Taking The Chance

Draco awoke the next morning to hear muffled snoring coming from the beds next to him that indicated straight away that Crabbe and Goyle were asleep. He sat up and rubbed his eyes before trying to open the curtains which he had forgot he had sealed shut the night before.

"Damn...so much for it having been a nightmare...penero..."

The curtains unzipped silently and he swung his feet over the side of the bed. So, if it hadn't been a nightmare he really did get caught with Dumbledore, he really did get put on strict watch, he really did allow Weasley's words affect him and, he inwardly groaned, he really did have to publicly flog himself in front of the whole school at breakfast. He slumped back on the bed and sighed. Maybe he could speak to Dumbledore and ask to do it without the rest of the Slytherins being present...that would make it a lot easier...

"Yeah, instead of total humiliation it would just be utter humiliation...much better..." He groaned as he sat up and began getting dressed. Maybe he should see Longbottom first? It would probably be difficult to get to see him on his own though...He'll have his own little body guarding entourage with him...

As he finished getting dressed he walked quietly out into the common room. Maybe if he skipped breakfast? He could just go up to the owlery or down into the grounds and wait there until first period. No, he realised, that wasn't a good idea considering he had potions first thing and if he didn't show up at breakfast he couldn't be sure Snape would be able to refrain from poisoning him.

"Guess you just have to face the music, Draco. Get it over with and then things can get back to normal." He said as he walked out the common room and headed towards the Gryffindor corridor. As he walked slowly and quietly through the empty corridors he was conscious of the way the figures in the painting kept giving him dirty looks and muttering under their breath as he passed. Evidently the figures in Dumbledore's office had felt the need to divulge what happened to the rest of the portraits. He finally arrived at the statue across from the portrait of the Fat Lady who was eyeing him suspiciously as he ducked out of sight behind the statue. All he had to do was hope Longbottom came out early and that no one would see him before then. "What would I give for Potters invisibility cloak now..."

* * * * *

Draco had waited nearly an hour before there had been any sign of life in the Gryffindor corridor. He had passed the time by threatening a remarkably annoying painting of an old wizard and his apprentice who kept on telling him what they would have done with him if they hadn't been stuck in the canvas. As Draco drew his wand and mentioned quietly how he had learned how to erase magical portraits the old wizard visibly swooned and the apprentice looked panicked but both no longer spoke to him and instead sat huddled in the corner and threw icy stares in his direction as they muttered.

Draco yawned and was beginning to feel annoyed and rather put out that he had made the effort to come here to apologise while Longbottom couldn't even be bothered having the decency of getting out of bed? He shook his head as he looked at his watch: 6.27am? He groaned and banged his head against the statue...he would have to wait more than an hour...

"Ooooh, looky who we've got here?" Draco looked up and saw Peeves the poltergeist hovering above him. "You aren't supposed to be near the Gryffindors, banned you are. I heard them talking last night about you...been a bad boy have you? Been picking on them? Now your trying to get their passwords and spy on them? Oooh, you are going to be in so much trouble...."

As Peeves began laughing maniacally Draco glared at him as he hissed. "Go away you sorry excuse for a ghost! If you don't disappear and leave me alone I'll tell the Bloody Baron that you're trying to get his house in trouble!"

Peeves looked at him for a second before blowing a raspberry and flying away. "Filch! Filch! There's a dirty student messing your nice clean floor and spying on Fatty..."

Draco held his breath as the shouting died away and he couldn't hear Filch. He exhaled slowly and slumped against the statue. The first thing he was going to do after this was learn a banishing spell for that stupid poltergeist. Even if he got expelled for it, it would be worth it just to see the look on Peeves twisted face as he saw it coming.

Draco was still going over his plan when the Gryffindor Common room door opened. The Quidditch team stumbled out, looking more than half asleep. As Draco watched he pressed himself closer to the statue to avoid being seen by them. Harry, Seamus and Katie Bell walked in the front, followed by Fred Weasley, who had his eyes closed and his head resting on Angelina Johnson's shoulder as the pair of them stumbled along followed by Alicia Witt and Fred's twin, George. That was the Quidditch team who had thus far been able to avoid Draco lifting the Quidditch cup. He glared at them as the walked past unknowingly: he could put a little curse on them and they would never know...Bam! Potter would suddenly have flippers instead of hands and the Weasley's legs would be locked together making them unable to fly. See how much more of a man Potter is then... No one would know it was him...But you'd know, Draco and you promised Dumbledore...

