Muggle With Magic

September First

So, as it turns out, Draco was somewhat right. Black may not have been an assassin or a hitman, but he was falsely accused of murder for over a decade as the Wizard paper told him. And Harry's parents, too, that was a shocker. That Harry's godfather apparently murdered his parents.

In the few weeks leading to the start of Hogwarts, Draco had the pleasure of meeting Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. And, well, it was clear from the beginning that this Ronald person disliked Draco. Because of his last name. How petty can that be?

On the other hand, Hermione was good to talk to. A little ignorant to others opinions, but if Draco wanted to know about something or wanted someone to talk to about something he read, Hermione was the girl to go to.

He met the others in the Weasley clan, too. They were on the verge of war, Grimmauld Place was their base, so people we in and out all of the time Draco learnt. He and Percy got along well, discussing politics - Draco telling him about Muggle Parliament whilst Percy filled him in on the goings on at the Ministry - well, what he knew before he quit.

The twins tried to shock him, offering him a chewing gum but he gave it to Ronald. The boy's skin turned pink for twenty minutes. From that point on, Fred and George accepted him, liked him. Draco wasn't here to be liked: he didn't exactly want to be here, still.

And because of the sleeping arrangements, Harry found himself sleeping on his own bedroom floor, Ron arguing with him in a muttered tone 'that's your bed, Harry. Why does Ferret Face the second get to sleep in it?' Eventually, when Ron accepted he wouldn't get through to Harry, he let it go.

Remus went out and brought Draco his books and equipment, first asking him what subjects he wanted to take. He chose Muggle Studies, Alchemy, and - because the lessons were on at different times - managed to choose one more, being Care of Magical Creatures.

They took him out to buy a wand, and Draco marvelled at the surroundings. At all the witches and wizards in robes and pointy hats, and at all the signs. The man behind the counter - Olivander - picked up on his looks immediately, promising to not mention this to anyone. One wand, that was all it took. It did take Olivander five minutes of assessing before he finally found a wand fitting for Draco, but he was given a unicorn core, ten inches exactly, and made of hawthorn wood.

Realising the boy also needs robes, they had to discreetly go into Madam Malkins for a set of plain black ones. Draco wondered why the robes were necessary, because he'll only wear them once.

In the week or so leading up to Hogwarts, Draco begged for contact with the outside world. Only Harry knew about the boyfriend, and whenever it was brought up the dark-haired boy would awkwardly stutter an excuse to switch conversation topics.

That aside, they've gotten closer. As close as a prisoner can get with one of their captives. Draco would have pinned everything he's feeling down to stokehole syndrome, but they weren't torturing him, they didn't bother him, they were friendly, they didn't demand things. Yes, they took him from his life, but the only person he missed was Lewis: a person he had big plans with.

Finally, the day came. September first: the day eleven year-olds dread, beg to arrive, wish for, and shiver from. Above everything, Draco was excited to experience what he believed was only fictional.

"Ready?" Tonks bounded up to him, excitable, like she was attending again. Draco nodded, because he was. It was just... well, seeing his twin who probably doesn't know about him, and who may also hate him.

"Are you sure, Draco?" Remus said, "You might see your birth parents, not to mention going to school with your brother. Are you ready for that?"

"I'm not a coward, Lupin." Bit Draco, glaring at the man - Remus definitely believed Draco to also be a Slytherin, something he wishes he was wrong about. If Draco ended up in Slytherin then who knows what he'll tell Florian, if Florian and he get along the Order is doomed. Done for. Over. As they were aware of the risks, Sirius subtly threatened Draco from when he decided he was going to Hogwarts what would happen if his lips were to loosen. Taking the hint, Draco rolled his eyes and let it go. Why would You-Know-Who get a sixteen-year-old boy involved that deeply in a war amongst mainly adults?