So, I'm so totally behind in writing the next chapter. But, I think it's for a good reason. (giggles) I've got a boyfriend!! I've got a boyfriend!! (dances) Sorry, just gotta gloat. I love my Ricky to death.
Oh, and for the past three weeks, my last three meets, I've come in first in weight. Oh hells yeah.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related to Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Goddess J.K.Rowling who will hopefully soon bestow us with Book Six. Freesia op.2 doesn't belong to me either. It belongs to my beloved Gackt-san.
Warning: OOC!Draco. Will be Draco/Ron slash. They are going to have sex, but that'll come after they get together, which isn't in the close future, unfortunately.
And since I'm a copy/paste whore, I haven't forgotten this.
"blah" Regular speech
/blah/ Fwella speech.
"blah" Mermaid speech.
None of what I try to use to separate works!! (Cries) (----) Will now be my lame separator.
Freesia op.2 by Aloh Dark
Draco and Blaise chatted through the Leaky Cauldron. People watched their way through, knowing who's children they were just by the sight of them. Blaise was the spitting image of his father and no one could miss Draco's distinct 'Malfoy' hair. They were through to muggle London quickly, which the boys were very happy for. Neither liked being judged by their fathers.
The two kids slipped in easily with the crowd but their mothers got side looks from the muggles. They tended to make rude remarks about the muggles as they walked. This caused confusing in the muggles but hysterics in the boys who couldn't help but join in every once in a while.
They walked a few blocks to Kings Cross Station where they crossed over onto Platform 9 3/4. It wasn't quite the regular routine that year, making it more exciting. Usually Narcissa, Lucius and Draco would take one of the cars to Kings Cross and that would be all. But the addition of Mrs. Zabini and Blaise, the subtraction of Lucius and the car made it all the more unusual. Draco couldn't have been happier with the change.
Narcissa led them over to where a house elf was waiting by their trunks. Very few students had arrived since it was still early. The house elf was dismissed and disappeared, leaving the trunks in Blaise's and Draco's care. Soon after, their mothers kissed their cheeks and wished them a happy term before leaving.
Draco and Blaise found a car together and put their trunks away. They didn't feel like staying on the train, though, and headed off to find some friends. Blaise soon found some of his Ravenclaw mates and they chatted for a while.
It wasn't long before both Crabbe and Goyle showed up and Draco began to make rounds with them in tow. He felt a little guilty over the way he'd treated them before but he wasn't any where close to apologizing. They didn't expect it of him either.
As the time neared when the train was to leave, Blaise showed Crabbe and Goyle to the compartment where his and Draco's trunks were. Draco stayed out on the platform for a little longer, wanting to watch everyone around him without distractions. Only his silent observation was cut short by familiar voices behind him.
He turned to see Ron, Hermione and Harry walking together and towards him. Draco crossed his arms over his chest and raised his chin. He held his ground as they walked closer.
As the trio got closer, they took notice of Draco and their conversation became louder. Draco didn't say anything as they passed and neither did they. Ron shocked them all by stopping and facing Draco.
"It's the beginning of term." Ron told him.
"I know that. I'm not stupid." Draco said. They both were looking at each other, feeling out the ends of the deal. Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a box he'd placed in there earlier. "Fwella sends this and her regards." Draco said as he tossed it to Ron.
Ron caught it clumsily. "What is it?" He asked.
Draco shrugged. "A gift, she said."
"Tell her 'thanks' for me." Ron said.
"Tell her yourself." Draco shot back. "She'll be at Hogwarts in two weeks."
"Why?" Ron asked. Neither boy noticed the looks they were getting from people around them.
Draco snorted. "As if I'd tell you." He brushed past him and walked to the prefect car.
Harry and Hermione rounded on Ron. "What was that all about?" Hermione asked.
Ron watched Draco's retreating back. "Rebellion in action." Ron said mysteriously.
As his friends questioned him further, he gave no more explanation than that.
(----)
Draco slammed the door to the compartment, making its three occupants jump.
"Draco? What the hell?" Blaise demanded.
"Sorry." Draco muttered. "I can't stand those ramblings on about setting examples for other students and all that other bullshit."
"Still no reason to be breaking doors." Blaise said teasingly.
