Chris woke up the next morning to yelling voices. He bolted up out of bed and ran out into the sitting area to see Reed and Zales almost at each other's throats, "What in the hell is going on?!"
"I'm trying to say sorry and he won't except my apology!" Reed snapped, not taking his eyes off of the silver haired boy.
"It's not an apology, because you don't mean it! I bet you don't even know why I'm upset, and I bet you don't care!" Zales snapped back. He looked different some how, but Chris was in hurry to find out why.
"If I didn't care I wouldn't be talking to you and your gay ass!" Reed yelled.
The other boy's eyes widened, and his bottom lip started to quiver, followed by watering eyes, "Get the hell away from me!" He grabbed his book bag off of his chair before storming out into the hall.
"Well that was smart!" Chris said scathingly, "Now he's crying!"
"It just proves I was right!" Reed said glaring at the door that was still open, "He's a bloody fag!"
"There is nothing wrong with homosexuals," the ebony haired boy said. "Alex is still a person and you're still going to have to share space with him regardless. I'm not saying you should be friends with him, but you can at least be civil."
"Fine!" Reed said grabbing his own bag, "I'm not going to sit by him though, if I can help it, and don't expect me to do my homework out here if he's out here too."
"I won't," Chris said, as he watched Brock slam the door to the hall shut.
He was about to go to the bathroom when someone, who could only have been Weber came up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Good morning sweet prince!"
Chris glanced at him, before going into the bathroom and doing his business, "I'm not a morning person."
"Oh that's fine, because I am. Couples work better like that you know," Weber said from the toilet next door.
"You know, I think we should lay off on the 'couple' crap for a while, until those two aren't killing each other."
Weber said nothing to that.
As Chris glanced up from washing his hands he noticed that his friend looked depressed all of a sudden, 'Great…' "What time is it?"
"7:20," Weber said coming up to the sink that was farthest away from the other boy.
"I'm going to take a quick shower then," Chris said running into his room and grabbing out a set of clothes. When he got back, Weber was already in a shower stall. Chris went into the one farthest away from him, to give him some space.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, both boys were walking down the hall into the main Slytherin common room. Weber hadn't even spared him a glance, let alone spoke to him since he told Chris what time it was. The fact that they were walking together was only because the emerald eyed boy had hurried out the door after him.
As they passed through the common room, a few of the older students could be seen hurrying to finish summer homework, or whispering as they passed. When Chris glanced at Weber,to see what he thought about what was going on, he found that the other boy didn't seem to notice, and looked like he was trying hard to ignore him. Knowing he'd probably only make things worse between them, the ebony haired boy kept his mouth shut.
Once out in the damp corridors of the dungeons Chris sighed not being able to stand the silence any longer, "You know I've never been a fan of the silent treatment, and I have a feeling you're quite good at it."
Weber kept walking at the same pace, his head was slightly bowed.
"Do you really…the whole couple thing…You were being serious, weren't you?" Chris asked uncomfortably.
"Not any more," Weber finally said. "Just forget it. This is a lesson that shows attachment is a weakness. I'm just glad that it was only for a day."
"We're still friends then?" Chris asked, not really understanding what the other boy was staying.
"No." With that Weber hurried forward, up the stairs and to the Great Hall.
"Wait!" Chris yelled running after him, but by the time he caught up they were already at the Slytherin table. Weber was taking a single seat that was next to Reed and some of the first year girls. Chris sighed and sat at the end of the table with Zales, who was all alone, trying to fight back his tears still. "You don't mind do you?"
"No…Of course not," Zales said with a stuffed nose. "You don't hate me?"
"Why should I? You seem nice enough."
"But I'm-"
"That doesn't matter to me. You wouldn't be who you are if you were different, and I like you well enough now."
Zales smiled at him, "Thank you." After a few moments of silence while both of them were eating, he looked up again, "Why is Weber down there with…Reed?"
"It doesn't matter," Chris said quickly. "I don't want to talk about it either."
"You didn't know he was being serious," the other boy said knowingly, "about the couple thing."
Chris looked up sharply, "How in the hell did you know that?"
"Well for one he looks about ready to cry," Zales said not even glancing down there.
