A big thanks, as always, to all previous readers for stopping by again, and thanks as well for those who've reviewed! To all new readers, I hope you enjoy!
OOO
Draco combed out his hair, still wet from the shower he'd taken after Herbology. He'd gotten rather used to dirt over the years and wasn't overly fussy about sweat but the scent of the fertilizer Professor Sprout had them using made even his nose crinkle. Many of the other Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, Harry and Theo included, had gone off and showered as well, so it wasn't simply fussiness on his part. Despite the fertilizer, however, he found that he quite liked the class. It was relaxing to be able to work beside his friends and Professor Sprout was an open, friendly witch who, like Cedric, had shown little uneasiness over his family name.
Satisfied with quickly tugging out the tangles, Draco rooted through his belongings, trying to figure out where he'd left his invisibility cloak. After a few minutes of frustration, he realized that it was quite possible that Sirius had borrowed it at some point during the day. Unfortunately, Sirius was not in the room at the time and he realized that he could be just about anywhere in the massive school. The prospects of finding him were slim to none, considering he had no way whatsoever to tell where he was.
As luck would have it, however, there came the sound of footsteps coming up the spiral stairwell and a soft attention-getting cough. He turned around to find Hannah outside with Sirius beside her. Her hair was wet as well and lay in dark strands over her robe. For a moment they stood in silence, then she smiled and gestured towards the dog.
"I saw him hiding behind a suit of armor," she explained. "I think he might have crossed Mrs. Norris or something. It looked like he was hiding. I remembered him from the train and figured that he must have been waiting to slip back inside when someone else opened the door."
"Oh."
They stood in silence for a moment before she turned.
"I need to get ready for dinner," she said before reaching down and petting Sirius on the head. He barked and she giggled, and Draco smiled as well. "Dragon's a good boy, isn't he? He just needs to learn not to sneak out, isn't that right boy?" She said, scratching him behind the ears.
"How do you know his name?" Draco wondered, a little surprised.
"His tag, silly," she laughed.
"Oh yeah. That's right. Dragon is a good dog, though. The best."
"Good name for him too. I'm sure he's fierce," she said with a wide grin. Then she stood and left for the girls dormitories, closing the door behind her.
Draco quickly motioned for Sirius to get onto the bed, pulled the curtains shut, then turned to 'Dragon.'
"I need that cloak back," he whispered in the dog's ear, "So I can go out with Harry tonight. OK? Lead me to it?"
Dragon barked and Draco stood. As he straightened and brushed the curtain aside, he found himself face to face with Justin.
"Hello," Draco greeted him politely. Justin nodded in return, and then Draco backed out of the awkward exchange by running down the steps with his dog.
It didn't take Sirius long to lead him through the winding corridors to a deserted hall where he'd left the inconspicuous pile of fabric behind an unassuming bust. As Draco watched Sirius meander the halls with ease he wondered internally how much sneaking around Sirius must have done as a student to be able to know the place so thoroughly, even after so many years. The knowledge had certainly returned to him quickly and he hardly had any trouble, especially compared to Draco who, like his fellow first years, was still hoping to make it to class, let alone explore other ins and outs.
Draco scooped up the cloak and tucked it into his school bag, then hurried back to the Hufflepuff dorm. He was curious as to why Sirius had left the cloak behind at all, but he supposed that question would have to wait for the evening. He'd already decided with Harry that the only place they could probably ever converse with Sirius in person was in the Forbidden Forest. There weren't likely to be many, or even any, of the students or faculty there and the creatures probably didn't know who Sirius even was. As long as they didn't stray too far in they would probably be safe too.
He re-entered the dorm to find Hannah there in front of the fire playing a game of wizard chess with another girl who had plaited hair, Susan Bones if he was not mistaken. Ernie Macmillan sat on a third side of the board watching them play. Before he could dash through the room and up the steps, Sirius barked and drew Hannah's attention. She waved them over and Sirius willingly trotted next to the board. Draco bit his lip and followed suit, settling himself down next to Sirius and giving Ernie and Susan small smiles.
"Look, guys," Hannah said enthusiastically, "Isn't he the most beautiful dog you've ever seen?"
Sirius licked her hand and Susan stroked him as well. Draco relaxed slightly then glanced down at the board. They seemed to be rather evenly matched and he wondered if they were playing seriously or casually. As he studied the board, Ernie interrupted his train of thought.
"So how did you like class today?"
"Hm?" Draco looked up. "Oh. Well, it was tough I guess. Rough having to do so much work for McGonagall. I liked Professor Sprout's class, though. Aside from the fertilizer that is." He paused for a moment and smiled. "We have a lot of bizarre plants in the woods behind our house and my dad keeps a greenhouse stocked with all sorts of potion making plants, so it will be pretty useful getting to know how to identify some of that stuff and what can be done with it." Ernie nodded appreciatively.
"So you like to muck about in the woods, then?"
"Oh yeah. I love animals and stuff and its great having so much to explore. It's not always good; once I nearly died form a boomslang bite as a kid. But other than snakes, I really enjoy animals. It's too bad we don't get Care of Magical Creatures until next year."
