A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Chapter 35

Draco was out to the front when they all appeared. It was early, not so early that the train wasn’t here or the portal wasn’t open to the muggle platform, just early for a chill to still be in the air. They were all outfitted in their school robes, Draco and the three destined for first year without a house emblem on them. Each had a hand on the shoulder before them, the portkey doing the rest. Albus’ warning still echoed in his mind. Be mindful. Stay close to Remus. Don’t trust anyone that looks familiar but acts oddly. Albus had made him right paranoid but it started him to wonder why the old man was so nervous.

Cassie glanced at Hen and Alex, standing to one side of him with Hermione, Pansy and Harry forming a wall behind him. Viola peeked her little head out and nuzzled Draco’s chin before disappearing into his robes again. They all drew out their wands warily when a scruffy man, pale and thin, approached, “Draco Malfoy?”

Harry stood next to Draco, ready. He’d heard Albus but he’d also talked to a frazzled Hermione. He knew what the blond didn’t, “Who are you and we’ll tell you who is who.”

Holding out his hands in a peace offering, “Remus Lupin.” Looking back to the rather distinctive looking blond, “I believe I have you to thank for my being allowed to teach comfortably this year.”

Nodding and lowering his wand, “Professor Lupin.” The others started to relax a little, following Draco’s lead, “There are no Malfoys here and I’ll ask you to remember that.” If Remus was surprised he hid it well. Jutting his chin to his left of him, “Alex, Hen, Cassie.” Smirking, “Draco.” To his right, “Harry, Hermione, Pansy.” With a quirk of his eyebrow, “He will be our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor this year, and by reputation a brilliant one.” He didn’t mention the man’s werewolf status. He pondered discussing it with his friends in private but he wouldn’t risk it in the open.

Smiling, tone dry, “Well, following after a legend like Professor Lockheart I will do my best.”

Barking a laugh, relaxing, “I’m going to like you.”

Harry smirked and jerked a thumb at Draco, “And he doesn’t like anybody.”

Draco stuck out his tongue. Bowing slightly, winking at Harry, “I do try. So, shall we board or are we to wait?”

Draco shrugged and looked around, “Go?” Nodding, “Go.”

It was difficult for them all to cram themselves into one compartment but no one wanted to leave. This
would be their last chance to be one big family before they were split up for perhaps a long time. In the end Draco, Harry and Hermione sat on one side; Lupin, Pansy and Cassie on the other while the twins settled on the floor and started playing cards with one another. Lupin settled tiredly into a ball and was soon asleep as the platform brightened and students started appearing. Draco looked out the window, ignoring the book in his lap to nibble lightly on his lip.

Harry nudged him, “It’ll be okay, Dray.”

Sighing, “I hope so...I really do.” He was not disillusioned. The Slytherins were going to be a problem. Every student he’d ever tormented would want to get even when this sorting mess was...well, sorted. He’d be exposed and alone to deal with it.

Smirking, “Well, your shirt will be a hit, if nothing else.”

Blinking innocently, pushing his thoughts away and let Harry distract him, “What, this old thing?” Hermione just rolled her eyes. She’d seen it. The twins had loved it. She knew exactly what Draco was going to do with it, too. He sucked in a breath when he spotted Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott, “Here we go...”

Cassie shoved a piece of gum in her mouth and passed it out. Harry and Hermione took a piece, Pansy turning up her nose and Draco frowning, “What is it?”

Handing him a piece, “Gum. You chew it.”

“And then what?”

Shrugging, “That’s it. Just don’t swallow it, it’s not food.”

“Then why chew it?”

“It tastes good. And you can blow bubbles with it.”

Blinking, “What?!” He looked over at Cassie who grinned and chewed for a moment before pursing her lips and blowing a bubble. Draco was taken aback, looking down at the innocent piece of pink gum in his fingers. Handing it back to Harry, “No thank you.”

Harry just chuckled and gave his shoulders a squeeze before glancing at Hermione who was buried in her book, “What’cha reading?” She showed him the cover before moving the book back in place without pausing and he sighed, “Come on, ‘Mione. You’re not still mad at me, are you?”

She ignored him and Cassie frowned before leaning in, “What did he do?”

Draco snorted, “He let Colubrae loose.”

“What’s...the snake?” Draco nodded but didn’t elaborate. Shaking her head, “So?”

“Down her shirt.”

Her mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ but said nothing. Blaise paused halfway in the doorway, spotting Draco instantly but freezing when he noticed the rest of the occupants. Draco was hanging around with first years? And the mudblood? And Potter?? Blinking to clear his head, “Draco.”

Nodding, “Blaise.”

Forming his thoughts carefully before speaking, knowing the future of their friendship might very well
depend on what he said. It didn’t escape his notice that Pansy was calmly sitting here as well. Nor the fact that there was a lack of house emblem on his robes. So the rumors were true. He’d suspected that Draco was younger than he appeared and he’d heard about the controversy of the paper Skeeter had printed but he didn’t always believe what was written in her gossip column, “You’ll always have friends in Slytherin, Draco. Never doubt that.”

Draco looked at Blaise more closely. He’d never suspected the quiet Slytherin to be a true friend. The boy was quiet and cold. He wasn’t outspoken nor was he easily intimidated. He nodded, just as Theodore stepped up next to him, “What the fuck! Draco, that’s a mud-...”

Blaise slapped a hand over Theodore’s mouth and slammed him into the door frame, staring at him intensely, “She’s with Draco.” Theodore shook his head and squirmed but the dark Slytherin held the smaller boy firmly, “You’re a Slytherin, Nott, you know how to act around friends.”

That seemed to jar the pale boy for a moment, who glanced at Blaise. The dark Italian gave a slight nod and inclined his head and Theodore collected himself. Standing stiffly as Blaise stepped back, “My apologies for my rude behavior, good day to you.”

He bowed and Draco nodded in acceptance, Hermione looking over the top of her book to observe the pure bloods in action. Strange creatures. Crabbe and Goyle paused behind Blaise, looking at Draco before looking at the other boy, “You’re with me, today. We’re in the next car. We’ll see you at Hogwarts Draco...no matter what.”

There were many more Slytherins that passed by and paused but left just as quietly, many of them bowing slightly but others that just inclined their heads to him. After the last one nodded and left Hermione turned, “Alright, I understand they’re being nice but...the bowing?”

Draco sighed to himself, “It’s customary to be respectful of other purebloods. To show that respect they bow to one another. Though typically it’s not done around nonpurebloods.” He winced after saying it but he couldn’t think of a more delicate way of putting it. And it was true.

“So, they do that all the time?”

Pansy rolled her eyes, “No. Nodding is a show of respect or solidarity. The bowing is different. Usually it’s only in greeting...or to say goodbye.”

“Draco?”

Smiling slightly at Hermione, “I’m disowned.” Then he shrugged as if that explained it. Blindly she
looked to Pansy who frowned to herself before answering.

“Some purebloods, find a person disowned has a lower status than say a half blood. And some find them only slightly higher than a mud- er, sorry...muggle born.”

Hermione’s eyes flashed in anger, but not at Pansy. She could forgive the slip and the girl was trying. No she was angry at the others, “That’s barbaric!”

Pansy shrugged, “It is how it is-...”

“Can we stop talking about this? Please??”

Both girls quieted down in light of Draco’s upset. He didn’t want to think about the number of
Slytherins that were going to be after him...along with the rest of the damn school. This was not going to be a good year.