Harry Potter and the Headmaster's Deed.


Chapter 3: The Shifting Balance.

Those back for their seventh year shifted nervously around the center table of the Great hall. Conjured up after the younger years had left it allowed for all of the houses to sit around and still leave room for more. McGonagall sat at what many thought was the head of the table with Slughorn to her left and Flitwick to her right. The other teachers were standing around making sure the students were behaving as the proximity of the houses my spark an argument despite the students supposed maturity levels. Andromada herself had taken up a stance behind Slytherin specifically behind her platinum blonde haired nephew who was the cause of the majority of the Slytherins to sit at least 3 feet from him.

"Alright if everyone's settled we can begin." McGonagall called out and the room quickly quieted down, "Now all of you heard the words of the sorting hat today, this specific arrangement only comes up every 100 years or so although it isn't proven what the exact time frame is."

Instantly Hermione's hand shot up and most of the room rolled their eyes at the inquisitive girl's interruption. McGonagall smiled but motioned for the brown haired girl to put her hand down and continued speaking.

"Now question later but first this so called challenge is very serious and should not be ignored. Before the separation of the Founders of Hogwarts they created a way to select the next candidate for the position of headmaster at the school..." Whispers broke out amongst the students at the revealed information, "However the system was so challenging and impossible to complete that ever since its introduction there hasn't been a single student and or teacher to pass."

"Wait if no one has passed than what of your position or even Dumbledore's position and headmaster?" A random Ravenclaw asked and McGonagall nodded.

"Yes, all the headmasters since that time have been voted for by the school board so that the school wouldn't fall apart. Now that the decree has been challenged it will be up to all of you to figure out how to win and remember that it is everyone for himself you can work together as so many have tried before but in the end only one will ever hold the prize." McGonagall stated and the opened up the floor for questions.

"Yes, Ms. Granger."

"Professor, what is the prize what are we looking for?" Hermione asked and many of the students nodded to each other wondering the same thing.

"Unfortunately nobody knows." All eyes turned to Slughorn who answered the question, "They simply call the object the Headmaster's Deed since in obtaining it you become the next Headmaster, Weasley what's your question."

"Do grade's or previous affiliations like Prefect come into play at all?" He asked nervously and Mcgonagall shook his head as Flitwick turned to answer.

"No, the challenge is open for anyone, however I would subject a strong knowledge base on every subject would require you to find the Headmaster's Deed"

All eyes turned to Hermione and she suddenly felt very small under everyone's gaze as they began thinking the same thing.

'Well she has the upper had already"

"Mr. Malfoy do you have a question?" Flitwick asked noticing the young blonde's stare at the sorting hat which was resting on the table

"No, I don't." Malfoy replied but continued to gaze at the Sorting Hat his brow creased in frustration. No one really bothered to pay attention but the three teachers up front noticed the gleam in the boy's eyes and smiled. McGonagall looked to Andromada who nodded slowly while Flitwick chuckled a bit.

While other students began asking questions; Harry, Ron and Hermione were already in a deep conversation over the challenge.

"It seems to make sense that it would be in the Room of Requirement." Hermione said and Harry nodded looking at the verse they had scribbled down.

"'Seventh Floor of the Magic Door' it definitely relates to the room, we should start looking this weekend."

"No way by then someone will have figured it out, we should start tonight!" Ron whispered and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"No Ron I want to get settled this year first besides I need to plan a prefect meeting first to establish what's going to happening this year." She explained and Ron pouted.

"Oh well... umm..."

"We have plenty of time Ron; we also have Hermione, who's going to solve this before her?" Harry asked trying to lighten the mood.

"No one she is the brightest witch of her age." Ron said with a smile while Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well it doesn't matter, come on everyone's starting to leave and it's almost curfew, classes start early in the morning and I don't want to be late." Hermione said picking herself up and walking out of the hall Harry and Ron quickly following behind.

Most Seventh years made their way from the hall to their respected dorms after McGonagall gave them the dismissal. The chatter between them was loud and intense as everyone began to talk of the Headmaster's Deed. The chance was far too great for anyone to pass up and not even the fact of the challenge never being completed deterred them from at least trying.

Ravenclaw with their abundant brainpower began to collectively and quietly formulate a plan so that they would find the Deed while maintaining that the first to discover it would keep it.

Hufflepuff took a different approach as they laughed about different ideas and went about the information given to them in an illogical but practical way. No secret to the other houses that many of the Hufflepuff's could care less about gaining any sort of attention; Cedric Diggory, the only mentionable Hufflepuff in a hundred years and only because he was the first victim of the second war.

