Draco opened his window to the owl hovering outside. Taking the package from it, he tossed a couple of owl treats its way and didn't bother to look up as it gulped them down and left. Scanning the letter, his eyes focused primarily on the following sentences:
"Congratulations on earning the position of Head Boy. Your partner for the year, the Head Girl, will be none other than Miss Hermione Granger." He snorted in disgust. Just as he'd expected. He gave no more than a cursory glance at the rest of the letter, which included the list of what he would need for the upcoming year, a list of the first years and new kids, and an explanation of his duties as Head Boy.
He threw the letter onto his four poster and reached for the package. Draco tore it open and a shiny silver badge tumbled into his lap. Examining it closely, he discovered a tiny intricate serpent curled around the word "HOGWARTS" engraved at the top of the miniature shield shaped pin. Under that were the words "HEAD BOY." He flipped it over to discover his name carved elegantly into the back. His full name.
"Draco James Malfoy," he whispered. He had always hated his name, denying to everyone his middle name especially. It reminded him of what his family had been, before everything with Voldemort and - it was best not to get into that. He blinked his eyes and rose out of what could almost be called a trance. He glanced at the name once more andcursed, throwing the badge down next to the letter and picking up the rest of the package. Out fell a ring of keys, presumably to mysterious dread portals at Hogwarts, and an invisibility cloak. Now that caught his interest.
He detached the note pinned to the cloak and read "To be used appropriately as necessary. On loan for the year. –A.D." He felt almost disappointed. Invisibility cloaks were extremely rare, and he didn't even dare to bring his own to Hogwarts in case it was confiscated. But now Dumbledore had given him one to be used expressly at school…
He imagined the fun he would have patrolling in it. He would walk the halls silently, hoping to catch any younger students out and about. He'd approach them, not bothering to hide, for they wouldn't be able to see him. Then, as soon as they were about to walk into him, he would whisk the cloak aside and loom over their bewilderment, basking in the confusion and fear on their faces as he deducted point after point and gave out multiple detentions. Oh, the joy of power!
He grinned, folding the cloak and laying it carefully on his pillow. Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all, even if he did have to work with Granger. His mood clouded as he remembered her. What an annoying bitch. Smarty-pants, know-it-all… he had to work to be able to keep up with her grades in class, and he hated the idea. If having pure blood made you so much superior, why did he have to work so hard? And it was almost too difficult to conceal the fact that he worked to be her equal. He loved the impression he gave off, of knowing everything automatically and never working. Little did the rest of Hogwarts know that he toiled over his homework late at night and on week-ends, when the castle was dormant and still.
He sat on the edge of his bed, remembering all the petty conflicts that had occurred between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins over the years, laying his memories out before him like photographs on a table. There was the time in first year he challenged Potter to a wizard's duel, and the time Hermione hauled off and punched him in the face… he flinched at the memory and didn't realize he'd raised his hand to his cheek until he grazed it with the tips of his fingers.
He did enjoy the challenge, of course, he mused. He'd be incessantly bored without the necessity of thinking up ways to outsmart them. He smiled as he recalled the anger that danced across their faces every time he faced Potter, Weasley and Granger. What fun.
He got up and hauled his trunk out of the closet. Time to pack.