The ebony haired boy had to look though. All he saw was a cold mask of indifference on the blonde's face, "He does?"
"It's hard for you to tell because you don't know how to put up a good mask, or see through one...yet. Weber is a Malfoy, and that means he was taught by the best on how to hide his emotions," Zales said.
Chris sighed, "Is he really that famous Zales?"
"Call me Alex, please, and yes he is. People can't decide weather to call his father a trader, a deserter, or a hero. His grandfather, Lucius Malfoy, was a well known supporter of …You-Know-Who... and Weber's father didn't want to fight for him, or that's how the story goes."
"Why not?" Chris asked watching the blonde at the other end of the table.
"No one knows the details for sure, but it was said that Weber's father had a male lover who was a strong supporter of the Light, and very high up in their ranks."
Chris frowned, "Then why didn't he join the light side?"
"Lucius Malfoy was a dangerous man before he was declared insane and shipped off to Azkaban for child abuse. My guess is that he had to either join the Dark and maybe have to be killed by his lover, join the Light and get killed by his own father, or run off and not join any side, and wait until the whole thing blew over."
The young ebony haired man was about to ask another question when Jade came over and handed him a class schedule, "You're a little late for your first day."
"I'm not a morning person," Chris said, looking down at his plate frowning coldly.
She sat down next to him, "So I hear. You and Weber get into a fight?"
"No!" He said stabbing his eggs.
"Then why are you down here, while he's over there?"
"Listen! It's none of your business! Just leave me alone!" Chris yelled.
The Great Hall fell silent and all eyes were on him, including the ones of the Professors at the head table.
Chris grabbed his bag and schedule, before storming out of the hall. Why did everyone want to know what he was doing? He wasn't his father, and he wasn't going to save someone's life or start speaking in Parseltongue. He slowed down as he thought the last one over. He'd never been allowed to see a snake, except ones in muggle pictures, so maybe if he would see a snake he might be able to talk to it. Suddenly he wanted to see a snake very badly, to know if he had the gift, but that would have to wait.
He stopped in the middle of the hallway and glanced down at his schedule. As Misty had said, he had potions first block with his head of house, and the Gryffindors. He turned over the piece of parchment he was holding an found a map on the back. There was a little glowing green dot that said you are here and then there was a dotted line trail from his dot to another. This one was black and it read Potions. He glanced up and followed the trail and soon enough he was standing in the doorway of the Potions Class room.
"Mr. Potter," a dark haired man said from behind a large desk at the front of the room, "Shouldn't you be eating Breakfast with the other students?" He looked a little on the greasy side, just like his voice sounded.
"I already have," Chris said walking into the room. His father had hated this man and from what he'd heard, Snape had hated him back just as much.
The Potions Master regarded him for a moment, "Have you not made any friends yet among your house mates?"
"Is it true that you hated my father?"
"Your father had no respect for potions or my teaching methods and besides that he hurt my godson's feelings, by not being his friend. His first year here I saved his life on more then one occasion, and I never got a word of thanks from him," the man was watching him carefully.
"One last thing, Professor. Do you think I'm my father?" Chris's eyes were blank and cold.
Snape got to his feet and walked down so he was standing in front of the ebony haired boy. His dark eyes were calculating, "You father was a Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, and you are a Slytherin, and if you are truly in the right house, then you are not your father. He denied who he was, and where he was suppose to be."
"My father was in the wrong house?" Chris asked, hearing a bell sound in the background.
"Your father was meant to be in Slytherin. He wanted to prove himself, he liked to break the rules, and of course his gift of talking to snakes. He was so afraid that he would turn into an evil wizard that I'm guessing he asked the sorting hat to put him in a different house. The only other one that comes close, power wise, is Gryffindor."
Students started coming into the Potions room then, and Chris lifted his head slightly, "Can I talk to you again later?"
Snape regarded him for a moment before nodding slowly, "Any time after classes are over for the day, you my come to my personal rooms. Last door at the end of this corridor."
"Thank you," he said before turning around. He almost bumped into Weber who was standing right behind him.
"Look," the blonde haired boy said, watching his feet, "I'm sorry about earlier. Friends?" He stuck out his pale smaller hand, but his face was a cold mask.
