A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay in uploading, I've had an extremely busy week, so to make up for it I've written an extra long chapter.
I'm not completely happy with the way this turned out but I've decided to post it anyway.
This chapter is almost completely focused on Draco as I do really enjoy writing him, so I hope you all enjoy!-
Staring intently at his empty plate, Draco Malfoy couldn't help feeling like he was sticking out like a sore thumb, he heard whispers all around him saying things such as 'Disgusting', 'Azkaban' and 'Deatheater scum'. But over time these words no longer stung, there was just a feeling of numbness. He had faced this abuse since the war ended and coming back to Hogwarts he knew things wouldn't be any different.
Being one of a handful of 8th year Slytherins at Hogwarts, he came to the harsh reality that this year all Slytherin students will be tormented and humiliated, for something that most of them couldn't even control. Yes, their parents may have been death eaters or, like his, reside in Azkaban but that doesn't mean that they should be to blame. Especially not the younger ones.
Trying to avoid getting riled up about the subject, Draco thought back to the train journey, he was surprised that Granger hadn't tried to kill him on site, after all the years of torment and death threats he wouldn't have been too surprised. Most students at Hogwarts wanted to kill him at this present moment anyway, so what difference would one extra person make.
After seeing her on the floor of his manor, repeatedly being hit with the Cruciatus curse by his Aunt and seeing her arm being carved into, he had found a new sense of respect for the muggle born witch. Even after countless spells were thrown at her, she never broke, she never gave in. After the war, Draco and his parents returned to the Manor to clean up, but when he started to clean all of the blood off the floor something truly shocked him. He saw that Grangers blood was exactly the same as the Weasels, the same as Potters…the same as his own. He had always been brought up thinking that her blood would be dirty, that it would be a horrid brown colour, but it was red, just like everyone else's. So from then on he had tried his hardest to refrain from using the derogatory word, the word that he had spent most of his schooling years referring to her as, 'Mud-Blood'.
Although, yes, he may respect her a lot more after what he had witnessed her go through, he still couldn't stand the stuck up bint. He had simply helped her with her cases on the train as he had been raised as a gentleman, unlike Potter or Weasley, his mother had taught him to be chivalrous towards women, and even if he couldn't stand the woman in question he knew better than to let her struggle.
Looking up from his table Draco's eyes quickly scanned the Great Hall looking for no one in particular. That is until his eyes landed on none other than Granger herself. She was sat with her nose buried deep in a book, which he wasn't at all surprised by, but he had noticed that not even Longbottom, Lovegood or the Weaslette were sat with her. He hoped that they wouldn't be returning.
Focusing back onto Granger this is the first time he had the chance to properly look at her, her hair was just as wild, her uptight attitude seemed to still be there, but there was something different. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Realising he had been staring for far too long to be deemed acceptable Draco quickly looked away.
After staring into space for what felt like hours, McGonagall asked everyone to quieten down as the first years were about to arrive. Inwardly groaning Draco sat up straighter as he prepared himself for terrified glances towards his table as the first years entered. As Hagrid, the great oaf, led the first years towards the front of the Great Hall, he noticed that there seemed to be far less first years this time. This was obviously due to the war and parents who felt that Hogwarts was still unsafe.
When the first years had finally stopped fidgeting and the hall had finally silenced, McGonagall unrolled the parchment and started the sorting ceremony.
"Oliver Adams", her clear voice called out, and a scrawny boy with hair so ginger he could be a Weasley, took a seat on the stool facing the entirety of the school hall. When he finally looked up from his feet, he seemed to go several shades whiter and he looked like he was going to be the tattered leather hat onto his head McGonagall took a step back and watched on as the hat contemplated where to put him.
"Hufflepuff" roared the sorting hat, and a triumphant cheer rose from the Hufflepuff table Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes at the bloody idiots. Ignoring several other sortings Draco yet again found himself caught up in his thoughts until the roar of the Gryffindor table snapped him back to reality. Realising that they must have just received their newest member, he looked towards the bottom of the table where Granger was shaking hands with the short girl who had just been sorted. Watching her carefully as she chatted away with the girl, Draco couldn't help but wonder what she was saying, probably something intellectual. The hall quietened again as the elderly witch continued calling names out.
"Raven Maxwell" the old witch called out in her Scottish accent. Craning his neck to look at the girl approaching the stool, the first thing he noticed about her was her striking black hair, it was long and sleek and it almost reached the bottom of her back. As she took her seat he could see the confident and intelligent look in her eye. He knew straight away which house she would be sorted into.
When the hat was placed onto her head the hat took mere seconds before bellowing "Ravenclaw!". Watching the girl happily hop off her seat and take her place next to the other members of the Ravenclaw house, Draco couldn't help but think how well her name suited her, it was the colour of her hair and the house she had been sorted into, he lifted his eyebrows at the slight bit of admiration for her parents clever choice.
Once the hall became silence again McGonagall cleared her throat and read off the next name on the list,
"Solomon Maxwell" she said. Draco realised that from the shared last name that the newly sorted Ravenclaw and this first year must be twins. Looking up from the table just in case he was mistaken He looked at the boy who was taking his seat at the very front of the hall. To say that the twins looked similar would be an understatement, they had the exact same light olive skin tone, facial features and hair colour, except, where Ravens hair was straight with not a hair out of place, this boys hair was unruly, and untamed.
