Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.

Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar, but Luna Lovegood nows exists in this fanfic!!

Chapter 3 - Bribery Is A Malfoy's Best Friend

I sulked for most of the remains of the holidays. Father had PROMISED he'd get me a racing broom, so where was it? And what was in that box he bought from Quality Quidditch Supplies? It was definitely the wrong shape to be a broom - too big and more squareish. I couldn't think of a single Quidditch-related product that would require a box like that.

Then I happened to be passing Father's study door, on the last night before school. I heard voices, and stopped to listen (as any self-respecting Slytherin would do).

"So, Mr Malfoy, you wanted to talk to me?" I recognised that as Marcus Flint's voice. Why the Hell would Father be talking to Marcus Flint?

"Yes, Flint." Father said shortly, "I hear that you held Quidditch try-outs earlier this month. I was wondering how well my son performed - obviously he failed to get a place on the team, but I still wanted to enquire."

"Well, Mr Malfoy ... the thing is." Flint sounded nervous - good - he deserves to be intimidated after what he's done to my Quidditch career, "Draco only tried out for one position, and it was already filled. I was only replacing team-members who had graduated last year."

"And ...? Was Draco a competent player?" Father asked icily.

"I'd not say that, sir ... it's be an understatement. But as I said - the position was already taken, and -"

"If the current Seeker had been merely another candidate, rather than guaranteed the position, would he still have been chosen over Draco?"

"Ahh ... Draco caught the Snitch and knocked the other two Seeker-wannabies off their brooms - Higgs was the only other player to stay in the air for that part of the try-outs." Flint said.

"So my son catches the Snitch against your current Seeker, and you still stubbornly refuse to increase your chances of winning, simply because of an irrational rule that you made up?" Father snarled.

"Um ... yeah." Flint admitted.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to be fair? Considering that you rejected my son's application for the team on a personal whim, rather than based on skill. Considering that you admit Draco is better than the Seeker you have. Would I be able to convince you to change your mind?"

"I really don't -" Flint started, but Father interrupted.

"I have something for your team, if you will allow my son to play. I wouldn't have made this offer if you had told me that Draco had not earned what you denied him." a pause, and I wished I could see what was going on.

Then Flint's voice, "That's - that's a Nimbus two thousand and one! They only came out in America at the start of this month ... won't hit the market here for another two." he said, sounding dazed.

"And I can provide your entire team with them, if you are fair. I'm sure it's not something you usually do - being fair - if you even know the meaning of the word. But I could put it this way if you want me to: I am buying my son a place on the team that he should have been given anyway. Do we have a deal?"

"Seven N-2K1s in exchange for letting the kid play? And he IS up to it, really. I only didn't let him on the team because he was such a rotten little prat, last year - no offence to you, sir - but the rumours say he was the one responsible for putting me in the Hospital Wing ... that I can't act on in the total absence of proof. Sorry, sir - I didn't mean -"

"Shut up. Stop ranting while you're behind." Father snapped, "Whatever evil-doings my son gets up to are only my concern if it can be proven that he was the culprit. Now - we have a deal - my son will play on the Slytherin house team ... and you will find these in the Slytherin locker-area when you get to school. I wish I could say it was a pleasure doing business with you ... but, honestly, it wasn't. Now I have other things to attend to ... goodbye."

With that, the flaming-noise that signals the end of a Floo conversation sounded and I heard Father moving across the study. I bolted down the corridor and made it round the corner just before the study door opened.

I got back to my room without anyone being any the wiser about the fact that I overheard that conversation. I was so happy, I could have flown without the broom. I was on the house team ... and we were all playing on Nimbus 2001s ... the Quidditch Cup was ours for sure, this year ... again. And I would be a major player in that victory, this time. I'd get some attention, for a change ... and to beat Potter would be an added bonus.

x x x

As I ate my breakfast, on the morning of September 1st, Father told me about Flint's sudden change of heart. I really was going to enjoy this - the Quidditch thing, I mean - and I could just picture the look on Potter's face. Of course, I'd have to keep an eye out for Higgs, who would be none-too-pleased.

Father disappeared as I finished breakfast and I could hear him yelling from the Hall, "Draco! You're going to miss the train unless you get out here, right now!"

