Thoughts: 'Blah. Blah. Blah."

Flashback: Blah. Blah. Blah. ( [END]FLASHBACK before/after them)

Hedwig: "Blah. Blah. Blah."

Parseltongue: {Blah. Blah. Blah.}

Letters/Articles/Writing: Blah. Blah. Blah.

Chapter 5

Exactly one week after the Quidditch tryouts take place, finds Harry practically bounding up the stairs from his dormitory and across the common room to the notice board hanging on the wall, looking for the team lineup. He is, of course, dragging a thoroughly ruffled, yet excited Draco Malfoy behind him.

"Harry, it doesn't matter when we look at it, the list is not going to change." Draco grumbles half-heartedly as he is jerked to a stop when Harry abruptly halts behind the group of Slytherins huddled in front the stone wall by the common room entrance where this year's Quidditch Roster has been posted.

"You don't know that! Change is inevitable! Nothing is certain!" Harry counters, rising to his tip-toes and frantically swaying his body from side to side as he attempts to get a better view of the list. Unfortunately, the only part of the parchment that is visible through the small crowd is the top right corner, which only tells him the name of this year's captain, something he is already well aware of and not likely to forget thanks to the various bruises he'd received at tryouts from a few well-aimed bludgers. Harry gives up with a frustrated groan as he realizes that he's just going to have to wait for all of his unfairly tall housemates to get out of the way. He absolutely loathes being short, and he silently hopes that Draco will never be significantly taller than him.

"I can't see!" Harry complains with a whine, making Draco chuckle.

"Relax, Potter; Just be patient. You're really worked up about this, aren't you?" Draco spares Harry a glance, humoured by his best friend's dramatics.

"Yes, Malfoy. I know I made the team, and I'm sure that you did too, but I really want to be the seeker, just like my dad. It means a lot to me." When Harry finishes he looks down at his feet and huffs in frustration. Because of this, he doesn't see the small frown that marrs Draco's elegant features.

"Yeah." Draco replies shortly. Draco is also lusting for the seeker position. He wouldn't mind losing out to Harry as much as he would with anyone else, but the prospect still isn't favorable. However, he does understand Harry's longing for the position. He supposes that this is Harry's way of being close to his father, despite his absence, and the thought of taking that from Harry does make him feel guilty. Draco's conflicted, and the only thing left to do is wait to see the roster. 'Well, I guess we're about to find out.' Draco thinks as the crowd of older Slytherins disperses, a mix of disappointed and ecstatic expressions on his housemate's faces.

Once the path to the wall is clear, Harry runs up to the list, nervously bouncing on his toes as he reads through the list of names and positions. Draco scans the parchment from over Harry's shoulder.

Quidditch Team for the 1992-1993 School Year

Captain: Marcus Flint

Chaser #1: Marcus Flint

Chaser #2: Graham Montague

Chaser #3: Draco Malfoy

Beater #1: Millicent Bulstrode

Beater #2: Adrian Pucey

Keeper: Miles Bletchley

Seeker: Harry Potter

Draco honestly doesn't know what to feel. He made the team, which is fantastic, but he failed to get the position he wanted. He feels the beginnings of frustration starting to overcome him, however, one look at Harry chases the feeling away. His best friend is absolutely thrilled, excitement spreading across his face and euphoria dancing in his eyes. Draco may be upset, but he knows that Harry deserves to be seeker, not just because of his father, but because he is extremely skilled on a broom. His small stature allows him to make tight turns and accomplish other impressive aerial feats. And maybe he can finally put his attraction to shiny objects to use. Besides, Draco made the House Team! That in and of itself is a great accomplishment for a second-year. He knows that his mother and father will be proud of him, and of Harry too. He's okay with how everything has turned out, Draco decides, turning to Harry with a large grin plastered on his face.

"We did it! We made the team!" Harry exclaims, jumping forward to embrace Draco with an excited ferocity that Draco unabashedly returns.

