AN/DISCLAIMER: None of the characters or places, Quidditch, and other recognized things belong to me, they're all JKR's. I'm just borrowing them like all the other FF-writers. I give them all back after I finish this so please don't sue me either :). The story, of course, is mine, as are all new things in this work here. It began as a Draco/Ginny fic, but where it will end, even I don't know – this thing is crazy! The title should mean "a free dragon", at least I hope. If there are any errors in my english, it's because I'm not very good at it and I have never learned it too. Enjoy! Luinthoron.
Draco Liber
Draco Liber – Prologue – Draco's problem
This can't be. I can't love her. I know she's a pureblood and all, but still… I can't forget the day three years ago, when I saw her being sorted. I didn't recognize her first as I saw how beautiful she was. But as I heard her name called out I could have cried. I still hoped somewhere deep inside, that she would become a Slytherin, but there was no way. Ginny Weasley became a Gryffindor. I hated her family and she hated me. I remembered, what I said to her, as she was defending Potter. And now, three years later, I loved her. Life can be so cruel. For three years my feelings were growing, and it is harder and harder to be the perfect Slytherin, to be what father and my so-called friends wanted me to be, and to torture her Gryffindor friends. Last year it was harder than ever to terrorize Potter the Champion and to know, that it hurts her too. I can't do it anymore. I have to speak to Dumbledore.
Draco Liber – Chapter One – Surprises and more surprises
It was september the first and a new year was beginning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All students except the first-years were in the great hall and the Sorting was about to begin. Hermione was a prefect now, and really proud of it. All the summer by the Weasley's Percy was teaching her how to behave as a prefect, while Fred and George were teaching her not to listen to Percy. Like always, Dumbledore held a speech, the Sorting Hat sang its song and the first-years were sorted in the four Houses of Hogwarts. Beginning with "Aliger, Thomas!" (GRYFFINDOR!) and ending with "Zephyr, Alex!" (RAVENCLAW!). But the Sorting Hat was not removed from its stool. Dumbledore rose again.
"What now?" asked Ron Harry.
"No idea," answered Harry, but then Dumbledore began to speak.
"The sorting is not quite over yet. As a surprise to everyone and even to myself I have to say the following. One of our students has asked for a new Sorting. As it is something this school has never experienced yet, I consulted with the school governors and as they decided to allow this, mainly because most students would be sorted in their old houses even on a second try, please, professor McGonagall, carry on with the Sorting."
Total silence filled the room as McGonagall was beginning to speak.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
The silence now was even worse than before. For seconds that felt like hours nobody even moved. Then, like one person, half the school, including Snape and the whole Slytherin house shouted:
"WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!"
Draco stood up and walked to the Hat, lifted it up and put it on.
"Well, hello again. So you're the one that wants a new House," started the Hat. "Why should I put you in another one, while you could be the perfect Slytherin. But I see, your decision is well thought-out and very brave. I respect your choices. From now on you shall be in…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
This shock was too much. Snape fainted. Crabbe and Goyle fainted. Colin Creevey fainted. All others were dumbstruck. Only Dumbledore was still calm. Draco stood up, laid down the Hat and walked to the Gryffindor table. Now Ginny fainted. Draco jumped and caught her, before she reached the floor.
"But why…" whispered Hermione.
"Please, God, no…" moaned Ron, as Draco helped Ginny up, holding her hand gently.
Dumbledore was about to speak again, but nobody listened. The only voice of reason was McGonagall's, who said:
"Welcome to the Gryffindor House, Draco. I hope the other students will also understand and respect your decision."
"Welcome to Gryffindor," said Hermione, still not really believing what was happening.
As everybody was calming down, Dumbledore smiled and finally spoke on.
"Well, as everybody knows, we still need to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Next year again!" shouted Fred Weasley.
"We'll see that, mr. Weasley " said Dumbledore and carried on. "As you might know, our last teacher was an impostor and was killed by a dementor. And as the Dark Lord has risen again, I had more than mr. Malfoy's little problem to discuss with the governors. So welcome our new old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher – professor Lupin."
The Gryffindor table was rejoycing, the Slytherin table raging. Snape, who had regained consciousness, looked, as he would pass out again as Remus Lupin entered the great hall and took his place at the teachers' table.
"What are you all looking at," asked Dumbledore. "Let's eat now!"
The plates filled and the shocks passed. Everybodys thoughts were for a moment fixed on the food only and so they just ate, even without saying something to Draco, who still was sitting between Ginny Weasley and a second year girl called Natalie McDonald.
