The First Year

Chapter Three

1st of September

*General POV*

The month had flown by so quickly. It seemed that Draco and Michael had gotten to know each other better and better on their trips about the castle.

Draco sat on his bed lacing his shoes, deep in thought. He was still thinking about the conversation he and Michael had had the night he came to Hogwarts. He didn't know why the thought of Voldemort coming back was bothering him so much.

After all, Voldemort was dead, wasn't he?

Still, he couldn't shake the foreboding feeling he was having. It was as if something bad was bound to happen.

Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder. "Good morning, Draco!"

Draco yelped and jumped away from the touch of the unknown hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Michael said apologetically.

"It's all right. I just didn't hear you coming in."

Michael smiled broadly. "Nah, I am the one to blame." He silenced Draco's protests by placing his finger on the other boys' lips. "Don't even think about it. I will make this up to you. What do you say to going shopping in Hogsmeade today? We have plenty of time before the other students arrive. How does that sound?"

Draco shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

Michael shook his head. "You’re hopeless, did you know that?"

"What do you mean, hopeless?"

Michael laughed and clapped his back rather roughly. "Let's have breakfast," Michael said, shaking his head again.

***

Draco had been Sorted a month before he came to Hogwarts. It had been rather pointless because every Malfoy had been in Slytherin and it could not be any other way. The other students were due to arrive at any moment. He was anxious to know who else would be in Slytherin as well.

"Nervous?" Michael asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. He hadn't seen Draco nervous before.

"Yes, a little bit," Draco answered, nodding.

"That's understandable. Come on, let's go before we really are late."

The Great Hall was packed --or at least it sounded like it. Michael grabbed Draco's hand, just in case some idiot didn't watch where they were going.

Michael led him to the Slytherin table.

"Can you make it on your own if I leave you here?" Michael asked as he guided Draco to his seat.

Draco nodded.

"Okay. The mashed potatoes are at two o'clock, the meatballs at ten, and the salad is at six. Everything else is where it should be. Enjoy your dinner and we'll meet in an hour. Have fun!" With that, Michael took off.

Draco did not start to eat right away because he wanted to wait until the Sorting was done. Dumbledore always made sure Draco had his plate ready, but he really wished he could have prepared it himself.

Draco reached for his pumpkin juice and took a sip as Professor McGonagall walked to the front of the Great Hall, clearing her throat.

"The Sorting is about to begin," she said, turning to address the fearful first years. "When I say your name, come here and put the Sorting Hat on."

And the Sorting started.

Draco memorized all the names he heard. A few of his family friends joined the ranks of the Slytherins. He smiled when Pansy Parkinson sat beside him.

"Drake! I almost thought that you had been sent to Durmstrang!" She gave him a quick friendly hug.

"Why would you think that, Pans? I said that Mother would persuade Father, didn't I?"

"Yes, you might have, but still . . . . "

Draco interrupted her. "Just be happy that I am here, all right?"

Pansy flashed him her most radiant smile. "Sure thing, Drake."

Blaise Zabini sat next to Pansy after being sorted. ”Hi Draco. How was your summer?”

Draco smiled warmly, remembering the beginning of the summer when he had heard that he would be attending Hogwarts rather than Durmstrang. He had just nodded when his father told him about it, but as soon as he was out of his father's sight he had ran, laughing, to his own room and jumped up and down in joy.

"It was . . . nice. We went to France and visited Uncle Leo. You remember him?"

"The guy with enormous moustache?" Blaise asked.

Draco smiled and nodded in response.

"Yeah, I remember him. Wasn't he the one who foisted us on alcohol?" Blaise vaguely remembered.

"He's the one. He's getting worse in his old age, so Mother wanted to visit him before he goes nuts." Draco smirked.

He was happy finally to have someone he knew well to talk to. Blaise and Pansy were his oldest friends.

"Drake, I heard that you already have a Master. What is he like?" Pansy asked, tapping Draco's shoulder.

"He is the greatest. What I've got to know of him during the month that I've been here is that he's really nice, but he talks awfully lot." Draco frowned at the last comment.

Blaise laughed at him. "Don't worry, mate. I think you really need a Master who is the total opposite of you."

"What? Are you saying that I'm not nice?" Draco exclaimed dramatically.

Blaise looked shocked, placing a hand over his heart. "Did I say that? Oh, I'm sorry my prince, but it is the truth."

"Cut it out you two." Pansy slapped Blaise's arm playfully.

All three were excited and reluctant to leave the feast. The other new Slytherins would sleep together tonight in the Slytherin common room because nobody, except Draco, knew who their Masters would be. In the morning would be a ceremony where the new Masters were chosen.

The teachers had a list of potential students to be Masters and depending on how many Slytherins were sorted, they would appoint as many as needed.

Draco bid goodnight to his friends and made his way to his room. Michael was already waiting for him when he stepped inside their room.

"Had a good time?" Michael inquired, sitting on one of the armchairs near the fireplace.

"Yes," he simply answered before getting ready to go to sleep.

"Any new friends?"

"No, just old ones," Draco called back from his bedroom.

"Is that so? Well, then you should make some new ones," Michael suggested.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, coming back to the living room, wearing pyjamas.

"You just seem to be a guy who doesn't make new friends easily," Michael answered, laying one of his text books he was reading on the table.

Draco sighed. "I guess I'm not the most social of people."

"Well, at least you've made one new friend. Me!" Michael exclaimed, spreading his arms wide and grinning like a mad man.

Draco shook his head. ”"Yeah, just look at how that's turned out."