True Friends
By Craw/Brad

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter. If I had somehow come into ownership of it, I would change the way that the fifth book ended. Seeing as OotP still ends the same way it did last week, I guess I don't own HP.

Author's notes: I am sorry if this chapter is a little confusing. If you have any questions, ask them in the review and I will try to answer them. Also, I am really sorry that it took me so long to post this update, but I really hate typing and keep putting it off. I even did my homework before I typed this..

Chapter Two

We got out of the carriage in front of the stone stair case. As we began our ascent to the top steps, people turned to gap at the odd pair walking past. I leaned in to whisper into the ear of the walking wet dream beside me, "You know, we should really do this more often. So much more interesting than walking with my house-mates."

"I agree completely." he said with a slight smile.

We entered the Great Hall next to each other. This received us shocked glances from the students that had yet to see us. That is to say the ones that had yet to see us and were to well mannered to stare. Upon looking at the staff table, I saw that we received much the same reaction. I had now concluded that the whole of Hogwarts was slightly off.

The only professors that weren't staring in wonderment were Snape and Dumbledore. If it were possible, I would say that Snape had even more venom in his glare at the golden boy than he usually did. Meanwhile, I do believe that the headmasters eyes were extra twinkly that night. Honestly! I made peace with Harry I-can't- die Potter and all I got was a bloody twinkle, astonishment and a dash of loathing that's not even aimed at me! I still get to be friends with the boy-that-lived-to-be-in-my-dreams, so it wasn't like I was losing anything.

"Well... Bye." Harry said as we came to the point where we had to part to get to our own house table.

"Yeah, bye." I said as I turned to walk to the Slytherin table. I really disliked being a Slytherin now. I could see the burning hate in the eyes of some of my house-mates. For a moment I even considered running back and demanding that I sit with Harry. But even if I had been disowned, I was still a Malfoy, and that demanded that I show pride. So, instead of turning to look at Harry once more, I squared my shoulders and walked to my customary seat, safe in the knowledge that the other Slytherins wouldn't dare try to beat me to a bloody pulp with all of the teachers watching.

I looked over at the Gryffindor table once I was seated. I had enough time to note that Harry looked as uncomfortable as I felt before Dumbledore stood to make the simple statement, "Let the Sorting begin."

As soon as the sorting hat started to sing, I tuned it out. Once you've seen one sorting, you've seen them all. My thoughts began to drift back to the events of the previous summer.

It all started normal enough. Father was upset when I got home. Disgusted that I had let Granger beat me in all my classes. Even worse in his eyes was that I had yet again lost another Quidditch match to the person that caused the downfall of his dark master. As if my continued loss somehow reflected him in the eyes of his lord. Mother was, as always, locked off up in her rooms planing the next big get together that would be held for people that meet her high standers. Parties thats only purpose was to show off her own social standing and wealth.

It was all going fine, until one morning about a week and a half after I got home. I got up as I usually did and went to have breakfast in the dinning room. Almost as soon as I was seated Father informed me, as if it were an honor, that I was to begin the training for the Deatheater initiating that afternoon. Oh joy.

So, being the good little boy that I was, I felt the need to keep in touch with my godfather. I hadn't mailed him in almost a week, so it was time to do so. Wasn't it ever so convenient that Severus was at Hogwarts at the time that the letter reached him? It was also a nice coincidence that the letter found it's way into the hands of the Headmaster. Needless to say, I was out of the manor before mid-day.

It was nice for the next few weeks. I stayed with Sev at his flat in Diagon Ally The Snape's, like most pureblood families, have a manor, but my godfather said that he needed to be in London for reasons he didn't tell me off, though I later found out that he wanted to stay close to Order headquarters in case he was needed. I would help with making potions whenever I could and Sev taught me how to cook. All and all I was doing the most work that I had ever done outside of school and having the time of my life doing it.

My peaceful little world came crashing down on me about halfway through the summer. I had decided that it would be a nice day for a walk, maybe I could even get a little shopping in. So, in light of the fact that it was a beautiful day out, I left the flat. I was almost at the ice cream parlor before I saw the neat silver head strolling towards me. I silently fell into a debate with myself about weather I should hide or not. My options were denied me when the man looked up and saw my equally silvery head of hair.

His eyes locked on my form and his steps seemed to gain a small bounce, though I may have been imagining it in light of the impending doom. "Draco." He said in a cold voice.

