Year One, A Different Path
Draco stared into bright green eyes filled with hope. Draco felt a warm hand take his and shake it. Draco saw a smile that could light up even the darkest of places. Draco led the smaller boy to a train cabin and started a friendship he had longed for since he was a child. He quickly realized that Harry would need much education on how the wizarding world worked. The boy nearly jumped out of his seat with excitement when the sweets trolly came around.
"Are the chocolate frogs...actual frogs?"
Draco laughed. "No, but they are charmed to jump around. Here." Draco buys them both one, but Harry outdoes him and buys two of every candy on the trolly. Draco and harry spend the rest of the train ride to Hogwarts laughing and gorging themselves on sweets.
It was a sweet start to their friendship, to say the least.
III
Please be Slytherin.
Please be Slytherin.
Please be Slytherin!
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry jumped off the stool and yanked off the talking hat. He ran to the Slytherin table and sat down beside his new friend, Draco Malfoy, amidst cheers and pats on the back. Harry could tell this would be the start of something amazing.
After Harry stuffed himself full of the most delicious foods he had ever tasted, he let himself be led to his common room by Draco. Draco smiled proudly as Harry looked around in awe.
"You know, all of my family was put in Slytherin."
Harry looked at him with wide eyes, and Draco smiled. "Let's go to the common room, a celebration is bound to be had. It's an honor to have the Boy Who Lived in Slytherin."
Harry glanced down. "I'm really not special."
Draco took his hand. "You are."
In the common room, Harry was greeted with polite cheers and applause. Harry flinched when one older student raised his hand, but the hand merely patted him on the back and he was met with a warm smile. "Welcome to Slytherin, Harry Potter."
Harry had never felt more welcome anywhere in his life, and was getting a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly a hand gently took his, and Harry looked up to meet Draco's eyes.
"Come Harry, let's pick beds right beside each other!"
Harry grinned and nodded, and was almost pulled up a set of stairs but stopped short.
"Do you think...do you think I'll be allowed in the boys rooms?"
Draco smiled at him, a foot already on the stairs. "Don't be daft, of course you'll sleep here! You are a boy after all."
Harry felt his heart soar and followed Draco up to the room. Draco promptly kicked a fellow student out of a bed, just so he and Harry could sleep in beds next to each other. Harry flopped ungracefully on his bed, spreading out.
"I've never slept in a bed this big before." Harry hugged a pillow and smiled wistfully. "And I've never eaten as much as I did tonight."
Draco paused in his careful unpacking. "Really? Even this bed isn't as big as the one I own at home."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "You mean there are one's even bigger than this?!"
Draco grinned at him. "You should come to my manor this summer, then you can see my bed!"
Harry yawned and nodded. "I'd like that a lot Draco."
III
The first time it happened, Harry was confused.
"Tranny!"
Harry wasn't sure what it meant, but it wasn't said in a good way.
The first time it happened, Draco had threatened to get the student kicked out of school. After all, Draco's father was a very important man.
The first time it happened, Harry was lead away from the student, Draco's hand holding Harry's.
The first time it happened, Harry knew he would be protected by Draco from then on.
The first time it happened, Harry knew he had a true friend.
The next times it happened, Draco did more than threaten the student.
III
Draco sent a letter home that year, and excitement was practically seeping off of each word.
Dear Mother and Father,
I've made a close friend this year, Harry Potter. He's a Slytherin like me, although he was raised by muggles, so I've had to teach him a lot. He makes a very fine Slytherin. I have no doubt Harry and I will grow closer over the years, and I request that you allow him to visit our manor over the summer. Harry needs to know what growing up with magic is like. I hope you'll accept my request, Harry is a very nice boy, really.
Your son,
Draco.
Many letters were sent back and forth that year, and finally, Draco wore his parents down enough that they finally agreed to let Harry visit over the summer. When Draco told Harry, his whole face lit up in a smile that Draco vowed to see on Harry's face as many times as possible. Draco was mesmerized by Harry's bright green eyes, and often found himself wishing he could have eyes as pretty as Harry's. He supposed it wasn't normal to think another bloke's eyes were pretty, but Draco couldn't find it in himself to care.
III
Harry's first year at Hogwarts was one of learning. Learning magic, and learning how to act like a true Slytherin. A Slytherin was cunning, and kept himself presentable and aloof. A Slytherin carried himself with confidence and ease. Slytherin did not enter a situation with guns blazing. They let an opponent know they were a force to be reckoned with with discreet calm.
Harry tried his very best to move with ease and grace as Draco with, but he wasn't used to long flowing robes, and tripped often. Draco was always there to help him up and tell him it was okay. Often, Harry ate with vigor, and got food on his robe sleeves. Draco knew a clever charm to clean his sleeves. Draco knew more than just charms to clean sleeves. He knew charms that could make Harry's voice lower when the time came. Harry found it endearing that Draco had obviously put research into Harry being transgender.
Draco was Harry's biggest comfort. The first time Harry had a nightmare, he was too afraid to get out of bed. He couldn't remember where he was, he felt paralyzed and like the walls were closing in. But then Draco was there, crawling into bed with him, a concerned look on his face. "Harry? Are you alright?"
And suddenly Harry could breathe again. He sniffled and wiped his cheeks. "Y-yeah I'm fine. Silly dream."
Draco laid down beside Harry and hugged him. "It's okay Harry. Slytherins may seem in control of their emotions but we all get overwhelmed sometimes. It's okay to show it."
Harry hiccuped and hugged Draco back. "Thank you, Dray."
Draco was always there for Harry, fiercely protective and charmingly witty. Cool and collected on the outside, but warm and open with Harry.
Draco was Harry's best friend, and his reprieve from the Dursley's over the summer.
Please leave a review if you liked this chapter! Tell me what you would like to see happen in the future for these two!