Gryffindor took a different approach as well, loyalty always over ruled any decision they made and so they stayed quiet believing it better to talk away from prying eyes. Many of them quickly shot up to their tower and into the common room and waited for others to follow deciding as a group what to do so that at least a Gryffindor stayed in charge of Hogwarts.

Slytherin however took to the dungeons with shifting eyes and easily noted devious intentions. Like the Headmistress said, it was everyone for themselves in this race and no one should trust the other. It was a quiet walk to the dungeons that night with no communication between the houses, even from the closest friends, besides it seemed the Slytherin were more interested in settling something else.


Draco had finally entered the room he was searching for; he dared not go into the Slytherin common room again, if Nott's very public display was any indication Draco was going to be very alone this year with all houses gunning for his life, or imminent beating. He knew it would be trouble for him this year, perhaps giving him the status of Head boy was a way to protect him, he really didn't know but the welcoming of his peers in the Slytherin common room was not a joyous one.

flashback...

The dungeons were cold this year, something Draco attributed to the final battle. He was walking through the corridors of the second floor dungeon well past the Slytherin dormitories reminiscing about the school. Many believe he hated attending Hogwarts as he was supposed to be in Dumstrang but the fact remained that Draco loved Hogwarts. The school was everything he thought it would be and more, his mother told him stories of the school when she was young. His father also told him of the power the school held, the wealth of knowledge behind the walls of the school that only the founders knew of. It was a shame that Draco spent his days in school under the watchful eye of his father, where he was pushed to delve into treachery and betrayal. Originally planned to befriend Harry Potter, he instead ended up his enemy and through it all humiliated throughout his years.

'Potter.' Malfoy sneered rounding a corner as his memories drifted to the boy-who-lived.

The boy caused many of the difficulties at Hogwarts. When failing his mission to be accepted by the famous child, Luscious turned to Plan B… making Potter's life difficult while spying on his movements. He succeeded in that for the most part but at the same time he failed. It wasn't until sixth year during the time in the tower when he held Dumbledore at his mercy that Draco realized he failed in his life. Everyone around him was able to embrace their destinies, Dumbledore would embrace death with a smile, and Potter would face the root of evil in Voldemort, Weasley and Granger by his side even Neville Longbottom knew where he stood during those times. Draco himself was confused at that time. His father in Azkaban and his mother under the threat of death and there he was attempting to murder the man who had faced off not one but two Dark Lords in his time, put it simply he was going to die.

And he did, or he thought he did. Everything after that day happened in a blur of shouts, screams and a killing curse from his most trusted professor, the death of his headmaster and tutelage under Voldemort himself. His thoughts were on that summer when he entered the Slytherin common room only to be met with the faces of all of Slytherin in the common room and leading them was non-other than Theodore Nott arms crossed looking far more than superior.

'So your finally here, took you long enough.' Nott said glaring down at Draco.

Nott himself stood much taller than Draco at an incredible six foot five he was easily the tallest student in the school. Draco wasn't short either but at six foot even Nott's taller frame made their encounters a bit more than a glaring match. Draco scoffed a bit and tried to move past Nott but the boy moved to block Draco's path and immediately Draco knew what the current encounter was going to lead to.

'So Nott turned them all against me?' Draco whispered so only Nott could hear to which the boy replied with a gleeful smirk.

'Draco…'

'It's Malfoy to you.' Draco cut in.

'Malfoy then, I believe I speak for the collective when we say you are unwelcome here.'

Draco raised his eyebrow and turned to look at the rest of the occupants. Some nodded in agreement, some turned their eyes to look at something other than him and others gave a sympathetic look but otherwise didn't speak. He shook his head and moved forward causing Nott to step back but keep Draco cut off.

'I don't think you heard me Malfoy.'

'I did, but you don't have the power to back it up, I look around and only see a few of the students behind you completely, everyone else is either neutral, afraid or wishes to keep me here for reasons only known to themselves." Malfoy answered and Nott scrunched up his face as Goyle some unknown stepped up to either side of Nott forming a wall.

Raising an eyebrow Draco turned his gaze to Nott completely, impassive with no emotions showing however in Nott's eyes he could see fear and anxiety. Draco assumed that Nott thought he would turn immediately seeing the entire house against him.

'Well Malfoy, you going to go any further or do my new friends need to help you out?' Nott asked stepping behind the two burly men.

'No, your 'friends' don't need to let me out, they touch me and I'll crush them…' Draco said and immediately the two boys moved to grab Draco but before the lifted their feet the instantly dropped to their knees while Draco stood there looking down at them, '…literally crush them.'

The entire house soon drew their wands, 98 wands pointed at Draco to which he smirked at Nott whose wand was the closest of them all. Goyle attempted to move but each time he did the pressure worsened and they cried out in pain as they were pushed harder into the ground. Nott pushed his wand into Draco's neck.

