I'm sorry if having Draco and Harry have confused some people, but yes they are the two main characters. That doesn't mean that it's slash though. You can't assume that just because they're the two main characters that they're going to be lovers. The genre SAYS Adventure/Friendship. I'm sorry if this upsets anyone, but I'm not going to change the two main characters just because this isn't slash.
This WILL not be slash or any coupling of any kind so far. They are in their first year. Once again I'm sorry, but I'm not going to change the two main characters because some people are confused. It says adventure/friendship.
However, for the people who have enjoyed the story so far, thank you. I hope you continue to review and enjoy it! I'm really glad that a lot of you are saying that he's been in character for the most part, it really makes me happy. :)
Also, I really do appreciate the feedback. I do tend to get my tenses messed up at times and I apologize. I'm going to go edit everything and fix it, so thank you for telling me that. :)
Also, it says on the First year wiki page that they had flying on Wednesdays, but in the book it says Thursdays, so I'm going to put it on Thursdays. Just in case anyone notices.
-C
Chapter Four
Draco opened his eyes slowly, the sun coming through the red curtains of the window beside his bed, making him squint. He sat up and shoved his hair out of his face roughly while yawning. He glanced around to see that everyone was starting to get up as well, Neville was staring at the ceiling and across the room he saw Dean smacking a groaning Seamus with a pillow.
It was already Thursday, which meant they started flying lessons. Draco had been excited at first because if there was one thing he knew how to do it was how to fly, however, when he saw the bulletin in the common room on Monday he groaned – they were going to be flying with Slytherin.
It was still strange for Draco to dread seeing the house he thought he was supposed to be a part of.
He hadn't heard anything else from his parents, which he was slightly thankful for. He was still hoping his mother was going to write him separately but he tried not to think about it too much. He had been too busy with school and making sure Longbottom didn't get left behind to think too much about it.
Potter and Weasley walked past his bed a moment later and Draco glared at them when Potter nodded at him as he walked passed.
He couldn't stand Potter.
"I don't want to go today." He heard Longbottom mumble and when he glanced over at him again he saw that the boy looked as if he was about to walk to his death.
"It'll be fine." Draco muttered, shoving the covers off him and kicking his legs over the side of his bed.
"No it won't. I already told you what my family thought! They thought I was full muggle! I barely got into Hogwarts; I'm not going to be able to fly! I'm going to stand there and embarrass myself and everyone is going to laugh at me!" Longbottom said frantically, coving his face with his hands and sitting up, "I'm not like you Draco, I've never flown before! I don't know how!"
The blonde rolled his eyes, "No one's going to laugh at you. Most of the students haven't flown before."
"Yeah but I bet Zabini has." He groaned, shaking his head.
Draco scoffed, "Zabini? Who cares about him?" He narrowed his eyes at the thought of the other boy and finally slid off his bed, "The second no one's looking he's mine." Draco muttered to himself, the image of Zabini falling off of his broom and crumbling to the ground making him smile.
"Come on now Malfoy," Dean laughed, "Don't kill him."
"Yeah, we might lose house points." Seamus said while grinning.
Draco ignored the two behind him and quickly put on his robes. He walked into the bathroom and started to mess with his hair, putting it into place perfectly. Right as he was walking out of the bathroom he saw Longbottom standing in the middle of the room with his robes on waiting for him.
Both of them walked out of the Gryffindor tower together and started to make their way down the changing staircases. Longbottom was more quiet than usual and when Draco looked at him he saw that the boy looked as if he was about to be thrown in the Forbidden Forest.
"Draco?" He finally squeaked, right as they were making their way down the last staircase, "Is flying hard?"
The blonde shook his head, "Nope." He answered, "It's easier than walking."
"I don't think I'm going to be able to do it."
Draco rolled his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time, "You're making this out to be some big deal, it will be fine." He said with a save of his hand.
They walked into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Potter, Weasley and Granger were already there. Granger had her nose in a flying book while Weasley was talking to anyone who was listening.
