Fire and Ice//F.W//

One

Being a Malfoy has never been easy for me. The fact I was sorted into Gryffindor insured my life would be anything but easy, I was a stain on my families perfect reputation. Obviously my farther couldn't allow that. But the thing that really sealed my fate was my choice in friends, Potter, Weasley and Granger. That was all my farther needed to hear to practically cast me out of the family, I only returned to the manor for holidays now. Yet most of my holidays were spent with my friends. I hadn't been home at all until the end of term when I'd finally worked up enough courage to go back. Not for my father, but for my mother.

"Saiph!" A familiar voice boomed down the hallway, Hermione was bounding down the hall her shoes creating a loud echo as the slapped against the stone floor. She launched herself at me wrapping her arms around my body, which was as now stiff as a board. Hermione knew my distaste for physical affection "Sorry...I just missed you" she quickly pulled herself back trying to hide the grin that was spread over her face. She'd changed over the summer, I couldn't quite tell you how. She just seemed different.

"I missed you" I admitted, she gave me a sympathetic smiled and led me towards Harry and Ron. Apparently Hermione wasn't the only one who'd changed over the holidays. I didn't even have words for how much Ron and Harry had changed. It had only been six weeks yet they almost looked like completely different people.

"You look...nice" Harry spoke awkwardly, Ron just gawked, perhaps I had changed to. Not that I had ever taken much notice of my own appearance over the changes of others.

"Guys, I promised Severus I'd clean the potions cupboard tonight. Being the first week back and all...it'll need sorting, can you bring me back some food" Snape was somewhat a friend of the family and as an extension a friend of mine, it always felt so strange to call a teacher a friend but he was more like a family member in that sense. I liked to help out where I could, especially for the extra credit.

"It freaks me out when you call him that" Ron joked earning a slap on the arm by Hermione. You could cut the tension between those to with a knife.

"Of course!" Hermione chirped grabbing the two boys and dragging them off to the hall, I shouldn't think I'd miss much, no one would miss me. I wasn't exactly popular in the Gryffindor house, imagine a Malfoy trying to fit in with people who hate them. More so my brother.

Surprisingly the cupboard was a lot cleaner than usual and this time I'd managed to not drop anything, though I did have help from  one of the castle elves who had managed to catch everything I had dropped. His name was Hup, he mostly cleaned around the school and would always take the time to come help me if I needed it.

"Are you finished Saiph" Snape spoke startling me, I jumped and dropped the bottle I was holding directly at his feet, it smashed as soon as it touched the hard floor spilling the contents around his shoes, Hup and I shared a worried look as Snape raised his brow at the liquid that was now bubbling around him.

"You scared me" I climbed down from the ladder and grabbed my wand, the mess was gone within seconds. Snape nodded approvingly, it was no secret my wand work had been absolutely awful in my first few years of Hogwarts, but Snape had spent his own time trying to help me be the best I possibly could.

"Get along now, it's getting late" I looked to my watch (a muggle one I'd gotten for myself on a trip to London) I smiled at him and nodded. I found myself fascinated by the muggle world, Dumbledore rented me a flat there for one holiday, probably the best holiday of my life. The staff here took care of me almost as if I were their own. They all knew my situation at home, they weren't inclined to care about it but they did and it reassured me that there was still some goodness left in this world.

"Oi Malfoy!" I heard someone shout, a annoyingly familiar voice. I turned around to meet a pair of brown eyes. Fred Weasley. My arch nemesis since second year. I can't even remember how we came to hate each other, but it had lasted what felt like an eternity.

"Weasley" i continued walking holding my wand up to light the corridor. The portraits grumbled to themselves about the light hurting their eyes or disturbing their sleep.

"You changed over the holiday" Fred spoke, I looked up to him momentarily, he sent me a wink. He was lucky I hadn't hexed him yet, if it wouldn't risk my place at the school I would have hexed him long ago. Turned his stupid face bright green for the rest of his miserable life.

"What because I grew a pair of tits? Fuck off Fred" I continued to walk down the hall, he followed closely behind.

"That's no way to talk to a fellow house mate" I didn't like the twins at the best of times, George I could tolerate he never bothered me too much but Fred. I could kill him with my bare hands and dance around the body like a flower girl at a wedding.

"I said fuck off Fred" I spat, his hand wrapped around my wrist yanking me back harshly, he slammed my back into the cold stone wall and pushed himself against me. I held my wand a little tighter and laughed it up so it was pressed into his neck.

"Woahhh woah!" His hands flew up in defence as I pushed the tip of my wand against his throat, his breathing was more erratic. I would have loved nothing more than to turn him into a toad right here in the hall but I think Dumbledore would have something to say about that, nothing good.

"I suggest next time you think about putting your hands on me without permission you remember I will not hesitate to turn you into a toad weasel" I snatched the wand away from his neck and paced down the hall leaving him stuck to the wall.

Malfoy 1, Weasley 0.