A Bunch of Love and Hatred

Draco's birthday

It was normal for owls to wander in randomly at Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, while everyone was having their breakfasts, digging in their sausages and filling themselves with drinks from their cups at the Great Hall.

It was also quite normal for Draco Malfoy, a third year Slytherin, to receive an owl and immediately drop a package on the table in front of him. Well, it was his birthday.

It wasn't long until the Slytherin table turned to excitement and laughter after the owl delivered a mysterious package to Draco. Suddenly, his spirit filled with energy as his eyes fully examined the neatly wrapped package.

"What do you reckon's happening at the Slytherin table? They suddenly turned-- noisy." Ron Weasley said from the Gryffindor table, his eyes directed to his friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

Hermione, sitting in front of Ron, turned around to look at the Slytherin table and caught the face of a beaming Draco.

"It's Malfoy's birthday, I presume." She said sternly as she returned to her original position.

Ron shrugged his shoulders and continued eating his scrumptious breakfast, and he began talking to Harry about Quidditch and other random topics. But something seemed to bother Hermione as she ate her breakfast quietly.

"What do you think that is, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson tugged Draco's sleeves as she questioned him beside her.

"Well, what do you think it is?" He replied sarcastically as he abruptly moved his arm away from her. It was obviously a broomstick, it's shape was very apparent.

"Unwrap it, Draco!"Gregory Goyle, also a Slytherin, said.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Goyle, "You don't get to tell me what to do with my present!" Then he began to smirk, "but now that you've mentioned it, I might as well do it now."

His slender hands picked up the package and hastily pulled the strings, but he carefully peeled the brown paper. It revealed the latest model of broomsticks, the Firebolt. It's the newest and fastest one as of their time. Everyone's eyes goggled at it and their mouths hung open. Draco always loved the way the others envied him with his new, expensive stuffs.

Harry and the other Gryffindors heard the cheers and applauds from the table beside them, pretending not to be hearing anything as the Slytherins began saying insults to the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"You can now win against Potter now, Draco!" Pansy squealed and she hugged the blonde boy, but he tried very well to move away from her.

Hermione diverted again to look at the Slytherins behind her and realized it was a bad decision. She caught Pansy Parkinson cuddling the poor Draco. Her stomach churned and quickly dropped her fork on the empty plate.

"I think we should go now, we don't want to be late in class, do we?" She told the boys as she stood up and fled from the Great Hall, leaving Harry and Ron curious.

"What's up with her?" Asked Ron.

"No idea. But she's right, were going to be late in class." Harry said then they began making their way out, too.

--

It was Defense Against The Dark Arts when the Gryffindors shared a class with the Slytherins, and it was Professor Snape who was teaching them.

"I heard it was your birthday today," Snape said as he walked slowly through the isle, "Draco."

His smile seemed a little off and forced. Harry shivered at his sight but Draco grinned at him.