Prince Darkly: I HAVE A SENPAI! NOTICE ME SENPAI!

Chapter Three Flying Lessons and Nightmares

Harry had to nudge Malfoy to accept a cup of tea. The blonde didn't want the tea, but it was best not to be impolite. And so the three accepted cups of tea. Harry braved a sip, and it tasted as if the leaves have been burnt. Hermione took the smallest of sips so as not to appear rude. Malfoy boldly poured his tea in a nearby plant. Screw being polite, when he had to endure this because of Potter.

"So, what's new with you, Hagrid?" Harry inquired as the man sat down.

The inside of the hut was small, barely enough for all of them to sit. Hagrid himself took the largest amount of space, his height a little awkward with the table in front of him. Even so, Harry didn't mind.

"Nothin' much with me. I heard wha' happened with ya, though. Shame, shame on Weasley! His brother Charlie was a good young lad. Good with creatures, he was. Ya look better wit'out yer glasses, a nice change."

"It's the only thing I can thank him for. Somehow the plant healed my sight. Even though it poisoned me in the process." Harry explained.

"Yeh, well good things can come out of bad experiences. Take me bein' expelled, an' all. Dumbledore let me stay on grounds as Hogwarts grounds keeper. How was yer guyses first week?"

"Good." Hermione tried to make it sound as if it had been a prosperous week.

"Delightful." Malfoy drawled sarcastically.

"It had it's ups and downs. I think Professor Snape hates me." Harry commented.

"Wha'? Professor Snape? Why would any teacher hate ya? I don' believe it. In fact, I can't believe any teacher here hatin' a student. Have ya tried talkin' to 'im about it?" Hagrid was in disbelief.

"Not yet, anyway. I plan to at some point."

"Then how can ya know he hates ya?"

He did have a valid point.

"I can ask him for you later. He might actually give me an answer. My godfather isn't exactly the heartwarming type." Malfoy offered.

"Yeah, thanks."

The group talked about Hogwarts related topics. Hagrid learned each of their best classes that came naturally to them. For Hermione, she was great with charms and transfiguration. For Malfoy, potions and charms. For Harry, he enjoyed Defense Against the Dark Arts, but he found the class with Quirrell disappointing. He didn't tell Hagrid that, but that was how he felt. The only other class he seemed to do well was Herbology. Taking care of Aunt Petunia's garden for years was good for something, he figured.

When it was nearing dark, Hagrid thanked them for visiting. He even commented Malfoy wasn't so bad, after all. The blonde simply nodded, which must have been enough for the grounds keeper. Hagrid then told them they should keep up their friendship, saying something along the lines it might just do some good for Hogwarts.

Feeling awkward, the trio left Hagrid's hut in silence.

When they were about to enter Hogwarts castle, they were suddenly surrounded by Gryffindors. Among them was Ron Weasley.

"Oh, look! She's hanging out with Slytherins!"

"Is she their little slut, then?"

"Granger sleeps with Slytherins! Granger sleeps with Slytherins!"

"It's not like that at all! Now back off, Weasley." Harry hissed, standing between Ron and Hermione.

"Potter, he's not going to listen to reason." Malfoy whispered, covering the other two's backs.

The two Slytherins were tense, as they instinctively reached for their wands, but didn't pull them out just yet. Scared and mind racing, Hermione gripped her books tightly, struggling to breathe.

"Or else what, Potter? What are you gonna do?" Ron responded bravely.

"You gits would really turn on one of your own? Really? How stupid of you, cowardly lions." Malfoy hissed, earning insults thrown at his face.

"Where's your gorillas, now, Malfoy? It's just you, the traitor Potter, and the Slytherin slut. You're no match for all of us." Ron growled back.

"They're behind you, Weasel!"

Ron looked back out of fear. It was enough to distract the lot of them, and Malfoy sent one of the Gryffindors flying. Harry followed suit and flung another as well. They had created a gap large enough for one person to run through and not immediately be intercepted.

"Run, Hermione!"

"But-"

"Go, Granger!"

At their insistence she bolted like a rabbit. The Gryffindors let her go, too preoccupied with the two Slytherins. Ron sucked at spells, of which he quickly resorted to punches. Harry, having grown up dodging from Dudley, was able to do the same with the red head. Even though Ron had a little more speed than his fat cousin, Harry was still able to predict his moves.

Malfoy was doing well for himself. At one point, he petrified Ron. Immediately the two Slytherins were back to back, warding off Gryffindors with simple spells. Well, for Harry they were simple. But Malfoy knew a few other spells up his sleeve that the school hadn't taught them yet.

