Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow up to be!”

Albus Dumbledore

At the young age of six years old, Draco Lucius Malfoy learns about soulmates.

It was on one sunny afternoon that Draco, cooped up in his house all day due to mandated lessons by his father, decided it would be a grand idea to play hide and seek outside. 

Draco had snuck out of the study he was reading in and carefully trod down the hallways to reach the entrance of his house. If his father spotted him playing outside in the “filthy dirt,” Draco would surely be grounded from playing with his broom, and this simply could not do for Draco’s young mind.

Just as he opens the door, he hears the call of “Master Draco?” Draco turns and finds Dobby standing there, looking quite nervous. He, after staring for a bit, brightens instantly. He now has a friend to play with! Clearing his throat, Draco tries to mimic his father’s sneer, which had been directed at their house-elves often.

“Dobby, I need you to come with me immediately ,” Draco demands, using the tone Draco’s father uses on Draco himself whenever Draco breaks the rules or does something inappropriate in front of Ministry Officials. It seems to work, as Dobby cowers immediately.

“Master won’t like this, Master Draco,” Dobby cries, wringing his hands. “He won’t like this at all, no, no.” Draco rolls his eyes. And his father calls him dramatic.

“As your master Dobby, I order you not to tell father and to follow me immediately!” Draco exclaims, walking back to the garden, not bothering to check if Dobby will follow him.

Dobby was given to Draco a year ago to be his personal house-elf, and while he’s been . . . adequate , the house-elf was much too jumpy to be of any interest to Drace (besides being an annoyance of course). To Dobby’s dismay though, that never stopped Draco from dragging him everywhere and breaking rules all the time.

To his dismay (and Dobby’s relief), Draco’s adventure was quickly put to a stop when he finds his mother sitting out in the rose garden, reading a letter and looking nostalgic. The wind flutters her hair around the rose bushes, and the scene looks quite picturesque.

Draco spots her very quickly and starts pouting, then quickly smiles again and runs up to her. “Mother!” His mother turns to him as Dobby approaches from behind, and she smiles.

“Draco, darling.” She places the letter she’s holding in her lap, and Draco eyes it curiously.

“What’s that, mother?” he asks, trying to take a peek. Her mother smiles amusingly but folds the letter and places it back in its envelope.

“Whatever could you mean, love? Quite clearly, it’s a letter that I’m reading,” she explains with a gleam in her eye.

“Mother!” Draco whines, extending the syllables. “I am not dumb! I know it’s a letter! I’m asking who it’s from and what does it say! Can you tell me? Please?” His mother chuckles and Draco knows he won.

“Well, I suppose that’s true, darling. You’ve grown so much!” His mother pats his head. “I suppose I should explain the letter then.” She pats her lap, and Draco happily sits up on it. Dobby, who seems hesitant, sits on the grass at his mother’s nod. She makes no move to the envelope, which Draco is a little disappointed about, but he is quickly distracted once she begins speaking once again.

“Darling, do you know what soulmates are?”

Draco scrunches his eyebrows, thinking. “Someone you kiss?”

Narcissa smiles down at him. “Perhaps. A soulmate, in the simplest terms, is someone who completes you. Someone who you will feel comfortable being yourself with, and who will be important in yours, whether platonically or romantically.”

Draco perks his head up at the information. “You don’t have to marry your soulmate?” His mother quickly laughs, and explains, no, he doesn’t have to.

“I believe that a soulmate means something different for everyone, so that is the only explanation I’ll give you for who they are, Drace dear. Once you meet your soulmate, you can form your own unique relationship with them, and no one else can decide that,” his mother explains further, tone fond and sweet.

“Wait, so I can actually meet and know my soulmate?” Draco asks, very confused now. 

His mother takes his hands and places them in hers, squeezing them. “When you turn 16, darling, you will get a mysterious letter-” 

“Magic?” Draco pipes up. 

His mother replies, “Well, I suppose it is magic, but it’s ancient magic. The strong, powerful kind-” Draco gasps in awe. “-and when that letter arrives, it will tell you of a situation where your soulmate will be in grave danger, and only you can save them, my brave dragon. You will not be given a lot of information over what may happen, so you won’t recognize them until the time comes.”

Draco pouts and crosses his arms. “Why don’t we just get their name or face or something? That’s so much easier than a letter, and you will never even know when the thing may happen!”

His mother sighs and pats his cheek. “I’m afraid that’s not how it works, darling. You at least know it will happen after you get your letter, and after you meet your soulmate. Once those two conditions are met, the event can happen at any time, so be careful.”

Draco looks down at his lap for a bit, thinking, then leans up, smiling. “If I save my soulmate, I would be a hero, right?!”

His mother chuckles again and smiles. “Yes, dragon, you would be.” Draco nods, seemingly happy with the label of hero for his soulmate, and his mother doesn’t bother to tell him that his soulmate would end up saving him as well. 

Draco straightens up again and asks, “Is father your soulmate then?” His mother brushes his hair back and kisses his forehead.

“Of course, dear, and we’re happy together,” she confirms. 

Draco jumps away from his mother quickly, nose scrunched up in disgust. His mother raises an eyebrow.

“I’m sure one day, once you meet your soulmate, you will be happy with them as well.”

“Of course,” Draco nods confidently, and his mother holds in a laugh. She turns her head towards Dobby, who’s still sitting on the ground staring at them, and squints.

“Darling, what were you doing here to begin with?” his mother asks, concerned.

Draco blinks. Oh, merlin.

Dobby decides to pipe in at that second as well. “Master has arrived home.” Draco groans.

Draco was grounded for a month. Dobby also started working for Draco’s father instead because, in his father’s words, “The house elf was in need of discipline given it’s clear encouragement of your . . . little adventures.”

That was the last Draco saw of Dobby for quite a few years.

Draco Lucius Malfoy is sorted into Slytherin, just as he was expected to. Draco Malfoy established himself in the Slytherin hierarchy, just as expected. Draco . . . did not become friends with Harry Potter, as expected.

After having his mother drag him everywhere in Diagon Alley to buy his materials, Draco was about ready to take a nap. It didn’t help that his first meeting with a student who wasn’t part of his father’s chosen circle of friends had ended disasterly. 

The boy had been quite weird and quiet, really, seeming very . . . annoyed. Of course, Draco doubts that’s from his presence, since anyone would be graced to have the honor of speaking with him. He suspects that it was likely the awful treatment of the shop. Honestly, these employees could stand to not stab him as much as they had.

Well, his father would say that a half-blood isn’t fully worth it anyways.

And of course, that half blood turns out to be bloody Harry Potter. 

Well, at least Draco had made a wonderful first impression. As such, he’s definitely gotten an advantage in becoming friends with him. 