The feast passed strangely quietly. Nobody dared to ask anything about Draco's re-sorting or professor Lupin's return to Hogwarts. Even Harry ate silently, although what he really wanted to do was asking professor Lupin about his godfather Sirius. Harry and Sirius were of course in contact over the summer, but as Sirius was now staying at Lupin's, the latter would have had the latest news on him. All Harry knew, was that Remus and some of his older friends (Harry didn't remember the names) were trying to prove Sirius' innocence, but that they still were unable to do it. Dumbledore had told the teachers about it, so they would not try to kill Black on sight. Hagrid owled Harry immediately after that, apologizing for everything he had ever told about Sirius. At least that made Harry a little bit happier. He didn't even think about Malfoy until after the feast they were standing side by side in front of the Gryffindor tower entrance – the portrait of a fat lady. Hermione, being now a prefect, was telling the first-years the new password, as Draco said:
"So, can I get the password too? I know you don't like me, but I can't go back to Slytherin either, even if I could tell them your password. I mean, after what happened, they are going to kill me!"
"So what?!" answered Hermione, but still gave him the password – "Freedom wins".
"This was the most insane day I've ever seen in my life," muttered Hermione before leaving the Gryffindor common room. The last thing she heard, before everyone leaved for the dormitories, was Draco saying "I like the password".
"Well, if that's not going to be the most interesting year at Hogwarts ever," Draco heard Harry say to Ron. "Voldemort's back and Malfoy's in Gryffindor. I just wonder what happens next!"
"Yeah, I wonder too…" muttered Draco as he followed his former enemies to his new dormitory. If they weren't so tired, who knows what might have happened, but now just everyone fell into their beds and was sleeping just moments after touching the pillows. Everyone but Draco actually. He was tired too, maybe even more than the others, but he just couldn't fall asleep.
* * *
Everybody sleeps, but I just can't. I didn't want to be a Gryffindor. All I wanted was not to be in Slytherin. The only things I can think about is the Sorting and the fact that I'm as good as dead the moment my father hears about today. I just hope he doesn't hear it too soon. After the Dark Lords rise and the events of last summer everybody should know that he's a Death Eater and that keeps the information away from him for a while. But if he ever finds out that his only son and heir is in Gryffindor, he's personally going to kill me if it's the last thing he'll ever do. And if he finds out why I did it, then Ginny's dead too. Why is the right thing always the hardest thing to do? How can I protect myself from my father? And how can I ever protect Ginny from my father? How can I even make her understand my feelings after what I've done to her for the last three years…
* * *
Draco didn't fell asleep until a couple of hours after midnight, still thinking about the day and the new problems he had made for himself. He didn't even look on his schedule. Maybe it was even good so, because knowing that his first class the next morning would be double Potions with Slytherin, he would not have been able to sleep at all.
AN: I know, that most of you would like to kill me now. But if there is even just one person who likes it, I'm still happy. As it seems, my mind does not work like normal peoples minds. And yes, I know my chapters are too short, but I'm still a beginner and this means I'm not even nearly perfect. If you are still not insane after reading all this crazy stuff, please review. If for some reason you are going insane, please come back and review then :). Luinthoron.
Draco Liber
Draco Liber – Prologue – Draco's problem
This can't be. I can't love her. I know she's a pureblood and all, but still… I can't forget the day three years ago, when I saw her being sorted. I didn't recognize her first as I saw how beautiful she was. But as I heard her name called out I could have cried. I still hoped somewhere deep inside, that she would become a Slytherin, but there was no way. Ginny Weasley became a Gryffindor. I hated her family and she hated me. I remembered, what I said to her, as she was defending Potter. And now, three years later, I loved her. Life can be so cruel. For three years my feelings were growing, and it is harder and harder to be the perfect Slytherin, to be what father and my so-called friends wanted me to be, and to torture her Gryffindor friends. Last year it was harder than ever to terrorize Potter the Champion and to know, that it hurts her too. I can't do it anymore. I have to speak to Dumbledore.
Draco Liber – Chapter One – Surprises and more surprises
It was september the first and a new year was beginning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All students except the first-years were in the great hall and the Sorting was about to begin. Hermione was a prefect now, and really proud of it. All the summer by the Weasley's Percy was teaching her how to behave as a prefect, while Fred and George were teaching her not to listen to Percy. Like always, Dumbledore held a speech, the Sorting Hat sang its song and the first-years were sorted in the four Houses of Hogwarts. Beginning with "Aliger, Thomas!" (GRYFFINDOR!) and ending with "Zephyr, Alex!" (RAVENCLAW!). But the Sorting Hat was not removed from its stool. Dumbledore rose again.
"What now?" asked Ron Harry.
"No idea," answered Harry, but then Dumbledore began to speak.
"The sorting is not quite over yet. As a surprise to everyone and even to myself I have to say the following. One of our students has asked for a new Sorting. As it is something this school has never experienced yet, I consulted with the school governors and as they decided to allow this, mainly because most students would be sorted in their old houses even on a second try, please, professor McGonagall, carry on with the Sorting."
Total silence filled the room as McGonagall was beginning to speak.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
The silence now was even worse than before. For seconds that felt like hours nobody even moved. Then, like one person, half the school, including Snape and the whole Slytherin house shouted:
"WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!"
Draco stood up and walked to the Hat, lifted it up and put it on.