'Stop it and leave.' He said but Draco just smirked and left the room and when the door closed Goyle and the other boy were released instantly.

Present…

Draco's decision to come to the abandoned classrooms to stay was probably not the best idea but going to one of the teachers to inform them about his problem was not a viable option. He was also extremely tired now and quickly pushed himself up against a wall to try and get some sleep. Uncomfortable and unable to fall asleep he stayed awake all night thinking about the future and how he was going to beat it.


The next morning classes had started up again but first the breakfast feast that would hopefully energize each and every student to get through the day. Everyone in the houses now knew about the Founder's Challenge and although many of the younger years thought it was unfair that they were excluded, it didn't stop them from voicing their opinions. The Golden Trio was currently sitting down at their table discussing their course of action with Ginny at their side.

"I'm telling you we go tonight!" Ron hissed wanting to find the Headmaster's Deed as quickly as possible.

"It's not that simple Ron, I think there is more to the riddle than previously thought." Hermione replied which Ron huffed and pushed it to Harry.

"It wouldn't hurt, I mean come on we could check it out and if nothing comes up then we go with Hermione's plan."

"That's the problem Ron, it's still the first day of school and I want at least till the weekend to find whatever this thing is or represents." Harry replied and Ron gaped at him for a full minute before voicing himself again.

"But Harry…"

"Ron I actually want to concentrate on school this year, please no adventures till we at least establish ourselves." Harry sighed and Ron closed his mouth and nodded in understanding.

"Well put Harry." Hermione said happily while Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Only you would be happy about him concentrating on school work."

"If he wants to become an Aurora then he best be concentrating on his school work, it does him no good to be the dumbest person who saved the world." Hermione explained.

"Thank you Hermione, really." Harry said sarcastically but laughed all the same causing Hermione to smile.

"All the same Harry, we should be going soon." Hermione replied taking out her schedule.

"So soon, but we have three hours before class starts." Ron whined his mouth half full of food.

"Ron we have, I should say I have a class that starts in just five minutes remember." Hermione explained and Ron went wide eyes in remembrance that Hermione had taken more courses than either of the boys and thus started an hour earlier that day.

Standing up Hermione quickly pulled her bags with her and moved to exit the great hall when the doors burst open in front of her and she ran head first into someone knocking them both to the floor.

"Ouch sorry I didn't expect you…" Hermione started but was cut off by a deep voice and an offending tone.

"Screw off mudblood I don't time to listen to your voice this morning."

Hermione automatically assumed it was Malfoy so she replied with reaction without even looking at who it was she was talking to.

"Piss off Malfoy I said sorry so do…" She stopped when she found herself starring up at the black eyes of Theodore Nott.

"Malfoy, don't mistake me for that bastard mudblood." Nott spat and Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"You're no different Nott and ten points from Slytherin for derogatory language." She replied.

"Like I care bi…"

"Hey what's going on here?" A voice called and Hermione and Nott both turned their heads and nearly jumped back from shock.

Standing at the door was Malfoy looking like he had been awake all night. He didn't have the school uniform on and was in the same outfit as last night. His hair was a disaster and eyes were bright red from the strain put under them all night long.

"Malfoy, I was just teaching the mudblood some manners, care to join in?" Nott asked knowing full well that Malfoy would side with him despite their current animosity.

Hermione could feel it as well and waited for the lashing she was going to get while preparing her own defense and hopefully the support of her friends. Both were surprised at what actually happened.

"Nott leave the mudblood alone, not only are you digging yourself a big hole by pissing her off but you also have no right in using that word to describe her because she is obviously more superior to you in every way."

Nott's jaw dropped while Hermione went wide eyes trying to figure out who he was insulting more, herself or Nott but the words on her tongue flew out with a moment of hesitation.

"What the hell gives you the right to use it and not him?" She yelled causing the blonde to look straight at her and for a moment she thought she saw pure red in his eyes before it returned to normal.

"Because I know what the term mean Granger, unlike Nott here I've used the term to describe you for five years. Is it really that hard for you to block it out as it's just a nickname from me to you?" Malfoy explained and Hermione turned red with anger.

"It is not a pleasant nickname Malfoy and I suggest you stop using it."

Malfoy smirked and shook his head before walking away leaving both Hermione and Nott perplexed at the action. She looked at Nott while he looked at her and voiced his opinion.

"You think he was insulting me or you mudblood?" Nott asked not caring that they were ready to kill each other a few moments ago.

Malfoy stopped hearing the word again and turned to look at Nott, "Do it again Nott, I dare you."

Nott flinched unable to hide the fear after hearing that tone come from Draco, he made to talk but was cut off quickly.