To cement this alliance, Draco takes Goyle and Crabbe and heads over to where it was reported Potter was staying at. He smirks, ready to have the great hero's absolute adoration, and opens up the cart. He takes a glance at the entire cart and sneers.

There was Potter and a red-haired boy (likely a Weasley). Well, Draco can’t allow the great Harry Potter to make the great mistake of becoming friends with a Weasley!

He introduces himself with pride to Potter, just as his father taught him, when he hears a snicker from the side. It seems Weasley found him funny, did he? It angered Draco’s mind greatly that a blood traitor such as that weasel that he could laugh at him, a Malfoy! 

Wanting to remedy that, Draco bites back with a taunt and turns to Potter once more.

“You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there,” Draco announces, knowing he’s right and he’ll soon become best friends with Potter.

To his great shock (and hurt), Potter gives him a glare and ignores the hand Draco reached out.

“I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks.”

He’s so hurt that he rages and bites back with his own taunts, and leaves with his own dramatic exit. 

Suffice to say, Draco never tries to befriend Potter again. 

That first year, Draco establishes himself in Slytherin, making alliances and knowing who his allies (Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini, Parkison) are and who his enemies (Nott, Potter, Weasley) are. 

He’s long known Crabbe and Goyle as children from the many banquets his parents held, and had been introduced to them to be his lackeys by his father.

Pansy and Blaise are long-time friends, although he’s quite aware of how his family wishes for them to get married in the future. Pansy herself seemed to like the idea, for all the flirting she did.

Of course, he also makes sure to succeed in his classes as Malfoy can’t be seen failing his classes or doing worse than everyone else. Draco intends to make his father proud and keep the Malfoy name elevated. (That doesn’t help the look of disappointment and annoyance his father gives him that summer when he discovers that Draco got second place in terms of grades, and that first place went to a mudblood . It enrages Draco so much that he vows to try to belittle Granger as much as possible, and while that promise is kept, Granger never stops beating him in the following years.)

His initial dislike of Potter grows into jealousy once he single-handedly aids in helping him become a seeker - the first to become one in their first year of Hogwarts! 

In between doing his assignments, interacting with his fellow Slytherins, and terrorizing Potter though, Draco finds himself often musing about soulmates though. It’s quite likely that one of the students in Draco’s year at Hogwarts is his soulmate, and he’d never know.

It makes Draco furrow his brow often since there was no one he really wanted to be his soulmate at the moment. In fact, he couldn’t think of a single girl he wanted to be his soulmate! Pansy, who often flirted with him, often left him feeling disgusted at the idea of having a soulmate.

Draco sighs and tries to move his thoughts onto other subjects (usually Potter) during these musings.

The summer after his first year, his father is very angry. His mother tries to do what she can to calm him down, but Draco often finds himself on the receiving end of lectures and lessons about proper pureblood etiquette and what it means to have the Malfoy name.

All Draco is left with is a burning anger that makes him swear he’ll make Potter and his friend’s lives hell.

He keeps that promise once he meets the Weasley’s family with Potter that summer as his father shops with him. What he doesn’t expect is that his father actually lowers himself as to have a scuffle with Arthur Weasley in the middle of the shop! Draco can’t say he didn’t find it amusing though.

Suffice to say, that summer ends on a relatively mild note, and Draco finds himself looking forward to another year at Hogwarts. 

Second year starts without much fanfare. Draco situates himself into the dorms and finds it invigorating that he’s back where he belongs, with all his followers by his side (Blaise greets him with a smirk and Pansy gives him a hug in the cart on the way to Hogwarts; Goyle and Crabbe are too busy stuffing their faces to properly greet him but all their faces cause him to release a huff amusingly and shake his head).  

His classes go as expected, but he does find himself enjoying Potions more and more with a growing appreciation for his godfather’s work. Uncle Severus truly has a talent for his work, and Draco often finds himself staying after class to ask him questions and inquire about different potions, which his godfather reluctantly answers with a long-suffering sigh. He’s also been teaching him some Occlumency, which Draco finds useful (he cannot tell you how many times his godfather has caught him making trouble through reading his mind).

Potter, of course, is still the center of attention, but Draco strives to make sure he is as well. He tries out for the seeker position in Slytherin and is brimming with pride once he’s chosen (and only later does he find out that his father had purchased the entire team new brooms to “convince them”). Embarrassingly, the first Slytherin match (against Gryffindor because of course ) ends with a loss once Potter gets the snitch before him, and Draco can’t help but fume as the entire team celebrates Potter whilst his teammates keep sending him glares. 

Then, there’s the Dueling Club. Gilderoy Lockhart, an obvious phoney that his father has spoken at-length about often, starts this club in what is obviously a mis-guided attempt to appear knowledgeable, and it makes Draco sneer at having to participate. Unce Snape ends up leading him to fight in a duel with Potter, and Draco can’t help but think that this is a perfect way to get back at him and prove he’s better once and for all. He had studied many of the different dueling spells found in the books at the Manor Library, and he’s sure he’s more knowledgeable that stupid Potter in terms of these spells. 

The duel doesn’t last long. In a stroke of genius, Draco hits Potter with a “ Serpensortia, " (which would have actually worked out if Potter wasn’t a bloody parseltongue ) and Draco, once again, finds that Potter has become the center of attention at school.

Finally, there’s the Chamber of Secrets. While the thought that a crazy entity is alive and going around killing students is mildly terrifying, Draco finds himself not worrying it over too much since he is certainly in no danger. The chamber is rightfully only targeting mudbloods and half-bloods, so Draco finds himself none too concerned for their sakes. Of course, telling that to Potter and his friends and watching them make a fool of themselves was quite hilarious as well. They’d do well to make sure their little Granger friend stays safe, he threatens, and it quite works.

What’s laughable is the rumor that Potter is the Heir of Slytherin. It’s so popular that he finds it even circulating in rumors through the Slytherin students as well. He very quickly put a stop to that by spreading the rumor (discreetly of course) that he is the Heir of Slytherin. While untrue of course (Goyle and Crabbe have even questioned him about it at some point), it does give Draco attention and fame and he finds many students cowering whenever he passes them, which he’s quite pleased to see. 

He had sent a letter to his father, in between his many letters to his mother about his days, to inquire about the Chamber of Secrets, and his father seems quite pleased that it’s open, just as Draco thought he would. 

The first time Draco reads the letter, he smirks and agrees, seeing the wisdom of his father. Of course, as the months pass by and more and more students are found in the Hospital Wing with the threat of death, he finds himself finding less and less amusement in these attacks. He doesn’t let it be known though, because a Malfoy must always be composed and never show fear, but it makes itself known in the way that he seeks Pansy more and more for affection or in the quiet way he studies during Slytherin hangouts instead of making himself known.

