A/n- Hey, just wanted to say thanks to all my reviewers, you guys are awesome.
Disclaimer: Nope.
Summary: A not-so-warm welcome.
The Other Side of Fate
Ginny and Luna had switched with Hermione and Draco for the remainder of the trip.
Ron, still fuming, steam nearly coming out of his ears had- quite angrily- told Hermione, arm outstretched, finger pointed at Draco, face beet red, that he would not, under any circumstances sit within ten feet of 'that Slytherin bastard'.
Hermione, not wishing to emulate any more animosity, calmly agreed and pulled Draco along to the deserted compartment.
He was still grinning when he slouched into the chair.
Hermione gave him a look.
"I, for once did not provoke it."
"For once." Hermione snorted, crossing her arms and looking very sternly at Draco. "You mean Ron-"
Draco bit down upon his bottom lip and nodded his head slowly.
"Exactly, it was the Weasel."
"You know, it probably would be a little less infuriating for Ron if you said his name properly."
"Yes, but it wouldn't nearly be as much fun."
.o.o.o.o.
The castle, at least to Draco, seemed to have changed from the years previous.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but it felt so daunting and much more callous then his memory recalled.
Before, the winged boars never gave Draco a second thought, but as he slid Hermione down from their horse-less carriage, he found them watching him. Well, he felt like they were anyway. Malfoy had never interpreted their tusked grins as malicious or of ill intent, but tonight he did.
It was all he could do to keep Hermione's shoulder and ignore the way the sharp stone tusks jutted up past cold, frozen jowls.
The chill Malfoy felt then was certainly not from the cold.
Yet, a warm finger caressed his knuckles as the doors to the Hogwarts Castle were thrown open admits the throngs.
Draco glanced at Hermione, a warm smile gazing back at him.
Be strong.
Draco reciprocated the smile and the gesture.
I have no need to be, not with you by my side.
"Hermione?"
The two saw Ginny squeezing through a pair of seventh year twins to get to them, her hair stuck up in a particularly messy bun, just like her mother.
"Hello….." Draco trailed off, mentally searching.
"Ginny." The redhead prompted, giving a very friendly scowl. She grabbed Hermione's arm. "Ron told me to tell you that-"
Hermione gave a tired little sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose with thumb and forefinger.
"Merlin, we're not doing this again, are we?"
Ginny nodded sullenly. "At least he's willing to talk to you, instead of, well, ignoring you completely."
"That's loads better, Gin, thanks."
Their chatter was cut off as the group was herded into the Entrance Hall, many of the students having already overflowed into the Great Hall. Harry waved the three over and they all paused a moment for Neville to pick up his toad.
The Hall itself was glittering with its floating candles, casting long slick shadows over the walls. The chatter, loud then, died softly to a murmur as the group entered. Ron's laughing at a joke of Ginny's echoed among the cavernous quiet then left barren.
Either the Weasleys, Potter, and Longbottom were oblivious to the stares or simply immune. Either way they went- laughing still- to sit at the Gryffindor table while Hermione and Draco, on the other hand, were very aware of the looks they were receiving.
Draco stared defiantly at the students; his chin upturned a fraction, his eyes glittering with something akin to silent, murderous laughter.
Hermione, more weary under the scrutiny, moved first, her hand coming to a rest against Draco's forearm, just barely, before retracting as she moved away towards her friends.
Fighting a smirk, Draco took a few paces towards his House's table, but stopped short, all sick humor gone from his face.
Something was wrong.
Although never the one to be truly horror struck, Malfoy came as close to being thrown off-balance as he ever had, standing at that moment in front of the Slytherin table. His hands clenched and unclenched.
His seat, usually in the center of the long oak table, was occupied.
Malfoy made a motion, he didn't know why, it was a nervous twitch of some desperate feeling he couldn't grasp. His hand, near his pocket, moved slightly, his heel grinding the floor.
A few of the older Slytherins actually stood up, as if he would pull his wand on them or some daft thing of that nature.
The room was eerily quiet.
Draco squinted his eyes, force of habit.
The figure at Draco's place stood and the others at the table sat down heavily against the wooden benches. He was like their leader…
"Blaise…"
Zabini stared down the table, his eyes not meeting Malfoy's for a few seconds before an expert sneer curled his lips, making him look ugly and out of place.
Should have known. Draco sighed inwardly, his soul feeling heavy.
The way he was flanked at the Platform, like he was royalty, he should have known.
Malfoy smiled and many of the Slytherins stirred, unnerved by his casual appearance.
"Well?" He asked, still smirking.
Blaise, for a moment, looked lost.
"Where, Zabini, are you placing me, now that you have so kindly nixed my seat?"
Balise's teeth flashed white in the candle light.
"End of the table… behind the first years when they're sorted."
Malfoy didn't dare look up at the Staff Table, that would be weakness in their eyes, but he was dying to see Snape's face. Oh he begged himself to look, yet his pride resisted.
Without another word, Malfoy- the stupid smile still on his lips- started down the narrow row of Gryffindor and Slytherin seats towards the empty section of the table.
