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If You Can't Beat Them…

By Dishonorable

Chapter One: St. Mungo's Charity Ball

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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I apologize for the lack of a snappy disclaimer.

Summary: Hardly anyone knows the whole story about how and why such a group of powerful names came together. Why hero Harry Potter befriended members of some of the darkest Wizarding families. Why biased Draco Malfoy befriended a couple of Blood Traitors. Why popular Blaise Zabini befriended mostly boys instead of potential wives. Why circumscribed Susan Bones befriended rebels.

This is a series of one-shots based off my other story, Make Me Proud, about Harry and the others' childhood before Hogwarts. It is not necessary to read this before MMP nor vice versa.

Warnings: This is rated T for language, abuse, and adult themes. There will be spanking of young children mentioned and if you have a problem with that, don't read. There will be character deaths. This is AU, Peter Pettigrew was in Slytherin. Susan Bones and Blaise Zabini are Purebloods. James Potter was an only child in canon, but he wasn't in here. There may be some OOCs.

AN: For those who have not read Make Me Proud, here's a basic summary of most of the AUness. There was a different prophecy that spoke of a Potter who would be able to defeat Voldemort. All the Potters, (there was a lot of them), were killed except for James and Harry Potter. Lily Potter was tortured and resides in St. Mungo's in the same state as the Longbottoms. James is prejudiced against snakes, Slytherins, and the Dark...I think that's about it.

Time Setting: When Harry is around six or eight years old.

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It was the annual St. Mungo's Charity Ball and everybody who was anybody in the Wizarding World was there. Much to the disgust of the ones who fancied themselves actually good-hearted, the Malfoys were hosting the Ball this year at their infamous manor. One might think this would be an ideal opportunity to have Ministry Aurors sneak about, looking for Dark items and such, but even Hogsmede's village idiot could tell you that this was an equally ideal opportunity for the Malfoys to give the impression of a perfectly respectable Light family, all the while stashing incriminating items away.

The Malfoys, despite their habit of greasing the Ministry's pockets with gold, weren't the first choice to host. In fact, the first person was James Potter, the father of the Boy-Who-Lived, Prominent Pureblood, philanthropist, and owner of several manors fit to hold a Ball of such magnitude. However, he had graciously declined the honor, saying he couldn't dare deny the privilege to such a Light family as the Malfoys.

Besides getting another chance to get a shot at a Dark family, there was another reason why James declined to host. If one had known James Potter in his younger years at Hogwarts they would've thought such a reason was unfathomable. James had loved public attention back then, but now, years later, he despised it and therefore despised public events such as Balls. However, the St. Mungo's Charity Ball was the only major public event he attended, out of loyalty and compassion for his wife and the others who resided in St. Mungo's like her...

"Stupid Mudbloods," grumbled Draco Malfoy, who obviously, like his family, held little regard for Mudbloods and similar riffraff. A sneer was present on his face, but it was laughable as he was quite young, "Snatched up the last Comet Two Forty in Diagon Alley when they're not even worthy to ride a broom of such value."

"Indeed," Marcus Flint said, obviously bored with the younger boy. Theodore Nott didn't bother to reply, he was too busy watching a large game of exploding snap. Of course, a proper Pureblood wouldn't lower himself to play an obnoxious game with blood traitors who had somehow managed to wrangle an invitation to the St. Mungo's Charity Ball.

Of course Theodore was sorely tempted to forgo the etiquette and his parents' wrath and join the game.

"They are too worthy," protested a boy loudly with an all too strong air of Gryffindor. He had just gotten out of the Exploding Snap game and was heading to the refreshment table when he had happened to hear their last comments.

Draco hadn't yet learned how to conceal his emotions as angry surprise twisted his face. No one had ever contradicted him, (since he always spoke to the right company), but here was a messy-haired boy, none other than the Boy-Who-Lived himself, glaring at Draco.

"No comeback, Draco?" drawled Marcus Flint after a long moment as the younger Potter waited angrily for said comeback, "I should've suspected as much. Come along, Theo, let's go rescue Blaise."

Theodore followed Marcus obediently, copying the disdainful sneer. It is unknown whether he followed because his parents instructed him to take a leaf out of Flint's book or whether because Blaise Zabini was currently engaged in the Exploding Snap game. (He and Susan Bones seemed to be trying to get the other out as humiliatingly as possible.)

Draco's cheeks darkened as he regained his bearings at Flint's departure, "I'll have you know that Mudbloods are filthy dirt unfit to ride a broom or even learn magic."

"My mum's a Muggleborn!" said Harry hotly.

Draco sneered, "An untalented Mudblood whore no dou-"

In an act of impulsiveness and with a flash and Harry's fist collided into Draco's face, causing him to cry out in pain and grasp his bleeding nose, "Why you-" He never got to finish his insult because a tackle followed the punch rapidly.

