The Gryffindor Turned Slytherin

Chapter One. An Uncle's Sacrifice

"No!" Vicky screamed as she watched the now lifeless figure of her uncle fall to the kitchen floor. The sound of maniacal laughter came from behind her.

"He's dead girl. But don't worry, you'll soon join him. You won't be apart for long." Vicky couldn't see the smirk of the black-robed figure; the one who thought he had triumphed under the white mask.

"Like hell I will! Avada Kedavra!" she yelled. The green light flashed through him, catching him off guard. He slumped to the floor, now as lifeless as her uncle.

"Uncle Mark, please wake up...please. He didn't use Avada Kedavra, he used something else, please wake up," she begged of the corpse. There was a loud crack from behind her as someone Apparated into her kitchen.

"Vicky, what happened?" asked the voice.

"He's dead, Draco. My uncle is dead." Vicky closed her uncle's eyes. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder as another crack, and then another, sounded behind her in the kitchen. She barely noticed the new people in her house as Draco led her into the sitting room.

"I'm so sorry Vicky. I really am," he said, putting an arm round her shoulders. Vicky felt tears brimming in her eyes. Then suddenly, they were falling, thick and fast, as she cried. Draco held her. Vicky's head on his shoulder as she sobbed, wishing he knew what to do or what to say to ease her pain. But having never lost a parent or guardian, he had no idea what to say, or even how to say it.

"It's ok, Vicky. You have me," he said in as soothing a voice as he could manage.

It was some time before Vicky managed to cry herself out, although Draco knew she would need him more than ever in the next few days. Vicky pulled away from Draco and began to mop her tears up before she spoke.

"Where am I going to go now Draco? He was the only family I had left!" Vicky wiped her eyes on her robes and looked up desperately at Draco.

"Well, I'll put you up at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the holidays. I would invite you to stay at Malfoy Manor, but Mum is in a disagreeable mood because I won't do something she and dad want me to. In fact, I think I might join you. I could do with getting out of that place for a while. Let me go and talk to Professor Lupin. He's just Apparated in your kitchen, along with Arthur Weasley." This second name, Draco said with a bit of a sneer. "I have nothing against the Weasleys--it's just that, well, Ron rubs me up the wrong way sometimes, if you know what I mean. Now why don't you go upstairs and get packed?" He began walking towards the door.

"Draco," Vicky said, making him pause with his hand on the door. He turned his head towards her. "Thank you." He smiled at her and walked out. Vicky did what she was asked and ran to her room, throwing everything--clothes, books, quills, parchment and ink--into her trunk. And then, finally, a picture of her and Draco standing with her Uncle. She placed this right at the top before closing the lid. Draco came in just as she finished.

"Ready? Oh, you have a fireplace in your room! Excellent!" he said, and took some Floo powder out of the terracotta pot on the top. He threw it into the fire, and as the flames flared up and changed to emerald green, he beckoned her forwards.

"I'll meet you there, I have a few things to get from home," he said.

Vicky nodded, and stepped in to the fire saying, "Diagon Alley!"

She landed with a thump in the Leaky Cauldron, dragging her trunk out of the way of the fire. She didn't have a broom; her uncle had always insisted that she did not need one. She walked over to the bar where Tom, the landlord, was cleaning up.

"Hello Tom!" she said in a horrible, falsely cheerful voice.

"Hello Miss Tupper. Not with Mr Malfoy today?" he asked, getting her a Butterbeer. He had a soft spot for Vicky, having known her since she was just a little girl.

"He's on his way. I don't know how long he will be," she replied.

Vicky dug into her pockets as Tom poured a second one for Draco, who had just arrived.

"Now Miss, you knows I can't accept gold from a family friend," he said, waving the two Galleons away.

"Bless you Tom. Do you have a room for the two of us, until September the first?" she asked. He scratched his head.

"Well, I have a room with a double bed, but other than that, nothing I'm afraid. Young Harry Potter took up the last bed, Miss. How is your uncle anyway?" he asked. Vicky barely concealed a sob.

"He's dead Tom," said Malfoy, shaking his head sadly. "It happened only about an hour and a half ago. A Death Eater murdered him. But we'll take the room. We can work something out about the bed." Tom bowed his head, and then turned back towards Vicky.

