Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine, three of the characters are however and somewhat of the personality of the fourth. I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 5: Rivalry, Dogs and Friends

"Do you mind if I sit here?" Rose asked a Slytherin boy with black hair. He was sitting alone at the back table in the library.

"Chair is free if you want it." The Slytherin muttered, going back to reading his book. She had a foot long parchment due to Snape on the cure of boils potion she needed to finish.

"I'm Rose." She introduced herself to the boy who glanced back up at with dark blue eyes. They stood out against his dark skin. "You must know my brother, Julian?"

"I do." The boy nodded. "Blaise Zabini, pleasure."

"Need help with Charms?" Rose noticed the Levitating Charm Essay due to Flitwick. He had set it aside. "Only, I really enjoy the subject." Rose smiled at the boy who nodded slowly and pushed what he had gotten so far on his essay to her.

"It's a Remembrall!" Neville said gleefully. "Gran knows I forget things, this tells you if there is something you have forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red, oh…I've forgotten something." The Remembrall had flashed scarlet.

Neville was trying to remember what he had forgotten when Draco, Julian and their goons Crabbe and Goyle, who were passing by the Gryffindor table, came over. Draco rudely grabbed the Remembrall out of Neville's hands. This caused the poor boy to squeak. Harry and Ron instanly jumped to their feet to defend Neville; they were half hoping for a reason to knock Malfoy out anyway.

"Lovely little thing isn't it Draco." Julian laughed snatching it and throwing it into the air. Neville squeaked again.

"Give it back, Potter." Ron demanded, Harry looked at him. It was weird for him to say his last name and mean someone else.

"Is there a problem boys?" McGonagall looked pointedly at Julian and Draco. Julian smiled charmingly at the woman.

"Problem, oh no. No problem, just looking weren't we boys?" Julian's smile widened as Crabbe and Goyle shook their heads obediently.

"Just looking." Draco repeated walking off, Crabbe and Goyle followed. Julian handed the Remembrall back over to Neville, who took it gratefully.

"Excuse me my lady I must be off. I have transfiguration practicing to be done." Julian bowed towards McGonagall. He took off towards wherever Malfoy had gone.

"I don't like him." Ron muttered out, Harry shrugged. "I know he's your brother but Merlin he is a prick."

"Forget about it, that's just Julian. Come on, we're going to be late for Flying Lessons." Ron nodded and followed Harry out through the Great Hall doors.

"Everyone, step up to your broom and say 'up'!" Madam Hooch, a hawk like woman, their flying instructor, told them. Harry and Julian's broomsticks both jumped right up into their hands, Draco's followed shortly after while Ron had a bit of trouble and ended up knocking himself in the head.

"Now, at my whistle get on your brooms, hover for a few seconds and put your feet firmly back on the ground. One, two-" Neville had already pushed off, he was whimpering though as the broom rose higher and higher into the air. "Mr. Longbottom!"

"What a whelp." Draco whispered to Julian who laughed. Ron and Harry heard though and glared.

"Shut it Malfoy." Ron muttered.

"What are you going to do about it Weasley?" It wasn't Draco who answered Ron, it was Julian.

"Both of you shut it. Neville's hurt." Hermione Granger butted in with a glare. Harry and Ron ran over to where Neville was cradling his arm.

"Looks like a broken wrist, the Hospital Wing for you boy." Madam Hooch huffed. "Keep your brooms on the ground, if I see anyone in the air. You'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say quidditch!"

"Maybe if the whelp had given this a squeeze he would have remembered to fall on his fat arse." Draco joked; all the Slytherins laughed while the Gryffindors glared.

"Give that here, Malfoy." Harry demanded, his hand out.

"No, actually I think I'll put it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Malfoy soared into the air on his broom. "How about the roof?"

"Give it here Malfoy or I will knock you off your broom." Harry got on his own broom and tensely soared towards Malfoy. "Not so cocky now are you without my brother to back you up."

"Have it your way then Potter." Malfoy chose to ignore Harry's words and threw the ball hard over toward the wall of the castle.

Harry shot out after it, his eyes never leaving the little glass ball. He sped up and dove, catching the ball just before the ground; he breathed a sigh of relief and slid of the broom. He took a second to catch his breath as he lied on the ground. Ron came over, helped him up and patted him on the back. The Gryffindors were all cheering.

"Nice one brother!" Julian squeezed his brother's shoulder. He had a large lopsided grin on.

"Harry Potter!" Professor McGonagall was running across the yard, her hands holding up her robes. "Never in all my years." She was muttering.

"Professor, Harry was just-"

"I don't need explanations, Potter follow me." McGonagall looked between shocked and angered.

"No really-"

"Miss Patil." McGonagall warned. "Mister Potter follow me."