"I don't care just go away before I feel like hexing you instead taking away points." Hermione replied sweeping past Nott h4er face contorted with anger.

Nott laughed a bit before making his way to the Slytherin table, he noticed that Malfoy took his original seat and forced many of those around him a good ways back. He frowned but decided to deal with it later, taking a spot he deemed appropriate to eat.


Harry and Ron watched as Malfoy took his seat at the Slytherin table. The two boys were about to intervene one Hermione's behalf when Malfoy showed up but as they watched Nott and Hermione act in a surprising manner and Malfoy exchange some words and leave allowed them to relax. They kept an eye on the blonde and he reclaimed a seat at the Slytherin table and immediately noticed the entire house move at least four seats away from him. Ron looked at Harry who looked back in surprise.

"Don't suppose it's because of last night do you?" Ron asked.

"Nope, something else must have happened." Harry suggested when Ginny interrupted them.

"Well isn't that the strangest thing I've ever seen."

"What?" Ron and Harry asked.

"Look at Serenity."

Serenity the newest and possibly most lively Gryffindor ever to grace the house since Fred and George Weasley stood up from the table upon seeing Draco and rushed across the room sat down in front of him with a smile. Draco cocked his head for a moment before laughing at something she said and began to talk with the girl forgetting everyone else around him. Harry and Ron looked mortified before Ginny started laughing.

"She's a funny little girl, she sees nothing wrong with him, so innocent and all."

"She'll loose that innocence hanging around Malfoy." Harry said with Ron agreeing when a new voice interrupted.

"I don't think so."

"Neville sit and join us." Ginny said happily as Neville took a seat beside Harry.

"So he won't ruin her, why do you think that?" Ron asked.

"He's different this year, grown up unlike the rest of us I would assume." Neville explained.

"Grown up unlike us… how so?" Ginny asked.

"Nothing, something is different about him I can tell but enough of that, Harry could we talk later on in the week, something has been bugging me and I want to figure it out."

"Sure Neville, I'll have time this wee…" Harry wanted to say this week but Ron was shaking his head and Harry rolled his eyes, "… seems it will have to wait, Ron wants to go on a wild goose chase."

"Agh, so he wants the Deed then?" Neville asked.

"Your damn right I do, finally this school can be run by all it was intended." Ron shouted happily.

"A Weasley… please Ron you running this school will turn into a disaster." Ginny stated to which Ron scowled and continued his breakfast.

The others laughed and continued to eat their breakfast while enjoying the peace they all worked so hard to bring to the school.


Serenity saw Draco enter the Great Hall and with a quick goodbye to her new friends bolted to where he had sat down claiming the seat in front of him.

"Hi!" She said happily causing Draco to look at her for a moment like she was legally insane, "Hey don't look at me like that, you look like a snake just chewed you up and spit you out."

Malfoy suddenly broke out into a fit of laughter. The suggested comment was only that but the irony of it was pretty funny. He shook himself of the moment and put on a smile before addressing Serenity.

"So little Gryffindor, how did the night in the tower of bravery treat you?" Malfoy asked and Serenities smile grew wider.

"It was so cool; everyone in the tower is so nice and accepted me despite what happened last night, also that Hermione girl is brilliant."

"Only you could be enamored with the know-it-all mudblood." Malfoy laughed out and Serenity narrowed her eyes at Malfoy who raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"You call her a mudblood?" She asked and Malfoy sighed.

"A habit, don't pay any attention to it." He replied not liking where the conversation was going.

"So there's a problem being muggle born?" She asked seriously and Malfoy sighed.

"No… well not anymore to say."

"Anymore?" Serenity asked confused.

"You are muggle born correct?" Malfoy asked and Serenity went wide eyed.

"How did…"

"The way you act when certain things are mentioned." Malfoy replied.

"Yes, so what was that about the anymore part?"

"Promise me you won't feel offended, scared or attempt to hex me."

"Sure."

Malfoy looked around the hall, most of the students were getting up to leave and everyone was just preparing themselves for the first classes that would start in five minutes so he relaxed and leaned forward.

"As you probably have figured out, there was a war last year."

"Voldemort."

"Yes, well what do you know about last year?"

Serenity took a deep breath trying to recall everything people had told her last night, especially last night because she had heard some rather disturbing things about the boy she had come to revere as her bigger brother. She looked at Malfoy for the answers instead and he nodded for her to tell him.

"I… I was told that you in particular served under him." She whispered.

"Very true, I served under the Dark Lord Voldemort for a full year where I was trained in the very arts he himself had learned, I was extremely prejudice and displayed the qualities without care when I was younger and in doing so earned a very unwanted position during the war."

