Chapter Four: Blue

Gale patted Draco on the back. “We are ready for ‘mission make Blue friends with Harry.’”

Mia carefully handed him the chocolate sculpture. “Be careful with it. I put my heart and soul into it.”

“This is stupid,” Draco said but held the sculpture as carefully as he could. 

“I don’t think it was ever in question how stupid this is,” Gale added.

“Hey!” Mia yelled. “It is not! If I’m the only one that takes this seriously, then maybe I should take the statue back!”

“But I need the statue,” Draco said before he could stop himself. “I can’t just come to the Harry Potter empty-handed.”

“Let me tell you, he is not as elite as you were led to believe,” Brie commented. “Anyway, let me lead you to his compartment.”

“Great,” Draco murmured, “there’s four overly enthusiastic Hufflepuffs following me.” He turned to them. “I need strong-looking people. Natsuki and Gale, you can come with me, everyone else, you can listen in.”

Mia’s eyes sparkled. “The mean boy said we could listen in!”

Gale grinned at Draco. “That’s character development if I’ve ever seen it.”

“If you keep talking like that I’ll tell everyone that you stole snacks.”

“Thank you, you’re too much. Thank you for sharing my valiant exploits.”

Draco tried his hardest to look annoyed. “Just be quiet.”

They came to the compartment and Draco swung the door open. He readied his voice to fill the compartment dramatically. “Hello, Harry Potter.” He held the statue of Harry defeating the dark lord into the air.

A boy who was stroking a toad looked up at them confused. “My name’s Neville.”

Draco quickly backed out of the apartment. “Maybe it’s best if I don’t hold out the sculpture for the real one.”

Gale was cracking up along with Natsuki. “My bad, must’ve remembered the wrong compartment. I think it’s this one.”

Draco opened the door a little more cautiously before his eyes locked on a scar. “So, hello, Harry Potter, I was wondering-”

Harry looked at him, disgusted. “Oh, it’s you.” 

“It’s me?” Draco mentally kicked himself for making his voice go so high.

“From Madam Malcolms.”

Oh. He remembered that he’d said, “Well no one really knows what house they’ll be in until they get there, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all my family’s been- imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave. Wouldn’t you?” 

“Yes, that was me.” Draco forced his voice to a low sound. “I’m glad we’re acquainted.”

The redhead leaned in and whispered loudly, “that’s a Malfoy, his parents associated with You-Know-Who.”

Malfoy wanted to punch him. They weren’t even giving him a chance. “And that’s a Weasley.” He spat. “His family gives us purebloods a bad name. The father is obsessed with those idiot Muggles.”

Harry stood up. “Are you insulting my friend?”

“Yes, I was. You really don’t want to associate with people like him. You should associate with people like me. For example, me.”

Gale snorted. “Nicely said.”

“Well-” Malfoy thrust his hand forward to shake with Harry’s.

Harry upturned his head. “No. I think I know what people I want to associate myself with.”

Gale tapped Draco on the shoulder, “he’s much better at smooth-talking than you.”

Draco turned to Gale, “shut up!” Why was Gale enjoying this? They weren’t being fair- He turned to Harry, “You’re making a mistake becoming friends with this lowlife-”

Harry stood up, “What the hell?”

Weasley stood up too, hands curled into fists. “Get the hell out of this compartment.”

Those sons of bitches. They made their mind up about me from the start. “And you, Harry, you deserve him, you’ll end up just like your parents if you don’t learn how things work in this society.”

Weasley swung at him, and Natsuki blocked while Gale tried to drag Draco away. Draco collapsed onto the ground outside of the compartment. “I hate them.”

“What the hell was that? Why did you go off on them like that?” Natsuki stood over him. “I had to restrain them.”

“Damn them, they’re the bloody worst.”

“You both were terrible.” Natsuki’s voice was cold. “Do you not regret any of it?”

Brie glared at Draco. “You seriously said the most anti-muggle things I’ve ever heard! And how you said that Harry would wind up dead if he didn’t abide by your world views is sick. Also, insulting a family is never okay. Do you understand?”

“Wait, why is everyone taking their side?”

Draco looked at all of them disgusted. They’re all judging me too. He blinked rapidly and tried to hold his breath to prevent himself from crying. He stood up and left for the boiler room.