The Other Malfoy

Orion Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table waiting for the first years to get sorted. He couldn't wait for his third year to start. He didn't like Slytherin very much and was outcast his first year for befriending the Weasley twins, who were apparently "blood traitors" or some other nonsense. Not that Orion would have any friends anyway. He was a mudblood. It had come out last year and now instead of being completely ignored, Orion was subject to taunts and jeers.

And then there was his last name. Apparently he shared it with some big name Pureblood. Orion tugged on his shoulder length blonde hair. He really needed a hair tie so he could pull it back. Not that he knew any girls he could borrow one from.

"Draco Malfoy" Professor McGonagall called out. Orion hadn't realized the sorting has even started.

"Look mudblood, it's your better half," someone hissed. Orion looked up at the boy. The two of them even looked like they could be related. It seemed that Orion's life had just gotten even more complicated. Mercifully, the boy sat at the other end of the table. At least Orion wouldn't have to deal with Draco until later.

Orion ate as much as he could but nothing tasted right. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that something bad was going to happen. Luckily the feast was over quickly and classes didn't start until tomorrow.

"Hey there Orion!" Orion turned to see Fred and George approaching.

"Hello," Orion said. He tried to sound confident but he knew he had failed.

"What's wrong?" the twins said together. Orion was surprised by their concern until he saw the smiles on their faces.

"Well now that Draco Malfoy has arrived my life is going to be a living hell."

"He is a prat."

"Not to mention a racist git."

"Don't let him bother you."

"And if he does, let us know." Orion could tell that the twins really wanted an excuse to prank the boy and Orion knew they would do it even if he was left alone. Not that it was likely that he would be left alone. He was never left alone.

"I will," Orion said.

"Cheer up mate!" Fred said. "I know that'll cheer you up. You should come meet our brother!" Orion had no idea how that would cheer him up but he followed the Weasley twins to the Gryffindor common room.

.

"Little brother!" George called out in a sing-song voice.

"What do you want?" A young red head stood up from a chair followed by his friend. "Why is there a bloody Slytherin in here?" Orion tried to smile and was very glad that it was only the five of them in the room.

"This is Orion Malfoy," George introduced, "We've been friends since first year."

"But dad said the Malfoy's only have one child!" Orion's smile turned very genuine and looked very Slytherin. It was amusing to watch the young Weasley look angry, upset and so very confused all at once.

"He's not related to them."

"In fact, he's a muggleborn!"

"I thought there weren't any muggleborns in Slytherin," Ron said. George looked as if he was about to speak again but Orion raised his hand to cut him off.

"The Slytherins were just as shocked as you. Apparently you only need to be very ambitious and cunning to get in. It's also worth mentioning that I dislike the Slytherins just as much as you do." Orion and the others sat down by the fire but before they could continue their conversation someone walked in.

"I don't think you're allowed to have other students in here." A young girl with very bushy hair and slightly bucked teeth stood over them, her arms crossed in disapproval.

"Don't worry love, we've had loads of people in here before and no one's ever told us off," Fred said. "Our brother's even a Prefect." This seemed to satisfy the girl and she turned to walk away.

"Hey, aren't you that girl from the train?" Ron asked, "What's your name again?"

"It's Hermione. Now if you don't mind I'm going to go study."

"Study? We haven't even has a single class yet," Ron said once she was gone.

"So who's your friend?" Fred asked.

"I'm Harry Potter," the dark haired boy said. Fred and George looked astonished. Orion had heard the boy's story before but he didn't see what the big fuss was about. His cousin Jessica was a huge history buff and had told him all about a man named Hitler for Germany. He and Voldemort seemed pretty similar.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Fred."

"And I'm George."

"We're Ron's best brothers."

"Yeah right," Ron muttered. Orion glanced at the clock. He would need to get going soon. He hadn't even unpacked yet.

"Sorry to cut this meeting short but I need to get going."

"What's the rush? Do you have a date or something?" George grinned but Orion shook his head.

"Yeah, a date with a bunch of angry Slytherins and a bratty first year," Orion sighed as he headed out the portrait.

~*.*~

Orion met no one on his way to the dungeon. If the little Malfoy brat decided to give him trouble, Orion figured he could always ask Professor Snape for help. The man seemed to hate everyone but was rather pleasant—well as pleasant as Snape could be—to him. Maybe it was because he actually make potions and didn't goof around in class.