"But why?" Serenity asked calmly although Draco could tell she was

"I was raised that way, I was raised to look down upon everything and through it all started to believe it to be true."

"What changed?" Serenity asked.

"The night I murdered Albus Dumbledore." Draco answered and Serenity's eyes went wide.

"You… you…"

"Killed the previous headmaster, yes I did… in a way."

"In a way?"

Draco took a deep breath, he remembered that night so many times it was starting to become a problem. It haunted him because it broke apart everything he believed and shattered his existence. He looked right into Serenity's eyes and started to explain.

"That night was the night I took my orders and played them out, a year earlier my father had pissed off Voldemort so as an act of discipline he employed me to kill Albus Dumbledore resulting in the near deaths of Ronald Weasley and Katie Bell. During a crazy night after exams I managed to complete the second half of my mission by allowing the Death Eaters into the castle and then faced the headmaster in a duel. However I didn't kill him because when it became apparent I wasn't in it to do so a very close person to both Dumbledore and myself had done the deed under an unbreakable vow throwing everything into chaos. I didn't kill him but I blamed myself for the death of Albus Dumbledore and probably always will."

Serenity cocked her head to the side in amazement as she digested Draco's story and she smiled a bit before standing up.

"Class starts in a minute and I'm happy that you accept me but tell me why you still call Hermione a mudblood."

Draco smiled and looked at Serenity with a smile but sad eyes, "It's a nickname and… never mind."

"And… and what?"

"Something I discovered this year."

"Really."

"Yes, get going your first class is with Slughorn correct?"

"How did…"

"Go hurry just tell him that Draco Malfoy held you for something and he'll let you slide."

"Alight… thank you Draco!" Serenity said with a smile giving the blonde an affectionate hug before shooting out of the great hall and Draco shook his head in amazement that the little girl could be so understanding. Looking at the clock Draco realized he was late to his first class, the early morning History of Magic and sighed, standing up and making his way to the classroom.


Hermione was listening intently to the teacher as she explained what they were going to be doing this year. History of magic was a very small class, only a handful of students had signed up for it this year as it was also rather boring. There were only two students from Gryffindor being herself and Neville Longbottom, Ernie McMillan from Hufflepuff and Michael Corner from Ravenclaw with a few peers Hermione never bothered to recognize. Slytherin was empty no one from that house had bothered to take history of magic to Hermione's knowledge but Professor Binns seemed disgruntled about something as he looked around the class. He shook his head and carried on like nothing was wrong outlining the agenda for the year when Draco Malfoy came into the classroom.

"Oh… Mr. Maloy nice of you to join us." Binns said looking at the boy and Malfoy frowned.

"It's Malfoy sir."

"Oh… sorry but please take your seat that will be ten points from a Slytherin was it… yes Slytherin for being late hurry up now."

Draco rolled his eyes and took a seat randomly and began to gather his books. He didn't notice the person looking at him in shock until he was tapped on the shoulder and turned to see Neville and Hermione looking at him.

"What?" He whispered and Hermione shook her head going back to her notes while Neville shrugged his shoulders and did the same.

"Carrying on, this year we will look at Ancient Wizarding History, but for this month alone I want you to write an Essay on your family's history in the world. For Ms. Gagger's case,"

"Granger." Hermione corrected.

"Yes Grander sorry, considering her history is of muggle decent I would like her to do an essay on just that and give us an insight on Muggle history through the same ages as say Mr. Lonbutton's."

"Longbottom sir." Neville said.

"I know, now this will be due at the beginning of next month that means I would expect all of you to get on it immediately."

With that Professor Binn's floated around the room as students began to write in silence as the essay that was to be due would take much of their time this week.

'Welcome to NEWT's' Malfoy groaned in his mind and decided to forgo writing anything knowing that his family history would need to be sent to him from the Manor.

"Damn, I can't do anything for this essay write now." Hermione whispered more to herself but picked up attention for Neville and Malfoy.

"We aren't supposed to finish this now Ganger, it's a research essay."

"Shut-up Malfoy I know and since this is the first class of the year I can't do any other homework and now have to sit here for another hour."

"Sleep, It's what I'm doing."

"I agree." Neville said and leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes.

"Lazy I swear." Hermione grumbled and Draco smirked.

"No its genius Granger, besides if I'm right you and I have Potions next."

"Oh well doesn't that make me feel better." Hermione grumbled and Neville groaned.

"Not potions, thanks Malfoy I'll have nightmares now."

Draco smirked and then rested his head on the desk wanting to get some sleep at least. He was dead tired and even an hour would help him.


"Turn to page 297 class."

The class quickly opened their books as directed and Slughorn began writing furiously on the board as some students questioned the reasons of this potion to themselves.

