Title: For the First time
Author: Mabu
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Angst, Humor.
Warnings: Time-Traveling fiction.
Disclaimer: Property of JK Rowling. Quotes from the book may be repeated in here since time is turning.
Author's note:

Chapter four: Better than now

Few days had passed by since the incident with Millicent and Mad-Eye Moody. Draco was still waking up before others, earlier than seven and sitting out in the Common Room, waiting for thoughts to swirl and caress his mind. The routine was tiring him, but he felt if he didn't follow the routine, he would fall back in an operation. He felt alerted every step of the way, walking in Moody's class and listening to his lectures, Draco tried to think that this person was not an enemy who would turn him into a ferret any day, but an ex-Auror who was bloody nutters. That didn't much help either way.

It was while Draco was wondering on his base of plans that he decided to get some help. Millicent was slightly suspicious but was generous enough (He wouldn't call it generous, technically. But she had been courteous enough, that was something) to give a few pointers.

"What if I wanted a teacher out of this school?" he had asked in his not-so subtle way.

Millie had looked at him blankly. "Tell your father of him, of course. Haven't you already tried that before with that half-giant?"

Yes. He had. Though, it didn't exactly work out, did it? He didn't deign the inquiry enough to even give a proper answer. He just stared back at her, one eyebrow raised.

She shook her head soon enough. "Right, your father's power doesn't exactly work against that old coot." She was referring to Dumbledore. Nobody at Slytherin really liked the Headmaster. Everyone had seen how completely biased the man had been in Draco's first year and they had decided to dislike the man from then on. Draco's hatred of him on that day had been much more intense than others, though. A hatred that had been dampened by the calm, vulnerable profile he saw of his Headmaster who had always kept a strong back, eyes twinkling like soft stars, on that Astronomy Tower. The vision still haunted him. He could not find enough strength to hate the old wizard now.

"So? You want to get Moody out of here?" she asked bluntly.

It wasn't exactly a secret that Draco Malfoy disliked Mad-Eye Moody even in his previous fourth year. This time, he didn't exactly try to hide his displeasure either. It couldn't be helped. Whenever he saw the man, his stomach started churning unpleasantly in a mixture of fear, dread and anger that made him frown or sneer unpleasantly. Anger, because this man was the one who had been the indirect and most important part of bringing Voldemort to power again. Voldemort who had not only destroyed every innocent's home but also, ruined Draco's family. Draco didn't care about innocents, but when he had to watch it happen to them (family was always 'them', never 'him' or 'me'), he hardly felt uncaring. Actually, most of the time, he felt like retching his guts out. And he would, after the act was done and he was alone in his bedroom where he'd run towards the bathroom and take out all the unappealing food he had forced down his throat hours ago. Sometimes, he didn't reach the bathroom soon enough and threw up all over the carpets. The House-Elves would clean it up without a comment, but the nasty smell somehow still lingered in his stale, suffocating room.

He had been a mess then. He was still a mess now.

"Yes, Mill'. What do you think? I want that bloody madman out of here." Draco said with a jerk of his chin and arrogantly crossed his arms. "He irks me. And my brain's not working correctly these days. I can't find a simple solution and start thinking of grandiose plans which probably isn't helping a bit." Grandiose plans, like entering the Tri-Wizard Tournament or his new one, kidnapping Potter, locking him somewhere safe where his blood could not be reached, and turning into Potter while entering the tournament. Both were stupid and entirely too reckless for words.

Millicent snorted derisively. "I'll say. If you can't even figure that out, you really must be far gone." he glanced at her curiously. She leaned forward and stared at him with a hard look. "Tell me, Draco, what is it with you these days? Have you been possessed or something? because honestly, even if I can see that some of you is still the same, the other part of you is entirely too strange." He frowned at her words, wondering what parts of him shone true and which weren't. But he pushed those thoughts away. He wasn't discussing this for his sake.

"I will admit, that I'm feeling not like myself lately." He said, eyes stony and determined. "So, will you tell me what I need to do?"