"Scared, Potter?" Malfoy said before stupifying an oncoming Gryffindor.

"HA! You wish!" Harry made it seem like he was enjoying this.

In truth, he wasn't. But in the spur of the moment, the excitement flowing through him helped him appear as if he was. Their first round of dueling ended when a few teachers ran outside through the doors with Hermione at their heels.

"Stop this nonsense this instant!" Professor McGonagall shouted.

The two Slytherins quickly dropped their wands. One of the Gryffindors, who ignored the order, suddenly sent Harry backwards, which in turn sent Malfoy forward and taking the blunt of the fall, all the while being crushed. The pair groaned in pain, and Harry rolled over when he heard his housemate began to struggle for breath.

This was the moment Harry was most grateful he didn't have glasses anymore. They would have for sure broken from this fight. Harry lifted his head to see professors McGonagall and Snape surveying the damage all around.

"They saw us drop our wands, right?" Harry whispered.

"Think so..." Malfoy sputtered.

The pair pushed themselves up, and back on shaking legs. The remaining Gryffindors who weren't petrified on the ground as if they were being held by invisible wraps, surrendered. Hermione ran towards the two Slytherins, checking for injuries.

"I got help as fast as I could! I'm so sorry I wasn't much help." She was crying.

"It's fine, 'Mione. We were actually doing just fine until someone sent me flying." Harry assured her.

"Which I took all of the damage for, Potter." Malfoy muttered.

"I'm sorry, Draco. I wish you hadn't."

Pale cheeks flushed a little, not used to hearing his first name from Harry.

"Gryffindors! All of you, with me! To my office and explain yourselves! And let it be known now that there will be one hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor for this immature attack!" Professor McGonagall was furious, after she fixed those who were frozen.

"But Potter and Malfoy started it!" Ron pointed at them.

"Yeah! They drew wands, first!"

"They sent Seamus and I flying!'

"Is this true, Potter, Malfoy?" Professor Snape eyed them darkly.

"They were surrounding us with malicious intent!" Malfoy defended.

"They were calling Hermione nasty names. And we couldn't let her fight with us. We created an opening for her to run and get help." Harry explained.

"Self defense or not, it is not wise to draw your wands, first. Fifty points from Slytherin. To the nursery for both of you for any unforseen injuries." Professor Snape ridiculed.

Defeated, Harry and Malfoy gathered their bags and wands, and were escorted by the potions teacher. Hermione left with her fellow Gryffindors to follow Professor McGonagall, who was still reprimanding all of them with a harsh tone of that of a mother hen.

"At least we don't have it any worse than them." Harry joked to lighten the mood.

"Thank Merlin for that." Malfoy agreed.

At the nursery, they had minimal scrapes and bruises. With nothing to fuss over, the head nurse released them in time for dinner. The pair proudly strolled into the Great Hall with their heads high.

The Slytherin table greeted them like heroes returning from battle. Despite losing a few precious points, they weren't too bad on the scale. Slytherin was dropped to second place, while Gryffindor was now placed fourth. With such a harsh drop, it was enough for the Slytherins to look past the loss of fifty points.

Of course, everyone ignored the booing from Gryffindor table. The whole table didn't express their dislike, for too many were ignoring Ron and his group for pulling such a stupid stunt. After dinner, as Malfoy and Harry were leaving, Hermione came up to them with another very nervous Gryffindor. Harry recognized Neville Longbottom.

"Hey, guys. Neville wants to say something. Go on, Neville." Hermione gently encouraged him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop them. When Ron was recruiting people to m-mess with you guys, I tried to stop them. B-But they laughed and froze me on the common room floor. By the time the twins found me, Ron had already gone." His face was flushing, and he was obviously scared.

"It's not your fault. Hey, at least you tried, right? That's what counts." Harry gently smiled, replying before Draco could.

"Y-Yeah."

"Anyways, catch you guys later. We have some studying to do." Malfoy interlocked his arm around Harry's and pulled him along.

"Would you guys like to study with us?" Hermione offered.

"Sorry, maybe next time. It seems Draco wants me to himself." Harry was apologetic.

At his words, fellow Slytherins nearby chuckled. Feeling embarrassed, Draco increased his speed. At some point, Harry was almost running to keep up. At some point they finally stopped in the dungeons.

"What's wrong, Draco?"

"It has to be me or her."

"What?"

"You have to choose between me or Granger."

