A Twist in My Story

Five: Draco's Secret

Despite being a good friend of mine since the beginning of his Hogwarts career, Draco's Slytherin prince attitude never evaporated. At least in public. When I entered his nearly empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express, he ordered Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaize Zabini to leave him so he could speak with me. I'm sure his cronies thought he was bullying me, but in truth we were catching up from the summer holiday.

"I like your hair like that, by the way," I complimented my friend as I ruffled his now gel-less hair.

"Thanks," he said ruefully as he attempted to undo the damage. "I decided it was time for a slight change."

"So how was your summer?" I asked in spite of myself.

"A mixed bag. At least my father wasn't there to beat me." I winced. However it appeared to the public, Lucius Malfoy despised his son.

I gave my friend a hug, and we lapsed into silence for a few minutes while we ate some of the food he'd purchased from the lunch trolley. I studied my friend. Other than the change in hairstyle, Draco had some more subtle differences from the Draco I knew last year. He held himself differently, and his posture seemed both self assured and terrified in equal measure.

"I know your secret!" I teased in a sing song way once I'd demolished my fourth cauldron cake. His eyes darkened to iron grey and his right hand went to his left forearm subconsciously. Oops.

"Draco has a cru-ush," I sang, making the last word into two syllables. He relaxed, and swung a hand at my head playfully.

"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow. "And who am I supposed to have a crush on?"

"Ron Weasley," I stated matter of factly. Draco spluttered, barely missing me as he sprayed pumpkin juice everywhere.

"And how did you come to that conclusion?" he asked, red faced.

"I like to watch people, gauge their reactions to people. And the fact that not only did you not deny it, but are currently blushing deeper than the red of his quidditch robes, proves me to be correct."

Draco glared at me. I grinned back, waiting for his face to return to its normal pale complexion. It took several minutes, so I stole one of his chocolate frogs. I got an Albus Dumbledore card. 

"Well I can hardly do anything about my crush now can I?" he asked gloomily. "He hates me."

"He hates the facade you portray to everyone but me," I countered. "If he saw the real you I'm sure he'd be head over heels in love."

"I doubt that, he's probably straight as an arrow."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that. Try being nicer, see where it gets you. Now I need to go rejoin my other friends before they come looking. Your henchmen are probably waiting for you as well." I left Draco to ponder my words.

When I finally found my other friends, about half of them were missing. Hermione explained that Harry, Neville, and Ginny were eating lunch with a new teacher. Ron looked sour, and Luna sat reading her newspaper dreamily. A few minutes later, two of the missing three appeared. Neville seemed frightened of what would happen to Harry, who followed Zabini into his compartment to spy on Draco. 

When we'd exited the train, Harry was still nowhere to be found. I did see Tonks, though, and I gave her a heads up about my missing cousin. The poor woman seemed devoid of any color except her mousy brown hair, and I only recognized her because I knew what to look for. 

My friends and I piled into a thestral-drawn carriage. Hermione cast a glance over the crowd in another desperate attempt to locate Harry, and then we set off along the trail to the castle.