"I'd like to see you handle sitting there with that Pansy bitch trying to flirt with you after she broke up with you to start dating some bloody bastard an hour later." Draco said, putting more venom into it than he really felt.
"Was she really, now?" Crabbe asked.
"That whore." Goyle said.
Draco sat down, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I hate girls. They should be locked up and only taken out when a man wants sex."
"That's a fairly sexist statement." Blaise said dryly.
"That's the only use for them, as I see it right now." Draco said. "Or they could legalize the Unforgivables so I can Crucio the bitch whenever she's near me."
"I think your first idea is more plausible than the second." Blaise said. "Besides, your Crucio is never really any good. You're much better at the Imperius Curse. With and without your wand."
"What do you mean by that?" Goyle asked.
"He means that I can make anyone do what I want no matter if I'm actually using Imperius or not." Draco said. "Right?" He asked Blaise with a raise of his eyebrow.
"Nearly. You can't make everyone do what you want. Just nearly everyone." Blaise said.
"Doesn't matter." Draco said. "Anyone I can't make control with my words I can control with my magic."
"Aren't you a self-confident little bastard." Blaise said with a friendly smirk.
"Why shouldn't I be?" Draco asked. "I'm Draco Octavian Malfoy."
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was pleasant and seemingly fast. As they came close, they changed and Draco left them. They split up all the candies they'd gotten before leaving. He did his prefect duties before finding Crabbe and Goyle to get into the carriages.
He shuddered inwardly at the sight of the thestral but didn't comment. He knew about only those who'd seen death being able to see them long before coming to Hogwarts and knew never to comment on being able to see them. He didn't like to think on that memory.
The carriages pulled them to the front gates of Hogwarts Castle where the mass of second through seventh year students were entering the school. Crabbe, Goyle and Draco found Blaise and sat with him at the Slytherin table.
"Good to be back, isn't it?" Blaise asked the three of them.
Crabbe and Goyle began telling Blaise about random things but Draco was gazing up at the High Table. He caught Snape's eye and itched his right cheek. Snape understood the message and drummed his fingers on the table. Draco barely nodded before turning back to his friends.
They all waited eagerly for the sorting ceremony to start. Soon McGonagalld walked in with the first years in tow. They all seemed nervous except for one, Draco noted. The one being Marianna. She walked with brisk, calm, casual steps. From the look on her face Draco knew that she was her mothers daughter.
Marianna wasn't a relative of Draco's but he'd grown up calling her mother 'Aunt.' Their mothers had been good friends back in their school days and still were. Marianna's mother, Julia, had fought her husband tooth and nail to allowed her to go to Hogwarts instead of Beuxbaxton. They lived in France so she would have gone there if Julia had not fallen in love with Hogwarts while there herself.
As the first years dwindled down and were separated into their houses, Marianna didn't loose her cool. She waited calmly even though her peers were fidgeting with nervous energy. Draco looked down at her hands and saw she was pinching her stomach, barely noticeable from behind her hands. Draco sighed inwardly. He was taught to do the same thing to keep the indifferent mask when he was younger. Focus on physical pain rather than emotional stress.
"de Sade, Marianna." Was finally called with the 'S's rather than the 'd's.
Marianna walked stately up to the hat and sat on the stool. The hat was lowered and Marianna sat blinded. Draco saw her lips twitch and knew she found something funny. Not before long the hat yelled 'Slytherin!' and no one clapped louder than Draco himself.
Marianna didn't show anything but polite pleasure as she walked towards Draco. Draco dropped all formalities and pulled her into a tight hug. She was grinning hugely as she sat down next to him.
When the ceremony was finished the stool was taken out and so was the hat. Dumbledore stood up and the whole place went silent.
"Another year full of new beginnings." Dumbledore said. "To our new first years, may these years be some of the best of your lives. To our seventh years, you will be most missed when you leave. I would like to inform all of you that the forest on grounds is accessible only to those who want to die a most horrid and painful death. Also, Mr. Filch had brought it to my attention that a few Weasley Wizard Weeze products have been added to his list of forbidden items. To see which items, consult Mr. Filch. And I would like to introduce you to our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." He said with a wave of his hand towards a young woman that was sitting next to Professor Snape. "Professor Hawthorne has joined us all the way from the United States." The ripple of whispers followed that statement. Another D.A.D.A teacher was in their midst. No one knew what to expect with this new one. "Now, let the feast begin." He clapped his hands and the tables filled with dinner.
