Title: When a Slytherin Walks on the Fence

Summary: AU If Vernon taught him anything he taught Harry to find the best so that's what he does. Sitting with one leg on either side of the fence, keeping the coin in the air, is he good or bad? No one knows.

Rating: K

Status: 2 chapter written, 2 chapter posted

Review count: 10

R-E-B-E-C: Thank you for including me in your C2

DMHPluv: I'm glad you like it

Heroine of the Valley: Well I hope you continue to like this chapter

Yin.Yang.Sisters:D

Exiled Rain: I'm glad to have made you happy

momocolady: Thanks

darkbloodwolfe: I'm glad you think so

cocopops: Hope that like continues on

HarrySlytherinson: Soon, no, update, yes

Heavens Sin: Hopefully the length of this chapter makes up for prologue shortness

Pairings???

Notes: Well, I imagined this scene where Harry puts Snape in his place and so I had to get there so here is this chapter.

"Don't tell me you trust him," Ron said looking at Harry fiercely.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you're going to get riled up about the fact that I decided to shake a boys hand."

Ron glowered at him, Harry raised his other eyebrow.

"But, he'd a Malfoy."

"And you expect me to know the meaning of that?"

"His family is a dark family, they follow You-Know-Who," Ron said furiously.

"Have you ever heard the phrase keep your friends close and your enemies closer?" Ron looked confused. "It means that if you keep one foot in the snake pit then you know what they're hissing about. Step out of it completely and hide in the lion's den then you can only guess."

"You two haven't been fighting have you," it was the bushy haired girl, "I heard shouting and some pureblood boy left this compartment not too long ago."

"Were you spying on us then?" Harry said looking pointedly at her.

"No, I just put two and two together that's all," the girl looked offended.

"Then accept my apologise, Miss…?"

"Granger, Hermione Granger, muggle born," she said proudly.

"Really now," Harry turned back to Ron whose face was as red as his hair, "I thought you and I could be friends, but friendship doesn't mean control. If you're going to get so upset about me being friends with other people then I wonder why you want to be my friend. Trying to grab some of the glory that this thing brought me are you?" Harry demanded, his face impassive as he pointed at his forehead.

"I," Ron stammered and looked down.

"Excuse me, but you're not Harry Potter are you?" Hermione asked looking at him in awe.

"Yes, I am and it means nothing to me. I've been ignorant of the wizarding world, until now so don't think I can get you anywhere," Harry said to her coldly.

"No need to be tetchy, if you're mad at him," she pointed at Ron, "then don't take it out on me. I was only interested because your in Modern Magical History, Great Wizarding Events of the 20th Century and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts," she said eyeing him.

"Am I now, I hope we're not studying any of those books. I think I'd feel rather embarrassed if I had to write a paper on myself, wouldn't you say Ron?"

Ron looked up, "You're still talking to me?"

"What, you think some high and mighty pureblood turning up with two goons for sidekicks and offering to be my friends because I'm famous and his name means something that I'm going to turn my back on you? Honestly, what kind of a person do you think I am?"

Ron went red again and mumbled an apology.

Harry laughed, "I can see it now, 'I want a thousand word essay on the history of Harry Potter', well, let's see, I was cooking bacon and eggs at the age of seven. I learnt how to use a washing machine at eight. I visited a zoo for the first time because the lady that normally looked after me had tripped over one of her many cats."

Hermione laughed and Ron gave a half-hearted snort.

A jolt from the train made Hermione look up, "You two had better get changed, I've spoken to the driver and he says we'll be there soon."

Harry turned around and grabbed his robe out of his trunk, when he looked up Hermione was still there. "You might want to leave."

"Oh," she blushed, "yes, of course, um, bye."

"Grows on you that one," Ron said, Harry grinned.

---

Ron got off the train behind Harry and found himself alone. The crowd had swept Harry along so he was lost to Ron.

"First years over here, first years?"

The red head headed towards the large man calling out with the lantern.

---

"Hello Potter," Harry turned as a hand came down on his shoulder.

"Surely Draco there's no need for such formalities, you almost sound hostile," Harry's tone was light and amused.

"Alright then Harry I'll play your game. So tell me, what were you doing associating with someone of Weasley's calibre?"

"Excuse me?" Harry said an eyebrow raised, an amused smirk still playing on his features.

"Red hair, freckles and more children than they can afford. The Weasley's are a family of blood traitors, not a gallon to their name and common as muck," Draco explained, smirking.

"Is that why you look at him with distain?" Harry asked, an eyebrow raised.

"You mean you don't see it?"

"Oh I can see you're point of view. I'm just confused as to your view of me. Tell me Draco Malfoy, you are a wizard, a pureblood wizard, correct?" Draco nodded, "therefore you know that both my parents are dead and you are aware that I am not of pureblood origin?" Draco nodded again.

"So you'll associate with me, when I am half blooded and yet you won't associate with another pureblood wizard whose family associates themselves with muggles?"

"But they're mudbloods, they don't belong in wizarding society," Draco sneered.