"So you've finally decided to show your face mudblood." It looked like Orion would need the Professor's help after all. "What right do you have to share a surname with me?" The young blonde boy was flanked by his two large friends while what seemed like the rest of Slytherin hung back to watch.

"Have you all just been waiting for me to arrive then?" Orion asked as he scanned the room.

"Don't you dare ignore me! Answer the question!" Draco demanded.

"You know, little boy, you should learn to respect those who are older than you." Orion glared at the child.

"And you should learn to respect your betters," Draco sneered.

"Are you implying that you are my better?" Orion's voice dropped to a whisper. He locked eyes with the blonde, challenging him.

"I am your better," he hissed. Orion saw that everyone was watching intently, no one wanted to miss thing.

"Really? I don't think so boy." Orion gave Draco a smirk, one that the younger boy had seen before—on his father's face.

"My father will hear of this!" Draco declared, looking as if he had one the argument.

"And what could your father possibly do? He wouldn't bother dealing with muggles."

"Of course. Then I shall just have to talk to Professor Snape." Orion resisted the urge to smack the smug look off of Draco's face. He only raised his eyebrows, wondering that in the world the professor could do. "You will wait here until I go get the professor." Orion rolled his eyes and went into his dorm. He wasn't about to take orders from some little punk.

A knock on the door pulled Orion out of his potions text book. After organizing all of his school things Orion had thought that it would be best to go over some of the most advanced potions in the book. Professor Snape was probably going to have them make one on the first day of class.

"Come in," Orion said a bit hesitantly. No one ever knocked; a Slytherin could go where they pleased—if they were Pureblood.

"Hello." A first year boy entered the room nervously. He looked scrawny but still gave off the appearance of a Pureblood.

"Tell the Professor I'll be right out," Orion said as he marked the page in his book.

"Professor Snape's not here yet. I wanted to talk to you. I-I'm Theodor Nott by the way." The boy inched his way forward until he stood near Orion.

"You really shouldn't be here kid. I'm a no good mudblood, remember? Everyone else with pick on you if you talk to me in any way that is condescending or cruel."

"I don't care about them. They can't tattle on me to my father. He trusts me too much so I'll just say that they are lying." Theodore seemed to gain confidence as he talked, probably assured that Orion wasn't going to hex him.

"So why are you here then?" Orion studied the boy. There was more to his character than he was letting on, not that any Slytherin would ever show someone who they truly were.

"I wanted to say how awesome you were telling Draco off like that. No one would ever do that because of who his father is. Your ignorance of that really made for an amazing show." Orion ignored the insult as he was pretty sure the boy didn't realize he'd said anything wrong.

"I wasn't ignorant of it. Mr. Malfoy is very powerful in the wizarding world. I really don't care. I'm not going to let some little kid bully or intimidate me."

"Mudblood, Snape's here," a Prefect said as he opened the door.

"See you around Theodore."

"Orion," he said with a nod of his head.

.

"Now what is wrong here Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, directing his gaze at Draco.

"This boy is not showing me any respect. I also believe that he is not who he says he is," Draco said. Orion noticed Theodore reenter the room but the young boy only rolled his eyes at Draco's accusations.

"And why is that important enough to bring me here?" Snape drawled. He looked bored as he stood in the dim light of the common room.

"I will not live with this fake near me. He is not a Malfoy." Draco stood there looking smug, as if his argument had made sense.

"As far as I am aware this boy is a Malfoy only he is a muggleborn and clearly not related to you." Orion was sure that is Snape was resisting the urge to roll his eyes. The little brat was so spoiled.

"Well I want to see his lineage to prove he is who he says he is."

"I have a family tree if you want to see that," Orion offered. He was sick of Draco's voice, too bad he's have to live with is for the next five years.

"What, do you just carry family trees with you?" Draco sneered.

"It's in a photo album." Dumb ass, Orion added in his head. With a nod from the professor Orion went back to his room and began to rummage through his trunk. The old muggle photo album was at the bottom and Orion hadn't bothered to clean out the trunk over the summer. He pulled out the book but something else caught his eye. In his trunk sat a small piece of wood and a black rock that once belonged to his grandfather.

...

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