Hi! Longest chapter yet! I just want to make one note before I start (and I'm glad a reviewer pointed it out to me) I used the term "Sorcerer's Stone" when regarding that little rock Flamel created. I know that the UK version called it the Philosopher's Stone, but I live in the US. Therefore, I'm sticking to what my books say. I don't think this will be an issue going forward (I think the titles etc. are the same for the other books) but I did want to explain why I said what I said.
Enjoy the chapter, and keep on reviewing!
Life passed as usual for a few weeks. Draco had received several letters from Thunder, and was so glad his pen pal hadn't deserted him, that he didn't mind answering Thunder's questions ("I've heard the name Nicholas Flamel…but who is he?"). In Potions class, as the year was ending, Draco received a nasty shock.
"I know many of you have been wondering when the pen-pal assignment was going to come to an end. Thankfully, Dumbledore decided that today everyone is to write their last letter to his or her penpal. It is up to you if you wish to continue the interactions with your penpal, but the owls are no longer keyed into code names, so you'd have to get a real name from your partner to be able to continue." Snape, message delivered, sank into his chair and glared and the Gryffindors. Suddenly, he stood back up "And, according to Dumbledore, if you and your partner meet one another in person, you can sign up to receive five bonus points in" Snape sighed "Any class. Perhaps now some of you actually have a prayer of passing potions…though I doubt it."
Draco glanced around the room dazedly. He was upset about losing contact with Thunder. He had never breached the topic of meeting up again, because Thunder had reacted so oddly the first time, and Draco didn't want another period of cold treatment. Over the months, he and Thunder had become very close, and Draco was determined not to lose the friendship of the boy so similar to himself (it had been determined through their letters that Thunder was NOT Slytherin, a male, and not from London). After class, Draco made his way to the library to write his letter to Thunder.
Dear Thunder,
Over this year I've felt like I've gotten to know you really well. I actually feel like I've gained a friend from this assignment, something I never thought would happen. I would like to continue our correspondences beyond this year, but to do so, we'd need to exchange names. I know we aren't from the same house, but I don't think that would make a friendship difficult. I have lots of friends from other housed. There's, err, okay, so you'd be my first friend from another house, but as I've told you before, sometimes you seem practically Slytherin!
I refuse to say "goodbye" in this letter, because I hope that you'll give me your name so that we can continue to correspond. If you should choose not to continue this correspondence (and friendship) I just wanted you to have this, as a thank you for not being a dreadful pen-pal.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy aka Dragon
Draco read back over the letter, grimacing at the mushiness. It seemed that whenever he corresponded with Thunder, he lost all Slytherin and Malfoy identity, and became someone else (Draco liked to call this person "Simply Draco"). Draco folded the letter and attached a lightning bolt shaped pendant he had found in a room of Hogwarts (It was odd, Draco had been pacing back and forth in a corridor trying to figure out what to give Thunder when he stumbled upon a room containing all sorts of small gifts. He had spotted the pendant, and left a galleon in its place, but when he tried to show Blaise the room, it was nowhere to be found)
As soon as the letter had been sent, Blaise came storming into the room. "You will not believe," he ranted "what I've just received in the mail. My partner, 'Books' insists that we meet up. Insists. You should read the letter; she actually threatens my manhood if we don't meet for the extra credit points. She said she'll find my house, figure out who I am, and make my life a living hell if I don't meet with her so she can get bonus points." Blaise paused "She's ruthless, and I rather admire that."
"At least your pen-pal actually wants to meet with you," Draco sighed "I think I might be the only first year who actually has a fantastic relationship with his penpal, but whose penpal doesn't want to meet with me. I just don't understand-"
"Draco, you're my best mate, but if you continue to wallow in self pity like this, I'm going to go off the deep end. You have tons of friends, and if this Thunder person can't get off his bloody high horse to meet with a mere pen pal, then when I eventually figure out who Thunder is, I'll give him a piece of my mind, and make sure he knows what an awesome friend he missed out on. Do you understand?" Blaise was panting slightly after his outburst, but still managed to look collected as he raised an eyebrow at Draco. "Anyways, I have to go meet MY penpal, so I need to leave now. I'll save you a seat at dinner, okay?"
The last day of school was approaching, and Draco had never heard back from Thunder. He had no idea what he'd done to inspire another cold shoulder, but he did his best to ignore it. On his way to lunch, Draco passed Blaise, who was conversing with a Ravenclaw. Blaise saw him, and detached from the group to join Draco.
"Drake, I have the most amazing news ever!"
