Previously: "WHAT?", Draco shouted, unable to control his reaction. Great, I made him flinch again. He took a deep breath and forced his voice to convey a calm that he wasn't feeling. "What makes you think your parents were drunks?"
Chapter 4
Harry closed his eyes and lowered his chin to rest on his chest. His dark, fiery hair lightly brushed his cheeks as it fell to curtain his pale face. He took a deep breath as he prepared to share his shame, some of it at least. Time to run off a potential friend Harry thought wryly.
"That's what I've been told all my life. At first, I was... discouraged from asking about my parents. As I got older my Uncle and Aunt made it clear my mum and dad were losers whose sole purpose in life was to mooch off hardworking people like the Dursleys and to get sloshed. That's how I got my scar, in the car crash that killed them. I've been worried that their reputation in the wizarding world will affect my ability to make friends here. They can't have been well liked."
Harry lifted his head slightly and peered through his hair at the other boy. He had expected some type of comment, but perhaps Draco would choose a hasty exit instead. Oddly enough, the blonde looked infuriated. That look never brought good things Harry's way.
"For Merlin's sake Potter!", Draco finally burst out. "You're The Boy Who Lived! I can guarantee you almost everyone on this train has known your name since they could talk and you have no clue about anything!"
Harry couldn't stop his flinch as the boy started shouting. Hopefully Draco didn't notice.
"The Boy Who Lived?, you're having me on aren't you? Ha ha, that's a good one." Harry knew perfectly well there was nothing about him that would garner so much attention from perfect strangers. "Look Draco, I appreciate the effort, but you don't have to make up some fanciful story to make me feel better. I'm already going to be learning magic, in a castle no less. I don't need to be famous to make that better than sitting around in my cupb- I mean my cousin's shadow all the time.
Draco cocked an eyebrow letting him know that he had obviously noticed the abrupt change in wording. Harry wasn't worried though, its not like anyone would ever guess what he'd almost slipped.
Draco rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward, clasping his hands together, and put on his best "business" face. "Harry, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this. I don't really know a better way to do this other than to come right out with it." He could see the concern building in Harry's deep green eyes and spoke quickly to spare the boy any further angst. "Your Uncle and Aunt have lied to you."
"Lied?"
"Yes, Lied."
"About what?"
"Right about now its possible they've lied to you about everything. Especially if you count lies by omission." This is not going to be pretty, this is not going to be pretty at all, Draco chanted in his head. "Harry, I have quite a few things to tell you, and quite honestly they're horrible. I'm not exactly sure how to start, and I may fumble around a bit, but will you try to listen and attempt to believe what I'm telling you?"
"Yes, I'll try." Harry whispered back.
"Good, Now let me think. I guess the best place to start would be to tell you at the time of your birth the wizarding world was at war. There was a Dark Wizard whose name is still not spoken, the magical population call him He Who Must Not Be Named or You Know Who. He was determined to take the Pureblood wizards to victory over wizards of all other blood statuses and magical creatures. He felt that those with Pure Blood were stronger and had more right to wield the magic we have been blessed with."
Harry looked like he had something to say here, but Draco held up a hand.
"I'm only telling you what his ideals were, not trying to debate Pureblood theology. Perhaps we'll get to that later", he added as his lip curled up slightly. Returning to his serious demeanor, he continued.
"Basically, if you stood in his way you were signing your death certificate. Your mother and father were vehemently opposed to him. They fought openly against him and his followers who were called Death Eaters. Your parents eventually caused enough trouble that the Dark Wizard came personally to kill them. No one stood a chance against him. No one had enough power." Steeling himself, Draco continued the events of that night. "On October 31st, 1981, he killed your parents."
"No! You've got it wrong!" Harry breathlessly protested "They weren't murdered. They died in a car crash."
He looked at Draco with a quiet desperation, begging with his eyes to be told that this was not real.
"I'm sorry Harry, its true, but that's not all that happened that night." Draco really did feel sorry for Harry. He could see the turmoil on his companions face. How hard must it be to know not only that your parents were slaughtered, but that their memory was disrespected and made a mockery of by his mother's family. "He tried to kill you too."
Harry's eyes focused sharply on Draco. "You Harry Potter, are a real life, walking, talking, miracle. No one knows exactly why or how, but when he fired the curse at you to end your life, somehow it rebounded and killed him instead, leaving you with your scar."
"If, and I do mean if, this is all true, how did that boy earlier, who burst in here looking for Harry Potter, not know who I am?"
Draco shrugged, "The pictures I've seen of you in books and papers are of a young baby. You didn't have glasses, and your hair was a darkish, shaggy mess. There haven't been any recent images of you circulating around, so no one really knows what to expect from your appearance I suppose. Judging from the photos I saw, you look a lot like your mother. Plus, the way your hair lays across your scar keeps people from immediately recognizing you."
Harry nodded absently, he was still trying to process the shocking revelations.
"You need to be prepared Harry, in the wizarding world you are a celebrity. People will want to be close to your fame, and will do just about anything to be seen as one of your friends.
"Some celebrity", Harry mumbled too low for Draco to hear, "if they only knew." The boys then sat silently reflecting upon the previous revelations.
0o0o0
"What an irritating Mudblood. Seems they'll let anyone into Hogwarts these days" Draco griped after running off a bossy witch with bushy, flyaway curls who had just stormed their compartment looking for a toad.
