Chapter 1
A tall, slim boy with collar length silvery blond hair and long, pale features that would have been considered extremely handsome, if it wasn't for the fact that Draco Malfoy wore an almost constant sneer and look of conceited disdain for anyone he regard as lower than himself (and being from one of the oldest and richest families in the wizarding world was nearly everyone) sat in brooding silence waiting for the Hogwarts Express to leave platform nine and three quarters.
Draco wasn't looking forward to his sixth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry even though he had passed all his O.W.Ls with fairly respectable grades his holiday had been marred with the humiliating scandal surrounding the arrest and imprisonment in Azkaban, after the Death Eaters failed attempt to steal the prophecy held within a glass ball housed in the Ministry of Magic, something that Potter and Weasley would no doubt have spent all summer gloating over.
In truth Lucius Malfoy had not been incarcerated for long, a mere month behind bars as once the prison guards, the Dementors had left Azkaban to join forces with the Dark Lord, and the unexpected influence that Severus Snape (whom Draco later learnt from his father had once been and still was loyal to the Dark Lord) possessed with the prison board had secured Lucius' swift release.
And yet although the Ministry had not named the Death Eaters, the name of Malfoy had suddenly been blackened, but Draco's father did not seem to be concerned by the scandal, being branded a supporter of He Who Must Not Be Named in the Daily Prophet or shunned by certain Pure Blood families had no effect upon him. When Draco had complained that Pansy Parkinson, a fellow Slytherin and his girlfriend had refused an invitation to spend the weekend at Malfoy Manor (apparently her family suddenly considered her relationship with the son of a Death Eater most undesirable) his father had only smiled knowingly and reminded his son such cowardly weakness had only served to highlighted where the Parkinson family loyalties lay and that once Lord Voldemort had seized power those that had remained loyal would be rewarded while those who had not…Draco's father had finished his lecture with a cruel laugh.
As Draco took his mother's advice and resolved indifference toward his ex-girlfriend, 'you were far too good for the likes of her darling…the Parkinson family isn't as prominent as they like to think themselves' he folded his arms defiantly across his chest, cold grey eyes fixed upon the countryside flashing past in a blur of green and blue as the stream engine headed northwards to Hogwarts.
His companions in the small compartment, fellow Slytherins Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, knew better than to make conversation as limited as it would be with their stunted intellect while Draco was in such a foul mood. They didn't even mutter an insult when Pansy Parkinson strolled past the door of their carriage hand in hand with the captain of the Quidditch team. Draco turned from the window briefly to give Pansy a cold unresponsive glance then turn his attention back to the landscape as if it was far much interesting. Crabbe gave a nervous chuckle and was rewarded with a sharp dig in the ribs by Goyle who had no wish to incur Draco's anger.
But Draco Malfoy wasn't the only person not particularly looking forward to the start of term, Severus Snape, head of Slytherin house and Potions master sighed as he absentmindedly scratched at the Death Mark upon the ashen flesh of his scrawny wrist. Snape shuddered as he covered the skull with the long, flowing black sleeve of his robe, only now as he sat safe in his office within the dungeons of Hogwarts would he allow himself to reflect upon the events of the summer.
Snape felt a sudden rage burning inside thinking how the Potter, arrogant and foolhardy just like his father, had almost cost him his life. Snape had warned Dumbledore against him teaching Potter Occlumency to block his weak, feeble mind from the mental link that had developed between him and the Dark Lord. But Dumbledore had insisted that he was the only wizard (besides himself) that possessed the strength, skill and self control required to teach such powerful magic. Snape had against his better judgment carried out the headmaster's wishes only to be betrayed.
Not only had Potter disrespectful and thoughtlessly pried into Snape's most private and humiliating memories, he had unwittingly revealed weaknesses that if the Dark Lord discovered Snape's true loyalties, that he had turned spy for Albus Dumbledore…Snape shuddered he didn't even want to contemplate the unspeakable pain and horror that would await him. But Snape was certain that his apparent influence in freeing Lucius Malfoy from Azkaban had helped in the dangerous game of charades he was playing, there were many upon those side he was fighting that even now doubted his loyalty, to them he was just the unpleasant and cruel Potions Master, an ugly and bitter man to be despised and mistrusted …What did anyone (who wasn't a member of the Order Of the Phoenix) care if Snape was secretly risking his life to save from the tyranny of the Dark Lord, and things were getting riskier, the demands from the Death Eaters upon his loyalty and time were increasing, although he had won Lucius Malfoy's trust Snape still couldn't help a tiny flutter of fear he summoned him just an hour before the Sorting Ceremony, as it was Lucius' just wanted to ensure that if Draco needed to defend his family honour (an irony that made Snape secretly smile) then as Head of Slytherin House and a fellow Death Eater (Snape let an ironic smile play across his thin, pale lips ) Snape should turn a blind eye.
Professor Snape rose from his seat with a sigh as the sound of the approaching Hogwarts Express could be heard rumbling in the distant. He smoothed down the dark folds of his long, billowing robes and headed out of the door, along the gloomy corridor to the spiral of stone steps that lead upwards out of the dungeons and into the Great Hall.
The battle against the Dark Lord was uttermost in his thoughts, but there had to be more to life than teaching stupid pupils and risking his neck spying for Dumbledore…but when the Dark Lord was defeated and Snape was finally free…what then? Continue teaching (maybe he would at last be granted the position as Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher) at Hogwarts or maybe a post at the Ministry of Magic have a normal life (well as normal as it could be in the wizarding world) settle down, raise a family…Snape gave a bitter, hollow mocking laugh and as he pushed open the door behind the High Table erased all thoughts of the future from his head, letting his gaunt, ashen features settle into their usual scowl, Severus Snape started the new school year.
