Disclaimer: The song choice today is "You Can Make History (Young Again) " by Elton John :
I can make Harry Potter fun again
I can rewrite, I can decide
the things that should or shouldn't have been
But I could then get sued, thrown in jail with bins
So then, I don't own HP so don't sue me again!
Author's Note: I just wanted to apologize now to everyone, that due to the fact that FanFiction .net has been tinkering again with its editing software that my pages have to go through before being posted, it will not even let me put in my dashes to signal a page break (So I apologize for the use of the huge ones- SO ugly!). Sorry about this- I don't know why they would start tinkering with it when it was working fine before and we were finally used to putting HTML tags on our pages...but I've tried and it keeps putting it back to normal. So, I apologize.
Atellix: Hey everyone! Atellix here, just wanting to-
Draco: Atellix!
Atellix: What?
Draco: I need to talk to you.
Atellix: Draco, I'm kind of right in the middle of an author's note here.
Draco: Oh, sorry about that. Hi everyone. Just wondered when you plan on writing the next chapter is all.
Atellix: But... they haven't even read this chapter yet.
Draco: No, I know. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared you know.
Atellix: (sigh) I don't know Draco. But I won't wait as long as I did last time.
Draco: Promise?
Atellix: Yes, I promise.
(Charlie comes in)
Charlie: Hey guys, what's happening?
Draco: Atellix is doing an author's note and we're interrupting.
Charlie: Really? Al, you really mean that? That's the most touching thing I ever heard!
Atellix: Guys, please, I'm trying to
Charlie: Do they know that I'm in this chapter?
Draco: They do now.
Atellix: Guys! Will you let me finish!
Charlie: Sure Al. Whatcha wanna say?
Atellix: (sigh) Never mind. Just enjoy.
Draco: I'll get refreshments.
Charlie: Milk duds for me, man!
Atellix: Anyway, enjoy the story. (to Draco) Medium frozen yogurt with rainbow sprinkles please, Malfoy.
Chapter Nine: Friends Never Say Goodbye
The morning broke quiet and gently. The birds softly cooed in the trees. The school was slowly opening its sleepy eyes to the morning light. The world was at peace.
But someone wasn't about to leave it that way.
Suddenly, there was a beat coming from the room down the hall. A base then came in. A few "chicka-chick-ahs". Then, a voice began singing, snapping his fingers to the rhythm.
"She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene. I said I don't mind but what do you mean I am the one? Who will dance on the floor in the round? She says I am the one.Who will dance on the floor in the round?"
Suddenly, a shadow appeared in the doorway to the right of the stairs, their foot tapping. "She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene. Then every head turned with eyes dreamed of being the one. Who will dance on the floor in the round?"
Without warning, a shirtless Charlie slid over to the top of the stairs, singing to the imaginary crowd of fangirls waiting at the bottom, subtly dancing. "People always told me, be careful what you do. Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts. And mother always told me, be careful who you love. Be careful what you do, till the lie becomes the truth! Hey hey hey!"
Sliding on a white dress shirt, he turned the collar up and began slowly side stepping down the stairs, snapping his fingers. "Billy Jean is not my lover. She's just a girl who claims that I am the one. But the kid is not my son. She says"
There was a loud record scratching noise as the music suddenly stopped. "She says it's too damn early in the morning to be dancing,"said Draco, standing at the top of the stairs, clearly awake only from Charlie's recent serenading.
Charlie smiled sheeplishly from the bottom of the stairs. "Sorry D. Not used to rooming with you."
"Or anyone else who has their hearing in the normal range," muttered Draco. He sighed and rubbed his eyes as Charlie came back up the stairs, doing up the buttons on the shirt. "It's okay. Just... no more Michael Jackson in the morning, okay?"
Charlie nodded. "Okay."
"Good."
"But Maroon5 is still an option, right?" Charlie said with a sly grin. His shoulders began to bounce as he sang. "Is there anyone out there, cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe!"
Draco groaned and headed to his room. "Hopeless... you're just hopeless!" he muttered, closing the door behind him.
Charlie chuckled and rolled his sleeves up, continuing to do the buttons up on his shirt as he headed to his room. "Hopeless, huh?" He softly began to hum. "Hmmm-mmm hmmm... hopelessly devoted to you... But now," he gained volume," there's nowhere to hide, since you-"
"CHARLIE! SHUT IT!"
Charlie stopped in mid-note and frowned. He headed to his room. "Welcome to the day the music died!" he said, shouting, "Please keep your hands and arms inside the car, else they might be bitten off by a rabid roommate!"
