The Hardships of Being Draco Malfoy

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters originally penned by J K Rawlings, don't even own the computer this is being typed on. But a girl can wish can't she?

Pairings: Not yet but will be Draco/Harry eventually

Warnings: Whiny Draco ahead, not to mention some probable OOC-ness to be had by all. But what can I say, first time Harry Potter writer.

Authors Note: Hey look! I have Two more Reviews!! Kisses to everyone who is reading, even if your not reviewing, thanks so much! And to those who are reviewing, just know if ya were here with me now, I would buy ya a pint of Guinness, (or your drink of choice).

Kneazles - It's good to be the Prince, they can make up their own rules

The Lady Wolfshead - You like me! You really, really like me! Well you like my story

at least. I will be working on the H/D parts just as soon as that Potter boy shows his face, I can't be certain but I think he is trying to avoid me by lurking around in his invisibility cloak.

And now, on to...

Part 4

Draco was done with his homework.

In all actuality he had finished it the day before he had confronted his mother about the unfairness of denying him food, and really he had only done it then to try and forget the grumbling's of his stomach. So now he really had nothing to do. He had slunk around the house for the past few days trying to plan out how he was going to tell everyone he knew in Slytherin that he, while not actually changing sides was not to be associating with them. That and he suddenly really wanted to see his bodyguards/goons Crabbe and Goyle.

Not that he had even actually made any effort to get together with them over this summer, but now that he was denied their companionship he really wanted them around, strike that ye wanted anyone else from Slytherin house around. Heck even seeing Pansy would be a pleasant change from these same four walls, his mother and the house elves.

He was both looking forward to and dreading the fact that tomorrow was the day to catch the train to Hogwarts. At least he was going to see people that he knew, but at the same time, how was he going to get around his mothers orders. He wasn't foolish enough to believe that she was just relying on any loyalty on his part to be honest in his dealings with her. She too had been in Slytherin, and would know better then that. No there would be spies of some sort keeping tabs on him. More then likely Snape, he had always had a soft spot for Narcissa, and she could be quite persuasive when she wanted to be. Besides who knew how seriously his Mum had taken this belief that maybe Lord Voldemort's side wasn't the right side. If she still truly though that Voldemort's side was the right side, she would have been careful sure, but not this all out paranoia that seemed to be the order of the day. For all he knew that nosy Dumbledore was going to be watching him as well.

He would have to pretend that he was following her dictates at least until the Christmas hols when he could convince her that she was wrong. After all she was going to have to cut herself off from all of her acquaintances as well, being that they were on the side of the Dark Lord, and she always adored going out to all of the parties that were thrown around that time. It was just a matter of playing a waiting game with her. Just as soon as this damn investigation with the Ministry was done, she would begin to calm down, then she would be more open to persuasion on this touchy subject.

All he had to do was wait. That and keep calm. He figured that if nothing else his grades would improve drastically this year, as he would have nothing better to do then study. If his grades didn't go up then something was defiantly wrong with him. After all there was to be no mudblood baiting, no Weasley bashing, no Potter taunting, and worst of all no quidditch. Mum had told him yesterday that a letter had already been sent to the school to inform them that Draco was not allowed to play quidditch at all this year. He didn't even have a broom to take with him this year, so he was grounded well and good.

Then to top it all of she even had him give up his position as a Prefect this year, which while irritating wasn't quite as bad as the whole quidditch thing, after all it wasn't like he could take points away from other houses this year. So that left his schedule open for studying, studying, and more studying. By God if nothing else he was going to oust Granger from her top spot in most of the classes.

So here he was now, trying to pack, but not really having the greatest of time doing so, everything he had to wear was just so, last year. How was he ever going to show himself in polite society with these miserable excuses for rags? He had no other cloths like his favorite jumper it had been a special birthday gift from a now long dead rich Great-Aunt on his fathers side, and rumor was that Draco had been her favorite in the entire family. Which is why she had apparently spent a good quarter of her fortune on having the one piece of clothing made especially for him.

He glared at his wardrobe willing for all of his old stuff to go up in flames like a Phoenix could and thus be reborn as the latest tailored to fit styles. Of course this didn't happen, but one could wish. Frustrated at the complete and utter hell that his life was becoming, Draco began tossing his clothing haphazardly into his trunk. He knew that he could just as well have a house elf do this for him, his mother had said as much when she popped her head in to remind him that tomorrow but that would mean that he would just be sitting around again, being board.

And a board Draco Malfoy was never a good Draco Malfoy. Because when he was board he would invariably wind up doing something that was stupid, and would get him into trouble, and right now that was the absolute last thing he needed.

He reached for another article of clothing, only to find there was nothing left in his wardrobe. He looked over at the mound of clothing in, on and around his trunk, before sighing tiredly and walking over to it. He plopped down in front of it and slowly began to precisely fold his clothing so that it wouldn't wrinkle while in transport to Hogwarts. Something he had learned to do at Hogwarts, simply out of necessity, the elves there were simply too incompetent to do anything right.

He may not be stylish this year, but he would be damned if he was going to look as rumpled and ill kept as Potter and Weasley always did. He could always pride himself on making sure he looked better then those two dolts. Then again when he thought about it Crabbe and Goyle dressed better then they did. Not that those two oafs couldn't have some of the most disgusting tastes when it came to colors, and coordinating them, lord knew how many times he had sent one or the other back upstairs to change because he had decided to wear his favorite shirt (Fuchsia in Crabbe's case and bright lime green in Goyle's) with an orange (Crabbe's) or lilac (Goyle's) tie.

Draco laughed softly remembering some of the other horrible color combinations that the two beefy boys came up with, as he finished folding the last of his cloths. Still smiling slightly he arranged everything in his trunk to his satisfaction before closing it and calling for a house elf to take it downstairs to the fireplace he would be using to get to the train station.

Draco frowned thoughtfully as the house elf left. He was really going to miss hanging around with his housemates. He didn't really like any of them, but you got used to people after a while if they were always with you. Crabbe, Zabini, Parkinson, Bulstrode, Goyle, none of them he really considered a bosom companions, but at the same time, they weren't the enemy and they all worked together for a common goal. Mainly the humiliation and/or down fall of the other houses.

Draco stood up suddenly feeling irritated by something he couldn't pinpoint. He walked to the window of his room, outside the sun was setting amidst a brilliant display of color, but he glared outside, seeing none of it. If he thought about everything from a different perspective, one could say that they were all more then acquaintances, one could almost say that they were friends. Draco smiled bitterly as a dry hoarse sounding laugh forced it's way out of his throat. 'Yeah right like you make friends in Slytherin,' he thought to himself.

His face shifted back to its usual scowl and Draco turned from the window, heading to his bed. Halfway there he stopped and turned his head to look out the window once more. This time he saw the beautiful streaks of color splashed across the sky, a small smile played at the corners of Draco's mouth. Ah well it didn't matter he could do with out them anyhow.

Stupid friends.