His tormenting of Potter does not lessen, but he finds himself less and less willing to get involved even with the burning jealousy raging within him at the thought of the Gryffindor. Insulting his little girlfriend (which infuriates him for reasons he cannot name), getting his attention, insulting him about the Chamber of Secrets; he’s tried this and more to attempt to hurt Potter (just like he hurt Draco), but it doesn’t seem to work.

Once Granger gets petrified however, even Draco cannot say anything to the group. 

Then things go to chaos. Dumbledore, the old quack, is fired but Draco couldn’t say he would miss him much. His father sends him a letter to let him know of the good news beforehand; perks of being the son of a school governor. 

After that, Draco has absolutely no idea what happened. All he knew was that Potter and his friends were once again involved somehow. In the end, the Chamber of Secrets was somehow closed and all the kids were un-petrified.

He can’t help the quiet relief though that Hogwarts would be safe and back to normal again.

What’s surprising is that during the last weeks of school, his father had visited. Draco himself didn’t even realize until he spotted his father walking down the courtyard to leave the school. He hurries over to him to ask him what happened only to find his father seething.

“Dumbledore has returned, that crazy mudblood-lover,” his father starts.

Draco nods, trying to muster a look of hate. “Yes, he introduced himself once again at the feast today. I can’t believe they’re putting that old man back! It’s honestly ridiculous!” 

His father turns and gives him a sharp glance, and Draco wilts a little. “You do your best to keep an eye on that Potter boy, you hear me? He spells trouble.” With that statement, his father turns and leaves (rather dramatically) and Draco stares at his back. Had something happened?

The rest of the year ends without much fanfare, and in the blink of an eye, Draco finds himself boarding the train back to the station to return home. 

It seems that Goyle and Crabbe had overslept and missed breakfast that day, so Draco buys a bunch of candy from the cart and hands it to them without another word, wanting to shut up their whining. Blaise insists he play Exploding Snap with him, and so they go on to do that for the rest of the ride while Pansy takes a nap on his shoulder. Looking at the scene, Draco can’t help but think it feels familiar and warm. He hadn’t much time to enjoy these little moments this year, but he does think he’s going to miss them over the summer. 

Dobby has disappeared from the Manor, Draco finds. When he asks his father about it, all he gets is a dark glance. Well, it seems he won’t be seeing him any longer.

It’s a shame. The house elf has been with him ever since he was a child. Draco thinks he might miss his blathering. (He doesn’t tell that to his father.)

Not much changes in third year. Draco goes through his classes, torments Potter, studies, torments Potter some more, spends time with his cronies, and you guessed it, torments Potter. 

Hagrid, the big oaf, becoming a teacher is clearly the worst decision in the world. And when the hippogriff decides to make Draco his next snack, he’s even more sure of it. His father gets a strongly-worded letter regarding the incident, which Draco is sure he would’ve ignored if it wasn’t for the fact Hagrid was mentioned. And so, now the oaf’s job is on the line and the awful animal will be taken care of. Draco couldn’t be more proud.

The dementors are an unpleasant surprise this year however, and Draco can’t let go of the coldness seeping into his skin whenever he walks through the hallways of Hogwarts. It feels disconcerting to haveHogwarts, a place associated with safety to Draco, intruded by these creatures. The only thing that makes him feel better is how much it’s clearly affecting Potter, who seems to have an unbelievable fear of the things (although he can’t quite blame him). 

Draco, as a true Slytherin, takes advantage of that weakness and makes sure to mention it at every possible time, which ends up with him concocting a plan to scare Potter during Quidditch matches in hope of making the ever-Saint Potter fail.

“You’re obsessed,” Blaise states, turning a page in his book with boredom. Draco deigns not to answer him as he lectures Crabbe and Goyle how to be realistic dementors. They’re not paying attention, but Draco has hope that their stupidity will sell the disguise.

Pansy pipes up from the other side of the room, painting her nails. “Draco, darling, honestly. I know you hate him and all, but does he really need that much attention from you?” Pansy had long since stopped flirting with him since second year, and Draco had thanked Merlin that he didn’t have to deal with her advances anymore. Not that her treating him normally was any better, if her teasing was anything to go by.

“Isn’t he just trying to get Potter’s attention?” Blaise drawls, smirking. Both he and Pansy snicker, and Crabbe and Goyle, despite not paying attention, join in as well. He sends all of them a glare.

Draco ignores the lot of them for the rest of the day.

The plan clearly does not work. How does Potter, a third year, come to learn how to perform a patronus? He blames the new professor, Remus. He quite clearly is full of it, and Draco would love nothing more than to have his father fire him.

Sirius Black’s escape is interesting however, and it seems to be the talk of the entire school once the new year starts. Draco admittedly is interested, and takes to asking Pansy as much as possible about him and his ties with Potter, since if anyone would know anything about anyone, it would be Pansy. Unfortunately, there’s merely fabricated rumors regarding the godfather and godson.

Draco does recall his father mentioning this mysterious cousin of his once upon a time, and it had been surprising to learn that he was a blood traitor.

“He was loyal to the Potters to the end,” his father sneers. “Fat lot of good that did him. He got accused for a crime he didn’t commit.”

Since Pettigrew was the one labeled as the innocent against Sirius Black, Draco assumes he was the one who was actually guilty though. Shame that the truth would never come out though. Draco has no actual thoughts about informing Potter about the truth either. Potter could stew over the blood traitor’s betrayal and they could all be sad, for all Draco cares.

That doesn’t stop him from taunting Potter about Sirius Black. Seeing the look of rage and hurt on his face is just too tempting to resist.

Looking up at his godfather during Potions, Draco muses about how it would feel if he thought Severus had betrayed his parents but actually hadn’t. He didn’t doubt Severus wouldn’t, as they were all Slytherins first and foremost, but Draco can’t quite shake the tight squeeze of pain when he thinks of it.

Next time he passes Potter, he makes sure to trip him and have him drop his books everywhere, leaving dramatically as Potter stays behind to pick up the stray papers and letters.

The months pass quickly however, and Draco finds the end of the year fast approaching. 

The horrible hippogriff is due to be executed of course, just as Draco expected with his father’s influence. The news is wonderful, although the punch he gets from bloody Granger because of it is anything but (he really can’t understand how that girl is everywhere at once - he keeps seeing her whenever he goes around the school and it’s seriously getting on his nerves). 

“She really can pack a punch,” he grimaces. Pansy and Blaise won’t stop laughing as he has Goyle get him an ice pack. 

When he gets the news the horrid creature escaped, Draco’s mood darkens. 

And somehow, Sirius Black broke into the school but wasn’t caught? Honestly, that has Potter written all over it. He supposes they’ve been reunited and all that, happy together forever except for the fact that Black is still a sought-out criminal. So well, it seems Potter will still have to suffer, he supposed. ‘Tis a shame and all that. 

