Malfoy Manor was huge on the inside. Draco's mother opened the door with a cold smile, leading them into a smaller, light green room with lacy furnishings. There was a wooden table set in the middle, and at it were four children- a girl about his size with dark hair and a pug nose, a sallow boy with chapped lips, a dark boy fiddling with the utensils, making absolutely no effort to hide his boredom, and a child with white blond hair and a golden crown on his head. He was saying something in a drawling voice but when Harry entered with Loki, he stood up, flushing.
The other children stood too, after a moment of hesitation, and they bowed.
Harry stood there uncomfortably, watching them straighten up.
"And here we are," Loki said. "How… lovely. Goodbye, Harry. I'll see you later."
"You're leaving already?" Harry exclaimed, rounding back on Loki.
"Of course I am," Loki said. "I have to get back to the Ministry."
Harry shot him a betrayed look.
"Enjoy the party, Harry!" he said, and Harry could hear the smirk in his voice floating through the doorway. "Don't forget your gift!"
And with that, he disapparated.
Harry looked back in panic. All the children were looking at him with varying levels of curiousity.
At last, the blond boy spoke up.
"You brought a gift?" he said.
"Oh," Harry said. "Yeah."
He fished into his pocket and pulled out the Remembrall, which in the last quarter hour had somehow acquired a purple bow.
"Here you go," he said, tossing it to (presumably) Draco Malfoy, who caught it.
"A Remembrall?" he said. "Not bad." He sounded like he was being deliberately gracious, and like the effort involved was considerable. The effect was punctuated by the ball glowing red, and Harry had to stifle a laugh.
"Something like that, yeah," he said.
He turned back to the table.
"I'm Harry," he said. "Harry Potter."
"We know that," said the sallow boy. "Everyone knows who you are."
Harry bit his tongue, remembering Remus's words on what was and was not worth getting angry over.
"Well I've no idea who you are," he said at last, earning a smirk from the blond boy.
"Theodore Nott," the boy said, scowling.
"And I'm Pansy," the girl beside him said. "Pansy Parkinson."
"Blaise," said the bored boy. "Zabini."
"Draco Malfoy," drawled the blond boy. "Have a seat."
Harry sat down, still feeling rather on edge. There were tea and scones on the table, and in the center an extravagant birthday cake that still managed to look quite formal.
"So, anyway," Malfoy was saying, "The Falcons are going to destroy this year. With Veitch on their side-"
"And I'm telling you they don't stand a chance against the Holyhead Harpies," Nott argued. "Jones is brilliant; the Falcons don't stand a chance when they go up in the quarter-finals."
"What do you think?" Malfoy asked, rounding on Harry. "Do you follow Quidditch?"
"I support Puddlemere United, actually," Harry said. "But between the two of them, yeah, definitely the Harpies."
Zabini groaned as Malfoy fumed.
"Gwenog's an idiot who should never have been given a broomstick," Malfoy said. "At this rate she'll take herself out of the running before the quarter finals."
"Want to put money on that?" Pansy said leaning forward. "Bet you a galleon they win the semis."
"Make it two," Malfoy said, turning to Harry. "Nott? Potter? You in? There's no use asking Zabini here."
"I'll take it," Nott said, dropping two galleons on the table.
Harry was rather taken aback. Two galleons was a week's pay for Remus.
"Potter?" Malfoy said again.
"No thanks," Harry said flatly. "I don't care that much."
Malfoy shrugged.
"So did you hear that France's joining the league?" he said.
"Never mind the stupid league," Zabini drawled. "They're going to be joining us- them and all new provinces, actually. Didn't you hear about your dad's new law? Hogwarts is giving free and public education to anyone who can pass the examination requirements."
"So what?" Malfoy scoffed.
"So?" Zabini said. "You don't need to be put on the register since birth anymore. The muggleborn will outnumber us five to one. That is," he added, "if you get in at all."
Draco paled.
