Let's start with...
NO, I HAVE NOT WRITTEN HARRY POTTER AND I CLAIM ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHTS!
EVERY CHARACTER IN THIS FANFIC BELONGS MERELY TO JKRowling!
I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OUT OF THIS!
And continue with this if you missed it the last time...
English is not my native language!
Any review about grammar is welcomed too!
Now, in this chapter... Draco's a little bit... let's leave this for the end.
Harry Potter - the storry teller/me/er form
Harry Potter - thoughts, not only Harry's, but other characters' as well, you'll be able to ditinguish... hopefully
*Harry Potter* - parseltongue
"Harry Potter" - spoken english
/Harry Potter/ - speaking through a bond (Harry and his familiar)
"Harry Potter" - BSL, British Sign Language
Okay, enjoy the ride!
Let me know what you think!
Book 1 / Chapter 2 / Friendship for life
"Harry Potter" - BSL, British Sign Language !
"Harry Potter" - spoken english, Harry lip reading !
You really need to know which is wchich if you read this chapter or you might get lost in it.
Harry is lip reading, in future chapters, he will sometimes get confused by not chatching the conversation if Draco's not with him.
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Harry quickly boarded the train, looking for an empty compartment, and striking a jackpot after a 15-minute hunt, right at the end. By then everyone has been on the train and it whistled, signalling its departure.
Good, I can finally relax…
Or at least… he thought so. He wasn't there for five minutes when a blond boy showed up.
"Hello. May I join you? Everywhere else is full." Nodding a little, Harry was absolutely stunned. He wasn't exactly sure but the facial expression and the articulation…
Either he's perfect, deaf, or he encounters deaf people.
"My name's Draco, what do they call you?" He sat opposite of him, waiting for an answer but Harry just stared.
Did I just imagin this or did he really sign his name?
He was sure he saw the sign for the letter d that slid into a sign for DRAGON right over the boy's heart. Grey eyes watched him still a little confused since Harry didn't reply.
Okay. The worst that can happen is that he'll bully me…
So Harry took a deep breath and just signed.
"Hi. My name's H-A-R-R-Y. The sign my friend's use is this: Harry."
It was time for Draco to stare. How the heck did this boy knew he could sign? Did he forget himself again and signed his name? Oh he has to stop doing that.
"I'm sorry if I confused you. I thought you could sign-"
"Oh I can sign. I just didn't expect anyone else to. The name's D-R-A-C-O. I'm sure you caught the sign for my name." Then he smiled and repeated the sign for his name so that Harry wouldn't need to spell it every time he talked about him. "So… The sign for my name is quite obvious. The d and then DRAGON. But how did you get your sign?" Draco was really curious about that since the sign Harry showed him was a fox but in front of his chest.
"Well. My friends from summer camp thought about it. They told me I was sly and very quick to flee, just like a fox. But I didn't want them to call me a FOX, that was really embarrassing so they put the sign over the chest. And I stuck to that." His cheeks went a little pink at that memory. He was only seven at that time so it wasn't so shameful but now that he was older it kind of made him go red in the face when he remembered.
"Oh… that's so cute." The boy obviously mocked him.
"Thanks." Replied Harry ironically.
"I'm hard of hearing by the way. You?"
"Deaf."
"So… You get an interpreter at Hogwarts or did you get your hearing aids?" Draco would have loved to have an interpreter. He had his hearing aids and he could hear pretty well with them but sometimes it was just too hard and gave him a headache. He didn't want to draw attention to himself unnecessarily but if Harry got an interpreter, he could just watch him too, right?
"I have my hearing aids but I don't see how would they help with the lessons. I just know when someone's talking at me or tries to get my attention with clapping instead of touching me." Answered Harry, he was quite confused. How would a hearing aid help?
"OH! I'm sorry. You're a muggleborn aren't you? Born to nonmagical parents?" Added Draco just to be sure if Harry didn't know what muggle actually meant.
"I guess. I don't know my parents. I was raised by my aunt and uncle. Why?" Harry quite frankly didn't like where this conversation was going. That word MUGGLE, it had a really prejudiced ring to it. And Harry hated prejudiced people.
"Oh. I didn't mean to offend you. Just that hearing aids in a magical word connect to your brain activity and actually let you hear. It's sometimes confusing but you hear actual words, not just noise. That's why I asked." Explained Draco in hurry, he didn't want to lose this friend. This was probably the only other deaf kid at Hogwarts and he wanted to keep him. Those green eyes…, yeah, he was definitely going to keep him.
"Oh. OK."
"So you're getting an interpreter then?" Asked Draco hopefully.