"One time back at home I was on my brother, Charlie's, broomstick and almost hit a hand glider!" The red head was gushing to everyone around him, "Mum got real mad at me but Charlie thought it was hilarious."
"That's stupid." Draco heard Granger say while flipping through Quidditch Through the Ages.
"Well what would you know about it?" Weasley grumbled, "You've never been on a broom in your life."
Granger's head shot up and she glared at him, "It can't be too hard if the likes of you can do it." She stared at him for a moment before continuing, "By the way, you have dirt on your nose. Again."
Draco grinned as he sat down. Longbottom sat down next to him and stared at Granger, which was right across from him. "Is there anything helpful in there?" He asked.
Granger started to bore everyone to death with her flying tips and it took everything Draco had to tell her that half of what she was saying wasn't completely true. She was finally interrupted with the mail and almost everyone around him seemed to sigh in relief, except Neville, who was still asking her questions.
A barn owl swooped down across the Gryffindor table and dropped a package in front of Longbottom, who jumped back slightly. He glanced at Draco who gave him an incredulous look, he swore, sometimes he worried about Longbottom.
He opened the package quickly and revealed a glass ball that was almost the exact size of a snitch and was filled with white smoke.
"What's that?" Potter asked. Draco glanced over at the black haired boy and saw that he looked amazed. How was it that Potter seemed to know nothing about the Wizarding world, when he was its savoir?
"It's a Remembrall!" He said excitedly, "Gran knows I forget thing." Draco nodded his head in agreement, "This tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do!" He held it in his hand and grinned at Potter, "Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red….oh…" His face fell a moment later when the Remembrall started to grow a nasty red. "…It turns red when you've forgotten something."
"I'm not surprised." Draco drawled, grinning at Longbottom who was trying to think of what he had forgotten.
"What have we got here?"
Zabini, who was accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle, was walking past the Gryffindor table and snatched the Remembrall right out of Longbottom's hand. He tossed it in the air and caught it effortlessly.
Draco stood up a moment later, as did Potter and Weasley. "Give it back Zabini." Draco said lowly, hoping that Zabini was going to give him a reason to fight him.
"And what if I don't Malfoy? You can't write daddy anymore, he doesn't care."
Draco took a step forward and was about to say something but was beat by Professor McGonagall, who seemed to have a knack for spotting trouble.
"What's going on here?"
"Zabini has my Remembrall Professor." Neville said shyly.
Zabini dropped it back onto the table, "I was just looking." He said cheekily, he turned to look at Draco, who was still standing up. "See you later." He said, his grin never faltering. He walked away a moment later, Crabbe and Goyle on his tail.
Draco sat back down and grumbled under his breath. He couldn't stand that boy – he hated him more than anything. Why did he have it out for him anyway? Draco never did anything to him – in fact he was always nice to him before school even started.
"Thanks Draco." Longbottom said while they started to walk out of the Great Hall a few minutes later.
"Whatever." Draco said, waving his hand at the other boy. His thoughts still on how much he hated Blaise Zabini.
At three thirty Draco and Longbottom were finally making their way onto the grounds opposite of the Forbidden Forest. Seamus and Dean were trailing them. Neville's hands were shaking and he looked like he was about to hyperventilate. Granger was already there, standing with some of the other Gryffindor first years. Most of the Slytherin house was already there, Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle already trying to terrorize some of the Gryffindors.
Broom sticks were already laid out neatly next to one another. Longbottom's eyes grew wide with the sight of them and Draco nudged him slightly, "Calm down." He muttered, slightly embarrassed with how much Longbottom was freaking out.
Right as Draco and Longbottom reached the broomsticks Madam Hooch, their instructor, arrived. She had short grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" She barked, "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up. We don't have all day."
Draco glanced down at his broom and grimaced, it was nothing compared to the broom he had back at the manor. Neville was staring at his broom in horror and when Draco glanced around he saw Seamus and Dean making faces at the Slytherins, Granger was just as terrified as Neville and Potter was looking at his broom in awe.
"Now," Madam Hooch began, "stick your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'"
"UP!" Everyone hollered.
