Thanks to the meeting in the Potions dungeon, both Professor Snape and I missed the Sorting. That was alright by me—I'd have the chance to study all of the firsties in their Potions classes.
"What was that about?" Daphne murmured as I slid into my place next to her. I didn't answer her at first, smiling and nodding at the Quidditch team from last year and my other allies within the house. It wouldn't do for them to think I'd forgotten them.
"He wanted to talk to me about my schedule. I'll tell you later," I murmured back quietly before turning to Blaise and greeting him with a sly grin. "How's the step-dad?"
Blaise groaned and Daphne laughed.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore announced before Blaise could answer. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…
"As you all will be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. There are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even invisibility cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."
There was a somber silence as Dumbledore looked around the hall seriously.
"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."
Dumbledore went on to announce the hiring of Professor Lupin—at which there was some scattered applause—and the promotion of Hagrid to the Care of Magical Creatures professorship—which was much better received. The Corps had already known about the changes—all professors had to submit curricula to the Board of Governors—but it was still heartwarming in a sense to see Hagrid begin to tear up from the riotous applause from Gryffindor.
The feast was delicious, but that was where my evening stopped being entirely pleasant. We had scarcely been back in the common room for five minutes when a crowd began to mill around the Malfoy scion.
Draco didn't wait for long to start retelling a highly exaggerated version of what happened on the train. After a few minutes of listening to his drivel, I gestured for Daphne and Blaise to stay to the side—this was my fight and it wouldn't be nearly as fun if I needed back up—and I cleared my throat. It took a moment, but silence spread among the group of students surrounding Draco. I took a step closer to the root of the issue, crossing my arms contemptuously. I could afford to push Draco away harder now that I was betrothed to Harry.
"Have you already forgotten what we spoke about last year, Draco?" I asked in an even voice, raising an eyebrow. "You shame our house with your pettiness… Anyone who's researched dementors can tell you that they rip everything happy away from you and leave you with only the worse you've live through. Are you trying to tell me that you'd be on your feet after reliving the memory of watching your parents die? Hearing your mother scream for mercy before she's murdered?"
I was laying it on thick, but it was fun to watch Draco squirm. His lip curled with anger yet he remained silent. His face was more pale than usual and, as I watched, he shifted his weight—weakness. His eyes darted out to the Slytherin students who had just been enjoying his rendition of Potter and the Dementor, but no help arrived for him.
"I didn't think so. If I ever hear you talking about this again, or attempting to use this against him, I will make sure you have some very bad memories for the next time you see a dementor," I threatened. Glancing at the rest of the Slytherins who had been listening to Draco, I narrowed my eyes. "And the rest of you… Slytherins are supposed to be clever and ambitious. We are not supposed to be bullies, but that is the reason why we've needed a united front—because we've brought this bad reputation onto ourselves. None of us benefit from being seen as just the bad guys' kids. I aim to change that, and I would highly recommend not interfering with my goals."
"Is there a problem here?" Sebastian took a step towards the group and I resisted the urge to scowl. I could protect myself. He made me look weak by coming to my aid like this.
"Of course not, Bass. Right, Draco?" I asked sweetly. He clenched his jaw before nodding. As the ground dispersed, I returned to Daphne and Blaise. Blaise had a grin on his face like he'd enjoyed the show, but Daphne bore a worried frown. "What is it?"
"I just have this weird feeling that we're going to regret that," she murmured, glancing between Draco and me. I shrugged, putting it out of my mind. Our first Corps meeting was supposed to be Friday after lunch, when we all had a free period. We all had work to do before then—I had stacks of paperwork waiting for approval to finalize our dueling club creation and everyone was working numbers for the Corps-iculum notes—but we would be off to a strong and productive start. I wasn't going to let a weird feeling interrupt that.
"Blaise, you're up," I murmured to my friend as Draco and his two guards entered the common room. I needed to speak to Draco, but I didn't need Crabbe or Goyle interrupting my little meeting. This needed to be just between the two of us—Blaise would stay with Crabbe and Goyle and Daphne was already talking to the first years about Corps-iculum notes.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered back, getting to his feet and wandering over to the approaching trio. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but it must have contained words with more than two syllables judging by the blank look on Crabbe and Goyle's faces. Eventually, Draco sneered and brushed past Blaise. He made a beeline towards me and I moved over on the couch, leaving just enough room for Draco to sit next to me.
"I'm not some servant you can command, Wyncrest," Draco growled as he stood over me. I leaned back into the couch so I didn't have to tilt my head back to look at him. And yet, here you are.
"I didn't ask you to talk for my own sake, Draco. This is for you. I'd like to talk Quidditch."
"What about it?" Draco asked, narrowing his eyes. I glanced towards where Bass was talking to the other seventh year prefect.
"There's no way I'm not making the team. You can complain to Daddy all you want, but I'm a better seeker than you and my brother is the captain this year. However, I remember your tryout from last year. You were a decent chaser, and that's the spot that opened up. It would only be my word to Bass that keeps you on the team at all, so I propose a truce of sorts."
"A truce where you get everything you want and I don't? Not likely," he snorted bitterly. I shook my head indulgingly.
"You and I want similar things, Draco. We both want to be on the Quidditch team, we both want Slytherin to be known and respected, and we both want the others to recognize us for what we are: spectacular. The only difference is that I've been much luckier than you. I can help you, though, if you let me."
"And if I considered this truce… what would it entail for me?" Draco asked cautiously.
"The world is changing, Draco. I have allied Wyncrest house with several predominant houses over the past two years. The power has shifted from you to me and, if you're able to accept that with some dignity, I'll forget our past. I won't ask you to do anything unfitting of a Lord, because that is what you will be once you take the title from your father. You have to remember, though, that I am a Lady and my friends are lords and ladies."
"The Malfoy name—"
"Will die with you if you're not careful," I interrupted. "Your family has wealth, but you haven't done anything to make your name worth more than that. If your money is gone, will anyone care about your name?"
I gave Draco a moment to think and, to my surprise, he actually did seem to think about it. Before he could speak, though, I continued.
"You'll be given the chaser spot on the team, so long as no one wildly better tries out. In addition, the Corps is starting an inter-house dueling club. I'm prepared to offer you a position in the club, so long as you start behaving like a true Slytherin. No bullying, no griping when you don't get what you like. I am giving you an opportunity. I won't make you take it, and I will take it away if you abuse my good faith."
"What do you get?" Draco asked warily. "From all of this, what do you get from me?"
"I want Slytherin to be more than just the bad guys and the kids of the bad guys. You making first years cry and bullying the famous Harry Potter doesn't help me."
"Ah yes, the famous Potter. Always comes back to him… He's not even special."
"You might be surprised, Draco…" I smiled at the boy and, to my relief, he didn't scowl or grimace. He sighed, glancing to where Blaise was standing with Crabbe and Goyle, but didn't say a word.
Little victories.