For 16 Galleons

Chapter Seventeen

Harry followed Master Draco up the stairs and into the Great Hall. He took his seat at the slaves' end of the table and waited for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. He noticed a strange man seated next to the Headmistress and wondered for a moment if they had a new professor and looked closer. Taking in the man's handsome features, stately dress and arrogant demeanor, Harry thought that he didn't quite fit the profile of a Hogwarts professor. Harry scratched his scar and turned to look at Draco down the table, wondering if his master had a better idea of who the strange man was. One look at Master Draco's rapturous face and everything clicked. This had to be the Great Lord.

Harry began to fume. Master Draco was talking excitedly with his friends. Harry thought he was making a fool of himself. If Master Malfoy were here, he would surely be berating Draco about now. Harry never even noticed the new First Year students being sorted. He kept trying to catch his master's eye to get him to behave in a more seemly manner. He never noticed that most of the other students were now also looking at the Great Lord in states of awe. He ignored Dean when the slave tried to get his attention.

He came out of his stupor when the Headmistress stood up to address the students.

"Welcome, everyone. This year we are honoured to have the Great Lord Voldemort attend our Sorting Feast. As most of you know, the Great Lord was recently restored to his own physical form thanks to the relentless efforts of his loyal staff. Our own Deputy Headmaster, Professor Snape, as well as the parents of some of our students, played an integral part in this miracle. Therefore, the Great Lord thought it only fitting that one of his first appearances be here, at Hogwarts." With that, Professor McGonagall indicated for Lord Voldemort to speak, and sat down to listen.

The Great Lord stood regally and slowly raked his gaze over the audience of students and slaves. Harry irritably scratched his scar again. Lord Voldemort finally spoke and his clear tenor voice carried throughout the Hall.

"Students, and slaves," he said. "I'm very pleased to be here this evening to witness another Sorting and see what fine young wizards and witches I can expect to see make their mark in the Wizarding World in a few short years. I also attended Hogwarts many years ago. Some of my fondest memories are of these halls. I made many friends within these walls.

"This is also where I determined that I would rise on my own merits and eventually hold the highest position the Wizarding World could offer. I worked hard and, with my friends, I formed the plan that carried me on the path to become Minister of Magic. I could not have done this without the wonderful professors here. They guided me and taught me and supported my efforts to learn more.

"Don't think that your time here is wasted. This is the beginning of the best part of your lives. Take advantage of the experts you have here at your disposal and learn everything you can. Enjoy your time with your friends just as I did. I hope that some of you will eventually work for me. Those of you who don't, I hope, will become worthwhile members of Wizarding society and will help to continually better our world. Thank you."

When the Great Lord sat down, Headmistress McGonagall stood and made her usual beginning of term announcements. Then the food arrived and everyone's attention was focused on eating. Harry had to admit to himself that Lord Voldemort was very charismatic. It still didn't excuse Master Draco acting like a First Year.

Later that night, as they entered their room, Draco immediately started in about the Great Lord.

"Did you see what I meant, Harry? Isn't he just awesome?"

"Yes, Master Draco."

Draco then launched into what looked to be a long speech about the wonders of the Great Lord. Harry interrupted him, "Master Draco!" The blond stopped and looked at Harry, stunned.

"You were acting like a bloody prat at the feast." Draco bristled but Harry didn't stop. "I can't believe you going on and on and getting all excited like some First Year girl. You act like you're in love with him. It was embarrassing. Your father..." Harry got no further as Draco's hand came in contact with the side of Harry's face. That was all it took and the two of them were soon down on the floor trying to pummel each other into the stonework. Neither had any idea what they were screaming but it was apparently loud because soon there was a crowd of Slytherins in the hall and the doorway urging them on. Neither did they notice slamming into furniture and knocking things down. The room was quickly trashed and both boys were bloody.

Harry was now slightly larger than his master and, if he got him pinned, would come out the winner. Draco, on the other hand, was quick and lithe and quite hard to hold onto. They knew the way each other fought so they were well matched. It was quite a bit later that they found themselves yanked apart by a very angry Head of House and his slave.

"What is the meaning of this?" Professor Snape bellowed. Harry winced. This was not home. This wasn't Master Malfoy, who understood that boys would fight. He would be lucky if he didn't get a real beating for this. As Professor Lupin raced in, Harry dropped his gaze to the floor and hoped for the best.

Draco looked up at his Head of House. "We were fighting, Sir."

Professor Lupin ushered the other students and slaves out of the room and shut the door, casting a silencing charm along that side of the room.

Professor Snape took a deep breath and asked quietly, "Would you care to explain why a slave would think it acceptable to strike his master?"

