Chapter 3
Remus Lupin was seated at the head table beside Serverus Snape, discussing the lessons he had planned for his O.W.L and N.E.W.T classes. They were important years for his students and he couldn't afford them getting behind-so Severus took the classes around the full moon. It was a workable situation and it kept Serverus appeased. The man had an obsessive streak a mile wide when it came to Potions and DADA-he was firmly convinced that the children wouldn't learn unless he taught them himself.
Sirius would have laughed at him, Remus knew, for discussing his lessons with Serverus-but Severus could always be counted on to bring a whole new dimension to DADA, and he shared Remus's conviction that Dumbledores tea parties should be classed as dangerous situations. The man knew practically everything there was to know about DADA and Potions, but ask him about Transfigurations or Astronomy and he'd give you that polite blank look of his before turning the conversation back to some evil creature or other. It was just his way.
At the same time as this, Remus was keeping an eye out for the arrival of the first years.
"I suppose they'll both be in Gryffindor." Severus said with a sneer.
"You never know-they're both cunning enough to be in Slytherin."! Remus laughed.
"Oh, Black wouldn't like that."
"Sirius wouldn't care-so long as they look after each other and cause as much mischief as possible." Remus smiled. "We'll have to watch out for that."
"Draco is too like his mother for that." Severus said.
"Yes, but he was raised by Sirius, and Harry… well, he takes after James in nearly every way."
"And that is what we must look out for." Severus muttered.
Remus laughed.
The doors to the great hall opened and Professor McGonagall entered followed by a cluster of first years.
"Hope I don't get put in Slytherin." Ron said.
"Why? What's wrong with Slytherin?" Harry asked in surprise.
"My dad says all the witches and wizards who went bad came from Slytherin." Ron said.
"That's not true." Harry declared. "Dad says they came from all the houses. I think he knew one, he gets really angry every time he talks about it."
"Besides, mum was a Slytherin." Draco added.
Ron blushed. "Sorry… I didn't mean… it's just that my dad said…"
"It's ok. Besides, I want to get into Gryffindor, that's where dad and my real dad were when they were in school." Harry grinned. "What about you Draco?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't really mind."
"You'll get into Slytherin." Harry teased. "What with all that ambition to succeed!"
"Shut up Harry." Draco muttered, looking over at the teachers table. "Hey look, there's uncle Remus and Sev!" he pointed.
"You know the teachers and everything?" Ron asked, wide eyed.
"Only Uncle Remus and Severus. They're friend of mum and dad. They're cool. Though Sev is a bit creepy." Harry explained.
"He's not creepy Harry-your listening to dad too much." Draco said.
They fell silent as Professor McGonagall shushed them and a strange looking; decrepit hat on a stool began to sing. The three boys shared a confused look ("So much for a Troll" muttered Ron). When the hat was finished Professor McGonagall unrolled a piece of parchment and began calling names. When called each student went up, put the hat on their head and sat on the stool until the hat yelled out the name of the house they were to be put in.
"Black, Draconis!" McGonagall called.
Draco went hesitantly to the stool. Harry gave him the thumbs up as the hat descended over his eyes.
"Ah…" said a little voice next to his ear. "And what have we here? Very young to be attending-a lot of ambition, but also a great deal of courage… that will come in handy soon… and what's this? Interesting…"
"What?" Draco asked urgently, worried he was going to be told to go home.
"Very interesting. I think you should go into SLYTHERIN!"
The hat was pulled off his head and a cheer went up from the table at the far right of the hall. Draco looked over to Harry, who grinned and mouthed 'Told you!' he made his way down to the Slytherin table.
"Potter-Black, Harry." McGonagall called.
There were whispers as Harry made his way to the stool. The hat was on his head a grand total of 2 mili-seconds before it yelled out "GRYFINDOR!" Ron Weasely joined him soon after-and the feast began.
Harry quickly became friends with all the boys in his house year, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom, talking about Quiddich, football and anything else that came up in conversation.
Over at the Slytherin table Draco had struck up a conversation with Blaise Zanbini, and by the end of the night the two were fast friends. They went to bed that night, Harry to Gryffindor with his new best friend Ron, and Draco to Slytherin with Blaise. Little did the four boys know that they were fast becoming the new age marauders of Hogwarts, and even less did they know that the age old rivalry between their houses would almost result in one of their deaths.
But all that was in the future. For now they were merely getting ready to spend their first night in Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.
X
"Harry's a Gryffindor!" Sirius grinned. "Knew he had it in him. He has some new friend already!" he said, waving the letter that had arrived over breakfast with Hedwig. "And guess where Draco is."
Narcissa smiled at the more disappointed tone. "Slytherin?"
Sirius nodded morosely.
"Siri, I know you wanted them both to be Gryffindors-but you always knew Draco was more of a Slytherin-he's very good at manipulation." She smiled.
"I know!" Sirius said. "My bank account knows too. I just don't like the idea of him being in a house run by Snape-he'll turn him against me-I know he will." He said darkly.
"And why would he do that Siri?"