"Sure…If that's what you want?" Chris said taking his hand, making a point to squeeze it gently.
Weber glanced up into his eyes, before looking away, "Yeah."
"Alright then. Are you going to sit with me?" Chris asked as he took a chair that was up at the very front of the class.
"Of course," Weber set his things down, before pulling out his own chair.
Chris sighed deeply to himself. Weber didn't just want to be friends, but he was taking anything he could get. That meant a lot to him, because they'd just met after all, but still, it was very disturbing that he'd just give up so easily.
"Mr. Malfoy, a pleasure as always," Professor Snape said as he carried around a piece of parchment, obviously checking off names.
"Hey Chris!"
The ebony haired boy turned around and almost grimaced when he saw Sandy, "Hello…"
She stood next to him smiling, "It's a shame we didn't get to be in the same house."
"Yes…I suppose," Chris said as Alex came over and set his things down so he was across from him.
"You don't mind do you?" he asked, his gold eyes were sad, but hopeful.
"No, not at all," Weber motioned for him to take a seat. "I don't really want to have to sit with Brock anyway. He was beastly at breakfast.
Sandy eyed Alex, blushing, "Who's your friend?"
"Alexander Zales," Chris said shortly, "Listen, Sandy…you're in Gryffindor house now and-"
"That means you're our enemy," Jaden said setting her things down at the last seat, at the table. "Get lost."
"But-" Sandy said looking hurt.
"Give it up Sandy. He's too good for you now that he's become one of them. You probably wouldn't like him now anyway," a boy from Gryffindor said. His eyes were teal and his hair was dark crimson.
"He's been my friend since I was little!" She said still looking to him, "We'll always be friends, right Chris?"
He glanced over at Weber who was looking at her coldly, "Sorry." He turned back around so he was facing Alex, who was looking at Sandy with sympathy. He heard her choke back a sob before running to be very back of the class.
"Miss Weasely, please control yourself or I will deduct house points," Professor Snape said not even looking up from his list.
"It's only our first day! You can't do that!" the same boy from before said loudly.
"Five points from Gryffindor for Mr. Kane's attitude toward a Professor," Snape looked up to watch his reaction.
Weber smirked evilly looking back at the Gryffindors as well as Jaden who was wrapping her dark hair around one of her fingers, as she looked on happily, while Sandy cried.
Chris looked across over at Alex, who gave him a small smile before reaching over and squeezing one of his hands, "She'll get over it," he whispered, while the other two at the table weren't looking.
When the final bell rang, Professor Snape took a formal role call and then he went on with his normal speech to the first years, as he walked around menacingly, taking a mental note of the students that seemed to be most afraid of him. He also managed to award twenty-five pointes to Slytherin, even when all they did was sit and look at him, and take away thirty from Gryffindor for doing the same thing. When the bell to go to next class finally did ring, Snape told the class to bring their potion ingredients and cauldrons for his next class. He also held Weber after to have a word.
Chris waited just outside the door, and when the blonde finally came out, he was wiping his eyes, "You alright? What did he want?"
"I'll tell you later," he said. "What do we have next?"
"Herbology, with Professor Longbottom and the Ravenclaws," Chris said, turning over his schedule, "It's this way, come on."
The rest of the day went on much the same through History of Magic, with Professor Binns, and Charms, with Professor Abbott, who also happened to be the head of Hufflepuff.
Chris sighed in defeat when he realized that those weren't his only classes. He'd have to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Jordan, who happened to be only in his first year teaching, and looked almost too young to know what he was doing, Transfigurations with Professor Marks, a very thin older man, who looked like he might pass out at any moment and Astronomy with a pale skinned, dark haired woman that could have easily been mistaken for a vampire. No one ever saw her during the day and her classes were only held at night.
There was also another class that himself, Weber and Alex had been signed up for, that no one else in their house seemed to have. It didn't have a name, only a time and a teacher, Professor Tonks. It was held every night they weren't in Astronomy class, and it started right after supper and went until there was only just enough time to get back to their rooms before they'd get in trouble for being out after hours.
"I can understand you two," Alex said as he sat down on one of the couches later that night, after going over their schedules during supper, "but why me?"
