The Rivalry

Finding that it was just after midnight the two boys headed back into the castle, trailing watery footprints that soon dried in the warmth of the castle. Just inside the doors they stared up at the staircases leading up the center of the castle.

"Library?" Draco asked, surprisingly calm.

Potter nodded. Neither of them would sleep that night.

On the third landing they crossed paths with Percy Weasley and a very small first year. The boy recognized him and gave a half-bow.

"Well met Draco!"

The older Weasley gave a nod to Draco and the Gryffindor beside him. "Morning boys. Malfoy I see you've been acquainted with my little friend here."

He had. The child was a night-classer and a half vampire as well. His father being a noble dark one allowed the boy to walk about during the day with no one the wiser to his condition. Unfortunately a group of older boys in another house had ferreted out his less than human status and weren't at all subtle in their derision. Thrice since the beginning of term Draco had been summoned to take the boy to the infirmary and fire-call his rather protective sire. If a prefect was involved they'd be logged upon entering the infirmary and it would be known how often the boy was having problems. For normal children this wasn't a problem but night-classers tread a thin line between hesitantly granted education and being removed from the school for being far too much trouble. Night-classers were a Hogwarts tradition and so far Draco's father had managed to convince the Board of Governors to reject the idea every time Dumbledore suggested removing the program all

together.

He studied the boy, from his gray deep-set eyes, to his pointed chin to red boots to his long silver hair. He didn't see any signs of hiding an injury. He wasn't keep any part of himself slower or faster or closer or farther away then was normal for him. Still, the boy was a gentle one, having been coddles by his sire and taught from birth to control himself. They were of Noble blood and his father wouldn't have his be a disgrace by acting like their lesser blood cousins who attacked anything with blood in sight and were known for a distinct lack of self control, following after every desire that entered their minds. The boy would never fight back. Not yet. He was too afraid of losing control.

"Are you well Rene?" Draco inquired.

The Slytherin was frustrated that thus far he'd been unable to catch the child's attackers in the act and bring them to justice. Hurting a first year was highly frowned upon, they couldn't properly defend themselves and were still getting used to living in close quarters with others not of their kind not to mention many were away from their clans and sires for the first time in their entire lives. When upper years had fights no one bothered to intervene unless they got out of hand, but harassing younger years was the work of cowards.

"I'm well enough tonight. Thank you for your concern."

Potter stepped forward before Draco could respond, giving a bow and a smile. "Hello there, Draco is very rude not to introduce me. I forgive him though. I'm Harry Potter, it's nice to meet you."

Rene flushed and gave a hasty bow, almost tripping on the stair. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance Potter. I didn't think you were one to walk the halls at night...?" He trailed off.

"Potter is well acquainted with the night Rene, as well as the art of breaking rules." Draco informed him.

The Gryffindor turned to him with an expression of mock hurt. "You wound me."

Rene giggled then covered his mouth in surprise.

Draco cleared his throat. "Now that that silliness is over. Have you taken your control potion this week?"

Sobering Rene nodded.

"Yes, but I shall need another soon. The scents here are overwhelming." Draco imagined that they must be.

"You will take someone with you this time Rene."

The first year looked away. "I do not require a babysitter Draco."

"No," Draco agreed. "But you do not need to be harassed either. I do not want to have to summon your father."

Rene paled. "I'd rather avoid that myself."

"I have offered my assistance when I am available Rene, you know you are welcome to come to me." Percy added in.

"I'm sorry, but what about harassment?" Potter looked between the three of them, his face far more serious.

Within minutes of the explanation Potter had secured a promised from Rene that he would come to them for his extra potions from now on. Draco affirmed that Potter had access to a delightful potions lab and it wouldn't at all be a bother to help him. Percy gave his agreement to the idea, he often came there a part from overseeing their experiments to brew sustaining and repair potions for the delicate pages of the books and scrolls in the archives. It wouldn't hurt their supplies to help him out.

Potter's luck being what it was, two older night-classers overheard them.

"Are you providing trait and repression potions now Malfoy?" A diamond faced Ravenclaw with milky eyes and very long thin hair walked up the stairs from behind them, beside him an androgynous Hufflepuff with small nose and small upturned mouth.