By the time Draco threw his door open, Charlie had already dashed inside his, the lock bolted. Draco groaned and sighed. Glancing up at Charlie's door, he gave a small smile.
"Bye, bye, Miss American pie, drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry..."
Draco stretched his arms behind him as he headed to potions. According to new regulations posted by the school, the female prefects now were required to room together, which made Draco a little relieved. Hard to let someone go when they're living down the hall from you.
And as if that wasn't enough, in a simple twist of fate, Charlie was then assigned to take over the other prefect's duties. Apparantly the other prefect had been caught in a semi-compromising situation, and was forced to hand over his duties. Draco rolled his eyes. Why ANYONE in their right mind would choose Charlie to carry the job was beyond him. But he supposed he deserved it as much as anyone else. Which then resulted in the two becoming roommates. And although Draco would rather be woken by a flaming unicorn on stilts, or a band of wild yaks, he didn't really mind Charlie. Having him closeby was... dare he say... comforting.
He sighed as he dragged himself down the hallway to Snape's room. As he glanced in, he noticed that class was almost about to start. Draco slinked in the back door and took a seat at the back of the class. For some reason, seats were not assigned that year in Potions, and for that, Draco was thankful, else he would be sitting with a certain brunette.
He frowned and turned the chair in front of him around, kicking his feet up. He closed his eyes. "God, this class is going to be horrible. EVERYONE is in this class. But... just... don't think about it."
Upon opening his eyes, he found himself face to face with a pair of brilliant blue eyes. He pulled back suddenly, surprised. So did the eyes.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Wasn't sure if you were sleeping or not," a pretty raven-haired girl said, giving him a brilliant smile, "Just wanted to know if you could move your feet... unless this seat is taken," she said, one hand on her hip, her Hufflepuff kilt creasing under the weight, the other on the chair in front of Draco. A brown backpack was slung over her shoulder.
He shook his head and frowned apologetically. "No, not at all. My apologies," he said, lowering his feet.
She smirked. "I'm assuming that you haven't recently gone traipsing through a barn or field and that it's safe to sit," she said, glancing down at the seat.
Draco shrugged. "Can't promise that. But if that worries you, the seat next to me is unoccupied."
She smiled and pulled out the chair in front of him, sitting down. Draco smirked. "Then again... this might not be so bad after all..."
Snape soon came to the front of the room, beginning his lecture. Draco tried his best to listen to the instructions being given for the potion that day, every now and then observing the girl in front of him. A sudden urge came over him, and he leaned forward when Snape turned around to face the board.
"Draco Malfoy," he whispered, holding his hand open beside her. She stopped writing and glanced over her shoulder. Suddenly, she smiled and placed her hand in his. "Friends call me Ace."
Draco smiled. "Just remind me not to play cards with you."
She gave him a warm smile. Suddenly, Snape was finished his schpeel and was assigning partners. Draco let go of Ace's hand and sat back.
"Mister Malfoy," Snape drawled, looking at him.
Draco glanced up. "Yes?"
Snape glanced over at Ron, slightly disturbed. "Your partner is... Mr. Weasley."
Everyone around Ron looked part surprised, part terrified. Ron's face was unreadable as he glanced over at Draco. Draco didn't look away, attempting to figure out what he was thinking. Snape looked sympathetically at Draco, then returned his gaze to the class. "Go to work."
Ace stood up and gave Draco a smile. "Much luck, tiger," she said, picking up her bag.
Draco nodded. "You too."
He watched Ace disappear into the flood of people now rising from their seats. Draco shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "You hate them. You hate all of them. Be Malfoyish. Be like Lucius." He grabbed his bag and began walking over to the assigned cauldron. "Be bad. Be Malfoyish. Be mean. Be Malfo"
He stopped as he bumped into someone, their book falling to the floor. Draco didn't notice everyone freeze as he bent over and subtly picked up the book. The someone who dropped it then turned around.
Neville Longbottom.
Draco held out the book to him. "Sorry 'bout that Longbottom. Should've been watching my step."
Neville nodded, trembling. "No... n-n-n-no problem. M-m-my fault." He took the book with shaking hands. "T-t-thanks."
Draco nodded and gave him a pat on the shoulder. He took another two steps before he froze. 'Wow! Way to be mean, Malfoy! Don't beat on them all at once!'
Draco sighed. "Damn," he muttered, continuing on to his cauldron.
Ron was already there when he arrived. He said nothing as Draco pulled out the instructions for making the potion. "You ready?"
Ron nodded solemly. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco stopped and looked up. "What the hell was that?"
Ron shrugged. "Don't know what you're talking about."
