Authors note: I do not own Harry Potter!

Draco's POV

Draco,

I think it is preposterous that a mudblood was sorted into Slytherin! I'm glad you wrote me as quickly as you did. I was able to contact a few of my Ministry partners, but sadly there is nothing they can do to fix this. I wanted to believe that hat was an intelligent object, but perhaps it has grown dull and manifested too much of Dumbledores sentiments from being cooped up in his office all these years. I hope you remember the advice I gave you about keeping them in their place.

The Nott boy being sorted into Ravenclaw is another peculiarity. The Nott family have long been a Slytherin family and have been loyal to the cause. I have half a mind to advise you to shun this friend of yours completely. Though further thinking leads me to believe you may be able to get certain information out of him in the future. His father is not pleased.

I am very excited to hear your friendship with Potter is secured. To hear he has been placed in Slytherin is proof your influence over his ideals are powerful. Keep up the good work, son.

Lucious

I had read that letter a dozen times. It was just what I needed when I had to level my head. Every now and then I felt like I was in a different world.

These past few weeks have been a nonstop blur of meals, classes, homework, chatting, and ignoring the bane of my existence.

Every time I'd pass her in the common room, or she would raise her hand in class, or talk to my friends...I'd have to exercise a good bit of self control not to give her any mind... wait... I'm thinking about her trying to not think about her!

"Ugh!" I laid my head on my desk. I was feeling hopeless.

The words of my father in the letter and the words I had playing over and over in my head were the only things keeping me sane.

I was having a lot of success keeping Potter as a friend. He wasn't a bad person to be spending time with. I'd like to say we have developed a pretty good friendship these past couple months.

He was becoming good friends with Granger, and the dread had been building inside me daily. I just couldn't explain it, but she made me nervous. Mother always said first impressions make the biggest impression, so maybe that was my problem with her.

I hadn't much time to keep an eye on Theodore Nott. I was too concerned with my inner circle of friends. Every time I did manage a glance from him he'd quickly advert his gaze. He was a disgrace to the cause and his family, so it was no wonder he was dodging anyone from Slytherin house.

"Draco, you alright?" Crabbe said, walking into our dorm room with Goyle in tow.

I shot them a glare. As much as I appreciated their constant presence, I really couldn't wait to be rid of them. The winter holidays couldn't come fast enough. Though I'd be dealing with Astoria...

"I'm fine." I sat up and rubbed my hair back down.

"We were waiting for you to head down to breakfast." Crabbe started.

"Yea, they're putting on a Halloween themed breakfast." Goyle stoped speaking when I looked at him seriously.

"Is all you two think about is food? Ugh,... never mind. I'm coming. Can't hold you both up from your pumpkin juice." I lead them out of the dorm.

The common room was mostly empty, except for a couple making out by the fireplace. Upon closer inspection, it was Marcus Flint with his toy of the week. Being the star quidditch player he was, he was always on the agenda of the willing schoolgirl.

We rounded up the staircase.

"Did you do your transfiguration homework, Greg?" Crabbe asked.

"Yea, well I did it, but I doubt it's all right. Professor McGonagall gives me the creeps, I can't even pay attention half the time."

"You mind if I copy it? I had asked Granger last night at dinner but she told me no. She always does. She can be such a prude."

"Don't be like that, Crabbe! She may be a prude, but she's the reason Slytherin has all these house points! We're sure to win house cup this year, for the 8th time in a row!"

"Yea, guess your right. Even the other heads of houses love her!"

That was it. "Can you both shut it about Granger! You know how she infuriates me! I only tolerate her, but I won't listen to you both praising a mudblood! Or have you forgotten?" I said with enough venom to kill a horse.

They both looked away and apologized.

By the time we made it to breakfast it was halfway over.

We took our usual seats. Harry was quite the character, and could be seen sitting with just about anyone, any given day. Today, like too many days before, he was sitting next to Granger. I sat across from Potter. The oafs I was dragging behind me sat next to me. Tracey Davis was across from Granger. They were seen together all the time.

"Morning, Draco." Harry acknowledged me.

"Morning."

"Don't we look chipper this morning," came from Davis.