"We're no more special then you!" Chris said, sitting at his desk writing a letter to his mother.
"Maybe they're going to teach us to turn into our Animagus forms," Weber said, looking at his nails, as he laid sprawled out on the other couch.
"You have to be registered to be an Animagus!" Alex was frowning now, and he'd brought his legs up so he could rest his chin on his knees.
"A what?" Chris said pausing in his writings.
"Oh come on Potter!" Weber said, looking at him over the back of the couch, "Even your father can't have hid that from you."
"Well believe it or not Malfoy he did! Now what is it?"
"Simply put, it's what you'd be, if you were an animal. The Headmistress has an Animagus form, and it's a cat. Anyone can do it, just not many people have the time to learn how," Alex said still frowning. "But I can't be a Animagus! It's not possible!"
"Why not?" Weber asked, taking interest in him.
"Never mind!" the silver haired boy snapped. He got to his feet and went into his room slamming the door.
"I wish he'd stop doing that," Chris mumbled as he rolled up his letter. "Drat! It's too late to Owl this. Guess I'll have to get up early and send it off it before breakfast."
Just then the door opened and Brock came in glaring, "Where is he?"
"In his room," Weber answered coldly, "And good thing too. You're an arse to him for no reason."
Brock ignored him and went into his own room, closing the door behind himself.
"Well aren't they a sociable couple?" Weber asked sarcastically.
Chris frowned now that they were all alone. He wanted to talk to him about that morning but the other boy had seemed to turn into a completely different person, "What did Snape talk to you about?" he asked instead.
Weber's mask slipped a little, but he recovered quickly, "My mother owled him and told him that my father is divorcing her, and that she's trying to…arrange it so I live with her when he does."
"You never did tell me what was so bad about her," Chris watched as the blonde's head looked over toward the rooms of their house mates.
"Lets talk about this in my room, or yours?" Weber was on his feet and moving around so he could enter either room.
"Yours," the other boy said, letting the other boy lead the way.
Once they were both inside Weber closed his door and locked it. Walking over to his bed he sat down, his hands in his lap, "Have a seat."
Chris sat down a foot or two away from him on the bed, his hands braced on the edges of the mattress.
"My mother…finds great pleasure in hitting me and my brother, even if we're doing nothing wrong. When I was younger, it wasn't so bad because I was the first child and everyone wanted to see me, but as I grew older…" Weber swallowed, "Pure-blooded parents tend to be harder on their children and make them grow up faster, because then they can show you off more, take them to formal dinner parties. I learned fast enough, but my little brother…he doesn't catch on so quick…"
It was all Chris could do, to sit and listen to his new friend talk so calmly about being beaten, and locked in your room for days with only a house-elf to clean, dress and feed you. When he heard how little he even saw his father, and when he did how short the time was they had, he felt guilty for hating his dad. At least he saw him everyday, or close to it.
When Weber finished he turned his masked face toward Chris, "I hate her, and I know father is going to win custody of us, but what if she tries to steal us from him, or tries to simply kill us. It would be so easy for her to just…Edward he's so scared of everything…he hardly speaks…I don't think I've ever seen him smile…."
The dark haired boy slide over next to the blonde and carefully brought him into his chest, hugging him, "I didn't know. God…I'm so sorry Web! I'm a selfish bastard…I'll never feel sorry for myself again."
Weber was shaking but he was refusing to cry, and finally he pulled roughly away from the other boy, "Now get the hell out."
"Wha-?"
"OUT!" Weber yelled, his eyes flashing in the dim light from the fireplace.
"No." Chris's voice was even.
"I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Emotions are a weakness, that I can't afford to have. Please go!" A tear slipped from his left eye and rolled down his cheek and dripped of his chin.
"I'm your friend-"
"But no more and I want more. I want what you can't give and I'm 11 years old. I shouldn't be like this! I'm a freak!" Tears were running down both of his cheeks now, his eyes were drowning in them too.
Chris got up and stood in front of him, "I'm 11 years old too."
Finally caving the blonde came forward and buried his head into the other boy's neck, "Please don't let me do this to you too…"
Wrapping his arms around the other boy, Chris shook his head, "You already have, and I…like it."
