Chapter 3

A/N: Thank you all so much for all the reviews on this story. I love reading them all.

I just want to say here that this is NOT a percabeth story. If you do not like that, please do not read any more. Percy and Annabeth are a very good couple and I love them but, in this story, they are nothing more than JUST friends.

It is detrimental to this story plot that none of the demigods who are not magical know of the wizarding world and that none of the witches and wizard who do not have a godly heritage know of the Greek gods. Annabeth is very smart, and she would figure it out if her boyfriend was hiding such a huge secret. Percy would also feel less inclined to spill the secret if they were only friends. Even so, it is my decision that this will not be Percabeth story and I will not change that.

Also if you want to vote for the pairing for Percy, a poll is ongoing on my profile.

Draco's pov

Draco Malfoy wished he was anywhere but here. Except perhaps Hogwarts or anywhere in England, for that matter. You know what, this is the best place he could be right now, no matter how awkward the silence is.

He internally sighed and glanced at the boy sitting beside him. Longbottom may have killed Nagini, a feat he still did not understand how he accomplished, but he had clearly still not gotten rid of all his nervous energy. Looking at the way he was fidgeting with his hands, it was clear that it was uncomfortable to be in such close vicinity to a death eater. Former Death eater, he corrected himself with relief.

He sighed once more, and he could hear Longbottom shift awkwardly. "Look Longbottom, if we are going to do this then we should clear the air between us," he exclaimed abruptly startling the other boy so that he jumped two feet high in the air. If Draco was still as immature as he had been in his fifth year, he might have snickered at the look on his face. But honestly, he just could not find the motivation to be amused. He was too wary of this entire thing.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Draco could practically see Longbottom cursing himself internally for stuttering. It seems some habits die hard. A small part of him almost felt some sick satisfaction at the nervousness the pudgy boy was feeling.

"What I mean is that – I'm sorry. I'm sorry okay," he rushed to say. "It was wrong of me to make fun of you all the no matter how much victimized yourself and I was wrong to accept all my father told me blindly. I regret that I gave you such a hard time and let those death eaters in the school. Even if you don't forgive me, I've said my piece."

Draco looked away from Longbottom's astounded face. His eyes were wide, and he was gaping unceremoniously. Such uncouth mannerism, his mother would have said. Of course, his mother was the one that pleaded with Dumbledore to choose him as one of the exchange students. She told him that it surprisingly didn't take much convincing on her side. It made Draco suspicious of what the old coot was planning. It was surprising that Dumbledore wasn't sorted into Slytherin himself. He was most definitely manipulative enough.

The clearing of a throat brought him out of his musings. He deliberately straightened out his facial expressions and turned to meet the other's gaze. "You're right," Longbottom started. "We are going to be the only ones who know each other in the school. So, we should let bygones be bygones. I accept your apology." He held out his hand and Draco tentatively shook it.

For the rest of the trip, they didn't talk much but the initial awkwardness in the air had also dissipated. He did not have any illusions that they were friend suddenly but there wasn't as much animosity between them either. Truthfully, Draco may have bullied Longbottom in his earlier years, but he didn't really pay much attention to him individually as he did with Potter.

Soon enough the tell-tale sound of the carriage hitting the ground signalled that they had reached their destination. He swung open the door and gracefully strode out of the small carriage. Longbottom also stumbled out from behind him while he coolly gazed at the Ilvermorny castle. It was grand with white walls and numerous towers erupting out of the main building. He couldn't even see from where some of the towers came from.

All in all, it was a majestic sight, although it lacked the ominous feeling that Hogwarts never failed to wash over him. From the very few muggle fairy tales he had read, this castle was very akin to it.

"Mr Longbottom and Mr Malfoy, I assume." In a flash, a witch was in front of them. "Yes?" came the voice of Longbottom.

The witch's spectacled eyes scrutinised the two boys, men, in front of her. "I am Professor Eleanor Gewirtz and I shall be your Ancient Runes teacher should you choose to take it." Professor Gewirtz- as she had introduced herself was a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties. She had a pointy face and auburn hair that was bound in a high bun. Her eyes were soft brown contradicting the cold edge in her tone.