"I'm so very sorry to hear that Miss. I truly am. Let me take your trunks up to your room. Dinner's about to start, so make yourself comfortable." He waved his wand and cast the feather light charm, followed by a locomotive charm on their trucks. Vicky and Draco sat at one of the tables as Vicky fought to control the sudden spurt of tears that had appeared at the mention of her uncle's name.

"Draco, when do the Hogwarts letters arrive? I mean we have two weeks left; they should be here by now." Draco looked at the window and smiled.

"Just about now," he said, opening the window. Two large barn owls landed on her table, another soared up the stairs. Vicky tore hers open. This year they would contain her O.W.L. exam results. Vicky pulled out the usual things--results, a subject list, the usual start of term reminder, and an equipment list. Then she noticed an extra two letters.

"My god, Outstanding in everything! Even Potions!" Vicky said, jumping up and down in her seat excitedly.

"Me too!" Draco said, amazed. His eyes fell on the two extra letters. He picked up the first one and read it, as did Vicky.

Dear Miss Tupper.

Sixth and Seventh years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade after school hours and on weekends throughout the year. Please get a parent, guardian, or family friend to sign and return the attached form.

I............... hereby give Victoria Anne Tupper permission to visit the town of Hogsmeade after school hours and during the weekends throughout the year.

Yours Sincerely

M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress.

"Wow, we can go to Hogsmeade!" said Draco. "Oh, wait there's no way Mum is going to sign it," Draco said, disheartened.

"What about Tom, He's your family friend isn't he?" Vicky asked. "He's the only person who can sign mine. Now what's this other letter?" she asked absentmindedly as she began to read.

Dear Miss Tupper.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that you are one of four Gryffindor Prefects. You are allowed to distribute punishments, deduct and add points, as well as give out detentions. You will also be required once a week to do night duty, which involves patrolling the corridors, and at Christmas and Halloween you will be required to help with school decorations. Tap the golden P below with your wand to retrieve your Prefects Badge. Please report to the prefect's carriage on the Hogwarts Express for instructions for the journey. Congratulations!

Yours Sincerely

Albus Dumbledore.

"Prefect!" Vicky gasped. She tapped the golden P, and with a pop, a badge appeared.

"You got it too?" he asked. Vicky nodded, as Tom came in followed by Harry Potter. Tom placed two dishes in front of Vicky and Draco. Draco met Harry's eyes across the room, and they scowled at each other. Why did he have to be staying here right now, thought Draco.

"Chicken and Mushroom Pie! Tom, how did you know it was our favourite!" Draco exclaimed.

"You don't watch you two come in here every day of every holiday and not learn something," he chuckled. "Hello, what's this?" he asked and picked up Vicky and Draco's Hogsmeade forms. "Can't have you two not going can we?" he said, and conjured up a quill, with which he signed both forms.

"Tom, you are an angel in disguise!" Vicky said gratefully. Tom beamed, and walked out of the room. Vicky began to wipe her eyes again which were full of tears. This small gesture was something her uncle should have done for her.

"You two are so damn lucky I can't use magic out of school," said Harry, beginning his own dinner.

"Fuck off Potter. You couldn't spell yourself out of a wet paper bag," said Draco. Vicky looked up, her eyes full of tears again.

"You!" she snarled at Harry, taking Draco by surprise. "Why can't you just crawl under a rock and die? It would do everyone a favour!" I don't care that I'm venting my anger at Uncle Mark's death on him, it's making me feel better, she thought.

"Suddenly I've lost my appetite," said Harry, pushing his plate away from him and storming off upstairs.

That night, Vicky and Draco decided to share the bed. The room was nice--it had a shower, but there was no way either of them could sleep on the hard floor. So they shared the bed, each keeping to one side.

Draco woke in the middle of the night to find Vicky lying in his arms. "How on earth did she get there?" he asked himself. "Not that I don't mind having her here, but what will the school say if they find out? Scratch that, what would father say?" Draco smiled. He knew damn well his father would be furious. He fell back to sleep, dreaming that he and Vicky had gotten married, and that his parents were so furious they had died of heart attacks caused by anger, and left him the entire estate; left himself and Vicky living happily in the huge mansion.

"Morning Vicky," Draco said, as they awoke the next morning, still in each other's arms.