"Whoa – a boomslang? Seriously?" Ernie's eyes were wide and intent.
"My parents figured it escaped from the potion materials. I got pretty lucky, but it turned out OK."
"I've never even seen one." He shuddered. "Don't think I'd really want to either. Honestly, I'm not too big on the outdoors. I like walks and all that, but when it comes to going through forests and the like, well, it all just seems a bit messy and risky depending on where you are."
"You let risky stop you?"
"I take it that you don't, then."
"Not for a moment."
"Bit of a trouble maker, aren't you?" Ernie asked, coming around to join the girls in fussing over Sirius.
"I prefer the term 'trouble finder,'" he said in an off-hand manner. "I don't go looking for it exactly. It just seems to run into me."
The other boy gave him a quizzical smile. "Is that so? It runs into you?"
"Sounds terribly exciting," Hannah teased.
"You bet it is," he answered sincerely. "You wouldn't believe some of the stuff Dragon and I have done!"
From there the conversation drifted into anecdotes that the four of them shared about experiences with animals and childhood, ranging from slightly exaggerated tales of close escapes to Susan reminiscing quietly about a beloved guinea pig which met a rather unfortunate end. Time slipped by and before long it was time for dinner; Draco tossed the bag under his bed and then the group went down together to eat, continuing their conversation all the while.
OOO
It was a strange kind of pleasure, Ron thought, to realize that you had something all of your own that was brand new and made as if it were created just for you. He was still dimly aware that beneath the new robes he was still a Weasley, and therefore, ultimately, still poor. But seeing himself in the mirror, well-dressed and groomed with Pansy hovering at his side, allowed him to buy into an illusion if only for a moment.
"See? I told you they'd look good. Don't slouch when you wear them though. You're a Slytherin; have a little pride." He stood up straighter and she beamed. "Even better. Now come on, lets get down to dinner."
Crabbe and Goyle flanked them as they walked and after a moment or two of making their way in silence, Ron found his voice.
"Your detention with McGonagall – are you serving it soon?"
"Yes," she said rolling her eyes. "Two days from now. And it will have Nott and Potter in it."
Ron's face instantly twisted.
"That prick. He thinks he's so far beyond all of the rest of us; it makes me sick. I don't understand what my sister sees in him; but then again perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. My whole family is like that, no regard for dignity whatsoever. They'll associate with any riffraff that comes along."
She nodded.
"What I don't understand is how Draco got mixed up in all of that," he mused. "From what I understand the Malfoy's are a prestigious family."
"Draco? He's been a snotty little beast since we were kids. Always playing with that stupid dog of his; his mother and father are well-bred enough but they did a rather poor job of raising him. Spoiled him, I suppose, and now he's beyond any reining in."
"That's a shame. He might have turned out well otherwise."
"Possibly. But no sense in dwelling on it. Draco is what he is and has been for years; I've never met anyone so stubborn and so rough. He's ill-behaved, even by Muggle standards."
"That is pretty terrible. What about Nott?"
"Fell in with Draco young," she said with a shrug as they turned a corner. "Again, a good family; but his mother's dead and I don't suppose his father kept a very close watch on him. No sense of propriety or pride in him either. At least not proper, wizardly pride. They think they're so great – they don't even know what a great wizard is!"
Ron nodded in agreement as they went down the hall. While they were bustling through the crowd, he caught sight of a large girl their age in green robes. He gave her a quick nod as they hurried past but felt a nudge at his side as he did so.
"Don't, Ron," she whispered.
"But isn't she in Slytherin?"
"Yes, but that's Millicent Bulstrode; she's a half-blood. Don't waste your time with her, she's probably only in our house because she's sneaky and maybe ambitious. Not that it's going to get her anywhere."
"Oh," Ron replied, unable to think of any other response.
"Anyway, about that detention; Potter will be in it with Nott and you know what a hothead those two can be if you push the right buttons. So I figure it should be pretty easy to goad one or the both of them to a Wizard's Duel. Get them out of the common rooms, wandering the halls at night, and then have some third party do a little whistle-blowing."
It took Ron a moment or two to figure out what she meant. When he did, he pointed at himself in disbelief.
"You mean – me?"
"Yes of course; who else, silly? The three of us will be in detention and they might make the connection but you'll be a little more above suspicion. Are you in?"
He stiffed. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Good." A smile flitted across her face. "We'll have double potions with them that day too. I can't wait to see how Snape handles them."
The name rang a bell in Ron's head and he frowned.
"Snape? The potions master?" She nodded. "My brothers have gotten into trouble with him an awful lot from what they've said at home. Do you think he'll – I mean – is he going to recognize the name? He won't hold it against me, will he?"
"I'll talk to him," she promised as the came into the Great Hall and sat down at the table. "Trust me; he'll listen. It won't be a problem."
OOO
Twin faces slid into the seats across from Harry and Nott and gave them roguish grins.
"Heard you've got detention with a few Slytherin ponces," George remarked offhandedly, taking a roll.
"Unfortunately," Theodore snapped.