I jumped up, said goodbye to Mother (which included a hug - I thought I'd grown too old for hugs from mummy, but nooooo), and ran to the fireplace, to find Father waiting for me. My trunk was also present and seemed to have grown a pair of legs. Closer examination proved that it was actually being carried by Dobby.

One Floo-journey later and I was jumping on the train with two minutes left. After seeing me safely onto the train, Father waved goodbye, in a formal way that (when used to send off his own son) shows just how much he doesn't want anyone to see him acting human, and Disapparated. The trunk appeared on the rack above my head, and the elf appeared on top of it. I looked around to check that no one was watching, before turning to the elf, "Can you try to make Potter miss the train? I checked all the compartments and he's not here yet. I don't want to see him when I get there, or you will have to iron your hands - understood?"

Dobby nodded, squeaking slightly and disappeared. A minute later the train left, completely Potter-free.

After a few minutes, Crabbe and Goyle found me and planted themselves on the seats opposite. I looked at them with some surprise - they both had equal evil-grins on their faces.

"What are you two up to?" I asked.

"Potter's not here ... Weasley's missing and his little sister is crying her eyes out about it." Goyle said, with a sadistic glint in his eye.

"That's all?" I asked, disappointed, "I could have told you that ... except for the crying-little-sister part."

"And Granger-Mudblood's going to give herself a nervous breakdown." Crabbe said, grinning, "She's running around in panicked circles."

"And muttering incomprehensible three-or-four-syllable phrases, like a hyperactive Jarvey." Theo added, as he entered the compartment and sat next to me, "I think she was ready to jump off the train to look for them, as it was pulling out of the station."

I smirked at the image of Hermione acting like a Jarvey. I couldn't see her using that many swear-words ... though it was possible that she might, if she was upset enough. I wonder why Weasley didn't get here, though. Shame - I'd have liked to annoy him. "Well, without our favourite victims I guess we'll have to resort to the rest of the Weasleys." I said, smirking.

"Bad idea to go near Prefect-Percy - he's been detention-happy since he got that badge, last year." Theo noted, "But the terrible twins are free-game, and the little girl ... fresh meat -"

"No." I snapped, "Don't bother her."

"Why not?" all three of them asked.

"Because ... she's not worth bothering with." I really did not have a legitimate excuse to leave her alone, "She doesn't rise to the bait like the others. I tried to bug her in Diagon Alley and I didn't even get a death-threat from her ... so what's the point?"

Crabbe and Goyle accepted this without question - some of the words I used were above their level of understanding. Theo, meanwhile, gave me a what's-your-real-reason look. I didn't give anything away - I wasn't planning on telling anyone about Tom Riddle unless/until I had to.

x x x

After a while, and a lot of arguing over a wide range of subjects (including Quidditch, school, Quidditch, the holidays we'd just finished, and Quidditch ... among other Quidditch-related topics), the snack-trolley arrived. Crabbe and Goyle looked at me blankly, as if to say 'you bought food for us last time'.

Theo ordered four blood-flavoured lollipops - this earned him a glare from the witch who was selling the snacks.

I grinned, and ordered three boxes of Every-Flavour Beans and four Chocolate Frogs. Last year those two human garbage-disposals ate all the beans before I could get any, so this year I'm giving them a box each (greedy gits) ... and a frog each, for all four of us.

As I examined a suspicious green-coloured bean (trying to decide if it was spinach or lemon-and-lime - I always get those two mixed up), Theo opened one of the blood-pops and started eating it.

Crabbe and Goyle stared at him, neglecting their beans, in their shock.

"You're actually eating that?" I asked, surprised, "I thought you'd bought it just to freak her out?"

Theo grinned and took the blood-pop out of his mouth, "I am not a vampire - don't worry." he said, "I just happened to like these ... always have." he shrugged, "And I love the effect it has on people. Last year I freaked out five others in our year and a third-year."

"How can you eat those? They're - well the label says it all, really - blood-flavoured." I asked, giving him the you-are-bloody-weird look.

He shrugged, "I told ya. I dunno. I just like 'em, O.K.?" and then he started on the blood-pop, again.

