A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Chapter 27

Harry rolled his eyes, holding onto the snitch, “You weren’t even trying. Come on, Draco.”

Draco glanced away sullenly, “I never beat you so what’s the point? We already know the outcome.”

Cassie chuckled, easing up next to Draco and glancing at the blond who was doing a damn good impression of pouting. Quirking an eyebrow at Harry, “How about a little Quidich without seekers?”

Both Harry and Draco glanced at her while she whistled down to Hen and Alex, “How about a couple of Bludgers, please? And a Quaffle.” The twins shrugged and opened up the kit, releasing the Bludgers and taking to the air with the Quaffle in Alex’s hand, “Okay, the twins and Harry vs. Draco and me. Since we have fewer players, we get the Quaffle first.”

Everyone shrugged and spread out, Draco next to his partner. Alex tossed Cassie the Quaffle, nodding to the twin before glancing at her partner. Leaning into Draco’s ear, “We’re going to do this, Dray.”

Snorting, “I’m telling you, there’s no point.”

Cupping his face, ignoring that they were sitting on their brooms, “We’re not going out there like a couple of seekers. We’re doing this as chasers. You have my back, I have your’s. You know I can follow you anywhere.” And she spun her fingers around each other. He grinned.

“Okay.”

The two of them smirked at one another and as soon as Harry said go they sped for the goal. It was like they read each other perfectly, spinning and speeding around each other. The Bludgers couldn’t touch them and even the twins were having a tough time figuring out who had the Quaffle. Into the hoop it went and the two slapped hands and did a lap around the field.

***

Draco stretched, coming in from the Quidich pitch and feeling a little down today. He’d turned eleven years old today. Precisely one hour and twelve minute ago. Nothing. Not a card. Not an owl. Even his letter to Pansy and Hermione had gone unanswered. He felt a pout coming on and he hated pouting. It caused teasing from Cassie. At least his Godfather could have remembered but he hadn’t even seen Severus today.

Sighing, he headed for his room, feeling like being alone tonight but froze when a firm hand covered his eyes, “And just where are you going, Draco?”

He grinned under that hand. Godfather, “Bed?”

The older man’s voice silky, “We have something else in store for you tonight. Of course I require assistance.” He felt hands move, a pair at each arm and one more grasping his hands. He guessed the twins and Cassie but there were no more distinguishable voices. He was led blindly across a hallway and up a bunch of steps until he could hear Severus panting softly behind them. The seventh floor maybe? Grumbling, “Damn stairs.”

Grin widening, “So, what’s my present?”

A different pair of hands covered his face as his Godfather moved away, pacing a few times before he heard a door open, “This way.”

He could hear all sorts of noises, chatter quieting down and not quite sure but he thought the lights
were dimmed. Then the hands over his eyes were gone and he blinked his eyes, jumping as happy cries shouted from all sides, “Happy Birthday!”

There were twinkling lights lining the ceiling and streamers lining the walls. Tables were set up loaded down with food and punch and the entire collection of children were here, giving him smiles and well wishing. A fit of giggles burst forth, mostly from him, just before he was hugged from behind, “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you that happy.”

He spun around in surprise, “Pans!” And engulfed her in a hug, squeezing her tight even as the party goers patted him on the back in congratulations and swarmed for the food. This is what he wanted, a gathering with music and food and friends. And it wouldn’t be a party without her.

“Well, I never thought I’d see you turn out like this.” He gave Hermione a wicked grin, just as happy to see her and snagging her around the waist, pulling her into the hug. She giggled but didn’t shy away. Pansy gave Hermione an indulgent look but took it all amiably. For her little brother happy there’s not much she wouldn’t do.

She fingered his growing locks and smirked, “I think it suits you.”

Wrinkling his nose, “I blame Cassie, completely...” He sighed and tried to blow it out of his eyes. It didn’t work. Hermione laughed lightly, drinking punch and spotting Harry talking with Hagrid.

Harry nodded to her, she looking back at him sweetly and gesturing for him to come over. The brunette just shook his head a little, not wanting to take anything away from Draco tonight. This was about the blond after all. But Draco solved that problem without even realizing there had been one, dragging both girls over to Harry and starting a conversation about how dragons had escaped muggle notice all of these years.

“Attention, please.”