"You-"
Without another word Chris dipped his head down and briefly pressed his lips to Weber's.
"I'm trying to say sorry and he won't except my apology!" Reed snapped, not taking his eyes off of the silver haired boy.
"It's not an apology, because you don't mean it! I bet you don't even know why I'm upset, and I bet you don't care!" Zales snapped back. He looked different some how, but Chris was in hurry to find out why.
"If I didn't care I wouldn't be talking to you and your gay ass!" Reed yelled.
The other boy's eyes widened, and his bottom lip started to quiver, followed by watering eyes, "Get the hell away from me!" He grabbed his book bag off of his chair before storming out into the hall.
"Well that was smart!" Chris said scathingly, "Now he's crying!"
"It just proves I was right!" Reed said glaring at the door that was still open, "He's a bloody fag!"
"There is nothing wrong with homosexuals," the ebony haired boy said. "Alex is still a person and you're still going to have to share space with him regardless. I'm not saying you should be friends with him, but you can at least be civil."
"Fine!" Reed said grabbing his own bag, "I'm not going to sit by him though, if I can help it, and don't expect me to do my homework out here if he's out here too."
"I won't," Chris said, as he watched Brock slam the door to the hall shut.
He was about to go to the bathroom when someone, who could only have been Weber came up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Good morning sweet prince!"
Chris glanced at him, before going into the bathroom and doing his business, "I'm not a morning person."
"Oh that's fine, because I am. Couples work better like that you know," Weber said from the toilet next door.
"You know, I think we should lay off on the 'couple' crap for a while, until those two aren't killing each other."
Weber said nothing to that.
As Chris glanced up from washing his hands he noticed that his friend looked depressed all of a sudden, 'Great…' "What time is it?"
"7:20," Weber said coming up to the sink that was farthest away from the other boy.
"I'm going to take a quick shower then," Chris said running into his room and grabbing out a set of clothes. When he got back, Weber was already in a shower stall. Chris went into the one farthest away from him, to give him some space.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, both boys were walking down the hall into the main Slytherin common room. Weber hadn't even spared him a glance, let alone spoke to him since he told Chris what time it was. The fact that they were walking together was only because the emerald eyed boy had hurried out the door after him.
As they passed through the common room, a few of the older students could be seen hurrying to finish summer homework, or whispering as they passed. When Chris glanced at Weber,to see what he thought about what was going on, he found that the other boy didn't seem to notice, and looked like he was trying hard to ignore him. Knowing he'd probably only make things worse between them, the ebony haired boy kept his mouth shut.
Once out in the damp corridors of the dungeons Chris sighed not being able to stand the silence any longer, "You know I've never been a fan of the silent treatment, and I have a feeling you're quite good at it."
Weber kept walking at the same pace, his head was slightly bowed.
"Do you really…the whole couple thing…You were being serious, weren't you?" Chris asked uncomfortably.
"Not any more," Weber finally said. "Just forget it. This is a lesson that shows attachment is a weakness. I'm just glad that it was only for a day."
"We're still friends then?" Chris asked, not really understanding what the other boy was staying.
"No." With that Weber hurried forward, up the stairs and to the Great Hall.
"Wait!" Chris yelled running after him, but by the time he caught up they were already at the Slytherin table. Weber was taking a single seat that was next to Reed and some of the first year girls. Chris sighed and sat at the end of the table with Zales, who was all alone, trying to fight back his tears still. "You don't mind do you?"
"No…Of course not," Zales said with a stuffed nose. "You don't hate me?"
"Why should I? You seem nice enough."
"But I'm-"
"That doesn't matter to me. You wouldn't be who you are if you were different, and I like you well enough now."
Zales smiled at him, "Thank you." After a few moments of silence while both of them were eating, he looked up again, "Why is Weber down there with…Reed?"
"It doesn't matter," Chris said quickly. "I don't want to talk about it either."
"You didn't know he was being serious," the other boy said knowingly, "about the couple thing."
Chris looked up sharply, "How in the hell did you know that?"
"Well for one he looks about ready to cry," Zales said not even glancing down there.
The ebony haired boy had to look though. All he saw was a cold mask of indifference on the blonde's face, "He does?"