"Morning Draco. Um, why am I in your arms?" she asked, puzzled. She sat up, her long t-shirt not doing much to cover her.

"I have no idea. I woke up in the middle of the night and there you were. I fell back asleep. We might as well get up. Do you want the shower first or shall I?" he asked.

"You can, I don't mind," she replied, and untangled her feet from the duvet as he walked in to the bathroom.

"Well, hello tiger!" Vicky purred jokingly as Draco returned. He had a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was wet and messy and his torso bare.

"Behave yourself!" He laughed as she walked past him to use the shower herself. He was used to her making comments like that, usually within hearing distance of that troll, Pansy Parkinson. What it was going to take to get rid of her, he did not know. He went over to the mirror to sort out his hair and check that he didn't need to have a shave. He had been cursed with a certain Malfoy trait, which was that when puberty hit, it hit hard, and it was several weeks before he managed to control the sudden spurts of facial hair.

He could hear Vicky singing to herself in the shower. It sounded like one of the Weird Sisters' tunes; possibly "Just Because I Love A Muggle." Draco ran a comb through his hair, then decided that he couldn't be bothered to gel it.

He heard the sounds of a hair dryer coming from the other room. Looking round the door, he saw Vicky dressed in a Slytherin Green robe, looking suspiciously like one he'd bought her for Christmas two years earlier. He saw her flip her hair back (she had been drying it hanging over her face) and it fell in glorious waves of blonde down her back. Draco sighed in pleasure at the sight, and then checked himself. What was he doing? She was his best friend. Feelings like that could damage their friendship. He wasn't going to risk loosing the only real friend he had, even if she was a Gryffindor. But, he reasoned, that had not mattered with her.

Ever since that first Potions class, where Snape had called Potter the new celebrity in school, and she had responded with "Yeah, and a butt ugly one at that," they had been firm friends. He watched as she brushed her bushy hair to make it less wild.

"You look great in that robe, you know," he said, still shirtless. Vicky turned her back to him as he pulled the towel from his waist.

"And you look great without one," she teased, chancing a look around to see him doing up a pair of trousers.

"Why, thank you," he said, flexing his muscles.

"I wonder what people will say when they see me in Slytherin colours, knowing I'm a Gryffindor. The Golden Trio will have a fit!" She laughed as Draco pulled on a jumper. He smiled an evil smile, which Vicky knew meant that one of his schemes was forming.

"I have an idea that will, with luck, make Potter's blood boil," he said as they made their way down for breakfast. The room was mostly empty, and they managed o find a seat close to the fire.

"What's worse than a Gryffindor being friends with a Slytherin?" he asked.

"A Gryffindor being in a relationship with a Slytherin," Vicky answered, listening with interest. She loved to wind up Potter more than anything, which was a strict no-no for a Gryffindor. To do so would be a very brave thing indeed, which was perhaps why she was a Gryffindor in the first place.

"Exactly. Now what I'm suggesting is this. You and I pretend to be a couple. Not only will this piss off Potter, but it will also get that troll Parkinson off my back. All the Slytherin lads know that Crabbe and Goyle have been shipped off to wherever it was, and would love to join in."

"Hang on, shipped off to where? You never told me about this," said Vicky, as they seated themselves and were given a large pot of tea. Harry was scowling at them from the other side of the room again, and Vicky stuck her middle finger up at him.

"Oh, didn't you know? Their parent's shipped them off to another school. I doubt it was Durumstrang, though. From what I heard they were too thick to pass the entry exam. So it's, Theo, Blaise and myself in the dorms this year. Anyway, as I was saying. ..." He lowered his voice a little to ensure that Harry couldn't hear. "They can back us up, and I can personally say that you would be welcome any time in the common room. Parkinson might not like it, but I'm sure the rest of the girls will. And I happen to know some of the second years admire and respect you. Well, a Gryffindor wanting nothing to do with Harry Potter is a remarkable thing. So, what do you think?" he asked. Vicky smiled a calculating smile. There was a clattering of a spoon in a bowl from the other side of the room, and the sound of a chair being pushed back over flagstones.

"Why Draco, darling, I think that it is a wonderful idea," Vicky said, casting her eyes in the direction of Harry, who walked straight out of the door, giving Vicky a look of pure disgust.