"Fight!" called Blaise Zabini excitedly, withdrawing from the company of Marcus Flint, Theodore Nott, and several other Purebloods who had been scolding him. His dark eyes sparkled as he watched the two heirs to powerful names and great wealth, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, brawl like street ruffians. Although they weren't even of Hogwarts' age yet, they fought each other fairly well, but Harry Potter was slowly beginning to wale the tar out of Draco Malfoy much to his delight.

"Kick him in the balls!" advised Susan Bones. She apparently didn't like Draco Malfoy very much, "Come on, Harry!"

"No, twist his arm backward and make him say Merlin, Potter!"

"That would be more effective," agreed Susan, nodding toward Blaise, "Malfoy probably doesn't have any balls."

"Hey!" Draco looked like he was going to start on her, but was distracted by a hard punch to the stomach that left him winded and struggling.

"Shouldn't someone break them apart?" asked a pudgy boy, casting anxious look to the door as if expecting his grandmother to come barreling through wielding a purple dragonhide umbrella.

"I say we let them kill each other," Theodore suggested, smirking as Harry landed a good kick that caused Draco to cry out, "Then we'll be rid of them both."

"That one's the Boy-Who-Lived!" protested a Weasley, pointing and looking like he was just waiting to join the fray. His little sister lagged behind him shyly, her eyes on the fight, particularly on Harry Potter. She jumped a foot in the air when the door a ways behind her swung open suddenly. The brawlers took no notice and the fight continued to grow fierce.

"CEASE THIS INSTANT!" ordered Lucius Malfoy in a shout. His wife, Narcissa, and James Potter were right behind him; neither of them looked very pleased. On the other hand, Marcus Flint smirked as he stepped away from the group, silently congratulating himself.

Surprised by such a loud roar from the normally silky, composed man the two boys paused for a moment. Blaise, Susan, and several others grumbled disappointedly, though the pudgy boy looked rather relieved. Theodore Nott coughed, most likely to hide a snigger at the sight of the entangled two. Both of their expensive robes were ruined, their hair messed up and a few locks torn out, (a horrid occurrence for young Draco), injuries spotted their bodies, and Draco had a black eye and probably a broken nose. He had just been seconds away from nailing Harry in the gut and his arm was frozen in place at the sight of his father.

"Father-"

"Save it, Draco," Lucius interrupted coldly, "We'll discuss this later. Dobby!"

A fairly small house elf popped in and bowed deeply, "H-how may Dobby serve you, Master?"

"Take Draco to his room, Dobby, and make sure he stays in there until I say so."

"Yes, master," Dobby bowed again, took a few steps to the Malfoy heir, and held out his hand tentatively. Draco scowled heavily at the house elf, but grabbed his hand, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to chop off his own hand rather than give it to the elf. Draco was still glaring at Harry when the pair disappeared silently.

Meanwhile, Harry looked at his feet under his dad's gaze.

"This doesn't leave this room, understand?" Lucius said in a tone that booked no arguments. Most of the children nodded quickly, but some seemed a bit reluctant. Lucius put out their doubts with a steely glare that promised vengeance if they spoke of the fight.

"I apologize for my son's behavior," Lucius said stiffly to James after another, but brief glare at the children.

"I apologize for Harry as well," said James as if it pained him, "Hopefully this won't make the Prophet."

"I'll make sure it doesn't," replied Lucius, surveying the children once more with icy grey eyes.

"Yes, of course," James said, looking sympathetically at the wilted kids and disgustedly at the Malfoys, "Harry and I best be going. I've got to see a man about a hippogriff."

"Of course," Lucius said icily, making it quite clear that this changed nothing.

"Goodbye, Cissy," Narcissa looked repulsed at being addressed in such a familiar manner by James, "Let's go, Harry."

Harry obediently walked over to his father and they disappeared with a small pop.

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"He called mum a you-know-what, dad!" Harry protested, stopping his father mid-scold.

"He what?" said James sharply.

"Malfoy called a mum an untalented, you-know-what whore."

James' eyes flashed angrily, "Why that no good snake! I should go over there..."

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"You got beaten by a Potter! Blood Traitor!" scolded Lucius, disappointment and disgust seeping into his tone, "In public, Draco! I've never been more disgusted in my life!"

Draco looked numbly at the Persian rug, noting blandly that a thief was now wrestling violently with a witch.

"Watch your step, Draco," Lucius warned at last, "The Wizarding World does not take kindly to rivals of their hero," the last word dripped with disdain.

"Yes, father," muttered Draco.

"And Draco..."

"Yes, father?"

"Crucio!"

A shrill scream filled the air as Draco fell from his bed to the ground, thrashing in a tangle of sheets limbs.

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