Draco's shot up into his hand at once. He glanced around and saw that Potter's had as well. They stared at each other for a moment and Draco glared t him. He glanced next to him and sighed on the inside when he saw that Longbottom's hadn't moved at all.
"Uuup!" Neville said, his voice shaking.
"Longbottom." Draco whispered, "Calm down. Just say up, don't think about it."
He nodded, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, "Up!" He said, a small waver still in his voice. His broom jumped slightly and he caught it before it hit the ground, "I did it!" He said, making everyone turn and look at him. Zabini laughed and Draco wanted to smack himself in the face.
"Up!" Granger was saying, glaring at her broom. "Up!" She said again and finally her broom jumped into her hand. She smiled in triumph and Draco smirked to himself. It was about time he beat her at something.
Zabini had his in his hand already and was staring Draco down with the ugliest grin he had ever since in his life. Draco sneered at the other boy, his blood already starting to boil.
He was hoping more than anything Zabini fell flat on his face.
Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end and walked around, correcting people's grip. She stopped when she reached Draco and told him that he'd been doing it wrong for years, which caused Zabini to holler with laughter. Draco muttered thanks to her and tightened his grip so hard around the broom that his knuckles were turning white.
"No, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady and rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly – three – two…"
Draco watched in horror as Neville, being terrified and jumpy kicked off the ground hard before the whistle even went off.
"Come back boy!" Madam Hooch screamed.
Longbottom didn't listen though and Draco assumed it was because he didn't know how to come back. He kept getting higher and higher and Draco watched as Neville's face turned as white as a sheet.
"Longbottom!" She screamed again.
The broom started to jerk from side to side, and eventually it started to fly toward the school. Draco stared wide eyed as Longbottom almost ran straight into a statue. He was flying all over the place, jerking in one direction and then another. The broom ended up jerking too hard to one side and Neville slide off of it and Draco, along with the rest of the class gasped. The Remembrall fell out of his pocket as he was falling and Draco stared in horror as Longbottom got closer and closer to the ground.
His robes got caught onto a straight fixture sticking outside the brick wall of the school and Draco, who didn't want to see Longbottom crumble to the ground, kicked off as hard as he could and flew over to the boy effortlessly.
"MALFOY GET DOWN THIS INSTANCE!" Madam Hooch screamed.
Draco hovered over to Longbottom and came up slowly so the other boy could put his legs around the broom. Draco went a little high so he was right behind and once Neville was securely on the broom he clung to Draco to the point that he could barely breathe. He hovered higher to get Longbottom's robes unhooked and flew back to the class. He landed effortlessly and even though they were safely on the ground Neville was clinging to him like a lifeline.
"Longbottom, shove off." Draco whispered, trying to shake the other boy off. For a second Neville did nothing but stand and cling to the blonde but a second later he pulled away and walked to stand beside him with shaking legs.
Draco immediately regretted helping Longbottom when he saw everyone staring at him with wide eyes. What had he been thinking? He was by no means a hero and the last thing he wanted was for people to think he was someone he wasn't. He saw the grin on Potter's face and wanted to slap it off. Zabini was staring at him like he didn't recognize him and Draco felt the same way. What was he doing?!
"Thanks Draco." Neville breathed, his voice still shaky.
Draco looked over at him and glared at him on instinct. Longbottom flinched back slightly and stared at him in confusion. Madam Hooch walked over a second later, shaking her head.
"This broom is done." She said, addressing Neville, "I'll have to go get another one." She turned to address the class as a whole then, "None of you move while I'm gone. You leave those broomsticks where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.'"
The second Madam Hooch was out of sight, Zabini busted out laughing.
"Why are you even here Longbottom?" Zabini said through his laughter. The other Slytherins started to laugh as well and Draco sighed on the inside.
"Shut up Zabini!" snapped Parvati Patil, a girl in Gryffindor.
"Oohh!" Pansy Parkinson said, "Never thought you'd like fat little cry baby, Parvati."