On other news, Draco learns from his father that apparently Professor Remus is a werewolf, and he seemed appalled that Dumbledore would hire such a beast. Well. It certainly explains a lot.

By the end of the year, his mood is quite awful, and even Severus is commenting on his lack of attention and grumpy mood (“You do well to correct that attitude of yours, boy, before I decide that these private potion lessons are no more”). He rides the train home with a frown on his face the entire time, looking out the window (“You act as if you’re the tragic hero of a novel, Draco” “Shut it, Pansy” “He does seem extra moody today” “Goyly, not another word”). 

The Quidditch World Cup is the highlight of his summer, and as it fast approaches, Draco can’t stop ranting about it to whoever will hear. His father doesn’t bother to listen to his spiel, but his mother always indulges him. Pansy isn’t much for Quidditch, but Blaise, even Crabbe and Goyle, are always up for conversation and Draco milks it for all it’s worth. To the many diplomats his father hosts that summer due to the World Cup though, Draco is simply pleased and “expecting a wonderful game to spectate.”

It’s a spectacle to watch, even if he finds himself in the top box surrounded by dignitaries (meaning he can’t cheer and act in any manner that isn’t fit of a Malfoy) but it has a great view, and Draco finds himself enjoying it, despite not being allowed to sit with his friends. Even seeing Potter’s face doesn’t ruin his mood. 

And then the floating sign of the dead dark lord appears on the sky. 

Chaos is rampant during that time, and his mother hurriedly tries to get him safety through the crowds and chaos. He spots Pansy at some point, and he thinks he catches Goyle and his parents, but otherwise, it’s just him and his mother. His father is suspiciously absent.

Now, Draco is a lot of things, but ignorant isn’t one of them. He’s quite well aware what it means when death eaters attack, and his father, a previous death-eater , is suspiciously absent during this attack. He’s just not sure what it means for him and his family. He had always thought that the dark lord was dead; that’s what everyone was told, what he was always told. Should he be celebrating the possibility of his return? But why does his stomach twist at the thought?

With these racing thoughts and emotions in mind, Draco can’t say he was in the best state when he finally comes across Potter and his band of misfits. He’s quite sure he confronts them and says some very distinct things he sincerely hopes he won’t regret, but it’s all a blur, and what he could’ve possibly said is a mystery to him. All he’s sure of is that he’s angered Potter (once again). He leaves after that, escaping safely with his mother, but the thoughts that follow don’t stop. (The entire ordeal leads to some very dangerous thoughts that continue for years to come.)

That year, Draco mostly tries to avoid much contact with Potter. He’ll confront him when necessary, but most of the time, he’d rather pass by sneakily. 

What the Headmaster is thinking with bringing in the Triwizard Tournament that year, Draco isn’t sure, but he wants no part in it. Why willingly put yourself in danger just to win a competition? And this may just be his opinion, but he thinks they rather did a poor job of trying to make the tournament safe. The only correct decision they made was including an age limit. 

Others don’t agree with him, though, if the Weasley twins trying their luck to enter is anything to go by - apparently they’ve been going nuts trying to go place their names, but again, why willingly put yourself in danger? No Slytherins place their names, if Pansy is to be believed, and it just goes to show why Slytherin is the superior house - at least they have a sense of self-preservation.

Having other wizarding schools join the school is quite interesting though, and Draco watches with added interest once the Beauxbatons enter, since his mother had been quite adamant he try to get into the school as a child. As a child fluent in French, and who often accompanied his parents on trips there, it would’ve worked, but alas, his father wanted him nearby, and Draco himself was partial to going to Hogwarts.

That doesn’t stop him from conversing with some of the students during the opening of the tournament to learn more about the school. He thinks he rather made a good impression with them, if the several glances and giggles whenever he passes the students are anything to go by, which makes him preen.

Cedric Diggory becoming champion was something Draco could see coming a mile away. The addition of Potter as a fourth champion was a shock though, and of course, the attention shifted to him instantly, the lucky git. It’s quite clear that he didn’t sign up for the tournament. Why everyone seems to believe Potter signed himself up is honestly ridiculous - no one has been able to break through Dumbledore’s enchantments to place their name, yet they think Potter can? Even the weasel, who’s supposedly Potter’s best friend somehow believed it if the fight he spied between them is anything to go by.

Anyways, it’s highly likely this was somehow another ploy to kill him off since trouble seems to follow Potter like his shadow; Draco should probably thank this mysterious stranger. 

Defense Against the Dark Arts isn’t exactly what he’d call his favorite class. He shares it with the HufflePuff house, which is trying at the best of times. Not to mention the fact that his family excels at matters relating to the dark arts, so this class is a little redundant for him. Plus, the ever-lasting curse of new teachers makes it annoying and hard to keep up, although Draco manages wonderfully, unlike certain other students ( ahem, Neville Longbottom, for one). The issue is, the teachers always are Light teachers who somehow always automatically dislike him. Quirrell in first year was just plain creepy, always staring at him, while Lockhart was a stupid oaf, and Remus was well . . . a werewolf, so quite explanatory really.

The new teacher was no exception it seems. Mad-Eye Moody was apparently some incredible auror back in the day, keyword being back in the day . The old man seemed to be just a nutter at the moment, going crazy and always drinking whatever was in that flask of his. Aurors and the Malfoy family didn’t exactly have a good history with each other, so Draco had been sure to try to avoid the teacher outside of class, and he thought all had been well when the professor hadn’t treated him in any certain way. 

One afternoon, though, Draco had been asked to stay after class. He hadn’t thought much of it at the moment, and stayed behind as asked.

“Is there anything I can help with Professor?” Draco asked, mask on. Moody looks up from his sheets and stands up, walking round his desk.

“Young Mr. Malfoy, you’re a spitting image of your father I must say,” he starts with, and Draco already has a bad feeling. “I’m sure you’re aware of the rumors concerning the Dark Lord, correct?”

Draco blinks. Yes, that the Dark Lord is on the rise and all that. Personally, he has no interest in fighting a war but his father had always spoken of the glories they would get at his side, so Draco guesses he doesn’t really have a choice. “Well, yes, I’m aware. Why do you ask Professor?”

Moody’s fake eye twitches around him, and Draco can’t help but cringe and look away. After some silence, Moody finally replies, cautioning, “There’s no doubt to me that a war will break out soon with the Dark Lord on the rise. That’s why we must assemble ourselves and decide what side we’ll be on. Mr. Malfoy, I expect you to consider your position carefully. That will be all - you are dismissed.”

Draco blinks again, and turns around right away, walking away at a normal pace with his mask on. Was that a threat? Don’t join the Dark Lord? Stay on the Light side?

Draco clenches his hands, his nails digging into the palm of his hands. He rather did not like Mad-Eye Moody anymore, he suspects. Not that there was anything to like anyways.