"It's hard for you to tell because you don't know how to put up a good mask, or see through one...yet. Weber is a Malfoy, and that means he was taught by the best on how to hide his emotions," Zales said.
Chris sighed, "Is he really that famous Zales?"
"Call me Alex, please, and yes he is. People can't decide weather to call his father a trader, a deserter, or a hero. His grandfather, Lucius Malfoy, was a well known supporter of …You-Know-Who... and Weber's father didn't want to fight for him, or that's how the story goes."
"Why not?" Chris asked watching the blonde at the other end of the table.
"No one knows the details for sure, but it was said that Weber's father had a male lover who was a strong supporter of the Light, and very high up in their ranks."
Chris frowned, "Then why didn't he join the light side?"
"Lucius Malfoy was a dangerous man before he was declared insane and shipped off to Azkaban for child abuse. My guess is that he had to either join the Dark and maybe have to be killed by his lover, join the Light and get killed by his own father, or run off and not join any side, and wait until the whole thing blew over."
The young ebony haired man was about to ask another question when Jade came over and handed him a class schedule, "You're a little late for your first day."
"I'm not a morning person," Chris said, looking down at his plate frowning coldly.
She sat down next to him, "So I hear. You and Weber get into a fight?"
"No!" He said stabbing his eggs.
"Then why are you down here, while he's over there?"
"Listen! It's none of your business! Just leave me alone!" Chris yelled.
The Great Hall fell silent and all eyes were on him, including the ones of the Professors at the head table.
Chris grabbed his bag and schedule, before storming out of the hall. Why did everyone want to know what he was doing? He wasn't his father, and he wasn't going to save someone's life or start speaking in Parseltongue. He slowed down as he thought the last one over. He'd never been allowed to see a snake, except ones in muggle pictures, so maybe if he would see a snake he might be able to talk to it. Suddenly he wanted to see a snake very badly, to know if he had the gift, but that would have to wait.
He stopped in the middle of the hallway and glanced down at his schedule. As Misty had said, he had potions first block with his head of house, and the Gryffindors. He turned over the piece of parchment he was holding an found a map on the back. There was a little glowing green dot that said you are here and then there was a dotted line trail from his dot to another. This one was black and it read Potions. He glanced up and followed the trail and soon enough he was standing in the doorway of the Potions Class room.
"Mr. Potter," a dark haired man said from behind a large desk at the front of the room, "Shouldn't you be eating Breakfast with the other students?" He looked a little on the greasy side, just like his voice sounded.
"I already have," Chris said walking into the room. His father had hated this man and from what he'd heard, Snape had hated him back just as much.
The Potions Master regarded him for a moment, "Have you not made any friends yet among your house mates?"
"Is it true that you hated my father?"
"Your father had no respect for potions or my teaching methods and besides that he hurt my godson's feelings, by not being his friend. His first year here I saved his life on more then one occasion, and I never got a word of thanks from him," the man was watching him carefully.
"One last thing, Professor. Do you think I'm my father?" Chris's eyes were blank and cold.
Snape got to his feet and walked down so he was standing in front of the ebony haired boy. His dark eyes were calculating, "You father was a Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, and you are a Slytherin, and if you are truly in the right house, then you are not your father. He denied who he was, and where he was suppose to be."
"My father was in the wrong house?" Chris asked, hearing a bell sound in the background.
"Your father was meant to be in Slytherin. He wanted to prove himself, he liked to break the rules, and of course his gift of talking to snakes. He was so afraid that he would turn into an evil wizard that I'm guessing he asked the sorting hat to put him in a different house. The only other one that comes close, power wise, is Gryffindor."
Students started coming into the Potions room then, and Chris lifted his head slightly, "Can I talk to you again later?"
Snape regarded him for a moment before nodding slowly, "Any time after classes are over for the day, you my come to my personal rooms. Last door at the end of this corridor."
"Thank you," he said before turning around. He almost bumped into Weber who was standing right behind him.
"Look," the blonde haired boy said, watching his feet, "I'm sorry about earlier. Friends?" He stuck out his pale smaller hand, but his face was a cold mask.
"Sure…If that's what you want?" Chris said taking his hand, making a point to squeeze it gently.
