This rewrite is going to be quite different than the other ones. This one has more of my own ideas and some other things. :D Happy reading!
He's not on the train. Draco looks into the usual compartment where Harry ought to be with Hermione and Ron. He's not there. That's the first instance he believes something is wrong. The second instance is ten minutes late when he finally confronts Hermione and Ron about his absence. Harry had not sent them a single owl for months.
It's not like he missed Harry. No no way. HIs stomach flips uncomfortably. A chill runs through his body. He can't help but worry as to why his main rival isn't will his best friends. His father said Harry would be returning to school. So, why wasn't he on the train?
Draco's leg bounced up and down impatiently watching the empty spot on the Gryffindor table that was supposed to hold Harry. His friends seemed concerned but they also talked among themselves. He watches as the Gryffindor table celebrates, "Zeller, Rose" , joining their table.
"To our newcomers." Dumbledore smiles with a twinkle in his eyes. His voice ringing through the hall as he spreads his arms in welcome. "Welcome! To our old hands, -welcome back! There is time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
An applause and laughter follow the welcome. Draco looks away from the headmaster, and starts piling food on his plate. The smell of the food is making him nauseated. He ends up poking it with a fork when the Great Hall doors slam open. Draco turns his head.
In marched a woman, squat, short with short curly mouse-brown hair in which she tied a Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes. Behind her, Harry. Black eye with scratches on his face. His eyes looked to the floor. Draco's jaw dropped in horror. Was Harry turned over to this woman after the trial?!
Right. Umbridge. How could he have forgotten. The trial had not ended well for Harry. Even though most of Harry's charges were dropped, he was still on probation. Umbridge had volunteered to keep watch of Harry. He couldn't believe the state Harry was in. Dumbledore had let this happen? The man responsible for the well-being of since the death of his parents had left him with this woman and had done nothing about it?
Draco's hands curled into fists. No one messes with Harry, no one. Harry was his to mess with. Draco keeps down the urge to walk up to this woman of power and shout one of the hundreds of curses he'd learned this summer from his father. Harry mindlessly goes over and slumps into the seat with his friends. Hermione, tears in her eyes wraps a comforting arm around him. Ron looks pissed as if he's ready to shred Umbridge to bits. There is nothing they can do.
Unable to continue eating Draco just watches Harry from afar. He's skinnier than he used to be. It doesn't look like he's been fed much if anything. He appears to be mostly skin and bones. He is paler than normal.
Draco watches as Harry tosses an assortment of food on his plate then devours the food very quickly. HIs attention is drawn to a voice at the head table.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," Says Dumbledore standing up from his seat. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students- and a few of our older students ought to know by now too." (For the first time that evening Harry smirks with Ron and Hermione.)
"Mr. Flinch, the caretaker, has asked me for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between class, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Flinch's office door."
"We have two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome Seth, who will be taking up the post of Care of Magical Creatures," Seth is taller than Umbridge but shorter than Snape. His features are dark and his purple eyes gleaming through the dark bangs covering his forehead. He wore a black cloak with the hood over his head leaving a shadow where his purple eyes gleam through the darkness gazing around dangerously. "We are also delighted to introduce Proffesor Umbridge, our new defense against the dark arts teacher."
A round of a polite applause but a fairly enthusiastic applause rang out. Draco nearly punches his own fist into the table. Does anyone notice what that witch has done to Harry or are they just ignoring it?! He also couldn't help but notice that Dumbledore hadn't put a time limit on how long Seth would be replacing Hagrid. That oaf has endangered enough students as it was anyway so Draco was a little happier that they didn't have to deal with so many strange and dangerous beasts for now.
"Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the-" Dumbledore continues but he is cuts off and looks inquiringly upon Umbridge. As she is not much taller standing than she is sitting, no one understood why he stopped talking. Then Draco hears her annoying voice.
"Hem, Hem," and then it's clear she has goggend to her feet to make a speech.
Dumbledore looks taken back for a moment then he sat back down smartly and stares politely at Umbridge, as though he desires to hear her speak. Other Professors were not as pleasant about it. For example, Professor Sprout's eyebrows disappeared into her hair, Professor McGonagall's mouth became a very thin line, and Seth's eyes were glaring at her with murderous intent. No teacher has ever interrupted Dumbledore as he was giving his welcome speech.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered. "For those kind words of welcome."
He voice is high-pitched, breathy and a little-girlish. Draco cringes internally as he is tempted to plug his ears so he doesn't have to hear her horrendous voice.
She gave another throat clearing cough.
'Is she for real?' Draco couldn't help but think. Afterall, his father had told him what a powerful woman she is. The thought of even slightly being friendly to this woman made him want to hurl.
"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" A smile crossing her face. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"
Draco's face darkened. She did not just look down on him. THE son of Lucius Malfoy, a pureblood, not a five year old child.
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very friends!"
" What an ugly woman." Crabbe frowns unamused.
"I'd rather befriend a slug than be friend that woman." Hisses Draco crossing his arms bitterly.
She clears her throat once again. Her tone goes from childish to more business like.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born my come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through to generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble possession of teaching."
Professor Umbridge pauses and turns to bow at the other teachers, none of whom, bowed back. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looks positively hawk like, while Professor Snape's arms were crossed, eyes gazing boredly in the opposite direction. Professor Seth had broken the goblet in his hand to small pieces, which startled everyone at the head table.
Umbridge once again clears her throat to gather everyone's attention.
"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There, again, progress for progress-" She is cut off by Seth who stands up from the table.
"Get to the damn point already!" He snarls, everyone else at the table is taken aback. Umbridge gave Seth a sour look then continued on.
"As I was saying, some old habits will be retained and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected and pruning whatever we find out to be prohibited."
Draco is now one hundred percent sure that the Ministry is going to interfere with Hogwarts.