Draco Malfoy and the Boy who Lived

Chapter 1: A Perfect Morning

Draco Malfoy was far from ordinary. He was a wizard, and not just any old wizard boy. There were thousands of them. Draco Malfoy was the son of two of the most spectacular families in all of England. He was a Malfoy and a Black, both ancient families with magical roots. His blood was pure, free of all those Muggle scum. He grew up knowing he was the best and was treated thusly. This idea changed drastically the year he first went to Hogwarts.

The day the letter came started out as perfection. The sun was shining, his mother was home, and he had just received a gift from his mother, a magnificent eagle owl to be his. When he went downstairs for breakfast he was startled to see his father.

This was a man not usually thought of in the same sentence as 'loving' or 'fatherly'. He was a tall, proud man with broad shoulders outlining his imposing form. His eyes were a cold and sharp blue with an unloving gaze on his son. His clothes were tailored to the smallest detail and were embroidered with the Malfoy family crest along with a disguised snake twisting through a skull under the collar. His skin was like paper, thin and translucent, but somehow alive. His crooked nose, instead of marring his features somehow made him seem more beautiful in a terrifying way. No child would ever dare to call him 'dad' only 'sir' or 'father', surely not a man who would sully himself by eating with said child.

Lucius Malfoy looked up from his paper to inspect his son and sneered,"Your friend, Theodore, is in the parlor. His father and I will be upstairs in the study," and with that, he strode away past Draco to the stairs.

Teddy was here!

Draco's best friend for the last the few years was another son of a pureblood family of high regards that moved in the same circles as Draco's family. They had been sort of forced to be friends when their fathers had been discussing political matters concerning the pathetic attention seeker wizards who would show off their magic to some muggles.

Teddy wasn't the sort of boy you would call smug, but he was definitely spoiled. When Draco walked into the parlor he saw the boy admiring the china for special guests. He wore a simple suit not nearly as expensive as Draco's, but still held the telltale, discreetly embroidered snakes along the collar alluding to its maker, the famous tailor Charles Bulstrode. Charles catered to all of the Malfoy family friends and the most notable of Pure-blood families.

"I hope you weren't expecting me to pour some tea for you," said Malfoy. His face attempting to be grim yet not being able to conceal the grin that fully erupted over his entire face. "It is good to see you, Teddy!"

The two boys smiled and shook hands jovially. Their faces betraying the serious tones of the cold, silver parlor.

Draco looked to Teddy's shoulder and noticed for the first time a little pygmy owl. Its tiny body didn't diminish the ferociousness in its gaze. Its golden eyes were staring right into Draco's soul. Its feathers were a pure white with mahogany stripes scattered about especially on the face. Its face was the most interesting part about it with a mahogany base with darker flecks strewn through it and white markings outlining the eyes and beak. It held a sort of beauty that can only come from a creature so small and innocent with a harsh stare in its eyes.

Teddy turned his head to see where Draco was staring and smiled. He held up a small Owl Cricket--gathered from his bulging pocket--to the creature's beak. It snatched it up completely and quickly.

"You have a Northern Pygmy! I have always wanted one, with their small bodies yet mighty ferocious attitude. They are surely one of the most impressive creatures. How did you get it; is it yours?" Draco could barely hold onto his excitement. This is one of the more rare owls because it is hard to find a breeder to breed them properly. These owls are more adapted to America than England.

"My mother believed I should have a proper bird for my years at Hogwarts. She 'secretly' wanted it to be my ticket to the top of the school. I try to tell her that success isn't bought in school, but yet she still insists," Teddy's mouth curled up in a grin, but it never reached his eyes. He seemed despondent almost trying to make Draco smile, afraid of what will happen next. HIs voice dropped and he said, "I was actually wanting to be more under the radar this year. Do you think that maybe we could not be popular? I only want to make a few friends and get good grades. I don't want to be at the center of attention."

Draco was stunned.

For months the two boys had been talking about how they were going to be at the tops of their classes in school. They were going to maintain their friendship and become the most powerful wizards Hogwarts had ever seen. They were going to do so much together, but Teddy just threw right back into Draco's face.

Before Draco could regain his composure he sat or, as Teddy would have said, fell down onto the plush dull loveseat behind him. His face ashen like a slate, lips moving wordlessly. His dreams were shattered before his eyes.

Teddy's eyes slowly and steadily revealed their sadness and regret from telling him. Teddy would never have said it to Draco if he had known that this would be the reaction.

"Draco, I'm sorry but-"

"It's ok. I was just a little shocked. I was very excited to finally try to be at the top in my own way, and not because of Father's 'credentials'."

"I know, and I'm sorry, but this is what I want. I want to be known as a nice, smart kid, not a pompous jerk." Teddy sat opposite of Draco and began to feed his bird pellets, avoiding Draco's eyes.

Draco eyes watery from withheld tears drifted to open bay window. When he was small his mum would sit with him here and point out the different animals that roamed the lot. Now, whenever he needed a pick me up he just looked out there for an animal and pretend to name it. This was a game he played frequently.

He fervently peered into the window attempting to find another creature. His eyes alit upon a growing brown speck in the sky. He wondered it could possibly be when he noticed something odd about it. It seemed to be carrying a parcel. As it neared Draco could clearly identify that it was an Eastern Screech owl.

The bird finally landed on the sill with a large envelope caught. Teddy's bird screeched at the newcomer, prompting a rebuke from its young master.

"Draco! That looks like a Hogwarts bird!"

Forgetting that they were supposed to not be talking to each other they rushed to the bird and tugged the envelope free. Teddy fed the bird its tip of several pellets and then it was off. He intently stared after it as it soared into the sky, however, Draco was already examining the letter.

"Should I open it? I don't want to be rejected. Maybe they won't want me because I didn't do primary. What should I do?!" Draco looked to Teddy for guidance on this important moment in his small life.

"Let's open it together."

The tearing of the seal seemed to take forever to Draco. His hands shook with fear of what may be inside the elegant paper.

A cream colored paper slid out of the open envelope.