The Once and Future Dragon King
By tulzdavampslayer
Chapter VI – Malfoy
Disclaimer – Harry Potter isn't mine (it's ye ol' JK's), King Arthur isn't mine (it's ye ol' legends'), bla bla bla!
Special Thank you's – must go to Queen Smuffles – I love you! Angela – you almost scared me there! – and everybody else who reviewed ((especially a little pea caught in the snow coz she's really far away from me! Liling we miss ya!))
A/N – here we go, a really long chapter for you! …well not really long. But longer. Yes, longer. Enjoy.
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"Come on Elaine, you have to eat," Millicent said as she nudged the younger girl gently in the ribs. Elaine remained silent. Draco gave her a look that almost had real worry in it. Blaise was shocked when she saw it. Draco had never worried about anybody before. Well, except maybe himself. And hist mother. He was very much concerned about her. But Blaise knew all too well that look. It was the one her older brother had always given her.
Draco was very much in danger of becoming a surrogate brother to the little Weasley.
Blaise shared a knowing look with Pansy.
This would be good.
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Albus Dumbledore was very much confused. Every Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw name had disappeared from the clock.
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"Hi!"
Elaine looked up glumly from her lap to glower at the boy who was even smaller than she herself and her.
"My name's Tom, what's yours? Isn't this exciting? Wasn't the train brilliant? The paintings move, did you see them? I read about them in this book Hagrid found for me, it's called "Hogwarts: a History" and it's huge! This book says that the staircases move too, do you know why? I don't. I mean, I know how, magic and all, it's still so hard to believe magic's real, but anyway why? Why's the Forbidden Forest, you know, forbidden? I bet it's full of really dangerous magical creatures, I bet it'd be really cool too. Is that Harry Potter over there? I'd never heard of him, but Hagrid told me all about him. Is Hagrid really a giant? I've never met a real live giant before. He said he was a teacher here, I can't wait till he teaches me, why are you all staring at me funny?"
The ten other Slytherins stared at him, even Elaine. Slytherins were almost never muggleborn. Elaine was half-muggle, and she'd spent a year living with the Weasleys, but other than her and the tiny yet exuberant Tom, the only other known 'mudblood' Slytherin had been Tom Riddle. And we all know how that worked out, don't we?
Elaine burst out laughing at the look on Draco's face. The stunned gape quickly drew the attention of the rest of the Slytherins, and soon the whole table were laughing, including Draco. He had already discovered how infectious the little blonde girl's laugh could be.
~~~^~~~
Albus Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and passed the gravy to Professor Snape, hoping the Potions teacher wouldn't put it on his hair like last time.
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"I dunno Hermione, they all seem of their rockers to me," Ron said.
Harry grinned. "I've never seen Malfoy laugh like that, maybe Elaine'll be a good influence on the Slytherins."
Ron gave Harry a look that clearly said that Harry was as nutters as that lot, but only said out loud: "Harry, you're as nutters as that lot."
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Albus Dumbledore winced as Snape attempted to place the gravy jug upside down on his head. Hagrid grabbed it just in time.
"Thanks there Severus, I was needin' a bit o' that," the half-giant said before placing the jug on his shoulder like a parrot. Or perhaps more like an upside down parrot.
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The students who weren't transfixed by the laughing Slytherins stared at their teachers, knowing there was no hope for any of them. Everybody was losing their minds. A Hufflepuff third year burst into tears.
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Albus Dumbledore had finally managed to send the teachers away, several of them covered in food stains. The students had all been herded to their Common Rooms soon afterwards, and the Headmaster was left alone in the Great Hall with only the Sorting Hat and the clock.
Mordred's hand had begun ticking tentativily amongst the eleven Slytherins. It had almost stopped on several names, but had changed its mind at the crucial moment, and gone to look somewhere else.
Dumbledore sighed, picked up the clock, placed the Sorting Hat on his head, and headed (no pun intended) back to his office. Often, after the Welcome feast, the Sorting Hat couldn't be kept quiet, as it was full of gossip from the new students' minds. But this day it was strangely quiet, mulling over the mind of a certain Slytherin.
"Hat, why are you so quiet today?" Dumbledore complained. "I'm bored, and I want gossip."
The Hat shushed him irritably. "Can't you see I'm mulling?"