Draco rolled his eyes and inwardly groaned. Damn him for being so stupid and getting caught and agreeing to such a stupid deal. He stood up and looked at the portrait hole which had been motionless for nearly 20 minutes since the Gryffindors had left. He already felt ridiculous enough waiting here for nearly 2 hours but there was no way he as going to be caught by all the Gryffindors skulking around their common room. They would string him up. He picked up his wand from the ground but stopped as he heard the portrait open again as someone walked out, clearly agitated. "I really don't need you to follow me up and down the place..." Well, well, Draco. Looks like you are in luck...

Draco smiled smugly to himself as he looked around and saw Neville looking at a very awkward looking Ron Weasley. "I'm...I'm not following you around...really, what would give you a stupid idea like that?"

Draco shook his head; he did not want a Weasley there when he was humiliating himself. He sighed and looked over and saw Neville look questionably at Ron. "You mean Hermione didn't tell you to follow me around?"

Ron looked like he was about to deny this before he flinched and shook his head. "Hermione and Harry...we figured you might like the company..."

Draco shook his head; it was just like a stupid Weasley to not be able to lie convincingly.

"I don't *want* anyone's pity. I'm fine..." Neville said almost irritably as he looked at Ron.

Ron shook his head fiercely. "Neville, it's not pity. It's support. We're friends and friends look out for each other..."

Neville nodded his head and smiled slightly. "Yeah...yeah, I guess they do. Listen, I've got to go see Dumbledore...I'll see you all at breakfast." Draco groaned, this was taking all day...why couldn't Weasley just take the hint already?

Ron looked at Neville and nodded his head, almost in relief. "Well, remember if you want to talk..."

Neville nodded and began walking off in the opposite direction. As Ron stepped into the portrait hole again Draco took a deep breath and looked at Neville. It was now or never. He walked after him at distance and tried to ignore the glares and murmurs of the paintings as they finally exited the Gryffindor corridor.

"Longbottom." Draco said simply as he stopped and looked at Neville expectantly. Neville stopped abruptly and turned around slowly to face Draco. Draco looked at him and took a deep breath - Neville looked different than he had at any point in the past. His eyes, which were usually a clear indication of his stupidity, were fixed in an angry glare and his jaw was clenched tightly. He definitely didn't look like the same person who had so often been the subject of his classmates’ pranks. He's pissed, Draco...he's not going to whimper like a baby.

"Malfoy. What are you doing here? Should your father not be taking you home?" Neville said in a flat voice without altering his gaze.

Draco looked at him. Maybe it would have been better if he had let Dumbledore explain first. "No. I'm not leaving..."

Neville's eyes widened in disbelief as Draco took a deep breath and continued. "I wanted to talk to you..."

Neville shook his head. "I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to see you. Just leave."

Draco sighed and walked over towards Neville. Every instinct was telling him to forget it and leave him alone, but, nonetheless he walked to within a few feet of him and stopped. So much for this being easier than facing the whole school. "It's about what happened yesterday...you know...what I sad about...your parents."

Draco looked at Neville and noticed that if it was possible his jaw had clenched even tighter as he looked at Draco with utter hatred and spoke through gritted teeth. "What you actually said about them or your very loud and very public dramatic interpretation?"

Draco inwardly flinched as he remembered what he had actually done but shook it off as he looked at Neville. "About it all...I'm...sorry."

Draco looked at Neville and sighed. He had said it; he had said it and he had meant it. He really was sorry for what had happened and he looked at Neville expecting some kind of acknowledgement. Neville merely looked at him in disbelief. "You're sorry? That's it?"

Draco looked at him and nodded his head, what more did he want from him? Blood? "Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't know the full story before..."

Neville's eyes widened as he looked at Draco. "You shouldn't know it now! You shouldn't have known any of it! My life has nothing to do with you and your scum of a father!"

Draco looked at Neville and tried to hide his shock as Neville drew his wand. So Neville was hurting, that had nothing to do with him…it would have come out eventually anyway. "Longbottom, don't be an idiot, put the wand away before you hurt yourself with it."

Neville stared at him unflinchingly. "Tell me what your father told you about them. Tell me how you found out."

Draco shook his head: this was not going to plan at all. He felt down into his pocket for his own wand. He could hex Neville and wait until he calmed down and try the whole thing again. He inwardly sighed, of course if he did that he would be expelled. "No. He didn't tell me anything apart from they were attacked."

Neville looked at him. "Liar. I'm not afraid of you, Malfoy - tell me!"

Draco looked at Neville as he removed his hands from his pockets. Of course Neville was scared of him, but at this moment he was definitely sounding convincing. Maybe if he just told him...Yeah, send him right over the edge, Draco...that will go down well.

"Listen, Longbottom. I wanted to apologise and I've done that. I know it's not worth a lot just now but...I do mean it." He looked at Neville and began to back away. "Put the wand away and go see Dumbledore..."