Neville's face dropped completely and he looked as if he was about to cry. Draco pinched his lips together, trying his best to not to snap at anyone and bring more attention to himself.
"Look!" Zabini cried a moment later. He darted forward and snatched something off the ground a few feet away from them. "It's that stupid Remembrall of yours Longbottom." He threw it in the air and caught it, "Even your gran knows you're too stupid to realize you forgot something."
Neville's eyes were glazed over and his hands were shaking again. Draco's eyes were narrowed slits and he stepped forward, "Shut up Zabini." He said through gritted teeth. His anger was starting to get the better of him again and when Zabini looked at him his grin was about as wide as the Quidditch pitch itself.
"Give it back Zabini." Potter chimed in a second later.
Draco glanced at the other boy and sneered at him. Who did Potter think he was? Always sticking his nose in people's business.
Zabini glanced between Potter and Draco and shrugged, "Ya know? I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." He looked at Neville then and laughed, "Maybe then you can actually learn to fly like every other person here can."
"Give it back!" Potter cried, his fists clenched to his sides.
Zabini hopped onto his broomstick a moment later and started to go up in the air slowly, "Come and get it." He called down, looking back and forth between Draco and Potter.
Potter was in the air a moment later, glaring at Zabini with such hatred that Draco was actually surprised.
"Harry!" Granger called, "Get down! Madam Hooch told us not to move! You'll get in trouble."
Zabini and Potter stared at each for a moment, "Go get it Potter." He sneered, throwing the Remembrall a moment later and in that same second Potter was off chasing it.
"I'm surprised you didn't come up Malfoy, if you could catch that fat idiot," He gestured to Neville and when Draco looked over he saw that he there was a tear streaming down his face.
That was it, Draco thought. He had enough.
Zabini was starting to make his way to the ground, "I was sure you could –"
"FLIPENDO!" Draco screamed a moment later, his wand pointed at Zabini, knocking him off his broom and making him soar through the air and hitting the ground with a loud – CRACK.
He was howling a moment later, clutching his arm to his chest and tossing from side to side. Potter was back as well, descending down to the ground and landing effortlessly, the Remembrall in his hand. He stared at the Zabini in shock, "What happened?" he asked Weasley.
"Malfoy jinxed him off his broom." Weasley said, grinning.
Draco watched and Zabini started to cry and felt joy soar through him. He marched forward a moment later, forgetting that there was an entire class in front of him. He knelt down in front him and smiled sweetly, "Now Zabini, didn't your father teach you how to fly a broom properly?" He asked so no one could hear him. He paused a moment later, "Ohhh…that's right." He said, the grin on his face almost sickening. "You don't have one." He said, his voice barely above a whispered, "That's just too bad, isn't it?"
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Everyone jumped and turned around to see Madam Hooch staring at them with a crazed look, clutching a broom in one hand. Draco stood up a moment later and walked back to stand next to Longbottom, who was staring at him with an uneasy look.
"Zabini fell off his broom." Granger said.
Draco's head snapped and looked at her, staring at her like she had grown a second head. What was she doing? She knew that wasn't what happened.
"That's a lie!" Zabini cried, "Malfoy jinxed me off of it!"
"Liar!" Seamus said, glancing at Draco with a strange look, "You fell off because of that huge head of yours."
Madam Hooch glanced between Draco and Zabini, "Either way Mr. Zabini, I said no one was to be on their broom. Whether Mr. Malfoy jinxed you or not, you didn't listen."
"Potter was in the air too!" He cried, staring at her like she had gone mad.
She turned to look at Potter then, "Is that true?"
"Madam Hooch!"
Everyone turned to see Professor McGonagall walking over to them hurriedly, "Can I borrow Potter for a moment?"
"Actually Minevra, I was just trying to – "
"Thank you." McGonagall said, completely ignoring her. She grabbed Potter by his wrist and dragged him away, "Never in all my years at Hogwarts…"
"It was Zabini's fault." Draco heard him say.