I didn't look up, and focused on the mountain of food before me. The usual toast was present, then there was the seasonal stuff like pumpkin oatmeal and sweet potato hash browns. I personally liked just scrambled eggs and fruit. It reminded me of the food from the manor.

The table kept up talking like I wasn't there. I was known not to be a morning person. I was notoriously snappy, except to Potter for obvious reasons.

"Draco, I talked to Flint a bit ago. He was gonna ask Madam Hooch about you coming out to practice with us." Harry said. This was just what I needed to boost my spirit.

"Thanks, Harry. Hope she says yes. I'd love some extra flying time."

"Yes, it keeps me busy. I am so tired by the end of quidditch practice, I can barely keep my grades up. Glad I have Hermione here to help!" He smiled at her. She didn't even look up from the notes she was scribbling.

"Granger! That's not fair! I thought we were friends too! Don't I get some homework help!" There Crabbe went again...

She looked up this time and smirked at Crabbe. "I believe you were asking me to let you copy my work. Harry here only asks for my notes to copy so he can do the homework himself. It's a bit different. Plus, he has been busy with quidditch. Where as you're busy with...?" She spoke so clearly and calmly, with that edge of know-it-all.

"Fine, fine..." Crabbe admitted defeat.

"Besides, in return for my help, Harry is going to help me with my flying abilities. My marks in that class aren't where I'd like them."

"Won't that be nice. Granger up on a broomstick." Everyone snapped their heads to Pansy Parkinson's direction. Most people would have been embarrassed by the attention, but Pansy seamed to relish in it. "Like your nose wasn't high enough in the air already..."

"Watch it, Parkinson." Harry was the only one brave enough to stand up to her. To be honest, I agreed completely with Pansy. I was literally biting my tongue to voice how I felt as well.

Granger was fuming. The audience watching the show was growing, and for obvious reasons. Granger had been picked on before during classes, mainly by Pansy, but she usually just ignores them. Now all eyes were on her and she couldn't simply ignore this.

My body was the first to start reacting to the waves of energy coming off of her. I wanted to move away, but I was immobilized and clutched my arms across my chest.

Pansy had smirked back at Granger when she realized what monster she had awakened. She made a motion to get up but couldn't budge. She made an effort to speak but all she got out were gurgles. I looked back to Harry and he was dumbfounded.

I couldn't even look at Granger. I just knew my skin would remember that skin-shredding feeling.

Snape stood and made his way to the table. "What is the matter over here..." he said in his usual monotone.

I felt the pressure lift and stood to leave. Nearly everyone had rose to leave because breakfast was nearly over, but I needed to get some air.

"Shue-" Pansy stuttered. "SHUE-!" She tried again! She rose and screamed a muffled scream. "AH CAUNT SHEEK!" He was covering her mouth and rose to stomp around. Eyes wide, she pointed at Granger and tried to yell "SHUE'S AH FHEEK!"

Snape wasn't amused. "Parkinson, calm yourself. Davis, take miss Parkinson to the hospital wing. Granger, my office..." he paused to look around the hall. "I believe breakfast is over..."

I hadn't a chance to look at Granger's face. She had already taken off behind Snape.

I looked to Potter but he was already talking to me.

"Draco, I was beginning to think she wasn't like you said, but that proved it. She is not a witch to be messed with!" He motioned to leave.

We met up again at the doors outside the hall. "Did you feel anything, Harry?"

"Yes! I couldn't move! I almost couldn't breathe! But I'm glad I'm not Parkinson. I don't know what she did to her but ..."

"It was a jinx of some sort. She doesn't even know she did it, she did it with wordless magic. Don't you see, Harry?She can be dangerous! She doesn't understand! She's a muggle born! She can't control herself!" I was entirely serious and entirely glad I could finally speak my mind to Potter. He had started to become friends with her and my remarks on her had remained few and noninvasive. Now I had him feeling exactly what i had told him about.

Students were rushing past. They were either talking about what happened, trying to figure out what they felt, or asking people who that girl was.

"I don't know, Draco... I feel bad for her. Pansy did deserve it. That was out of nowhere... "

There he went again being compassionate.

"Let's get to class."

"Yes."