"Because he would!" Sirius declared.
Narcissa patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry dear-I'm sure he won't. " she told him, her lips twitching as she suppressed a smile.
Sirius huffed with her. "You never take me seriously!" he complained.
"Love, I always take you seriously." She smiled winningly.
Sirius looked up at her, surprised. "If I didn't have to go to work right now, I'd take you up on that." He told her.
"I know you would Siri. And seeing as how the boys are away at school and can't accidentally interrupt us. We can have the whole house to ourselves. So come home early tonight. Ok?"
Sirius nodded vigorously. "Yesyesyesyesyes!"
She gave him a lingering kiss and told him to go to work. Which he did, but his concentration was shot for the rest of the day. Tonks, the newest member to the Auror team teased him mercilessly about it all day-aided and abetted by Kingsley and another newbie, Cunningham. But Sirius was too distracted to notice.
X
Back at Hogwarts Remus was starting his first lesson with the first years as a 'get to know you and how much you know about DADA' lesson. Harry and Draco, as Sirius was an Auror, and therefore knew a lot about it, led the entire discussion. But soon they, Ron and Blaise had taken to arguing amongst themselves over various points. Remus had left them and focused on the rest of the class-breaking them off into groups of four and trying to get them to debate DADA like the four at the far side of the room. Which by now had Ron and Blaise facing off, hissing and spitting like Tom cats.
By the end of that first DADA lesson Ron and Blaise had settled into a kind of bickering friendship. They didn't exactly like each other, but were willing to tolerate each other because of Draco and Harry.
In Potions, later that same day Severus was becoming increasingly frustrated with Harry and Ron, who were not even trying to pretend to be paying attention. Draco however was instantly his class favourite- the boy knew the answer to nearly every question he asked. He'd at least looked at a book before coming to Hogwarts.
It wasn't until dinnertime that things got a little tense. The four had split up to go to their separate tables. Draco was surprised when Marcus Flint, the fifth year prefect sat beside him.
"Black." He growled.
Draco looked up. "Yes?" he asked.
"Seeing as you are just new I'll let you off this once-but don't go making a habit of talking to Gryffindors anymore Black." Flint warned.
Draco frowned. "Why not? There's nothing wrong with talking to them. Besides, Harry's my brother; I'm not just going to stop talking to him."
"Look kid, you've been warned, if you just don't listen to me, your time in Hogwarts just might get that bit more difficult. So cut the friendly chit-chat with the Gryffs. That goes for you too Zanbini." Flint said, getting up and heading for his own seat.
At the head table Severus pursed his lips in a scowl. Remus caught it and looked along the Slytherin table in time to see Flint leave Draco. "It's started then." He sighed. "It's such a stupid rivalry."
Severus nodded. "You do realise that we'll have to speak with the headmaster about the house rules being relaxed a bit for Draco and Potter."
"I know, I don't think it'll be a problem though-what with Draco being younger than everybody else and needing the support." Remus looked across to the Gryffindor table. "I think Harry just saw what happened."
At the Gryffindor table Harry had been watching Flint talking to Draco, even across two other tables and between the heads of the other students he could read his brothers unease.
"Who is that brute?" he asked Ron.
Ron looked over. "Oh-I think that's Marcus Flint-he's in Percy's year-the twins told me he's a right bully-always picks on Percy, but Percy never says anything. The twins are always pranking him to get back for what he does to Percy." Ron said. "Why?"
Harry's eyes narrowed. "So he doesn't like Gryffindors does he?"
"I don't think so. Why Harry?"
"Because I think he's just threatened Draco." Harry said.
Ron looked over. "Why would he threaten Draco?"
"For hanging round with us Ron." Harry frowned, then turned to Ron. "Tell me about these pranks your brothers pulled."
So Ron told him.
After dinner Draco got up and went very purposefully towards the Gryffindor table. Blaise watched him for half a second before he darted after him. "Draco! What are you doing? Do you want to make our lives a misery?" he asked urgently in a whisper.
"I'm not afraid of Flint-and I'm not going to stop talking to Harry just because he says so. You don't have to come with me Blaise, I'm not making you." Draco told him quietly.
Blaise stared after him, looked back at the Slytherin table and sighed, resigning himself to suffer alongside Draco-a classically Gryfindorish thing to do-very un-Slytherin-like. "Hold up Draco!" he called.
Harry and Ron had met Draco halfway, and Draco was complaining to Harry about Flint when Blaise joined them.
"Calm down Dray. Me and Ron have a plan." Harry smiled.
"What kind of plan?" Blaise asked.
Harry lowered his voice and whispered. "The ultimate prank on that gigantic troll." He looked at Blaise. "You in?"
Blaise shrugged. "I suppose I am. What's the plan?"
Harry grinned. Draco, catching on to the fact that Harry intended to use some of the pranks Sirius had told them about, also grinned.
"I don't think I like that grin." Blaise said.
Ron nodded in full agreement.
X
And for all those who wish to know. After that night there was no way in hell Narcissa couldn't be pregnant.