"Ehm. No. I can read lips and I don't want to exactly stand out. I just hope Haguit won't teach anything. You can understand that giant only if he's yelling at you."
"Haguit?"
"They sent him to get me and together we went to get my school things. Can you believe it? I couldn't read his lips and he wasn't even looking at me while he spoke. On top of that he couldn't even read or write. I was so confused. He just came and took me away I was so afraid when all these weird freaky stuff started to happen I thought I was going mad and no one explained anything to me!"
"You mean Hagrid right? It's spelled H-A-G-R-I-D. Yeah. I don't really know why they would send him to get you, it's usually a teacher." This didn't add up. It was always a teacher who informed the muggle parents of their child being magical. Why would they send Hagrid who's only a key holder?
"What did you say your surname was again?"
"P-O-T-T-E-R."
Nothing.
"Are you alright?"
Confusion.
"Draco?"
Still nothing.
"What is it?!" Screamed a frustrated Harry.
Don't tell me he'll crawl at my feet like those guys.
"You're Harry Potter?" Harry didn't know what to say, when he saw that disbelief and fear in his eyes.
"Yes. Is that a problem?" He hoped not. Why did it seem like everyone knew him?
"No… I just… no. I'm a M-A-L-F-O-Y. Is that a problem?" Harry just stared at him.
"Why would it be a problem? I just know your surname now. Is that supposed to mean something to me? I'm a muggle remember? My chaperone and I couldn't quite communicate and I could only read the first year books I bought. I don't know anything."
"Muggleborn actually." Corrected Draco automatically.
"What?"
"Muggles are those who cannot do magic. Muggleborn means just that, born to muggles. But you're no muggleborn, you're a halfblood, you should know this." Said Draco confused. Why would Harry go around telling he didn't know a thing about magical world? He should know about this. Know about what he'd done.
"Well I don't. I was told about this entire world just a month ago, and that wasn't really much, mind you. And frankly I still have a feeling this doesn't really exist and I'm just hallucinating."
Draco was absolutely stunned. Either Harry was one hell of a liar or he was telling him the truth. But why would they raise him out of the magical world? Why didn't they tell him at least?
"You say you don't know a thing, right?"
"Yes. I mean… I read those books for this year's curriculum and I'm confident I remember a lot but I haven't done any magic yet. I don't know anything about this world I don't even know how to pronounce half of the words there not to mention I never even heard about a sign for them." Harry was really frustrated. He was sure they were going to send him home. There was so much extra work for him and in no case did he want an interpreter. "I'm going to be so bad at this. I know that. I worked so hard to be normal. To lead a conversation with my teachers and classmates and now I have to do that all over again. I'll have problem reading lips when they say a new ingredient or wand movement because I haven't ever seen those words pronounced. I won't be able to make notes and see what they're saying at the same time. I won't be able to hear them calling my name I'll suck at this school I just know it."
"No. You won't." Signed Draco with a smile.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I'll help you."
And so he did. The rest of the ride Draco told him about everything. Hogwarts. Blood status. Houses. Teachers. And then they moved to the text books when Draco tried to explain how to pronounce each word so that Harry could say it the right way. It was really fun sometimes but they worked hard so Harry could get it right.
…
Can you read her lips? Mouthed Draco later in the evening when every first year stood in front of professor McGonagall and waited for their chance to get sorted.
"Yeah. It's good." Nodded Harry then he immediately set his eyes back on the women's lips. The sorting has started. "I'm scared." Whispered Harry to Draco.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine. My name's soon to come. Head's up." Making friends with Draco was probably the best thing that could happen to him. Another kid who knew to sign in this school? There wasn't. Someone who wouldn't be bothered by his deafness? He didn't think so. Someone who would actually help him to pronounce words he didn't know? Absolutely negative. Draco was a gift sent from heaven, just like Gavrilla. Gently scratching the snake's head, Harry watched as Draco swept up the steps, sat down on the stool and the sorting hat was put on his head.
"Slytherin!" Called the hat. Draco showed him thumbs up, nodded to one of the teachers, probably Sev as he called him and then with a Slytherin crest on his robes took a seat at the Slytherin table.
Other names were called and then came the dreaded situation.
"Harry Potter!"
And the staring began.
Draco told him about Voldemort and what everyone worships him for. How everyone expects him to be a Gryffindor just like his parents. But he wanted to stay with Draco. They called him sly, the sign for his name was made from the sign for Fox. He owned a snake. He was ambitious if a little scared but… would that be enough?
It has to be.
With one last look to Draco, Harry stepped forward.
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Now... who watched Switched at birth probably knows this.