(----)
The next morning found Draco stretching with a frown. He was back at Hogwarts and no longer free to do what he wanted, when he wanted. He sighed and pulled out his orb box. He pulled out a pearly white orb and placed it to his head. He pressed it against his head and felt it slip through his skull. The orb began to play music for his ears only, and changed songs with the commanding thoughts from Draco.
Draco hummed along to 'Nowhere Kids' by Smile Empty Soul as he changed for the day. He grabbed a cloak and put it around his shoulders before leaving his dorm. He walked out of the school and into the sleepy, pre-dawn grey. He looked at the horizon for a moment before sighing and walking to the Quidditch Pitch.
He smiled slightly to himself as he neared the giant arena. Something about this area calmed him as nowhere else on school grounds did. He looked down at the shell bracelet he wore on his left wrist and shook his head. He missed Grygru and the other mermaids already. He looked to the sky and sighed. He missed Fwella more than anyone one or anything else.
He climbed the nearest set of stairs and reached the tiers of Hufflepuff seats. He climbed to the top and sat with his back to the back wall. He closed his eyes and thought about his plans for the year.
First thing first and foremost. He had a promise to keep with Ron. He promised he'd be act more like he did at home. Well, that would have to start with shaving away school prejudices. The first thing Ron would like to see would him being nicer to Potter and Granger, that Draco already knew. He'd have to start with the way he thought about them, especially Granger. He'd stopped calling her 'mudblood' in his head years ago, so now he only had to stop calling her it in public, which he'd already managed to do. And Potter, well, he'd just have to keep all his thoughts on him being an asshole to himself. No way calling him such would be keeping things civil.
Second, he'd need to slowly drift away from his fathers ideals. It wouldn't be easy to get others to believe he'd changed, so he wanted to ease them into the idea first. After all, if you were used to something you barely noticed it until too late. Like growing. You never realize you're growing until, bang, your pants don't fit anymore!
Third, ...there's a red head waving at him. Draco squinted at the red head running up the stands to meet him.
"Draco!" Ron chirped happily as he sat down heavily on the row below him. His face was flushed the color of his hair from the run. "Glad to be back, eh?"
Draco looked down at him impassively. "Didn't I tell you this summer that I don't like being here?"
"Yeah, you did but I forget why you don't like it. Can you remind me?" Ron asked.
Draco snorted. "For one, get that stupid look off your face. Your innocent act isn't fooling me for a second. I know damn well I didn't tell you anything about why I hate it here."
"Wait, you hate it? You only told me you don't like it here because you like being alone."
Draco muttered a curse. "Yes, I hate it here and I like being alone."
Ron grinned. "Care to tell me why?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to tell you Weasley. So give it up."
"It's Ron."
"What?" Draco asked slightly confused.
"You called me 'Weasley' and I'm telling you to call me Ron." Ron said, looking up at Draco.
"Oh, alright." Draco said. He knew that Ron wanted to him to call him that, but he'd purposely been avoiding it.
"Look, we're having one on one time. My part of the deal. And yesterday, you were nice. Your part of the deal. This isn't so hard." Ron said cheerfully.
Draco 'hmm'ed before narrowing his eyes at Ron. "Don't you usually sleep late?" He asked suddenly.
Ron flushed guiltily. "Actually, I usually wake up early then sneak back in and go back to sleep." He admitted. "But no one is supposed to know that."
"Then why tell me?" Draco asked.
"Because I have a lot more blackmail on you." Ron said with a grin.
Draco laughed softly through his nose. "That's true." He smirked. "But who would believe you?"
Ron grinned. "You have a point there."
They sat in silence for a few minutes as the sky softly turned to light pinks and purples. Neither wanted to break the comfortable silence that had grown between them. In the short amounts of time they'd spent together that summer something had broken between them and neither wanted to bring it back.
"Did you know what Fwella gave me?" Ron asked suddenly, turning to face Draco.
"No. She had Vek pack it. What was it?" Draco asked, slightly interested.
"Feathers and a letter." Ron said.
"The feathers were her flight feathers probably." Draco mused. "They have all sorts of magical properties."
