Chapter 2
My first day at Hogwart had only a few minor mishaps. I was late for my first class, because I got lost trying to figure out which stupid hall was which. By the time I made it in, the entire class was sitting staring at me as I sheepishly took the seat in the front by Tonks. I was shocked to see that the nose ring was gone and her hair had been dyed black.
Nice, she told me with only the slightest twitch of her lips.
The professor came up to me with a frown on her matronly lips. Professor McGonagall was the Algebra teacher at Hogwarts, as well as the head of Gryffindor. Blaise had told me that she was tough, but fair. I knew I was in for it. She began to speak and Tonks signed it for her. This is not the way to start off, Mr. Malfoy. I will let it go this once being that you are new, but next time I will deduct house points.
"Yes, ma'am," I said embarrassed. Looking across the room I could see Weasley smirking at me. Potter was also looking at me, but I didn't see any malice in those green eyes. In fact, there wasn't any emotion at all.
Class went by quickly. I was miles ahead of the rest of my grade, so I wasn't all that worried about the course work. Out in the hall, I finally asked, What's with the hair?
Tonks rolled her eyes. I'm being professional, can't you tell? I'm doing this for you, brat, so you'd better appreciate it.
I laughed.
The next few classes were a breeze. It seemed I could slack off a bit for the first term. After lunch in the great hall, I said goodbye to Tonks for the day. I wouldn't let you on your own, but I know for a fact Snape is fluent in ASL, she told me.
You know him outside of school?'
She nodded. The person who taught Snape sign is the same person who encouraged me to be an interpreter.
Who do I smack for that?
She glared at me. Maybe I will abandon you.
I laughed, but stopped when I felt people staring at us. Glancing around, I could see quite a few students staring at us and whispering. Weasley was sitting at the Gryffindor table next to ours and his group all seemed to be listening intently to whatever the jackass said….everyone but Potter. Even from where I was sitting, I could catch the words "Deaf dumb freak….only here because of his dad."
Potter raised his head and said something, but I didn't know what. Probably just talking more shit about me, I thought. My blood ran cold with rage. That day I decided that I hated all of them—the whole fucking house.
I went on to chemistry class with Snape on my own, and sat in the front dead center so I could get the best view. The front half of the room was filled with desks slid side by side, and the back had a full lab set up. Students filtered in looking none too happy to be there. Most of them were either Slytherin or Gryffindor. I watched Potter and Granger take seats in the back through narrowed eyes. I snorted when I noticed how he still looked a mess even in his uniform. Despite being tailored, his sleeves still hung over his fingertips. I was so busy glaring at them that I almost didn't notice Blaise sit down beside me.
How's it going? he asked. I told him about my day so far, and he looked rather crestfallen when I told him that Snape understood sign. I was hoping you could help me out in here, but oh well... And I did warn you about Ron.
I know. You forgot to put Potter on that list too.
His eyebrows shot up. Potter? He doesn't say enough to be an ass.
If he hangs out with Weasley, he has to be a dick.
Maybe. Blaise turned and I followed his gaze to the door now filled with Snape's dark form.
Class began with Snape listing off of all the major topics we would be covering over the year. It was obvious that this would not be an easy subject. His work load was twice what most other teachers demanded. He dug right in and began with chemical bonding on the smart board. It didn't take long for someone to get on Snape's bad side and that someone was Harry Potter.
I wasn't quite sure what he had done wrong because Snape had abruptly stopped signing, and stalked over to Potter's desk. From the angle I was at, I couldn't see his mouth, but I did see him take a note book away from Potter. I couldn't help, but be glad to see that Snape didn't let those three get away with anything. It was one more reason why I liked him so much.
Over the next few weeks, I fell into a comfortable routine. My classes were pretty much what I had expected them to be, and I was beginning to get to know my fellow Slytherins. I was surprised to find how deep the rivalry between houses really was. It fueled my fire to know that I had friends who also hated Gryffindor house, though most of their hatred was competition related. Hogwarts did not have sports teams competing with other schools; instead, each house had its own sports teams. Hockey was the most popular, and Gryffindor had narrowly beaten Slytherin at last year's championship.
That also gave me an idea. Being home schooled, I'd never really played organized sports. I knew how to play hockey, and I was an excellent skater. It only seemed natural that I would try out for the Slytherin team. With tryouts in early November, I was absolutely determined to make the team. Blaise laughed at my obsession. He told me that I was almost guaranteed a spot on the team, so I should quit worrying about it. Still, I would wait until after dinner and go lace up my skates.