In the series they say that deaf people pick signs for themselves if the name is too long or too hard to spell.
They just come up with something and use it while talking about the person.
But the sign has to be picked by someone else, you cannot give it to yourself - at least that's how I understood it.
So once you are given a sign by your friends - usually at a young age - and you introduce yourself to someone who doesn't know you,
you do it by spelling your name,
then showing the sign your friends came up with.
And life is easier!
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If you'd like me to explain something else, feel free to ask!
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Now... Do you want to read about my crappy day? Feel free to do so but do not write any review on this below...
I just needed to write it off
If you don't want to read it,
just don't,
roll the page down,
I say something to Draco there
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I have to say, this day was by far the worst. I got home from my part-time job around 6, totally dead on my feet. I work at the supermarket, weighing the hams and slised cheese or salads... basically running back and forth just serving customers. I don't believe I've had such a crappy day like totay, yet.
And I've worked there for two years already.
Those people are AWFUL!
It was a sales day today so the supermarket was full.
I work pretty fast since my hands are trained from doing sports and... well I have been working there for two f***ing years!
There was a line and I was like... Good morning, what would you like, blah blah... They were basically tearing those bags out of my hand! Like they couldnt wait for a second or just be polite enough to let me pass it to them normally. At first I thought, yeah, he's in a hurry, then I was like, she's pregnat she's probably overtired, but it continued and it was like 7 people one after another!
Can't you act polite too, people?
Ha, ha, ha! I'm a customer I can do what ever I want!
Well, sure, but every shop girl there is going to hate you, remember you and serve you the worst pieces next time!
Yeah, we do that!
I even add a sickly sweet smile since I know they don't remember me.
I remember them.
Why can some people joke around and wish you a nice day while others come, get what they want and don't even indulge in polite talk?
I was so... angry!
Once I finished the line I went to the back storage, I was away like 25 seconds, since I had to bring papers (we pack the cheese and ham in them, I don't know what they are called) and then my colleague tells me, some woman started saying loudly once I left: Does anbody serve here or what?
I mean, what the fuck? Some people wait politely in a line for 15 minutes and this b*tch is yelling for 15 seconds? Cause she wasnt there when I left for those papers!
To top it of, I especially hate those, who want me to give them a salad and then dissapear. In our supermarket it is divided into cheese, hams and such, salads. Every part has it's own line and those people know it! They even see the lines! I just love when they want salad and I turn around, reaching out to give it to them - it takes like 10 seconds at most to wrap it - and they aren't there.
They just moved in front of the other line, knowing I need to give it to them and then they say, they want the cheese too.
Cutting the line, really?
I'm like... sure, we're only adults.
And what do I have to say for those totally unnecessary 20 feet I had to make? Sorry, this is given out separately, you need to wait in a line, and then I'm off, going back those 20 feet, taking another customer from my line, who is already angry that I was so insolent to leave.
Today, I've almost thrown it at the b*tch.
Come on!
You don't order in a czech restaurant at one table, then go sit at the other demanding chineese food!
Do you?!
Do you?!
I'm just so frustrated!
I love working with people but today was way over line, they were so mean!
Those who whisper are the best though...
Is it such a problem to raise your voice and articulate propery.
There are maschines that go the entire shift behind us, making noise.
People are chattering too all the time.
My hearing was bad today since I had a cold the week before, I admit.
But still!
The last hour was pure torture!
My back hurt and I was too tired to even feel angry then.
I was just sad.
I thought I would cry.
I would have if there weren't those 3 men that joked with me and gave me good laugh. Or those 20 or so who wished me a good day.
To top this day off... I fell asleep while posting this chapter.
I had it all set I was just checking mistakes!
I woke up, laptop still on my thighs - thankfully - and the screen blank.
I must have clicked on something while I was asleep because I didn't find the chapter anywhere and I was so... SAD!
So at ten I grabbed a bite and did the chapter all over again.
Then I thought, why don't I write my frustrations?
Who knows maybe someone's going to imrove their behaviour upon reading this.
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Now as to why the Malfoy brat isn't acting like such an easily manipulated douchebag in this fic - I LOVE YOU DESPITE ALL OF THAT!
Draco used to be deaf as I so kindly wrote in the summary.
Whether you admit it or not there is bullying spread worldwide.
Draco may have been shielded from the worst of it but he encountered bullying too.
Also, his parents are different.
And that plays a huge role according to me.
Narcissa is a healer and Lucius actually cares deeply for his son.
These are the main arguments why Draco is so... different in this fic.
You'll learn about him more soon, don't worry.
Well... if I didn't send you off running with my Draco...
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Till next time!