((Chapter 8: Insecure))

/this is a flash back before their life/

While the hat is sorting the boys the audience does not hear the conversations between the boy and the hat since it is private and works the same way all sortings do.

SSS

Narcissa walked calmly through the gates at Hogwarts entrance as the wind picked up her extravagant robes and caused them to billow slightly. She felt eyes on her from all directions and let a small smile grace her beautiful goddess-like face. She knew her beauty could still attract the younger generation and that made her feel even more confident. She walked up the path to the front doors of Hogwarts, aware that only a few students were fully awake at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. Narcissa had been up and was dressed, fully awake and ready to see her son for several hours now.

She had fire called Dumbledore last night after returning from visiting with her crazy husband and had requested that she be allowed to visit her young son. She, unlike Lucius, had been fully aware of the fact that Draco had been changed back to a little child and was dying to get her hands on her sweet little dragon again. Now that she was no longer sworn to secrecy in order to protect Draco she was determined to have a few minutes with her precocious offspring.

She opened the door to the halls and anyone who was up that hour woke up instantly at the woman's cold but happy state. She nodded her head to Snape who automatically got up and went to her. She nodded to Dumbledore who gave her the all-knowing twinkle of his eye.

Severus escorted her over to the all-familiar Slytherin table and seated her before a place setting. As she thanked Snape for being so kind to her a steaming cup of tea and a plate of biscuits appeared in front of her. She sipped the tea and glanced around casually as Snape informed her of the outstanding progress her son was making.

SSS

Harry waited patiently for Draco to step out of the shower. Today was the day when they were going to be sorted. Pansy had informed them that Snape had talked to her the day before. Neither boy had any knowledge of what she meant. According to their time schedule it had been a year since the disaster between Voldemort and themselves. They still could not figure out how their magic came about, though they were very happy to find out that it had helped them to save themselves.

Harry twisted a strand of his long hair between his fingers letting the hair comfort him. He wasn't worried about grades; he wasn't worried about girls even; he was desperately scared that he was going to be separated from Draco. Draco, to him, was his solid ground. They were both in the same boat and he wanted Draco to stay with him as long as possible.

Harry knew about the situation he was in, and so did Draco. He did not want to leave his best friend who had been there for him since the beginning. He settled down on the bed and started braiding his hair loosely. Having a feeling that whatever sorting involved, his hair would probably get in the way. He looked up abruptly when Draco crashed through the bathroom door and gave him a broad smile.

Harry smiled attentively back cursing Draco mentally for not being worried.

"Today is the day we get our colors." Draco said as if he were going into the army.

"Yeah, I guess." Harry looked away and tied his cloak together. It was the school's uniform without neither tie nor the shield that announced which house they had been sorted into. The colors would be magicked on as soon as they were sorted.

"Did you finish your essay?" Draco asked the smaller boy, trying to clear the room of anxiousness.

Harry nodded once and shouldered his bag. To Draco, the 10 ½ year old (I know- I know- not the right age to go to Hogwarts but we are going to make an exception here because Draco is already 11 so live with it!) looked very insecure, but his demeanor was hard just like Draco showed him.

"Your fears will be the downfall of you, Potter!" Harry shivered he never remembered Draco sounding so cold to him like that before. But the Draco in his mind that likes to emerge from his thoughts sometimes sounds so cruel it makes his heart clutch in pain. 'I wonder if he goes though this too.' Harry bit his lip wanting to say something but didn't.

Unknown to Harry, Draco was thinking the same thing. His subconscious would sometimes provide him with a meaner, non-feeling Harry, unlike the caring, soft Harry that was standing in front of him. He was sacred out of his wits when he heard that they where going to be sorted and there was only a twenty-five percent chance that Harry would be placed in the same house as he was going to .

Draco was in the bathroom not five seconds ago gritting his teeth over the thought that Harry would most likely go to Gryffindor House and they would lose contact. He could see it now: Harry smiling with the Granger girl and Harry and the 'weasel' boy laughing at him. He could see Harry drifting away from him. Harry was too pure, too innocent, to be part of the hardworking, cunning Slytherins. Draco knew that he belonged in Slytherin- hopefully together they would be brilliant and successful in classes; they would throw pranks and would naturally be better than everyone else.

