September 1977

Draco felt closed in and light swallowing him. Bloody tower, he thought. He missed the darkness of the dungeons. Draco slowly opened his eyes, hoping to be greeted with the sounds of Goyle's snoring, fully knowing he wouldn't be, to a dog on top of him. Draco shrieked and fell out of bed.

"What the fuck is going on," James groaned. He put on his glasses. "Dammit Padfoot, you could've woken Wormtail and I up to help. Do you know how much higher his scream would've been if he had a rat on his head and a deer just…there."

He looked to his bed and saw Sirius now sitting there. "You-you're an animagus?"

"Yep, so is Wormtail and Prongs. Moony is special."

Draco crawled to his trunk and grabbed a set of robes. "Henry, it's Saturday. Just wear a sweater," Frank suggested.

"Oh, yeah. I call the bathroom first." Draco got up and ran to the bathroom door and slammed it shut.

"Someone had to go," he heard Wormtail say from the other side.

Draco let out a sigh and stared at the mirror. He didn't recognize himself—the messy, light brown hair, tanned skin, lean and rounded face. He still had his grey eyes, thin lips, and height—a trait he couldn't credit to either of his parents. Yes he could still see himself but now he saw Henry Paxton staring at him too, even though Draco had yet to discover who he truly was.

He unfastened the medallion, letting it fall on the counter. Glancing back into the mirror, he was himself once more. Draco picked up the medallion to study it. Saorsa was etched in silver. He didn't know what it meant and didn't care either.

Draco turned on the shower and cried. He hadn't done so in weeks and it was long overdue. He was to be here as a different man for almost four more years. Part of him wondered if Granger knew how long they would be there. He would have to ask her later.

Someone pounded at the door. "Oi, hurry up, Henry!" James shouted. "Some of us need to take a piss. I'm giving you five minutes, maybe less, to finish up before I bust in there myself."

Draco didn't respond. He stood under the water and let the tears fall down. He had to stay strong. He had only been on this mission for almost ten hours and he already felt like a failure. He couldn't do four more years.

Draco shut off the water and put the medallion back on when he heard the knob being twisted. Quickly he wrapped a towel around his waist. James walked in already nude. He busted out laughing. "Henry is being shy! What a prude!"

"Oh shut up, James. You realize we've shared a room for seven years," he heard Remus bark. Remus poked his head in. "Grab a robe and your clothes. It'll be easier if you go to the prefects' bath. I was heading there anyway. I promise to stay in the hall while you change."

Draco threw on a robe and grabbed his clothes before dashing after Remus. He almost tripped on the last few steps but caught himself. Remus was staring at him. "Are you coming or not?" Draco nodded and followed him out the portrait.

Draco had never paid attention to this part of the castle before. He marveled at the detailed portraits who went about their own business ignoring him and Remus. "They're from the 1200s," Remus informed him. "So how was your first night as a Gryffindor?"

Draco shrugged. "Not too bad. It's um…"

"A lot?" Draco nodded. "Padfoot and Prongs are always like that. They are brothers from two completely different families. Padfoot also ran away last summer from home when he was burned off his family tree to the Potters. They have a special bond."

"He was burned off his family tree?" Draco already knew this but figured it was better to act dumb.

"He was a Black in Gryffindor and considered a blood traitor. His cousin, Andromeda, was also burned off."

They stopped in front of the prefect bathroom doors. "It's a big place. There are some stalls that way," Remus pointed to the left, "You can either go back to the tower, wander around, or wait for me. I shouldn't be too long. Oh, and Henry, you have nothing to be afraid of with those scars. All of us have some."

Draco heard the faucet turn on when Remus disappeared. He had completely forgotten to disillusion the scars from Potter's curse. Remus had acted as if they were normal, and none of the other guys had pointed them out either. Then he remembered that Remus was a werewolf and Sirius came from a very ancient family. Body scars meant nothing to any of them. He put on his clothes and walked back out into the hall. He sat on a bench a couple of portraits down and waited.

"Henry?"

He looked up and saw Hermione, or Lucy, walking towards him with the other blonde and the short haired brunette. "Do you want to come to breakfast with us, Henry?" the blonde asked. She nudged Hermione. "There'll be a seat available across from Lucy."

He saw Hermione's cheek tint pink. Remus exited the bathroom. "Hello Alice, Marlene. How are you, Lucy?"

"I'm good. Thank you," she smiled.

"You ladies heading to breakfast?" he asked. The blonde, Marlene, nodded. "So are Henry and I. We'll accompany you both."

They walked towards the Great Hall. Hermione stepped back to walk with Draco. "How are you, really?"

Draco shrugged. "Potter and Black kind of scare me."

"He fell out of bed this morning because they scared him!" Remus snickered.

Draco scowled and saw Hermione smirking. Shivers ran down his spine at the sight of blonde Hermione smirking. It was Malfoy like, except her blonde hair was darker than the Malfoy platinum, she had more color to her skin, and her eyes were brown. "How are you," he whispered.

"Good," her voice cracked, "It's kind of hard with knowing how everything—"

Draco looked over and saw Hermione on the ground. "Are you okay, Lucy?" He helped her get up.

"You!" Remus shouted. "What was that for? 5 points from Slytherin for causing another student to fall, Barry."

