Hogwarts Houses

"What about Slytherin? And houses? What's that?" Harry asked as they passed an Apothecary.

"Slytherin is one of four houses at Hogwarts. There's Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor." He fairly sneered the last name. "At the beginning of the first year students are sorted into one of the houses depending on what sort of person you are."

"How do they decide that?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure. Father refuses to tell me anything." Draco glanced over his shoulder to his father and Hagrid walking behind them. Lucius had over heard the entire conversation. He looked back at his son and shook his head slightly.

"You will find out when you get there," Lucius told them.

Draco shrugged, "You see," He said to Harry.

"So how do you know you'll be in Slytherin?" Harry asked.

"As I said it depends what sort of person you are. Slytherin is for the ambitious people, like myself. I'm going to be world famous some day," Draco got a dreamy look on his face.

"World famous? For what?" Harry asked him.

"I'm still working on that part." Draco grinned at him.

Harry rolled his eyes, smiling. "What about the other houses?"

"Well, Ravenclaw is for those smart people, the ones who will study a lot. Maybe not so bad, at least you can be sure to have intelligent conversations. Hufflepuff is for loyal people, the hard working and dedicated sort. A group of old fogies really. Gryffindor is for loud, obnoxious, boisterous, idiots, the sort to leap before they look."

"I wonder which house I'll be in?" Harry thought out loud.

"Mm, I think you could be in Slytherin. After all, you are already famous, you have to live up to your name, you have something to prove…. Or disprove, but that's up to you."

Harry sighed, "Right. I'm not famous because I wanted to be you know," he added softly.

Draco hesitated a moment. He thought about offering sympathy but looking over at Harry, he realized it was not needed or wanted. He mulled it over some more then said, "Intended or not, there it is. You might as well use it to your advantage, or else others will use you to their advantage," Draco remembered hearing that somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.

Harry's eyes widened but he said nothing. He looked down at the road, frowning in thought.

Finally they reached Ollivanders. Mrs. Malfoy was standing outside watching the group approach with one eyebrow raised curiously at her son.

"Mother," Draco said happily "this is Harry Potter," he pointed to the boy beside him.

Narcissa Malfoy glanced at Harry's forehead in surprise, "Harry Potter, is it? Well, well, looks like you're making friends quickly, Drake," She smirked at her son. Harry could see the family resemblance in that smirk.

"Harry," Hagrid spoke up, "while we're here yeh might as well get yer wand too."

"Then I'm afraid we shall have to part ways here," Lucius said to Hagrid, sounding anything but sorry. "We are in a bit of a hurry, and choosing a wand may take time we do not have."

"What about Quality Quidditch Supplies!" Draco asked a little panicked.

"We can make a short stop there but only if we go now."

Draco was slightly mollified but still disappointed. "Sorry Harry. I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express I suppose."

They said their farewells and went their own ways, Lucius and Hagrid glad for the excuse to leave each other's company. The Malfoys did take a few minutes in the Quidditch shop. Not nearly long enough in Draco's opinion, who spent the entire time staring at the new Nimbus 2000 in the front displays.