Draco turned around and began walking away as Neville looked at him, his eyes hardened and his wand arm raised. The next moment Draco heard Neville mutter from behind him and he felt himself go sprawling on the floor as he was hit with a blast from the wand. Stupid Longbottom finally worked out what his wand was for...but if he wants a fight...he picked the right person...

"I want to know!" Neville said as he walked over towards Draco.

Draco looked at him coldly as he got to his feet. "No, you don't. Trust me, just let it go."

Neville walked over to him and raised his wand arm. "I swear, I'll hurt you. Just...just tell me...please."

Draco reached in for his own wand as he looked at Neville. His dark eyes had softened and his jaw that had been clenched so tightly was suddenly trembling slightly. Neville looked half the size he had moments before and Draco shook his head. At any other moment he would have found it amusing...but somehow his own mind couldn't get the sound of tortured screams to stop. That's what stopped it being fun to see Neville standing there; the idea that those screams would have belonged to him at one point. There was nothing else to do; he had to lie.

"My father said that they hadn't known it was coming, he said that Crouch was only interested in information that your father had but that killing him wasn't an option...it was more...affective...to, well..." It was close enough to the truth, hopefully that would be it. Draco looked at Neville who had dropped his wand hand and sighed. "I assumed you were a baby who hadn't been aware of anything...I didn't realise...anyway, I apologise."

Neville shook his head as he let his wand drop to the floor and walked closer to Draco. "Did he know it was going to happen? Is that how he escaped Azkaban? By telling the Ministry after they had tried and failed to get the information?"

Draco shook his head. He was not going to stand here and take this; he was better than that. To be accused by someone like Longbottom? The boy could barely pass a single class and he was presuming to talk to him like that? "He told the Ministry what he knew. It's in the past, Longbottom, I suggest you try and put it behind you and forget it..."

Draco looked at Neville as he finished talking hoping for some sign of comprehension. What he hadn't expected was for Neville to scream as he lunged at Draco and pulled him to the ground. "It's in the past for you! Not for me! You don't see them, you don't know what it's like to see your parents and have to tell them your name every time you see them!" Neville punched Draco hard as angry tears fell down his cheeks. "You can say it's in the past but people like you and your father took everything from me!"

Draco pushed Neville off him and stood up leaving Neville sitting on the floor fiercely wiping his eyes. "Longbottom! I did not do anything to you!"

Neville looked at him and stood up. "That's a matter of opinion...try standing where I am."

Draco shook his head as he wiped a stream of blood coming from his nose. He had let Longbottom fight him and hadn't defended himself? Nice one, as soon as that gets out you won't be able to show your face in public... He shook his head as he walked over to Neville. No one would know about this.

"I am not going to fight you, Longbottom. You're upset? Fine, but you cannot hope to beat me in a fight, so give it up. So, even if you don't accept my apology, remember that I offered it."

"He will, won't you, Neville?" Draco turned around abruptly at the sound of the voice behind him as Neville's eyes widened.

"Pro...Professor Lupin?" Neville stammered as he wiped his eyes more furiously and reached to pick up his wand as he quickly tried to shove it in his robes. Draco simply turned and looked at the shabbily dressed wizard looking at them both. Draco smirked, so much for Lupin investing in half decent robes. But what could anyone expect from a werewolf?

"No, Neville. I'm not a Professor anymore. I'm only here on invite." Lupin turned and looked at Draco with a slight smile. "How are you, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco looked at him with an air of superiority. No doubt Dumbledore called him in. "Fine."

Lupin shook his head. "You should put some ice on that or else it'll bruise. Unless you want to go see Madam Pomfrey?"

Draco shifted his weight uncomfortably. How much had he see and heard? Lupin turned to Neville with a stern expression on his face. "You do realise that Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall will have to hear about this?"

Draco looked at Neville who had visibly paled and shook his head. There was no chance of keeping this low key if Dumbledore and McGonagall got involved, plus, Longbottom had to deal with enough. "Tell them about what? Longbottom and I were just...talking and I...tripped..."

Draco almost balked as he spoke the words. A Malfoy tripping? He looked at Lupin and forced a defiant look on his face as Neville looked at him dumbfounded. He almost smirked, that vacant puzzled expression was much more like the Longbottom he knew.

"That's not tr..." Neville began before Lupin raised his hand to silence him as a slight smile played on his lips as he looked at Draco.

"Neville. I believe Professor Dumbledore is expecting you so you should go. Please tell him that I will be along in a few minutes." As Neville opened his mouth again to argue the point Lupin looked at him a shook his head. "You shouldn't keep him waiting. I'll deal with this."