Halloween Dinner

I didn't know what I was expecting, but dinner this evening was nothing short of impressive, and sweet.

Pumpkins floated overhead and the air was delightful. The table had everything from caramel apples to roasted meats.

When me and Harry arrived we took the seats next to Zabini and Davis. Harry was just telling me about how Madam Hooch had allowed me to practice flying during the Slytherin quidditch team practices, but that was interrupted by these twos conversation.

"For the last time, bugger off! Your not getting anything out of me! Pansey deserved what she got!"

"What exactly did she get?" Blaize was leaning over the table trying to get any information he could out of Granger's friend.

Harry turned on his caring friend voice. "Please Davis, tell us what happened? We haven't seen Hermione all day."

Tracey Davis paused a moment to contemplate. "She jinxed Pansy's tongue so that it fused to the top of her mouth. It's still not detached, Madam Pomfrey is baffled. Dumbledore came but asked I leave for him to talk to Pansey alone. Then I found Hermione, but she burst into tears and has been in the girls bathroom all afternoon crying... I feel so bad. I don't know what to say to make her feel better." Davis was looking on the verge of tears herself.

I exchanged looks with Potter. Davis saw and immediately went on the defensive.

"Look, I only told you because I thought you were her friend, Harry! Don't make me regret saying anything! The whole school has been talking about it, and I didn't want to be apart of the gossiping, so you three hush!"

"We won't say anything." Zabini offered.

"I'm starving." I wanted to change the subject. I had nothing nice to say and the statement was true.

"Yes, lets just eat... " Davis sounded defeated.

We had just finished dessert when the doors to the Great Hall flung open. Lightening crackled and professor Dumbledore stood.

"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!"

Professor Quirrill was running down the Great Hall. The student body remained still for the second time that day.

"Thought you ought to know...," and with a thump he passed out onto the floor.

High pitched and girly screams filled the air as the horror set into my classmates. We all started scrambling to get out, though not quite sure where to go to! For Merlin's sake, all my stuff was in the dungeons!

"SIILEENNCEE!"

I don't know if it was everyone obediently following headmasters orders or a spell, but we all froze.

"Everyone will please, not panic. Prefects will lead their houses back to their dormitories. Teachers will please follow me to the dungeons."

"Where exactly do we go?" I asked Potter. "Our dormitories are the dungeons!" I was outraged and scared.

"Um, maybe it's not in the Slytherin dungeons?" He was trying to be positive.

"Guys! We have to get Hermione! She doesn't know!" Davis was at our side in an instant, grabbing us by our robes and yanking us to the back of the crowds.

"Davis, I am not leaving the group. We would be safer in larger numbers. Besides!" I was loosing my mind. "Granger can obviously defend herself!"

"Idiot! She's been crying! She's too emotional! She needs to be with us too and you're being insensitive! Wouldn't you want somebody to care about you crying in a bathroom all day?"

I didn't want to answer that question. Thankfully Potter had to be the knight in shining armor. "Davis is right we have to at least tell her where everyone went and why!"

We ran off down the hallways. Once we rounded the last corner we nearly ran into each other when the shadow of a huge monster trudged down the wall.

A frantic Davis spoke in a whisper. "Oh Salazar Slytherin, the troll just went into the girls bathroom!"

I couldn't believe I had somehow managed to get myself into this situation. When I woke up this morning, saving Hermione Granger from a troll was not on my list. I would have let the troll club her! But here I was with Davis and Potter, coming to her rescue.

"He's not in the dungeons...," Harry said.

"Well what do we do? Get a teacher?" I questioned.

"Draco!" The girl scolded me. "We don't have time for that! That thing is sure to kill her! We must do something!"

"Come on." Harry said and led the way.

We almost made it through the doorway when we heard her scream. It chilled my insides and made my ears start ringing. Then we saw the troll, barely dressed and smelly, groaning as it swung its club through the bathroom stalls.

"Hermione move!" Harry yelled. That's when I spotted her crouching underneath a sink.

The troll smashed its club through the adjacent sink. It reached out and picked her up completely, it's hands wrapping around her entire middle. "Do something!" Granger begged.

"What?" Davis needed directions.