"No, you're on top of my head, how could I see you? I don't have eyes on the top of my head, contrary to popular opinion."
"Oh."
"Why don't you discuss it with me?"
The Sorting Hat squirmed. "Well… I'm not sure… it's very exciting… Maybe I shouldn't tell you, it's very private, you'll just go tell all your other hats, and I'm not sure if I should."
Dumbledore raised his hand. "I swear on my thumb that I won't tell any other Hat."
The Hat thought about this for a moment. "It concerns one of the new girls in Slytherin."
Dumbledore grinned and tripped on his robes. "I knew it! Elaine Weasley?"
The Sorting Hat paused for a moment. "…yes…"
"Well…"
"…" The Hat had never been good at holding people in suspense.
"What about her?"
"Her mother was a Muggle, who died giving birth…"
The Professor nodded. "That explains the Muggle Orphanage."
The Hat continued. "But her father was a wizard, who died here at Hogwarts… last year…"
Dumbledore blinked with surprise. "Do go on."
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The Slytherin Common Room was even more dark and forbidding than usual. However, it wasn't quite as quiet as normal.
"Gee, it's cold in here. Hey Elaine, wasn't it wicked when that step disappeared from underneath you? Lucky your brother caught you, huh?"
Elaine rolled her eyes at her new friend. "Malfoy's not my brother, Tom. I don't have a brother. Well, not a real one. I'm an orphan, the Weasleys adopted me. They're all in Gryffindor, you know."
Tom's eyes widened. "Gryffindor? The Sorting Hat wanted to put me there!"
Draco spun around from the door he'd just opened. "Then why didn't you get put there and leave us all in peace?"
"Well, you all looked so lonely, I asked it to sort me here!"
Pansy solemnly went over to the grinning boy, looked him up and down a couple of times, and then hugged him, much to the shock of the other seventh years, who knew Pansy's normally ice-queen nature.
"You're all right, kid."
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Albus Dumbledore had been dancing around his office for the past half hour. The Sorting Hat had been ignoring him for this long, but it was just getting darned embarrassing! Fawkes had knocked himself out cold, and the inhabitants of all the paintings had fled, but the Sorting Hat couldn't move from the wizard's head.
"Alright, Albus," it tried. "…Albus, that's enough now… ALBUS DUMBLEDORE GET A GRIP, IT ISN'T THAT FUNNY! …Albus, stop… AAAAAAAAALBUUUUUS!"
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Draco couldn't sleep. Well, he couldn't get back to sleep. Not after that dream. It wasn't his usual nightmare. He had relived the night his father had tried to kill him. The night his father had died.
He ran from student to student through the school. If they were an enemy, he knocked them out, or froze them. If they weren't, he helped them in any way he could. So many were dead already. He'd never seen anyone die before.
As he reached the Astronomy Tower, he saw Professor Snape in the clutches of the Crucio spell. He ran up the stairs to come face to face with the user of the Unforgivable Curse.
Fury suddenly burst into his heart. There stood the man who had driven his mother mad. He tackled his father, freeing Snape from the spell.
Lucius Malfoy jumped up, anger plain on his face. "Boy, why did you do that?"
Draco reached for his wand from the floor where he had dropped it, but was knocked back.
"Answer me, you stupid child! You have betrayed me!"
"Betray?" Draco tried to laugh confidently, but it came out a bit faint. "Have I betrayed you, father? I didn't know we had formed any allegiances. I thought you hated me! I thought I was a disappointment!"
Lucius growled. "How dare you call me 'father' now! You are no longer my offspring! I no longer have a son!"
Draco froze. He watched as the man who once was his father raised his wand. He knew what was coming. He knew he was about to die.
It would be interesting, he supposed. He had never died before.
"Avada-"
"Expelliarmus!"
Draco broke free of his trance and turned to see his saviour. The youngest of the Weasleys stood there, her long red hair blowing wildly out behind her, her own wand and now Lucius' in her fair hands. Draco heard a shout, and saw the girl drop both wands and raise her hands to her mouth. He spun again, and saw his father teetering on the edge of the Tower. The Weasley girl's spell had knocked him backwards.
"Father!" Draco ran towards the slipping man. "Take my hand, quick!"
Lucius batted his hand away. "Get away from…. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!"
Draco leant over the edge, watching helplessly as his father fell to his squishy death. He turned slowly, shock confusing every thought process. The Weasley girl had fallen to her knees.
