A/N: This is a prequel to Changing Of The Tides. You don't really have to read that one first, actually, chronologically this one comes first. It'll make sense either way. And by the way, it's in Draco's point of view. So here goes:

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I was sitting on the Howarts Express, waiting to begin my fifth year at school. I was surrounded, as usual, by my two best friends, Crabbe and Goyle, and, of course, most of the Slytherin girls. I was, of course, popular. With the Slytherins, at least. Everyone else at the school hated me. But it didn't really bother me.

Pansy flounced down next to me. "Draco, darling," he whispered in my ear, "I desperately need to talk to you about something. Alone."

She grabbed my hand and lead me to an empty compartment. I heard the rest of the girls groan. I smiled cockily, and said, "Don't worry, ladies, I'll be back before long."

Pansy sat down across from me, and said, "This is very serious, Draco. This is our fifth year."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Pansy, I'm well aware that this is our fifth year."

"You know what this means, don't you?" her eyes got as wide as saucers. "This is the year He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named comes to recruit us as Death Eaters."

I just smiled. "I'm aware of that, too. I've known I was to become a Death Eater since I was three years old. My father..."

Pansy looked at me with respect. "I know all about your father. He's one of the top Death Eaters. You will be too, Draco. But I'm worried. What if something goes wrong? What if You-Know-Who loses power? That will be the end of us."

"Have faith, Pansy," I told her. "Voldemort-" she flinched as I said the name, "Can not just 'lose power.' Why, he's the most powerful wizard in the world!"

A look of relief washed over Pansy's face. "You're right, of course."

"I know." I smiled pompously. "I'm always right. Now come, let's head back with our friends."

And so we returned to our Slytherin friends. A bit later I started to get up to get some snacks from the cart. As I was returning to our compartment with my arms loaded with food, I bumped into someone. Snacks went flying everywhere.

"Out, of my way, mudblood," I snarled, pushing back Justin Finch-Fletchy, a weak little Hufflepuff.

"I'm sorry, Malfoy," whispered Finch-Fletchy.

By this time Crabbe and Goyle had come up on either side of me. "Sorry isn't good enough, Mudblood," I sneered. I was having so much fun watching Finch-Fletchy shaking before me like a leaf. I looked at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Please don't hurt me!" cried Finch-Fletchy, as he ran trembling from our car. All of us Slytherins sniggered at his reaction.

"Well," I said, leaning back in the seat, "That was fun. Say, Crabbe, Goyle, you want to go find Potter and his friends and pick on them?"

"Aw, come on, leave them alone," said Blaise Zabini. She slid herself closer to me. "Stay with me."

"What, you got a crush on Potter or Weasley?" I teased her.

"It seems like you have on Granger, the way you're always following that trio around," she retorted. That girl has spunk. I liked that.

"Come on," I said motioning for Crabbe and Goyle, "I will not sit around here for spiteful little girls to insult me."

I could see Blaise's violet eyes flashing, but we were out of the compartment before she could toss back any more insults.

We headed back to Potter's usual compartment. Sure enough, he was there, along with Weasley and Granger. Surprisingly, little Ginny Weasley also joined them. This should be interesting.

"Well, well, well." My voice startled them, and they looked up. "It seems the trio has turned into a foursome. "Let's see, the wonder boy Potter, the Weasel, the Mudblood... and Potter's lover girl."

Ginny turned a deep shade of crimson. "Leave her alone!" cried Weasley.

I turned to him. "Why should I?"

"Because..." he stuttered. "Because... because I'll beat you up if you don't!"

I sneered at him. "I'd like to see you try."

That was all Weasley needed. He lunged towards me, only to be restained by Granger. While I was laughing in his face, something unexpected happened. I admit, I never saw it coming. Little Ginny Weasley walked up to me and spit right in my face.

Everything was silent. At first I was stunned. But I recovered soon, and realized I couldn't let her get away with that. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

I saw a red outline of my hand across her cheek. I leant into her and whispered in her ear, "Never spit at a Malfoy." With that, I turned and swaggered out of the compartment. Before I had turned I could see tears welling up in her eyes, but I didn't care. No one does that to a Malfoy.

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A/N: Please review!