Eyes swung around to Minerva who was looking around with pride, “Now, Albus will be here in a few minutes but until then, I would first like to make an announcement. Many of you are aware of Draco’s rather spectacular gift with his violin.” There were whistles and claps, Draco blushing a little, “What many of you weren’t aware of, was the audition that he participated in just before testing commenced. The original purpose of this audition, was to see if Draco would be granted admittance into McKinnon Music Academy.”

Cassie gasped in astonishment, “That’s the most prestigious school of music study in the world!”

Minerva nodded with pride, “Yes, it is. Unfortunately, if Draco were accepted, he would not be attending Hogwarts.” There were more murmurs and frowns from a large amount of the partiers, “Thankfully, a compromise has been reached. Instead of Draco attending McKinnon, the founder of the school has volunteered for one of their professors to come here, an honor that has never been bestowed on any student in the history of their school.”

Draco blushed from his roots to his toes, amidst the congratulatory clapping. Both Pansy and Hermione exclaiming in unison, “You have to play for us!” There was more laughter before Minerva opened the door to let Albus in.

He was smiling and hiding something behind his back, “Draco. This is a birthday celebration, after all. And we cannot have a birthday party without presents so...we at Hogwarts would like to give you this...” He brought his hands from behind his back, “Here you are.” Draco froze, staring in fascination at the tiny egg in Albus’ hand. It was black, the color of ebony, yet it glimmered in the lamp light. Albus placed it carefully in his hands, “You must be very gentle and wait until it hatches on it’s own.”

Harry scrunched up his nose, peering at the tiny egg as Draco’s fingers carefully ran over the glossy surface over and over again, “What is it?”

“Bird?”

“Lizard?”

“It’s too small to be a lizard egg!”

“Well it can’t be a bird’s egg!”

A tear dripping down his cheek, “It’s a dragon’s egg.” Everyone stared at Draco even as he sent a blinding smile to Albus, “Thank you....thank you, thank you, thank you!” He threw himself into a hug, keeping the egg out of harms way while hugging Albus with one arm.

Pansy folded her hands over her mouth, containing her giggle. Hermione studied it, “It can’t be a dragon. It’s too small.”

Giving her an excited smile, “It’s a Parvus Dragon. They don’t get any bigger than eight inches so...”

Nodding in understanding, “So their eggs must be very small...Headmaster, how can...I mean...I thought private ownership of dragons was against Ministry law.”

“Actually, Parvus Dragon’s don’t fall under that category. The ministry was never very clear of them since they aren’t dangerous and are so small.”

Harry grinned and grabbed a cup of punch, “I thought this was a party, not a class.” There was laughing as everyone relaxed and enjoyed the party. And later that night Draco did play for them.

***

Draco grabbed his fellow conspirators after everyone had headed off to bed and dragged them to his room. As the birthday boy, Albus allowed it. Pushing open the door and dragging them in, letting them settle before grabbing his bound parchments, “I came up with an idea-“

”Dray! You have a balcony?”

Rolling his eyes, looking around and flopping back on his bed. They were all busy exploring his room and not listening in the slightest. Pansy had opened his window, discovering there was a gated balcony under the window where his telescope was now set up. Hermione was browsing through his book collection, mumbling to herself. He looked around to see where Harry was and found the raven haired boy sitting by the corner, silently fascinated by his nightlight. The brunette had certainly been in his bedroom enough times but he supposed he’d never noticed it.

He blushed just a bit in embarrassment for having it but ignored the feeling. These were his friends. About his only friends. Cassie and the twins were his closest school friends within his age group but these people, sisterly feelings to Pansy notwithstanding, they were his confidants. He’d shared things with them that he’d never told anyone. What was a little vulnerability when he had that. Not a very Slytherin thought, he knew, but there it was.

Yawning, he stretched out on his side, waiting for them to get tired of poking around at his things. Harry shared a grin with Hermione. Draco’s room was just too cool. Hermione turned, prepared to beg to borrow some of his books and stopped. Looks like Draco was more than a little tired, sleeping peacefully, curled around some parchment.

Pansy came back in and froze, Hermione motioning for quiet as she shifted the parchments back to his desk. The brunette Slytherin smiled, moving the top comforter to cover Draco before all three of them tiptoed out of his room.