"Welcome Professors," Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry announces to the people gathered around the circular table in the middle of the Great Hall, the normal four house tables are not present being that the new school year doesn't start for another day. "I would like to take this time to welcome and introduce the new members of staff, as well as the old ones. It is tradition here at Hogwarts to announce each professor, new and old, and state their title and subject, and so it shall remain. First, we have Professor McGonagall, she will be teaching Transfiguration. As you all know the professor held the title of Deputy Headmaster. But she has decided to retire as sorts. Professor McGonagall will keep her teaching post but will no longer hold the Deputy Headmaster title. Next, Professor Snape, he shall be taking on the roll of Deputy Headmaster and resigning as Potions Master. Our dear Mediwitch is, of course, Madam Pomfrey. Herbology has a new Professor and that would be Professor Longbottom. Diviation will be instructed by Professor Zabini. Our new flying coach is Professor Weasley. History of Magic shall be taught be Professor Granger. Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts is Professor Potter. Professor Hagrid will, of course, be teaching the Care of Magical Creatures course. We have a new subject, Apparation lessons. Being that Apparation is hard to grasp, I thought it would be best if students had a scheduled module to learn to do so. Professor Lupin shall be instructing these lessons. And it appears our new Potions Master has yet to arrive. We have lost so many people due to the war. But it has been five years. We have rebuilt our society, and Hogwarts is once again fit to be run. I believe students are growing impatient being taught at home. Now I…" Before the Headmaster could continue, he was cut off by the doors to the Great Hall opening. A small blonde head peeked inside. The blonde head soon had a body accompanying it as it stepped into the room. A small child, around the age of four was starring at the group of Professors. Her eyes finally sought out the Headmaster and with a cry of "Dumbly!" She dashed across the Great Hall and into Dumbledore's arms. The ancient Headmaster lifted her into his arms and held her close. She returned the gesture by hugging him tightly. She pulled back after a few moments and smiled a dazzling smile.
"Lily, my dear child, where is your Father?" He inquired with sparkling blue eyes.
"He, em, I kinda ran, em, I don't k'ow. Daddy told me to wait while he took our luggage out of the cawwaige but I was too e'cited to see you and I came wooking for you. I reco'nized the Hall from all the pictures Daddy showeded me and all the stories he told me abou' when he came here." Lily mumbled looking down, her long blonde hair catching the light off the candles overhead. As if right on cue, the doors to the Great Hall pushed open simultaneously. A man, around six foot, stalked into the Hall. The other Professors looked on in shock. It was not that the man was absolutely gorgeous, dressed in tight fitting white washed jeans, white tank top with an open baby blue button down shirt over and expensive looking black leather shoes, with silver blonde hair framing his startling silver/grey eyes falling to just past his shoulders, that had caught their attention. What truly had the Professors shocked is that this man before them, that wore a look of absolute worry on his face, which quickly turned into relief once he laid eyes on Lily, still nestled in Professor Dumbledore's arms, was Draco Malfoy. The same Draco Malfoy that everyone had thought to be dead these past five years. After the war the remaining Death Eaters had been rounded up. They were put on trial and tested under vertutisilum to see who had been acting under the Imperious Curse and who had been willingly in league with the Dark Lord. During the trials, information was discovered that shocked the Order. The Malfoys were completely guilty, all except for one. One Draco Malfoy, according to the Death Eaters, was held against his will at the Manor. Kept in the Dungeons and used as a 'play thing' by the Dark Lord. Sometimes he'd share his 'toy' with his most loyal Death Eaters, including Draco's own father. It was also discovered that while Draco was at school, he was held under the Imperious Curse. As far as the Death Eaters knew, Draco had died at the hands of their Lord before the final battle. Nothing more was ever discovered, no body found. Professor Dumbledore had held a small funeral for him, as was held for every other student that had fallen. The entire year, or what was left of it, had been in attendance. But now it appeared that they had all been wrong. Draco Malfoy was not dead and apparently Albus Dumbledore knew the truth.
Draco ignored everyone else present. "Lily, what did I tell you?" He asked in a low tone. The relief was evident in his facial features but there was also a hint of anger in his mercury eyes.
Lily gestured to be put down and Dumbledore compiled. As soon as her feet touched the ground she flew over to her Father. He readily bent down and scooped her up, holding her close to him.
"I sorry Daddy, I jus' so e'cited to see Dumbly. I not do it again, pwomise." Lily stated, looking innocently at her Father.
Draco couldn't help but let the smile that was threatening to overtake his face appear.
"Okay Lily. I understand that you were excited but you will not do that again. You know it's dangerous to run around without me. Got it?" He asked smiling.
"Got it." She beamed back at him.
Draco finally looked up from his daughters face and saw that the entirety of the Hogwarts staff was starring at him with looks of pure shock on their faces.
Dumbledore chose that moment to intervene.
"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our last member of staff, Potions Master, Draco Malfoy." At this, two things happened. The first, was that Blaise Zabini fainted, in an entirely manly way of course. The second, was the exclamations of "What?!" by the two most opposite members of staff, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger. Lily started at the outbursts and hid her face in her fathers' shirt.
"Shhhh," Draco soothed her, "it's okay, no need to be scared." He whispered to her.
Seeing that they were scarring Lily, Severus and Hermione quieted immediately. Madam Pomfrey had by now revived Blaise; he was now sitting in his chair again.
Draco looked up at the staff table and took in their looks of shock; he then turned to the Headmaster.
"You didn't tell them?" He stated more than questioned with a look of disapproval on his face.
Dumbledore's eyes continued to sparkle.
"I thought I'd leave it up to you to explain Draco, what is it the muggles say? ' Better to hear it from the horses' mouth?'" He asked with a small smile.
Draco decided that the Headmaster would be no help in this situation.
He let out a sigh, "Just let me settle Lily into our rooms, and then I'll explain everything." He said to the whole table. Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heal and stalked out of the Great Hall, Lily still nestled in his arms. A house elf appeared just outside of the Hall and led them down to the Dungeons. The elf led them to a dark oak door. He then bowed low, his long nose touching the floor.
"Is there anything else I can do for the Professor?" He asked, head still bowed.
Draco shook his head.
"No thank you, I'm sure we will be quite alright now, thank you." He smiled.
The house elf bowed once more, then turned and disappeared with a crack.
Draco turned to the door and whispered the password.
"Rose"
The password had been set-up between Draco and Dumbledore before his arrival.
As he entered he realized that Lily had fallen asleep during their journey. He didn't stop to look at his new home, but walked straight to what he guessed was a bedroom. He pushed the door open, by the looks of it, it was his room. But that didn't matter, Lily slept with his most nights anyways. He had found that the nightmares weren't as frequent as when he had someone else there.
He waked over to the four poster bed and laid her onto it. He brushed some hair out of her face and kissed her forehead, tucking her in after he had removed her shoes.
He then called his own house elf from where he had left her, in the carriage.
She appeared with their luggage, and quietly placed it at the end of the bed.
She didn't bow, her Master had forbid it. She was more family than a servant. Draco had offered to release her from the bond, but she would never leave them.
"Misty, could you please watch over Lily, I have a meeting to attend?" Draco asked of her.
Misty smiled widely and nodded, "Of course Master Draco." She whispered, so as not to wake the sleeping child. That was another thing that he could not stop, Misty would forever refer to him as 'Master Draco'. She had stated that he deserved the respect that the title held and left it at that. She had been with him from the beginning; he couldn't imagine her not there.
Draco smiled in thanks and turned towards the door. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night. He turned back, "Come get me if anything happens." And with that he was gone.d