Chapter 2— Summer before School
This year, Draco's new 'friends' were invited to attend his first ever birthday party (Draco did not count the rest that were celebrated solely with his parents). Really, it was not as exciting as Draco thought it would be. He should have known it was going to be like the introductory gathering the year before. He should not have gotten his hopes up only to have them shattered. But stiff congratulations and boring birthdays aside, at least there was some good that came out of it. He had more presents this year for one. The second was that now Draco knew that he wouldn't be very happy with the friends that his parents chose for him. Of course he was not blaming them, no, after all these people were acceptable for a Malfoy heir. However, Draco wanted friends that would chat with him freely, friends who cared for him as a person, friends who were not chosen by his parents. And what Draco wanted he would get right? After all this was a reasonable request.
This train of thought lead Draco to think of his childhood friend Harry Potter. Okay maybe Harry wasn't his real friend; they haven't even met yet, but loneliness took its toll and Draco had grown up with many brilliant stories about Harry Potter, of how he defeated the Dark Lord when he was one. Draco deemed him worthy enough to be his friend, even if his blood was a little dirty (a fact that Lucius liked to stress whenever he heard Narcissa tell the tale to Draco) and made him into his best friend since he was 5. He recalled how Harry was the one he would always tell his secrets to, share jokes with and played with.
Oh how Draco wished for the school year to start so that he could meet the real Harry Potter. Draco has imagined the scene playing out for the past 6 years. They would meet. They would talk. They would become best friends. They would both get into Slytherin (only the greatest house in Hogwarts). On the first night, Harry would be scared and home sick and who would be there to hold and comfort him? Draco of course! And if Harry gets bothered by his star-struck fans who would help him? Draco of course (with some help from Crabbe and Goyle)!
Knock knock. Knock knock.
Draco was brought out of his reverie by a knock on the door.
"Come in!" he yelled.
Narcissa Malfoy entered her son's room and gave Draco a slight smile. She walked to his wide four-poster bed and plopped down beside him. Suddenly, she reached out and pulled the young Malfoy heir into a tight hug.
"Mother!" Draco yelped in surprise, his mother has hugged him before— she was a very affectionate person to those she loved and considered family after all— however, he's never been hugged so suddenly before.
"Oh my Dragon, you're growing up so fast. In a couple of weeks time you're be of to Hogwarts. I can't believe it." His mother stammered, tears starting to form in her eyes. Draco did not know what to do; his mother has never been so emotional before! He patted her back slowly, hesitantly and whispered, " Don't cry Mother. I'm growing up but that's a good thing right? Going to Hogwarts isn't a big change," Well it was to him but it was probably not a good idea to mention that at the current moment. "And I'll write back home every week. It would be like I never left really."
After hearing her son's gentle words, Narcissa pulled away, her face flushed, seemingly embarrassed that she had broken down, even if it was in front of her only son. Goodness, she had to keep herself together.
"Anyway, I came here to tell you that we will be getting your school stuff tomorrow so remember to bring your list, okay?" She said. Draco nodded, mind already wandering to the possibilities of tomorrow. Oh my goodness, I'll be getting my very own wand tomorrow! Excitement coursed through his veins. Yup, he definitely wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.
The next day saw the Malfoy family at Diagon Alley, ready for a day of purchasing school goods. Ready except for one Malfoy heir. Draco, though looked as he always did, was so sleepy. He did not catch much sleep last night and was suffering the consequences today. Constantly rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Draco took a huge yawn. Thankfully for him, his parents took pity on him and sent him to Madam Malkin's Robes of All Occasions to get his robes fitted while they went to get his books.
Draco was nearly half asleep when he noticed that there was a person next to him having their robes fitted as well. The person was a young boy with unruly black hair and funny looking circular glasses. He was wearing baggy clothes, which looked like they were going to slip right off his slim frame. But what captivated Draco most about this boy were his eyes. Great Merlin they were so green! So beautiful… Draco thought in his half-dazed state. The young blond decided that yes, he definitely wanted this person as his friend. The boy looked rather nervous and Draco knew that he would have to be the one to initiate a conversation for any friendship to blossom.