"This is fantastic! I need to write to mother and father right now and tell them the good news!" Draco pulls away and pauses in thought. "You should write to them too; I'm sure they will want to hear from you."

"I think I will." Harry replies with a fond smile, remembering that he actually has people who care about him in his life, people who will be proud of him for his accomplishments.

"We have some time before breakfast, so we should do it now. We can take the letters up to the Owlery on our way to lunch."

Harry nods and grabs Draco's hand, once again dragging him across the common room. He lets go when they get to the stairwell, hoping to avoid a nasty tumble down the stairs.

When the pair reach their dormitory, they see that Blaise and Theo are up and getting ready for the day. Theo is haphazardly tying his tie and Blaise is frantically searching for… something, rifling around in the chest at the foot of his bed.

"What are you looking for?" Draco inquires curiously, walking over to his own chest and taking out a roll of parchment.

"A ring that my mother gave to me last Christmas. I thought I set it on my nightstand before I went to bed, but it wasn't there when I woke up, and now I can't find it anywhere." Blaise rushes through his explanation, throwing a pair of socks over his shoulder as he speaks.

"Blaise." Harry interjects before Blaise can continue his worried ranting. Blaise turns to Harry just in time to hear him say, "Think fast," and clumsily catch the object that Harry tosses to him. Blaise looks down at the object in his hands, only to be met with the sight of his ring. He looks back up at Harry, slowly and deliberately, and fixes his roommate with a heated glare.

"Seriously?! Why?!" Blaise yells, angrily shoving the ring on his index finger as Harry responds with a nonchalant shrug, looking at him with a bored stare. Suddenly, Draco starts laughing hysterically, putting his quill down on his bed as he shakes with mirth. "What?!" Blaise shouts, whirling around to face Draco.

"Harry will steal anything that isn't nailed down, you should know that by now." Draco manages to speak through his laughter.

Harry nods, his expression a picture of innocence. "Correct. See? This is your fault, and I am innocent in all things."

Harry stares at Blaise, and Blaise stares right back. The room is silent, save for Draco's occasional giggle. "Right, and if you are accidentally hit with a Rictusempra in the near future, then that is your fault, and I am innocent in all things." Blaise says bluntly, breaking the silence.

"If that's the case, you better do it soon. You know how I hate to be kept waiting." Harry smirks mischievously and Blaise merely scoffs in retaliation.

"You're a lunatic, I hope you know that." Blaise mutters, grabbing his school uniform and stomping his way over to the bathroom.

"Aw, Blaise, I didn't know you had such a high opinion of me. I'm flattered." Harry calls, just before Blaise slams the bathroom door, effectively ending the conversation. Which, doesn't bother Harry in the slightest. He had the last word, and that's all that matters.

"Remind me why I put up with you guys?" Theo asks, thoroughly exasperated.

Harry and Draco lock eyes in silent communication, grinning, and then they turn back to Theo, responding in concert with each other.

"Because you'd be lost without us."

Theo takes a second to think, ultimately deciding that they're right (he really hates it when that happens) and says, "I guess I can't argue with that." He shrugs and sits on the floor so he can put on his shoes, all the while muttering about how his choice in friends leaves much to be desired. However, what he's really thinking is that he couldn't have asked for a better group of friends. They are there to support him, no matter what. They make him feel human, like he's not a lost cause, despite what his family seems to think. Sure, they have their issues - mainly too much sarcasm, and not enough brain cells - but they're his family, and he wouldn't trade them for anything.

Harry and Draco laugh before returning to their original task, the sound of quills against parchment filling the room. Harry immediately runs into a problem. He can't decide on how to address Draco's parents. They have told him, repeatedly, that he should call them by their first names, but if you've been raised to believe that you should address every adult should in a formal manner or face the consequences, like Harry has, then calling an adult by their first name, even with permission, feels inherently wrong. Finally, he settles on fulfilling their wishes, addressing them by their first name, despite the discomfort it brings.