"Anything!"

He troll raised its weapon and was looking to slam it onto the girls head.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry had managed to bewitch the club to float in the air.

All was still, and I think we all were holding our breathe. I watched as the troll looked at his hand in confusion.

The girl was now forgotten, and he loosened his grasp. She pushed her way out of his grip. It was about a six foot drop to the floor, but she got up without a problem.

The troll finally used its tiny brain to think maybe the club was in the air and looked up. Harry retracted his wand and we watched as the club felt gravity again. It slammed into his face, causing him to collapse. It was so massive, even some dust puffed out from under him. I shielded myself.

We all were in shock. Granger ran to stand by Harry. Davis went and grabbed her. I was just there, not knowing what my purpose here was.

Just then, three professors rushed into the bathroom. It was Snape, McGonagall, and Quirrill.

"Ex-explain yourselves! All of you!"

Silence. We were all processing this event, but Harry was the first to speak.

"We were- we-"

"It was my fault professors!" Hermione stepped foreword and gave Harry and Davis a knowing look. She didn't look my way.

"Explain yourself, Granger." Snape drawled out.

Quirrill was frantically shifting behind the other two professors and eyeing the stunned troll.

"I had read about them and thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry and Davis hadn't came to rescue me... I'd probably be dead."

"And Malfoy?" He turned his head to the side and studied me suspiciously.

"I was -" I had no idea what to say. "I wasn't much help in fighting off a troll. But I came with Harry when we found out Granger was going after the troll." I lied.

McGonagall scoffed. "That was very foolish! All of you! Not many first years could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale!"

We all hung our heads and could feel the house points dissipating from the tone of her voice.

"Five points! Will be taken away from Miss Granger. For endangering herself and others." Snape insisted. He exchanged looks with McGonagall before she spoke next. "And five points... will be awarded to and Miss Davis, for sheer dumb luck!"

"To the dormitories, all of you!" Snape spoke.

As I was leaving, I couldn't help watching as Snape glared at Professor Quirrill. The frail man looked like an kicked dog.

"Well you're the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor! Handle this at once!" McGonagall instructed Quirrill, pointing at the troll.

The troll uttered a grunt and Quirrill jumped with a shout. Pitiful really. He looked like he would loose this position from simply turning in his resignation. Perhaps this job was too much for him.

"Hermione, I can't believe what just happened! You could have died!" Davis was spouting off.

"I would have been if you hadn't had come found me."

"I doubt that, you're far smarter than us. It was really exciting though, we were told by Professor Quirrill that the troll was in the dungeon," Harry was explaining. "Tracey said you were in the bathroom, and we should warn you."

"Good thing we did, nobody knew it wasn't in the dungeon anymore," Davis said, looking to me and Harry.

"Thank you."

I felt a twinge of happiness that we had come save her before the troll got her. Even if I didn't do anything, I still was glad to have seen the display.

Granger was smiling at her friends and glanced in my direction. Her smile did falter, but was still a smile.

We had made it back to the dungeons and were greeted by our housemates. It was "Where did you go off to?" and "Did you see the troll?" After we explained ourselves and told them about the troll clubbing incident, everyone was cheering for Harry. People were even talking to Granger again, and were genuinely glad that she was okay.

Daphne sought me out and pulled me aside.

"You went to save the mudblood? Honestly Draco, I didn't peg you for the type."

"I didn't go willingly! I just happened to be there! You know Harry, he's my friend and he's her friend too!"

"Are you going to tell your father this?"

"Of course, I could have died too! He'll want to hear about a troll getting loose in Hogwarts. The Ministry may want to do something about this." I was channeling my inner father just by talking about him. Daphne seemed satisfied and I felt relief.

"Good, I wouldn't want Astoria to hear her Dracey-poo was off risking his life trying to save a mudblood."

I could feel my face turning red and I was seeing red as well. Daphne was grinning and chose this as the perfect moment to walk off. Merlin, I hated her.

She was right completely. That would have been exactly what that seemed like.

And with that I took a deep breathe and worked my way to my dorm room. I was the first one there and was thankful for that. I needed to write my father before anything potentially incriminating got to him first.