Chapter 3

"Here are your maps and class schedule, welcome to Hogwarts Mr. Potter."

Harry looked up from the pieces of paper the principal had handed him, "thanks."

"Any questions you may have, don't hesitate to ask."

"I think I'm okay, Professor Dumbledore."

"Okay. First period is about to begin, I suggest you hurry if you want to make it on time."

Harry nodded and left the office. He walked through the halls trying to weave in between people who were obviously much more adept at the task than he was. Looking down at his map, trying to figure out where he was in relation to where his first class was, Harry didn't notice the blonde standing only inches in front of him until it was too late. Harry crashed into the boy sending them both crashing to the ground. He watched in dismay as everything he'd been holding flew out of his hands to mix with the blonde's.

"Watch where you're fucking walking!"

"Sorry, I didn't see you."

The blonde sneered, "obviously, if you had we wouldn't be sitting on the fucking floor right now."

Harry blushed as he got to his feet and offered the blonde his hand, "right, sorry."

The blonde scowled at his hand before taking it. Together they separated their belongings, the blonde noticing Harry's schedule in the process, "so, you're new, huh?"

"Yeah. First day. Guess I'm not making such a good impression, huh?"

The blonde chuckled, "it's alright. I thought you were one of those stupid freshmen; you're barely taller than they are. They still can't tell their way around, even though school's been in session for a month." He looked down at the slip of paper again, "AP classes?"

Harry's blush deepened, if that was even possible at this point, "mm-hm. Just your average geek."

The blonde looked him up and down, "definitely not the average geek. Besides, I'm in the AP track as well, we have the same schedule. Hogwarts doesn't have many over-achievers. Come on, I'll show you where to go. I'm Draco Malfoy, by the way."

"I'm Harry Potter."

"Yeah," Draco said holding up Harry's schedule, "I know." Draco glanced at his watch, "fuck, the bell's about to ring and we've got to get across campus. Up for a run?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No, not really. Come on."

The pair set off at a run. Harry followed Draco as well as marked where they were and what route they were taking. They stumbled into the classroom a millisecond before the final bell rang. The teacher did not look amused. Harry wearily approached him as Draco strutted off to his seat in the back of the room. He handed over his schedule and the teacher practically growled at him.

"Class, we have a new student apparently. This is Harry Potter. Now tell us, Mr. Potter, where you transferred from so we can get on with our lesson for the day."

Harry raised an eyebrow, but did as he was told, "I transferred from Durmstrang, sir."

"Ah, a very prestigious school, why did you move?"

"Not to be rude, sir, but that's really none of your business."

"Take the empty seat next to Mr. Malfoy."

Harry moved away from him and grinned. He sat down in the only empty seat next to Draco and placed his notebook on the desk. Draco looked over at him with an impressed look on his face, "no one talks to Snape like that. I'm surprised you got away with it, although I'm sure you're on his list now."

Harry shrugged, "oh well. I don't really care."

"Mr. Potter, please keep refrain from talking in my class, I do not appreciate having to talk over you. Save the socializing for lunch."

Draco looked pointedly at Harry, "what'd I say?"

Harry rolled his eyes and focused on the brutal chemistry lesson, or what would have been a brutal lesson had Harry not already learned it before his transfer. He completed the assignment given to them with twenty minutes of class left to spare, so he pulled out his sketch book and continued on his current work in progress. Harry became so absorbed in his drawing his didn't notice Professor Snape come up behind him. He snatched the book away from Harry and smiled triumphantly at the teen.

"Mr. Potter, I must request you save your little drawings for art class and not chemistry. I gave you an assignment and I do not appreciate you blatantly ignoring it. Stay after class."

"Excuse me Professor, but I haven't done anything wrong. I did not ignore your assignment, but finished it."

"Impossible."

Harry pulled out the work, "not quite. It's all here, have a look if you don't believe me."

