I
know the chapters are kind of short but they will get longer if you like what
are reading.
Thanks
to everyone who reviewed the first chapter so far : Kristi Himebulma, Shi
Sensou, Prongs, DevilChild, Anzee, Nykto, Trepidatio
and DarkGatomon
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CHAPTER
2
BAD
HEIR DAY
Sleep
had come eventually, the result of sheer exhaustion, but it was not the comforting
sleep that he had hoped for, punctuated as it was by dreams about the torture
he had witnessed the previous night coupled with the fear that gripped him –
the fear of what his father might do to him now he was a traitor. (Although he
hadn't actually told anyone on the good side anything yet – in fact he still in
limbo – somewhere between good and evil – and he was there alone!)
When
he awoke his mind was resolute, he would have to go to Dumbledore and give him
the information he knew – he would help them stop Voldemort and the death
eaters – he would even sacrifice his father's precious family honour and tell
them about his using the Cruciatus curse on him when he had failed to obey.
Only
then could gain the trust of the good people, of Dumbledore and perhaps most
importantly of Harry Potter (he wasn't sure why this was so important to him,
undoubtedly he would be useful to him but that wasn't the reason he didn't want
to choose his friends for that reason anymore. Then realisation hit him like a blast
from a wand – he wanted to be friends with Harry, he wanted Harry to like him,
to admire him, to enjoy his company. Shock and surprise coursed through Draco
where had that come from? He hated Harry Potter, he was good and kind and
brave, he was in Gryffindor for heaven's sake – but he didn't hate Harry did
he? He wanted to be like him, to be liked by him, he had just felt affronted
when Harry had chosen Ron over him on their first train journey to Hogwarts, he
hadn't expected Harry to choose a Weasley over a Malfoy, at the time he had
believed that his family name would allow him to do whatever he wanted and
befriend whoever he wanted, he now knew why Harry had made the decision he had,
he hadn't bothered with being friendly he had just assumed that Harry would
want to be friends because of who his family was when Harry didn't care about
that sort of thing he chose his friends because he liked them as people not
because they were the 'right sort'. This thought cheered Draco up a little,
that meant that his family name would not prevent him from becoming Harry's
friend if he worked hard to enough to earn the privilege.
He
glanced over at the clock on his bedside table and realised he was late for
breakfast. He pulled on his robes and grabbed his wand before dashing to the
Great Hall.
When
he arrived puffing a little, the people seated around the Slytherin table
looked up at him in surprise.
"What?"
He said colouring a little.
"Draco,
your hair – it's well, it's MESSY!" Pansy Parkinson passed her mirror over to
Draco and he glanced cursorily in it surprised by his dishevelled appearance (I
look like Potter – well except that I am blonde – he thought and was surprised
to feel a little pleased) the other Slytherin's could not contain their
surprise that Malfoy had made no attempt to alter his appearance – his hair was
legendary – he usually got up early to arrange it before breakfast and he had
been known to hex people who touched it.
Draco
glanced over to the Gryffindor table where Potter was sitting with the pauper
Weasel and that mudblood Granger know-it-all (NO NO with Ron and Hermione) he
caught Harry's eye and for the first time was uncertain of the appropriate
facial expression.
"Look
at Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed as she buttered her toast, Ron stopped
shovelling down his eggs and bacon to stare in Malfoy's direction eyebrows
raising as he took in Malfoy's slightly scruffy appearance, the dirty robes and
the unkempt hair (Malfoy had inadvertently dressed in the robes he had worn
last night)
"That's
not like Malfoy" Hermione commented. "I wonder whether he's all right?"
"Who
cares." snorted Ron who had resumed shovelling. Harry remained silent he was thinking of the expression on
Malfoy's face just now when he had caught Harry's eye, he hadn't sneered or
scowled as he would have normally, in fact he had almost smiled and so Harry
had found himself smiling just a little in return although he didn't remember
deciding to do so, before Draco had turned away.
He
also seemed slightly withdrawn from the activity on the Slytherin table – where
he was usually the centre of attention.
Most
surprisingly of all his huge Eagle Owl had failed to deliver anything from home
(which it did on a daily basis)
"So
Harry, what do you want to do today? Fancy a game of chess?" Harry was jolted
back into the conversation by Ron, who as he suddenly realised was speaking to
him.
"Uh
no, not at the moment. I've got that potions essay to finish, I had better go
to the library."
"Yeah
I suppose I had better finish mine too, it is due in tomorrow." Ron groaned.
"Honestly
you two, Professor Snape did give us a week to finish it." Hermione exclaimed.
"Anyway I'll come with you, if you're going to the library I've been meaning to
look up some extra information about 'The Great Hinkypunk Explosion of 1362'
for Professor Binn's class." Ron sighed loudly and then stood up.
"Coming
Harry?" Harry started but then shook his head.
"I'll
meet you two there in a bit I uh just want to uh go to the Owlery and um send a
letter to um Sirius" he finished, for some reason he wanted some time alone
away from Ron and Hermione's constant if mild bickering.
"Well
okay, we'll come with you then." Ron began but he stopped after a swift kick
from Hermione. "What was that for?" He shouted indignantly.
"Maybe
Harry wants to be on his own for a while." Hermione said perceptively winking
at Ron who grinned in return. Harry smiled at her and then set off towards the
Owlery unaware of a pair of steel grey eyes watching him as he left the room.