HP : THE TRAUMA AND CHOICE

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"Draco! I won't tolerate this!" Pansy cried out as she stormed up to the table where Draco was playing exploding snap with the other first year boys. Around them the common room stilled and the noise died down. No self-respecting Slytherin would miss this obvious opportunity to collect information, even on first years.

Draco blinked at his childhood friend. "Won't tolerate what, Pansy?"

"I can't stand looking like this! Make your cousin charm me too!"

"Pansy, I haven't made him do anything. Harry does what he wants to do."

That sort of stung to admit. But it was also sort of thrilling – Harry helped him because he wanted to, not because Draco or his father offered him anything. The only souring bit was that he wanted to help Theodore and Daphne too.

"Well make him want to help me!"

"How can I put in a good word for you when you go out of your way to be nasty to him?"

"That's different! He has no business always hanging around with us! He's a Gryffindork!"

Draco shot her a disgusted look. "He isn't studying with us because he needs our help with the material."

"So what? What does that have to do with anything?"

"So you're an idiot! He's the most powerful wizard of our generation and you went out of your way to make him dislike you! And now he doesn't want to help you!"

Actually, Harry did not seem to want to help Crabbe who was properly deferential and grateful to him. If he could barely bring himself to charm Crabbe on a regular basis there was no way he was going to charm Pansy who was frequently and openly hostile towards him. The only way Pansy was going to look anything approaching normal was if she found something to offer Harry in return for the charms.

"But you already said that he wants to help you." Pansy pouted at Draco. "Tell him that if he helps me it'll be like he's helping you. He'll believe that. He's just a Gryffindork."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Pansy, you're going to have to find something that he wants to trade with him for the charms."

"But Draco" she whined "why –"

"He charmed us out of goodwill. We didn't deliberately annoy him! You annoyed him and you have no good will with him."

"But Draco –"

"He's my cousin, not my house elf." Draco said firmly. After calling his parents through the fire to save Harry from Dumbledore there was no way to avoid acknowledging him as such. "He's smart and powerful and he knows more magic than all of us combined. And unlike most of the school, he doesn't hate Slytherin House. He probably would've charmed you and Zabini if you both hadn't gone out of your way to make sure that he knows that you don't like him. Well congratulations. You got your point across. Now go find something Harry wants so that he'll want to make you look even semi-normal."

Pansy gaped at him. "But Draco! I want –"

"Go away Pansy."

Pansy stormed off. Draco finished that round of exploding snap but the fun had gone out of the game. Normally it felt good to have everyone watching him and talking about him because he knew that they were envious. But he was uncertain whether public knowledge of Harry's possible friendship would help him or hurt him within his own House. Now the attention just felt awkward. When they finished the game he excused himself and went down the hall to the boys' dormitory. Once there he settled at his desk and started writing another letter to his parents.

Dear Mum (and Dad),

This week I did all of my spells perfectly! I got Slytherin fourteen points! Harry isn't studying with us anymore since he has different classes from the rest of the first years. He still helps me with my Charms and Defense homework. (Harry got an A in History of Magic and Es and above on his other O.W.L.s. Harry holds the record in Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Muggle Studies. He says it's unfair for him to hold the Muggle Studies one.)

I already told you about how Harry's Gryffindors pranked the entire school. The ink is still everywhere and Mr. Filch is still having fits!

I still can't get the ink off. (Sorry Dad. Those suggestions didn't work. Although one spell interacted with Harry's prank to make the ink move.) No one below sixth year knows the charms to hide the ink marks so almost everyone below sixth year looks as dumb as the rest of the school. Harry is still doing the appearance charms on me and a couple other first years for nothing. Not that he used those charms on himself. (When charming us, Harry sort of looks like he'd rather hex Crabbe senseless. I still haven't figured out why Harry doesn't like Crabbe.)

Harry missed dinner tonight in the Great Hall. I wonder where he was?

Pansy wants me to make Harry charm her too. She doesn't understand that he just did it because he wanted to. (I sort of wish he didn't want to help Theodore or Daphne though! He's my cousin! And my friend!) She thinks he's an idiot just because he's in Gryffindor. She's always rude and mean to him. And she won't go find something Harry wants to exchange for the charms. (Not that I can think of anything he wants.)

Pansy made a big scene in the common room. I sort of admitted in the common room that Harry does what he does because he wants to. I even sort of admitted that we are friends. Then things got weird in there. You don't think everyone will look down on me for that, do you?

I've got to go. Theodore is calling me.

Love,

Draco.

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Want to know what happens next? 100+ advanced chapters await you on Patreon! Be the first to read what others will have to wait for. Join the community and read ahead today!

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