As the weeks wore on and the weather turned colder, thoughts turned toward the Inter-House Quidditch Tournament. Draco hadn't been sure how to react when he found out that Harry Potter was the Seeker for the Gryffindor team. On the one hand, Draco was intensely jealous, and a bit angry that Harry got the honor because of Draco's unwitting machinations. On the other hand, Draco pleased the boy had adjusted to magic so quickly and no longer reacted to everything magical like a muggleborn. Draco rationalized that he felt better knowing Harry was living up to his lineage (despite the fact that Evans was a muggleborn, Harry was considered only slightly below pureblooded, because of the strength of the Potter line, and the fact that, after all, his mother had been a witch).
The letters arrived, and Draco was pleased to see that "Thunder" had written back. Despite the cheesiness of the assignment, Draco found that he had a lot in common with Thunder. Both boys (for they had determined that both were male) were interested in Quidditch, both boys had an affinity for learning about magic, and the two were quickly discovering that they shared a sense of humor, and many other minute details with one another. Draco had given up trying to figure out who his mystery friend was, content to develop his friendship with "Thunder" without the stigmatism associated with normal Slytherin interactions. For a brief minute, Draco had toyed with the hope that it was with Harry Potter that he conversed, but that notion was quickly dismissed because Thunder was simply too different from the Harry Potter Draco saw every day. While Draco still felt drawn to Harry for reasons beyond his comprehension, Draco was beginning to form a deep friendship with Thunder. Draco unfolded his letter.
Dear Dragon,
Yes, I will be at the Quidditch match. I'm very excited about it, but nervous about the outcome all the same. You had asked me a question about Monkshood…as far as I can tell, the only way to figure out the solution to Snape's question is to remember what he said first class, about Monkshood and Wolfsbane being the same thing (also called Aconite, if I remember correctly). If you look up the properties of Wolfsbane in Potions Ingredients For the Pre-OWL Student found in the Library Reference section, you'll find some information that should be useful.
I was hoping you could give me a hint about what Quirrel meant when he discussed the Danger Quotient of the Vampire. I'm a bit unclear on the calculations, and since I've just helped you with your potions, maybe you could give me a hint about the DADA essay? One of my friends is quite good at schoolwork, but is too busy to offer me any assistance right now.
Have you ever read Quidditch through the Ages? I've just finished it, and I really enjoyed it. Are there any other books I might read about Quidditch? Most of the others I've found are all about tactics, and get quite dull sometimes.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Thunder
Draco made a note to look up the potions book, then made his way to the Quidditch Pitch to watch the game. He met up with Blaise as he walked.
"Hey Dray, haven't seen you in awhile…what've you been up to lately that doesn't involve writing those bloody letters? I know you're all about good marks, but most students have only written their person three times at the most…and you must've sent ten letters in the past week alone!" Said Blaise, rolling his eyes at his best friend's over-achieving nature.
"I've only sent eight!" Draco defended himself "And don't call me Dray—It isn't dignified!"
"Whatever, Drake," Blaise ducked to avoid Draco's arm as he swung it at the back of his head "Geez! Touchy! Anyways, we've missed hanging out with you lately. Pansy said to let you do your thing, because we all know how much you want to please your parents, but this is getting ridiculous!" Blaise mock glared at Draco "I'm beginning to think you only hung out with me because you were bored!"
"Blaise you know that I—nice…you definitely had me feeling guilty for a millisecond there" Draco grinned "I guess I have been a bit busy, but I just needed to get settled into a routine. I've done that, so I'll probably have more time for you now."
"Probably?" Screeched Pansy "You'll definitely have time for us, or I'll know why!" The girl grinned at Draco "Hi Drake! Missed me?"
"Dray-Co" Enunciated Draco "Not Dray, Drake, Drakie, or whatever else you can come up with! People, I'm a Malfoy, and in the Malfoy family, nicknames simply aren't done!"
Draco heard a snort, and turned to see the Weasel attempting to smirk at him. "I'm a Malfoy, people!" Sneered the Weasel "Admire me! Worship me!"
Draco gazed coolly at the Weasel. "At least I'm not an ugly social-climber," he said, causing the redhead to flush with anger, and the bushy haired twerp (Manger? No, Granger) to glance at the Weasel in confusion. Clearly she thought the animosity between the two boys had sprung from Draco's haughty personality. Draco hoped she'd ask the Weasel uncomfortable questions about the origins of the Malfoy-Weasley feud. Draco turned toward the Slytherin section of the stadium, leaving the Gryffindors to head to their own section.
*THIS IS A LINE BREAK*
That weekend, Draco decided to finish his Potions homework. Deciding to take Thunder's advice, Draco made his way towards the library. Before he got far, Draco rand into Gregory Nott, named Gregory because pureblooded families were into naming children after purebloods of old, therefore every generation tended to have a name prevalent throughout the families. This generation, it was Gregory. Nott pulled Draco into an alcove and hissed in his ear, "I saw you looking at Potter at breakfast. You'd better be careful. There are those of us who would see a pureblood, especially a Malfoy, looking at the "boy who bloody wouldn't die" and get angry." Nott squeezed Draco's arm "Very angry. I'm sure you don't want to experience this anger, so you'd best stay loyal to 'the old cause.' Yes, I see that look, I know you're a Malfoy and all that rot. But answer me this 'young lord' would your father be happy to hear the source of our anger? Would a fascination with the Potter boy be befitting to the famous Malfoy code?" Nott let go and backed away "Take this warning and think very very carefully on it. You don't need to give me an answer, because we'll see a change in your behavior, won't we?" Nott turned and strode away, leaving Draco shaking in anger.
Who was this boy to be so rude, especially to a Malfoy heir? Draco had never really been one to take orders, so he was angry about Nott's warning. Compounding this anger was the fact that Draco had no intention of trying to befriend Harry, at least, not anytime in the near future. Draco knew he needed a solid angle before he could befriend Dumbledore's golden boy, and until then, he needed to stay far away. Draco realized that while he was thinking, his feet had brought him to the library.
Upon entering, Draco breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of old books, the paper and ink combined with a smell that was unique to the Hogwarts Library, a scent Draco had dubbed "magic." Draco glanced around at the airy room, spotting a doorway marked "Reference." He made his way through the door, and searched the shelves until he found the book thunder had mentioned. Pulling the heavy tome from the shelf, Draco carried it to the tables in the center of the room. He sat down and flipped to the index. "Wereroot…Woggletap…Wolfsnip… Wolfsbane!" Draco flipped to the section and began to take notes. When he got to the last page about Wolfsbane, the properties, he saw a sheet of parchment. Draco set his notes to dry, and looked at the sheet.
Hi Dragon! I hope the book was useful, and that you found it ok! Were you at the match? What did you think? I can't wait for your next letter…~Thunder
Draco smiled and folded the sheet before slipping it and his notes into his bag. He replaced the book on the shelf, and gathered his belongings to go, still smiling at the note from Thunder. He didn't notice that he had left his favorite quill, nor had he seen the emerald green eyes that had widened as he pulled out the note. Draco was oblivious to the boy standing shell-shocked right outside the door to the Reference room, making his way back to the Slytherin dorm already composing his next letter to Thunder in his head.