Draco watched the smaller boy looking at his shoes. 'It seems that Harry feels like we are going to go our separate ways too. Maybe I could try and convince the hat to put me where Harry is…but what if Harry goes to a house I know that I cannot be part of…' Even in his head, Draco knew he sounded absurd.

They walked into the Great Hall looking glum. They did not even notice that they had forgotten to wake Pansy up before they left. They felt the need for independence pushing them away form the girl who whom they had depended on for the last seven years of their lives. (Remember- a day equals a year here.)

Draco looked around the room and observed people eating as he made his way to the Slytherin table.

Harry's soft hesitant voice caught his attention. "Draco, who is she?" There was a total look of awe on Harry's face as he pointed in the direction they were going.

Draco was not sure at first who he was referring to and then he spotted her. The woman had long flowing blonde hair and all the familiar goddess like features that Draco always looked up to. Then, with as much dignity as possible, Draco sped up. "Mother!" He greeted the beautiful woman as he stepped up beside her and stood.

Narcissa turned around at the childish greeting and regarded her son happily. She opened her arms up to him and when he stepped close she gave him a bone-crushing hug. "My son, how have you been?" She asked her face muffled his beautiful soft baby hair.

"You know- this and that. I made a new friend. I learned that I am great in Potions. I found out that Lord Voldieo makes a horrible cereal so I helped kill him since he really is a bad guy…not much else."

Narcissa Black's happy laughter rang through the hall for the first time in a dozen years. "I am so glad you had a nice time, my son." She finally managed to say before dissolving into another fit of giggles when he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, yes! Where are my manners?" He waved at Harry who had been watching the scene with a great deal of happiness for his friend and a bit of jealously since he did not have a beautiful mother to hug.

Harry placed the sour apple he had been munching on back on the table and wiped his hands nervously on his new robes before approaching the aristocratic woman while smiling nervously at her. He was not at all sure what to do in this situation.

"Mother, may I introduce Harry Potter to you?" Draco caught Harry's hand and pulled him forward.

Harry smiled awkwardly and gave an undignified squeak when Narcissa pulled him into a tight hug. He was very surprised to find out that the woman was quite strong despite her lithe, frail looking appearance.

"Hello, Dear." She whispered in his ear then smiled at him as he shivered and then returned her greeting shyly.

Harry stepped back quickly when the Headmaster cleared his throat

"Today is a special day!" Today we get to sort our two favorite boys into their proper houses here at Hogwarts." Dumbledore pretended to forget that they were already sorted. He raised his hand to quell the angry muttering from Gryffindor. "School procedures are school procedures- Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter need to be sorted into their proper houses until they come of age."

The tables quieted and the children sitting at Gryffindor shifted so that Ron and Hermione could make room for their best friend. Everyone at the Gryffindor table was anxious for Harry to come back and join them.

Dumbledore stood and watched as McGonagall entered carrying the hat and stool. "And-now for the sorting hat."

(((Nice little warning I cannot rhyme too well so be careful.)) Beta agrees that this chick is no poet but does not interfere…

The hat that McGonagall leaned on the stool came alive and looked around with a pleased facial expression.

Aha! I see that I come to thee to do what has not been done in years

It is funny you understand

That before you it has happened to their kin too

But just like father and son

They both did the silliest of things

And got them selves undone

Which house are you now you ask

I can feel you're nervous all the way from here

But you should have no fear

You will placed in your proper house

Your mind unparticular that is

You could be a Hufflepuff

They are loyal, just and true

Or, maybe you're a Ravenclaw

Where those full of wit and intelligence can challenge you?

Gryffindor who have their heart on their shoulders and are brave

They are daring but have chivalry

Or is it in Slytherin

Where a real friend lies

They are cunning and they will do anything they have started

Now come here my children

For I have seen into many a great mind

So come to me and I shall sort

Shall sort you, shall I!