Glancing at the boy's face again, Draco couldn't see the confidence of his sister, or the sharp look, in fact the boy looked terrified. Placing the hat onto the mass of jet black hair, McGonagall stepped back and waited for the verdict.
"Ah.." the sorting hat sighed " Another Maxwell I see" the sorting hat took a long pause before continuing. "Coming from a family of Ravenclaws I expected to sort you as quick as I sorted your sister, however, you are proving to be very tricky, very tricky indeed..." Draco finally understood that if the sorting hat was correct and the Maxwell family were a family of Ravenclaws then the name 'Raven' must be some sort of family tradition, much like his own.
"I can see you have a lot of courage within you boy" the sorting hat started again, "However, you are also a very curious mind filled with creativity much like your sister. But I am reluctant to place you with her, as you have always felt overshadowed by your twin haven't you?" the hat asked menacingly, clearly trying to gauge a reaction from Solomon. Draco noticed that the boy cringed at that, and shot a glance at his sister. Who now looked just as nervous as him.
"Nonetheless, I can see that you are just as intelligent as her and you do have a lot of talent within you that you have yet to discover ", pausing to consider its thoughts the sorting hat squinted ever so slightly "…yes" the sorting hat hissed, "I have made my decision, the place you with thrive the most my boy, is Slytherin".
All across the great hall there were quiet disapproving whispers, as Solomon stood up and slowly made his was towards the almost empty Slytherin table. Looking in the boy's bright blue eyes Draco could see dread and disappointment swirling in them. After several long drawn out seconds of the boy sitting down, the whispers continued, as this was the first Slytherin to be sorted, until the sound of a single person clapping echoed around the room. Lifting his head to find the source of the noise, Draco's eyes met with none other than Hermione Granger.
She was stood up facing the first year Slytherin with a smile of admiration on her face, which Draco couldn't quite understand. But then another sound of clapping bounced of the newly repaired walls, moving his gaze from Granger towards the Ravenclaw table Draco could see that the boys twin sister was also on her feet clapping for her brother. Then after long enough a few more Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws started joining in, and soon enough the entire hall were on their feet clapping Solomon.
McGonagall silenced the hall and continued the sorting. This took a matter of minutes as there were hardly any first years left. In total, Slytherin had only gained 7 new members, including Solomon. 3 of these had come from pure blood backgrounds and stuck together at the end of the table, another 3 seemed to already be friends after meeting on the train which just left Solomon on his own.
McGonagall Called the hall to attention once more and cleared her throat,
"I'd like to start with welcoming back our pervious students and welcoming our new ones just as much" she said in a soft voice, "and when I say I'm happy to see you all here, I mean it, last year's events were a terrible tragedy where we lost many of our own" she continued in a sad voice, looking around Draco could see that many people's eyes were downcast.
"However, we need to build up from the ashes of the war, hold no grudges and unite. Even though some of you may not like to believe it, but the light side were not the only victims of the war." Glancing at Draco as she said this.
"We have all lost people we love and care about no matter what side we fought for, so I must ask you to create a new start for the wizarding world. Amend past grudge and Unify to make a change."
"Now," she said in a slightly happier voice, "Dig in!" and as she said that plates full of all different types of food appeared on the tables in front of them, causing quite a reaction from all the first years
When the noise had subsided, Draco took a look at the young boy who was sat alone to his left and noticed that he still looked absolutely terrified. Draco couldn't help but feel sorry for him, coming from a family of Ravenclaws and being sorted into Slytherin would be enough to disappoint anyone, he could only imagine what his parents reactions would have been if he were sorted into another house. So trying not to draw attention to himself, Draco slid down the bench towards the mess of black hair. When the boy had finally noticed his presence Draco took a single Brussel sprout from the plate in front of them piled high with the small green vegetables. He then held it out in the palm of his hand and pointed his wand at it, making sure the boy was watching he then swiftly transfigured it into a chocolate frog box. Looking to his left he could see that Solomon had a small smile playing on his lips as Draco handed one of his favourite sweets to him.
"I think that chocolate frogs are much better than bloody sprouts" Draco said in a kind of whisper to the boy, which caused him to let out a small laugh.
"Draco Malfoy" Draco said holding his hand out for Solomon to shake. Hesitating slightly as he did so Solomon took Draco's hand,
"Solomon Maxwell" the boy said with slightly more confidence.
Shaking the boy's hand Draco then promptly told him to open his box to see what card he had. Draco used to be an avid collector of the cards and used to have all of them expect for Salazar Slytherin himself. Watching as the boy carefully opened the box, as not to let the enchanted frog out he took out the card with a gasp of excitement. Leaning over the boys shoulder his face dropped as the person on the card was none other than Harry Bloody Potter.
So, that's the third chapter completed, I'm not too pleased but I hope you all enjoyed it.
I've decided that Draco will kind of take Solomon under his wing a bit throughout the story , which should be interesting.
Let me know what you thought in the reviews, constructive criticism is always welcome, don't forget to favourite and follow the story.
Until next - Miaol