Posted on: 04/04/2014 at 16:03 GMT/UTC/Zulu.
AN: Thank you to my reviewers, Crapes, Lamia of the Dark, angel897, HallowRain8587 and everyone who has followed or favourited this story. I've been quite surprised by the following this story is beginning to gather. :)
I'm still not quite happy with this chapter but it's complete so up it goes. I will go back and do a comprehensive edit once the Long Haul Competition III ends and I'm not in such a rush to write this.
Remember this is AU. In this AU the Fake Moody never got into Hogwarts because without Pettigrew Voldemort needed someone to take his place. Voldemort had to make do with someone else's blood and Cedric didn't die because the Cup was never a portkey. Harry knows he's back because of the nightmares but no-one except Dumbledore and the Order believe him. Since real Moody would never have turned Draco into a ferret I had to find another way. :D
The Marriage Curse
The Lion's Den
The Gryffindors went slowly back to Gryffindor Tower. They were quiet. When they stopped at the Fat Lady's portrait Draco looked nervous.
"We're not going to bite." Harry said.
Draco smiled wanly. "You might not you can't guarantee those inside won't."
"I'll hex anyone who bothers you." Ginny said.
Hermione spoke the password and the group went inside.
People looked up briefly and went back to what they were doing until someone spotted the former Slytherin.
"What's he doing here?" Lavender Brown asked incredulously.
"I've been transferred to Gryffindor. Anyone got a problem with that?" Draco asked.
There was a moment of stunned silence. Several people's jaws dropped. Someone dropped a gobstone which promptly squirted them in the face. A loud babble broke out and several people rose to their feet looking angry.
"We'll show you the dorms." Fred said.
He and George grabbed Draco's arms and frogmarched him to the stairs.
Draco protested. "I can walk by myself you know." He snapped.
The twins just grinned and hustled him up to the dorms.
Ginny and Hermione rushed to block the stairs after they were gone to stop what was rapidly becoming a mob from chasing them. Harry joined them and Ginny yelled for quiet. When the crowd was quiet enough for him to be heard Harry spoke.
"Alright listen up Gryffindors." He started.
Most people fell quiet.
"I know that everyone has had a difficult time this last week but I won't have anyone venting their spleen on the newest member of our house."
There were a few mutters but most people stayed quiet. "Mostly because of this weeks happenings, but not entirely, Draco Malfoy has switched sides in the war against Voldemort."
Several people flinched at the name. Harry ignored them and carried on.
"It is because of this that it's no longer safe for him in the Slytherin Dorms and I won't have him attacked here as well."
"You-Know-Who isn't back Potter. You're mad and so is Dumbledore." A fourth year boy shouted.
Before Harry could argue Ginny spoke.
"Believe what you want. I for one believe Harry; he's never lied to me. Draco Malfoy is a member of our house now and we will treat him like one. I will bat-bogey hex anyone who causes him any trouble." Ginny said.
"Well said Miss Weasley." Professor McGonagall's voice said from the door. "I see you have all realised you have a new housemate." She said with an ironic tone.
"While I won't condone anyone hexing each other," she gave Ginny a pointed look, "I will take points and give detentions to anyone who intentionally makes life harder for our newest Gryffindor. If you can't be civil o Draco Malfoy I suggest you ignore him."
There was some unhappy grumbling but everyone returned to their previous activities before McGonagall left.
"We really should show him our dorm and showers." Harry said to the other four boys in his dorm.
"Yeah." Ron said a little sullenly.
As they went up the stairs Ginny heard Ron say, "I'll put up with him and hex any snakes who get out of line but don't expect me to become best mates with ferret face."
Hermione found a table and she and Ginny got on with their backlog of homework together. A few minutes later the twins joined them.
"He's all settled in." Fred said.
"Nice and cosy." George added.
They sat at the table and pulled out a pack of exploding snap cards.
"Do you mind!" Hermione said. "We're trying to concentrate."
"We don't mind at all. Carry on." George said.
Hermione glared at him.
Fred swept the cards back off the table and into his pocket. "Come on Forge let's leave these ladies alone. It would be tragic if Hermione got a measly Exceeds Expectations on her homework."
"Right you are Gred." George said and the pair disappeared back upstairs.
"How do you put up with those two horrors all the time?" Hermione asked Ginny.
She shrugged. "I'm used to them."
She yawned as she stood and rolled up her parchment. "I'm finished. Thank you for helping me catch up 'Mione." She said.
"No problem." Hermione said as she buried her nose in her work again.
"So that's everything." Harry concluded as Draco sat on the new bed and bounced a couple of times to test the mattress.
The dorm felt strange with six beds in it. He was so used to it being just the five of them.
Draco nodded and checked the drawers of the bedside table. All his school books, parchment, quills and ink, plus his personal possessions were in them. He shut the draws and sat down again. There was silence. None of them moved. Neville was looking at Draco as if he was waiting for him to bite.
"Well this is awkward." Draco said. "So what do you normally do here?"
"Harry and Ron tend to do everything together or with Hermione and Seamus and Dean stick together as well. I spend most of my time with Hannah and Susan from Hufflepuff. We're not really a group." Neville babbled nervously.
Harry felt suddenly guilty. He hadn't realised how they all left Neville out.
"Alright." Draco said.
He picked his broom up from the foot of his bed. "I'm going flying. Do you fancy playing some six aside quidditch?"