Draco let his hand fall freely at his side again after he noticed that he had subconsciously hovered it over the pocket of his robe that should have held his wand. The consequences of living in terror in his own home, he supposed.

"…get settled in." Unfortunately, he had missed the Professor's earlier words, too lost in his wandering thoughts. "Follow me now. We shall get you sorted first thing, so you will know which dorm to move into." They followed her through the large bronze doors. The doors opened to a large circular hall. The hall was empty except for the four statues of different creatures. The sounds of chattering students made him look up to see a wooden balcony overhead where witches and wizards were gazing down on them in interest. What baffled him though was that many of the students were wearing muggle clothes and others wore casual robes. He could see in his periphery that Longbottom also looked confused.

"Classes will commence officially from tomorrow so, wearing school-issued robes are not mandatory," she said noticing their obvious confusion. Draco's first thought was, "It seems robes, in general, are not mandatory." His second thought was, "Just how much muggle culture do the American integrate here?"

"Oh."

The students gave them curious looks. Some witches admired them before starting to giggle among themselves. Once upon a time, he might have dismissed the notion of anybody admiring Longbottom immediately, but he had to admit that he had grown out of his pudgy face and looked decent. If only he didn't have that atrocious fashion sense, someone might have been willing to date him before.

"Let us carry on boys. We don't have all day now," she said. "One after the other you will step onto Gordian knot in the middle of the statues. The houses here at Ilvermorny are the Horned Serpent, the Pukwudgie, the panther Wampus and the Thunderbird." She pointed to their respective statues.

"The four Ilvermorny Houses, each represent a different part of the human being; Horned Serpent represents the mind and favours scholars; Wampus represents the body and favours warriors; Pukwudgie represents the heart and favours healers and the Thunderbird represents the soul and favours adventurers," she informed them.

"Now who would like to go first?"

"I'll go," Draco snapped his head towards his left where Longbottom stood.

He observed the Gryffindor walk confidently to the middle of the gordian knot. For a few seconds nothing happened, all the other students had gone silent in anticipation. Then the statue of the Pukwudgie raised its arrow in the air. The silence broke and everyone broke out into applause. Draco too clapped politely.

Longbottom's face split into a proud grin. The professor also gave him words of congratulations. Then she turned to Draco, "It's your turn, Mr Malfoy."

Draco discreetly took a deep breath and tried his best to not show his nerves. He tried to console himself that none of the houses here is prejudiced as evil and they couldn't accuse him of anything. 'As if that could ever happen', a voice inside his head spoke. "They'll shun you as soon as they see the mark tainting your left arm. Nobody will be your friend even all the way across the world."

Draco shook out of the depressing thoughts and stepped into the golden gordian knot. A few seconds later, he shifted uncomfortably under the attention of the whole American school. Soon, the crystal set on the Horned Serpents statue lit up. The students broke out into applause.

Draco sighed in relief, an easy smile on his face. He was about to get out of the gordian knot when the Wampus statue roared, silencing the applause and whispers. "What happened?" he asked to no one in particular.

"Mr. Malfoy," Gewirtz called. "In the case of two or more houses choosing a student. It is up to you to decide in which house you think you would be best suited."

I must choose? he wondered. The house of scholars or the house of warriors? Draco observed the two statues which chose him. He understood why the Horned Serpent would endorse him. A Slytherin always used their mind to get out of unfavourable situations. But a warrior? How was he a fighter if he ran away from every tough battle? Perhaps a second chance.

"I choose to the House of Wampus," he announced with determination. The students applauded once more. He could see Longbottom clapping too but he noticed his decision had puzzled the Gryffindor-Pukwudgie.

"Well-chosen, Mr Malfoy," Professor Gewirtz spoke.

"Thank you, Professor."

She then herded both newly sorted teens out of the hall and gave them the directions to their respective dorm rooms. "Your luggage is already in your rooms. Your roommates can then show you the way around the castle. If there are any questions you would like to ask, you may consult any of the portraits on the second floor for my office. Have a good day, Mr Longbottom, Mr Malfoy," she informed them and went on her way.

Draco had a feeling that this was going to be an interesting year, they'll remember for years to come.