Oh, Well, Sh*t.
AN: OH HAI THAR! I MIGHT BE IMPORTANT, CONSIDER READING ME!
I'm not an important message. Made you
Draco Malfoy knew today was going to be an important day. He had given himself a mission; befriend Harry Potter at all cost. He didn't believe the boy would one day be the greatest of all Dark Lords as his father believed. In fact, you could say he knew it wasn't true.
"Okay. Wake up, get dressed, have breakfast." He coached himself. He could feel a squirming mixture in the pit of his stomach. He sat up in his bed and looked around his perfectly tidy room. Every piece of furniture was in its place, every strip of cloth, and no toys or books had made their way into his sleeping quarters from his play area. He allowed the familiar sights to calm his nerves as he hurtled himself from the comfort of his overly soft bed and onto the warm, cushioning floor of his manor bedroom.
He wriggled his toes for a second before he stretched and shuffled to the bathroom. He spent as little time relieving himself and brushing his teeth as possible. He knew he should fix his hair back, but he really couldn't be bothered. His mother would probably just have Mimsey redo his efforts anyway.
"Draco?" His mother called from his sitting room as he finished pulling on his last sock. "Are you ready, dearest?" She knocked gently on his door as she entered.
"Good morning, Mother." Draco greeted politely, with just enough arrogance to make his mother's eyes twinkle. He wasn't completely sure, but he could swear she was having a laugh at his expense.
"Come now, fetch your shoes and hurry downstairs, we have much to do today." She reminded him as she smoothed down the front of his robes making him roll his eyes and exhale in exasperation.
"Mum." He whined and shifted from foot to foot, "It's fine as it is." He complained and hid a scowl as the corner of her eyes crinkled. She must be having a laugh, he decided.
"Of course, dearest." She agreed as she ran a hand through his hair. "And now it's perfect. Your hair on the other hand…" She made a soft tutting sound as she ran her hands through his pale locks again. "Dobby." She called as she swept his fringe to the side. "Fix Draco's hair up and fetch his shoes." She ordered the tiny house elf. She stood up straight and headed towards the door, her long and elegant silver robes rustling while she walked. "Be quick, darling." She instructed.
"Dobby?" Draco questioned as he peered his nose down at the nervous elf that had seamlessly appeared in the room just moments before.
"Dobby is listening, master Draco." The tiny elf wrung his hands. "What is it the young master is needing?" He asked, his thin voice high, just a touch too eager.
"Oh, just don't make it too stiff." Draco replied smoothly as he fidgeted with a button on his sleeve. "I don't want to look too stuffy." He mumbled quickly, hoping Dobby would understand what he meant.
"Of course, Master Draco." Dobby agreed as he set to work and quickly finished. Draco nodded his head politely as he sat down on the floor and accepted his shoes. "Thanks." He mumbled and set to shoving his feet into his shoes. He completely missed the look of wonder that spread across Dobby's face or the way the small elf's eyes filled with tears.
"Have a good trip, Master Draco." Dobby gushed before he disappeared.
"Er, okay." Draco replied to the space Dobby had just been.
He didn't dwell on the experience for more than a second before he bounced off of the floor and tore from his room, bolting for the summer room. Only a few more hours. Draco thought nervously as he slowed down just before he turned the corner.
Draco nodded politely to his father and took his place next to his mother without a moment's hesitation. "I'm ready!" He announced taking care not to seem too eager. He knew by the twitch in his father's eye that he had been mostly unsuccessful.
"So it would seem." His father replied and Draco bit back a scowl. It would seem both of his parents were laughing at his expense today.
"Don't be so sullen, Draco." His mother chided gently as she accepted a handful of powder from the jar his father offered to her. "You love the Alley." Draco stuck his tongue out at her back as she stepped up to the fireplace. "I saw that." She told him as she turned on her heel, spoke her direction, and was whisked away by a swirl of green flames.
"After you." His father directed as he held the jar aloft to him as well. Draco could tell he was still amused by him. He rolled his eyes, collected his own amount of powder and promptly threw the dust into the fireplace. He followed shortly after and shouted, "Diagon Alley!" As clearly as possible and felt himself whirl away.
Draco took a moment to reorient himself, happy that he'd hardly stumbled at all on his way out of the fireplace, before he hurried to his mother's side. Her eyes were still crinkled in laughter and he nearly gave in to the urge to roll his eyes. Instead he nodded politely.
"Come now, Draco. Your father will know where to find us. We have a full list and we've divided things accordingly." Draco smiled softly at his parent's need to multitask when it came to just about everything. He followed after her already disappearing back to the outside of the Leaky Cauldron. "We'll need to stop at the apothecary first, dearest, and I'll have no complaints out of you for it. You know that Severus will be your teacher this year and you must never, ever fall behind."
"Yes, mother." He replied obediently as he trotted along behind her. His mother was adept at winding between the bustling crowds of the Alley to get to where she wanted to go, a fact that never ceased to amaze him.
"We'll need to get your cauldron, a set of crystal vials, and scales while we're there. Try not to dawdle around too many of the stranger ingredients." She continued to instruct as they made their way to the apothecary. Draco couldn't help his never ending curiosity and wondered what his mother would say if he were to end up in Ravenclaw instead.
Draco followed his mother dutifully to each of the stores, smiling, nodding, and exclaiming at all of the right moments. He even managed to whine an appropriate amount. He drew in a sharp breath as the most important moment of his day drew near.
"Are you sure you're alright on your own?" His mother questioned. She needlessly brushed nonexistent dust from his shoulder.
"Of course, don't be silly." Draco drawled and tipped his nose higher into the air.
"Alright, alright." Narcissa's lips twitched as she nodded to her son. "I'll meet you at Ollivander's."
Draco barely suppressed an eye roll as he followed an assistant into the depths of the robe shop. He stood impatiently on the stool. Anxious thoughts flitted rapidly through his mind What if Potter didn't come to the alley today? What if he came at the wrong time? What if Draco had come at the wrong time? Had he inadvertently gone through the shopping list too quickly?
Draco lost track of his surroundings as his thoughts tilted towards apocalyptic scenarios of what would happen had he missed his first chance to meet the most famous of wizards. He hadn't heard the tinkling of the bell above the door to the shop. He hadn't listened to Malkin's generic greeting. He hadn't paid any attention to the generalized directions taking place just behind him.
There as was rustling to his right and his mind crashed back into the present moment. Hesitantly Draco turned his head. A small boy with raven colored hair, round and taped spectacles, and an oversize robe stepped onto the low foot stool next to him.
Draco's heart thundered inside his chest.
Harry.