Draco scoffed and held out his hand. "Give me the wormstale, you frosty pauper, and let's get this over with."
The class went far from smoothly. Draco ignored Ron's jabs at his aristocratic upbringing, bowing when he tried to pass and calling himself "your servant".
Finally, Draco'd had enough. Grabbing Ron around the collar, he tossed him against the wall. Everyone in the class went silent. Hermione went to step forward, but was motioned still by Snape.
"Cut it out Weasley! What the hell are you doing this for?" he whispered harshly. Angrily.
Ron frowned at him. "Isn't this the way you wanted it? Back to the way things used to be?" he snapped back.
Draco gritted his teeth. "Yeah, but the change has to apply to both sides, Weasley. You never used to be this weak. Suck it up and fight me back!"
"I can't."
"Why the hell not?"
Ron's pain became evident in his eyes, and Draco knew it wasn't from the throw. "I can't kick someone when they're down... especially a friend."
Draco's grip on Ron's shirt front loosened. Frowning, he glanced down, wincing. The word hit him and resonated in his ears, hurting him. Draco looked up slowly at Ron, the sadness returning in his eyes. Fighting the tears that had threatened to form, he released Ron and casually but shakingly straightened out his shirt, brushing invisible dust off of his shoulders.
"I'm not your friend," he said, loud enough for only Ron to hear, "Not anymore."
Grabbing his books off the nearby bench, he cast an angry glance at his fellow students, frozen in place. Even Snapewas surprised (probably that Ron was still in one piece). He headed for the door, but stopped alongside Harry near the back.
He glanced sideways at him. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice husky.
Harry nodded. "So am I," he said, finally returning the glance.
With that, the only thing left of Draco was the door slam, signalling his departure.
Draco stormed down the hall. How dare Weasley do that to him? What, does he think that he ENJOYS torturing them? He did once, but not anymore. He was sure with a little practice though, that he could learn again.
As he walked, he took the corner a little too fast and walked right into someone. Draco hit the floor with a prominent thud, his head thrown back from the impact. He sat up, holding the back of his head. "Why don't you watch where you're"
"Here's a better idea- YOU watch where I'm going," said Charlie, holding out a hand, "that way, we'll both be safer."
Draco took it and stood up, brushing himself off, still fuming, an emotion that did not slip by undetected by Charlie. "Bad class?"
Draco bent over to pick up his books one by one. "Bad... does not begin... to cover it."
Suddenly, there was the presence of an extra person in the hallway. "Malfoy?"
Draco frowned and glanced around Charlie. "And things just got a whole lot worse."
Hermione stood there, her arms crossed, fuming. "What the hell was that all about?"
Draco took a few steps forward, coming to stand in front of her. "Come again?"
"What the hell possessed you to do something so completely stupid and immature! And in front of the entire class! Have you no sympathy for ANYONE?"
Draco gritted his teeth. "First of all, I don't see how ANY of it is YOUR business, Granger. And secondly, I can do what I damn well please, especially if it suits me."
Hermione clenched her fists. "You contemptable, presumptious, egotistical, self-righteous"
Draco smirked. "Oh gee, don't stop there Granger. You're just warming up! You can do better that that!"
Hermione turned red, and as Draco expected, she pulled back to take a swing at him. He braced himself for the impact, but it never came. As she brought her hand towards him, another arm grabbed it in mid swing. Hermione looked shocked at the person now gently gripping her forearm.
"Okay kids, playtime has just become too hazardous to continue. Everyone back to the classroom," said Charlie, standing in front of Draco.
Hermione smirked at Draco. "What, bodyguards now? Crabbe and Goyle quit on you?" She looked up at Charlie. "Would you mind letting go?"
"Actually I would, since you seem to have a passion for using your left hook."
Hermione frowned. "What are you, the Hogwarts police force?"
"Close," Charlie said, smirking, "I'm a prefect."
Hermione now placed her other hand on her hip. "Fascinating. So am I!" she snapped sarcastically.
Charlie gave it right back. "Really? Then I'd expect you to know a little better!"
Hermione looked taken aback for a moment. Her face softened and her muscles unclenched. "You're... right. You're absolutely right," she said, looking him right in the face. "I'm sorry."
Charlie gave her a gentle and sympathetic smile as he let go of her arm. "No harm done."
Draco opened his mouth to retort. Charlie must have sensed it, because he instantly turned around. "Don't you say a word."
Draco shut his mouth again and sighed. Giving a glance at Hermione, he headed down the hall.
Charlie sighed and smiled at Hermione. "He's had a bad day."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Seems he's had a bad lifetime."