"Welcome!" said Professor Dumbledore rising to his feet after the first year student had been sorted into their houses. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our most excellent feast I have a few start-of-term notices to give you all"
Draco yawned as the usual warning to the first year pupils regarding the dangers of the Dark Forest, reminders that magic should not be practised in the corridors and Quidditch trials were being announced, he lazily scanned the row of teachers.
Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor (and Draco's least favourite teacher) sitting stiffly next to the headmaster. That great oaf Hagrid sat on the other side of the table, grinning stupidly and drinking deeply from his goblet. Glancing further down the table sat Professor Snape, the sullen, irritated look upon the Head of Slytherin's gaunt face told Draco that the old fool (or maybe he wasn't such an old fool and had he doubt where Snape's loyalties truly lay) Dumbledore had once again over looked Professor Snape for the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. So Draco surmised that the strange little witch, who although sat upon several plump cushions could barely see over the table, must be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The new teacher peered over the table edge, her bright, inquisitive blue eyes squinting through thick, round spectacles, beneath the floppy brim of a pointed hat made of denim and trimmed with a pink ribbon.
"My god…is that the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?" Draco finally complained to Crabbe not really expecting an intelligent answer.
"She looks like a goblin to me," chuckled Crabbe as he poured himself a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"How in Merlin's name is she going to teach us to defend ourselves against the dark arts?…by biting ankles?" Draco gave a nasty little laugh, Crabbe and Goyle chortled stupidly in agreement. "Goblins are exceptional bankers but really…"
"She's a dwarf not a goblin," retorted Hermione Granger from the Gryffindor table "And besides Professor Flitwick is short of stature and he is an excellent teacher"
"No one asked you for your opinion Granger" sneered Malfoy as Crabbe and Goyle chortled beside him, insulting the know-it-all, mud blood somehow made Draco feel a lot better.
"Shut up Malfoy" snapped Ron Weasley "Hermione's right"
"Oooh sticking up for your girlfriend Weasel" sneered Draco delighted to see Ron's ears flushed pink "I guess the mud blood doesn't care that you live in a shack…"
"Better a shack than a cell in Azkaban" returned Ron getting to he feet but Draco need not have worried and he flashed Ron a conceited sneer as the loathsome saint Harry Potter held his friend back, both too cowardly to risk a fight in front of the teachers. Draco soon got bored with goading Gryffindor table and turned back suddenly hungry and wish Dumbledore would hurry up with his notices.
"This year is the four hundred anniversary of Lacy Cobweb's establishment of the Alliance of Wizards and Witches, which later became the Ministry of Magic. It is my great pleasure to inform you all that here at Hogwarts we shall be joining in with the countrywide celebrations by holding a Grand Ball on Halloween. More details about this and other events throughout the year will be post upon the notice board in your house common rooms. I also have the pleasure of announcing two new appointments to our teaching staff, welcoming back two former pupils. As you know Professor Henge who taught The Study of Magical Artefacts has retired and is now somewhere in Mexico I believe…" Professor Dumbledore looked towards Professor McGonagall who nodded with a smile. "And so stepping into his formable shoes (it was rumoured that Professor Henge had been a giant) will be Professor Planchette who before accepting the position here at Hogwarts taught for several years at Beauxbatons." Dumbledore gestured to the man sitting next to Professor Snape who smiled broadly, flashing his perfect, brilliant white teeth. "I am sure you will all join me in giving him a warm welcome to the school" Dumbledore beamed as he clapped his hands. All teachers even Snape applauded graciously. Professor Dumbledore waited from the hall to fall silent again and then continued with his announcements.
"Alas due to other commitments Professor Umbridge shall be unable to take the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes this year. But fear not…" Professor Dumbledore continued with a smile "For we have been fortunate enough and at very short notice to procure the services of Professor Moveit…" Draco couldn't help but notice that Professor Snape's thin lips twisted into an amused sneer, his dark, cold eyes glancing sideways at the little witch sitting next to him when the headmaster had perhaps unthinkingly used the turn of phrase at very short notice, Draco chuckled thinking that he must remember that phrase himself.
Draco was almost looking forward to retiring for the evening, he had acquired the large green leather sofa next to the fire place all for himself and intended spending the rest of the evening completely (but very obviously) ignoring Pansy Parkinson and her new boyfriend when he was handed a parchment note from Millicent Bulstrode.
"If this is from Pansy then I am not interested in anything she has to say," drawled Draco hold the square of parchment by the corner as if it was something unpleasant.
"The feeling mutual" retorted Millicent "The note is from Professor Dumbledore…I'm just delivering it" and with that Millicent turned on her heels and stormed over to the other side of the common room. Draco sliced open the parchment with a silver snaked handed letter knife that had been a gift from his father on passing his O.W.Ls. It was a request from the headmaster to see him in his office…straight away. Draco stuffed the parchment into the pocket of his robe and slowly got up from the sofa, he had no idea why Dumbledore would want to see him…unless…Draco felt his stomach sicken with anger, the old fool was probably going to ask him to leave due to his father's involvement with the Dark Lord. Draco heard a nervous peel of laugher suddenly ring out; he turned to see Pansy and Millicent both bury their faces behind books on Ancient Ruins. Draco gave both girls a long, cold stare then stormed off out of the common room leaving Crabbe and Goyle looking dazed and confused.
TBC
R&R!