They were out of earshot a moment later and Draco turned and watched as Madam Hooch stared at Zabini and sighed, "Come on then boy, I have to take you to the hospital wing." She turned to face the entire class then, "Lesson's cancelled, be back here next Thursday."
She and Zabini walked away a moment later, Zabini clutching his arm and glaring at Draco as they passed him. Crabbe and Goyle followed them closely and once all four of them were out of sight Granger glared at Draco.
"Are you mad?!" She screeched, walking over to him. The rest of the Slytherins were walking away as well, glaring and making snide remarks as they passed.
"Mind your own business Granger." He growled, his fists clenched at his sides.
"Draco!" Pansy Parkinson walked up to him a moment later, "What is wrong with you?" She asked, completely ignoring Granger. "You've been acting like a prat since we've got here!"
He couldn't stand Pansy, she was always over at his house because of her parents and the last thing he wanted to do was actually talk to her. He ignored her turned to see that Neville was still standing next to him, looking at Pansy with narrowed eyes.
"Are you serious?" She asked incredulously. "You would rather talk to that fat oaf and this," she turned to look at Granger then, "mudblood?!"
Draco froze and glanced to see that Granger was so taken aback that she didn't even know what to say. Her eyes started to grow red a second later and she walked away from all of them, pushing past Draco roughly. He turned to stare back at Pansy, who was still looking at him.
"What's your problem!?" She screamed, "We grew up together Draco, all of us and all of a sudden you're like a completely different person!"
"I didn't chose to be sorted here!" He screamed. He couldn't take it anymore! He was sick and tired of being bothered and being talked about. "It put me here and that's that. I didn't want to be here – this was the last house I would have ever wanted to be placed in!" He looked around to see that Potter, Weasley, Seamus, Dean and Longbottom were all staring at him. "I was placed here and ever since then you all have been acting like you're too good to even walk on the same ground as me!" He glanced around at the remaining Slytherins, "It obviously doesn't matter if we grew up together or not, because you're just as bad as Zabini is! You're all terrible!" He shook his head and didn't even know what he was trying to say, "I guess it just shows your true colors." He finally said, "You're all just a bunch of back stabbing, good for nothing prats."
"Do you realize what you're doing?" She asked, "Your parents are going to be furious! They already can't stand the fact that you're in Gryffindor and now you're acting too good for your old friends! What do you think your father's going to say?!"
Draco bit his tongue. His blood was boiling, his heart was pounding and his fists were shaking at his sides. He wanted to scream. He wanted to run away. He couldn't stand the hatred that was bubbling inside of him.
"Your parents are going to be disappointed Draco."
"THEY ALREADY ARE!" He screamed, "My father has made it clear Pansy! You don't have to tell me!" He turned around abruptly and pushed passed Neville, who was staring at him with wide eyes, "I've had enough of this!" He hollered.
He was done. He shoved his way through the crowd that had gathered and started to walk in no particular place. He pushed people and slammed into them when they didn't move. He ignored everyone around him. He couldn't take it anymore – every time he turned around he was getting ridiculed or he was digging himself deeper into the hole he's been stuck in. He stopped walking when he realized he was standing outside of Snape's classroom.
He stared at the door for a moment and without thinking about it he shoved it open roughly, making the door swing into the wall. There wasn't a class going on and he was surprised when he saw Snape sitting at his desk, looking over some papers. He turned his head and raised his eyebrows when he saw Draco standing there.
"Mr. Malfoy, is there a reason you decided to rudely swing my door open?"
"Do you hate me now too!?" Draco said, his voice echoing around the classroom, "I can take it, everyone else hates me now." He finished, his voice filled with venom.
Snape stared at him for a moment, uneasily. He picked up his wand and waved it around, closing the door that Draco had just opened, "What are you talking about Draco?" He asked, setting his wand aside and turning to face the blonde.
Draco was breathing heavily and his hands were still shaking. "Do you hate me now too?" He repeated, "My father hates me now – do you?"
"That's ridiculous Draco, your father doesn't hate you – "
"That's not what I asked!" Draco screamed. His head started to run a mile a minute and all he wanted to do was crawl into a ball and disappear, "Do you hate me?!"
