The feast was winding down. Harry had made no attempt at conversation with anyone in the sea of green that was Slytherin- and nobody made an attempt to make conversation with him Harry felt thankful at that, hoping that in some miracle he could pull the "mysterious loner card" for as long as he could.

Harry avoided looking at the upbeat, laughing Gryffindor table.

"First years, follow me," Malfoy announced commandingly as the Great Hall emptied out. After a moment of gathering the first year Slytherins, his eyes locked with Harry's.

"And you too, I guess." he added after a pause, voice completely void of emotion. Harry nodded, quickly standing up and making his way to the very back of the crowd of first years.

Malfoy's a prefect again? Really, Malfoy?

Harry couldn't help but feel a bit indignant at that. After all the trouble that he had caused with Harry? Every year, another skirmish, another fight-- 

What is Severus playing at with favoring the Slytherins?

Probably something to do with the war, Harry thought reasonably, but hated it all the same. The stupid war is messing everything up.

Looking closer at Malfoy, he looked- pale, twitchy, and almost ill- surely more serious than usual. He was letting the other prefect, a tall stern looking girl, deal with most of the verbal instruction and pointing out various landmarks of the castle. Harry did his best to pretend to be interested in what she was saying, but couldn't help but wonder why Malfoy was acting so shifty.

It's weird seeing Malfoy behind all of the swagger and sarcastic remarks.

The group ascended further and further down the moving staircases, Malfoy only pausing to bark at a few stragglers to hurry along, until they reached the snake pit. Harry kept his distance from the blonde, and tried to remember what the common room had looked like instead.

"Aconite." the girl prefect intoned clearly to the familiar large door, which swung open with an audible click.

It doesn't look quite as huge and menacing as it had when I was 12, Harry supposed-- but common room was certainly ornate, imposing and impressive, with an eerie green glow against the silver tapestries. Slytherin definitely boasted a polished, elegant vibe where Gryffindor had been grand and colorful.

Harry felt rather out of place-- Gryffindor seemed more homey and bright, with soft chairs to curl up in by the fire and more open space to spread out in.

Slytherin just seemed a bit gloomy in comparison with the tall, dark furniture and deep forest greens; the light from the windows windows swathed in black velvet curtains.

All of the Slytherins, even the upperclassmen, seemed to have gathered in the common room. Unlike Gryffindor, Slytherin did not burst into chatter and talk very much unless in hushed voices. Several calculated glances, Harry noticed with discomfort, were being tossed his way.

At last, Severus strolled into the room, robes billowing out behind him, and Harry felt the slightest bit of relief, not only in the immediate quiet but also in Severus' presence in the room. Something- normal. 

Somebody who knows the truth.

Harry, half listening to Severus rattle off a list of rules and regulations to the first years, dared to look over at Malfoy.

To his surprise, Malfoy was staring back at him, a indiscernible look on his face-- and a definite frown.

Harry quickly looked away, forcing an unconcerned look onto his face.

What the hell is his deal?

"Mr. Snape," Severus called out, snapping him back to attention, "You will be rooming with Mr. Zabini and Mr. Ainsley."

A tall, dark skinned guy smiled politely at him, as did a shorter blonde.

Harry felt a twinge of relief at that. Rooming with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle would just be too weird.

"Off to bed with all of you. Being late to your first class tomorrow would be a reflection on the entire Slytherin house, and know I expect you to behave admirably-- especially this year." Severus finished, staring piercingly down at the squirming first years, "If you have any questions, please contact our prefects, Mr. Draco Malfoy and Miss Elicia Powell."

Elicia Powell gave a little wave, but Malfoy didn't move and looked, if possible, more stiff.

As Severus left, and the first years dispersed to their dorms, and chatter broke loose breaking the tension of the first awkward few minutes. None of the upperclassmen made to go to their dorms, and simply milled about the room in friendly chatter- Or what Harry assumed was friendly chatter.

This is... weird. 

"So you must be the new Snape everyone is talking about." the tall, dark skinned boy announced silkily, in a tone that Harry wasn't sure was mocking or admiring.

"Oh! Yes, hello- I'm Seraphinus," Harry started politely, with the uncomfortable feeling that a lot of eyes were watching their interaction, "It's- a pleasure to meet you."

"Blaise Zabini. The pleasure is all mine." Blaise replied slowly, arching an eyebrow, "I hope you find your stay... enjoyable."

My stay?

"Oh, I'm staying the year," Harry reaffirmed uncomfortably, "I'm very glad to be at Hogwarts."

"Are you now?" Blaise inquired, smile widening and eyes narrowing, "Our dorms are the first door on the left-- if you wanted to know."

With that, Blaise walked away without so much as a glance in his direction.

Of course I'd want to know...right?

The shorter blonde boy- Ainsley, Harry identified- made no effort to introduce himself, and simply followed Zabini up the stairs and into what Harry assumed was their- no our- dorms. The rest of the house, after their short interaction, seemed to filter out to their dorms after that.

"Well," Harry muttered to himself, already exhausted by the days events, "I suppose I should follow their lead."

The common room was finally empty, but Harry couldn't find it in himself to relax just yet.

Is one of them going to kill me in my sleep? At least I'll already be sleeping when they kill me. I wonder what they were saying about me anyway?