My tone was equally as cold when I replied, "Father." with a small nod.

"Where have you been?" He asked. "There have been visitors that wished to meet you."

"I had no desire to meet them, so I left." I explained as if I were talking to a five year old that wanted to know why we had house elfs.

"What do you mean?" As if he didn't quite grasp what I was insinuating.

"You know perfectly well what I meant." I say in a tone that was colder than the frostiest I had ever used on Potter by tenfold.

"Of course I do, don't be a fool boy, but I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you admit to turning your back on your family. I want to hear you say that you are a disgrace to the Malfoy name."

"I left because I had no intention of becoming a Deatheater, but if anyone is a disgrace to the family name, it is you. I refuse to lick Voldemort's boots because you think I should. The Malfoy's use to be proud family that was well respected. That was until you dragged the name through the mud and decided to serve a lord that is destined to die." I thought that I was doing pretty good. I mean this was the first time I had stood up to my father. I thought I was doing pretty good, that was until the first blow fell....

I was pulled out of my musings as the Hall became silent and the headmaster stood. "I would like to welcome all the students, new and old, to Hogwarts. In light of recent events I hope that you all indulge in whatever fun that can be found in these dark times." At this point I could have sworn that he looked directly at me and the at Harry. "But there is time for talk once your appetites have been sated. Tuck in."

Once the headmaster had become seated, he waved his hand in a welcoming gesture. At this motion, food appeared on each of the tables. I took a little of my favorite dishes and let my mind wonder as I ate.

Yet again I found myself thinking of that day in Diagon Ally...

The punch was in the stomach. Once I was doubled over in pain, Lucius said in a whisper so soft that I would have missed it if he hadn't been so close to my ear, "I have no son." He then let another fly. This one landed on my face, I felt my lip split and heard a crack. I hadn't been in many physical fights, but I was almost positive that your face was not suppose to make that noise.

I did my best to hold the pain out of my voice once I straitened up, "You may have no son, but you are still the man that taught me that a Malfoy bows to no one." I said with all the dignity I could muster. "I will not bow to that thing you call a Dark Lord."

"What do you think your doing?" called a familiar voice from behind me.

I finally managed to straighten up when Lucius replied, "I was merely teaching this whelp to have some respect for his betters. Something I would have thought you learned long ago wolf." He then turned to me and said, "I see that you would rather associate with the bottom of the barrel than live in your rightful place. Well, good-day." With that he turned and disappeared with a swish of his robes. He really is a drama queen....

I was yet again pulled out of my thoughts when the hall fell silent yet again. "As always," the headmaster began. " the forest at the edge of the grounds are off limits. Also to promote inter-house relationships, we will be having a ball in a months time. It will be open to all students, but they must have a date from another house."

If possible, the room grew even quieter with this statement. His pause lasted a good minute and a half before he went on, "Of course people without dates may come, but only those with them will be allowed to stay at the party after nine." Here there was an audible sigh of relief coming from half of the student body. Oh poor students, we have to get a date from another house. Whatever will we do? I thought. Of course I knew who I wanted to go with, only problem was that there was no way that he would say yes if I asked him. At this point I was reasonably sure he was straight. Still have a month.

"Obviously we don't expect you to just go up and ask a member of another house out without getting to know them first, so we will be rearranging houses into teams. Each team will be composed of one fourth of the student body and will be assigned a dorm. Tomorrow morning I will go into more detail, but for now, everyone to bed."

Every one did as the headmaster asked as the prefects began to heard the first years to their common rooms. I was left to wonder what 'teams' people would be put into. Let me be on the same team as Potter. A evil, traitorous part of my mind thought.

~TBC~

Replies to Reviews:

Big thanks and huge hugs to Harry-Potter-Girl3, Knockturn Alley Girls, Azana, Lady Lightning, tomzgurl77, Potts, Slimpun, JJ, Me, and Luna_Kat04. I am really happy that you liked the first chapter.

SoCalKalel- I really don't know where FF.net is based. What I do know is that the words are different than what you might normally use because the Harry Potter fandom is British based. I.E. If you were to go into a fandom based in Japan, there would be a large use of Japanese words.

TouchstoneoftheCharter- I enjoyed reading your review. I kinda want to know what happened to the dog... It sounded like it might be an interesting story. -_-

It would really make my day if you could all review again!!! New readers are welcome to review as well!!! You all know you want to. ~Brad