Millicent shrugged. "Same thing you did last year with that half-oaf. Though, it didn't work quite mightily, you still managed to kill that filthy Hippogriff and it had caused quite a bit of fuss up there." when Draco only stared at her, she decided to elaborate. "Manipulate, Malfoy. Forgot that? Acting like the half-breed was a big bad wolf and you know, working your magic from there. You always managed to kick up a fuss with perfect acting skills. I don't know if you plan it or not. but they work brilliantly, most of the time."

Draco sighed, disappointed. "Mill', I know acting will help with this but-" he stopped, an idea coming to him. His eyebrows scrunched and Mill' watched him, bemused as his eyes cleared a bit. "Oh. Oh, that could work."

She raised her bushy eyebrows. He looked at her before nodding at her. "Thank you, Mill'. I'll just leave now." his thoughts were racing, and he couldn't let them run out on him so he rushed off the Common Room and went to his dorm room.

Yes, the acting might not help enormously but it was a step forward. Draco checked his magical Calendar, tracing down to the day that their guests from other schools will arrive. It was after Halloween. He had two months. He could do it. He could make Moody go away before the Tri-Wizard tournament. This could work.

Now, he only had to find his inner obnoxious Malfoy again. He could do that. Clever Slytherin that he was, he had buried the previous Malfoy somewhere in the dust. But he was there, still wanting to cave out and he was very pleased to find that the insufferable git was amazingly alive and kicking. Huh.

Well, would you look at that.

-0-

"Good morning, Potter." Smirking, Draco approached the group with his two little minions by his side, arrogantly striding through the hallway. The crowd watching from the sidelines backed away warily, knowing what was coming before it even happened. Potter and his own minions turned to look at him disdainfully. He was brimming with excitement as he approached Potter. "It's been a while, hasn't it? How has your pathetic life been without me?" when Potter only glared at him, his smirk stretched wider. "I suppose you wouldn't be too well. What with Weasel and Mudblood here to bother you." The insults sounded so weird on his tongue that he bit back a wince. It had been a long time since he had to use those words again. "But then again, it seems they don't bother you. Must come from the genes, I suppose. You know, how blood traitors stick together with blood traitors and Mudbloods. The world of Potter and his little friends is so perfectly straight, right?" His Slytherin friends sniggered behind him. Potter was glaring, fire still held within his eyes. Weasley was scowling. Granger was just glaring at him detachedly. Not at all bothered. He liked that about her but right now, he needed their blood boiling.

"Come on, Harry." She caught the dark-haired boy's sleeve lightly, insisting: "He's not worth it."

Draco laughed. "Oh, but Granger, I am worth every penny." and he meant it. He smiled with his mouth open, the tip of his tongue touching the base of his molar. It was a new haughty facial expression Draco had learned to put on. "I am the most amazing thing that can ever happen to your worthless little world full of Weasley babies and House-Elf freedom protests." He feels the prickle of everyone watching him, but mostly, he only cares for one gaze. "I, Draco Malfoy, you will find later in life, will be fun. And you, the biggest book-worm in the history of Hogwarts-" he snickers at this point. "You will be a wife of a poor Weasel." His Slytherin friends hollered big laughs. He smiled in victory.

Granger's face had tinges of pink on them and she was opening her mouth to retort but falling short. Weasley was looking like a bull, ready to hit his target. "Why, you-"

Potter stepped before him, suddenly coming much closer to Draco than Draco would prefer, personally. But he could cope with it. He sneered down at Potter. Goodness, he was taller than Potter. The world before amazed him.

"At least, Malfoy, my life couldn't be as miserable as yours." Potter snapped. Draco smiled though, the comment was hitting a bit too close to home. "I bet you will be rotting in the caves of hell, poor and friendless after all these so-called friends of yours leave you and then, you'll be left sucking on your thumb, calling for Daddy and Mummy again and again."

Draco didn't like the fact that Potter, though may not be aware of what he held against Draco's, could still pin-point every insecurity without thinking about it. "Oh, but Potter. I'm not the one who clings to Mummy and Daddy. You are the one who craves parents and love and nauseating affection." oh shoot, his mouth was running off on him. The Malfoy venom was there, though, so maybe he was doing this right. "Tell me, Potter, do you miss your Mummy and Daddy?" When Potter glared warningly at him, the fire in his eyes almost blazing, he gasped mockingly- unable to help himself. "Oh, I forgot, you don't have one."