Charlie shook his head. "Nah, he's cool. Just cranky sometimes."
Hermione smiled. "I see." She waited for a moment before putting her hand out in front of her. "I don't think we've met... I'm Hermione."
Even though he felt a twinge of pain, Charlie's natural charm instincts kicked in before he could stop them. Taking her hand, he gently and briskly kissed the top of it. "Charles Daughton."
Hermione nodded. "Nice to meet you." Quickly checking her watch, she frowned. "Oh no, I'm late for Divinity." She headed down the hall, casting a glance at Charlie over her shoulder.
Charlie gave her a friendly smile. "See you around." As he headed down the hall in the opposite direction, he could have sworn he heard her say "I hope so." Stopping, he glanced over his shoulder at her retreating figure. He frowned to himself for a moment.
Suddenly, he broke out into a big grin. "Nah!" he said to himself, heading for the prefects room.
Later that night, the great hall was empty, save for two people engaging in a battle of wits. Or something like that...
"Two... no no, three... no... two..."
Draco sighed impatiently. "Charlie..."
Charlie frowned. "No no, wait D... tw-three. Yes. Definitely three." He looked up at Draco. "Three."
Draco shook his head. "Go fish."
Charlie made a noise of frustration and took a card from the pile on the table, additing it to his hand.
Draco looked at his hand and smirked. "Got any twos?"
Charlie frowned. "Aw..." He took two twos from his hand and slid them across the table top until they were within Draco's reach. "Cheap shot," he muttered. He looked around the vacant great hall.
"Now now Charles," he said, taking the cards and putting down two twos on top of them, "this is just a game."
"Kid's game," he muttered.
Draco looked at him. "What would you like to play?"
Charlie smirked. "Poker."
Draco scoffed and shook his head. "We can't play poker with two people."
"Who says you have to?" a voice said from the doorway.
Draco didn't turn around. "What are you doing here, Potter?"
Harry came to stand by the table, now in Draco's line of sight. "In a moment, I'll be playing cards."
Draco didn't look up. "I thought I told you to stay the hell away from me."
Harry gave a sharp scoff. "Since when do I ever listen to you?"
Draco attempted to muster a glare. "Can't play with only three people either."
Harry smiled. "We won't have to," he said smiling as Ron came to sit just down from Charlie. Ron watched Draco cautiously as he sat down.
Draco shook his head and collected up the remaining cards, including Charlie's. "We're not playing," he said, crossing his arms.
Harry frowned. "You mean you won't play with us."
"That's damn well exactly what I mean!"
Ron frowned and stood up. "I am so SICK of this! Do you think you're the ONLY ONE suffering here? Look Malfoy, just because you've now decided not to be friends with us does NOT mean we're done being friends with you. So suck it up. We're staying," he said firmly, grabbing the pile of cards from in front of Draco. Sitting down frustrated, he turned to Charlie. He slammed the cards down in front of them. "Deal the goddamned cards."
Charlie didn't hesitate. He grinned and saluted him. "Yes sir, Captain Weasley," he said, shuffling quickly and began distributing the cards.
Draco looked at Charlie in surprise. "Charlie..."
Charlie leaned forward. "No offence, D," he said quietly, "but Ron is a hell of a lot scarier than you right now."
Draco glanced over at Ron, whose glare was defiant. Suddenly, Draco broke out into laughter, leaning across the table to pat Ron on the shoulder. "You're learning, Weasley. You're learning. Deal the cards, Charlie."
And for the first time in a long time, the four friends began to play, unaware of the shadow that lingered in the doorway, smiling.
"If I started over, I know I would choose
The same joy the same sadness each step of the way,
That fought me and taught me that friends
never say goodbye"
Elton John Friends Never Say Goodbye
Author's Note: Hey! Sorry that chapter was a little shorter than my others, but wait'll you see my next one! Either that or the one after that. I'm not too sure how long the next chapter's going to be, but I do know that the gang is going to be thrown out of the frying pan and into the raging river of fire death! (Well... not exactly death, but you get the idea)
My review song is "In the Middle of the Night" by Billy Joel:
In the middle of the night
I was writing in my sleep
with reviewers of truth
and the faithful so neat!
And I was writing for something
I think a review or two
and once the chapter was done
then came all the reviews!
In the middle of the night!
To My Reviewers: My love and thanks go out to the following fantastic people! undyingsoul2159, spitfirecracker, Lyannie, idontpalyairguitar92287, mrs. felton- 27, NotreDamegirlie, Black Pearl, KellyLuvsInu, SOBs 4 Sirius 223, Draco's Wife Lover, Spankee