"Snape." A cold familiar voice came from behind him.

Harry whipped around, heart beating, to face the ferret himself- Malfoy.

Malfoy looked even worse up close-- pale in the greenish glow of the dungeons, with prominant dark circles under his slate gray eyes. He stood completely still, lips thin. He looked smaller than he had when Harry was Harry Potter, partially due to Harry's gain in height.

Malfoy, however, was still slightly taller, to Harry's chagrine.

'Well, what do you want?'  Harry wanted to burst out, eager to just go to sleep. 

"Hello. You must be Draco Malfoy." Harry offered flippantly, not really sure what else to say. Seraphinus the 'transfer student' wouldn't know anything about Malfoy except that he's a prefect, Harry reasoned, so he should at least try to act friendly.

"Don't expect me to play your little game, Snape," Malfoy seemed to have transformed from cold and calculating to furious, and in a split second had grabbed Harry's arm in an iron grip. Harry's right hand was halfway in his pocket in an instant, grip tight on his wand. Harry noticed Malfoy doing the same.

Neither moved for a movement.

Summoning all of the willpower he had, Harry kept his voice level and replied innocently, "I'm sorry, I don't believe that we've met before, Malfoy. What 'game' are you speaking of?"

If anything, this seemed to anger Malfoy even more than ever, but Malfoy relinquished his grip of Harry's arm. Harry forced himself to remain still and not to take a step back. Malfoy looked searchingly at him, eyes narrow.

What is he looking for? What is he talking about? 

"Don't act stupid," Malfoy hissed coolly, looking flushed, "you know exactly  what I'm talking about."

"Excuse me?" Harry replied, greatly annoyed, and completely forgetting the 'nice transfer student', "I don't have any idea what you are talking about- it would be great if you would quit talking in circles."

What on earth is Malfoy on about?

Malfoy blanched.

"You and your father do not control me," Malfoy continued with great emphasis on the word father, and then in a lower voice, "I know that you're just here to try to steal my title. This is my mission, and you will stay out of it!"

Harry just couldn't help it- he burst into laughter- not because of anything funny but just because of how utterly ridiculous Malfoy sounded.

His title? His mission to do what, exactly- to be an arrogant bully? 

Malfoy looked petulant at this unexpected reaction.

"This is no laughing matter, Snape." Malfoy pressed in a grand display to look menacing, "this is a matter of the Dark Lord. You know this. I will- I will kill your father if necessary-- if- if he gets in my way."

Harry felt the bubble of laughter working its way up in his throat freeze. Malfoy.... Was a Death Eater, he realized with shock, or at least on his way to becoming one. Malfoy- Malfoy had always been a bully- pretentious and racist- but to become a death eater? To break apart families? To kill with no mercy...

All for the sake of blood purity?

The whole notion seemed ridiculous. No matter how hard he tried, Harry could not see Malfoy trying to kill somebody.

Malfoy is only 16, Harry thought numbly, and he's signing his bloody life away.

"I am not my father," Harry finally said after a few moments of deliberation, looking Malfoy in the eye as he spoke, "he is a private man, and I do not involve myself in his affairs."

Malfoy moved to speak, something flickering to life in his eyes, but Harry continued on firmly,

"I choose not to be controlled by any entity other than myself, Malfoy. I couldn't care less what you choose-"

-which was a complete lie to be sure-

"but... I don't care for this kind of interrogation.... and- you or anybody else will not be able to bully me into submission for your own gain."

Harry felt a little proud of this little speech. Severus probably wouldn't approve of such a risky "Gryffindorish" statement, but Harry felt that he must say something. 

Malfoy took a step back, looking affronted, but also (to Harry's complete satisfaction) a little speechless. He didn't seem to have a retort. Harry still had a hand gripped to his wand-- would he attack?

Malfoy did nothing but stare, looking as if he had something to say, but not saying anything at all. Malfoy let go of his wand, letting his hand drop slowly, looking younger and more tired than ever. Harry did the same.

"I-" Malfoy started, licking his lips, but did not continue his train of thought.

Should he... say something?

"See you later, Malfoy." Harry finished, raising an eyebrow dismissively, before spinning on his heel and marching up the steps where the blonde boy and Zabini had disappeared, feeling Malfoy's gaze on his back.

Harry felt a little better once he had closed the door of the dorm behind him. 

No Malfoy, no problems-- for now.

The dorm room, to Harry's relief, was a lighter shade of green and didn't seem quite as dark and heavy as the common room. An empty bed, which Harry assumed was his, was in the center of the room.

Zabini, who was on the right side of the room, didn't acknowledge his presence besides a slight smirk as he walked in, and was seemingly absorbed in a book. Harry tried to ignore the niggling thought in his head that Zabini is tracking his every move, and resented that his bed was in the center of the room and not a corner that he could disappear into.

The Ainsley's curtains were already drawn. Squashing down his curiosity about his mysterious other roommate, Harry sighed, and drew his own curtains to put on pajamas.

Damn confusing Slytherins, Harry thought to himself. And Malfoy- what is he playing at?

Somehow, I really thought he was smarter than that.

He left his curtains closed, feeling a false sense of privacy in his thin fabric walls.

'One day down.' Harry thought grimly to himself.