Draco spends most of that year working behind the scenes, a side effect on not wanting to directly confront the oh so great savior. He uses some of his best charmwork to make those “Potter Stinks” buttons, and even he was impressed by how popular they became. 

“What exactly have you got there, Draco?” Pansy asks, peeking over his shoulder.

“Pins,” he replies distractedly, not clarifying any further as he looks down at his open book to double-check a charm before casting it. Pansy reads the “Potter Stinks” slogan on some of the buttons and rolls her eyes, walking away.

“Blaise, Draco’s acting like an obsessed Potter fan again!” 

He also makes sure to campaign against Potter and for Diggory as much as possible, hoping that Potter is suffering under the hate and experiencing what it’s like to have everyone hate him for once instead.

And then, at some point during the rowdiness of the tournament, Draco spots Rika Skeeter. She’s flitting about in the Hogwarts courtyard, going from student to student and asking them oddly invasive questions while twisting their words.

He can instantly tell her type - looking for gossip, not caring about facts, will listen to any piece of news and twist it. She’s the exact type of reporter his father would bribe to paint him in a good light. Luckily, Draco knows he won’t need to bribe her to publish what he tells her.

Draco makes a split-decision, adjusting his robes and running a hand through his hair, and then approaches her.

“Hullo. Are you a reporter perhaps? I’m Draco Malfoy, a good friend of Harry Potter, if you’ve heard of him,” he opens with, giving an easy smile. She turns to him quickly, eyes seeming to shine with the information and leaning forward with interest. 

Draco can work with this.

Draco decides he definitely hates Moody. 

At the time, he had climbed a tree to escape Blaise, Goyle, and Crabbe, who had been following him all day for one reason or another. It had been a way to get some peace and quiet, and it was oddly peaceful to be there alone, with no one to bother him. 

And then Potter passes.

Of course, like the dramatic teenage girl he isn’t (although Pansy always disagrees), he jumps down the tree to greet Potter, acting like he’d been waiting for him all along.

“Why so tense, Potter? My father and I have a bet, you see,” he starts with. He and his father have no such thing, as his father has been suspiciously very busy this year and has not been responding to his letters (not that he usually does anyways). “I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament. He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five!” 

Draco’s quite proud of that one-liner, smirking as he watches Potter’s face contort with rage. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Moody approach, and he didn’t know what he was expecting, but being spelled into a ferret was not what he expected.

Or fun. At all.

It feels like the imperius curse (do not ask why he knows what that feels like), but less mild in that he can control his limbs to flail and cry out but cannot actually do anything. Plus, the unexpected transformation into a ferret leaves him uncomfortable and with some of his limbs burning as they rearrange themselves. He’s so thankful to be turned back by Professor McGonagall that he forgets to protest or shout at Moody or Potter, and instead runs away. 

Famous auror or not, Draco does not think Moody has the right to treat his students this way. He contemplates sending a letter to his father about this, but knowing it’s equally likely for his father to send a scathing letter to Draco about “complaining too much” as it is for him to just not read it, he decides not to bother. Draco decides to cut his losses and instead complains to his friends.

Big mistake. Blaise and Pansy would not stop laughing whenever they saw him for days , and while Crabbe and Goyle didn’t dare make fun of him to his face, they still looked highly amused and snickered whenever he walked into the room.

Bloody Potter and bloody Moody for protecting Potter. He hadn’t even done anything besides say a few scathing comments! It really does not justify what Moody did to him (he ignores the small voice in his head that whispers that some of his actions in the past would have justified it).

He’s not sure what the teachers were bloody thinking when they decided on the tasks for the Triwizard Tournament, but it certainly wasn’t the safety of the students. The first task was to get an egg from a mother dragon? Ha, good luck to the competitors. Mother dragons were very protective of their eggs and would become furious if anyone tried to endanger it, even the most docile species. (When he told Pansy that she looked at him funny and asked him where he learned that. He had a dragon phase when he was younger - can you blame him though? He was literally named after them!)

Anyways, so yes, the first task. Looked very dangerous. Draco would not recommend putting yourself through that torture. Although he mildy hoped Potter would be killed (but like, at the same time, Draco also secretly hoped he’d survive. It’d be quite boring for him to die from something like this).

The actual execution of the task was very exciting though, and even Draco could not resist cheering Diggory on once he came on to fight the dragon. The other contestants did adequately , Draco supposed, but he really could care less. 

And then Potter came on as the last one. Because of course. 

Draco couldn’t help but think internally that it was kinda ingenious to summon his broom, although he had to wonder if the rules actually allowed that. Considering it seemed as if there just weren’t any rules though, he supposed it passed. 

He, however, refused to cheer, because he would not be caught cheering for the Saviour. Ever . Crabbe and Goyle do cheer to the sides of him on the bench, and Draco makes sure to send them scathing glares to be quiet before I make you regret ever meeting me in reply. It seems to work, until he sees Blaise start cheering and encouraging everyone else to cheer as well. Draco rolls his eyes. His friends just love to torment him, it seems.

Potter, of course , succeeds in the task and all that, earning plenty of points and doing Hogwarts proud as one would expect him to (because when does he not?). Standing there, finished with his task, Draco can’t help but quietly thinks he’s very attractive. And then he turns around in his seat to face Pansy and starts insulting Potter with her to distract himself.

Amidst the tournament and gossip and excitement of fourth year, Draco realizes something else. 

It was the middle of the year, and Draco had just been entering the Slytherin common room from his last class of the day, spotting Blaise and Pansy lying around on the lounge. The rest of the common was quite empty, most choosing to spend the rest of their day outside or elsewhere. Perfect.

Pansy spots him quite quickly from where she’s doing her nails and waves. “Draco! Please come and settle this,” she whines, glaring at Blaise.

“Oh, shut up harpy,” Blaise replies. Pansy gasps, offended.

Draco rolls his eyes and approaches. “What is going on here?”

“Blaise here seems to believe that Victor Krum will ask out Cho Chang for the upcoming Yule Ball. I disagree. I have it on good money that he will be asking that muggle born witch friend of Harry’s,” she replies confidently. Pansy is quite the gossip, so he’s more inclined to believe her regarding the social lives of their fellow classmates, but even he finds the information suspicious.

“Would he dare with that article going around about that mudblood?” Draco sneers, knowing quite well who the source of that article was to begin with.

Pansy smirks. “Draco, darling, not all students care about their reputation and social status. I have it on good money he will be asking her out.”

Blaise groans. “Oh, come on, she isn’t even that pretty! And she’s a muggleborn. You’d have to be crazy to go for those buck teeth!”

“Five galleons he does.”

“You’re on!”

Draco sighs. “If you two are quite done here, I have news.” Pansy and Blaise both turn to stare at him as he lays across the sofa near them. They both quietly wait, knowing he’ll tell them once he’s ready.

“I like men.”