That was the limit. Potter bloody exploded. Things went out awry in the air around them. Buzzing and wavering, the magic around Potter was sparking in fury now and it was all directed at Draco. Ah, he had never been that much hated by Potter. He must have pushed the right button, then. A very explosive right button, but right button nonethless.

Draco heaved down his trepidation and took out his wand, his minions had already run away from Potter's not-so stable area. Potter's friends had also, backed away cautiously. They didn't probably know what Potter was capable of, but they had the idea

"Honestly, Potter. Are you a child? Have you never been trained to manage your magic? It's bloody going everywhere." Granger was giving him an incredulous look of both warning and disbelief. He only smirked. In the face of this beautifully dangerous spark of fury, how could he keep his excitement at bay? "Oh but then again, you never had any 'proper' guardians to teach you. As for me, I was trained by my father."

Draco knew it was coming before it came so he took the hit and fell to the ground, Potter straddling him with manic eyes. Green eyes fully raging and so heated that everything minimized to his own person. Potter's powerful magic was enveloping all around Draco. He grunted, feeling twinges of pain as Potter clutched hard into his arms and stared at the boy above him before showing off his wand again, watching from the corner of his eyes, confirming that Moody was coming their way. He had told Nott to lead the Professor slowly and sure enough, the teacher was coming.

Now, for the excruciatingly laborious work. Draco pushed his whole strength in off-balancing Potter off him and straddled the boy's stomach instead. Smiling menacingly into the red-faced, glaring Gryffindor under him, he took out his wand with a charm ready at his lip.

"Oh no, you don't!"

BANG!

Before he knew it, he was hexed off Potter and flying off the other wall. He let the teacher transfigure him with dread showing in his eyes and then, he was being levitated - his small, furry body barely up the surface of the ground. Tangling up in thin air, Draco experienced his nightmares again - relived them with expected dread and yet, unpredictable fear. His heart beating fast, Draco didn't dare look up into Mad-Eye Moody's eyes. Instead, he whimpered and cried and well, flailed; he realised even if he weren't pretending or wasn't willing, he would still have reacted similarly or as close to it as he could. So, he cried and sobbed, his pride wound up into the corner of a basin, washed down like grain does when rain falls. Draco thought it would last forever, the blurry sight, the unnatural body he was in and the lurch of his stomach as he was moved from one place to another fast with the swish of Moody's wand. The only thing keeping Draco from being utterly hopeless was his plan and the students that had gathered around. Granted, they were all laughing or cheering as far as he could tell from his hearing but they were witnesses and that was all he needed from them at the moment.

Finally, someone did come to his rescue. It was Professor Snape, looking angry and disapproving of the wizard in front of him. And when Draco transformed back to his normal body, breathing heavily and carrying on with his sobs and whimpers, he eyed Snape and caught a glimpse of almost wary fear. Oh god. Draco panicked. please don't let this be bad.

Draco had been hoping for- counting on Professor McGonnagall to show up again at Draco's pathetic humiliation, saving him reluctantly from the clutches of an evil Death Eater. He wanted to groan in frustration and huff at his plan going awry and decided that he was stupid. But still, students around were watching so Draco gave the best show he could possibly give in his terrified, panic-driven mind state. He cried, tears down his face and whimpered, staring up fearfully at Mad-Eye Moody who was staring down at him distrustfully, and speculating.

The man was so bloody stupid and reckless. Draco couldn't believe he fell for it! Draco wanted to laugh joyously but instead, whimpered, lowering his eyes. He couldn't look at Snape. The man would probably be disapproving of this. Right, like Draco cared.

Well, he actually did. His conscience decided to add helpfully.

"Control yourself, Mr. Potter." Oh, he had almost forgotten about Potter. He sneaked a glance at Potter whose arms were restricted by Weasley's arm around his shoulder and oh, Professor McGonnagall was here, after all. Draco's latest panic vanquished. He never thought he would be happy to see that stern witch again, but he was.

Potter was still looking quite angry and probably still up for charging by the look on his face. Draco realized nobody was laughing now, he wondered when they stopped. Barely able, he peeked through his damp eyelashes and found Granger looking at him thoughtfully and he realized that maybe, his performance was a bit over the top.

Well, if he could get sympathizers, that would be great.