Weber glanced up into his eyes, before looking away, "Yeah."
"Alright then. Are you going to sit with me?" Chris asked as he took a chair that was up at the very front of the class.
"Of course," Weber set his things down, before pulling out his own chair.
Chris sighed deeply to himself. Weber didn't just want to be friends, but he was taking anything he could get. That meant a lot to him, because they'd just met after all, but still, it was very disturbing that he'd just give up so easily.
"Mr. Malfoy, a pleasure as always," Professor Snape said as he carried around a piece of parchment, obviously checking off names.
"Hey Chris!"
The ebony haired boy turned around and almost grimaced when he saw Sandy, "Hello…"
She stood next to him smiling, "It's a shame we didn't get to be in the same house."
"Yes…I suppose," Chris said as Alex came over and set his things down so he was across from him.
"You don't mind do you?" he asked, his gold eyes were sad, but hopeful.
"No, not at all," Weber motioned for him to take a seat. "I don't really want to have to sit with Brock anyway. He was beastly at breakfast.
Sandy eyed Alex, blushing, "Who's your friend?"
"Alexander Zales," Chris said shortly, "Listen, Sandy…you're in Gryffindor house now and-"
"That means you're our enemy," Jaden said setting her things down at the last seat, at the table. "Get lost."
"But-" Sandy said looking hurt.
"Give it up Sandy. He's too good for you now that he's become one of them. You probably wouldn't like him now anyway," a boy from Gryffindor said. His eyes were teal and his hair was dark crimson.
"He's been my friend since I was little!" She said still looking to him, "We'll always be friends, right Chris?"
He glanced over at Weber who was looking at her coldly, "Sorry." He turned back around so he was facing Alex, who was looking at Sandy with sympathy. He heard her choke back a sob before running to be very back of the class.
"Miss Weasely, please control yourself or I will deduct house points," Professor Snape said not even looking up from his list.
"It's only our first day! You can't do that!" the same boy from before said loudly.
"Five points from Gryffindor for Mr. Kane's attitude toward a Professor," Snape looked up to watch his reaction.
Weber smirked evilly looking back at the Gryffindors as well as Jaden who was wrapping her dark hair around one of her fingers, as she looked on happily, while Sandy cried.
Chris looked across over at Alex, who gave him a small smile before reaching over and squeezing one of his hands, "She'll get over it," he whispered, while the other two at the table weren't looking.
When the final bell rang, Professor Snape took a formal role call and then he went on with his normal speech to the first years, as he walked around menacingly, taking a mental note of the students that seemed to be most afraid of him. He also managed to award twenty-five pointes to Slytherin, even when all they did was sit and look at him, and take away thirty from Gryffindor for doing the same thing. When the bell to go to next class finally did ring, Snape told the class to bring their potion ingredients and cauldrons for his next class. He also held Weber after to have a word.
Chris waited just outside the door, and when the blonde finally came out, he was wiping his eyes, "You alright? What did he want?"
"I'll tell you later," he said. "What do we have next?"
"Herbology, with Professor Longbottom and the Ravenclaws," Chris said, turning over his schedule, "It's this way, come on."
The rest of the day went on much the same through History of Magic, with Professor Binns, and Charms, with Professor Abbott, who also happened to be the head of Hufflepuff.
Chris sighed in defeat when he realized that those weren't his only classes. He'd have to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Jordan, who happened to be only in his first year teaching, and looked almost too young to know what he was doing, Transfigurations with Professor Marks, a very thin older man, who looked like he might pass out at any moment and Astronomy with a pale skinned, dark haired woman that could have easily been mistaken for a vampire. No one ever saw her during the day and her classes were only held at night.
There was also another class that himself, Weber and Alex had been signed up for, that no one else in their house seemed to have. It didn't have a name, only a time and a teacher, Professor Tonks. It was held every night they weren't in Astronomy class, and it started right after supper and went until there was only just enough time to get back to their rooms before they'd get in trouble for being out after hours.
"I can understand you two," Alex said as he sat down on one of the couches later that night, after going over their schedules during supper, "but why me?"
"We're no more special then you!" Chris said, sitting at his desk writing a letter to his mother.
