A/n I do not own Harry Potter that right belongs to J.K Rowling
"Spells"
Chapter 2
It was now November 1st and the first day of Hogwarts and everybody was boarding the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Hermione, and Ron had arrived early to avoid the reporters and fans that one gets when one saves the Wizarding World.
"Bloody hell, Look at all those reporters!" Ron exclaimed suddenly looking out the window.
"Ron why do you think we got here early, to get the best carriage?" Hermione asked.
"You know how much I hate the attention Ron, so why would I arrive late enough to be caught by the reporters?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I didn't think of that." Ron replied sheepishly.
Soon it was 11o'clock and the Hogwarts Express was leaving the station. Ginny, Neville and Luna had found them in their compartment. Harry was looking out the window listening to the conversations. Neville was talking about a new plant he had gotten over the summer, after he had gotten out of the hospital wing. Luna was talking about hunting for the Crumple Horned Snorkack with her father to get away from all the memories and heal. Ginny was talking to Ron about Quidditch. While Hermione tried to not say that the creatures Luna spoke of about were not real.
Ron suddenly looked up at Harry and asked "Hey, Harry, when are you going to be holding Quidditch try-outs?"
Harry looked up from the window, smiled slightly and said "I'm not going to be holding the Quidditch trials, I'm not even on the team anymore."
"WHAT!" Ron Cried "WHY!?"
"Because, Ron, I need to study for my N.E. and I'll still fly just not in Quidditch matches." Harry replied calmly, a small smile on his face at his best friends reaction.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Harry." Hermione chimed in with a bright smile at Harry and a pointed look at Ron.
The door to the compartment suddenly slid open and revealed an aristocratic blond-haired boy.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron snarled at the boy.
The boy ignored Ron in favor of looking at Harry. "Potter, may I speak to you?" He asked as politely as he could while ignoring everyone else in the compartment.
"Anything you want to say you can say in front of my friends." Harry replied
"I wanted to apologize for what a little Ponce I was during our earlier years, and thank you for your testimony at Mother's and my trial, as well as for returning my wand. I also like to propose truce between our two groups." Malfoy said after some thought.
While the group was stunned Malfoy took the time to flee. It took ten minutes for the group to shake off its stupor.
"Did that really happen?" Ron finally asked.
"I believe it just did." Hermione commented sounding dazed.
"What should we do?" Harry asked the group.
"Well the right thing to do is accept his truce" Luna stated dreamily
"I agree with Luna" Harry said with a thoughtful look on his face
"WHAT! But he's a slimy slytherin. He's probably wanting to lure you into a false sense of security and then kidnap you and take to his father to punish you for killing Voldemort." Ron said suspiciously.
"Ron that's ridiculous" Hermione finally interjected.
"Harry, what do you think?" Ron asked looking at Harry.
Harry looked at Ron and said, "I'm going to take Malfoy up on this offer. You don't have to like him you just have to not bait him."
"If you say so, mate." Ron replied looking uncertain.
The rest of the trip passed with no other incidences. Soon the group was walking in to the Great Hall. The Great Hall looked like there had never been a battle. There was no rubble lying in the corners and the charmed ceiling showed a cloudless peaceful sky. The tables were filling with students. Harry looked at the Slytherin table it appeared that less of them had come back than ever. Harry easily found Malfoy's shock of blonde hair, Malfoy was sitting at the end of the table close to the head table. All the other slytherins who came back seemed to be avoiding Malfoy, all except for a dark-skinned Italian boy whom Harry thought was called Zabini. The Great Hall doors opened to show Professor Flitwick leading to first years in for the Sorting. Flitwick was heading to Sorting this year because McGonagall became the headmistress after Dumbledore's' death.
As Flitwick called the last name to be sorted Harry came out of his thoughts. Headmistress McGonagall rose and waited for the Great Hall to quiet down. "Welcome all back to another year at Hogwarts. Although many students did not come back either because they could not or they thought they were not welcome, I hope you will have a wonderful year. Joining us this year are your new professors, Charlie Weasley will teach Care of Magical Creatures, Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, now called Magical Defense, Professor Snape will be your Potions Professor once again, And finally taking over my previous position as the Transfiguration Professor is Remus Lupin."
There was a huge applause from the Gryffindor table when Tonks, Lupin and Charlie were announced as Professors.
"You knew that Lupin and Tonks were going to be teaching but you didn't say anything" Hermione accused Harry.
Harry looked sheepish and muttered, "I didn't know what they were going to be teaching and I didn't want you hounding them trying to find out when they needed their rest. You know they were still recovering from their wounds."
"Let's visit them after the feast." Hermione decided suddenly.
"Ok" Harry and Ron responded in sync.
The food appeared on the table and cut the rest of the conversation off. Harry felt eyes on him and looked up. He saw Draco looking at him and signaled that they should meet outside of the Great Hall.
"I'll be right back. I've got to use the bathroom." Harry told Ron and Hermione
They both made noncommittal noises and Hermione kept scolding Ron to eat with his mouth closed.
Harry walked out of the Great Hall and looked for that shock of blonde hair. He was walking towards the bathroom when he was grabbed from behind. Harry reacted from instinct and had his assailant at wand point before he realized that it was Malfoy who had grabbed him.
"Malfoy do you want to be hexed?" Harry asked exasperated.
"No I don't obviously." Malfoy responded with a slight sneer.
"Well then, What were you thinking when you grabbed me from behind knowing we had just come out of a war where I still have a lot of people after me for killing their lord?" Harry asked with a slight edge to his voice. "Do you know what would've happened if I hadn't recognized you? It would've made sixth year with what sectumsempra did look like child's play." Harry's eyes had a slight gleam.
"Okay, I'm sorry I didn't realize how much of an effect the war had on you" Malfoy replied holding his hands up in surrender. Draco would never admit this out loud but this Harry's eyes unnerved him.
"About the truce" Harry said getting back on track, "I think it would be a good idea, but you have to not bait Ron and you can't call Hermione a mudblood either." Harry said with a fierce expression. "The same terms apply to us also; Ron can't bait you and Hermione will try to be friendly. Okay, Draco?"
"Okay"Draco said softly.
Harry turned around and walked back into the Great Hall leaving Draco staring at the open doors thinking of how his name had sounded coming from Harry with out a trace of animosity.