Harry really tried his best not to snort. He really did. But the hat's rhyme was so bad that it was a laughing matter. Harry let out a single giggle, and was happy to find that the rest of the student body was on the same feeling level.

"Guess the hat could not come up with anything better since it was such short notice." Blaise Zabini said in utter disbelief.

"Malfoy, Draco!" McGonagall said.

Draco did not want to go first but had to anyway. His mother gave him a nudge forward when he balked for a second feeling the butterflies reawakening in his stomach. He saw Harry watching him and realized that the other boy felt a bit sorry for him that he had to go first.

Then their eyes connected just before the hat covered the silver eyed boy. Draco watched as the whole Hall disappeared. He let out a breath waiting.

"Was it really that bad?" The hat asked. Draco could hear its disappointment.

"Ummmm…No." Draco answered back in his mind. He tried to make the hat feel better.

"Don't lie! I can read your mind." The hat sulked.

Draco just stayed quiet in disbelief. He wanted to know where he was going and did not really want to talk to the hat.

"Oh fine! You at least you are giving me something to work with. Hmmm yes. I see you will do well there. Just like the first time. But, this time you have changed. You would give Ravenclaw a bit of competition." The hat did not get a response from Draco so it finally decided on its own, "Better be Slytherin."

"Slytherin!" The hat bellowed. Harry was wondering why it was taking so long for Draco to be sorted. He smiled warmly at Draco when he hopped off the stool and walked proudly across the floor to rejoin his house. Harry watched as the house colors of Slytherin became part of Draco's uniform. He saw the crest appear and could only wish that they would be together.

"All right, Mr. Potter, you are next." McGonagall's voice brought him back to the present. Harry saw Draco give him a small private wink to tell him good luck.

Harry walked up the step and then climbed onto the stool, painfully aware that his feet did not touch the floor. He watched as the whole hall disappeared as he experienced the feeling of having been here before. This whole hat thing was kinda' stupid.

"Not you too! Are my rhymes really that bad?" The hat asked in his mind.

"Well, that particular one was quite bad." Harry thought to the hat. He didn't want to say it out loud. He didn't want to make a bigger fool of himself than he already felt.

"Well then, how about this one? When the red meets gold and they fully entwine…They represent the Gryffindor line."

Harry chuckled. "Just as bad!" He thought again. He felt the hat slump in frustration on his head.

"What about this one?

The founders said the day would come

When all would unite and become one.

"Sorry just as bad." Harry said, again chuckling softly.

The whole school was confused. It had been a full three minutes since the hat had been placed on Harry's head and still nothing. They would see Harry's hands clench and a small smile would flitter across his face but no indication that he was being sorted. The only interruption was when Pansy had arrived in the Great Hall.

She had stalked into the room ready to kill the short stuffs who hadn't bothered to wake her up or even leave her a note telling her where they were going. Her anger disappeared rapidly when she saw Harry sitting under the hat.

Pansy approached Draco who was watching Harry with a look of confusion in his eyes. "What is going on, Draco?"

He turned to her in surprise. "Everyone is waiting for Harry to be sorted. It has been over three minutes and nothing has been said yet." He turned back to watching Harry but felt her pat him on the shoulder. Draco watched the emotions flit across Harry's face- the quirk of his lips and he became irritated.

"Potter!" He yelled. "You are supposed to be getting sorted. You can talk to the bloody hat later."

Harry burst out laughing. "He's trying to tell me all these horrible rhymes. It is not my fault."

The hat huffed. "Well, if someone bothered to talk to me once in awhile then maybe I wouldn't have to ask about my rhymes when I have a captive audience."

Harry shook his head and started to mentally plead the hat to sort him. "Bloody hell- just give up with the stupid rhymes and sort me!"

"All right! Let's see here. Cunning…brave…Smart…loving… You can be in any house you wish. You have the qualities of all four houses. I still maintain that you could be great in Slytherin. What? No objections this time? Then it is done: SLYTHERIN!"