Neville glared at Draco before nodding his head reluctantly at Lupin and walking away; shoulders slumped towards Dumbledore's office.

Draco looked at Lupin disdainfully as he stood expectantly.

"I saw what happened, Draco. This wouldn't count as you starting trouble, so you wouldn't have any repercussions from the staff."

Draco looked at him. He knew that he was under watch? So Dumbledore was filling in anyone on hat happened? "Why would there be any repercussions from the staff? I was walking away and I tripped and fell. Last I checked that wasn't a punishable offence...unless of course Professor Dumbledore told you about any rule changes while he was filling you in on...other...details."

Lupin nodded as he began to walk away. "You are full of surprises, Mr Malfoy and I'm sure that at one point in the future Neville will appreciate it."

Draco looked at him with slight indignation. He thought he had done it for Longbottom? Why would he do anything for him? "I'm not doing it for Longbottom. Why would I want to help him?"

Lupin shrugged his shoulders as he walked away. "Maybe for the same reason why he drew his wand on you yet you wouldn't retaliate? Or why you omitted certain details about his parents from what your father told you? Hidden depths, Mr Malfoy - things are rarely as simple as they appear on the surface."

Draco opened was about to respond but Lupin had disappeared from sight. How dare that vagrant claim to know anything about him and his motives? He began to walk away when some first years scurried past him with their heads down. He inwardly groaned. Time for breakfast...

* * * * *

It had taken longer than usual for Draco to reach the Great Hall due to his attempts to compose his apology so that it would be affective and as brief as humanly possible. He was about to turn into the corridor of the hall when he heard a voice behind him.

"Draco Malfoy?"

Draco turned abruptly to see a tall man looking at him questionably. That would be Professor Johanson then. So much for avoiding joining the Muggle studies class..."Yes, sir?"

The man nodded his head. "Professor Dumbledore has filled me in on your circumstances. Come and see me today at lunch so we can arrange the appropriate study program..."

Draco nodded his head almost noncommittally which caused Johnason to look at him harshly. "I am fully aware of what has happened with you Mr Malfoy, and you should know that I will not tolerate any Muggle bashing from little xenophobes. I have no qualms about failing you if you don't take this as seriously as your situation demands. I expect to see you at 1.30pm."

Draco watched him disappear, his mouth still open indignantly. He had called him a 'little xenophobe'...this was becoming an annoying habit that people thought they could insult him and leave before he could reply.

"Draco? Where did you get to last night?" Draco rolled his eyes. Crabbe and Goyle.

"I wasn't aware that I had to clear my timetable with you, Goyle. Besides, you surely find it difficult enough remembering where you are supposed to be..."

Goyle merely grunted a weak response as Crabbe looked at Draco. "Are you going in?"

"No, I thought I'd stand out here all day. Why?" Draco said irritably as he peered towards the hall. It was still only half full...

He avoided looking at Crabbe and Goyle as he noticed a group of the Gryffindors walk into the Great Hall...still laughing and joking. Clearly they hadn't heard that he was staying. He stifled a smirk. What he wouldn't give for Potter’s little fan to take a picture of the Gryffindors’ faces when he walked in...maybe he could wave to them...

"Well, I'm not standing here like an idiot..." Crabbe said sullenly.

"Too late to turn you into an idiot...genetics got there first" Draco muttered under his breath as he looked towards the Great Hall. "You two go in...I'm waiting on something."

Crabbe looked at Goyle. "What are you waiting on? And who gave you the shiner and the busted nose?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "I'm waiting on the hallways to clear so I can kill you both without any witnesses. None of your business as to what I'm doing. As for my slight bruising...I had an accident on my broomstick, practising a Quidditch move." He looked at them and pointed to the Hall, "Go in and have breakfast, I will be in in a minute."

Crabbe and Goyle walked away, muttering and glancing back at him suspiciously as Draco sighed. He'd give it a minute then go in say his piece and then leave. "20 seconds, maximum."

"I'm afraid it might take slightly longer than that Mr Malfoy."

Draco jumped slightly. What was it with people sneaking up on him today? He turned around to see Dumbledore standing beside him. "But no doubt you are anxious to get it over with and get that bruise sorted out? Must have been some 'Quidditch move' did you say it was?"

Draco looked at Dumbledore who was smiling slightly as he looked at him. "Something like that...should I just go in?"

Dumbledore stopped smiling as he looked at him seriously. "However you feel more comfortable. You can do it anyway you like, before, after or during breakfast." He reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard for you Draco...but it takes a better class of man to admit to being wrong and apologising for his mistakes."

