Chapter 3: Relates Draco's experiences at the Weasleys

'He was the greatest wizard of his time; yet Harlow Preston had succumbed to the simple spell of the ten-year-old boy whose trust he had broken. The words of the boy, uttered in his grief and agony are recorded as follows:

Long life may be yours

But full it will never be

For as you forget

This boy whose heart

Was shattered

Will remember

And though you try

You cannot weave

The banners and stars

You were so famed

Until his heir

Whose line is true

The stars from which

All things grew

Whose line is true

The stars from which

All things grew

Until he comes

Into the world

The magic he weaves

Will cease to be.

'It can be concluded from the above that the boy was, in fact, uttering a curse, in which the use of ancient magic would be impossible until the 'heir' was come. 'Banners and stars' in the text may have been referring to ancient magic, as it was this, indeed, that brought Harlow Preston fame. As for the 'heir', 'the stars from which all things grew' it can be concluded that the 'heir' refers to the person from whom ancient magic originated. Therefore, the boy's words can be interpreted as such; ancient magic would be impossible to create, or use, until the originator of ancient magic's heir came into being.

'However, although---'

"How many times did you polish that thing?" Ron's indignant remarks cut through Draco's concentration. "Look at her badge!" Ron held it up to Harry. "There aren't any smudges at all!"

"There are now," Harry grinned. "Yours."

"You're turning out to be a real regular Percy," Ron teased Hermione. "Top O.W.L.s, prefect, Head Girl. . ."

Oh, great, Draco thought. Dumbledore made that stupid Mudblood Head Girl. . .Draco had rather expected that she would be Head Girl, but that had not stopped him from hoping against it.

"I wonder who'll be Head Boy," Hermione mused. "I was rather hoping it would be one of you two."

"As if!" Draco snorted, entering the conversation. "Dumbledore wouldn't pick a Head Boy and Girl from the same House."

"No one asked you," Ron snapped.

"Yeah, well, you needed that piece of information, otherwise you'd still be wondering if Finnigan was Head Boy," Draco retorted.

"I wonder who is," Hermione said thoughtfully.

Draco snorted. These people were so blur. Obviously, it wasn't Potter, it couldn't be a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, none of them were even close to Granger's standards. . .there was obviously only one candidate.

"What?" Ron snapped at Draco.

Draco smirked. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Isn't what obvious?" Harry asked, getting annoyed.

"It's obvious who the Head Boy is," Draco drawled. It's just that you never stopped to notice that Draco Malfoy is an A+ student, all the time.

"Tell us then."

Well, if they didn't know, he wasn't going to tell them. . .let them figure it out for themselves. Draco did not answer and looked back down to the book.

"He doesn't know," Ron said, disgusted.

Like hell I don't.

'However, although it is clear Merlin was in fact the first person known to use ancient magic, there is no record of Merlin having married or having children. Most assumed the heir would appear sooner or later when he or she revealed that he or she could use ancient magic. However, after centuries of fruitless searches, the belief in ancient magic has diminished so that most believe it will never exist again, if, indeed, it had ever existed.'

"What are you reading?"

Draco looked up. It was Granger. He held up the book. "Don't even think of borrowing it, Granger. I'd hate the idea of your filthy hands on it," he sneered.

Hermione turned pink. Ron's ears turned red.

"Watch your manners, Malfoy," Ron said heatedly. "Remember that I call the shots here. I could make your stay very unpleasant if I wanted to." The veiled threat was very apparent. "And if Hermione wants to read that, she does have the right."

"Fine," Draco snapped. "But when I want to read it, it's all mine. No exceptions."

"Just make sure you don't want to read it every time she is," Ron said.

"It's really not a big deal, I don't have to read it," Hermione said before Draco opened his mouth.

"Of course not," Draco said smoothly. "It's just that Weasley here would do anything to make you happy, wouldn't he?" Ron's ears turned redder and he did not answer. Draco had known that Ron liked Hermione since the Yule Ball in fourth year. Disgusting, really, how a pureblood like him would want a stupid Mudblood like her. . .but seeing as his father was such a frigging Muggle lover, it should not have been surprising.

"Could you be civilized for at least one day?" Harry said, exasperated. If Draco was going to carry on being, well, Draco, Harry was going to be driven up the wall. He could not stand all this bickering.

*                    *                    *                    *                    *

What the hell? Draco thought to himself. Arthur Weasley hated his father and Draco was very sure the feeling extended down to Draco as well. A little of it, anyway. Mr. Weasley had not taken kindly to Draco in sixth year when Draco had bumped into him at Hogsmeade. Mr. Weasley's eyes had narrowed before he continued on his way.

Then what the hell is up with doing my laundry for me when even Harry, who gets treated like a prince here, has to do it himself and what is up with seeming to care so much about my well being? Draco had quickly found out that he could barely have private time in the Burrow as one or the other of the Weasleys would check up on him every once in a while. If it wasn't the twins showing Draco some new trick they had, if it wasn't Percy or Mrs. Weasley checking up on him then it would be Mr. Weasley insisting that Ron not ignore his guest.

"Ron, you have a pack of Exploding Snap, haven't you? Why don't the four of you play?" Mrs. Weasley suggested, casting Ron a look that told him he had better do as he suggested.

Ron sighed. "Right, mum. Come on, let's go upstairs."

Draco followed Ron resignedly. He would be spending his holidays in constant contact with on, what a nightmare! Fortunately his father was appealing to Dumbledore. Hopefully the last few weeks of the holidays would be spent in the Malfoy Manor with those three as guests.

"I don't know what's up with your father," Draco accused. "My father's not even in a position to promote him, why's he so concerned over my well-being?"

"Don't know," Ron shrugged as they climbed up the stairs. "I think something is up."

"Obviously!" Draco scoffed. Oh, God, father was right, spend one week here and you'll change. I'm agreeing with Weasley!

Ron took out his pack of Exploding Snap and then they began to play. As the game commenced Draco found himself being nicer and nicer to Ron and Harry. It worries him.

I need to get away from them, Draco thought. For a little while at least. How? They're always on my back. Except in the toilet. . .

Draco made himself lose on purpose, then announced he was going to the bathroom. He went downstairs to the only bathroom in the house.

"Where are you going, Draco?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Bathroom." Draco stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "Don't worry about me, I'll be in for quite a while." One of the Weasleys tended to knock on the door to check if Draco was still in there if he was in for more than a couple of minutes. . .very weird family.

Draco bolted the door shut and left the tap running in a steady flow, to simulate the sound of someone peeing. Then he snapped his fingers.

A split-second later Draco was standing in his own room. The problem was, someone was already in it.

A/N: I wrote the poem myself. . .first try, I have never ever written poems before, so if it is sucky, well. . .you have your reason, right?

Oh! Can anyone tell me what AU is???

Anya Malfoy: When am I updating? As soon as I finish typing, which hopefully will take around two weeks or so, depending on how busy I am and everything

Dragon: yay! You reviewed again! I count three (yes, I'm counting!)

Barbi: two times! :P

Thanks for reviewing, those reviews really do mean a lot to me