"And I'm a half blood yet you'll accept me, why?"

"But you."

"No buts Draco, if you based your dislike on Ron's personality then fine, I can accept that, but if you'll only judge by blood and what other people tell you to think then I'm sorry. But this won't work. Either you grow a back bone and investigate real facts to come to your own conclusions or you walk away now from the only shot you have of associating yourself in a meaningful way with me."

A vein twitched at Draco's temple. What was he to believe, the childhood of teachings his father had given to him, which his grandfather had given to his father, or this boy, this arrogant half blood that had somehow brought down the darkest wizard in history?

"Alright Harry, I'll talk to the Weasley boy but I won't make any promises," Draco sniffed.

"I didn't expect you too, now come on, or we might miss something," Harry said grabbing the boy by the elbow and dragging him off towards Hagrid.

---

"Alright, everyone into the boats, four to a boat I'm afraid, hey Harry," Hagrid said once he was sure that all the first years had gathered.

"Harry," Harry turned from where he was just getting into a boat, "I've been looking for you…Malfoy."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Just get in the boat Ron," Ron scowled.

"But he's," a look from Harry shushed Ron who climbed in the boat.

Harry looked at the two boys glowering at each other from opposite ends of the boat, "Oh boy," he rolled his eyes. His peripheral vision caught sight of Hermione Granger huddling next to that boy who'd lost his toad.

"Hagrid," Harry called over to the giant who had a boat all to himself.

"Yeh Harry?"

"Are you sure these boats can only take four?"

"They can take five if pressed why?" Hagrid asked.

Harry just grinned, "Hey, Hermione," the bushy haired brunette looked over at him, "Come on," he waved her over.

"But?" she looked from Harry to the frightened boy.

"You heard what Hagrid said, come on," Hermione took the boy's hand and lead him over.

"Move up Ron," Ron begrudgingly moved up still trying to keep as far away from Malfoy as possible.

Harry stood up and helped Hermione and the other boy into the boat.

"You'll fall out if you keep that up," Hermione said to Ron, Ron's ears went pink and Draco sniggered.

"Alrighty then, if that's everyone, forward!" called Hagrid merrily. The boat Harry was in seemed to lag behind slightly but Harry expected that was from the above average amount of weight it was carrying.

"Everyone, this is Neville Longbottom," Hermione said looking at Harry, Ron and Draco.

"Don't tell me you expect me to be friends with this mudblood too?" Draco sneered at Hermione.

"Who said I wanted to be friends with you, you arrogant, pampered prat," Hermione spat. The two proceeded to glare fiercely at each other. Ron was grinning at Hermione.

"You know, I once heard this saying that the more two people seem the hate each other, it's a sign of how much they really like each other," Harry said innocently.

Draco and Hermione went pink and turned away from each other.

"Anyway, while we're on the subject of introductions, Draco this is Ron, Ron this is Draco. From your reactions on the train I assume the pair of you have never met, as such how about you have a little talk and see if you like the same things. If you honestly don't like each other based on personality and interests then you can spend the rest of this boat ride exchanging insults. Hell, push each other into the lake for all I care but honestly, you're pride is creating an atmosphere that I for one don't like."

Draco and Ron looked each other up and down, glared at Harry then looked at each other.

"I like money," Draco said stiffly.

"I like Quidditch," Ron said through gritted teeth.

"I was almost picked to play in the junior Quidditch Leagues," Draco sneered.

"My brother's always pick me to be their Keeper," Ron said glaring.

"I dislike poverty," Draco spat.

"I dislike you," Ron hissed.

"Are you happy now?" they both demanded of Harry at the same time.

"I don't think a million years would make a friendship between those two happen," Hermione said quietly.

"Shut up you mudblood," Draco sneered.

"Hey, don't talk to her like that," Ron said hotly.

"Oh and why shouldn't I, she's just a filthy little mudblood," Draco sneered at Ron.

There was a splash. Draco had fallen into the water from the force of Hermione's slap. Unfortunately, her dive forwards had made the boat rock, Neville had panicked and flung himself against the side. Ron had stood up to get a better look at the drowning Draco and so, over went the boat. Harry yelped as he found himself plunged into ice water, weighed down by his robes.

"Harry, you alright?" Hagrid called back as the boats all came to a stop some way in front of them.

"I'm fine," Harry spluttered as he pulled himself onto the boat, helping Neville out of the water as Ron also climbed up.

"Wait, where's Hermione?" Ron gasped suddenly, shivering from cold and looking around.

There was spluttering and another splash as two people resurfaced, Hermione was treading water with one arm while holding Draco up with the other.

"And this is where he learns that pureblood does not help him float," she said rather proudly as she swam over to the boat. Harry and Neville helped lift a spluttering Draco out of the water as Ron gave Hermione a hand up.

"Well you did need a cooling off," Harry said to Draco as he laughed.

I like the boat scene. I like an intelligent Draco and I think some Hermy-Draky communication would be good for them both, no?

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I liked the boat scene :D

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