They blink. Silence for about five seconds and then-

“About time,” Blaise responds, looking back down at the book he had been holding before his argument with Pansy. “It was quite obvious to anyone with eyes, Draco. Your obsession with Potter didn’t help your case.” Draco frowns at the Potter jab but ignores it and turns to Pansy.

She smiles and pats his shoulder. “Why do you think I stopped flirting with you?”

Of course this is the reaction he gets after agonizing for months over his preferences. Do they know how long it took for him to even begin to admit that some men were attractive? It was not an easy task, Draco can assure.

“I hate you all.” Both Blaise and Pansy roll their eyes, used to his dramatics.

Blaise looks up again with a curious face and leans in. “So what are you going to tell your father?”

Draco clears his throat. “Nothing. I’m an only child, which means I have to continue the Malfoy name. I have until I graduate to have “fun,” and after that, I’ll marry some acceptable Pureblood girl and continue our legacy.” 

It was a truth he had already accepted. A Malfoy just couldn’t be attracted to men, it wouldn’t be. He didn’t want to anger or disappoint his father, so he’d just keep this secret between his close allies. He’s accepted this part of himself, but he won’t pursue it and that’s that.

They both give him looks of understanding. They are all purebloods after all. 

“Draco . . . if you want, we can get married,” Pansy offers, patting his shoulders again.

Draco’s lips quirk up, but before he can respond, someone enters the common room. All three heads turn to the intruders, and he breathes a sigh once he sees it’s just Crabbe and Goyle. They had both snuck in with food from the kitchen it seems.

Crabbe looks at them suspiciously. “What are you guys doing?”

Pansy and Blaise turn to him, and he sighs again. He had considered it, and in the end, he decided it was best they knew. If they were to be his followers for life, it’s not exactly knowledge that could be hidden (nor was it apparently well-hidden, anyways). He nods slightly and the others see.

Blaise smirks and decides to break the silence. “We were talking about Draco’s love for men.”

Goyle’s eyes widen from where he’s stuffing his face. “You’re gay, Draco?” Blaise and Pansy snicker.

Draco rolls his eyes and smiles. “Yes, idiots, now come over here and be quiet.”

The months in between are mostly passed through Draco going through his classes and advocating for the campaign against Potter. The articles Skeeter publishes about him are priceless, and Draco is satisfied to know he chose the right person to do the job.

And then the second task approaches. He’s not quite sure what the task was, but apparently the contestants were supposed to figure it out using the egg they stole from the dragon. What would happen if they didn’t get the egg? Draco wasn’t sure, but he assumed they would be disqualified.

So on the day of the task, Draco and his band gather along with the rest of the students around the Black Lake to sit in the stands. Pansy is on one side, and beside her Blaise, while Goyle is on his other side, and beside him is Crabbe. As he settles down and the task approaches its beginning, Draco wonders what is going to happen. He’s pulled out of his thoughts once Pansy starts idly chatting about recent fourth year gossip, snickering all the while. He hums amusedly as she narrates how Cho Chang had apparently burst into tears after kissing Potter, and he ignores the burn in his chest as she continues. 

Then suddenly they’re being called to attention for the task to start and Draco spies the champions lining up near the lake. The task is explained and the one hour timer starts. Draco sits there and waits. And waits. And waits some more. He casts a tempus with his wand then sighs. 

“Well,” he drawls, leaning back and already bored out of his mind. “This is certainly much less exciting than the first task.”

“I’ll say! We don’t even know what’s going on or who the captured people they need to save are,” Pansy pouts, leaning over the stand to squint at the water.

Crabbe and Goyle have already lost their attention and are munching on the snacks they brought with them, although Goyle does look up and nod.

Blaise groans. “If we’d stay in our common room, I bet we’d see more of what’s going on than waiting around here!” Draco sighs as Pansy agrees.

A little less than an hour later, the Delacour girl surfaces empty-handed and is ushered into a blanket.

“I suppose she’s disqualified,” Pansy comments. They wait some more, but surprisingly, no one makes it in the hour allotted.

One minute after the hour of allotted time though, Diggery surfaces with Chang, the popular Ravenclaw girl. He’s the first to arrive with their person, and everyone from Hogwarts cheers loudly in support. A little while later, Krum surfaces with Granger, which is no surprise there, given what Pansy had shared. People still cheer for him. Still no Potter yet though. By now, Delacour has started outright sobbing about her sister trapped there, and the mood has become quite grave, even though Draco highly doubts they would truly allow a student to die on school grounds (although given the tasks given for the contestants, maybe he shouldn’t be too sure of that).

A few more silent minutes and suddenly Potter is surfacing with both Weasley and what Draco assumes to be Delacour’s little sister at hand. The crowd around him gossips and stares as people wonder what happened exactly.

“Bloody typical of Potter to go and save everyone. He can’t resist not saving everyone and not being the center of attention, can he?” Draco spits out, frowning. Blaise glances at him with a smirk.

“Well that’s why we’re Slytherins, and he’s not, Draco,” Blaise replies, nonplussed by the cheering that erupts as the points are given.

Potter and Diggory are now tied for first place, which, as Draco has reiterated multiple times, of course . Nothing can possibly go wrong for the mighty Saviour, after all.

Draco sighs and stands to leave as Pansy and Blaise watch. Crabbe and Goyle struggle after him but he gives them no time to catch up. 

The Yule Ball isn’t really exciting news to Draco since he’s been to more galas and balls as a child than he can count. The dancing isn’t an issue either, since he’s been trained since he was young. 

To be honest, he thinks the whole ordeal is quite extra and unnecessary to celebrate for the champions. He definitely would not like to celebrate Potter and his participation in a tournament he didn’t even sign up for, but alas, he can’t always have what he wants. The appearance of the ball also makes it so he has to stay at Hogwarts over the winter vacation, which is quite annoying as well.

He briefly considers asking a man to the ball, then quickly discards the idea since he knew word would get to his father somehow, and that’s not something he needs to deal with right now. Not to mention, it’s not like he has anyone he’s very interested in currently (well, someone who would agree) so trying to ask a male out seems redundant.

He asks out Pansy instead.

“Sure,” she shrugs as she keeps flipping through her copy of Witches Weekly. Blaise enters their dorm room just as Draco’s about to ask about the outfits. Pansy technically shouldn’t be in a boys dorm room, but it was the middle of the day and no one would dare to snitch so Draco was none too concerned.

He raises an eyebrow. “What’s going on?” 

“Pansy and I are dates for the Yule Ball,” he mentions casually, turning back to Pansy. “Now, what do you want our color scheme to be?”

Blaise sputters. “What?! When was this decided? I was going to ask Pansy! Draco, you’re not even into women, why ?!” Draco rolls his eyes.