Hogwarts maintained the rink year round even though most students didn't visit it until later in the year. Normally, it was deserted, and that suited me just fine. I loved the chill in the air, and the feeling of gliding across the ice without thinking about anything. Skating was one of the very few things I shared with my father. He had taken me out to the pond by our house and taught me when I was a little kid. It was the first and only time I can ever remember my father telling me that he was proud of me. Maybe that's why it was so important.
I was in for my usual evening skate, when I noticed another figure on the ice. Harry Potter was taking graceful strides across the rink. Frowning, I watched him loop around. He had no right to invade my space. I laced up and joined him on the ice. He nodded to me, but didn't say anything. Recently my fights with Weasley had simmered down to a few insults thrown in the hall. I had yet to actually say anything to Potter at all, but he was always there with Ron like a good little lap dog. My frustration grew as I began making my way around the rink.
I hadn't intended to race him, but before I knew it, I was moving as fast as I could beside him and it was certain that neither of us was going to slow down. He was good, there was no denying that, but I wanted to beat him. I wanted to show him that I was better than him or Weasley. My chest began to tighten as we went faster and faster for longer and longer. There was never more than a few feet between us. Some laps he led, while others I managed to pull ahead. We were almost dead even until I began to feel my body give out. Sweat was rolling off me and my sides were aching, but the anger I felt watching him whiz by me outweighed all of that. I collapsed against the wall, and he skated back toward me. I had thought that he had come to gloat, but he simply asked: "Are you ok?"
"Fine, Potter. Leave me the fuck alone," I snapped. My pride was too strong to take his sympathy.
He nodded and skated off.
That night only made me work harder. I had to beat him. I e-mailed my father asking for new hockey gear, and he sent it with a note attached telling me to work hard. In other words, "don't make me look bad."
By the morning of tryouts, I was ready. I was so on edge that I woke before my "alarm" went off. Blaise and I had a system. Rather than using one of the alarm clocks that made the lights blink, he would wake me, and go back to sleep. Blaise was still out cold at six AM that morning. He had refused to go out for any of the sports. I dressed as quickly as I could being gentle with the drawers so they wouldn't slam and wake him up.
It was a Saturday, and the school was still mostly asleep. Only those of us trying out for the team were in the great hall for breakfast. I ate my cold cereal and looked at the competition I would have. I was one of only four freshman trying out. Generally, only sophomores, juniors, and seniors made the team roster, and the freshman that did make it rarely played. I had grilled Pansy for information, and found out that there were only five open spots total on the team after last years players graduated. The team was coed and she was also trying out, though she was almost certain she wouldn't make it.
It seemed like it took forever for the event to get underway. Tonks had met me at the rink to make sure I knew what the directions of each drill were. Today was the one day I didn't want to misread something someone said and look like an ass. The first few exercises were easy enough. I was by far the fastest skater in my group, and it didn't look like too many people were close to my skill. I did fairly well with the passing and shooting drill. When all was said and done, I was fairly confident, but I still sat in the stands with butterflies in my stomach.
It took over an hour for them to finally post the names on the locker room door. Everyone crowded around and I pushed my way to the front. My heart sank when I got to the bottom of the list and saw my name under "fist alternate." I clenched my jaw and walked over to the Gryffindor list that had been posted after their tryouts the day before. Harry Potter was at the top of the list, and I swore silently. All of my work had been for nothing.
After that, I was a little more bitter about my hatred of Harry. I took great delight in every detention he got from Snape, and even sought out ways to get him in trouble. I would see the white of a note pass between them and be sure to look right at them so Snape would follow my gaze back to him. Oh, it didn't win me any real friends, but I enjoyed it. Then I began taking things a little farther. I would slam into him intentionally in the hall, and say some caustic remark to him. What annoyed the fuck out of me was that he never so much as said one single word to any of it. I even took to taking pot shots at his friends. They would tell me off, but it still didn't get any reaction from Potter.
The way I saw it, Potter had it easy. He was the darling of most of the teachers. Everyone kept saying that he was the youngest boy to start as the center of the hockey team since his father. Teachers praised him for being just as smart as his mother. Even Dumbledore was sickeningly attached to him. Him and his little "golden trio" in Gryffindor house ruled the fucking school in a way. He might not say or do much to get people's attention, but he certainly had it. How could he not when he was so fucking perfect? He even led Gryffindor to sweeping wins on the ice. He deserved what I did to him, I told myself. I kept hounding his every step. Things just kept building as I taunted him more and more, and then the dam finally broke.