Draco merely nodded as he swallowed hard. At this moment in time, with the prospect of facing the entire school and apologising he would rather not be a better class of man. If only his father could see him now...

He would have you out of here so quickly your feet wouldn't touch the ground.

He looked at the door for a second before shaking himself mentally. He was not going to cower like a frightened animal. He was Draco Malfoy and better than anyone else in that room: to hell with what they thought about him. That would only matter if he gave a damn about what any of them thought. They had Potter to idolise. He looked at Dumbledore and straightened his back and put a confident look on his face.

Dumbledore looked at him and smiled slightly. "Let's get this over with. Are you ready?"

Draco nodded his head as he walked determinedly towards the Hall. "Yes."

Dumbledore nodded as he walked ahead of him and opened the doorway and walked straight to the front. Draco stood at the doorway and saw the Gryffindors outraged faces as they looked at him. As he walked in their cries of outrage were drowned out by the cheers from the Slytherins...if it wasn't so serious he may have smiled. Instead he sat down and looked over at the Gryffindor table. The fifth years were practically cursing him from where they sat but, Neville wasn't there. Evidently he was still with Lupin. He looked over and saw Ginny Weasley shooting piercing looks over at him. If looks could kill, eh, Draco? No doubt she had expected him to just disappear because he wasn't wanted here?

"Hey Malfoy...so what, did your father threaten to get the school closed or to get the Dementors back around the place if Dumbledore didn't keep you in?" Ron Weasley’s voice called over loudly snapping Draco out of his thoughts.

Draco looked at him insolently but didn't respond as he looked towards Dumbledore. He would do it now. He stood up and looked at the hall. How could he attract all their attentions so he could get this done as quickly as possible? He looked at the table in front of him and sprang up onto it, ignoring the puzzled expressions of Crabbe and Goyle as he pulled his wand and fired a loud blast out of the end of it which immediately silenced the Hall as they all looked at him. He inwardly smiled as the Gryffindors looked at him like he'd lost his mind. If only...

"Sorry, for interrupting your breakfasts but no doubt many of you will enjoy this better..." Draco said with a superior look as he glanced at the teaching table. "It is no secret that I don't like the Gryffindors..."

A chorus of boo's arose at this and Draco smiled bitterly as he continued. To hell with them all. "But, I realise now that I have went over the line in that rivalry. I never considered the feelings of the people I have insulted, nor did I particularly care. But, I know I was in the wrong so I would like to take this opportunity to apologise."

The Slytherins looked at him slack-jawed, clearly unable to comprehend what they were hearing. "Draco! What the hell are you doing? Get down here now before everyone hears!"

As he ignored Pansy's whispered warning Draco looked at the room who were now muttering before turning to the Gryffindor table; if something was worth doing it was worth doing right. "To the Gryffindors in particular, I used terms that are not...acceptable in a wizarding environment so I apologise if I have upset any of you."

He took a deep breath as the adrenaline that had gave him his backbone seemed to leave him at an incredible rate. "Finally, I would just like to say that I made a mistake yesterday about Longbo...Neville. I've spoken to him already and told him how much I regret what I said but...I want to make it clear in no uncertain terms that I know I did wrong, and I am truly sorry that I hurt him."

He looked around and saw Ginny looking at him strangely. What, did she not think he had it in him to apologise? He pushed his shoulders back and looked at her proudly. "Despite what some people may think, I am not a dark wizard...but I suppose I should aim to be 10 times the man I already am." Ginny looked at him, her face flushed slightly but she refused to turn away, much to his annoyance as he turned away from her and continued. "But for starters, I can only say I'm sorry."

He looked at Dumbledore who nodded his head and smiled slightly as he jumped down from the table. Crabbe grabbed a hold of his arm as the occupants of the Great Hall began talking and shouting to each other loudly. "What the hell was that all about? You humiliated yourself to make it up to the Gryffindors? Your father is going to be pissed..."

Draco looked at him and removed his hand from his arm. "He is not going to know, because you are not going to tell him. Now I have to go and pick up some books from the Common Room. I'll see you all later."

Draco began walking away as a Slytherin backed his chair into him. "Nice move, Malfoy. Go crawling to the Gryffindors...what happened to house loyalty?"

Draco looked at him and shook his head. He was not in the mood for this. "It takes second place to self preservation. Why?"

Draco stepped over the chair without waiting on a reply and walked out the Hall, desperately trying to ignore the jeers and comments flying at him from people from every house. Even the Slytherins. He leant against the wall outside the Hall and took a deep breath. That was it over with, now all he had to do was see who Snape wanted to pair him with and then see Johanson and that would be it. Things would be back to normal again. Hopefully.