"I don't really fly." Neville said.
"Sure." Harry and Ron said.
"Yeah alright." Seamus said.
Dean nodded and they grabbed their brooms.
"Fred and George might join us and Ginny too. That would give us enough people for a couple of small teams." Ron said.
They hefted their brooms over their shoulders and walked down the stairs.
Fred, George and Ginny were interested. The group of eight made their way to the pitch followed by Neville. And Hermione. After some nagging from Harry and Ron.
The trouble started when they got to the quidditch pitch. Fred and George wanted to form an all Weasley side. That was fine but it left Harry and Draco to argue over the Seeker position. The dispute got steadily more heated until they were standing less than a foot apart shouting in each other's faces.
"I have to play Seeker. I've never played any other position." Harry argued.
"Well neither have I Scarhead." Draco shouted back.
"Oi! Watch who you're calling Scarhead, Ferret Face." Harry answered.
Draco flushed bright red remembering the prank one lunchtime last year that had turned him into a ferret for everyone to laugh at. He pulled his wand and pointed it at Harry.
Harry whipped his own wand out ready to hex the blonde prat.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione and Ron yelled at the same time.
Harry's wand flew out of his hand and Hermione caught it while Draco's flew to Ron.
"I thought this was meant to be a friendly match." Hermione said.
Harry suddenly realised what an arse he was making of himself.
"Yeah. Sorry 'Mione."
"It's not me you should be apologising to." She said looking pointedly at Draco.
"Sorry Mal- Draco." Harry said.
Then he glared pointedly at the blonde.
"You did start it." Ginny said to him.
"Sorry Harry." Draco said looking sour as he spat the words out.
"Ron give him his wand." Hermione said as she returned Harry's.
Draco snatched it out of Ron's grip and pocketed it with a scowl.
"We'll have an all Weasley side another time." Ginny said. "I'll play Chaser with Dean, Seamus can be Keeper and Harry can Seek. Draco you can be the Seeker for my brothers."
"Yeah okay." Harry said.
"Alright." Draco agreed.
They grabbed the quaffle, released the snitch and took to the air. It would be dark in half an hour or so and they meant to make the most of their time in the air.
Hermione and Neville went up to the stands to watch the others play. Harry and Draco hovered over the others while they played. It was a dirty match. The twins cheated and so Ginny and Dean felt no guilt about their own underhand tactics. Ron and Seamus looked rather bored at the opposite ends of the pitch with not much to do as the four Chasers fought it out.
"So who are you betrothed to Hermione?" Neville asked curiosity finally getting the better of him. "That big group of yours looks very complicated."
"Yeah it is." Hermione said. "I'm betrothed to Harry, Lucius Malfoy and Professor Snape."
"I didn't know about the curse when I touched them." She added as Neville's jaw dropped.
"Why were you touching Snape and Malfoy's Dad anyway?" Neville asked.
"They were passed out on the floor and I was checking to see that they were still alive. If they'd hit their heads on the way down or on the floor when they fell they might not have been." Hermione said.
"Fair enough." Neville said. "I'm sorry you didn't get to choose though."
"Yeah me too. Harry is like a brother to me so that's awkward and Malfoy's Dad. Well need I say more. Not to mention Professor Snape." Hermione said.
"Yeah. Bad luck. Who would you have chosen if given a choice?" Neville asked.
Hermione thought about it. "I don't know. I might have chosen Terry Boot in Ravenclaw because he's smart. I'm not sure about anyone else."
"Fair enough. I'm glad I got to choose." Neville said.
Hermione smiled. "Was Hannah your first choice? Or was it Susan?" She asked.
Neville blushed. "I shouldn't have started this should I?" He asked.
Hermione laughed. "You don't have to answer."
"Given a reprieve. Thank you Hermione." Neville said.
"Hey you two." Harry called coming to a halt and hovering in front of the stands where they sat. "It's starting to get dark so we're going to go in now."
"Okay Harry. We're coming down." Hermione said.
Harry turned his broom and flew down to the pitch.
They walked down to join the others.
Draco had caught the snitch and was looking smug.
"You know I just thought now Draco's off the Slytherin team who's going to be their seeker?" Ron said as Hermione and Neville joined them.
Draco's expression soured. "Harper probably." He scowled.
He stalked away ahead of them. Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs.
"Ow! What was that for?" He complained.
"He was finally in a good mood and you just ruined it." Hermione said. "Now he'll sulk all evening."
"He would have worked it out anyway he's not completely stupid." Ron said.
Hermione glared at Ron and dropped back to talk to Ginny.
Draco walked fast and reached the castle before the others who were taking their time. Stupid Weasel. He had been trying to forget that he would no longer be on the house team. He ran up the steps and into the entrance hall and nearly bumped into Nott.
"Sorry Theodore." He said and moved to step past him.
Nott's hand grabbed his shoulder and he was spun round and shoved back against the wall under the hourglasses.
"What's this? A Serpent in Lion's clothing?" Nott asked.
Draco's heart sank as he remembered that his robes now bore the Gryffindor crest.
"It's not-" He started to say when the sounds of the others reached them.
Nott glanced outside and noticed the pack of approaching Gryffindors.
He gave Draco a final shove and stalked away towards the dungeons.
"Later turncloak." He called back over his shoulder.
Please Review. Constructive crit is welcome. Flames will be used to light the torches at night.