A/N: OK voting is now closed thank you. And holy crap I forgot about Viktor Krum! How can I do that? I'll have to remember to put him in a different story sometime in the far future. thanks everyone for voting, now the only thing left to address is...do you want to know at least if the winner is male or female? Let me know. And read the end note too please.
Chapter Six
To you who mentioned it and disabled PMs: I am aware the Ravenclaw animal is an Eagle. I prefer typing "The Ravens began heading up the staircase" rather than "The Ravenclaws began heading up the staircase" occasionally anyway. This is not meant to seem mean, I understand what you were saying, it'd probably seem weird if I wrote "The Slyths ran to the window" or something. Ha "The Huffles jumped in the lake" OK yea I get your point and had fun with it. I'm glad actually, that you brought this to my attention. It's weird to me now to write the Ravens if Im not going to shorten the other House names…So thank you for reviewing!
Chapter Six:
Draco wasn't sure how it happened.
Everything was going according to plan, he met up with Crabbe and Goyle, found a place to sit away from those below him, and he didn't make a fool of himself. He even made a friend of Harry Potter. Crabbe and Goyle were sorted into Slytherin and left a small space in between them preparing for Draco's arrival.
Draco expected his Sorting to be quick; his mother hadn't even had the hat touch her head for more than half a second, his father no longer than 5 seconds. So he was not happy when the blasted thing tried to say he had within him the possibility to embrace Hufflepuffish tendencies. HUFFLEPUFF. He was NOT. A. HUFFLEPUFF.
When he told the hat so, it had the gall to laugh at him. Him, Draco Malfoy.
And then well, then it proceeded to try to say he fancied Harry!
I do not have a wish to become bonded with Potter. Sure Harry's better looking than most boys I know, but I'm eleven! And I like girls. I think. I'm eleven! I don't need to think about this for another 3 to 4 years!
…
And I AM NOT A HUFFLEPUFF!
oOo Harry POV
At breakfast the next morning, Harry helped himself to a couple of fried eggs and, ignoring the disgusted faces staring at him, smothered them with maple syrup. His cup filled with orange juice, Harry began eating his breakfast. He knew that he should probably focus on making a good impression, and eat a breakfast that didn't have the possibility of sullying his clothes should the eggs drip, but it was just so good.
Finishing his eggs, he glanced around the Great Hall, taking in the young faces of his generation.
Susan Bones laughing with Sally-Anne Perks over their respective breakfasts.
The Patil twins steadfastly ignoring one another, yet still mirroring each other's movements despite the distance between their tables.
Draco, in the midst of his own breakfast, scowling at the Hufflepuff table.
Harry chuckled to himself as he saw Draco viciously cut a sausage into tiny pieces. If the look on his face didn't warn others to stay away from him, his white knuckled grip on his knife did it for him. Someone wasn't very happy this morning. He wondered what had made Draco so touchy this early in the school year. It used to be his job to get Draco worked up into a tizzy. Perhaps Draco wasn't happy with his sorting?
oOo
His classes had been easy, homework even easier. McGonagall was teaching them something about theory, which was a complete crock, but what could he do, tell them that he was in contact with Immortal beings and humans over thought things too much? It was easier to just go along with the nonsense.
He skipped History, he could study on his own, and it wasn't like Binns would notice him missing. Defense class wasn't as bad this time around; all he had to do was ignore the mild headache caused by the horcrux still embedded in his scar. He couldn't wait for the weekend so he could be rid of the blasted thing.
It was the whispering that was getting to him. Harry still hated being in the spotlight. Or well, he hated being in the spotlight for the first time at school because all they were talking about was how he was there and alive. If only he could tell them he would never really be dead or alive. He resolutely ignored the idiotic whispers, deciding to leave for classes earlier than his housemates so as to avoid their questions and awestruck staring for a little while.
oOo
Today was Friday, which meant it was his first Potions class, with the Slytherins. That's right, the Slytherins. Apparently, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw shared Herbology instead of transfiguration, so Ravenclaw and Slytherin were left to be in Potions together. This change was most likely one of Dumbeldore's attempts to rein him in; Professor Sprout was more relaxed and allowed students to talk. Now all Harry had to do was be sure to keep his distance from Ron next class so they weren't made partners for the year in Herbology.
Nevertheless, today was his first real interaction with Professor Snape since that day in Diagon Alley. Harry had received a receipt from the Goblins and a formal letter of acceptance from Snape.
Making it a point to get there early, Harry slipped into the shadows in order to avoid any classmates wanting to talk as he waited for Draco to appear.
He was only waiting a few moments before Draco stormed around the corner, full blown scowl in place. Before he could properly greet him, Draco strode closer, until he was a scant few inches away from Harry's face, looked him square in the eye and moodily demanded "Do I look like a Hufflepuff to you?"