Not a single person breathed.
But Malfoy, he kept walking, strait past the end of the Slytherin table.
Rounding the Gryffindor table, he stopped behind the Gryffindor bench, next to Hermione, and promptly sat down.
The noise erupting then was such tumult that it shook the stars in the magic sky above the students. Some of the Gryffindor whooped, any victory over the Slytherins, even at a Slytherins' own sacrifice, was still a victory! Yet some of the red and gold howled in rage, how could they let an enemy at their own table? Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws on the other hand clapped and laughed at the display; and nearly all Slytherins were stunned into silenced- for mere seconds- before they broke into protests.
No one had ever heard of a student refusing to sit with their own house.
The Headmaster tapped his wand upon the dais.
Nothing doing. The students still stood, shouting, hands gesticulating wildly.
Draco, Hermione on one side, Ginny on the other, Harry, and a scowling Ron across from him, sipped sweetly at a golden goblet of pumpkin juice. He felt quite protected, even if he was- quite literally- in the lion's den.
Yet, inwardly, Malfoy cringed.
This was not how he would have preferred the year to start, not at all. But he wasn't going to let them… defile his pride like that. He wouldn't.
Draco's eyes snapped open when Hermione placed her hand upon his. The view he had then…it was as if he was looking at the world through a different lens.
He has never seen the Slytherin table from such an angle before…
Oh, was his heart beating so fast.
"That is enough!" A booming voice echoed throughout the Great Hall with such a resounding note that again the stars quivered above. The candles in their floating brackets flared dangerously.
All heads swiveled up to stare reverently, if not frighteningly, at the Headmaster.
"I will not tolerate my students behaving like a pack of wild animals!" The great wizard's arms were outstretched. He looked truly terrifying. "You! You, you and you!" He pointed at the Slytherins who had risen. "Sit." Dumbledore lowered one of his arms as the students lowered themselves back into their seats.
As he spoke, the sorting hat was brought out on its little stool.
Still, Dumbledore stood in front of his students.
"No more of this…" He waved his hand tiredly. "Madness." At this last word, as he hobbled back up to his chair, looking pointedly at Draco.
Malfoy swallowed hard as he forced himself to glance, finally, up at the Staff table.
There Snape sat, one hand wrapped in a white knuckled grip round his goblet, his gaze cast somewhere off into nothingness, perhaps trying to ignore whatever shame his House had brought upon him. Obscuring Draco's line of sight, the group of first years trailed into the room to stand in front of the rest of the student body.
Harry leaned in across the empty table.
"That, Malfoy, was either very brave, or very stupid."
Draco grinned despite himself, and stole a glance at Hermione, her mouth drawn into a very thin line.
But then, before he could murmur any words of solace, the sorting hat began to speak…
I was here when pure-blood ruled,
And when unity was prized.
When heated battles through Houses fueled,
By self-centeredness and pride.
I was here when talent reigned,
And when all were equally respected.
When animosity and hate did stain,
All wizards were infected…
The time of the past has come once more,
It would be wise now to take heed.
For high or lowly, rich or poor,
You're talents of all we need.
You may scoff or whine at my regards,
Value loyalties and family higher.
But if we fall, you fall as hard,
For with evil you did conspire.
But now I caution! All Houses hear,
For this warning I say not twice.
Keep all friends close 'an to you dear,
Lest death to them suffice!
Not a word was uttered after that little montage.
Malfoy let out a tiny breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. He glanced up from the table, met Ron's eyes. The other boy shifted in his seat and whispered.
"So much for subtly."
Even Dumbledore looked as if he hadn't expected what had come out of his old, tattered hat.
The hat itself, it twisted upon its stool to glance- if it could glance- around the hall.
"Well?" It wheezed, the rip widening. "Up you go, first years! Come on!" But the students looked terrified.
McGonagall cleared her throat, rolling out her parchment and Draco, eyes cast towards the Headmaster, began to tune the woman out.
.o.o.o.o.
Nearly an hour, the students were happily fed, and although the animosity that had run rapid earlier on in the evening had been somewhat quieted, beneath the puddings and cakes, tension continued to undercut the happy chatter. It was hardly noticeable.
Hardly.
And Malfoy wasn't eating much.
"Just another dinner roll." Hermione split one and placed it on his plate, patting his pale hand. Draco rolled his eyes.
"No." He whined softly, pushing the plate away. Hermione huffed as she finished her chicken. "Sorry." Malfoy murmured, taking the roll into the palm of his hand, then he glanced up at the Slytherin table. Crabb and Goyle were shoving food into their mouths.
"That'll make you loose your appetite." A voice quipped to Draco's left, wrought with humor.
Ginny grinned as she slurped down her drink.
Draco hid a smile.
"Mr. Malfoy."
The voice made Draco give a start, the bread falling onto the plate. Swiveling around in his seat, Draco's silver stare leveled with the Headmaster's half moon spectacles. He hadn't even heard the old man come over.
Malfoy blinked blankly up at the man.
"I'd like to speak with you in my office."
