The Truth Is Things Change

Hi everyone! It’s Shiny-Chan! I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to update for you but I’m a very busy lady who wants to at least get a head start with writing chapters for my stories. I however, work too much to be able to update everyday like I used to more’s the pity. I’m so happy with the responses I’ve gotten for my first chapter. I can’t tell you how surprised I was to see that I had seven reviews. I’ll do my best to respond to each of you every time you review for me. Thanks for reading. Here are my responses.



Thrnbrooke: Thanks for reading this story as well as my other one! I really like hearing from you so please keep reviewing. I totally agree about that family of his. No one should ever do that to someone else and the fact that a family member did it just makes it so much worse, right?





Paigeey07: I’m so glad you like it so far! I’ll keep trying to make it interesting for everyone. Please keep reviewing for me?



Shadowama: I’m happy that you reviewed for me. Please keep reading! I’m glad you think it’s interesting. I just get these ideas in my head and go for em without an idea of whether people like them or not.



Lilith: I don’t speak Spanish I’m a Frenchie, but I think that means more more more? I’m glad you like it so much. I’ll keep up the good work if you’ll keep reviewing. Deal?



Momoko: Thanks for letting me know! Keep reviewing!



Coolhanyou: I’ll do my best to keep the chapters coming for you, but like I said at the top of the page I am kind of busy but I’ll at least promise once or twice a week. Good enough? Thanks and tell me what you think of this one.



Sneakyfox: Um sorry about the double spacing, but it’s really become a habit because when I read stories that haven’t been spaced like that I usually get a headache. But you’re the second to object so I’ll try to stop. Thanks for the input btw. I totally didn’t even notice until you told me. I’ll try not to make such slips in the future. Please review for me. My creativity lags when I get no reviews.





Solidarity



Draco walked into the Great Hall flanked by his friends as usual, like he did every year. He sat at the highest position at the table, claiming the ‘title’ of Slytherin’s Prince for yet another year. The newest freshly sorted Slytherins nodded respectfully to him as they found their seats during the sorting. When the last one passed, he smirked confidently in her direction, content when she nodded. Finally, someone succeeded to attract his attention.



“Draco dear, where did you get off to on the train? Blaise and I couldn’t find you.”

Pansy, Draco’s best friend looked at him worriedly.



“Yeah buddy, we looked everywhere too.” Blaise Zabini, Draco’s other best friend, glared half heartedly at him across the table. Draco petulantly ignored him and let his gaze wander over to the Gryffindor table. He watched passively as the weasel and Granger argued furiously with each other, but he was surprised to find Harry nowhere near them. He was actually sitting at the end of the table with the new first years. Pansy and Blaise grew tired of waiting for a response and followed the direction Draco’s eyes had taken.



“I wonder why Potter isn’t sitting with his Dynamic Duo.” Draco looked at Blaise and nodded sadly.



“He doesn’t want to be around anyone, least of all the stupid weasel.” Their heads whipped towards Draco and Pansy was wide eyed and sympathetic.



“What happened to make him not want to be around the weasel?”



“The reason you couldn’t find me was because I was sitting with Potter on the train. He finally agreed to be my friend in return for being able to stay in my compartment. Hell if I know why he didn’t just leave instead of accepting but he did. Something really rotten happened to him this summer, and I have reason to believe his family did it to him. He didn’t tell me what happened though. Weasel came into our compartment when we were halfway here and started shouting at me and tried to drag Potter out, completely ignoring the fact that Potter didn’t want to leave. I kicked the weasel out after that.” Pansy shook her head.



“Poor Harry. No wonder he doesn’t want to be around weasel. Look at him now, he looks like he’s going to faint. The first years just look like they’re going to jump him don’t they? Should I go rescue him Draco?” The first years had progressively scooted closer and closer to Harry, who paled and tried to slide as far as he possibly could, but the bench only went so far.



“Yes, bring him over here Pansy. He doesn’t look happy at all.” Indeed he didn’t. A glower hadn’t left his face since he had entered the Great Hall. Pansy got up from the table and crossed the hall and stopped right in front of Harry. He turned to look up at her, scowl firmly set on his face.



“Hey Potter, it looks like the firsties are going to jump you in a minute. Would you like to come and eat with us instead?” Harry’s eyes widened and his face grew uncertain as the whole hall went silent.



“You want me to come to the Slytherin table and eat with you?” Pansy smiled indulgently at Harry’s incredulous whisper.



“That’s where we’re eating yes. Wouldn’t that be better than getting mobbed?” Harry nodded.



“Yes it would.” The Great Hall exploded with whispering as Harry left the table and followed Pansy to The Slytherin table. Harry sat next to Draco and Pansy resumed her seat on the other side of the table next to Blaise. Harry slid the plate that appeared in front of him and spooned some mashed potatoes and a chicken leg onto his plate. He began to eat the small amount of food very slowly, playing with it more than eating it, which sent off warning bells for the three Slytherins. Pansy cleared her throat and waited for Harry to look up.



