Draco shifted his cloak around himself, straitening it. This sorting was already taking too long for his taste and the day had already proven to be less than ideal. He curled his lip and looked at Crabbe and Goyle (who had already been sorted into Slytherin and were sitting at the table) disappointed. Not that they noticed, they were obviously too stupid to notice much of anything, aside from the empty plates on the house tables. Draco could swear Crabbe was drooling on his robes. He was a bit disappointed these two were the best he could come up with on short notice, but there will be time later to find more deserving companions.
He rolled his eyes as the next name was called, only paying enough attention to catch whether it was his or not, and found himself looking at Harry Potter.
"The famous, wonderful Harry Potter" he thought to himself bitterly, half scoffing. Draco had tried to make the boy see things straight. He had tried to offer him a hand of popularity. Stupid Potter, the boy had as good as slapped it away and committed social suicide with the Weasel. Of course he'd regret it immediately. Once classes start and he sees how people treat him and the company he keeps, he'll come crawling back, begging to be Draco's friend.
"I wonder if Potter will be put in Slytherin…" Draco pondered. There was no doubt in his mind where he would be, and if Potter was placed there as well, it would make snagging him much easier. The Malfoy name held power already, becoming companions with the Boy-Who-Lived would certainly add to that influence.
"Malfoy, Draco!" the old hag's voice rang out. Draco thought she said her name was McConnell? Draco raised his chin and pushed out his chest, striding forward with confidence. He wanted to make the best impression on his new house. He sat on the stool in front of the whole school, and for the first time, it crossed his mind that this ancient piece of headwear might place him somewhere other than Slytherin, but before he could complete the thought,
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted before it could even touch his head. Draco grinned and walked coolly to his house's table, where he was greeted just as coolly by his new housemates and sat between Goyle and Crabbe.
Draco was starting to get hungry and was silently hurrying the sorting ceremony towards its end when the hag called out, "Potter, Harry."
Draco looked up. This was the only other sorting he was interested in. Potter sat on the stool and the hag placed the hat on his head. The hat stayed silent for a while then suddenly shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" making half the students jump. Draco scowled as Potter ran over to his house table to sit with them. Now it would be near impossible to get to him…
"What if everyone likes him better than me?" Draco watched Harry with a furrowed brow as he talked with what was most likely another Weasley. Draco had always been the golden child, everyone had always adored him growing up, and he was used to the attention and adulation. But with Potter here, an actual celebrity, no one was likely to pay Draco much attention.
Food suddenly appeared in front of him on the golden plates and platters covering the table. He picked up his fork and began to eat.
"No one will pay attention to me…unless I'm better than Potter. Better than him at everything…" Draco mulled over this thought as Crabbe and Goyle grunted to each other joyfully. By the end of dinner, Draco had resolved to beat Potter at everything he could. It wouldn't be that difficult really, after all, he was a Malfoy.