"Hullo," Draco said, starting to feel quite nervous himself. He looked at the boy once again. He looked hopelessly lost in Madam Malkin's Shop even though he was just having robes fitted. He was being fitted for Hogwarts robes Draco was sure but he looked so young and vulnerable that he could have passed off as a 9-year-old! So he asked, "Hogwarts too?"
"Yes," said the boy.
Oh no, Draco thought. This will go nowhere if he keeps being so afraid. Perhaps if I lightened the mood with a joke?
Draco stood straighter, trying to look prouder as well as to get rid of all signs of drowsiness.
"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," Draco began, already half lying as it was. He really hope his mother wasn't looking at wands, after all he wanted to choose his own. His voice sounded off to himself. Oh Merlin I should have slept earlier last night.
The dark-haired boy just stood there, still looking like he would run away at any given moment. Okay, let's see if we can find a common interest. But what—of course!
"Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms." Draco continued, a smile quirking at his lips. He knew fully well that he already had brooms at home and that he was not allowed to bring it yet. But the boy did not know and this was the perfect opportunity to impress him as well as insert a joke or two.
"I don't see why first-years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."
The boy suddenly frowned, leaving Draco to wonder whether he caught the joke or not. Oh but he is still not answering…
"Have you got your own broom?" Draco inquired, once again thinking about the short boy's clothing. I don't think he does.
"No," the boy answered, yet again a one-syllable answer.
Draco was getting more and more irritated by the second. Couldn't the boy see that he was trying to be friends? Looks like I've got to take it up a notch.
"I do— Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?" Please say Slytherin. Please say Slytherin.
"No," the green-eyed boy said, his frown deepening.
Draco was now at his wits end, trying to make the boy see that he would make a great friend but failing miserably. So, he tried encouragement.
"Well, no one really know until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been— imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave wouldn't you?" Mentally patting himself on the back for not only managing to slip in subtle encouragement but a small joke as well, he waited for the boy's answer. Though Draco really might leave if he was sorted in Hufflepuff. He shivered in mild disgust at the thought.
"Mmm," said the boy and now Draco was at the verge of pulling his hair out. It's not working! I need more material.
He looked out the window, praying to Merlin for inspiration, when he saw the largest man ever. Perfect.
"I say, look at that man!" Draco exclaimed suddenly, and nodded his head towards the front window.
"That's Hagrid," said the boy, a small smile making its way up his face, "he works at Hogwarts." Draco became more and more excited. That was not one-syllable!
"Oh," Draco said, feeling desperate to show off his knowledge and keep the boy's attention, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?" Draco quipped, his expression hopeful.
"He's the gamekeeper," said the boy, his smile disappearing. This made Draco's heart clench a little painfully. What did he do wrong now?
"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage – lives in a hut in the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed." Draco recited his father's words, hoping to get the smile back into place.
"I think he's brilliant," the boy said coldly and Draco felt his blood freeze. What did that savage do to make the boy think so highly of him? Jealousy made Draco frustrated.
"Do you?" Draco asked with a slight sneer. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" A tiny part of Draco was hoping that the giant oaf had kidnapped the boy so that he could swoop in and be the savior. That had the extra bonus of sending the man into Azkaban.
"They're dead," said the boy shortly, his voice laced with sorrow.
Draco could tell that he did not want to talk about it and so decided to skip it with a quick "Oh, sorry."
But then, Draco had another thought. What if this small boy was a Mudblood? Then he would be disobeying his father.
For confirmation, Draco asked, " But they were our kind, weren't they?"Crossing his fingers beneath the long sleeves of his newly fitted robes, Draco sincerely hoped the answer was yes.
"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean."
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"
Expressing his opinion was no problem at all, what was making Draco anxious was the answer. However, before the boy could answer, Madam Malkin said he was done and he hopped down the footstool.
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose." Draco said, wishing that he did not ask for more than the standard three robes required. He really wanted to continue talking to him and be his friend in the end. Too bad, but at least I'll see him at Hogwarts.
That thought managed to brighten him up and he continued the day looking at brooms, eating ice cream, getting a wand from Ollivanders (Hawthorn wood, unicorn hair, 10 inches) as well as getting potions ingredients (his favourite, but mother would not let him brew without Uncle Severus' help), all the while thinking about a boy with brilliant emerald green eyes.