"A Sent Drought seems a little easy." Harry questioned when the professor turned on his heels.

"Harry my boy care to explain why this potion would be simple?"

"It just looks so easy; I mean it even has a listing of item of user's choice for flavor."

"Very good Harry and yes it is an easier potion but here's the catch and pay attention," Slughorn replied. "This potion is simple and should be completed at the end of the class however for everyone here you all should know that this potion in particular can have very negative effects."

"Negative how?" Blaise asked from the rear and Slughorn smiled.

"I'll let you figure that out, everyone's potion will be different and as such you will have it randomly put into a vile then sorted and passed out to the class. This potion will be graded by how wonderful you smell."

"You mean we can display ourselves to you at the end of class?" Ron asked and Slughorn screwed his face in disgust.

"Mr. Weasley please be so kind as not to mention that particular part to me. You will smell each other's sent as well need I remind you and if the potion is done correctly you should only smell the articles of your choosing and nothing else, remember depending on the item you choose it alters how you make the potion, now get to work."

The class was up instantly and gathering their ingredients. Shaking his head he watched his students hard at work. He in particular watched Neville Longbottom waiting for when the clumsy Gryffindor blew himself up. He didn't have to wait long when he noticed a certain Slytherin toss a very volatile component into Neville's cauldron. He stood just as it happened.

BOOOM!

The cauldron went up in a flash of green and Neville fell back in shock and surprise. Snape shook his head and the Slytherins began laughing. Most of the Gryffindors shot angry looks at their Potion partners but the Slytherins ignored them and whispered to each other instead. Snape was just about to speak when someone else beat him to the punch.

"50 points from Slytherin for disrupting the class and sabotage with intent to harm."

All eyes turned to Hermione Granger who in turn was starring directly at the Slytherin who had tossed the item into the potion.

"False charges Ganger I should have your status as Head girl revoked." Theodore spoke on his housemate's behalf and Hermione turned her glare to him.

"You should be supporting me first, Prefect and a detention for the both of you cause I feel like it!" Hermione bit out and Nott laughed.

"I'll support you and go to detention when you're dead and dying mudblood so…"

"Mr. Nott I will not have that kind of language in my class now I will agree with Ms. Ganger on this subject." Slughorn cut in, "Well don't just sit there do something, and someone get Neville to the hospital wing, Mr. Longbottom you will have to do this potion over the weekend."

Neville was handed a slip and Ron proceeded to help Neville out of the room and to the Hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey would help the boy's problem of temporary blindness. The class itself slipped back into a quiet working order and Slughorn continued his watchful gaze over the students. It delighted him so that the students were taking this seriously and he could see the mistakes coming as they worked.

'Two strokes Ms. Patil not three.'

'Wrong ingredient Thomas.'

'Ms. Granger that combination is bold yet won't work.'

'Potter I'm ashamed of you for even doing that, a disgrace to Lily if there ever was one.'

'Fail Zabini.'

'Malfoy… what are you doing boy?'

Indeed there was Draco Malfoy sitting there looking puzzled as he starred at his potion. He looked puzzled yet at the same time curious as he played with a strange object in his hand that Slughorn recognized almost immediately.

"Mr. Malfoy are you planning on adding that to your potion?" Slughorn asked out loud and the entire room lifted their heads to look at the blonde haired student sitting in the back corner tossing around a brilliant blue bottle.

"I don't know professor; problem is the rarity of what I hold and using it for a simple potion seems like a waist."

"Well Mr. Malfoy it is your decision but I would think it rather interesting to see if you can use the material you are given properly." Slughorn said and resumed his watchful eye on the rest of the class.

Malfoy cocked his head slightly and gazed at his Head of House for a moment before shrugging and throwing in the Dragon's Pheromone into the stewing potion and carefully stirring the ingredient into the mixture with a puff of blue-green smoke suddenly erupting from the cauldron. The entire class was absorbed in watching Draco go about adding even more ingredients to his potion, some that weren't even listed in the book as.

"Hey Malfoy, you trying to kill us?" someone shouted and Draco lifted his head to see Tracy Davis smiling at him as if she was his superior.

"I suppose, although a simple Avada would be more fitting for someone as useless as you." Draco replied and the entire class went still.

"Mr. Malfoy you can be charged for talk like that." Slughorn said from his desk although he sounded as if he didn't care making marks on his page instead.

Draco simply nodded before returning to his potion, which had turned a very thin green and was excreting a very erotic smell. He smiled and conjured a vile which he began to poor his creation in. Setting it down and doing a simple scourgify to clean the cauldron he noted that other students were finish as well.

"Time is up." Slughorn said suddenly and everyone who was too busy talking groaned when they realized they weren't finished.

