Chapter 2: The Very First Day

Much like his father, Dawson strutted the whole way until he arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast. Surprisingly, the twins were already there, and they looked happy. He reckoned that their discussion last night had been fruitful. He sat in front of them and grabbed a toast before placing it in the plate that appeared as soon as he settled in.

"So, what devilry are you two up to today?" he asked casually. The twins quit sniggering and faked coughing before taking a gulp from their own goblets. They were so in sync that they did all of that at the same time, as if they were programmed to do everything together at once. Dawson wondered if they ever had to go to the gents together too. He quickly chased away the thought and stared alternately at the twins while spreading the strawberry jam on his toast. Upon knowing that they were caught, the twins grinned widely, not even feeling guilty.

"Something…" Ethan said, pausing dramatically before his twin continued,

"Wicked." Aiden said before they both snicker evilly. Maybe that was a bit exaggerating, but Dawson knew them too well.

"I may be able to fool our parents, but I won't be there to back you up against the teachers. Remember that well." He said biting into his toast.

"Aww you're such a downer. If we ever get into detention, our mom and dad will blame you for not covering for us." Aiden said, disappointed.

"Aunt Ginny and Uncle Blaise specifically asked me to hinder you from causing any troubles. Not lie to the teachers."

"That hadn't stopped you before." Ethan said.

"There was no house points involved with any mishap that happened back at home. But here, I can't risk it."

"He only earned twenty points and now he thinks that he's the biggest point-earner in the whole world. I think your head is big enough, no need to expand it any bigger." Ethan said to Aiden and they both nodded at each other before looking at Dawson.

"Well, it's better than being a point-deductor." He said, not even hurt at their mockery. "Anyhow, if you ever get caught, I'm not the one who will receive a howler, a detention or suspension or expulsion. Gosh, it must be embarrassing for your parents for a having children that break rules and put them to shame." He tried to reason with them using a reverse psychology. He wouldn't know if it will work but he hoped it will. "I hope I didn't disappoint them by failing to stop you guys from your mischievousness." He continued, finishing his toast and pumpkin juice.

The twins ate silently, probably thinking that he was a stuck up know-it-all and didn't know how to have fun. He knew how to have fun; it's just that his fun and their fun harbored a different meaning. Dawson was a bit matured for his own age. It was probably the excessive time he spent with his pureblooded grandfather. The old man thought him everything about being a pureblood while knowing that he was a half-blood. The blood purity means nothing if one didn't have good manner.

The twins seemed contemplating whether to execute their plan or just wait for everyone to settle in first before they start any pranking. Dawson smirked and stood up with his bag on his shoulder. "I'll meet you in class." he strutted down the hall and exited to head to his first class, Charms. Moments later, the twins entered and took seats beside him.

"Fine, we get what you're trying to do."

"But we won't promise that nothing would happen in the future."

"And we definitely won't do anything harmful."

"Mild, just mild."

The twins took turns trying to justify whatever they were planning. Dawson was a bit satisfied with their decision. At least nothing would get them expelled. He knew how wicked their pranks could be. While celebrating Christmas two years ago at the Weasleys, Fred II almost fell from a height when they convinced the poor boy to ride a real broom without an adult supervision. They quickly realized their mistake when the poor boy was dangling fifteen feet in the air. While Ethan was gawking at the dangling Fred, Aiden who was a little clever and quick-witted compared to his twin quickly shouted for their parents.

While the adults were panicking, Uncle Harry quickly jumped onto another broom and caught him just in time. Let's just say the twins got it good from their parents. Since then, they were forced to stay within the vicinity of their parents. And every time they visited each other, both of them were forbidden to leave their seats unless one of the adults offered to accompany them. They almost lost their favorite Uncle George affection but after apologizing profusely, he forgave them.

He got through Charms and Herbology with grace as he left each class with praises from the professors. All of them claimed that he inherited their mother cleverness. None of them mentioned how his father was following very close behind his mother in studies. The only thing that kept him from being the first in class was his mother, who seemed to get extra points, every time. At least that was what his father told him.

He had flying class after lunch. He was sure he and the twins didn't need any flying lesson as their family was basically filled with Quidditch players. His dad and Uncle Harry was a seeker, and they often play in the opposite team every time they had a gathering. Aunt Ginny literally could play any position, Uncle Blaise was a chaser, Uncle George and his twin was a beater. His mother on the other hand was terrified at flying so he guessed he inherited the talents from his father. Aunt Angelina, Uncle George's wife was a chaser and a Gryffindor Quidditch Captain too. Well, their family was literally filled with Quidditch player. If he were to list all of them, he'd rather not. So, he had a feeling that he would be the first to get the broom into his hand.