It was the weekend before Christmas, and I was carrying my luggage down out of my room when I saw Potter and Granger standing in the hall. Both had dressed in street clothes for the trip home, and Granger's skirt was too short. "You like cheap whores, don't you Potter? Do they remind you of your mother?" I called out to them.
I barely had time to blink before he had me pinned to the wall. His hands were like steel around my neck. He punched me once in the face and I felt blood trickle out of the corner of my mouth. Pushing him back, I took a swing at him and missed. Knocking me back, he had a vice grip on my shoulders. "I'll say this slowly, so I know you understand. I don't want you EVER to say another word about Hermione or any of my friends, and if you ever say a word about my mother again I will smash your god damned face in." I could see the burning animosity in his eyes.
I spat at him, and kicked him in the knee. He dropped down to the ground, and I was about to hit him again, when I was lifted back. Trashing and screaming, I watched as Professor McGonagall helped Harry up. Only then did I realize who had a hold of me.
Snape sat me down and signed angrily, Are you a complete moron? Do you want to be expelled? Both of you are going to see the headmaster, but first let's get you cleaned up.
Not a word was said or signed on the entire trip to the infirmary. Madame Pompfrey patched us up, albeit roughly—she had no sympathy for fighters—and we were taken to see Dumbledore.
Tonks was waiting for me there, and neither she nor Dumbledore looked very happy. I'll speak to you first, Draco, she signed for the headmaster.
I swallowed hard.
I don't know what either of you boys were thinking. Severus heard you call Harry's friend and his mother foul names before he hit you. If that is the case, I'm afraid you deserved to be hit. Insulting his dead mother was a low trick. Whatever your quarrel with Harry, that was uncalled for, but that does not excuse his actions. You will both have severe punishment awaiting you after the holidays. Now, go and wait for the bus to the train station with the others.
Something about his words rang true: insulting his mother had been a terrible thing to do, and I was sorry for it. Though I do admit, some of my regret was directly tied to getting my ass kicked. What about Harry?
You will both be punished, and I think it only fair that he has the same reprieve that you do over the holidays. You will serve your detentions together when you return.
"He's not leaving?" I asked.
Dumbledore shook his head, and I could see a bit of sadness in his eyes. Go on with you.
I glanced at Harry as I walked by him. He had his head leaned against he wall, and he looked as though he were about to cry. As soon as he saw me though, his head snapped up, and the emotionless gaze was back in place. Harry's pride was every bit as strong as my own…if not more so.
Tonks and I walked back down the hall together, and I knew that I was in for it from her. "You little rat bastard!" she said without signing. How could you be such a fucking heartless dick?
I made a mistake, I signed slowly.
A mistake? You went after him deliberately! I'm with you all day. I see what you do all day. You think I don't know that you're baiting him? Why him? I could understand it if you were going for Weasley, but Harry isn't like that. How…. Her hands trembled and I could tell she was beyond any words at all right then. When she did sign, she formed her words carefully. You may have a new interpreter when you get back. I don't know if I want to be here any more.
THAT got me. Over the last few months, I had come to really like her. Her sense of humor was one of the few things that made this place standable. Please, don't go. I'm sorry. I really am. I…I..I just get tired of seeing him have it easy all the time.
Her eyes were wide. You don't know anything. Look as someone who knows the whole fucking circle of Malfoys, Blacks, and Potters, I know enough about you both to say that you should give him break.
Now it was my turn for confusion. How do you know our families?
My mother's maiden name was Black, just like yours. Harry's godfather is Sirius Black. Making sense now? Sirius, your mother, and I are all cousins. Though no one wants to own up to that one. Sirius and I are the family outcasts. Sirius was like and older brother to me growing up and I knew the Potters, ok?
Why didn't you tell me we are cousins?
She rolled her eyes. We might as well not be. You're my mom was disowned for marrying a cop, and not a broker. Sirius was cut off for being gay.
I rubbed my temple trying to will away the headache the day was giving me. Why didn't you say anything before I got my ass kicked?
Because I figured you get over whatever your problem was. I assumed that you were more intelligent than this, but that's what happens when you assume something.
I groaned. I really am sorry, but that doesn't mean I want Potter for a friend.
She glared at me. Just don't do anything stupid again.