"Strange." I muttered, popping the suspicious bean in my mouth ... and then spitting it across the compartment, when I realised it was spinach.

Theo grinned past the blood-pop, while Goyle tried to remove the green goo-that-was-a-bean from his hair.

I leaned on the window-ledge and proceeded to ignore the three of them. It didn't take long for them to start up an argument over which Quidditch team was going to win the World Cup, next year.

I was just beginning to dose off, staring at the horizon, when I saw something dive under the clouds and back up again. I thought it was probably a bird. Fifteen minutes later, the same thing. I frowned, seeing some sort of metallic shine off it, in the sunlight. Maybe a Muggle plane. Twenty minutes passed, and the whatever-it-was dived down and swooped up, again. It was staying above the cloud cover, deliberately ... but it was going the same direction as us. I didn't really care - like I said, maybe a Muggle plane, flying the same general course as our train takes - no big deal. Twenty minutes after that, it appeared again - ducking lower, thanks to the heavier clouds in the area we were passing through. This time, I noticed that it was lacking in wings ... I was sure Muggle aircraft needed wings. The fifth time it appeared, it went even lower, and I recognised it ... a flying car.

I frowned, "Did you guys see that?" I asked, interrupting the heated debate over exactly how badly the Chudley Cannons would lose, in the first heat of the World Cup (they were trying to come to a decision between a 100 point and a 250 point loss).

"See what?" Crabbe and Goyle both asked, out of time with each other just enough to sound really bad. Theo gave me a confused look, but didn't speak, because he still had the blood-pop in his mouth.

"There was something flying out there. I thought it was a bird, or a Muggle air-thing, but it turned out to be a flying car. Muggle cars can't fly, can they?" I asked, not completely sure if Muggle cars actually could fly, or not.

"They can't." Theo said, deigning to remove the blood-pop from his mouth, for long enough to speak, "It'd need to be enchanted. And we all know how illegal that is, don't we?" I nodded, but Crabbe and Goyle looked blank, "I'd say it'd get whoever's driving it in a great deal of trouble with the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts department."

"Doesn't Weasley run that?" I asked. Theo nodded, "Hmm. Theory being theorised, here." I said, a vicious grin crossing my face, "Who would want to follow the Hogwarts train?" blank stares from all three, "Who MISSED the Hogwarts train?"

"Potter." Crabbe said immediately.

"And Weasley." Goyle added.

"And if they were to use an illegal flying car to get to Hogwarts, who'd get in trouble for that?" I asked.

"Mr Weasley." Theo said, grinning evilly, "And he's the head of the department, too ... oh, the scandal! I like it."

"Well, I hope they crash in the lake." I said coldly. Theo glanced at me with some confusion, but didn't ask his question. Crabbe and Goyle were already in trances of stupidity and didn't notice anything wrong.

x x x

As we arrived at the castle doors, in one of many horseless carriages (a firstie girl looked like she was petting an imaginary horse in from of one of the carriages), I heard a screeching noise and Noctowl (my eagle owl) swooped down at us, landing on Crabbe's head. I took the evening paper from him and handed him an owl treat. Noctowl flew off happily ... but not before leaving an unpleasant surprise on Crabbe's shoulder. I suppressed a laugh and turned my attention to the paper.

Theo looked over my shoulder, "Aww. I thought the raid on the De Vil Mansion would have made the front page," he muttered.

"De Vil? They're related to me." I said, surprised - I hadn't heard about that one, "These raids are getting ridiculous ... next thing you know, they'll be darkening the doorway of Malfoy Manor."

"As if!" Theo scoffed, "They'd never dare."

"You wanna bet?" I asked, as we trailed behind the Pea-brained Pair, "Weasley's in charge of most of the raids, and we all know he's got a grudge against us. And speaking of the front-page ... look at that: 'Flying Ford Anglia Mystifies Muggles'."

"You think that's what you saw?" Theo asked, snatching my paper away, "Let's see, at least seven Muggles spotted it."

"If it was heading for Hogwarts, someone ought to be informed of this, don't you think?" I asked, grinning vindictively. If I was right, two Gryffindors would be getting expelled tonight.