"Draco. Draco!" that was Pansy, running towards him urgently. He had decided to add her to the plan in the end. She had been reluctant and suspicious, but when he apologized and explained to her properly why he had behaved so rudely before, she accepted it and decided to help him. Girls were so simple (he had told her he was gay).

She came around and hugged him as he numbly sat there in her arms. "Oh god, what happened to you?" She was looking over at him in concern, the perfect actor next to Draco, she was.

Draco didn't stare at her, but he knew he would praise her, later. Right now, he was busy convincing everyone that he really was the victim this time and that Moody was an evil, evil man. And he was. Despite who he sided with and what he did. He was evil because he was an imposter and a Death Eater. Stupid school, not realizing that at all. Very stupid. Good thing they had Draco here to tell them. Idiots, all of them.

Moody looked quite like a kid who had lost his treat and was pouting in a disturbing way while McGonnagall scolded him for his treatment of a student.

Draco let out a loud whimper. McGonnagall glanced at him in sympathy and turned back to put double effort in her scolding. Oh, this was the day to be remembered.

"Pansy." He said hoarsely, his throat felt quite parched now. "I-I-I need..."

Pansy nodded, knowing this was her cue now. So, she held her arm out for him and gestured for his minions to come, who remained behind Draco while Pansy shouldered him out of the scene and out of public eye. When they were out of scene, Draco was the first one to laugh. Pansy giggled. Millicent came running towards them, hollering in delight.

"Merlin." Millicent choked while laughing. "You've outdone yourself, Draco. If I hadn't known about this plan, I probably would have pegged you weren't acting at all." And Draco should probably not share the fact that he really wasn't much of acting as much as going along with the flow.

Crabbe and Goyle laughed, first reluctantly before fully, getting the idea that the act was over now. They also must have thought Draco was for real. Well, for their sake, Draco wouldn't tell them.

He shook his head and sighed, breathing deeply. "I really want to go to the dorm now. Too much action for today."

Pansy clutched his sleeve. "You were great today, Draco. Brave, even." she gave a sly little smile, scrunching her nose a little. "It was weird, watching you there. It was like- it was like, it was brilliant. And it seemed so-"

"Real." Millicent smiled shakily before looking over at Draco, gaze assessing. "Perhaps, too brave. Who told you to push Potter that far?"

Draco didn't answer, leaving for the dorm as they followed him.

Soon, they were in the Slytherin Common Room, all of them joyously celebrating the day where the Slytherin's plan worked out so spectacularly. Since Potter's arrival at Hogwarts, Slytherins were being treated quite differently than others and always ended up losing sides of arguments and contest. Now, they would have their chance, under Draco's reign.

Yes, he had officially become their leader. Draco was proud of himself at some level but more than that, he was just a bit bemused.

What the hell was he thinking, indeed! Who told him to push Potter so far? He wanted to be on Potter's good side, not the worst one. Granted, it was necessary but did he have to be so completely personal about it? He supposed now that he knew Potter's history and all other weaknesses, he tried to use it on his side. Potter was such a baby, beating other people up just because, his dead parents were mentioned.

Draco would probably do it again.

-0-

Professor Snape wasn't the slightest pleased with what Draco got up to. When he entered the Common Room, he shooed off all of Draco's well-wishers and gestured for Draco to follow him in his office. Draco complied, although a little reluctantly, knowing from the narrow compress of Snape's lips that he was holding down the urge to scold Draco like a nagging parent. He may be Draco's Godfather, but he was still Serverus Snape, known to be a cold, cruel, and calculating teacher who was shrewd, skeptic, and dry. Doing anything uncharacteristic like scolding would be inconceivable.

They reached the office and Serverus' face broke into a displeased frown, clearly directed at Draco who tried not to fidget under the scrutiny.

