Romancing the Stone: Chapter 2
Befriending the Dragon
by Iridian
Draco knew he was a beautiful boy. He had been told numerous times that he was, and so many people wouldn't lie would they? He had grown to be a little over six feet tall, still had the same icy blond hair, silver-gray eyes, and the face reminiscent of a Greek god. Quidditch had done him an infinite amount of good, resulting in a broad-shouldered but toned physique. He had acquired a light tan from his years playing seeker.
He had grown tired of spending time gelling his hair back, and was now pleased to let it go, hair wisps brushing lightly over his eyes. He had come back from Hogwarts at the request from his father, stating family emergencies as an excuse. He was disappointed at
"Boy! Get down here now, we must leave," shouted Lucius from the staircase.
"Father, as I recall, I'm not attending this…meeting, shall I say, with you," said Draco coolly, raising an eyebrow at his father, crossing his arms and leaning against the staircase.
"You don't know what you're talking about boy, you will be coming tonight and you will enjoy it," snarled Lucius.
"I'm afraid you don't know what you're talking about Father," replied Draco.
"Insolent boy! Do not think that because you're my son, you can disrespect me," shouted Lucius.
Draco began laughing, a cold laugh, a laugh instilled in him by years of coldness.
"Father, I'm very much past caring about anything. Congratulations, you're training paid off. Perhaps I cared back then, but I was weak. You can hurt me but I couldn't care less. The only one who cares is yourself, believing that your curses have an effect on me," said Draco.
"Perhaps I shall make you care again then, boy," snarled Lucius.
Draco thought quickly, but not quickly enough. Lucius whipped his wand out and shouted, "Levicorpus!"
He saw black.
"Draco, are you ready to become one of my followers?" said Voldemort, chuckling cruelly.
Draco detested this man. He was weak, hiding behind his brainwashed Death Eaters who were not intelligent enough to seize power for themselves, not just serve under this miserable half-blood.
"Prepare yourself Draco," shouted Voldemort.
Draco tensed, whipping his wand out to apparate, but the circle of Death Eaters around him tightened, and one of them tripped him as he tried to make his getaway.
"Morsemordre!" shouted Voldemort, a jet of black light shooting out of his wand and hitting Draco.
Draco was hit by blinding pain in his forearm. He fell to the ground and did the only thing he could do. He apparated out, not knowing where he would land, just as long as he wasn't near this place they called the throne room.
"Draco?" called Professor Dumbledore.
"Ugh…" said Draco.
"You've finally woken up! Gave us all quite the fright too!" said Dumbledore.
"Umm…yeah professor," replied Draco uneasily.
"Harry?" whispered Ron and Ginny.
"Do you hear that?" said Ginny softly.
Ron and Ginny had been visiting Harry in the Hospital Wing after he had broken his leg in a Quidditch match. The two had quickly hid under the Invisibility Cloak when they heard voices coming, specifically Madam Pompfrey, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Snape.
"You did the right thing Draco," said Snape, his cold exterior betraying his concern and pride in the boy he considered his surrogate son.
"Thank you professor. How long have I been here?" said Draco, his mask back in place.
"You've been missing for a week, Mr. Malfoy. Many of the students were worried about you, I believe Miss Parkinson was most concerned about her 'Drakey-poo'," said Dumbledore amusedly, "Miss Granger was also most concerned, and she has very kindly compiled all of you assignments and notes, seeing as the two of you are in all of the same classes."
Draco stared for a moment, shocked, but recovered. "May I please go back, sir? I have missed a lot, and people will start to ask questions."
"You, Mr. Malfoy, have only begun healing! You will stay here for at least another two days," said Madam Pompfrey, bustling around the bed.
"But -," said Draco.
"No buts young man. That is final," said Madam Pompfrey.
Dumbledore and Snape watched as one of the most powerful young wizards of the time was bossed around by the nurse.
"Draco, after your encounter with Voldemort, you must rest," said Dumbledore gently.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny, who had all been listening intently, gasped silently.
"I suppose. Professor Dumbledore, I am going to ask you a question. I'd like the honest truth, and I don't want to be coddled. Will the mark ever go away?" said Draco, gesturing casually to his mangled left forearm.