With that decided, Harry begins to write:

Lucius and Narcissa,

This year has been enjoyable so far, and definitely less eventful than the last. I have been doing my best to keep Draco out of trouble, just as you asked, and he, in turn, has been doing the same for me.

Classes are much more intense this year, and I am finding that I actually have to apply myself now. Not that this is a bad thing, I find the work pleasing, much to Blaise's chagrin. He seems to have a rather complicated relationship with the library, and studying in general. But, don't worry, Draco and I will set him straight!

On the topic of the more difficult classes we are facing this year, I have found that Transfiguration does not come as easily to me now that the required level of skill has increased. There was an unfortunate incident last week in Transfiguration involving a beetle. Professor McGonagall was not amused, to say the least. Especially when I brought up the possible significance of my creation from a Magizoology standpoint. But, unfortunately, Transfiguration does not deal with the creation of new species. On a better note, however, my ability to successfully transform a beetle into a button has vastly improved.

The point of this letter is to inform you that I have been placed on the House Quidditch Team! I am officially Slytherin house's new seeker. I do not yet know when we will start practice, let alone when the first match is, but I'm sure the schedule will be posted soon.

I am excited to come home over the Christmas Holiday. Once again, I want to thank you for opening your home and your hearts to me. I am appreciative of everything you have done to help me. I do not know how I can ever repay you, but I suspect that doing well and succeeding in all of my endeavors will be a decent start.

I do apologize for not writing sooner, and I assure you that I will get better at keeping you informed of my activities.

Sincerely,

Harry

Harry finishes, setting his quill down before reading over the letter, eventually deeming it acceptable and folding it neatly. He rises from the bed, opening the drawer of his bedside table and retrieving a cream envelope, green wax, and a wax stamp so he can seal the envelope.

By the time Harry is carefully pressing the stamp to the wax on the envelope, Draco is finished writing. He quickly goes about the same process as Harry and carefully places the letter in between the pages of his Transfiguration textbook before putting the book in his satchel. Harry does the same, and soon after, both Slytherins are ready to go to breakfast.

Blaise and Theo had left ten minutes ago, wanting to get to the Great Hall with enough time to eat breakfast and wrangle their brains into something akin to functionality. Harry and Draco had woken up early to check the Quidditch roster, and that, coupled with the excitement of realizing that they made the team, was enough to wake them up, which is a stark contrast to the catatonic state they usually sport in the mornings. Well, that last bit is more directed toward Harry, but for the sake of Harry's pride, we're just going to ignore that fact.

They leave their dormitory in an excellent mood, chatting animatedly the entire way to the Great Hall. When they enter the Great Hall, the smell of breakfast graces their nostrils, finally bringing their attention to the hunger gnawing at their stomachs. They make their way swiftly over to the Slytherin table, sitting in their usual seats next to Blaise and Theo. All through breakfast, they receive enthusiastic congratulations from their Housemates for earning a spot on the Quidditch Team. Harry and Draco greedily soak in the praise, practically preening as they eat their breakfast.