"Cassius, Garnett." He greeted.

Cassius pushed his long hair over a shoulder and nodded, while the blonde beside him said nothing at all. Garnett hardly ever spoke, Draco wasn't offended.

"Actually Potter here has offered his services."

Cassius' white eyes studied the Gryffindor. "Is he any good?"

"Very actually. He has an envy inducing lab within the school. A secret one."

"Is that so." Garnett's soft voice rang out.

Potter hesitated, uncertain whether he ought to give male or female courtesies. Draco watched him squirm for a moment then answered for him.

"It's true."

Garnett looked at Cassius and they communicated silently.

"Alright," said Cassius, "If you make some for us we've got the galleons for it. We're willing to pay to have on site access rather than wait for our owl orders or the infirmary to restock. So, what do you think?"

"I-"

"He'll do it." Said Draco.

Cassius left them with a bow, Garnett following after.

When he turned around and faced forward Percy and Rene were still there, the older of the two pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Did you just agree to sell potions illegally?"

Potter grasped Draco's wrist and began pulling him up past Weasley and Rene. "Look at the time! We should really be going." He turned and looked over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow Rene? We'll be in the library."

"Yes, see you then H-harry."

Draco snickered.

"What's funny?"

"You've got another member of your fan-club."

Potter scoffed.

"Of course I can't blame him for getting a crush. You were rather charming."

Potter tripped. "Quit saying things like that Malfoy!"

"Ah, but you embarrassed me in front of half of Gryffindor. I have not yet begun to get my revenge."

"...Swell." Potter threw the invisibility cloak over them and they made their way to the library.

First they found books on creation to supplement the book Draco had already borrowed from his spellcrafting class, and came up with a list of failed experiments. Rather than come up with one of their own, they decided they'd go throw and figure out what went wrong with each one, base their presentation on that and then at the end showcase an alternate form of the insta-note. Draco had of course already informed Potter that he would be reaching out to the Department of Spell and Device registry at the Ministry to secure rights to the invention. After all, if you're good at something never do it for free.

Half an hour after the Library opened they were invaded by bushy hair and an overbearing attitude. Granger demanded Potter study with her, unbelieving when he told her he'd finished all the assignments for the week. Potter, who still insisted on playing good Gryffindor with his less than worthy Lion friends, went with her. Draco would have continued working on their code for the Insta-note but he was invaded himself by Nott and Zabini. Two hours of pretending to be only a half a semester ahead of them in lessons was more than enough. He did normally have more patience than this, he wasn't sure what was making him irritated with them. In fact, they were the Slytherins he liked the most in his year. Odd.

He took a deep breath and told himself to calm down. It had been a long day, a lot had happened, he was still loaded with residual magic from the ritual. He was bound to have an involuntary emotional response to it. He just need to control himself. Deep breaths.

"Where are you going?"

Draco blinked. Was that Weasley?

"Oi Dray," called Nott, peering around a bookcase, "Looks like the Gryffindor dream team is breaking up again."

"Fascinating." He muttered. His hands were shaking, why were they shaking? Draco placed his books in a pile and tapped them with his wand to shrink them down, stood and put them in his pocket. He needed to figure out what was going. If he took an inventory of all of his side effects he should be able to make a guess how long they'd last and find the appropriate potions or spells to help him until then. He would be calm. He would be the master of his self.

"Potter bolted."

Draco stilled. "What?"

"Right out the door. Granger grabbed him and said something to him. You should have seen him, he looked like he wanted to hit her."

His pocket heated up. Draco pulled out the Insta-note. RENE

He swore. "I'll meet up with you later." Draco pushed in his chair and was out the door before either Slytherin could respond.

He skid to a halt in the hallway. Two Ravenclaws had Rene pinned on the floor, another three were regretting dueling Potter, bound and propped against a wall.

Draco step forward. "Incarcerous." Both students fell backward, magical bindings around their arms. Potter ran forward to check on Rene.

"Are you alright?"

Rene flushed. "I am fine Harry." He lifted a hand wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

Draco narrowed his eyes, turning to the five bound, and slightly terrified, Ravenclaws. "What, exactly, did you think you were doing?"

When they didn't answer he looked to Rene who had sat up but not risen.

