Fullmetal Horcrux Chapter 6: Day 1, Good morning Mr. Draco
Disclaimer: Not every disclaimer will be witty. Blah, blah, don't blah Harry blah and Blahmetal Alcheblah.
The morning was quite refreshing to the young Malfoy. The cool air of the dungeons may have seemed 'dank' to the less cultured houses, but all in Slytherin knew the cold aided the younger members in waking early. Walking into the common room Goyle awaited him alone, holding his compatriot's clipboard.
"Oh, Mr. Draco! Excuse me, you have risen earlier than we expected. Crabbe has been truly tuckered out after arranging your first day and is still in his chambers. I will rouse him immediately."
"There is no need." Draco smiled softly, "It is good to know he serves so dutifully. Let us ask the dining staff to bring breakfast to him, so long as he is not late to class, I do not mind."
"Yes sir."
With one of his retinue, he exited into the hallway. As he walked, he passed Zabini who slowed his pace to walk with Draco.
"Good morning, Mr. Draco."
"Good morning, Mr. Zabini, how are your parents?"
"They are doing quite well, thank you. Well, we part here. I am meeting with Ms. Davis prior to our meal."
"Have a good day then."
"You as well." The Slytherins stopped walking, turned to each other and bowed slightly.
The next event on his journey to the Great Hall was the discovery of a large mess of papers and books in a thin corridor. How odd and unkempt. Draco took pause and gave a nod of affirmation to Goyle. The two got to their knees and neatly organized and stacked the belongings. Placing them neatly on a nearby table, Draco suspected they somehow had been knocked off. Not a usual place for storing notes, but perhaps someone would return soon for them. Leaving the hall nicer than they found it, they departed from the scene.
Entering the Great Hall and seating themselves at their table, a call went up.
"Good morning, Mr. Draco." Many said in unison, obviously excluding those who currently had a mouth full of food. As Draco began sipping the tea provided, those around him continued in their idle discussion.
"Have you heard about the chap Harry Potter? Seems he is attending Hogwarts this year, and in Gryffindor as well."
"Harry Potter? He is the one who vanquished the Dark Lord, or so I recall. I can not believe he would be placed in that house of ruffians."
"It is not a hard thing to believe, having met him." Draco mused "On the Hogwarts Express he insulted me and we have begun a feud." There were scandalous gasps throughout the Slytherins.
"Truly?" Theodore Nott asked "I hardly think your father would agree with such a decision on your part. The Potters are a most Noble House."
"The Honor of House Malfoy is not to be impugned, even by the scion of another Noble House."
After finishing breakfast, Draco and Goyle dismissed themselves. There was still time before their first class and took the time to peruse the castle grounds. During this time Crabbe met up with them asking for Draco's forgiveness, which was quickly given. The Slytherins walked around the grounds, helping lost students find their way, explaining the point system to first years, describing Quidditch awkwardly to some half-bloods who were curious, rescuing kneazles from trees, helping old ladies cross streets and helping children lost in malls find their mothers.
"Good morning class." Their head of house called to them as they sat down. "As I am sure your families have informed you, potions is an exact and precise art. While you are expected to maintain decorum in your other classes, you are not to value your appearance over your studies. Doing so could result in catastrophe. When you are older and presentation becomes more important, I would suggest hiring a potions master or working in a private workspace." Eyebrows were raised to this proclamation. One's impression in Slytherin was of the utmost importance. Some of the muggleborns in the class nodded along at their head of house. Draco supposed this was due to the fact that they didn't have so many eyes on them during their childhood. He doubted they'd even ousted one paparazzi in their life.
They started going over the tools they would be utilizing in potions class. Draco would have rolled his eyes if he were less cultured, everyone had tutors to teach them such simple things. What would be the point of going to Hogwarts if you were only going to learn things you were already taught? That's why you had to be sure to arrange for tutors beforehand. What sort of proletariats didn't have tutors to teach them before attending Hogwarts anyway? The other houses were uncivilized, to be sure, but they wouldn't be so barbaric as to skimp on the lessons beforehand.
After the tedious review, they finally got around to gathering the ingredients for the first potion they were to make. Checking his pocket watch, Draco noted that almost half of an hour had passed. How idle they were, and the Professor was only just handing out the recipe for the potion! Strangely enough, it was unlabeled and the ingredients didn't remind Draco of any of the potions he'd brewed at home. The scion of the House of Malfoy set to work despite this, finely mincing his plump helmets.
"Eugh." One of the more uncouth Slytherins gagged as a semi-solid yellow mass clung to their fingers. Draco raised an eye, but wasn't about to make a scene. What was that anyway? Scanning the list he matched ingredients to what he could recognize, plump helmets, artichoke hearts, ... cat tallow. Draco retched. Well that's embarrassing.
"Mr. Draco, would you like to excuse yourself?"
"I would indeed sir. Permission to go to the washroom, sir?"
"Granted." As Draco left with his attendants, Snape sighed.
"Now I'm not even in the mood for soup anymore."