At some point in a person's life, they must experience a choice. Whether it be as simple as folding laundry, or as complicated as what classes to take next year (don't lie, it is complicated) we all have to realize our choice, and make a decision. The Choice I speak of is more complicated. It will sometimes be the turning point, which will take us down one pathway in our life, and forever abolish one that could have been. Though we may torment ourselves wondering what would have happened, we will never know.
But, what if someone did?
Our hero today is young Harry James Potter, whose exploits of his first year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are now famous. He dodged "Fluffy" Hagrid's three headed guardian, advanced through the four famed challenges, and fought Quirell for control of the Stone, and triumphed, saving the world from certain doom provided by Lord Voldemort.
What is not as well remembered is Harry's second encounter with young Draco Malfoy on the Hogwarts Express. He was offered a hand, which supposedly would help him separate the "good sort" from the "wrong sort". Harry naturally refused, permanently ensuring his path, his Choice made.
Yet, what if this happened?...
"…You don't want to go making families with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He held out his hand to shake Harry's. Harry looked around for a moment. He saw Draco, tall and confident, with his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, cracking their knuckles and grinning malevolently. He then looked at Ron Weasley, whom he had barley known for half an hour. His nose, hair, and robes were filthy and dilapidated. Harry didn't know what kind of people he would be meeting at Hogwarts, but if they were anything like Crabbe and Goyle, he would need some serious protection. Ron couldn't offer him that.
"Sure, why not?" Harry took Malfoy's hand, and was pulled out of the compartment. They took him down a dark corridor of the train. He never looked back. He still hasn't.
May Heaven help us when the roads collide……….