"And now for the rules, should you fail this simple class then you will be removed from my class, everyone is given this one chance and if you do not pass you may be a liability in the future. A passing mark is 90% or higher because this potion my dear students is a first year potion do I make myself clear?"

The class nodded and soon the scents were being passed around and tested.

"Oh dear god RON that is disgusting!" Hermione cried out as Ron who had returned without Neville and tried his potion.

"Well I only had orange peals I figured they would smell nice."

"Ron those peels must have been 4 years old!"

"What I think it smells nice, what say you Harry?"

Harry took a whiff and quickly backed away shaking his head and giving Ron a mournful look. Ron sighed and sat down but not before catching both Hermione's and Harry's scents. Both were really pleasant but he could catch the different ingredients in the potions. He shook his head before corking his bottle and leaving it one Slughorn's desk along with Hermione's and Harry's.

"All of you are dismissed, the grades will be posted in the evening so do not come up to me later in the day asking for results."

The class nodded quickly and filed out of the room as Slughorn opened up the first bottle and took in the scent. He made a disgruntled face before setting the bottle down and then marking the page.


The day went by quickly and the rest of the week went off without an incident, the coming weekend itself was as quiet as could be as students settled into the routine they always fell into upon the first few days at Hogwarts. Dinner would roll into a gathering of laughter and happiness and the students joked about their teachers and classes. Apparently the new DADA teacher Professor Andromada was a huge hit with the students who were able to attend the class.

The prefects were already huddled around each other by the time Hermione entered the room with Ron and Ginny. It would be the first meeting of the year, the meeting were they establish the new rules of conduct and discuss the expectations of each prefect. From what she could tell everyone was there waiting. From Slytherin were Nott taking over for Malfoy, Parkinson and four other Slytherins she didn't know, Ravenclaw had Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil again with Luna Lovegood and other unnamable faces, Hufflepuff was Ernie Macmillan and Hanna Abbott with their motley crew and rounding off was Gryffindor with Ginny, Ron and taking her prefect place was Parvati Patil. Looking around for a moment she quickly realized that the Head Boy had not yet arrived.

"Who's the Head Boy?" She voiced out, curious.

"Apparently it is Malfoy." Ernie stated which got Ron in a little uproar.

"MALFOY, I thought you were head boy Ernie." Ron said pointing to the Hufflepuff who shrugged in response.

"Well that's definitely a rumor Ron, Malfoy had abused his Prefect powers back in 5th year, lost the position and then fought for him last year during the final battle," Ginny explained. "If he is the Head Boy he'll lose it faster than you could lose the snitch."

"Who cares about him, let's get this damn meeting over with so I can go to bed." Nott spoke up.

"We'll wait for the Head Boy thank you I'd rather not have to do all the work by myself." Hermione replied taking a seat in front of everyone.

Nott scoffed folding his arms across his chest while everyone else went about their discussions. It was a short wait as the door opened and in walked Slughorn looking particularly unpleased and rather crossed. Everyone went still as he surveyed the room looking heatedly at the group of 26 that would be taking care of Hogwarts on a daily basis.

"Where is Mr. Malfoy?" Slughorn asked and nobody dared speak up as his tone indicated he wasn't pleased.

"Umm, he hasn't arrived yet Professor." Hermione said and the Potions Master sneered in distaste.

"Obviously… what I am asking is why he is not here, Nott?" Slughorn motioned towards the eldest Slytherin prefect and he shrugged in response.

"Don't ask me."

Slughorn sighed shaking his head in distaste before looking at Hermione urging her to continue the meeting. She fumbled a bit before taking out a piece a paper and laying across the table and Slughorn nodded sitting towards the back of the room and waited for this waste of his time to finish.

"Well now that we are ready, let's get the important things out of here first." Hermione said and began to outline the rules and duties that prefects should follow. It was mostly for the benefit of first time prefects which were the fifth year and some sixth years who were elected to replace those of the fifth year that didn't make the cut again.

"… and remember you do not have the power to threaten House Points, only myself the Head Boy and Teachers have that responsibility." Hermione finished and crossed that off her list.

"So any other long winded explanations?" Pansy asked looking bored.

"Yes, nightly round will be conducted in pairs and not of the same house. You will also not be patrolling your own house area as it creates biased judgment when issuing a punishment. The pairs are organized as follows…

Theodore Nott and Parvati Patil,

Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley,

Ronald Weasley and Ernie McMillan,

Pansy Parkinson and Padma Patil

Anthony Goldstein and Hannah Abbott…"

She continued to read the list pairing off everyone with someone else from a different house and eventually off with a questioning. No one complained but the questions were bombarded all at once about changing schedules, consequences for missing a watch. Sighing Hermione outlined everything in one big explanation.