"Of course not, that's the stupidest question I've ever had to answer."
Draco stared at him for a moment, "You're a liar."
"Draco Malfoy, don't you ever call me a liar." Snape drawled, narrowing his eyes.
"You're lying though!" Draco screeched, "You hate me! You can't stand me anymore! Father can't stand me and I guess my mother can't stand me either!" He shook his head, "I didn't do it on purpose!" He was screaming now, "I didn't want this! I don't know what happened! It put me in here and I hate it! I can't stand it!"
Snape stood up a moment later and walked over to Draco, " Draco – calm down."
"NO!" He screamed, "I want a house change! I don't want to be in Gryffindor anymore! I don't want father or you or mother to hate me!"
"Draco Lucius Malfoy! Be quiet this instant!" Snape snarled, he grabbed Draco roughly by the shoulders and shook him. Draco snapped out of his trance a moment later and tried to pull away from Snape. He didn't want to be here anymore. "Stop. Struggling." Snape barked.
Draco stopped a moment later and stared at his god father, who was staring at him with a strange expression. "Your father doesn't hate you." He finally said, "I do not hate, and your mother does not hate you."
"Then why hasn't she written me?" Draco asked, "Why do you glare at me? Why did father tell me how disappointed he was in me?" Draco was quiet for a moment and he shook his head, "He hates me. I told them that I didn't choose this and they're mad at me anyway. He can't stand me now." Draco pulled away from Snape, who dropped his hands back to his sides.
"They have to get used to it Draco – it will be fine."
"No it wont." Draco said, shaking his head. "I'm around Gryffindors every day. I talk to them every day. Zabini and I are at each other throats all the time! I jinxed him off his broom!"
"You jinxed Mr. Zabini off his broom?" Snape asked, almost looking surprised.
"He deserved it." Draco finished lamely.
It was quiet for a moment. Snape was staring at Draco and Draco was looking every but Snape. He didn't know what to do anymore. His father was going to disown him. His parents hated him – and if they didn't before they were going to hate him now.
"Your parents love you more than life itself Draco." Snape said suddenly, "Your parents love you more than anything else in this entire world – nothing could ever compare."
"Then why are they acting like this!?" Draco screamed. His eyes started to burn and he shook his head, "I'm not stupid! I know they can't stand me. I know they hate me."
"They're surprised Draco – your father is surprised. You need to give him time to get used to this. He doesn't hate you, he could never hate you."
Draco shook his head, "Whatever." He turned on his heel and started for the door. He tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. "Let me out." He said quietly, almost all his energy gone.
"Draco. Whether you listen to me or not is your choice to make. Your parents love you and all they need is time. Everything will be fine."
The door opened a second later and without even sparing Snape a glance Draco walked out. His eyes were still burning and slowly he made his way to the Gryffindor tower, where he'd see Longbottom, Seamus, Dean, Granger and probably even Potter and Weasley. He'd go there, ignore everyone around him and go to sleep.
Once he walked into the common room he was surprised when he saw everyone he had just thought of sitting together. They all turned to look at him, almost as if they weren't sure whether to say anything to him or not. Longbottom was staring at him with a strange expression that Draco didn't want to take the time to figure out and Potter was smiling at him.
"Hey Malfoy."
"Save it Potter." He finished harshly, "Just leave me alone."
"You don't have to be a prat." Weasley said.
"Leave him alone." Neville said, looking at Ron and then to Draco.
Draco ignored all of them and walked up the stairs to his bed. He changed robes even though it was only four in the afternoon and lied down in his bed. He closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I've been going along with the book and for the most part this chapter is based off of chapter nine from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. :)
I hope everyone understands why these types of things keep happening to Draco. Draco isn't the type of person who's going to change his opinion over time, his opinion is going to be changed over big events that happen to him, that's just who he is. Things are going to happen to him to make him change, and slowly it will happen. He's already changed some, not completely but some.
Anyway, please review!
-C