"That's what Hermione said." Ron said softly.
"What did the letter say?" Draco asked.
"A lot actually. Most of which I can't tell you. But she did say the weirdest thing that I can't quiet figure out." Ron told him. "It was about you."
Draco raised an eyebrow, his intrest peeked. "What'd it say?"
"She told me to help you figure yourself out. She said that she believed I could help you to finally, er, 'finally find your happiness.' Care to explain?" Ron asked, confused.
Draco shook his head with a sigh. "She's playing the secrets game. Remind me to smack her when she gets here."
"Secrets game?" Ron asked. "What's that?"
Draco grinned. "It's like the lanterns in the Circle of Lights. If you have to ask, you're too young to know."
"Isn't the Circle of Lights the whore district off Diagon Alley?" Ron asked.
Draco looked offended. "It most certainly isn't! The Circle of Lights offers entertainment in it's most carnal form. If you want whores, don't go to the Circle. The Circle caters only to the finest of tastes."
"It's still full of brothels though, isn't it?" Ron asked.
"In a word, yes." Draco admitted. "Though if you call any of the working girls or boys there whores they're likely to hex you."
"How do you know?" Ron asked.
"I grew up around the older ones." Draco said with a smile. "I'd constantly get myself lost on Falling Star and the girls and boys of the Circle would keep me until Father or Mother came for me."
Ron blinked at him. "I don't know if I should be amused or disgusted."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Think what you like but I didn't have the most normal of childhoods."
"Is that why you're such a freak now?" Ron asked.
Draco hit the back of Ron's head. "I'm not a freak."
Ron grabbed the back of his head. "Are too." He said childishly.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm not having this argument with you."
Ron laughed softly. "Fine. I still think you're screwed up somehow."
"Yeah, well, you're a poor arsehole." Draco said.
Ron usually would have gotten extremely mad at Draco for saying that, but he didn't. He just laughed louder at Draco's sullen expression. When he finished laughing, he just smiled up at Draco.
"I'm going to end up killing you, aren't I?" Draco asked dryly.
"Nope. Can't kill me." Ron said.
"I can try though." Draco said.
"Of course you can try. But you won't succeed." Ron said. "Besides, why would you want to kill me?"
"You know too much." Draco said.
"Fine, we'll make the balance of blackmail more even." Ron said.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Ron thought a moment. "I still sleep with a blankie." He said softly.
"Really?" Draco said, laughter shaking his voice.
"Yeah. OH, oh! I also use scented lotion." Ron told him with a grin.
Draco laughed. "Not even I do that! I don't use lotion at all!"
Ron's ears were bright red. "Just giving you things to balance the blackmail." He said.
Draco grinned down at him. "I think I'm going to like getting to know you." He said.
Ron grinned back. "I'm glad."
Draco stood and stretched. He stared into the sunrise. "I think you should be heading back in if you don't want your game to be caught." He said, not looking at Ron.
"Yeah, I should." Ron said as he stood up.
The two boys walked next to each other as they climbed down the stairs. Silence surrounded them as they walked to the front doors of the school. When they reached the entrance hall they said their goodbyes. Ron waved back at him while stifling a yawn and was soon out of sight.
Draco stood with his hands in his pockets for a moment before heading back down to the Slytherin common room. A nice cheery fire filled the room with heat and light. Draco sat down in his favorite chair next to the fire and stared into the flames. He reached out his hand and grabbed the book laying on a nearby table. He picked up the book and began to read about Vanyel as he waited for the rest of his house to wake up.
TBC
Thanks TO!!!!!
Faint Hate!!!! Lol, Draco is such a girl. And yes, that does make him that much hotter. Tom Felton is a sexy bitch too, (ogles movie) Lol, R/D stuff is coming soon. …I hope at least. And thanks for the luck!
Meirta!!!! Hehe, the plot hast thickened. The demon is Aburey and the blue potion… Well, you'll find out. AHA! I hope this helped lessen you taste for Draco/school mate interactions. Ah, yes. Fwella will show up.
I Heart DM 11!!!! They're at school now!!! (claps too) Heh, I love MuggleDressed!Draco! He'd be so very hot. AH!! I'm doing this the same day I had planned, can I have the cookie and hug?!?!?!!
Red-Chan!!! (throws more at you)