"DraCO"
"Yeah yeah, I'm not even going to argue that yet. Hold on a sec and listen to what's been going around the school: The company CEO was here. Yes, at Hogwarts. He was possessing Quirrell, and he was trying to get" Blaise paused for effect "The Sorceror's Stone! But while he was in the place where the stone was hidden, Potter showed up and defeated Quirrell in some sort of bizarre duel. He's been in the Hospital wing for, forever! The story leaked out through the Weasley, who was talking all about his role in helping Potter. I know it's true because, well, you know how Books turned out to be Her—I mean, Granger? Well, I just asked Granger if the story was true, and she admitted that parts of it were. Anyways, I got from her that they went into the 3rd floor corridor that night, the night after we'd met up for extra credit! I can't believe that she was on her way to doing such an exciting thing! She seemed so calm and collected…" Blaise trailed off "Well? What do you think of all this?"
Draco turned over the events in his head. He knew his father wouldn't be pleased that Harry had managed to thwart the Dark Lord (again) but secretly, Draco was glad that Harry hadn't been killed, and had, in fact, emerged victorious. He was slightly worried that the boy from the long ago robe shop was still in the Hospital Wing, but he quickly pushed that emotion to the side and tried to focus on the goings-on at the Slytherin table.
Over the past year, Draco had formed close ties with Daphne Greengrass, a quick witted Slytherin of small fortune (the equivalent of perhaps 10 weasley family fortunes). Draco and Daphne had decided early on in their friendship that the other was the sibling they'd never been given. Draco knew that this summer, the two of them would visit almost every week. Draco sat between Blaise and Daphne, thinking about the summer that was to come. This summer would be Draco's last summer on his eleven and under Quidditch team. Next year, Draco was looking forward to being in the twelve to fifteen year old's Quidditch league, but for this year, he was excited to be the bigshot seeker on his team (the fanged Frisbees, so named by seven year old Draco and Blaise, who played chaser for a few years before losing interest in the sport).
That afternoon, the common room was filled with noise, which was unusual for the reserved Slytherin house. The students were introducing their owls to one another (so that their owl could find their friends over the summer) and detailing their summer plans. The dorms were a mess because of the packing, as each student attempted to sort out his or her belongings from the group (the Slytherins believed that bringing, for example, multiple magical radios was a waste of space. As such, each student brought something to share. That way, the student could spend the money to get the absolute top of the line item).
Draco finished his packing early and sat in the common room. Even though he had been disappointed by the outcome of the pen-pal assignment, he was happy to have met Daphne, and he was beginning to form ties with some upper year Slytherins as well. His marks had been stellar, and he knew his father would count this year a success. When it was time, Draco, along with Blaise, made his way to the Slytherin table for the feast.
Draco stared around the room. The decorating motif suggested that the Slytherin House had won the House Cup, and he was thrilled to be part of a continuing legacy. He had worked hard to avoid losing House points (well, except for that disastrous night that lead to detention with the Giant, Granger, the near-Squib, and Harry) and he had studied hard to gain House points through his stellar marks. Draco noticed that Harry was back, out of the hospital wing. He was holding a silver dragon, and glancing toward the Slytherin table. Draco figured Harry was still a bit loopy from his stay in the Hospital Wing, and dismissed the actions.
Draco had been having a pretty good day. As Dumbledore stood to give his speech, Draco was eagerly anticipating the moment when he and his friends would stand and be recognized. However, their celebration was cut short as Dumbledore gave last minute points to the Gryffindors for whatever it was that Harry and the Weasley and Granger did. As he realized that the Gryffindors had passed the Slytherins, Draco got angry. It was unfair. The points system was cut off a week before exams, everyone knew that! Draco was angry at Dumbledore's blatant disregarding of the rules, but there was nothing he could do about it. He sat back and commiserated with his friends, and tried to still enjoy the feast.
As the desserts disappeared, and the students stood to go to their dorms, Draco suddenly ran into Harry. Draco didn't feel like pretending to be snarky, so he didn't say anything to the boy. Harry swallowed nervously, and handed the silver dragon to Draco.
"Hey 'Dragon,' umm… 'Thunder' asked me to give this to you. He didn't want to give up his identity, so he thought he'd send someone to give you a present and thank you for the pendent. 'Thunder' said he was sorry that he didn't get to write you back, but he was really busy with…erm…studying for exams. He also wanted me to tell you to have a good summer." With that, Harry Potter turned and left without a backward glance. Draco looked at the dragon, a long silver beast that was enchanted to curl around the owner's arm. He made his way to his room in a daze, pleased that "Thunder" perhaps didn't hate him.
The goodbyes on the platform had been sad, even though Draco knew he'd see his friends over the summer. He had met up with his parents and they were on their way back to the Malfoy estate. Draco had been giving the details of the school year to his parents, who were overall quite pleased with him for the way his summer had been going. They praised him for his marks and his social conduct. Their only gripe with the way Draco had behaved during the school year was that he had gotten detention, and that he was beaten (just barely) by Granger during the exams. Their reasoning was that if a Muggleborn who knew nothing about magic before receiving her Hogwarts letter could beat a Pureblood, the Pureblood must not have studied hard enough.
Draco looked out the window as his home came into view. He knew he had a whole summer ahead of him, but all he could think of was getting back to Hogwarts for another year.