There is a long pause, which seems to last a lifetime. It should be obvious he thinks, mentally rolling his eyes at the idiocy of this supposedly 'all-knowing' hat.

He has always known which house would be his, ever since he was little and his father first told him about Hogwarts. He glances happily at the table that would soon become his home, decked in silver and green.

A few more seconds pass before the hat shouts "GRYFFINDOR" and then falls silent once more. This can't be real he thinks, clinging tightly to the hat and refusing to let McGonagall remove it from his head. "Come now Draco" she says softly, trying not to let her obvious shock register on her face "go and join your new house". Draco stands slowly and makes his way to the wrong side of the hall, the side decked in red and gold.

This can't be real

This can't be real

This can't be real

It's only then that Draco realises that none of the other students have made a sound since the hat announced his fate. No round of applause like for the other students, no shouts of welcome, just a shocked silence. It seems that nobody can quite believe that the son of a suspected death eater would end up in Gryffindor. He doesn't blame them, he can't believe it himself. He settles himself into a seat at the end of the table, as far away from the rest of the house as he can manage, and tucks his head into his hands on the table to wait out the rest of the sorting.

Dear Father,

He writes.

I don't know how to tell you this.

He pauses, staring at the piece of parchment in front of him. How do you tell the person that you most want to make proud that you have already failed him?

The sorting hat made a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. Somehow I have been sorted into Gryffindor. Me. A Gryffindor. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. I know that you will be able to fix this, perhaps a letter to the minister?

I'm sorry I've let you down. I won't blame you if you don't write me back.

Your Son,

Draco.

That will have to do Draco thinks with a sigh before rolling the parchment and handing it to his owl, Bubo. He watches for a while as Bubo flies into the night, first watching as he spreads his wings and soars, and then just staring at the space the eagle owl used to occupy. He supposes that he has put this off for long enough, and he really is exhausted - it's been a very long day. It's time to go and see his new dorms.

Pushing up from his seat in the owlery he forces his legs to lead him down the staircase out into the corridor. Everything in him aches to skulk down to the dungeons, which he knows from father's stories are hidden partially under the lake, but instead he starts upwards towards the tower where Gryffindor are housed. He has to resist the urge to vomit in his mouth.

"What time do you call this?" the Fat Lady drawls from within her frame, "first year students should not be out of bed this late, especially not on their first night in the castle". Draco glares at her wishing he could set her alight "Caput Draconis" is his only response.

"I didn't ask for the password" the Fat Lady pouts, but she allows her portrait to swing open revealing the common room all the same, grumbling something about reporting him to McGonagall. The laughter and chatter from within stops very quickly as Draco steps through the portrait hole. He scowls, glancing around the room and seeing all eyes are on him, "If you have something to say, then say it" he breathes, working hard to control his anger. It's not like I chose to be here he thinks bitterly.

The silence stretches for a few seconds before two heavily freckled teenage redheads step up from the sofa they were sat on together in the corner. "Welcome to Gryffindor" on says grinning, "I'm Fred and this is George" says the other, pointing at his twin next to him and holding out his hand for Draco to shake. He can't help it, he physically recoils from the outstretched hand. "Weasleys, no doubt" he spits "I'd rather be alone than associate with the likes of you". The twins don't flinch nor let the smiles drop from their faces, Fred shrugging his shoulder softly as if to show that they couldn't really care less, and then the pair turn around and return to their seats, starting back up in their previous conversation.

Draco skulks across the room and starts up the stairs that he assumes lead to his dorm. "Draco, wait -" Fred yells, but it's too late. The stairs turn into a slide beneath his feet, and he falls into a heap at the bottom. Laughter erupts in the room, quickly stifled as Draco rights himself and glares "Who did this?!" he demands, "Just wait until my father hears about this..."

"Nobody did it" George explained, clearly trying to keep back his laughter "That's the staircase to the Girls dorms. Any male who tries would get the same response." Draco feels his cheeks turn scarlet, but he's not sure if it's with anger or embarrassment. Maybe it's both. He turns swiftly and stomps up the other staircase, opening the door to his new dorm. It's decked out sickeningly in red and gold. He can see a large black case with the name 'Malfoy' emblazoned upon it in silver at the foot of one of the beds, and he assumes that this is his bed. Thankful that the room is empty he climbs in and draws the curtains around him.

Father will fix this. He has to.