Wandering into the Entrance Hall, I spotted Snape, who was systematically glaring at each and every student who passed him. I pushed through the crowd, towards my house master, while Theo allowed the crowd to carry him towards the Great Hall. "What do you want, Mr Malfoy?" Snape asked, as I approached from his left - he couldn't have seen me, I'd thought.

"I thought you might like to see this, Professor." I said, handing him the paper.

He took it irritably and scanned through the front page. "Well? What is supposed to be so interesting about this?" he asked icily.

"I think that car was following the train." I said calmly - keeping one's composure, under Snape's icy glare, is a major achievement, "And a couple of Gryffindor students happened to miss the train. I don't believe in coincidences, sir." The Great Hall was full, now, and I was itching to get in there before the Sorting started.

Snape gave me a searching look, "Who do you think would be daft enough to fly a car from London to Hogwarts ... even within Gryffindor house?" he asked.

I heard a crashing noise outside, followed by a few more loud smashing sounds, "I think that might be them." I said, trying not to grin too much.

Snape looked royally pissed off and I was thankful his anger wasn't directed at me, "Get into the Hall, now, Malfoy. I will deal with this."

I bolted into the Great Hall and landed in my seat just before the first-years started to file in. "Hey, Pansy." I whispered, "Miss me?"

"As if." she replied, "I had a great holiday, without you." she glanced at me, to gauge my reaction. I didn't react. "Oh, Draco, you know I really missed you." she said, hoping that her attempt at making me jealous hadn't chased me away. To be honest, I'd kinda hoped that she'd have enjoyed that trip to Europe her parents took her on ... but obviously she's still obsessed. I'll have to try harder to get rid of her - maybe America, next time. The problem is that however far away I send her, she always comes back to me.

"Draco - I think we've got ourselves an interloper." Cat said, pointing to the newest Slytherin first year. A black-haired boy by the name of Browning.

"Browning's a Muggle name." Milli noted.

"Could be half-blood." I added.

"Did you ever see such a prat?!" Pansy asked, pointing to a small mousy-haired boy who was scampering over to the Gryffindor table. "Creevy ... strange child."

"Creepy Creevy." Cat said immediately.

"That fits." I said grinning.

A little bit later on, "Lovegood, Luna"

A fair-haired witch (the same firstie I saw petting the imaginary horse) jumped a little at this, "Who, me?" she asked, before wandering up to the Sorting Hat, as if she had been going in that direction anyway, and placing it on her head with the air that this is the latest in cool fashion accessories.

It seemed to think about her for a few minutes, before shouting out, "Ravenclaw!"

Lovegood took off the Hat, slowly, and said loud enough for all to hear, "That is a surprise," before wandering over to the Ravenclaw table.

"Strange child." Theo muttered ... and coming from him, that is saying something.

And nearer the end, Weaslette was called: "Weasley, Ginerva."

"I'd bet a hundred Galleons on Gryffindor." Pansy whispered, as Weaslette trotted up to the Sorting Hat.

"I wouldn't." I said calmly.

"Why not?" Pansy asked.

"I just wouldn't." I said, refusing to give her any information. But she was right - Ginny Weasley was Sorted into Gryffindor. She probably hadn't 'talked' to the diary, yet. It'd turn her into a Slytherin easily.

x x x

"Alright, What's up with you, Draco?" Theo asked, as we got to our dorm. The Brainless Boys were still in the common room, demolishing the armfuls of cakes they had brought back from the Feast, so we were alone.

"What on Earth are you talking about?" I asked innocently.

"You saying you wished Potter would crash in the lake, after all the trouble we went to last year. And the thing with Weasley-the-youngest, where you said not to pick on her. What's going on?" he asked, glaring at me.

"Well, I don't want Daft and Dafter to know which side I'm really on, do I? And as to Weaslette, I can't tell you that one. Yet."

"Something big? Or is it just personal?" Theo asked.

"Big." I said, trying not to show how truly terrifying this potential problem really was. Maybe she'd just ignore the diary, or maybe she left it at home. It's entirely possible that nothing bad will happen, this year. I didn't want to panic anyone until I was one hundred percent certain that it was worth panicking about.

x x x

End of chapter 3