Draco tapped his wand against his hand. He was alone in the common room. The rest had run to the courtyard, eagerly awaiting the new arrivals. It made draco kinda sick. The way they all got so excited, as if there was something to be proud of, to admire.

Well, as far as Draco, and Draco's father, was concerned it was barely magic. It wasn't special, it wasn't powerful. Although it might offer some sort of amusement value, like a circus act, or a freak show. Yes, freaks, that's what they were. They weren't wizards, and if they weren't wizards they were as low as muggles. Not to be trusted. Then again Draco might join the others just to laugh at them. Or maybe find something out about this magic, you know, curiosity for curiosity's sake.

His father surely couldn't have meant for him to just sit down here alone. It looked like he was sulking, which he wasn't, of course. Just because the others felt the allure of the strange more pulling than their loyalty to him as a friend, did not mean he was sulking. Just because he was sat all by himself- oh for the love of Draco thought as he stood up. There was no way he was being as sad and pathetic as to sit alone in the dungeons doing nothing.

He nearly ran out of the common room wondering if he was going to be late, if they had already arrived and been escorted inside the castle. Maybe he'd bump into them, and then he'd walk past and not even glance in their direction. Think they're so special. That'd show them just exactly how much he cared about their "special abilities".

He took the steps two at a time, clenching his wand in his fist. He came to the entrance hall and slowed down to a casual walk, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He set his face to casual indifference with a hint of "I could really be doing something better right now".

The massive doors, usually closed or ajar, were swung wide open. Hundreds of students milled in and out filling up the entrance hall. They were trying to squeeze through to the entrance courtyard to get a good view. Pathetic really, Draco thought as he sauntered towards his friends. As he moved he cleared a space through the other students with ease. The younger ones were afraid of him for him, as for the others, well, it's not always bad to be a Malfoy.

His friends had managed to find a space at the edge of the courtyard looking right over the black lake. Draco leant against the wall with his back against the open air as he waited for them to notice him.

"Ah, you made it!" Crabbe tapped his shoulder and continued staring at the sky. The others exchanged pleased looks with him. He tried to return them. Pansy took her normal place beside Draco. He didn't look at her. It was... complicated with Pansy. She was a pure-blood, he was a pure-blood. Their parents were friends. They were both rich. They were the most intimidating, and both natural leaders. People expected them to be a couple.

Draco for the most part went with the flow. It wasn't that he disliked Pansy. Or maybe he did. Or maybe it was the fact that it felt like one morning he'd woken up, and she'd just assumed they were going out,
. Or maybe that his parents and her parents were so goddamn pleased when they were together. He didn't know for sure what it was, but he did not want to go out with Pansy Parkinson. He did want her for a girlfriend. She was clingy and desperate, and hey there are some good reasons why just there. The more he let himself think about it, the more he knew the exact reasons that he didn't like Pansy.

She linked arms with him. He repressed a sigh. He scanned the crowd ahead of him, watching the students. Some getting more excited, some getting bored, all chatting in circles. And then he spotted him; Harry potter. His mud blood and blood-traitor friends were all sitting and laughing together. Draco still bore the resentment of one of their first encounters. Just as well, seeing as he turned out to be a Gryffindor. Draco sneered and turned to look out over the lake to avoid looking at that group.

He looked at his own group. He had good friends. Crabbe and Goyle were as loyal to him as their father's were to his, and Pansy, well it was no secret she adored Draco. He turned his head to scan the crowd once more. Sure maybe there was fear, even respect. But nothing like what Harry seemed to have with, well, everyone. Envy burned at the back of Draco's throat. Famous Harry Potter. Beloved Harry Potter.

Just as he turned back he heard someone shout out

"There! There in the sky!" fingers started pointing and people gasped. There was about 3 seconds of hushed silence, as the group watched the giant sky bison fly out of the clouds. Cheers soon went up. Students waved. From Draco the bison received only a glance. Pansy shrieked in Draco's ear and he instinctively flinched.

"Sorry," Pansy said sheepishly. Then, in an obvious attempt to imitate Draco, she sighed and pulled a bored expression over her face. Now how can you tell someone so obviously devoted to you to go away?

The students kept up the noisy cheering, even as the bison landed near the games-keepers hut, out of sight of those in the courtyard. Then everyone was ushered back into school.

"Well, that was fun." Draco put at his friends. Feeling superior. Obviously they had thought they would get to see this magic first hand. Some amazing display of pyrotechnics or ice sculpting. Draco had known better. He'd told them so before they'd left. They others looked down cast. But it was in Draco's nature to gloat. "I mean the way that the tiny dot in the sky moved in, and then out of sight. Incredible. I'm so glad we managed to see that."

"Alright Draco, we get it." a tired Goyle complained.

"No, I don't think you do get it." Draco turned to face him. He dug a finger in Goyle's chest. "I told you to stay. You didn't listen. You deserted me." Even with the size difference Goyle looked visibly frightened. "You thought you knew better. But you didn't." He laughed. "You never do. Now tell me the words I need to hear." Goyle looked confused. He was never that bright, "Tell me I'm always right."

"Oh, oh, you're always right, Draco." Goyle said. Draco thought he looked like a puppy being told off; a big bulldog puppy, but puppy nonetheless. Being in charge wasn't about brawn. It was about presence. Pansy once again tried to attach herself to Draco. He put an arm around her, inwardly sighing as they walked into the great hall for lunch.