"My father would never do something like that."
"Bet he would if his father told him to," Zabini said, quirking a thumb at Harry, who was finding it increasingly hard to keep an impassive face.
"He's not my father," he said. "And I think it's brilliant."
"Adoptive father. Guardian. Whatever," Zabini said.
"And anyway, you're a fool if you think a mudblood is going to pass an examination that purebloods can't," Malfoy said.
"Unless you're worried, Zabini?" Parkinson added sweetly.
"Yeah, about your stupid nose," Zabini said, reaching over to tap it. "Do you think if it climbs any higher it'll come free of your face?"
Parkinson made a sour face (which did indeed accentuate the sharpness of her nose).
"At any rate, a smart mudblood's going to do fine on a test," Zabini said. "The real losers will be bloodtraitors like the Weasleys."
Under the table, Harry's fists were tightening…
Nott laughed.
"Why's that then?" Malfoy asked.
"Well they don't have much going for them in terms of money or brains, do they?" Zabini said, and Malfoy howled with laughter.
"Right," Harry said, though no one seemed to hear him. He got up, drawing the attention of the others. "I've had enough, thanks."
Then he turned and walked out of the room, leaving four bemused faces behind him.
Malfoy cursed.
Harry walked quickly, not eager to talk to Malfoy or to run into anyone else in his family. He found a glass door outside and ran across the grounds, stopping under a big tree, a bit out of sight from the windows. He looked up and down at it, and then a moment later, climbed it to the top.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
He scowled. And to think, he'd actually been looking forward to the idea of meeting Malfoy and other kids his own age. It should figure he hadn't changed since they were five. Though something Zabini said gave him the beginnings of an idea…
A rustling sound from far, far below drew his attention and he tensed, startled out of his thoughts.
"Potter? Potter?" Malfoy called. At this height he looked very small.
Harry stayed very still, crossing his fingers until…
"Potter! What are you doing on that tree?"
"Take a guess," Harry said acerbically.
"Well, come down, then," Malfoy said. "I need to speak to you."
"Don't think I will, thanks," Harry said, sitting up and kicking his feet.
Draco's face darkened.
"Fine," he said, and Harry exhaled in relief. He didn't think that would work.
Another rustling sounded past his ears, and then a scraping sound, and the tree branch bobbed down as Malfoy's pale head came into view far below.
"Fine," he called, panting as he drew himself up to the first branch. "I'll come up."
Harry groaned.
"Have you even done this before?" he asked.
Malfoy ignored that.
"You're going to get yourself hurt." Not that he cared at this point. This was beyond intrusive.
"Don't be foolish," Malfoy said. "Any wizard could survive a fall from this height. Move over."
"I said hurt, not killed," Harry said. "Ow!"
Malfoy had poked him with a stick.
"I'm not moving over," he said. "You can say what you want to from over there."
"Fine," Malfoy said, clearly struggling to keep hold of his temper. "I just came to bring you back, anyway."
"Back?" Harry said.
"You can't just leave the party," Malfoy said, as if explaining things to one who was particularly dull. "You have to come back. That's why I'm here, to bring you. You're welcome."
Harry stared at him incredulously.
"I'm not coming back."
"You have to," Malfoy said, bouncing impatiently on the branch. It barely moved. "Father said so."
"Well, Loki told me I could do what I want," Harry said, putting his feet back up on the branch and trying to ignore the scene on the branch below.
"Look," Malfoy said. "If the Weasleys are your friends or something, we won't talk about them, alright?"
"Great," Harry said, raising his hands. "Still not coming back."
"What is wrong with you, Potter? I said we won't do it again."
"Leave me alone, Malfoy." Harry said wearily.
"Why won't you come back?" Malfoy said, throwing up his arms. "I said, I'm sorry!"
"You didn't, actually," Harry said.
"Fine, I'm sorry," Malfoy said. "Can you stop behaving like a bowtruckle?"