A few days ago, in Potions class, Draco had swore to himself that he would do his best not to put the Potions Master in the service of the Dark Lord and Dumbledore like the last time. He had been contemplating, then. Thinking of his mentor's tragic end that had not been deserved, nor had he deserved the pressure of being a Double Agent or keeping an Unbreakable Vow for Draco's protection just to keep appearance. He hadn't deserved the fate of killing Dumbledore with a forbidden curse that forced one to put all their hatred, pain, and frustration into a blow. A whisper and crash. When looking at the greasy-haired man before him, sometimes Draco could not help the guilt and sadness that seized his chest. And then, he would have a vivid picture of Potter bellowing Snape's name, calling him a traitor and other expletives that Snape took in stead, his back as straight as it had always been. Draco couldn't imagine how he had taken it all and not died right then. How many wounds had Serverus put himself through, Draco could never fathom. Maybe, Potter had some idea. Though, Draco couldn't be quite sure because, Potter was a Gryffindor and only a Slytherin understood a Slytherin fully.

But even Draco couldn't understand the position. He had never been a complete spy. Never a favorite of the Dark Lord's. Never a double agent. And Draco realized he would do it just to see the pain Serverus went through. He cringed at the thought, imagining himself in the same limp of dead-less weight as Snape's had been when he had died from the Dark Lord's wand.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape hissed and Draco realized he was lost in the reality that was now in front of him. So real did Snape's alive body looked when just a moment ago, Draco was reminiscing his death. "Your attention, if you please." when Draco focused on him obediently, his expression softened a bit. "Now, tell me what kind of blasphemous reason made you take this initiative?"

"Initiative?" Draco was dubiously confused. Snape glared at him balefully.

"Your act, Mr. Malfoy. Don't think I was unaware of what you and your friends had been up to." Snape sneered distastefully. "I can understand your need to put Mr. Potter in his right place-" here, he paused, his sneer growing more pronounced. "-but, I find it incomprehensible why you had to involve Professor Moody in your act." when Draco was about to open his mouth to reply, Snape interrupted. "And don't think I'll believe you when you claim to have nothing to do with it."

Draco blinked up at him, innocently, feeling like a first-year again. He moved his mouth but when no sound came out, he closed it, looking down. "I don't know, Professor."

Snape made an impatient noise at the back of his throat. Draco looked up at him. "What do you not know, Mr. Malfoy?"

His mentor was giving him a narrowed look and Draco avoided meeting his eyes. "I... dislike that teacher."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Surely, you can't be so dense, Mr. Malfoy. I did not ask you what you think of Professor Moody. I asked why you planned for him to treat you such a way."

"Ah." Draco gulped. "Surely, it doesn't matter. I mean, it's done."

"Your father will be most displeased." said Serverus.

Draco snapped his head to look at Snape quickly, heart racing. "You aren't going to tell him, are you?"

Snape assessed him for a moment before looking away. "No, Mr. Malfoy. I will not tell him of your...plan. But it would be best if there is no repeat of this episode. Your mother should already be receiving the news of this event and I am sure she would not overlook it as something uninteresting. But I suppose that is what you want."

"No." Draco shook his head. "I didn't think."

"Didn't you?" Serverus quirked a brow, nothing in his expression changing except for that. "I must say, Mr. Malfoy, that was a well thought-out plan but it doesn't change your situation. You should be ready, I'm sure tomorrow will be a busy day."

"Wh- How?" asked Draco, baffled.

Snape looked even more disdainful than he did before. Displeasure was evident on his face. "Mr. Malfoy, you have caused quite an uproar among the students." Draco's eyes widened. "Not only did you manage to make Potter lose control of his magic in the middle of a hallway full of students but, you also managed to grab a paranoid ex-Auror's enmity."

"He'll kill me." Draco said as if he just realized it, and he did. God, he hadn't thought of the consequences so much as he wanted to show the students what a madman Moody was. And possibly make Dumbledore suspect his motivations and perhaps, start theorizing. Of course, Draco knew Dumbledore wouldn't so easily suspect but he had tried to make it spectacular. And spectacular it had been.

The Potions Master had nothing to say to that. "You are dismissed. Return to your dorm and rest, you'll need it."

Draco grimaced, distress showing as he slowly turned around and walked out without a word of acknowledgement. He was so dazed that he didn't notice until he was in the Common Room that Nott and Zabini were looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"What?" He asked, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.

Zabini shrugged, Nott kept looking at him before saying: "What did Professor Snape want?"

"Nothing important." Draco answered as casually as he could before turning to leave for the bathroom. He could feel them watching him as he left and wondered if it showed that he wasn't the Draco they knew anymore.