"Why do I have to choose at all? Why can't I have both of you?"

"Because this isn't how this school works! You can't have friends in more than just your house when you're in Slytherin. We can't have that luxury. It's... It's unnatural!"

"But why? Why can't we change the standards for Slytherin, and have the other houses start to like us? Dumbledore has a point, we should all stand united."

"We can't! We just can't, Potter!" Malfoy threw his hands up in the air. He then pulled Harry close to whisper.

"Look, before school started, I overheard my father saying that the others are rising up again to help the Dark Lord. Apparently, he has this way of surviving even the killing curse."

Concern flooded through Harry. On top of this, his heart dropped to his stomach. He was starting to notice a pattern here. Whenever things went decent or great in Harry's life, he was then constantly reminded of Voldemort in some way or another.

"Why are you telling me this? And how would anyone survive a killing curse?"

"Really dark magic, magic that is forbidden here in Hogwarts. Other than that, I don't know. And I'm telling you, because in some way or another you'll get caught in the crossfire if he comes back."

"Okay, but why do I have to choose between having you and Hermione as my friend? Why can't I have both of you?"

"Because that's not how this school works! You can't make friends with everyone who isn't in the same house as you. We Slytherins are hated, and must stick together." Draco insisted.

"But why? Why can't we change things? If everyone sees we're not all that bad, then the other houses would stop treating us like we're monsters." Harry was confused.

"It's not going to work that way if the Dark Lord comes back." Draco whispered.

"But..."

"But nothing! Choose me or her, Potter. And choose wisely." Malfoy turned tail and strolled towards the Slytherin common room, leaving Harry confused and torn.

Nearly a month went by since Malfoy presented his ultimatum. Harry hadn't decided. In fact, he was going to play it out until the fair haired boy would come back to his senses. Until then, Harry made a point not to talk to Hermione in front of Malfoy, or to any of his housemates knowledge.

He told her most of the details about what Malfoy had said. He left out the detail about the Dark Lord's followers were attempting to help their leader rise in power again. He didn't want her to be scared, or worse, flat out tell him to never speak with Malfoy ever again.

But he couldn't do that. He realized now that by being within Slytherin house, you are judged by whether or not if you fit in. The fact he's been having a rocky relationship with Draco had taken a toll on Harry. It didn't help when he would often snap at the fair haired boy when he was bullying any other students who weren't Slytherin. Among his favorite, Neville Longbottom.

The day Slytherins and Gryffindors held their first flying lesson, Harry walked into the Great Hall with effort. He hadn't been getting much sleep, as he took up much of his time studying without friends to distract him. On top of that, the past week he had been having strange nightmares. He didn't remember what they were, but they always ended with a flashing green light and a heavy pressure on his forehead where his scar was.

And so he walked in after catching am early morning study over notes for potions, when he caught sight of Malfoy toying with an object that Neville had just received. Harry didn't know what it was at the time, and simply snatched it out of his housemate's hand from behind him, using his height as his advantage and avoided Crabbe and Goyle.

"Oi..." Malfoy snapped, but went silent when he turned around to see Harry.

"I don't believe this is yours." Harry simply said, before tossing it in Neville's direction.

Seeing the glares from the other Slytherins, Harry reached for toast, stuffed it in his mouth, and then placed a bundle of apples in his bag before walking out of the Great Hall. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the hissing of his own housemates. Harry wasn't seen again until flying lessons were to start.

Harry was snacking on one of his apples when Madame Hooche approached. Quickly he put the fruit in his pocket, as she instructed Slytherins line up one side and Gryffindors on the other. The brooms were already lined up on the ground.

"Now, put your right hand out and say up!"

"Up!"

Harry nearly lost his balance. He hadn't expected the speed of the broom obediently lifted into the air and in his hand before he finished the word. One glance around, he realized none of the other students had gotten theirs up on the first try. The second student to succeed was Malfoy, who wore a sneer of satisfaction on his face.

Harry looked over at the Gryffindors. Hermione was struggling, the broom rolling, but not lifting just yet.

"Say it with more meaning."

"Up you bloody-"

WHACK!

Harry busted up laughing at Ron's expense. The red head's broom went up until it hit him in the face, then promptly went back down. Weasley had a bruised nose, somehow not bleeding from that hit.

"Oh, shut up, Potter." Weasley groaned, before giving up commanding his broom and just picked it up.

"Now, I want you all to mount your brooms. No, Malfoy, in the middle, not near the tail end."