"Well, hello again. So you're the one that wants a new House," started the Hat. "Why should I put you in another one, while you could be the perfect Slytherin. But I see, your decision is well thought-out and very brave. I respect your choices. From now on you shall be in…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
This shock was too much. Snape fainted. Crabbe and Goyle fainted. Colin Creevey fainted. All others were dumbstruck. Only Dumbledore was still calm. Draco stood up, laid down the Hat and walked to the Gryffindor table. Now Ginny fainted. Draco jumped and caught her, before she reached the floor.
"But why…" whispered Hermione.
"Please, God, no…" moaned Ron, as Draco helped Ginny up, holding her hand gently.
Dumbledore was about to speak again, but nobody listened. The only voice of reason was McGonagall's, who said:
"Welcome to the Gryffindor House, Draco. I hope the other students will also understand and respect your decision."
"Welcome to Gryffindor," said Hermione, still not really believing what was happening.
As everybody was calming down, Dumbledore smiled and finally spoke on.
"Well, as everybody knows, we still need to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Next year again!" shouted Fred Weasley.
"We'll see that, mr. Weasley " said Dumbledore and carried on. "As you might know, our last teacher was an impostor and was killed by a dementor. And as the Dark Lord has risen again, I had more than mr. Malfoy's little problem to discuss with the governors. So welcome our new old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher – professor Lupin."
The Gryffindor table was rejoycing, the Slytherin table raging. Snape, who had regained consciousness, looked, as he would pass out again as Remus Lupin entered the great hall and took his place at the teachers' table.
"What are you all looking at," asked Dumbledore. "Let's eat now!"
The plates filled and the shocks passed. Everybodys thoughts were for a moment fixed on the food only and so they just ate, even without saying something to Draco, who still was sitting between Ginny Weasley and a second year girl called Natalie McDonald.
The feast passed strangely quietly. Nobody dared to ask anything about Draco's re-sorting or professor Lupin's return to Hogwarts. Even Harry ate silently, although what he really wanted to do was asking professor Lupin about his godfather Sirius. Harry and Sirius were of course in contact over the summer, but as Sirius was now staying at Lupin's, the latter would have had the latest news on him. All Harry knew, was that Remus and some of his older friends (Harry didn't remember the names) were trying to prove Sirius' innocence, but that they still were unable to do it. Dumbledore had told the teachers about it, so they would not try to kill Black on sight. Hagrid owled Harry immediately after that, apologizing for everything he had ever told about Sirius. At least that made Harry a little bit happier. He didn't even think about Malfoy until after the feast they were standing side by side in front of the Gryffindor tower entrance – the portrait of a fat lady. Hermione, being now a prefect, was telling the first-years the new password, as Draco said:
"So, can I get the password too? I know you don't like me, but I can't go back to Slytherin either, even if I could tell them your password. I mean, after what happened, they are going to kill me!"
"So what?!" answered Hermione, but still gave him the password – "Freedom wins".
"This was the most insane day I've ever seen in my life," muttered Hermione before leaving the Gryffindor common room. The last thing she heard, before everyone leaved for the dormitories, was Draco saying "I like the password".
"Well, if that's not going to be the most interesting year at Hogwarts ever," Draco heard Harry say to Ron. "Voldemort's back and Malfoy's in Gryffindor. I just wonder what happens next!"
"Yeah, I wonder too…" muttered Draco as he followed his former enemies to his new dormitory. If they weren't so tired, who knows what might have happened, but now just everyone fell into their beds and was sleeping just moments after touching the pillows. Everyone but Draco actually. He was tired too, maybe even more than the others, but he just couldn't fall asleep.
* * *
Everybody sleeps, but I just can't. I didn't want to be a Gryffindor. All I wanted was not to be in Slytherin. The only things I can think about is the Sorting and the fact that I'm as good as dead the moment my father hears about today. I just hope he doesn't hear it too soon. After the Dark Lords rise and the events of last summer everybody should know that he's a Death Eater and that keeps the information away from him for a while. But if he ever finds out that his only son and heir is in Gryffindor, he's personally going to kill me if it's the last thing he'll ever do. And if he finds out why I did it, then Ginny's dead too. Why is the right thing always the hardest thing to do? How can I protect myself from my father? And how can I ever protect Ginny from my father? How can I even make her understand my feelings after what I've done to her for the last three years…
* * *
Draco didn't fell asleep until a couple of hours after midnight, still thinking about the day and the new problems he had made for himself. He didn't even look on his schedule. Maybe it was even good so, because knowing that his first class the next morning would be double Potions with Slytherin, he would not have been able to sleep at all.
AN: I know, that most of you would like to kill me now. But if there is even just one person who likes it, I'm still happy. As it seems, my mind does not work like normal peoples minds. And yes, I know my chapters are too short, but I'm still a beginner and this means I'm not even nearly perfect. If you are still not insane after reading all this crazy stuff, please review. If for some reason you are going insane, please come back and review then :). Luinthoron.