"Professor Harry-" Julian started as he to attempted to follow. McGonagall swung back around, her face stern.

"Mister Potter for once hold your tongue." McGonagall's tone gave no room for discussions. "And stay here."

Harry swallowed hard and followed the fast-walking McGonagall into the castle. He followed her all the way up to the Charms classroom. She knocked on the door and asked for wood, was she planning to hit him? Instead, a person came outside the door, a burly fifth year.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. He's the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Wood, I found you a seeker!" McGonagall went on to explain about his dive for the Remembrall.

"He's just the right build for a seeker too, light and lean." Oliver was circling him with the eye of a hawk. "Ever played a game of Quidditch, Potter?" Harry shook his head no.

"You'll work hard though; excuse me I have to talk to Dumbledore about twisting the ban on first years having brooms. I'm sure he'll make an exception." McGonagall nodded to herself.

"We'll get you a nice broom, Nimbus or Cleansweep I suggest." Wood muttered as the bell rang.

"Wow, you must be the youngest seeker in-"

"A century according to McGonagall." Harry finished Ron's thought. Ron nodded still in awe. Harry himself was in shock still. He couldn't have ever imagined he would belong to the quidditch team.

"Wait till Malfoy hears about this, he'll have a fit." Ron laughed, Harry joined in.

"Have you heard, Gryffindor has a new seeker." Julian cupped Draco's shoulder who shrugged off the grip. "Harry Potter I hear!"

"Impossible first years aren't allowed on the house teams." Draco took a seat on the dark green colored couch in the Slytherin common room.

"Ah, but it is possible. Heard it from Rose myself and the girl doesn't lie." Julian defended. Draco rose his eyebrows arrogantly.

"That's a pathetic Hufflepuff for you." Julian threw a silver throw pillow at the boys' head, one tress of hair moved out of place.

"That's my sister." Julian replied. Draco just shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Pompous ass."

"I honestly don't see the point in flying around on a broom chasing magical balls." Dorinda was currently writing her Transfiguration paper (and helping Harry with his) while listening to the boy.

"You wouldn't." Harry started packing his things up; he would finish his Transfiguration essay later on that night. "Will you be here after dinner for an hour?" Dorinda rolled her eyes. "Oh, forgot you never leave." Dorinda nodded, not lifting her eyes from the parchment.

"Finish that essay." She reminded him. Harry rolled his eyes and left the library.

"Would you like to eat dinner with me?" Rose asked Blaise, it was late in the evening of September 12 and time for dinner in the Great Hall. Blaise looked shocked.

"Slytherins don't eat at other tables." Blaise declined. "Perhaps I will see you around tomorrow."

"Oh alright then." Rose smiled sadly and split ways with Blaise. She had been expecting his answer but she thought she mind as well ask. The Slytherin boy wasn't very social but he was polite enough.

She didn't understand how the houses could hate each other, it just didn't make sense. Just because you were placed in one house because of your personality didn't mean that you couldn't become friends with someone with a different personality. It was a bit barbaric and she could only hope that Blaise wouldn't be avoiding her from now on. She admitted that she rather enjoyed his company, he reminded her of Julian and Harry.

"You shouldn't be talking to a Slytherin; they're not right in the head. You don't want to mix in with that kind do you?" Ernie, another first-year Hufflepuff, said with a smile. Rose just smiled politely back at him as she put some steak and kidney pie on her plate.

"Draco, what is Pansy saying to Blaise?" Julian whispered to the blonde-haired boy who glanced at the two before discreetly leaning his ear towards them. One thing Julian had quickly found out was that Draco Malfoy had impeccable hearing.

"They're talking about your sister," he sat up straight once more. "Something about how Blaise was seen associating with her in the library. Pansy was reminding him that she was a Hufflepuff. My opinion regrettably resembles Pansy's; Slytherins shouldn't be having any sorts with outsiders."

"Oh shut it." Julian sighed. He stole Draco's goblet and finished off the rest of the boys' pumpkin juice.

"Prick." Draco glared. He had gotten quite use to the boy's lack of manners. "Look who the devil it is." Julian looked up into the glaring face of his Ravenclaw sister.

"Julian." Dorinda's glare was aimed at the Slytherins. Most pointedly at Draco.

"What do you want, Potter?" Pansy sneered from down the table.

"Nothing of which concerns the likes of you, Parkinson." Dorinda spat at the girl and turned back to Julian. "You didn't come in to study today; do you want to fall behind? You know Transfiguration isn't your best subject and we have two feet of parchment due to McGonagall tomorrow." Julian waved it off with his hand.

"We've only been to Transfiguration a few times. I highly doubt that is enough experience to know whether it's my best subject or not." Julian snorted. "I've been a bit busy today but Draco is rather adept at Transfiguration so don't worry."

