The first few weeks at Hogwarts flew by for the first-year students. In the classes, they started learning basics of all magic and began to learn how to use this magic.
Some students, such as Miss Hermione Granger, had no problem gripping these lessons and excelled in it greatly. However, most students still struggled. They learned a lot each day, and there were piles of homework to work on daily.
Draco's favorite class was instantly Potions from the first class. First of all, he was pretty good at it, a lot better at potions then charms or transfiguration. He just found potion making more simple and step by step. Second of all, Snape favored him and made it a lot easier for him in class. But most importantly, Snape seemed to hate Harry Potter even more than him.
Snape began the class by ridiculing Harry, asking him questions Harry didn't know the answer to, and then smirked "I guess fame isn't everything."
Potter was flustered, and Draco was thrilled. Furthermore, Harry wasn't very good at Potions; and Snape picked up every mistake Harry made, and made fun of him in front of the whole class, much to Draco's pleasure.
Flying class, which Draco was very excited for, ended up being just another disaster.
On the first class, Draco thought he would be way better than his class, especially Harry Potter. He has played Quidditch since he was very young, and could fly with ease. He was wrong.
The class started off with them lining up with one of the crummy school broomsticks outside on the school grounds. The instructor, Madam Hooch, told us to call our broomstick. Most of the class failed miserably.
Draco, of course had no problem, and had it in the first try. He smiled proudly glancing around to see if anyone else had. His smile slid away when he realized Harry's has also slid up with ease.
Then that Longbottom kid, that crazy prat, managed to shoot up into the air out of control, and fall off and injure himself.
Madam Hooch took Neville to the nurse warning the students not to touch the broomsticks or they'd be leaving Hogwarts by the morning.
After she ran off, Draco noticed Neville had dropped his Remembrall his Grandma had sent to him. Draco decided to fool around with it which led to Potter chasing him up on there broomsticks to get it, and after Draco threw the ball, it was clear Harry was an amazing natural flier. He was smoother than Draco.
The only good that came out of that was that Harry got caught, but Draco didn't. Draco thought he'd be expelled for sure. But no, instead he got to be on a quidditch team and have a broomstick EVEN THOUGH first years are not allowed to have broomsticks(which is a incredibly stupid rule in Dracos opinion, but if he was gonna suffer, everyone else better suffer too!)!
Draco was furious that EVERYTHING seemed to work out perfectly for Harry Potter. Every plan he set up for him failed, and by Halloween it was clear Harry would always manage to find a way through every problem.
Draco, however, had his own problems. He long gave up the whole "day-to-day analysis" for his dad. Not only was his homework piling up insanely, many of the teachers had something against him, and he managed many detentions in the first month.
Draco thought it was all silly. So what if he didn't hand his homework in 3 times? He was busy! And so what if he "accidentally" poured ink all over that Hufflepuff girl? Its not like they couldn't just disappear it with a flick of a wand. And why does Professor McGongall watch him like a hawk? She should pay more attention to that snobby, attention-seeker Harry Potter who is way more sneaky and does a lot more stupid things than him. Harry sneaks around all the time at night! And he goes out with that big gate keeper oaf and causes problems everyday! But no, he's an angel. Because he is famous little Potty.
The only teacher who seemed to be able to see Harry as he was, was Snape. And for that reason, Draco enjoyed Potion class more and more through the first few months.
It was now a few days before halloween, which would be pretty cool since that old fool (according to father) Dumbledore seemed to like parties and feasts for every holiday.
Draco was in his room talking with a girl in his age, named Pansy, in the Slytherin common room. Draco sat there listening to some stupid story, but his mind was on the towering pile of homework assignments on his bed. With a flash of guilt he remembered how his mother had defended him when he didn't get the best marks insisting he would do amazing at hogwarts. He knew his current marks would be less than pleasing to his parents.
He sighed. Pansy stopped and looked at him suspiciously. "Are you listening to my story Draco?" She snapped. "Uh, ya. You know what? I just remembered! I have a...a thing.. So. Bye!" He jumped up ignoring her gasps and calling him back as he left the common room.
Sure his marks were less than hoped for, but it was just the beginning of the year. He needs time. And right now, a break!