"Don't mind him," Harry interjected. "He's just sore about it because he's doesn't usually get into trouble. Or at least doesn't get caught," he said, grinning at Theodore who kicked his leg beneath the table.
"I see." Fred smirked. "Well, as it so happens, George and I are veterans of McGonagall detentions."
"Really?" Harry feigned surprise. "I would never have guess."
"Shocking, isn't it? Be a little more polite though," George admonished. "We're about to impart some extremely valuable words of wisdom on how to stand two hours with a bunch of slimy Slytherins."
Theodore glanced up at them from his plate. "Do you still dislike them that much, knowing your brother is one?"
The freckled faces grew stony for a moment, then Fred shrugged.
"Ron always was the stupid one. Anyway, ready to hear our magnificent plan?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "If you insist."
"That's the spirit!" George laughed. "Now listen – you know what a Wizard's Duel is, right?" They nodded. "Well, I've got dome dirt on all three of them that we'd be very willing to pass along to you. Bring it up and you'll have no problem goading them into one."
"And, do tell, what will this information cost us?"
"Free of charge," Fred winked. "Consider it a professional courtesy to two very promising young Griffindors."
"Anyway, just get them to agree to it. That way you can get them to be out in the halls at night – which is, as I'm sure you know, a rather punishable offense," George advised them, leaning in and hushing his voice.
"And the teachers will know they're out there how exactly?" Theodore inquired.
"Leave that to us," Fred replied.
"The teachers will believe you?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Not us. Her," said George, nodding to Hermione. "I'm sure that if we just discuss what we might have seen or heard about a few young Slytherins out on a nightly escapade, she'll go running to tell someone as fast as her feet can carry her. And they'll definitely believe her. I haven't seen someone so squeaky clean since Percy."
The two first-years paused for a moment, then broke into smiles and nodded in agreement.
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said with a grin.
OOO
The sun was sliding below the horizon when Draco, Harry and Nott slipping into the forest. Once they were beyond the first line of trees and immersed in relative darkness, the dark shape at their feet changed and they saw Sirius standing next to them.
"Hello, boys," he laughed. "It's been some time."
"Hey Sirius," Harry was grinning.
"So tell me," said Draco, "What were you doing with my invisibility cloak? And why did you take it off?"
Sirius looked at him rather sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I'd started out in this form and thought I'd wander the place a bit, but after a few close calls with Peeves and that cat, I figured it was safe to go in my Animagus form. I dragged the cloak behind a statue to hide it; but it was a bit of a problem, though, since I didn't have hands after that – and let me tell you boys right now, that really limits what you can do."
"What did you end up doing, out of curiosity?"
"Well, the door to the room is enchanted. And I don't have a wand anyway; plus I probably shouldn't be arousing suspicion by trying to break in. So I just left him a 'present' outside of his office."
Theodore frowned. "How disgustingly juvenile."
Sirius laughed in return. "You just don't know Snape yet; I think you'll find you'll change your tune."
"Well, we'll find out on Friday, won't we?" Harry frowned. "I haven't heard anything good though; and I could swear he made my scar hurt."
"I'm sure you were just imagining things" Theodore rolled his eyes, but Sirius motioned for him to be quiet.
"Made your scar hurt?" He asked curiously. "How do you suppose he could do that?"
Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. Couldn't tell you. I just know how I felt."
Sirius looked pensive for a moment and the boys glanced at one another until Draco finally broke the silence.
"Sirius – you're not mad at me are you? About the house, I mean?" He looked down at the leaves among his feet.
"I'll miss the Gryfiindor Common Room," he said and Draco's face fell, "But I'll live." He put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "The important thing is that you're in the place where you need to be."
"But Smith…"
"Don't worry about Smith. That Abbot girl seems to like you just fine, right? And those other two as well. Which, by the way, you can thank me for."
"Thank you! For what? Barking?"
"For offering my polished skills of socialization to help you with your introductions," Sirius replied with a smirk.
Draco looked at him skeptically for a moment, but then his grey eyes grew wide. He looked about for a moment, and then lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Guys, I think we should leave."
"Why? Is something wrong?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. It's just a feeling. Really, I think we should."
Sirius gave him a dubious glance. "We just got here…"
"Please, Sirius!" He gave him an anxious look and shuddered slightly.
"Alright, alright. Let's go."
In an instant, Sirius changed and Draco pulled the cloak around the four of them, dropping Harry and Theo off first at the portrait of the Fat Lady then heading down towards the kitchens to his own common room. Once in, he climbed the steps and fell into bed, feeling strangely cold and nauseous. He peeked out of the window and looked towards the Forbidden Forest; nothing seemed amiss and perhaps his feelings had been wrong. Still, he couldn't shake his apprehension.
He slid beneath the covers and Sirius padded into the bed bedside him. Despite the warmth of his friend, however, Draco had trouble falling asleep, and when he finally did his dreams were dark and fitful, though hazy enough that he could not remember them when the dawn came the following day.
OOO
I hope you've all enjoyed this installment. Remember – reviews are gratefully welcomed and advice on improving is even more appreciated. :-)