When they notice people slowly making their way from the Great Hall, they finish eating and stand up, Blaise and Theo following suit. With that, they leave the Great Hall, heading to the dungeons for Potions.

~~~Time Skip~~~

The weekend passes by in a blur, and too soon, it seems, Harry and Draco are hastily making their way to the Greenhouse for their first class of the day: Herbology. They enter the Greenhouse just as Professor Sprout begins to address the class. They both woke up late this morning and ended up having to skip breakfast in favor of making it to class on time. For some unknown reason, Blaise and Theo hadn't bothered to wake them up before they left. However, Harry suspects that it has something to do with the prank the twins had roped Harry and Draco into on Saturday. The prank had gone perfectly, their execution absolutely flawless. But, it seems as if Blaise and Theo hadn't appreciated their sudden ability to speak Latin as much as Harry, Draco, and the twins had. Oh, and did I forget to mention that they had lost the ability to speak anything other than Latin for approximately twenty-four hours? Their only means of communication had been Professor Babbling, the ancient runes teacher, who had been easily convinced to join in on the prank by incorrectly translating what they were trying to communicate. Now that Harry thinks about it, Blaise and Theo probably have the right to be vindictive.

'Maybe I should start putting protection charms up around my bed again.' Harry contemplates, having been on the receiving end of Blaise and Theo's wrath on more than a few occasions. And, well, no one knows how to get revenge like a Slytherin scorned.

Luckily, Professor Sprout decided against pointing their tardiness out to the rest of the class, but they still receive a multitude of self-righteous sneers from the Gryffindors sitting closest to the door. They promptly go to take their seats, ignoring Hermione's questioning look in favor of pulling out their textbooks.

Today Professor Sprout is going over the various types of pests to look out for when growing plants. She is currently explaining how a muggle insect, the aphid, can infest and destroy a garden or greenhouse. Harry, despite his best efforts, tunes out the lecture. He knows about aphids from practical experience, having encountered them when tending to Petunia's garden, and he strategically decides that he can afford to miss a portion of the lesson. If he ends up missing anything new or important, he's sure that Draco will lend him his notes.

Harry's thoughts wander to the letters he and Draco had sent on Friday afternoon. They still haven't heard back from Draco's parents, but they're not entirely surprised. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are the epitome of busy, so they expected it to be a few days before they received a response.

In what seems to be a startlingly short amount of time, they are being dismissed by Professor Sprout. "You didn't hear anything she said, did you?" Hermione chastises as they exit the Greenhouse.

"Um… Maybe?" Harry replies smartly, hearing Draco snicker next to him.

"You can copy my notes." Draco offers, nudging Harry's side with his elbow as they walk along the Hogwarts Grounds back to the castle.

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around." Harry replies sarcastically, earning a half-hearted glare from the blond.

"You two are hopeless!" Hermione fusses, looking at Harry and Draco in disbelief. "Absolutely hopeless!"

~~~Time Skip~~~

When Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Theo trudge into their dormitory at the end of the day, they immediately flop unceremoniously onto their beds, sighing as they finally allow themselves to relax. Today has been particularly tedious, mostly due to Hogwarts' very own Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. After suffering through a horrifying experience in DADA, History of Magic was a welcome relief. Harry never thought there would come a day when he'd favor Professor Binns over another teacher, but alas, here we are.

Theo's voice cuts through Harry's musings, drawing his attention. "Hey, dumb and dumber, you have packages."

Harry and Draco choose to ignore Theo's blatant insult, instead taking a moment to locate the packages in question. When they spot them, they have no doubt as to what is enclosed within the two packages.

Harry and Draco leap from their beds, suddenly rejuvenated, and begin unwrapping. Harry picks up a small slip of paper that reads:

Harry,

It is good to hear that you are doing well. Congratulations on making the Quidditch Team; We expect you and Draco to represent Slytherin house well. Hopefully, this gift will help you both lead the team to victory.

You will be receiving two letters tomorrow morning with further correspondence from Narcissa and myself.

Do well, and make us proud,

Lucius Malfoy

Once Harry finishes reading the note, he continues tearing apart the packaging, slowly revealing what lies beneath.

"Merlin's beard, those are Nimbus 2001s!" Blaise exclaims as he and Theo come over to get a better look at Harry and Draco's new brooms.

Harry is absolutely stunned, unable to form proper sentences, and he suspects that Draco is facing a similar situation, if the blond's gobsmacked look is anything to go by. Harry reaches out to stroke the polished wooden handle, finally remembering how to speak. "This- This is incredible!"

Draco comes over to Harry, clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Well," He begins, "It is my father. We shouldn't have expected anything less."

Their day has just gotten infinitely better, and by the time the four boys are on their way to dinner, Lockhart's awful excuse for a class has been completely forgotten.