He climbed up the grimy stairs ignoring the framed pictures annoying rumblings beside him. He walked by the Quidditch arena, looking away quickly. Of course Gryffindor was practicing. Cause he just needed something else to think about, and make him feel even more rubbish.
Draco kicked the pole nearby in frustration. "Problem Mr. Malfoy?" He heard a slow voice behind him, which belonged to Professor Snape.
"Uh, no." Draco smiled thin lipped.
"Did your homework, I hope. Didn't hand your essay in last week." Snape asked his voice still icily calm.
"Uh. Ya. Was working on it." Draco lied quickly. Snape looked deeply in his eyes. Draco had the impression he was being deeply analyzed.
"Well. I'd advise you do it. I was under the impression you enjoyed potions? Your certainly better at it than most students." He looked unpleasantly at the flying Gryffindor's outside.
"I do, er- thanks sir." Draco smiled politely before edging into the next hall.
He walked slowly into the hall. It was true he was better at potions than Potter, but why did Potter seem to out play him in every other area! It was just so unfair.
He walked up to the owl tower just for the sake of walking.
There was a small girl there, tying on a letter on the foot of a small brown owl who hooted at Malfoy suspiciously.
The girl looked up at Draco, and her face instantly changed into a look of disgust. Draco recognized her too; A Hufflepuff girl. Draco sneered at her.
She stood there, her pride clear as she let her owl go, and watched it fly into the distance. Draco watched her rigid back, standing as tall as her small back would allow. She was definitely in his year, He recognized her. Hufflepuff garbage Draco sneered bet she'll destroy me with all that kindness
She walked away without giving a Draco a look, her back straight at it could be, her head held high. Pretty prideful for a Hufflepuff in Draco's opinion.
Draco sat up in the tower for a while. Half an hour later, a ravenclaw girl from the quidditch robes she was wearing, came in to mail a letter. At first she didn't notice Draco curled up in a corner. She was probably a third year. Only a few years older, with sleek black hair and a polished face in the lowering sun.
She finally noticed Draco. "Oh! Hi. Are you alright? Do you want me to call someone?" She asked.
Realizing how pitiful he must look, Draco straightened his shirt and shook his head, his tongue seemed to be stuck in his throat.
Finally he stuttered out. "Uh.. You play Quidditch?" The girl looked surprised, then beamed and nodded. "Yep! I got seeker too. Pretty exciting for me! You play?"
Draco started feeling more comfortable. "Well, I can't play here, first year. But I play out of school. I'm a seeker too, and I'm good." He smirked.
"Oh, are you?" She smiled. "Why are you up here?"
Draco felt a weird feeling come over him. He stood up slowly. "Well, I really like it here. Just look." they both stared out at the sky, with mix of colors and the setting sun.
"Look. Isn't it, like... I don't know. With all he owls flying off to the sun and whatever... Just makes you like... Fly after them, and never go back..." Draco's voice trailed off and he turned red in embarrassment shocked by his own words.
"Freedom." She muttered. "What?" He stammered still embarrassed, and refusing to meet her eyes.
"I mean, like, you want to be free. That's why you like it. It makes you feel free." He heard her explain calmly. He turned to face her, she wasn't making fun of him.
"Ya... That might be it." Draco answered hesitantly. "What? Wait no! No. This is so wrong. That's not true. Oh god. I'm gonna go now. Don't say anything to anyone though! Please."
"Ya, ya ofcourse-" she started, her face flushed and startled, but Draco had already fled. He raced down the stairs.
He ran all the way back to his common room and ran into his bed, and slid the curtain around the bed. What the heck just happened?
He just remembered thinking he should say something deep to impress her, since she was Ravenclaw and all, but then when she said he wanted freedom he felt like someone punched him in the gut. She was so right.
That's why he liked the owl flying into the sun scene. He wasn't only showing off, he was being honest with himself for one of the first times every. He wanted to be free because he felt trapped in his own life.
This is completely pathetic Draco tried to convince himself, please just do your homework
He thought back to the girl. How embarrassing! Wonder what she thinks of him now.
He held his hand in his hand. What did he just do?