Draco paled and glanced quickly at Harry. "He doesn't, Sir, but I struck him first."

"Does your father allow this?"

"No, um, yes, kind of, Sir."

Professor Snape just looked at him enquiringly.

"He insists that Harry and I keep our tempers under control. He... he says if I am fool enough to begin a fight with Harry, he won't stop Harry from fighting back. Afterwards we both get punished."

"What type of punishment does your father usually administer?"

Draco gulped. "It depends, Sir. Sometimes he switches us since we've got too big to just spank. Sometimes he grounds us."

"I see." Professor Snape looked over at Professor Lupin.

The slave instructor asked, "What was this particular fight about?"

"Harry accused me of behaving like a First Year girl with a crush at the feast."

"Very well, I have to agree that you were acting a bit excited, which is not the type of behaviour either I or your father expect of you. However, I will not tolerate a slave physically fighting with his master." Snape turned and glared at Harry. The professor held out his hand. "Give me your wand."

Harry cringed. Hesitantly he went over to his bed and fetched his wand. He was fighting back tears as he held it out to the Deputy Headmaster. He was sure that it was going to be snapped and he would be sent back to the Manor in disgrace. Mrs. Carter, not to mention the Malfoys, would be so disappointed.

Professor Snape took the wand and shoved it into a pocket somewhere. "Mr. Malfoy, you will serve detention with me tomorrow after your last class. Harry, you will now accompany Professor Lupin, who will administer four strikes with the paddle. Tomorrow you are forbidden to attend classes. Instead, you will remain here and repair your room, without the aid of magic. Your master will return your wand after his detention."

Harry swallowed hard. "Yes, Sir." He followed Professor Lupin. He felt all eyes on them as they walked through the Slytherin Common Room. He tried to tell himself that he should be grateful that his punishment was so light. Honestly, he was tremendously relieved that he wasn't being expelled. He could take a paddling. It wasn't the first time Professor Lupin had had to discipline him but he'd only had two strikes at the most before. It was probably a good thing he wouldn't be going to class tomorrow as he was sure he wouldn't be able to sit down.

Professor Lupin said nothing to him until they reached his office. Then he simply sternly told Harry to bend over and grasp the desk. After the blows were swung, Professor Lupin looked at him for a moment as if judging the effect on Harry's psyche and sent him back to his dorm room. Harry hurried, keeping his head down so no one could see the tears threatening to spill over. He went straight to his room, grabbed his pyjamas and headed for the shower.

He let the cool water pour over his stinging arse and let the tears fall. More than anything he was ashamed, not just because he'd got a paddling but because he'd caused Master Draco to lose his temper and slap him and then fought like a hooligan. He'd been accusing Master Draco of embarrassing behaviour and look what he had done. He realized that he had got so angry because he was jealous. It always seemed to happen. He knew it wasn't right but every time Master Draco started paying more than average attention to someone, he couldn't help but want to get his master's attention back on him. They were best friends. Draco was supposed to like him best.

Back in bed, Harry tried to find a comfortable position. He heard the door open as Draco come in. He heard his master get his things and head for his own shower. He was dozing later when he felt the bed shift. A gentle hand brushed the hair off his forehead and Harry sighed.

"Hey," Draco said softly.

"Hey."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It stings pretty bad but it's okay. I was so scared that they were going to break my wand and send me home." Harry shuddered at the thought. "I'm sorry, Master Draco."

"I'm sorry, too, Harry."

"I was... jealous."

"Huh? Why were you jealous?"

"I don't know. It seemed like all you could talk about was the Great Lord this and the Great Lord that, like you have a crush on him or something. He's really cool and all, handsome and powerful, but it was like you had forgotten about me."

"Oh," Draco responded softly. "Kind of like the way you get when Father is around?" he added with a chuckle.

"What?!"

"Come on, Harry. All summer you kept tripping over your feet and dropping things every time Father came in the room. Even Mother noticed."

Harry buried his head in his pillow. "Oh, Merlin," he moaned.

Draco laughed at him and rubbed his back. "Don't worry. We won't tell anyone. Father thought it was amusing."

Harry groaned even louder. This was possibly the most humiliating day of his life. And here he had thought Draco was being embarrassing.

"I'm just so glad they didn't expel you. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."

"Thanks, Master Draco," Harry said as he rolled over a bit. Draco's hand on his shoulder was comforting and his words even more so. They sat there in silence for a few minutes before Draco patted Harry's shoulder once more and moved to his bed.

"Good night, Harry."

"Good night, Master Draco."

To be continued.