Harry blinked confusedly for a moment. "Draco...what is this about? Why would you think you'd be Hufflepuff, you told me your family has always been Slytherin did you not?"
"That blasted hat said I had Hufflepuffish tendencies! Hufflepuff, Harry!"
"Draco, are you honestly questioning your Slytherin qualities because of a hat?" Harry tried to keep the amusement out of his voice, though apparently it wasn't working as well as he'd have hoped considering the glare on Draco's face.
"It's not just a hat Harry! It's the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts, enchanted by the Hogwarts founders themselves!" Draco countered, complete with arms flailing, secure in their privacy.
"Draco, listen to yourself. It's an enchanted scrap of fabric that's been transfigured into one of those cliché monstrosities thought up by muggles! The only thing it does all year is sort students by looking into their memories,"
"Exactly Harry! It told me I had Hufflepuffish tendencies!" Draco exploded
"before it goes back into storage in the Headmaster's office. Don't think it gets bored and maybe decides to mess with people for pure amusement?" Harry continued, ignoring Draco's interruption.
Draco opened his mouth to speak when suddenly he exhaled, anger fading from his visage, replaced by a look of contemplation. "You know, I hadn't thought of that."
"Clearly, this is why you have me."
"Yes, of course. Of course. It's just a hat." Draco finally relaxed. "You know, I was sure there'd be more of your kind here by now."
"My kind, Draco?"
"Oh you know what I meant. Your House Ravenclaw. Aren't they usually half an hour early for every class?" he teased
"Stereotypical of you isn't it?"
"How is it stereotypical when it's true?"
"That's not the point. Who is here besides you and me, Draco?"
"Ah, but it's exactly my point. You are a Ravenclaw and have been early to every class so far."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"I have my sources."
"You're stalking me aren't you."
"Now why would I need to do that when the whole Castle is all aflutter with news of your arrival?" Draco smirked and poked Harry's side in jest, causing Harry to hastily smother a girly squeal.
"That's awfully Slytherin of you, Draco."
"Good. There's no way I'm remotely like a Puff, I can't believe that stupid-"
"Now Draco, can't we put this whole Hufflepuff disaster behind us and concentrate on our first Potions lesson? Its due to start in 15 minutes and the other Ravenclaws should be arriving shortly."
"Fine." Draco huffed, crossing his arms.
At that the twosome fell silent, as several Ravenclaw first years noisily clambered around the same corner Draco had come 10 minutes prior.
oOo
The door was open, so the group let themselves into the room, choosing their seats. Harry and Draco choosing to sit together on the left side of the room close to the front and Snape's own desk situated by the door.
It was only a minute to class and the room was silently waiting for Professor Snape to arrive.
At last, Professor Snape swept through the door and began attendance. Feeling Snape's eyes on him, Harry kept his attention on the man, ready to answer anything the Potions Master threw at him.
And then it happened, "Potter, Harry."
"Here, sir." Harry made sure to lock eyes with the stern Professor. Snape's eyes narrowed minutely before he finished calling names.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in what was barely more than a whisper, his velvety tones reaching every student in the silent classroom.
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Harry watched as Snape surveyed the class, likely noting each Ravenclaw frantically scribbling his every word, as if already trying to prove they weren't dunderheads.
This speech was exactly as it had been before, but this time Harry noticed the slight lilting of his voice as Snape described what he saw in brewing. His speech over, Snape began pairing the students and set them to mixing a simple potion to cure boils.
Naturally, as the only two at the smallest desk in front, Draco and Harry were paired together. Draco finished copying the instructions first, and made notes of the correct stirring times and techniques for them both. As he handed Harry his sheet, Harry was struck by an idea. He could irritate this Draco just as easily as his old Draco…only this time it'd be friendly and more personal.
"You're such a hard worker Draco, why don't you let me do prep today?" Harry asked, as innocently as he seemingly could without triggering instant rebuttal. Draco quickly agreed and let Harry at the ingredients as he set up his cauldron.
For all his worth, Draco didn't notice the jibe until Harry was well into the preparations.
"Wait, you never really answered me. Harry, I'm not Hufflepuffish right? Harry!" Draco whispered.
Harry merely grinned as he continued preparing ingredients for the Boil Cure.
He loved Draco.
End Chapter
A/N: I'm sorry to say, my dear readers…this is hard for me to admit…but well, I've been cheating on you.
I haven't been writing the next chapter much, and I've run out of steam for this again, my muse jumped ship for a pretty island vacation. That is not to say I'm abandoning this, but I'm warning you, you got what 3 chapters recently? I'm trying to map how to proceed. I've been drafting another story, and I know I haven't updated ASoP in like oh a year (that should change soon) and I'm going to try to stay with only the three and not post the third until it's finished. So yes. I'm working on 3 stories and living a busy life. See you end of July/mid August! (Hopefully)