“Draco just told us that you and he became friends on the train and Blaise and I wanted to be friends with you too.” Harry paused in surprise, halting the fork he was swirling in the mashed potatoes.



“But…why?” Blaise grinned widely and leaned forward.



“It’s like this Chere, Drake thinks you’re a good guy and that’s good enough for us. Besides, things are always peachy keen around you so I figure this year will be a little fun with you around.”



“Not always.” Harry muttered inaudibly. Pansy leaned over.



“What was that?”



“Nothing.” Harry returned to eating, still barely making a dent in his nearly empty plate. Pansy caught Draco’s eye over Harry’s bowed head and raised and eyebrow. Draco looked at Harry and back at Pansy before shaking his head in a sharp jerk paired with a warning look. Pansy nodded and mouthed ‘later’ and returned her attention to Harry.



“So, can I call you Harry?” Harry nodded slowly while chewing his food.



“How about we each tell a secret about ourselves so we can get to know each other better. Blaise, you go first and Harry can go last.” Blaise nodded and a blush showed through his dark cheeks.



“In third year, in potions class, I screwed a potion up so bad that Snape called me Longbottom for months.” Pansy snickered.



“Oh that’s rich Blaise! I had always wondered what that was about. I guess it’s my turn to spill. Last week I went for the first time to a Muggle shopping mall. I found a lot of weird dress robes I liked at a store called ‘DEB’ but they laughed when I tried to pay for them with a pound.” Harry shrugged.



“I’ll wager that those skirts cost way more than a pound.” Pansy laughed.



“They did. They cost one hundred fifty pounds, I grabbed the wrong note on accident.”

Draco nodded at her.



“You’ll have to show me those later. It’s my turn. My favorite thing to do to relieve stress is Ballroom dancing.” Harry snorted.



“When did you learn that?”



“I persuaded Father to let me take lessons when I was five and I made Pansy be my partner. Interested in learning?”



“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Harry pushed his food around some more before giving up and pushing it away. Draco placed his head in his hands and stared at Harry before Pansy slapped his arm from beneath his head.



“Harry, It’s your turn now that Draco Malfoy has decided to stop speaking and ruin his complexion with pimples.”



“Bite me Pansy, I’ll just spell my face clear.”



“Careful or you’ll end up like that Midgen girl.” Blaise chuckled.



“Damned if you two don’t sound like a married couple!”



“Don’t call us that!” Pansy and Draco snapped simultaneously at Blaise.



“Besides,” Pansy reasoned, “it’d be too creepy to marry someone prettier than I.”



“Pansy I am handsome. Handsome! Men are not pretty!”



“You are.”



“I resent that remark!”



“Of course you do Drake.” Harry butted in amidst the laughter.



“I thought of something that no one knows except for Ron and Hermione.” Their laughter instantly stopped as their attention turned to him.



“I never knew that I was a wizard, or that magic even existed until I got about five hundred Hogwarts letters.”



“How come you got so many letters Harry? I only got one.”



“Me too.” Blaise agreed.



“I too only got one.” Draco admitted.



“It’s because my muggle relatives hate magic, so they burnt every letter Hogwarts sent. Professor Hagrid finally had to come and give me mine and take me from their house.” The Slytherins exchanged looks.



“Wow Chere,” Blaise exclaimed, “everyone just automatically assumed you were raised in a magical household.”



“I wish everyday I was” Harry go up and left the Great Hall, ignoring Draco’s shouts to wait, and went up to Gryffindor Tower.



“I don’t understand Draco. If Harry’s Muggle relatives were abusing him, why didn’t he tell anyone?”



“That’s a good point Pans. I mean, I thought he practically had Dumbledore in his pocket. If anyone could put the Muggles in their place it’s him.”



“You two don’t understand that he probably feels ashamed that with all the magical power he has that he couldn’t defend himself. We need to tread carefully around him and

give him room to go back to normal.”



“He seemed really sad. Blaise, help me think of some ways to cheer him up!” Blaise yawned.



“Maybe tomorrow Pans, I’m bushed and Drake takes forever to get ready for bed.”



“You have two seconds to leave before I hex you Zabini.”



“Bye!” Blaise left the hall waving and Pansy giggled.



“What will we do Draco? Do you…like Harry?”



“You mean romantically?” Pansy nodded and Draco shrugged.



“That’s just it Pans, I really don’t know yet. I know that I’ve always felt drawn to him and that it irks me to see him unhappy.”



“With the kind of trauma he’s been through, you’ll be lucky to see him smile anytime soon. If anyone can make him smile, it’s you, but you’ll break him if you’re not careful.”



“I know Pans, but he’s already broken. Let’s see if our friendship can help fix him.”



“I’m willing to try.” They shared a small smile before they left the table and descended to the dungeons.