"That assignment should have taken you more than ten minutes, Mr. Potter, especially for someone just coming into my class."

"Like you said earlier, Durmstrang is a very prestigious school. Do you think they would allow their professors to teach at such a lax pace? No, Professor Snape, they do not. I have already learned the material you taught in class today a week ago, therefore the assignment was relatively easy and was not hard to finish at a faster rate than you expected. I see no reason for my staying after class because I am not in the wrong; you however have taken my personal property without first questioning me. I would like my book back, if you don't mind."

Professor Snape threw the book down onto the table, "get out of my class, Mr. Potter. Your insubordination will not be tolerated."

Harry shrugged and stood up, "am I to go to the Headmaster's office then?"

"I don't care where you go, just get out of my sight."

Harry strode out of the classroom and decided to use the extra time to locate his next class. He managed to find the room in the next building over without much trouble and decided to sit in the sun until the time he actually needed to be inside for his lesson. Ten minutes later students filed out of the classrooms and Harry found Draco standing in front of him with his arm extended. Harry grasped the arm and pulled himself off the ground. Draco shook his head at him slightly with a grin tugging at his lips. They walked into history early and Harry handed his schedule to Professor Binns, getting a much warmer greeting from the old man than he had from Snape. Harry once again took his seat next to Draco.

"Man, you are daring. Snape was livid after you left. Damn near burst a vein in his overly large forehead."

Harry grinned, "I'm surprised you could find his forehead under all that greasy hair. It's not my fault he's teaching something I already know."

The rest of the day passed uneventfully for Harry and he was thankful when lunch came around. Draco called him over to his table after he'd gotten his lunch. Harry picked his way through the overly crowded cafeteria to the table in the back. "Hey, Draco."

"Harry, meet some of my friends. This is Pansy, Blaise, Ron, his sister Ginny, and Hermione."

"Hey," Harry said shyly.

Draco's jaw dropped for a second, "don't tell me you're getting shy now. This, the guy who had no trouble telling Snape off, is intimidated by my friends?"

"Shut up, Draco, leave the poor boy alone. Hi Harry, I'm Hermione; it's a pleasure to meet you. Which house did you move into?"

"Um, I think the real-estate agent called it Godric's Hollow, or something like that."

"Your family bought Godric's Hollow?"

Harry nodded, "yeah. Me, Sirius, and Remus."

"What are they gay and you're their adopted love child?" the red head called Ron asked.

Harry was startled, "what? No. They're my guardians. Friends of my parents'."

"Ronald, could you possibly have any less tact?" Hermione chided, the red head shrugged. "So, Harry, why do you live with them?"

Harry looked down, "I really don't want to talk about it. Excuse me guys."

The group watched in silence as Harry hurried away. Draco groaned at his friends' stupidity and followed after him. Harry had already reached the quad in the middle of the campus when Draco caught up with him, "Harry, wait! Where are you going?"

"Home," Harry answered over his shoulder, "I don't have any more classes anyway, why should I stay?"

They were now in the parking lot and Harry was winding through the rows of cars until he came to his black Honda Accord, with Draco right behind him, "come on, Harry, they didn't mean anything by it. Just come back to lunch."

"No," Harry unlocked his car, and Draco took his chance and climbed in the passenger's seat, "get out, Draco."

"No, I can't do that. Not until you tell me what's up."

Harry glared at him, "you don't know me, Draco. Just get the hell out of my car."

"No, I want to get to know you, don't shut me out before you've given me a chance."

"Why? Why are you so set on getting to know me? Huh? What do you get out of it?"

Draco looked Harry in the eye, hurt that Harry would think so low of him without getting to know him, "nothing. I'm just trying to be a nice guy. It doesn't happen often, either. I'm not nice to a lot of people, that guy you ran into this morning, that's who I am. I don't play nice to new people."

"Then why bother with me?"

Draco blushed, the red standing out brightly against his pale face, "I don't know."