"Should there be any complications come to me or the head boy for changes and corrections. Should you miss and or be late to a scheduled watch then there will be a detention and a loss of house points depending on the actions. Now for Hogsmade trips we are to spend an hour which will be scheduled the week prior the announcement of the trip watching for students behaving inappropriately. I'll be consulting with the Headmistress as to when the Hogsmade trips will be scheduled. Now are there any other questions?"

"Ya, I have one where's the Head Boy?" Nott asked with a smirk on his face.

"I don't know Nott you tell me he is a part of your house." Hermione replied.

"Unfortunately." Nott grumbled but the smirk never lifted off his face.

"Mr. Nott I suggest you tell Mr. Malfoy of his duties and I will notify his tardiness." Slughorn grumbled from the back of the room.

"Oh I will, I should be meeting him soon anyhow; is the meeting done Head Girl?" Nott asked standing up to which Hermione nodded a yes and the Nott left the other Slytherins following soon after.

The other houses left shortly after but Hermione stayed making sure if there were anymore questions than they could be answered now. However when it was just herself Ginny and Luna left as Ron had to start his rounds in a few minutes considering it was his night to do them Slughorn spoke.

"Be wary of Slytherin this year, I'm afraid old habits die hard." The Potions Master said and left the room.

"Be wary indeed." Luna repeated softly getting stares from Ginny and Hermione.

"What makes it different than any other year?" Ginny asked and Luna smiled at them.

"Nothing, just the thought of the number of wackspurt infested Slytherins might warrant their strange behavior this year." Luna replied.

Ignoring the random comment of wackspurts Hermione thought about Malfoy's disappearance. It wouldn't be like him to miss the entire meeting despite himself being a self-righteous git. Her thoughts carried on to Nott's behavior that morning and then again during potions and finally now; it was almost as if Nott or rather Slytherin hated Draco Malfoy. She began to think of everything now, the isolated Malfoy at the tables during meals, his haggard appearances, lack of sleep and finally his threats to Tracy Davis a Slytherin herself. She continued to think even after they left the classroom, something was up and she could feel it was just the beginning.


"So you're still awake?"

"Didn't think I would be?"

"No, not really but it is amazing look at you."

"I've been through worse."

"I doubt it, give him the potion."

Draco struggled under his captors as two of the men forced his mouth open and obtained a blue liquid that shifted colors depending on the lighting. Draco himself was not being cooperative shifting violently and attempting to knock the vile on the floor. Finally getting impatient the man holding him suddenly slammed his fist into the side of his head disorienting the blonde enough that he was able to rip Draco's mouth open and the potion was violently shoved down his throat. He chocked a few times refusing to swallow but instinct and survivability kicked in and he drank the potion without consent. He was immediately dropped and the others took a few paces back to watch what happened next.

Draco shifted nervously as the images suddenly flashed across his face, then like lightning the pain struck his entire body violently constricting his muscles causing them to spasm and tear under strain. He puked once before it erupted once more, this time like a fire slowly burning him on the outside. He refused to cry out and instead turned his glare to those who had done this to him. He moved slightly standing up to meet them instead of lying on the floor injured and in pain. As he stood another flash of pain flew across him like a bone chilling rip his skin split open and he began to bleed but he refused to fall, in fact he refused to do anything but glare murderously at those who did this to him. He spoke raggedly attempting to hold down the bile that was threatening to erupt from his stomach once more.

"Try harder, try very hard because when I get through with you Nott you won't be begging for death, you'll be begging for mercy, you'll be on your hands and knees crying in front of everyone for forgiveness and I won't even laugh at you. I'll pity you, and then I'll end your life as a Wizard and reduce you to nothing more than a squib." Draco threatened and Nott stepped forward meeting Draco eye to eye. He smiled then sung hard slamming his fist into Draco's face and kicking him hard in the ribs just as Draco started to throw up again.

"You try anything Malfoy, anything at all and we'll double the concentration just for you." And with that Nott and the four boys left the Bathroom where they had been holding him since the start of dinner.

Draco attempted to move but each of his muscles were burning badly, and his mind was muddled with voices and laughter. The laughter was familiar to him and one he didn't want to hear. It was crazed yet full of excitement and power. He cursed himself and tried to move again but only ended up throwing up a third time. His vision blurred just as Moaning Myrtle came flying through the walls.

"Your still he... Oh my PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR!" Mrytle screamed out and disappeared into another area of the school.

Draco smiled at his good fortune, it reminded him of sixth year when a similar incident happened only this time he wouldn't cry. The pain despite how much it hurt he wouldn't cry, his vision faded just as the voices entering the bathroom were loud and clear.

"MALFOY!"

The World ceased to exist.