"Maybe they're going to teach us to turn into our Animagus forms," Weber said, looking at his nails, as he laid sprawled out on the other couch.
"You have to be registered to be an Animagus!" Alex was frowning now, and he'd brought his legs up so he could rest his chin on his knees.
"A what?" Chris said pausing in his writings.
"Oh come on Potter!" Weber said, looking at him over the back of the couch, "Even your father can't have hid that from you."
"Well believe it or not Malfoy he did! Now what is it?"
"Simply put, it's what you'd be, if you were an animal. The Headmistress has an Animagus form, and it's a cat. Anyone can do it, just not many people have the time to learn how," Alex said still frowning. "But I can't be a Animagus! It's not possible!"
"Why not?" Weber asked, taking interest in him.
"Never mind!" the silver haired boy snapped. He got to his feet and went into his room slamming the door.
"I wish he'd stop doing that," Chris mumbled as he rolled up his letter. "Drat! It's too late to Owl this. Guess I'll have to get up early and send it off it before breakfast."
Just then the door opened and Brock came in glaring, "Where is he?"
"In his room," Weber answered coldly, "And good thing too. You're an arse to him for no reason."
Brock ignored him and went into his own room, closing the door behind himself.
"Well aren't they a sociable couple?" Weber asked sarcastically.
Chris frowned now that they were all alone. He wanted to talk to him about that morning but the other boy had seemed to turn into a completely different person, "What did Snape talk to you about?" he asked instead.
Weber's mask slipped a little, but he recovered quickly, "My mother owled him and told him that my father is divorcing her, and that she's trying to…arrange it so I live with her when he does."
"You never did tell me what was so bad about her," Chris watched as the blonde's head looked over toward the rooms of their house mates.
"Lets talk about this in my room, or yours?" Weber was on his feet and moving around so he could enter either room.
"Yours," the other boy said, letting the other boy lead the way.
Once they were both inside Weber closed his door and locked it. Walking over to his bed he sat down, his hands in his lap, "Have a seat."
Chris sat down a foot or two away from him on the bed, his hands braced on the edges of the mattress.
"My mother…finds great pleasure in hitting me and my brother, even if we're doing nothing wrong. When I was younger, it wasn't so bad because I was the first child and everyone wanted to see me, but as I grew older…" Weber swallowed, "Pure-blooded parents tend to be harder on their children and make them grow up faster, because then they can show you off more, take them to formal dinner parties. I learned fast enough, but my little brother…he doesn't catch on so quick…"
It was all Chris could do, to sit and listen to his new friend talk so calmly about being beaten, and locked in your room for days with only a house-elf to clean, dress and feed you. When he heard how little he even saw his father, and when he did how short the time was they had, he felt guilty for hating his dad. At least he saw him everyday, or close to it.
When Weber finished he turned his masked face toward Chris, "I hate her, and I know father is going to win custody of us, but what if she tries to steal us from him, or tries to simply kill us. It would be so easy for her to just…Edward he's so scared of everything…he hardly speaks…I don't think I've ever seen him smile…."
The dark haired boy slide over next to the blonde and carefully brought him into his chest, hugging him, "I didn't know. God…I'm so sorry Web! I'm a selfish bastard…I'll never feel sorry for myself again."
Weber was shaking but he was refusing to cry, and finally he pulled roughly away from the other boy, "Now get the hell out."
"Wha-?"
"OUT!" Weber yelled, his eyes flashing in the dim light from the fireplace.
"No." Chris's voice was even.
"I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Emotions are a weakness, that I can't afford to have. Please go!" A tear slipped from his left eye and rolled down his cheek and dripped of his chin.
"I'm your friend-"
"But no more and I want more. I want what you can't give and I'm 11 years old. I shouldn't be like this! I'm a freak!" Tears were running down both of his cheeks now, his eyes were drowning in them too.
Chris got up and stood in front of him, "I'm 11 years old too."
Finally caving the blonde came forward and buried his head into the other boy's neck, "Please don't let me do this to you too…"
Wrapping his arms around the other boy, Chris shook his head, "You already have, and I…like it."
"You-"
Without another word Chris dipped his head down and briefly pressed his lips to Weber's.