“Oh, don’t be dramatic. You have plenty of pretty Slytherin girls who would love to have your attention during the ball, you heartbreaker,” Pansy mentions, not bothering to look up. “Also Draco, we’re Slytherins. The color scheme has to be Slytherin green. We can go shopping during the next Hogsmeade for outfits.” Draco nods and returns back to the pile of homework he has on his desk. 

Blaise, from across the room, sighs and leaves.

The third task isn’t much more exciting, at least, not till the end. He, along with his friends, are sitting up in the stands once again, and Draco’s feeling quite annoyed at how much attention Potter has been getting this year. His eyes peer down at the entrance, watching the flit of different staff members. 

Diggory and Potter are the main contestants, holding first place, and they have to go up against each other, along with the other champions, in a maze to reach the center, which admittedly looks dark and dangerous. 

Draco sincerely hopes Potter dies.

(He regrets those words later.)

There’s not much to do during the task except watch the creepy maze some more once the champions are brought in one by one, but thankfully, Draco was prepared. He takes out a deck of cards and plays along with the rest during this time, not bothering to pay attention except when there’s a shout or a flash of a wand into the sky. 

Draco’s not quite sure how much time has passed, but eventually, all but Diggory and Potter are left. And then suddenly, Potter’s rushing out from the maze, injured, and holding what seems to be Diggory’s body. His face pales quickly.

As the students gasp and whisper amongst themselves, Draco cannot help but feel sick as he eyes the unmoving body. 

(To take a life, that’s something Draco doesn’t think he could ever succeed in. He hopes he won’t ever either.)

The students aren’t informed of anything, but Draco can take a guess once he hears words of “portkey” and “Voldemort” around. Suddenly, everything is too much for him. He stands up, and without waiting for anyone, leaves.

Later on, he will hear whispers of rumors that Potter watched Diggory get killed and Voldemort get revived. He will hear about how many of the death eaters were also gathered watching this spectacle, and then need to take a moment of peace.

But for now, all Draco can do is hide in his room and try to sleep everything off, hoping it’s a bad dream. 

That summer is tense, with his father in constant companionship of known previous death eaters. Draco tries to muster up courage and treat them as his allies, but all he feels like is a scared child. His mother has been quiet for the most part, although he has heard whispered conversations in the bedroom between her and his father. He’s not sure what it means.

(He’s just lucky that he hasn’t met the Dark Lord yet.)

He usually would be happy to hear the press and Ministry speak badly of Potter, but really, the reasons for his current bad reputation are unbelievable. It’s quite funny how the Ministry is trying so hard to prove Potter wrong that they’re missing what’s right under their noses.

Draco gets his Hogwarts letter that summer with the added bonus of being prefect. It doesn’t help relieve the tensions at home, but it does make him feel comforted to go back to a familiar place. Pansy later sends a letter announcing she also became prefect, and Draco can’t help but feel comforted.

On the bright side, he can get away with taking away points from Saint Potter as a prefect.

They have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Draco is not amused.

To put it lightly, Professor Umbridge is a snake. Draco personally has no respect for her, and honestly she’s not worth the dirt on anyone’s shoe. But that’s just his opinion. 

She is, of course, a valuable member of the Ministry and, therefore, deserves the respect of a Malfoy. So Draco treats her with respect. In turn, she lets him get away with a lot. While nice, it does not actually help his opinion of her. Her teaching methods are atrocious, and her punishments are even more so, if the rumors are true. Not to mention, she doesn’t actually teach anything . 

About the only good thing about her is the way she keeps tormenting Potter. And even that is honestly on thin ice.

So besides sucking up to her as much as he can, Draco decides it would be a good time to use his new-found power as prefect for some fun, which involves a lot of taking away points. It’s hilarious seeing their face fill with anger then not know what to do, and honestly, it’s the only fun he has all year. (With OWLs coming up, Draco’s becoming busier and busier with studying that even Crabbe and Goyle comment.) Shame that since the mudblood and Weasley are prefects (what idiot decided on Weasley?), he can’t take away points, but he makes do with torturing Potter.

He thinks it’ll continue this way all year, until Umbridge is suddenly promoted to . . . well, he’s not exactly sure. She gets some big fancy role - that’s about all he knows. While it helps to be on good terms with her, he can’t help but want to question the moron who decided on this. 

So congratulations, the school now has a new leader who’s absolutely out for blood. Draco admires how Potter’s face pales when the news is announced, but the constant new rules that begin to appear after her new role continuously astound Draco. 

Is this not a school? What was with all ridiculous new rules?

Nightly patrol isn’t exactly the best task to get assigned, but as a prefect, it is Draco’s duty to follow through. The patrols cycle through with the rest of the prefects and happen for only about two hours, but it does lose Draco precious sleep.

Besides the patrols, Draco, as a prefect, really only has to keep the students in line and remove points and punish students if he sees fit, while also communicating with teachers if he’s concerned about something.

Contrary to probably what Potter and Weasley believe, Draco does take his job seriously. He’ll punish Slytherin students if he thinks they are causing trouble and he does not accept bribes, despite how often it has happened with previous prefects. 

One such situation where his role came to play was during one cold, winter day. He had just finished Arithmancy and had been planning on going to the library for his free period when he hears a scuffle and some shouts down an empty hallway. 

Blinking, he takes out his wand and heads towards the noise cautiously, trying to listen in.

“-me go!”

“Aw, no Gryffindor courage now? And no precious Saviour to help you either.”

“How pathetic!”

He turns to find three third-years, all male, standing in the hallway. Looking at the scene, he immediately realizes what’s going on. Two Slytherin students were standing over a Gryffindor student as they held him against the wall, pointing their wands at him. 

Draco glowers and raises an eyebrow. “What exactly is going on here?”

Three heads turn to stare at him. The Gryffindor student looks revealed only to quickly pale once he recognizes Draco. The other two Slytherins look stunned and quickly hide their wands, but it’s quite obvious what they were doing.

“Oh, Malfoy! We were just conversing with this Gryffindor here about Potter. Isn’t that right?” One of them answers, glaring at the poor Gryffindor boy. “He seems to be a huge fan, and we were just trying to clarify to him why Potter might not be as good as everyone seems.”

Draco keeps his eyebrow raised. These boys were quite blatantly trying to get on his good side and have him let them go. He was kinda disappointed that his own house members couldn’t come up with a more cunning plan to convince him. 

He recognized the boys - Burke and Rowle. Both were from pureblood families similar to him. Draco’s frown deepens.

The Gryffindor boy pipes up, “Uh, yes, we were!” 

He stares at them for a second then sighs. He may not like this, but he has a duty as a prefect to help all students, not just Slytherins. And much as he hates to interrupt them trying to ruin someone’s impression of Potter, he’d really like there to be no violence between students nor would he like to encourage bullying (no matter how hypocritical that is). 

With that in mind, he pinches his brow and takes a deep breath then looks up again.