"SLYTHERIN!" Rang out in the hall. Most of the hall had been quiet before; now there was dead silence. Harry did not care about any of that. All he saw was the huge grin Draco was giving him. He could not care less about the people at the Gryffindor table who had just fainted. He did not notice that Ron dropped his goblet of pumpkin juice or spit eggs everywhere. He might have minded that Hermione gave herself a nasty paper cut had he known about it…but currently all he cared about was that he had just got his heart's desire: he was with Draco still and they were both deliriously happy.

Draco gave Harry a nice bear hug when he also returned to the Slytherin table. They both watched as the Slytherin crest appeared on his uniform, proudly proclaiming him to be a Slytherin. Narcissa even reached over and gave him a handshake just before Pansy grabbed him and gave him a bone-crushing hug. He laughed happily and sat down to finally eat his breakfast.

For some strange reason most of the student body was not recovering from the shock too well. When they heard the bell ring for class they sat like Zombies instead of getting up and leaving the room.

A piece of paper flashed in front of Draco and Harry showing that their timetables were the same as usual. Draco turned to Harry and said, "I will meet up with you in class, OK? I want to talk to Mother for a few more minutes."

Harry nodded and happily and waved to them as he walked away. He was still in his own little world when he arrived at the Potions room door and encountered Hermione and Ron waiting for Snape to unlock the door and let everyone in.

"Hello, Hermione. Weasley." He still did not say Ron's first name since he thought of Ron as a sketch person. Harry thought secretly that Hermione could do with a better best friend but…

Hermione gave him a smile. She had been a little bit surprised when Harry had sorted into Slytherin this time but she had not been totally shocked like most of the students were. She knew about his first sorting when the hat wanted him in Slytherin and Harry had protested. She had a feeling that since Harry was now friends with some of the Slytherins that his chances of being sorted there had just been upped.

She did not mind too terribly that he was in a different house. Not like Ron…he was ranting that there had to have been a mistake. Harry was still her friend and that was good enough for her. "Hello, Harry. I see that you are happy."

Harry smiled broadly. "Yes!" He said before walking into the room and taking his normal seat where he and Draco worked on their potions together. He was happy he missed the glare a boy gave him before settling in his seat to do more glaring since he would not have understood the boy's attitude anyway.

SSS

Draco walked outside with his mother. He escorted her around the beautiful grounds as they talked about everything and nothing all at once. They chatted without really picking any particular subject…just happy to be with each other.

When they finally took a seat at the edge of the dock Narcissa brought out the big bombs.

((Not her breast you perverts!!)) "Draco, dearest, how have you been doing?" Narcissa asked. She was all too aware of her son's chronically depressed state before the accident changing him into a child had occurred.

"Lovely, Mother. Absolutely lovely." Draco was serious.

'There is nothing wrong with him!' Narcissa thought happily 'This Draco is not suffering from depression.' She knew the main reason behind his depression was his father…but now everything looked OK. Maybe once the other Draco comes back he will be OK too. "I must go now, Draco, Dear." She said as she stood and dusted off her designer name cloak.

Draco nodded sadly. "Don't wait so long to visit me again, please Mum?" He asked softly.

Narcissa ran a hand through his hair. She was ecstatic over the fact that there was only a little trace of sadness in his beautiful silver eyes instead of the heavy dose he usually exhibited. She smiled as she answered him. "Yes."

His eyes lit up beautifully…something she did not see him do easily. There was a bounce in his step as he escorted her back to her waiting carriage.

"Oh, Mummy?" Draco's voice stopped her from stepping up into the carriage. When he knew he had her attention, he asked, "May Harry visit next break we have from school if it OK with you?"

Narcissa gave Draco a happy smile. For once the Potter boy was not doing something to distress her family. "Of course, Luv."

Draco smiled at her and watched as she entered her carriage. Draco couldn't keep the smile off his face as he raced back into the castle to tell Harry the news

I am very saddened to say that staring contest is almost over….yay

I would also like to thank my super-beta for always saving the day and to run into billboard

Also thanks reviewers, keep reviewing me the more I will write!!!!!!