Words: 660

XX

He didn't know how to fly and not knowing something made him feel decidedly uncomfortable especially when all of his Slytherin peers knew that something. If he showed them any weakness, they would know. They would know that he was raised by Muggles and he could not lose their respect. He refused to be an outcast again.

The sign about the flying class that Slytherin first years would take with Ravenclaw had been up for a week before he put his plan into action. The Malfoy boy (whose name was actually 'Abraxas', which was only mildly less ridiculous than 'Abracadabra') had taken to following him around like a puppy after he demonstrated his ability in the levitating charm (and after he repeatedly put out fires the boy made with his hat). It seemed to Tom that - through absolutely no effort of his own - he had managed to acquire a 'friend' and he decided to use that 'friend' to his advantage.

They were sitting in the deserted common room during their free period, the only sound that of their furiously scribbling quills as they worked on an essay for Slughorn. The greenish light in the room played eerily off of Tom's sharp features, and when he stopped writing to simply look at Abraxas.

The other boy noticed the attention he was getting and looked up.

"What's the matter, Tom?"

Tom shrugged and looked down, making a play at embarrassment. "It's just... I never learned how to fly... I've always been a bit scared of heights so I refused to learn when I had the chance."

Abraxas's eyes widened. "Really?" he gasped. "I can't believe it! You're so smart, Tom, and you're really brave too! I never thought you'd not know to fly!"

"But that's the thing!" said Tom, allowing a hint of desperation to enter his voice. "Everyone thinks that! What will they say if they find out I don't know how to fly?"

The blonde boy grinned widely and placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "No worries, Tom. I'll teach you!"

Tom raised an eyebrow, feigning skepticism. "Are you sure? If you're as good at flying as you are at charms..."

"You're hilarious," Abraxas deapanned. "But really, I'm a fantastic flier! When I was seven, I was flying around the manor when out of nowhere this dragon pops up!"

The hilarity of Abraxas's claim overcame Tom's careful control and he couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter. "Let me guess, you outfew a dragon? What, did you do a couple loops around it's head and it just fell over cause it was dizzy?"

"That's precisely what I did!" retorted Abraxas, trying to hide his smile. "I did it, really! My mum even got the picture to prove it! I'm flying upside down over a dragon's head!"

"Was it a stone dragon?"

"D'you want me to teach you how to fly?"

Tom smirked. "I'd be honoured to have an experienced teacher as yourself, Abraxas. But... could you please keep this to yourself? I'm rather ashamed..."

The look on Tom's face was so heartbreakingly embarrassed that Abraxas couldn't help but earnestly promise to keep the secret to his grave.

Two days later, at his first flying class, Tom regaled the Slytherin first years with the same tale while Abraxas grinned with his inside knowledge. Two of the girls, Selene Evans and Ali Oswald, where quite literally hanging onto his every word (he had yet to decide if they actually believed his tale) and even one of the Ravenclaw girls, Nami Prince, was looking at him admiringly while their Professor tried to hide a smile.

Taking Abraxas into his trust had been a sound decision. Though to say Abraxas had his trust would be a bit of an exaggeration.

Tom decided to learn a better, more subtle way to control people. A memory charm, perhaps? After all, where magic exists, anything is possible.

XX

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Flying (write about a first year student who tells a story about them flying to their classmates) - dragon; someone must do a trick on a broom; I did it, really! My mum even got the picture to prove it!

Ten, Twenty, Thirty Chapters Challenge - Abraxas Malfoy

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