"You don't even know what you're saying sorry for," Harry said.
Malfoy groaned.
"Is this about the bloodtraitors? Don't tell me you know them or something?"
"Ron Weasley is my best friend," Harry said coolly. "And I'd rather be friends with bloodtraitors than rich snobs who treat muggleborns like dirt."
"What would you know?" Malfoy said. "Loki doesn't even like muggleborns."
Harry blinked, wondering if this was true. He'd never heard his godfather say anything about it. "Well," he settled on, crouching to grab the next branch. "I do."
"Where are you going?" Malfoy asked.
"Away from you," Harry said. He sat on the branch, glancing down. He was about eight meters up.
"Are you-"
He dropped, landing in a crouch.
"Potter!" Malfoy shouted after him. "Potter, get back here, I'm not done speaking to you!"
He walked in the other direction, towards the house.
"Potter!"
"I see you had a nice time," Loki said, peering into an alcove of the library, poking through a book. Loki always knew where to find him.
Harry glared daggers at him.
"As I'm sure you'll be relieved to know, the house elf was eventually able to get Draco down from that tree," Loki said. "So I don't need to have a conversation with his dad about your rash proclivities."
"Wasn't rash," Harry muttered, standing up. "Malfoy's a jerk who thinks Muggleborns shouldn't be allowed in schools."
"Jerks can be useful too," Loki said. "Goodness knows his father is."
"I don't want to use him," Harry said, following him down the hallway.
Loki shrugged.
"As you wish," he said, opening up the doors.
"Uncle Loki," Harry said, uncertain how to ask the question. "Do you… think Muggleborns are inferior?"
"Yes," Loki said, quickening his path as they walked down the gravel path. And, as Harry looked after him, gaping, he added, "Purebloods too. Someday, perhaps, I'll show you what real power looks like."
Harry stayed in place, not quite sure what to say. Loki appeared behind him, ruffling his hair.
"Don't worry about it. In another few years, you'll see something that makes this little conundrum look like a tea party, I guarantee it," he said with no small degree of relish.
"So are things going well in Belgium?" Harry asked.
"We're done," Loki said, grinning and flipping his horned helmet in the air.
"Already?" Harry's eyes widened. Then another thing occurred to him— "Does that mean I can go back to the Ministry?"
"Unfortunately not," Loki said, catching his helm and sobering quickly. "The international developments I alluded to earlier are coming into play— we have aroused the ire of states to our north and south, who were too slow to mobilize today. They are combining now in an attempt to crush us."
"Which states?" Harry asked. It seemed like worrying news, but Loki didn't look concerned, just serious. "The western parts of Germany and the Northern states of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Switzerland will join but is hampered by democratic process. Spain and Iberia may not join. Egypt may join." He shrugged. "We shall see what else transpires."
This bothered Harry in a way he couldn't quite articulate, but he didn't have the energy for a philosophical debate with his godfather.
"Uncle Loki," he said cautiously instead.
"Yes?" Loki said.
"Do you think it's too dangerous for me to go to school?"
"To a muggle school?" Loki asked. He tapped his chin, considering. "We could manage it," he said at last. "Perhaps with a disguise."
"Really?" Harry said, his heart leaping. "Thanks!"
"In fact," Loki said, "That sounds like a good idea. Yes, let's send you to a muggle school. You're, how old- almost eight, in the years of mortal men? That should give you three years before you reach Hogwarts."
"Okay," Harry said, wondering what the correlation was.
"Of course," Loki said, "You shall have to have extra lessons, to be caught up on time. I'll have to hire a tutor."
"What?" Harry said. "I don't need lessons. I can, you know, write and do math and stuff."
"Sure, by wizarding standards," Loki said. "No, if you're going to go to school, you must do it right."
Harry groaned.
A/N: Remember, a review a day makes for a happy purple!read. Creds to Prevaricator's Penchant for fixing this up nice, and for TheTzip and Blue Jay for prereading last chapter.