When everyone was assembled, Madame Hooche continued.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, I want you all to kick firmly off the ground. Don't go any higher than a few feet, and then gently land. Got it? Three. Two." Before she even whistled a student had already kicked off.

Everyone watched with horror and fascination as Neville went five feet off the ground and rising. Either out of nervousness or fear, he couldn't control the broom to land back down. The broom increased height and speed, as he flew around. At some point, the poor boy was struggling to hold on for dear life, as the broom tossed this way and that like a bucking horse.

At some point, when he was hanging from the broom, his hands were too sweaty to hang on. He slipped and fell a good ten feet. Neville used his hands to break the fall, and everyone heard a clear sound of a bone snapping. The poor boy didn't immediately move, as Madame Hooche ran to his side.

"Oh, dear. A broken wrist. Be lucky it's not anything worse. Trust me, Longbottom, you got off easy with that fall." She helped him to his feet, having a careful hold on his broken wrist so it didn't move.

"Everyone stay put! I am taking Longbottom to the hospital wing. If I catch so much as one student flying around on a broomstick, will be out of Hogwarts before they say Quidditch." The warning in her voice said it all.

Harry held his broom, depressed. He had been looking forward to these lessons. He turned when he heard commotion. His eyes narrowed upon seeing Malfoy holding up Neville's glass ball Harry had rescued earlier that morning. He didn't catch what he had said, but he didn't have to with the sneer on his face, and the Slytherins chuckling.

"Malfoy, how many times do I have to take that away from you?" Harry interjected.

For an intense moment no one moved.

"You want it, Potter? Come and get it." Malfoy was feeling brave, or perhaps he was using the knowledge Harry had never been on a broomstick before. He mounted his broom and with grace he was up in the air.

With a sigh, and a roll of his eyes, Harry mounted his broom and with ease, he was in front of Malfoy. The confidence drained from his pale face. Harry dared not look down, he didn't know why he could maneuver so easily on a broom. It came naturally, and in a way Malfoy feared him.

"One last time, Malfoy. Hand it over."

"You'll have to catch it first!" Malfoy threw it high in the air.

Eyes trained on the ball, Harry leaned forward and with a burst of speed he was chasing after it. He narrowly dodged a statue with a roll, and with a hand reached out he caught it. With glee and adrenaline, Harry swan dived before pulling up last second and did a few more twirls in the air.

Never in his life did he feel so free.

His high ended when just after he landed, a professor was making their way to them. Quickly Harry handed the glass ball over to Hermione, as he recognized Professor McGonagall. By her walk, she was not pleased at all.

"Potter!"

How did I know?

"Yes, professor?"

"Come with me." She insisted, not caring for his attitude for once.

Holding back a groan, he let go of his broom and followed after her. A part of his mind was racing, that he was to be expelled. The other part reasoned he would only receive detention. He followed her to a huge, griffon statue. Confused, Harry stared at it with wonder.

"Lemon drop."

Wasn't that a muggle's sweet?

Harry silently followed her, as the statue revealed a hidden staircase. At the top, his mind took in the surroundings with awe. It was Professor Dumbledore's office. There were paintings over the walls. And a large bookcase with old books and scrolls. His eye caught strange objects that he didn't know and itched to know and understand.

And sitting at the desk was Dumbledore himself.

"Professor, I understand the rule. But can we make Potter an exception to play Quidditch? He has talent like nothing I haven't seen since Charlie Weasley!" Professor McGonagall was the first to speak.

What?

"Me? But, professor, that was my first time on the broom. And you're head of Gryffindor. Wouldn't I be playing for Slytherin? Why would you support a different team?" Harry bit his lip to shut up. His nervousness got the best of him.

"Do you doubt your talents so easily? Potter, you have no idea how much it pains me to see Gryffindors possibly lose another year at Quidditch, but your talent is exceptional enough for me to overlook it." Professor McGonagall looked back at the headmaster.

"Can we at least allow him at the try outs?"

"Professor McGonagall, if you are urging this, I suppose no harm done to let young Potter try out for Slytherin try outs. Do you understand the game, my boy?"

"No." Harry shook his head. He had meant to read more about Quidditch, but he had been too caught up in his actual studies.

The two professors told him the basic rules, and the different balls for the game. In essence, Harry recognized some of the concept from football, from what he watched when Dudley would watch the world series every summer and root for Britain's team. However, some of it was still confusing. He figured he would get the hang of it better during try outs.