"Did you finish the essay or not Julian?" Dorinda asked, a slight blush rising up her neck.

"I finished it, mother, days ago." Julian smiled sarcastically. His sister could be a bit overbearing at times. The Slytherins all chuckled quietly.

"I see." Dorinda muttered before stalking back towards the Ravenclaw table.

"Days ago?" Draco smirked. "That essay was just assigned yesterday." Julian just patted the boy on the back

"Well mate it felt like days ago." Julian went back to eating hungrily.

"Did you finish that astronomy chart last Thursday?" Draco asked him as they got up to leave the table, dinner was over. They had Astronomy in forty-five minutes up on the top floor with the Ravenclaws.

"No but its fine, we can just borrow Theodore's." Julian assured him. Draco stopped walking, no longer paying attention. Julian stopped, not noticing and looked around for Nott. "Eh, Theodore!"

"Yeah Potter?" Theodore Nott answered, turning around. The rest of the Slytherins stopped but Julian didn't pay them any notice.

"Do you mind-" Julian was interrupted.

"What do you want Potter?" Pansy Parkinson's voice rang out, Julian looked over to her choice of victim. It was Rose; she had obviously come over to talk to Blaise who looked blankly at Pansy.

"Mind your own business Parkinson." Dorinda joined in, coming to stand by the embarrassed looking Rose. Blaise took off slyly. "Not like she came over to talk to you."

"Wouldn't talk to scum like that if you paid me." She cackled, her pug nose high in the air. "Come on girls." The other Slytherin first-year girls followed her out of the Great Hall.

"Anyways, do you mind if we borrow the answers to the astronomy chart real quick?" Julian finished asking his question. Rose was after all fine, Pansy was no threat.

"Yeah sure, it's down in our dormitory." Theodore walked off out of the Great Hall, stopping just outside and waiting for him and Draco to follow. Julian turned around to do just that when he was grabbed roughly by the shoulder, as was Draco.

"Get your filthy hands off me, Weasley." Draco gritted out, Julian just shrugged off his brother's hand. The two Gryffindors didn't look too happy.

"What's wrong with you two?" Julian asked. He waved for Theodore to hold on a moment.

"You that's it. Forget that Rose was your sister?" Harry said angrily. He glanced over at the girl who was whispering with Dorinda. "Your Slytherin buddies more important than family now?"

"Dirty snakes." Ron muttered. Draco took a menacing step forward; Julian put an arm to stop him.

"Stay out of this, Weasley." Julian warned the redhead. "Rose can handle herself Harry, Pansy is no threat."

"On first name basis are we?" Ron retorted, Julian rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't doubt it, with the scum you hang out with."

"Come on Ron." Harry grabbed his friends arm. Julian had taken a step towards Ron, Harry pushed him back. "Let's go."

"A duel. I challenge you to a duel." Draco said suddenly as he raised an eyebrow mockingly. Julian glanced at Draco, what was a duel? "Julian is my second who's yours? That is if you agree or was your family too poor to be taught the custom?"

"Harry's my second; we'll meet you at the trophy room at midnight. Wands only." Ron looked at Harry up and down. "Be there."

"Disgrace to the pureblood name, I say." Draco muttered as he and Julian watched the two boys leave.

"Theodore is waiting for us." Julian muttered distractedly.

"We're going to get caught." Julian stopped looking through his telescope for a moment and stared at his friend.

"No, they are." Draco said arrogantly. Julian gave him a doubtful look. "Look, we're not going to the trophy room tonight, they are. We're not going to get in trouble, they are. I already tipped off Filch."

Julian nodded and went back to staring at the stars, he was mad at what Harry had said. He loved his family above anything else. If he honestly thought that Rose needed to worry about Pansy, he would have stepped in. Still though, he didn't want Harry to get in trouble. He didn't want Slytherin to lose points eihther though; so he would go along with Draco's plan. What was the worst punishment Harry could get?

"I overheard what Draco was telling you." Dorinda whispered, her voice tinged with anger. "You have to tell Harry."

"When? I don't know where the Gryffindor dormitory is, do you?" Julian whispered back, he had finished. Draco was laughing with Goyle and Crabbe about something over at the other end of the roof.

"You need to stop him from going." Dorinda smacked him in the head. "He's your brother and you got him into this mess. Now get him out." Julian waved her off and walked back over to Draco.

"What did she want?" Draco sneered in the direction of Dorinda, the girl noticed and glared back. The two didn't get along in the slightest. Julian just shrugged; Draco gave him a curious look before going back to talking to Crabbe.

"Where do you two think you're going?" Hermione Granger's voice came out of the virtually empty common room.

"Not you!" Ron groaned. "Just go back to sleep."

"You two are going to be caught and sent on the next train home, is that what you want? Huh, is it?" Hermione berated, her hair seemed frizzier than normal.