"They thought, since as a magical creature I'd be reviled and shunned in polite society once leaving Hogwarts, that they should help me get used to they idea of being a creature. They..." He took a moment, cleared his throat, picking at his boots. "They thought pretending to be a snake by crawling on belly might be a good place to start."

Potter straightened, walked to wall where the Ravenclaws were bound and leaned against it.

"For the next five minutes I didn't see anything."

Draco nodded.

"Alright you five, since you have such a like for our house animal, why don't I return the favour by helping you show house spirit of your own? Volatilla Ad Sibi."

He watched in satisfaction every little Ravenclaw bastard get covered in sticking eagle feathers. They'd itch and jab them for a couple hours. That ought to teach them a lesson. He gave them a glare for good measure then went to Rene, kneeling beside him. The first year did not look at him.

"Your lip is bleeding again." Said Draco.

"I know."

"Are you going to be alright?"

Rene looked up at that. "Is it true?"

"What?"

He pointed at the feathered students. "What they were saying. Is it really that bad when we're older? How they treat us? Father never talks about it and its been a long time since he was human."

Draco considered what to say. He didn't want to lie to him. Draco had his father's protection, the fact little was known about his family's traits. No one would dare accuse him, but Rene? It showed on him. Not as much as it would without the potion, he could pass as a Metamorphagus. No one would ask if he didn't give them reason to. But if they did know, it was hard to say what they would do. There were people like those Ravenclaws. too many. Being different in the magical world wasn't looked upon with favour. Hell Potter could attest to that. He wasn't even the victim of a cursed bite or creature genetics in his family line, Potter was just genuinely different in every way someone could be. He thought differently, acted differently. He was the savior of the wizarding world and they treated him cruelly when the mood struck. Someone gentle like Rene would be eaten alive if the child didn't learn to stand up for himself.

"It is. We're different. We're special. Mundane average people can't handle it. They go on about prejudices and darkness but what it comes down to is jealously. We're above them. Are listening Rene? You're better than them." Draco stood and studied the boy critically.

"We need to fix that lip of yours." He took his chin gently and murmured a basic healing charm.

Rene bit his lip. "Does it get easier?" His voice only shook a little.

Draco considered this as well. "Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving as we go along, we get stronger and more resilient. With every blow, every scrape, every close call, every mile on our knees, we grow. Our skin hardens and thickens, our knees become inflexible. We swallow pointless complaints and we stand again and again until we aren't afraid of falling anymore."

A tear fell from one eye and Rene hurriedly rubbed his cheeks, took a breath, put on a brave face and nodded.

Draco held out his hand and helped him to his feet.

"I understand." Said Rene, looking determined.

A throat cleared behind them. Draco turned to find Granger with her arms crossed, surveying them. "What happened?"

Draco looked at Potter who gave a small shrug. The Gryffindor gave a nod at the feathered Ravenclaws. "They were giving the little one a hard time."

True enough. Ah but the look of disapproval on Granger's face wasn't promising.

"And this was the only way you could think of to resolve the situation?"

Draco wanted to hit her. He really did. Sounding so self righteous when she didn't have a clue what was going on. He turned to Rene and leaned close. "Go to the seventh floor and wait for us there. Potter and I shall meet you and get those potions for you, alright? Go now before a professor comes." Rene gave a small nod and left down the hall.

He gave his attention back to Granger. "Well, first I thought about challenging them to a game of chess, but then I realized publicly humiliating them would be more emotionally satisfying."

Potter failed to hold in a laugh. His green eyes glinted red and he smiled, shaking his head.

"That is so irresponsible! We haven't covered that form of Transfiguration yet Malfoy you could have hurt them. Honestly, why didn't you just report the incident to a prefect and let them take care of it? It's their job. You aren't being a good influence, you should be teaching that boy to resolve his differences with others using his words."

Draco lifted his chi. "I did use my words."

"That isn't what I meant and you know it you loathsome little-"

"Enough."

Potter stood beside him, eyes locked with Granger. "We've got potions work to do Hermione. Why don't you go back to the library?" The smaller boy's body stiffened, he cursed under his breath and turned away, heading to the seventh floor.

Draco followed him without a backward glance to spare for the meddlesome witch.