"GRYFFINDOR!" The sorting hat shouted. Harry Potter felt a surge of relief as he joined Hermione and the Weasley twins. On the staff table, Albus Dumbledore smiled as the Boy-who-Lived sat with his fellow house members. Just as expected. James and Lily would be happy.

The sorting continued. Longbottom to Gryffindor as well. The House of Red had had a good haul this year.

"Draco Malfoy" A smug looking blond boy sauntered up to the stool. Lucius' son, no doubt? Slytherin, surely. Mcgonagall placed the hat on the boys head.

Draco Malfoy was confident. His family had all gone to Slytherin. There was no worries here. He was as Slytherin as it gets. But why on earth was it taking this long? A voice sounded in his head.

'A Malfoy child? Interesting...'

'What's so bloody interesting? ' Draco thought back. 'Just say Slytherin and get it done with.'

'I see you wish to follow the tradition. However... your heart says otherwise.' The hat mused.

'Deep down, you have the heart of a lion.'

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A few claps were silenced by gasps.

"He's ours!" Marcus Flint yelled from the Slytherin table.

"Take him back!" chanted a group of Gryffindors.

"SILENCE!" Professor Dumbledore shouted above the racket. "The hat does not make mistakes, ladies and gentlemen, I assure you. The situation..." The old man paused and gazed upon the shellshocked boy. "... is undoubtedly... suprising, but there is nothing we can or should do about it." Albus gestured to the Gryffindor table. "Mr Malfoy?"

Draco heard nothing as he slumped next to Neville Longbottom. Neville glanced at him soberly. However the Weasels did not have such patience.

"Piss off Malfoy, you're not wanted here!" Fred hissed.

The others gave him dirty looks and a few sniggered.

In all honesty, Draco didn't know why he was there himself. He didn't belong here! He deserved to be sitting on the Slytherin table surrounded by his own adoring cloud of followers. And furthermore, what would father say? Lucius Malfoy would be furious!

Harry stared at the boy who's 'friendship' he had rejected not hours ago. Draco was pale, his head in his hands. Harry felt a niggling feeling of pity for the boy. He looked dreadful, and terrified.

Soon Ronald joined them. An air of awkwardness loomed in the air, and the group of newly selected Gryffindors sat in silence.

"Well..." Ron spoke.

"Let me get this one thing straight." hissed Malfoy. "I'm not a Gryffindor, I never will be."

"Nobody seems to want ya here, I guess the feeling's mutual." Seamus shot back.

"Let's not judge to quickly!" Hermione shrilled.

"I agree" voiced Harry.

"Oh fuck off." Malfoy got up to leave.

"Oi Malfoy!" Harry shouted. "I know we got off on to the wrong foot, but we're gonna be housemates, we might as well get along."

Malfoy hesitated, but stalked off.

"What. A. Dickhead." Ron murmured.

That night, Harry couldn't sleep. It was his first night he could remember, away from that hell of a home. He had made some friends that night with Ron and Neville. Some of the girls were fit, especially Lavender Brown. Hermione wasn't half bad either. However, one thing plagued his mind. Malfoy.

He had to feel sorry for the boy sleeping on the other side of the room. He was right, he wasn't a Gryffindor.

Malfoy was not sleeping. In fact, he was as awake as can be. He was silently sobbing his eyes out. He sniffed. "If I can't be a good Slytherin, I'll be the best Gryffindor ever!"