"Go away." Harry sounded out each syllable. "Forget you ever saw us." The boys turned around and headed out the portrait door, the girl followed.

"All right, but I warned you, you just remember what I said when you're on your way home tomorrow, you're both so-" Hermione was cut off as the portrait hole closed and the Fat Lady disappeared.

"Thank Merlin; I've been out here for hours!" Neville blubbered out, his voice shaking. "I thought you had been the Bloody Baron, he's been passed here twice already you know. Utterly terrifying he is."

"Look, it's been nice chatting with you two but me and Harry have somewhere we need to be." Ron grabbed Harry's arm, Hermione grabbed his.

"Oh no you don't! We need to stay here until the Fat Lady comes back." Harry sighed at Hermione, the girl was relentless.

"You'll just have to come with us then." Harry grabbed a fist full of Neville's robes, Ron took hold of Hermione's, and they started down the flights of stairs. The Gryffindor Dormitories were located on the seventh floor and the trophy room was on the third. Hermione and Neville stopped resisting when they got to the fifth.

"Wait, stop." Hermione whispered. "Did you hear that?" Her eyes darted every which way. Harry listened closely, he could just faintly here the noise of soft steps. He turned around and almost jumped a foot in the air.

"I'm glad I caught you, look-" Harry threw his hand over Dorinda's mouth, he had heard more noise.

"Hurry inside here." Hermione whispered, the door led to the trophy room. It was empty and there was no sign of his brother or Malfoy.

"Smell them out my sweet." It was Filch and Mrs. Norris wasn't far behind.

"Come on, hurry." Dorinda ushered them all through a back door and out through an armor filled room and a string of old unused classrooms. She knew her way around Hogwarts quite well for a first-year. "Look, in here."

"It's locked." Ron sighed dejectedly. Steps were coming towards them, Hermione pushed the boy over.

"Are you a wizard or not?"

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!" Peeve's voice suddenly echoed out, the steps became louder and quicker.

"Alohomora!" Hermione and Dorinda yelled simultaneously just as the figure of the steps came into sight.

"Get in!" Julian yelled. He pushed Neville in, who squeaked, and shut the door. The boy seemed way out of breath; beads of sweat were making their way down his chin.

"So you decided to show up huh?" Dorinda stepped forward, a half-proud half-angered look on her face.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Julian asked surprised. Neville was tapping his shoulder. "Stop touching me!"

"Harry. Harry!" Neville's frantic voice made them all turn around and the sight that met their eyes was not of a scared boy but a large three-headed dog. Not one of its three heads looked happy.

"AH!" All their voices echoed off the walls, Julian opened the door and took off running down the nearest corridor. He looked behind him and saw the rest of their group catching up.

"What the hell was that?" Dorinda spit out between gasps.

"That was the third floor corridor!" Hermione's eyes were wide. "It is forbidden but why does the Headmaster have that creature there!"

"Never mind that. Filch will be around here soon, we all best be off." With that, Julian headed for the nearest staircase; the Slytherin Dormitories were in the dungeons.

"He's right, come on." Dorinda agreed. They all nodded and followed Dorinda out of the forbidden corridor. "Did you see what it was standing on, a trapdoor. It was obviously guarding something."

"I wasn't looking at its feet; I was too busy staring at its heads. If you didn't notice it had three!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes round as saucers. Dorinda stopped at the top of the staircase of the fifth floor.

"I noticed, it's protecting something. Perhaps an artifact." Hermione mumbled.

"I'm going to bed; I'll see you, Harry, in the morning. Stay out of trouble." Dorinda warned and headed off towards the nearest corridor.

"I wonder where Malfoy was, did anyone see him?" Harry asked remembering that Julian had showed up alone. Hermione, Neville and Ron all shook their heads no.

"I'm going to sleep before you two come up with another clever way to get us killed or worse expelled." Hermione glared as she walked up the Gryffindor girl's staircase. Ron stared at her open-mouthed.

Julian walked into the Slytherin Common Room; he stopped and wiped his forehead. Sweat had buildup and his shaggy hair had been stuck to his skin. He looked up as he heard a rustling, it was Draco. He was in his overly expensive dark green pajamas and his hair hung in his cold eyes. A book lay open on his lap. The fireplace was alive with a burning flame up. It made his pale face glow.

"You went, did you get caught?" Draco asked, his voice chilled. He however didn't look surprised.

"I had to go, he's my brother." Julian took a seat, exhausted and sleepy. "It was useless though. Dorinda was already there by the time I reached them."

"Your sister needs to learn to mind her own business." Draco warned him. Julian opened up one of his eyes, the greenness sparkling in the firelight.

"As do we all, Draco."

Redone: December 5 2010