Blame all the overly self-confidence he had on his father. He literally taught him to think of the best about himself. But it was caught by his mother one day, his dad got an earful, but it was too late. But his mother reminded him to always think of the best of other people too. He just nodded to avoid an earful just like his father received.

They were scattered on the grounds, staying with their own housemates. It was the Ravenclaws this time. He had classes with Gryffindors, where he sat with James and received a round of glare from his housemates, the Hufflepuffs and now Ravenclaws. The twins were still with him. If not for his strikingly blonde hair, people would think that they were triplets. But instead, they thought that the twins were his bodyguards. Not that he needed any. From afar he saw a red-headed professor he deemed was theirs as the only class that was held outside were only Flying Class and the Care of Magical Creatures only. Since Professor Hagrid taught CMC, this must be their professor.

"Afternoon class. Sorry I'm a bit late. Now, please form two lines and face each other." He gave order. There was no broom in sight but then they heard a buzzing sound nearing just after the professor waved his wand. In the matter of minutes, all the Cleansweeps arranged themselves in between the students and fell onto the ground.

"My name is Professor Weasley and I'll be teaching you flying lessons." At the sound of Weasley, Dawson's head snapped from staring at the old brooms, to his professor's face, now paying attention. This must have been the uncle he had never met. That means the Zabinis were his nephews, by blood. He didn't know whether the twins noticed or not, but he was definitely sure that this was his uncle. Their uncle. This was their last class for today so the odds were in his favor. He will confront the professor after class, along with the twins.

As expected, he was the first one to get the broom in his hands followed closely by the twins. It was obviously because their mother was a professional Quidditch player for the Holyhead Harpies. 'I'm just the best. I don't need professional Quidditch player for a mom to be able to be a good flyer.' He thought to himself and the self-praise carved a smirk on his pointy face. "Excellent, Mr. Malfoy, but don't get so proud of yourself." The smirk was lost and he really needed to know why the professor felt the need to be so bitter.

The time flew so painfully slow that when he heard the bell rang, he felt quite elated. The professor sent the broom flying to the cupboard and he waited for his classmates to go first. He pulled the twins by their robes and forced them to face him.

"Don't you recognize the professor?" he whisper-shouted at the twins.

"No."

"Why would we?" Aiden scrunched his nose. He didn't like remembering people unless he needed to. This was his first time seeing the professor.

"That is your Uncle Ron! Who never attends our family gatherings?" Dawson said.

The twins looked at the professor and started to remember the pictures on Grandma Weasley's walls. His face was on the family's magical clocks and it always showed that he was out of the country.

"How come he was here?" they chorused.

"Honestly, did you rehearse this?" Dawson forgot what they were talking about for a moment. "Anyway, I'm going to talk to him." He turned around and started walking but stopped when he realized the twins didn't follow him. "Do you guys need the formal invitations?" he asked, annoyed. The twins quickly followed him.

"Excuse me, Professor Weasley. We need to talk to you." he said as they approached the professor.

"Make it fast." The professor said nonchalantly, not realizing who were talking to him. When there wasn't a sound heard, he snapped his book close and looked at the three students, one with a blindingly blond hair, and the other two with the darkest hair. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potters? What do you need? Can you not waste my time?"

"Actually, sir, it's Zabini. Both of them are Zabini. Don't you know us?"

"W-why would I?" he stuttered.

"We're your nephews. Well at least these two are, by blood."

"And?" the professor seemed to not care about them at all. He felt his blood rising, and he could feel his face turning red.

"Speaking as the nephew here, Uncle Ron," he emphasized on the Uncle Ron, "not as a student, I demand to know why you are ditching your family."

"That is none of your business." Dawson saw his uncle's face turned as red as his hair, rivaling his own red face.

"It is since we are your family. Grandma Molly misses you every Christmas. And I noticed the extra jumper she made and kept in one of the trunks at home." The talkative twins now seemed like they had lost their voices. He looked at them and burst, "Well, aren't you going to help me here?" but they still stood in silence. Dawson huffed and turned back to his professor in front of him. He waited for him to say something but he didn't. His face however had turned to its normal color when Dawson mentioned about Grandma Molly and the extra jumper she made.

"It has been more than eleven years, from what I was informed with. If you're not going to say anything now, I might as well ask them myself." He waited for a moment before walking towards the castle. The twins seemed to be gawking at each other and the professor who was now walking in the other direction. He huffed at the two dimwitted boys he called cousin and walked away faster. He determined to write a letter to his parents informing them about his newfound uncle as his professor.

A/N: my thought on the second chapter? It is boring, and slow. I don't know what I wrote. I honestly am sorry but this cannot be corrected or changed. It is a part of some back story, something like that. It sort of flowed from my brain to my finger and I kept on writing until I realized it had reached 2000+ words. So, please wait for the next chapter. I promise I'll do better. This is starting slow but I think I'm going to do fine. Pray for me. much love xx