"Malfoy… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… I'm so sorry," she stuttered out between sobs.
Before he knew what he was doing, Draco had gathered the girl up in his arms.
"Ssh, it's all right, it was an accident. He would have killed us both, it's all right…"
The two teenagers stayed like that for hours, unthinking, uninterrupted, and unhearing of the victory cries echoing from every part of the castle. They held each other tightly, crying.
Draco had never cried before. That night was full of firsts for both of them.
Ginny Weasley had never killed a man before…
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Albus Dumbledore stepped into the dungeon, smiling.
"I'm sorry to disturb your teachings, Severus, but I need to borrow one of your students for a bit."
Snape nodded and solemnly placed a purple wig on a skull sitting on his desk.
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"Elaine!" Ginny called out.
The two petite Slytherins turned at the sound. Elaine grinned.
"Gin, is it ever good to see you? Tom and I got lost. Oh, this is Tom Derdrom. Tom, this is my sister Ginny Weasley."
Tom smiled and took Ginny's proferred hand amiably. "Hi! So you're a Gryffindor? Are you friends with Harry Potter? Is he as brave as Hagrid says he is? You know, I bet -"
Elaine covered her new friend's mouth with a tiny hand. "Where's Transfiguration?"
~~~^~~~
Albus Dumbledore sat down in his comfy chair. "I have just been informed that a member of your family is wandering around the school."
Draco groaned. His mother should still have been at St. Mungo's. "How did she get here, sir?"
"Oh, the usual way, I should suspect."
This confused Draco very much, so he sat down and fidgeted. He would have turned or spun or paced manly, but he was getting pretty dizzy from all the spinning on people that chapter.
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Tom was transfixed. "Professor, that was brilliant! Could you teach me how to do that?"
Professor McGonagall smiled. "All in good time, master Derdrom. Becoming an Animagus takes a lot of training. We'll see, shall we? But first, two points from Slytherin each for tardiness. Oh, and miss Weasley!"
Elaine and Ginny both answered.
"No, no, the younger miss Weasley. Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak with you. Ginny my dear, could you show her the way? Take this letter. Now, off with you!"
The two girls hurried down the corridors.
"I don't know why Dumbledore would want to see me," Elaine said.
"Maybe this letter has the answer," Ginny mused and handed the envelope to Elaine.
Miss Elaine Weasley, Slytherin House.
I'm sure you are wondering why I am calling you to my office before you have even attended a single lesson here at Hogwarts. Do not worry, you are not in any sort of trouble. I have been informed that your only living blood relative was in the vicinity and heard you were here. He is waiting for you in my office. The password is written on the other side of this letter, spelled so only you can read it.
Albus Dumbledore
"Well?"
"Ginny, we've got to hurry!"
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Albus Dumbledore watched Draco fidget.
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Elaine looked up at the statue. "Gin, will you come in with me?"
Ginny smiled and nodded.
The blonde girl took a deep breath and read the password.
"Galahad!"
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Albus Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, Miss Weasley, Miss Malfoy, how nice of you two to join us."
Draco gulped, afraid to turn around, afraid to see his mother in her present state. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks would hit you if Hagrid threw them at your head. (Not that Draco actually knew what that felt like, as it was simply a metaphor that was not making this story any shorter!)
Dumbledore had said miss Malfoy! Draco immediately spun on his heels, but the only person standing there was Ginny gaping at him. Of course, when he thought 'Ginny', he didn't mean 'Ginny'. He meant Weasley. Weasley! W-E-A-S-L-E-Y! Once Draco proved his spelling talents, he opened his mouth to ask if this was some sort of big joke.
But before he could make a sound, he saw two small feet connected to two short legs, a tiny body wearing Slytherin robes, and a head of long blonde hair, all lying on the ground.
Elaine had passed out.
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TBC
A/N – woopdee that took a while! Just a quick apology to Queen Smuffles, who I promised this chapter to a few days ago… and to everybody who thinks the dream was a bit over-dramatic. I've been having a bit of trouble the last couple of days with the whole concept of good humour. Sorry.
Chapter 7 – Do the dance of joy…. Coming soon! Featuring bouncing, kissing, dancing, yelling, and living backwards!
Love you all, please review and I'll love you more!!!
Tulz
