Growing up Pureblooded

Maybe She Needs A Friend

On one chilly afternoon towards the end of the Christmas holidays, Aries was reading in the library of number twelve, Grimmauld Place – by far the best stocked of all the family libraries – when Draco burst in excitedly, clutching an old book in his arms. "Uncle Sirius said I'd find you here," he said cheerily. "I've found the answer." "To what?" Aries asked, barely looking up from his copy of Moste Potente Potions. Draco rolled his eyes. "To how we're going to steal the Philosopher's Stone without dying in the process." Aries looked up at that. "What's your idea?" he asked.

"Password-activated Portkeys," Draco said smugly. "We prepare them to take us to a safe location when activated, and that way, if we come up against something we can't handle, we just say the password." "Brilliant," Aries said with an approving smile. "Have you learnt how to make a Portkey?" "It's a simple incantation," Draco said, showing him the book he carried, "but difficult to manage. I thought we could practice together." Aries nodded. "We want to make sure we know what we're doing before we put our lives on the line."

The boys spent the rest of their holiday making Portkeys. The first few didn't work at all. Aries wanted to try doing it with Parseltongue, but Sirius had told him only to use it in the most desperate of situations, as it seemed to interfere with his regular magic. Even without his special gift, however, Aries was the first to make a successful Portkey, one that took the boys from the library to his bedroom. They experimented with greater and greater distances, and by the time the holiday was over, they felt fairly confident.

Come January 5, Sirius drove the boys to the station in the V8 Vantage. Once he parked the car, he helped them load their things onto carts in the Muggle way. "I know it's easier to have Mopsy bring them," he said, "but it's good for you to know how to do without, in case you ever need to." He escorted them through the crowds and led them onto the platform. He gave both boys a hug before they boarded the train.

"Have fun," he said. "It's not that long till Easter, and Granddad and I'll come up for the Quidditch games." The boys said their goodbyes and boarded the Hogwarts Express in good spirits. Once on the train, however, the boys suffered a serious blow. Fred and George came by their compartment, their faces long. "Bad news," Fred said glumly. "Our mum went ballistic after we got home." "I thought she went ballistic way before then," Aries said. George shook his head. "That was nothing. She's forbidden us to spend any more time with the two of you, outside of the Quidditch team." Draco gawked at them incredulously. "You must be joking." Fred sighed. "I wish we were, mate."

"Well, you can't be planning on listening to her," Aries said. "We thought of just ignoring her and doing what we want anyway, like we usually do," George said. "But then she told us that she's asked Ron and Percy to spy on us and let her know if we do spend any time with you," Fred finished. "That's not fair!" Draco protested. "No, it isn't," George agreed. "But Mum thinks you two are a bad influence." Fred laughed bitterly. "It must be the first time she's ever thought anyone could be a bad influence on us." "Don't worry, though," George said. "we're hoping it will only be for this term. Over the summer, I'm sure we'll be able to talk Dad into getting her to change her mind."

"And we're still your friends," Fred added. "We're here for you if you need us, Ron and Percy be damned." "Thanks," Aries said with a small grin. "We had a really good Christmas with your families," George said. "Be sure to thank them for us." "And tell them how sorry we are about what happened," Fred added. "We'll do that,' Draco promised, and the twins left to go sit with Lee Jordan and Dean Thomas. "Damn that Weasley woman," Aries growled after the twins had gone. "Why do adults have to meddle in everything?"

"It could be worse, Aries." Draco smirked. "My father doesn't like you or Uncle Sirius either, but he hasn't forbidden me to spend time with you." Aries laughed. "I should like to see him try. Just imagine what Granddad would say." "Forget Granddad," Draco retorted. "Imagine what I'd say." Just then the door of their compartment opened. Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass stood in the open doorway. Aries and Draco jumped to their feet. "Happy New Year, ladies," Aries said, assuming the suave tone Sirius had taught him in preparation for the previous year's Christmas Ball. "What a delightful surprise."

"Happy New Year, boys," Pansy replied. "May we join you?" Draco motioned towards the seat to his left. "Please." Pansy sat next to Draco and Daphne sat next to Aries. Aries opened up Mopsy's basket and offered them both some éclairs, which the girl took with eager gratitude. "We didn't see much of you last term," Daphne said. "It was our loss, I assure you," Aries replied. "You're not avoiding us because we're Slytherins?" Pansy teased. "If we did that we should have to avoid our families as well," Draco pointed out.

"It is a bit frustrating, how difficult they make it for us to interact with people outside our own Houses," Daphne commented. "There are a number of people in other Houses that I think I should get on with much better than some of the people in my own." Aries groaned. "Tell me about it. I'd much rather you were in our House instead of that Muggleborn swot Granger." "For that matter, I shouldn't object to trading Weasley and Finnegan for Nott and Zabini, either," Draco added. "You lot can keep Crabbe and Goyle, though," Aries said with a winning grin.

"I can't stand that Granger girl," Pansy said. "She's so ugly too! With that bushy hair and those buckteeth. It's not far that she should be at the top of every class." Draco raised an eyebrow. "She may be the top girl in every class, Pansy, but I hardly think she's the top student." Pansy giggled. "You and Aries stand so far above the rest of us, I didn't even think of counting you." "You're right about one thing, though," Aries said. "Granger is an all-around pest."

Daphne frowned. "I actually feel rather sorry for her," she said quietly. "I know she can be a bit off-putting, but she seems terribly lonely. Just imagine what it must be like to go to a school where you don't know anyone or anything." "Dean Thomas seems to be adjusting just fine," Draco pointed out. "He knows what he doesn't know and is happy to learn. Granger, though..." "Is different," Daphne cut in. "She's trying to prove to everyone that she really belongs here." "She doesn't, though," Pansy said bitingly. "She's a Mudblood."

Aries sat still for a moment, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. "My godmother was a Muggleborn," he said quietly. "Lily Potter. But everyone says she was a brilliant witch." Draco nodded thoughtfully. "Her portrait's really nice. She doesn't act at all like Granger." Pansy backtracked as quickly as she could. "I didn't mean to say anything against your godmother, Aries." "Of course not," Aries said dully. He paused before turning to Daphne. "You may have a point. Maybe Granger would be more tolerable if she had someone to be nice to her, to explain how things work."

Daphne shrugged. "It's always worth a try. If she turns out to be as awful as she seems at first glance, no one's going to force you to spend time with her." Aries nodded, and there was an awkward silence. "By the way, Draco," Pansy broke in with a giggle. "Guess where I spent the holidays!"