"No, Draco. I'm afraid it won't. Magical wounds are not so easily charmed away," said Dumbledore sadly.
"The pain does not lessen with time, Draco. But it will all be alright," said Professor Snape, commiserating with Draco.
"I would like to sleep in my own bed tonight. I'll come in tomorrow morning for a checkup, but I will go to class," said Draco, getting out of his bed.
Madam Pompfrey, understanding his reasons, stood aside as she let him exit the curtain.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny all gasped as they caught sight of Malfoy.
"Good night Professors, Madam Pompfrey," said Draco, turning and leaving the Infirmary, unaware of the followers he had attracted.
"That boy doesn't deserve that," said Madam Pompfrey, saddened.
"No. No he doesn't," said Dumbledore.
"Malfoy!" whispered Harry urgently.
Draco whipped around, startled by the voice that came out of nowhere.
"Who's there?" said Draco warily.
Harry threw the cloak off of the three, and stepped closer to Draco.
"What happened to you, Malfoy?" said Harry, a hint of pity in his voice.
Draco was covered in heavy bandaged everywhere his robes didn't cover. Only his face remained unblemished, the marble skin still untouched.
Ron, for once not insulting him, actually looked worried.
"I had a run in with Voldemort and my father. Surprised I'm not so evil after all, huh?" said Draco bitterly.
"Malfoy I…" began Ginny, trailing off.
"I don't want your pity," said Draco sharply, his cold voice slicing into them.
"You're not a Death Eater?" said Ron. The other two shot glares at Ron's callous remark.
"No. In fact, would you like to see my arm?" said Draco, pulling up his sleeve, revealing a mangled mess of half-healed deep cuts, scars, bruising, burns littering a two inch radius of Draco's arm, marring the perfect skin forever.
"I don't even know why I'm showing you this. The Boy Who Lived, the Weasel, and the Weaselette…" said Draco, trailing off, a grin on his face.
"Malfoy…we…we didn't know," said Ron softly.
"No you didn't. Are you sorry now?" said Draco. With that parting shot, he walked down the hallway to his dorm.
Ron and Harry looked at each other. Ginny nodded, and left them to chase after the Slytherin Head Boy.
"Malfoy!" shouted Harry.
Draco turned once more, tired. "What do you want Potter?" he said, fatigue lacing his voice.
"Can we talk?"
The three boys were seated in the Head's common room.
There was awkward silence.
"So…what's up Malfoy?" said Harry, trying to break the silence.
"Nothing really. By the way, I would prefer it if you would call me Draco…Harry," said Draco, shrugging.
"Ok, Draco," said Harry. The name was foreign to his tongue, and he felt awkward pronouncing it.
"How did you get into this mess?" said Ron.
"I was born," replied Draco simply.
"So, what's been up with you and Hermione? She's so…weird around you," said Ron, "at least lately."
Draco laughed, the first pleasant sound Ron and Harry had ever heard out of him. Not mocking, not fake, it was real, surreal. "We made a bet. I decided to not act on it for a little while, because 1. I figured she would start getting nervous and thinking I was planning something and 2. I was a little busy figuring out how I would escape initiation," said Draco.
"Well, it all turned out alright, didn't it?" said Harry.
"Yeah…it did," said Draco.
"So…how's your Quidditch team this year?" said Ron, trying to broach on a subject they all had in common.
"Well, since I was made captain, I held tryouts a week ago, and I picked people for talent, not blood. Our team is the best Slytherin House has seen in years. Plus with the new training regiment I will be starting once I get well enough…we're going to be tough," said Draco.
"Good, because we don't want to be let down when we play together," said Harry jokingly.
All three laughed good-naturedly, then stared at each other, amazed at the ease that they had.
"Friends?" said Draco casually.
"Friends," chorused Ron and Harry.
Over the next week, they hung out more, much to the surprise of well…everyone. Slytherins shunned his company, due to his mutiny. He only spoke to Blaise Zabini now, a few Ravenclaws here and there. And his Gryffindors, of course.
Turning point! Hope you all like it. Leave me a review if you like it or not!
Iri
