Draco sat in front of the mirror again for what felt like the sixth time, it was odd the feeling of watching yourself doing something, while you yourself were sitting in a chair. He heard a creak behind him and he shot up, looking back to see none other then the Head Master Albus Dumbledore. Draco hurriedly tried to cover the mirror with his body, his face growing a very rosy shade of red.
Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eye as he came closer to Draco. "I was meaning to move this today… I found a perfect spot for it." He looked down at the eleven year old boy, "You needn't worry, the mirror reflects only the user's desires, no need to hide it from me." Draco moved out of the way watching as Dumbledore, with a wave of his wand had wrapped the mirror with the canvas cover.
"I'm sorry professor, I didn't know I wasn't… I mean…"
"Draco, my boy, if this place makes you feel more at home, then please do use it. Severus tells me you are doing well in Potions, I thought you might have had a knack for it."
All Draco could do was give a slight smile. He wanted to leave, he was embarrassed beyond belief. Dumbledore vanished the mirror, putting the wand back into his robes. He passed Draco by, looking down at the red faced boy, then stopped, putting a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"You shouldn't worry what other people think. It's up to you, and you alone what you do with your life. You should love who ever you want to love. Be whoever you want to be. You're a good kid Draco, and you will one day be a powerful wizard." With that Dumbledore left, leaving Draco with a mix of emotions. Had the Head Master seen what was in the mirror? What could he have possibly known about what Draco was feeling? He also thought of how the man's words had effected him, making him feel a little bit more confident in himself. He shook it off, It would be better to just forget the whole thing happened.
He left the Room of Requirement, but in his rush he nearly knocked over Neville Longbottom at the entrance of the Library. Neville looked up, his eyes had already been full of unshed tears, but as he blinked them away he saw the scowling look of Draco Malfoy. Neville shook slightly, picking himself. "S-S-Sorry…" He stuttered out.
Draco snarled, "Can't you look where your going you big oaf? Do you need a Glasses to see where your going, or is it that your nose is to big for your eyes to see past!" Draco felt an anger he had not been able to get out when he had been so embarrassed just moments before, and it was beginning to feel good yelling at Longbottom.
Neville, already fragile from earlier ridicule, felt his lip quiver as he held back from sobbing. "I…I don't know… I'm Sorry…" He bowed his head low, trying to make himself as small as possible to the young Malfoy.
Draco remembered the curse his father had taught him over the winter break, a Charm that he had used long ago in fights at school. Draco said the incantation, "Locomotor Mortis", waving his wand gingerly.
Neville felt his legs lock together and he hopped around trying to balance himself. He whimpered up at Draco, as he fell to the ground, but the blonde just laughed walking down towards the dungeons.
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle went down to the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, Draco wanting to at least watch his Uncle Referee… as well as steal a glance at Harry again. Draco saw ahead in the crowd were the some of Harry's Gryffindor friends, seeing the red head of Ron, he pushed forward towards them.
Ronald Weasley was talking with Granger, pointing towards a scowling Severus Snape. "I've never seen Snape look so mean," he told Hermione. "Look — they're off. Ouch!"
Draco had taken the opportunity to smack Ron in the back of the head, maybe it would teach him not to speak ill of a great professor like Snape. "Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there." Draco grinned broadly at Crabbe and Goyle. "Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?" Draco smirked at the obviously agitated Weasley, but Ron didn't answer.
Snape had just awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley had hit a Bludger at him. Hermione, who had all her fingers crossed in her lap, was squinting fixedly at Harry, who was circling the game like a hawk, looking for the Snitch.
Draco rolled his eyes at their odd display of encouragement. They seemed to think Harry might actually fall off his broom at any moment. "You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" Draco said loudly a few minutes later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty. "It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money — you should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains." Draco gave him an extra big smile, as Longbottom turned to face him looking sheepish.
All of a suddenly his demeanor changed. "I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy," he stammered.
Draco turned to Crabbe, and Goyle, and began to howl with laughter.
Ron, not taking his eyes from the game, said, "You tell him, Neville."
"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something." Draco said, taking a the opportunity to start pushing buttons on this new form of entertainment. Neville seemed a bit taken back by this new assualt and resumed his feeble look.
Ron yelled back, "I'm warning you, Malfoy — one more word—"
"Ron!" said Hermione suddenly, "Harry —"
"What? Where?" Ron looked around for the boy, and instantly Draco's eyes had traced the field to wear Harry was swooping into a dive. Draco's eyes went wide as he saw the skill that Harry was exhibiting, streaking down like a bullet towards the ground.
Draco took the opportunity to create a snide joke, "You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!"
Crabbe chuckled, but before they knew it Ron had sprung from his seat and knocked Draco completely over. Neville hesitated, then clambered over the back of his seat to help.
"Come on, Harry!" Hermione screamed, leaping onto her seat to watch as Harry sped straight at Snape — she didn't even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around under her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle.
Up in the air, Snape turned on his broomstick just in time to see something scarlet shoot past him, missing him by inches — the next second, Harry had pulled out of the dive, his arm raised in triumph, the Snitch clasped in his hand.
The stands erupted; it had to be a record, no one could ever remember the Snitch being caught so quickly.
Draco on the other hand, had seen none of this as he pushed the huge bulks of weight around him trying to get some air from under the cows he called his friends. They had shielded his body from most of the blows, but now were completely incapacitating him at the moment.
"Ron! Ron! Where are you? The game's over! Harry's won! We've won! Gryffindor is in the lead!" shrieked Hermione, dancing up and down on her seat.
Draco took the opportunity to sneak away as Ron was distracted with Gryffindor's win. He looked down to see that Neville had fainted after Goyle had socked him in the stomach. Draco rubbed his eye feeling it begin to swell from where Ron had first hit him.