Draco of Durmstrang.

Ron chewed his chicken slowly, never taking his eyes of Draco who was trying awkwardly to ignore this and carry on a sensible conversation with Hermione. "Ron is there something you would like to say to Draco?" Hermione asked finally after her tolerance for his behaviour had reached its limits. Ron muttered something like "death eater" and ignored Draco for the remainder of the first course.

"Well Hermione, are you not going to introduce you're new friend" Seamus asked between mouthfuls of French bread and German sausage. "Oh yes, everyone this is Draco Malfoy from Durmstrang. Draco this is Harry, Lavender, Seamus, Neville, Parvati and I think you know Ron." The last few sentence were in German and all the Gryffindors craned their necks curious to see more of the foreign student.

Pudding followed the sumptuous Chicken and the Gryffindors who were extremely curious about the foreign students were beginning to warm up to Draco. He was talking to Lavender Brown about his experiences in France. Lavender had spent numerous vacations in France and was good enough to converse with him. When Hermione asked how he knew French as well he explained how his Father had decided a continental upbringing would benefit him and had shipped him off to boarding school in France at the age of five. Seamus Finnegan popped the Quidditch question and that really broke the ice.

Hermione translated Draco's stream of enthusiastic German into equally enthusiastic English. "Yes I am seeker on my House team, fortunately I am not of Viktor's house or I wouldn't have got a look in." That caused a stir of excitement even Harry, who was reluctantly backing Ron up in his apparently uncalled for rudeness, asked a question about the famous Krum. Ron looked at him like he'd been kicked in the face and scowled even more.

"Look what is wrong with him, you haven't given him a chance," Harry whispered in Ron's ear. "He's the only son of Lucuis Malfoy, the cowardly death eater," Ron stated loudly. Everyone looked at Ron surprised and then at Draco who's eyes had hardened and were the colour of low storm clouds. Draco took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Mr Weasley, I am a guest at this table. If you wish me to leave then I will do as you ask. I would add however that if you wish to insult me you could do so in front of me in the full knowledge that I understand every petty comment. Goodnight Sir." His words had come out in perfect English. His icy politeness had stunned Ron so much that by the time he closed his mouth Draco's retreating back was a good 20 feet away.

Draco tried to keep his exterior cool and calm but inside he was feeling deeply hurt and upset. This was what he had been worried about. People were sometimes openly hostile without giving him a chance simply because of his family's reputation. Ron hadn't even tried to get to know him. One of the reasons his Father had elected to send him to Durmstrang in the first place was his fear that Draco would experience bullying at the hands of those who still hated the Malfoy's for their actions during Lord Voldemort's reign. Even if his Father had been a death eater Draco had been barely a year old when Voldemort was defeated, was he really to be blamed. He sat down dejectedly at the end of the Slytherin Table and tried to make himself invisible.
In the meantime words were being exchanged at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was furious at Ron for being so rude without provocation and they were exchanging snipes across the table. Harry didn't know quite what to do with each of his two best friends fighting tooth and nail. The rest of Gryffindor were putting forward a range of opinions. There were those including the twins who backed up Ron, to those like Lavender who were screaming at Ron just as loudly as Hermione, and then there were those like Harry and Neville who didn't know what to think. "Well why did you have to go and upset him like that" Hermione screeched across the table. "Because he's an evil reptile of a death eater!" Ron said hotly. "How do you know that? You didn't even give him a chance." "He doesn't deserve a chance, ask my parents what his Dad did during the terror. He didn't plant pansies that's for sure!" "Does that mean his son is to be blamed to?" "Yes his son is to be blamed, he's already turning to the dark arts. I hear Durmstrang does that to a person" Ron had gone to far. Hermione rolled her eyes in disbelief. "I am not listening to a word you say until you become less pig-headed and apologise to Draco and me for what you just said." "Fine," came the snappish reply. The two of them finished dinner in stony silence.

As the Durmstrang students were sheparded back to their ship Hermione caught Draco's eye and threw him an apologetic smile. It cheered him up and he gave her one back. Breathing a sigh of relief that Ron hadn't thoroughly ruined things Hermione left the great Hall.