Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter or anything from J.K. Rowling's wonderful stories. This is a fanfiction work and is not intended for profit.

Chaos Theory: The flapping of a single butterfly's wing today produces a tiny change in the state of the atmosphere. Over a period of time, what the atmosphere actually does diverges from what it would have done. So, in a month's time, a tornado that would have devastated the Indonesian coast doesn't happen. Or maybe one that wasn't going to happen, does. (Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice? The Mathematics of Chaos, pg. 141)

You Only Get One Chance to Make a First Impression

It was a beautiful mid summer day, the sky was blue, the sun was bright and the heavy rains from the night before gave everything a refreshed feeling. In spite of all this, or perhaps because of it Draco Malfoy was Not Happy. A day like that demanded every school aged child to run around in the sun or preferably, in Draco's mind, to fly around on a racing broom. Yet here he was walking down Diagon alley with his parents, shopping for school supplies, of all things! There was still an entire month before the beginning of his first year at Hogwarts. But his father said he might not get another chance to get away from the ministry before September so it had to be today.

The Malfoy family continued down the alley away from Gringotts after visiting their very large, very crowded vault. Narcissa Malfoy walked on the left side of her husband holding his elbow and looking down her nose with slight disdain at the rabble around her. Only slight disdain because even she was not immune to the effects of a beautiful day. Lucius Malfoy walked by his wife's right with a regal air, ignoring the world at large. He held a small sack from Gringotts in one hand and his walking stick in the other. Their son wandered a few steps behind the couple peering into the various shops, trying not to look like he was sulking and failing entirely. Finally they arrived at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Lucius turned to his son.

"Draco, I'll get your books next door while your getting your robes in here... and stop pouting!" Mr. Malfoy admonished his son.

Draco merely nodded then stared at his shoes.

"Dear," Narcissa Malfoy spoke up, "I need to look into getting a new wand. I'll be at Olivanders," She turned primly on her heel and walked off. Lucius handed his son enough Galleons to pay for the robes. He watched his son admire his shoelaces a moment more in silence, then sighed.

"We can look in Quality Quidditch supplies before we leave," Mr. Malfoy added absently.

At that Draco brightened considerably. He looked up at his father with a smile, nodded his thanks and went into Madam Malkin's shop.

Madam Malkin was dressed all in mauve, she greeted Draco pleasantly and directed him to stand on a stool in the back of the shop. A second witch slipped a long robe over him and began pinning it to his size. The chimes on the shop door rang again and the Madam went to the front to greet the new customer. Shortly, a dark haired boy was on a stool next to Draco also getting dark robes. The dark haired boy appeared to be about Draco's age and was getting the same robes, so Draco guessed the other boy was also intending to go to Hogwarts.

"Hullo, Hogwarts too?" Draco asked, it seemed as good a starting point for conversation as any.

"Yes," Said the dark haired boy shyly.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," excitement crept into his voice and he smiled. "Then father said we could look at the Quidditch shop. I'd love to have my own racing broom. It's a pity first years can't have their own. I'd love to play on my house team. Have you got your own broom?"

"No," came the response.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No," the other boy appeared slightly baffled.

"I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No."

"Can you say anything besides yes or no?" Draco teased him. The other boy flushed. Draco continued, ignoring his discomfort. "I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Oh! My name's Draco Malfoy by the way," he held out his hand smiling vaguely. The dark haired boy took it a bit shyly and said,

"I'm Harry Potter," They shook hands and Draco's smile widened. Now, of course Draco recognized the name right away, you'd have to be daft not to know who Harry Potter was. He was curious about this famous boy and of course his scar but he resisted the urge to stare at his forehead and instead said,

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Potter," Draco said, with all the proper manners he had been raised with.

"Call me Harry," he said, somewhat embarrassed.

Draco smirked "Sure Harry, and you can call me Draco, or Drake... or Dray, or how 'bout just Der," Harry snickered a laugh at that. "I say, look at that man!" Draco exclaimed startled. There was a huge bearded man in the front window, grinning and holding two ice creams.

"That's Hagrid," Harry informed him. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh. I've heard of him. He's the groundskeeper, isn't he?"

"He's the gamekeeper," Harry corrected.

"Gamekeeper?" Draco said faintly, "What sort of game do they have where they would need someone so big to keep them?" Harry blinked. Draco smirked at him.

"That's you done, my dear," Madam Malkin told Harry. He hopped off his stool then looked back at Draco. "Want to join us for ice cream?" he asked hopefully.