"That's the second time I've heard you use that word now, and I get the impression its not something good, but I still don't know what it means. Would you mind filling me in Draco?"
Draco, who was very intelligent, was unfortunately overly arrogant, and couldn't wait to impress his new friend with his knowledge and ideals of blood status. He didn't see the problem with what he would be saying to one Harry James Potter until the words were already past his lips.
"Mudblood means dirty blood. It refers to magical people born to muggles who are non-magic people. Everyone knows the only wizards and witches worth anything are from pure wizard bloodlines. My family has been pure for hundreds of years. Its really too bad we can't ban Mudbloods from using magic at all."
Suddenly Draco could swear the temperature in the compartment had dropped and he could almost sense a pressure building within its confines. He looked at Harry to see if he'd noticed the difference as well. He quickly sucked in a breath at the sight before him. Prior to this moment Draco hadn't known that green eyes could look so hard and cold. Harry's face was tight with anger and Draco realized the pressure he was feeling was Harry's barely controlled magic.
"Are you implying that my mother was not worthy of using magic Draco? She was after all born to muggle parents."
It was Draco's turn to hang his head, cheeks pinking slightly from his major social gaffe. "Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't think before I spoke. I was repeating things I've always heard at my parent's social parties. I guess I picked the wrong way to try and impress you."
"Impress me?" Harry was slightly distracted from his anger by this unexpected reply.
"Yes, I was hoping to be your friend before I let my mouth run away with me. Will you forgive me for insulting your mother?"
Harry took a deep breath, letting the tension melt away. He'd never had a friend before, but if Draco was so concerned about blood status how much of a friendship could they possibly have?
"If you really feel that way about bloodlines I'm not sure why you would even want to be my friend. I don't know my father's blood status, but either way I'm definitely not a pureblood. I'll forgive you, but I can't agree with what you were just implying."
Draco took in a deep breath then let it out in a long sigh. "All my life I've been told what to believe, and how to act. I think I would like to take a chance and start making my own decisions. Harry, from this moment forward I will try my best to see things from your perspective and respect your point of view. I can't promise that we will always agree, but I believe we can create a working friendship. What do you say?"
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. No one had ever wanted to make any concessions for him. No one in his family and certainly not potential friends. This boy was willing to work to change his deep seated beliefs just to be Harry's friend. He smiled softly. He gave a small nod to his companion who smiled back in return.
0o0o0
Draco gave Harry a quick overview of the four houses the students would be sorted into as they changed into their school robes. Harry still wasn't sure where he would fit. He didn't feel he posessed the smarts of a Ravenclaw, the dedication of a Hufflepuff, the bravery of a Griffindor, or the cunning of a Slytherin. Draco tried to assure him there were many other smaller characteristics that made up each house. "We all can't be defined by a single trait, you know."
Still, Harry couldn't help but worry that he wouldn't fit in anywhere. How much could he find in common with all these people who had lived fairly normal childhoods when he'd been brought up as a slave living in a cupboard? Finally they were led into the Great Hall to be sorted. Harry had been impressed with the lake, the magic boats, and the stunning facade of Hogwarts, but he wouldn't be able to relax until he knew he belonged.
He was not prepared to be stared at by everyone in the Great Hall. It wasn't just him, but all of the first years being watched with open curiosity, however it was very overwhelming to someone who spends their time avoiding attention. He slid behind a substantially taller boy, who looked like the one searching for him earlier on the train, which blocked many of the eyes in the room from falling on him.
Harry tried to pay attention to the sorting hat's song, but his nerves were stretched thin. The constant hum of all the low voices in the hall, the scuff of feet on the stone floors, even the slight rustle of the students robes all added to the cacophony assaulting Harry at the moment. He was startled when a no nonsense looking witch called "POTTER, HARRY!" in a strong, clear voice. Harry shuffled forward as silence descended on the hall. He wished the floor would just swallow him where he stood. After what felt like an hour but was in reality only a few seconds he made it to an old stool and sat down to be sorted. The hat was lowered onto his head and Harry held his breath awaiting his fate.
Calm yourself young Potter. You have nothing to fear from me. I can see everything you are or could possibly be at this very moment, and you my child will be marvelous whatever your chosen path. I can see you successful in any of the Founder's houses.
Yes young one, you definitely belong. My job however is to find the house that will suit you best of all and bring forth your maximum potential.
Ah, I see the traits you've come to expect from the houses. Tell me, can you identify in which house you will find Determination, Leadership Qualities, Intelligence, and most importantly Fraternity? What is fraternity you say? It means the members of your house will be much more to you than house mates. They will become brothers and sisters. You will form bonds that life will never break. This does sound appealing to you, does it not? Lets try a few more on for size. Self-Preservation, Resourcefulness, Ambition, and a thirst for Power. Yes, you see where I'm heading don't you. I see what you've lived through in this short life of yours Harry Potter. I can tell you now that the abilities you have honed to deal with your circumstances are nothing to be ashamed of. Your choices make you good or bad. Mind your heart and all will be well. You're still nervous about being sorted into this house? Let me tell that in this house that you will find understanding and friendship rather than hero worship and idolization. Let's get you to your new family. Better be...
"SLYTHERIN!"
AN: I found my traits for Slytherin House on harrypotter. wikia. com (Remove spaces)
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