The man's gaze was warm, yet calculating, as if he was not looking at Draco, but through Draco. Malfoy had to suppress a chill- not of fear- but of something he couldn't name.
Reverence?
Hardly.
The old fool…
"Yes, Headmaster."
Draco slipped his hand out from under Hermione's as he stood. The room went quiet again, but this time nothing unexpected happened, everyone just stared as the pair walked out of the Great Hall. Once did Malfoy glance back at Hermione, who was watching, a look of relief on her face.
Draco smirked back.
As the old man and his young student walked the halls of the castle, neither said a word, although Dumbledore did place a comforting hand upon Draco's shoulder.
Under any other circumstances, Malfoy would have wretched, pulled away, but the knowledge the old man had concerning Draco's summer suppressed his usual distaste. In fact, as the spiraling staircase jumped into life in front of him, Malfoy found it hard to grasp those nasty little thoughts he had reserved towards Dumbledore at all.
"Toffee?" Dumbledore outreached a palm towards Draco as he drew the boy a chair- opposite his large desk.
"What? Oh. No, thank you. I prefer Acid Pops."
Why was he saying this?
"Oh yes, I did like those as a young student- many, many years ago. But it seems, hmm, you know, indigestion catches up with you, hmm?"
"…right." Was all Draco could muster as he took a seat. "I'm assuming this is due to my behavior, right?" The last word came out in a drawl.
"Actually, I had wanted to speak to you privately before that show of yours."
Draco bristled.
"I wasn't going to let them-"
Dumbledore smiled. "Apologizing? Trying to make excuses for their actions? You have wronged them Draco, how else would you have expected the Slytherins to act?"
Malfoy sat, silent, looking around the Office. The little whirling trinkets sparkled upon their rosewood cabinets and lined bookshelves.
"Are you siding with them?" Malfoy allowed the words to slip through his teeth.
"Oh, heavens no." The old man chuckled and Draco found a smile appearing upon his own lips. "But what you did tonight…" He became grave and serious. "Do not make enemies, Draco." And it was then that the Headmaster sat back in his chair. "For your sake and for those you wish to protect, do not make enemies."
Draco looked away and bit his lip.
"I know," Dumbledore continued. "It will be hard, especially with what I wanted to speak to you about…"
Malfoy looked back.
"I know you and Ms. Granger are still close, as I predicted from the end of last year. She spoke to me, this summer, concerning you."
Within Draco, a swell of pride and love grew.
She thought of him.
"Ms. Granger wants you to be protected by The Order."
Malfoy blinked stupidly.
"She what?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"Not only did I think it was a good idea, but I believe that you, Draco, could help us."
"As a spy." Malfoy spat. This was the issue, he didn't think it would have been brought up so quickly, but this was the issue he had been wrestling with all summer.
Take the offer, damn his family, possibly end your life and Hermiones' .
Refuse, cower behind your father, save your life and Hermiones' but be a murderer of so many others.
"Now, I'm not asking for a clear decision tonight, Mr. Malfoy. I know how hard this may be for you, the hate for Mr. Potter and his-"
"I don't hate him." Draco said quickly, but Dumbledore ignored the little outburst.
"-friends run deep. Your father is very influential. However, if you do help us, you will be protected and you will help save the Wizarding world."
Malfoy burst out laughing, a short, harsh little bark.
"Me? Save anything?"
The Headmaster looked mildly confused.
"Last time I checked, that was Potter's job, that was! Save the Wizarding world! Let Wonder Boy do it!
At this, Dumbledor's gaze became a mixture of laughter, knowing, pity, and love- how that worked, Draco couldn't tell, but the man was nearly beaming.
"Draco…you will learn of your importance in this battle between good and evil, I am certain of it. You may not be chosen by birthright or prophecy, but that does not mean you are unimportant. You will learn soon enough… it will not be the powers of one, but the strength of many that will win this war."
Draco mumbled, fiddling with his robe's pocket
"Fine." The boy sneered into the ground, he gaze cast downward. "I'll do it."
"As I said, I did not expect an answer-"
"No." And now Draco sounded rushed, breathless. "I'll do it."
Dumbledore smiled.
"I believe Ms. Granger is waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs."
Draco got up quickly, the chair sliding back.
'Oh, and Mr. Malfoy…"
Dumbedore's words made Draco pause halfway to the door, made him turn a quarter of the way around.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"If there is anything troubling you, anything at all, don't be afraid to call upon me or Professor McGonagall. We are, Mr. Malfoy, essentially on the 'same side', we are a team- as it were- and if a member of The Order is in need, we do provide. Remember that."
"Yes sir."
Draco's hand lay lightly on the cool brass door knob.
Made your choice. He said quietly to himself.
And he smiled.
A/n- see? ON SUNDAY!
Okay, so I would have gotten this up on, say, Friday, but I had my wisdom teeth- all four- extracted on Thursday. So, I've been writing through a haze of pain and Vicodin, with the computer screen going all psychedelic on me.
Any suggestions on stuff to do when your home looking like a chipmunk?
Next chapter soon!
Review, it helps my pain!