and not a solemn face to be seen. That is unless you looked to the Slytherins. No one ever did and as always the Slytherins said goodbye to each other whilst still on the train, out of sight and out of mind, before each went tensely to the house elf or servant waiting for them. It was a rare thing, for a Slytherin, to have their parents personally pick them up; for public displays of affection were frowned upon when someone could use it against you.

It was with silent grace that the Slytherins said their farewells, stepped off the train and disappeared into the milling crowd.

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