Later, when Harry emerged into the Great Hall for dinner, he paused. Everyone was staring at him with admiration, confusion, and it was awkward. Feeling overcome with stage freight, Harry promptly left, deciding to skip dinner altogether. Someone followed after him and began to pull him back to the Great Hall.

"Let go!"

"Potter, I can easily overpower you. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

Harry stopped short when he heard Malfoy's voice.

"I thought you said I had to choose between you and Hermione? Now let go of me, I haven't chosen yet."

"Look, I won't do it again. Now come back and eat. Everyone's dying to hear what happened earlier."

"I can't, Malfoy. I'm exhausted, I just want to sleep before the Slytherin try outs tomorrow."

"Wait, you're going to the try outs? But you're a first year!"

"Professor McGonagall suggested it, and Professor Dumbledore approved it. Go away, I just want to sleep, I haven't slept well recently."

"Is it the nightmares?"

That made Harry pause.

"...How did you know?"

"You talk in your sleep, Potter. What are the nightmares about, anyway?"

"I don't remember. Now would you please, I just want to rest."

"Hold on, my godfather might be able to help."

"And why would he help me, when Madame Pumfery wouldn't help?"

"It's so bad you had to go to the hospital wing? It's decided, then. I'm taking you to see my godfather."

"No offense, but I don't like him. And he for some reason hates me for no apparent reason."

"Maybe I can help you two warm up."

"I highly doubt it."

In the back of Harry's mind, he wondered why Malfoy was helping out of the blue. Or why he would go out of his way to speak to him after nearly a month of avoidance. Harry didn't feel like figuring out what was going on in his housemate's head. This awkward hot and cold interaction was confusing him more than the overall school.

When they arrived at Professor Snape's office, Harry tried to leave. To get back to being forced to visit Hagrid, Draco interlocked his arm around Harry's, and opened the door, and strolled in as if he knew the place.

"To what do I owe this visit, Malfoy? Potter?" Professor Snape looked up from his desk in surprise.

Malfoy, he was used to random visits without knocking. To see Harry beside him was strange and unsettling.

"He's having nightmares to the point he's keeping me awake. Oh, and he is exhausted to the point he can barely function."

"Excuse me, Malfoy?"

"And why have you come to me instead of Madame Pumfery?"

"Apparently, she turned him away."

"She said if it's nothing physical, or poisonous, then she can't do anything. I asked her for a sleeping drought, but she refused. Something along the lines of the potion being too dangerous for a first year." Harry added, resisting a yawn.

"I see."

"Is there something you can do?"

"Why are you asking me personally, Malfoy?"

"Because he's going to the Slytherin try outs tomorrow. He didn't provide details, other than Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore are behind it."

"I must have been tired to have told you. Bloody hell, can I just go to bed now? He's obviously not going to help no matter what you say." Harry was getting irritated.

"So the spoiled Potter runs when he can't get what he wants. Spinning image of your father."

"Excuse me, professor, but what exactly do you have against me?" Harry had a dark look in his eyes.

"You are spoiled rotten by fame, and care little for your housemates. You seem to have the same belief of your father against Slytherin, despite being a Slytherin yourself. And let us not forget you get everything handed to you like a golden child."

"Forgive me, bit whatever you had against my father, don't hold against me. The sins of the father do not pass to the son. He died for me and my mum, and then she died for me. Because of this, I grew up with muggles who treated me like a slave. I barely ate, all of my clothes were hand me downs from my fat cousin, and for the majority of my life I lived in the cubbard under the stairs."

The temperature dropped by several degrees, and Harry was so furious he didn't notice cracks beginning to form on glass containers on the shelves. He also didn't notice the lighting dim as the flames nearly went out.

"As for these clothes, I didn't ask for them. Malfoy just had the random thought of being nice first night here at Hogwarts and planned to ask his mother to buy me clothes. So, no, not everything is handed to me. And at the very least, sir, you got to know my parents. I would rather have them more than anything else in this disgusting world. Hogwarts is just as tainted as the muggle world I grew up in."

When neither Malfoy or Professor Snape responded, Harry took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to bed."

Harry promptly turned heel, and left. He politely shut the door quietly as possible. The moment it shut did anything that was glass shattered everywhere, and the flames went out.

Prince Darkly: Excuse my laziness. I had planned to update yesterday. But I was so exhausted I couldn't finish the chapter when my phone did something weird when I tried to save when I finished. And it didn't save. It took me back to midway through the chapter.

So. Yeah. I got too pissed to finish it again last night.

Instead, here it is. Forgive the lateness, and following Harry's example I am going to bed.