“Burke, Rowle, each twenty points from Slytherin. This is quite disappointingly the most obvious display of violence against another student I’ve ever seen. I also expect you to go and let Professor Snape know of what I just witnessed - I imagine he’ll want to give you some form of punishment as well. Now please step back from the Gryffindor and report to him, or I will.” He glares at them, noting their incredulous looks and hates that his reputation has come to this.

They both leave quietly and quickly, not bothering to argue. Draco sighs then approaches the remaining boy. “If they bother you again, do let me know and I’ll handle it.”

He looks up at Draco with wide eyes and a grateful smile. “Thank you!”

Draco sneers and walks away. “I did it because I’d rather not lose my job as prefect just yet, thank you. I could not particularly care less if a Gryffindor was bullied.” 

Just as he’s about to turn into another hallway, he senses someone watching him. He turns and surveys the area, but sees no one besides the Gryffindor boy, still standing there. Draco shakes his head and decides he’s going crazy.

Umbridge has taken over the school completely. Well then. Hogwarts has truly gone to the dogs now. His father seems quite happy with the change, but all Draco can feel is anger and anxiety. 

And then he’s appointed to the new Inquisitorial Squad. Draco’s secretly ashamed to say that he absolutely took advantage of it, especially to torment Potter and his friends. With all the stress in his life accumulating, he finds himself choosing to relieve it all by tormenting Potter and it somehow works, no matter how much the looks of hate and rage directed towards him bother him. 

His position in the squad does, however, give him the opportunity to investigate the secret meetings Potter is clearly organizing. The idea that he could lie or hide something is honestly laughable, but Draco never does confirm that he’s sure they do have a secret club.

So he, along with the other squad members (who are mostly Slytherins, Draco notes), constantly try to catch the students, but whenever they attempt to follow them, they mysteriously disappear. It really gets on his nerves as Draco really does not appreciate being out of the loop, which just further makes him want to investigate and catch the group.

He’s not exactly sure what the group is planning, but reckons it has to do with Voldemort’s rising and Umbridge’s power. Honestly, if they could just solve both of these problems for him, Draco would love it. He’d rather not get involved in whatever mess he is sure is about to ensure, but alas, we don’t always get what we want.

During one of his patrols in the middle of the year, Draco does overhear a conversation between a Ravenclaw girl (he distinctly remembers people calling her Loony) and the Weaselette, and while he doesn’t hear much since the quickly notice his presence, he does catch the words “Dumbledore’s Army.” 

Hearing those words, he blinks and frowns, wondering what on Earth led that to choose that name for their group. It’s horrendous, and they could do so much better. Not to mention, it’s like a flashing sign for all enemies that they are definitely doing something against the rules and keeping secrets. He pinches his brow and shakes his head, not bothering to speak with them and instead turning around to leave. 

He never mentions what he hears to Umbridge.

And then OWLs approach. With the tests coming up and Umbridge successfully making sure the students learn nothing useful in class, Draco is forced to study constantly out of class to make sure he’ll perform well. The few weeks before the exams, he ignores everyone and everything, often skipping meals and sleep to study. He doesn’t bother with his Inquisitorial Squad duties either, explaining to Umbridge that he needs to study (who surprisingly allows this excuse?).

For the most part, his OWLs go well. He feels confident in answers and is willing to bet he got a high enough score to satisfy his father, although he doubts he’ll care too much what with him working constantly this year.

And then Potter happens. Again. Really, why is Potter always the center of trouble? Draco really can’t understand it. You’d think he’d be less reckless and have more self-preservation because of that, but noo, Potter must always do the right thing and save the day. 

Right, anyways. 

It’s in the middle of the OWL exams when he suddenly passes out, and Draco watches as everyone fawns over him, moving him to the Hospital Wing for Madam Pompfrey. He’s quite the sight, hovering his hand over his forehead scar and groaning, and Draco half-thinks he’s faking it for attention. If he didn’t know Potter better (and he hates the fact that he does, but what can one do after being in close contact with the same person for years), he’d have been convinced of it, but unfortunately, Draco does know better, and he realizes that Potter’s scar must be in pain. With rumors of the Dark Lord rising all year and even Potter convinced it, it does not ease Draco in the slightest to realize this. 

He briefly wonders whether Potter will have the chance to finish his OWL exam, scoffs, and then quickly distracts himself by working on his own paper. 

The news comes a few days later, Draco having to learn about his father’s arrest through the Daily Prophet. It comes in the paper a few mornings after Potter’s collapse, as the Hall is buzzing with gossip. 

Draco can feel their stares and whispers, and he ends up crumbling the paper in his hands as Goyle and Crabbe watch with concern. Not wanting to deal with the students today, Draco decides he has to leave the hall at once. He stands up abruptly, all eyes on him, and walks off. As the rest of his allies (friends) stand up with him, he can’t help but feel warm and grateful for their presence. They all leave the hall quickly, and he catches them exchanging concerned glances. 

Pansy pats his arm and smiles at him sadly, and he knows they’re all thinking the same thing. Things are about to get so much worse from now.

They head to their first classes, and Draco does his best to ignore everyone but his group. At the end of his classes, he catches Potter walking around and he can’t help but muster up a lot of anger and rage at his involvement in getting his father arrested. He ends up confronting him, making a spectacle, and saying some very questionable things. 

“I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to my father.”

“You think you're such a big man, Potter.”

“You wait. I'll have you.”

He’s not sure what it is about Potter that seems to make him randomly spout stuff that he half-regrets later on, but he doesn’t like it.

After that scene, he makes sure to avoid Potter whenever they cross paths, merely choosing to glare at him harshly.

Later on, he finds the issue of the Prophet again to read more closely, trying to figure out all the details of the event. 

Only then does he realize that Sirius Black was apparently killed in the fight. Potter’s godfather.

He dazedly notes that Sirius Black would have been his Uncle if he wasn’t disowned.

His father is a death eater. That’s a truth he’s been avoiding all year. His father has joined sides with the Dark Lord. 

Draco briefly thinks that he should be happy, but all he can feel is dread. Even if purebloods were meant to reign supreme, the way the Dark Lord does it is surely not the way , Draco thinks. 

And what about Uncle Severus? Wasn’t he also a death eater? Is he joining rank with the Dark Lord? He has been close with Dumbledore in the past years though . . .

With his rise, his father will surely want them to be involved. Will Draco have to become a death eater? A memory surfaces - “ prepare yourself” - and Draco takes a deep breath, realizing he will surely have to prove his loyalty or have his family die trying. He steels himself. 

It’s about time he brush up on his Occlumency skills anyways.

That summer, the Dark Lord moves into the Manor. 

Draco takes the Dark Mark and becomes a Death Eater.

Draco is assigned a task to prove his loyalty to the Dark Lord and redeem his family.