"Barty," Alice said, "His name is Barty. Surely you can remember a child's name, Remus?"

"I'm not a child," Barty growled. Hermione gripped onto Draco. Barty? Was this Barty Crouch Jr? He sniffed the air. "Watch yourselves, and your mudbloods."

"There are no muggleborns here and watch your mouth, Crouch. That's another point from Slytherin," Remus barked.

The small boy sneered. "Who gave you the power to take points mongrel?"

"Enough Crouch," A quiet, strong voice said. The short haired version of Sirius stood behind him. "Leave the lions alone. We don't want the watch dog to appear, now do we?"

"Too late," Sirius pushed past him and Hermione. "Hello Reggie."

Regulus Black frowned. "My name is Regulus. You should know that, Sirius."

"Didn't see you last night. Don't think Dumbledore would like you skipping out on such events."

Regulus only blinked. "I was at my cousin's wedding last night. Headmaster Dumbledore was aware."

"Cissa got married?" Sirius asked, surprised.

Draco's breath hitched. Merlin, his parents just got married. The thought was insane as reality sunk in—he didn't even exist yet. Regulus nodded. "She married Lucius Malfoy at the Malfoy Manor."

"Bet she got married then so when she has a little blond nut, her and goldilocks can start each year alone when the nut is in Hogwarts," Sirius laughed.

Draco gagged. He never thought about any of this. His memory was stained now. Regulus glanced at him and the blonde girl attached to him. "Who are you two?"

"A new guy and a mudblood," Barty chirped.

Regulus hushed the fifth year. "I'm not a muggle born," Hermione said shakily. "I'm a halfblood."

"I didn't ask for a status," Regulus grunted. "I asked for names."

"Lucy Winters."

Draco stared at the youngest Black. He glanced down at his left arm. Regulus slowly moved it behind his back. Regulus Black was his way in, Draco realized. "Henry Paxton. Let's go eat, Lucy."

Draco dragged Hermione away from the ongoing scuffle. "Halfblood?"

"Yes Lucy Winters is a halfblood."

Draco saw Frank was already sitting at the Gryffindor table along with a towering guy. "Hey Henry, Lucy, this is Benjy Fenwick from Hufflepuff."

Benjy stood up to greet the newcomers. "It's nice to not be the only giant anymore," he said with a thick Scottish accent. He looked at Hermione. "You're a wee little thing, aren't ya love?"

"Love?" she cringed.

"It's just a formality, Lucy," Draco said. "People with etiquette know this."

She glared at him. ""What are you trying to say, Henry? That I lack etiquette?"

Benjy leaned toward him. "Yer stuck mate. She trapped ya."

Hermione huffed and sat next to Frank. Draco sat by Benjy. "So what's a Puff like you doing sitting with a bunch of lions?" Draco asked.

" 'Ere only four other boys in my year that I share a room with. Each of them are in love with each other and refuse to invite me to their orgies," Draco and Benjy started laughing.

Frank rolled his eyes. "Are they okay?" Alice asked as she sat on the other side of Frank. Remus sat opposite her and next to Benjy with Marlene next to Hermione and Sirius across from her. Peter plopped next to Sirius. James and Lily had yet to make an appearance.

Frank shrugged as he bit into his piece of toast. "Don't know," he said while chewing. "They were talking about Puff orgies."

Alice gagged. "Disgusting."

"Okay so the orgy part might not be true, but I am very certain that some of' those guys are in love with' each other," Benjy said. "I'm just not friends with any of them. Frankie and I have been friends since we were wee 'ittle tikes. Nobody else really liked me 'cos I am another black sheep."

He high fived Sirius and Alice. "Fenwicks are known Ravenclaws like Fortescues," Draco said. "You should start a club."

"We did," Sirius smirked. "Our previous DADA professor made us disband it because it was 'too offensive'."

Lily and James joined the group a few minutes later. "Saw Dorcas and Emmeline in the halls. They said to meet them at lake after breakfast," Lily informed the group.

"Dork wants her book on hobbsingers back too, Benjy," James said.

"Hobbsnaggers," Benjy corrected, "And I'm quite sure a hobbsnagger took it."

Draco high fived him under the table. "How did you end up in Hufflepuff?"

Benjy shrugged and took a bite of his muffin. "As the raggy hat sings, Hufflepuff said she'd take the rest. Clearly, I didn't fit into one distinct category. I'm just very special."

Frank snorted. "Oh you are very special, Benjy."

The group waited at the Black Lake for the three Ravenclaw girls. Hermione saw Draco and Benjy still talking. Not once had she seen him make a move on Peter. Frank entered their conversation. Sirius was running around in his dog form trying to gain Marlene's attention. Lily was talking to Remus, and James was talking to Peter. Hermione was sitting quietly against a tree.

"You alright, Lucy," Alice asked as she next to her.

"Yeah I'm fine," she answered. "How are you?"

Alice giggled. "Annoyed a little. Benjy only sits with his house on special occasions, like last night. Benjy and Frank have always been an interesting duo, and now it seems Henry is making it a trio, which I'm okay with. Frank always love the other guys but those four have a special bond like Frank and Benjy do. It'll be nice having someone in our house for him to talk to."

"So you and Frank have been together a while?"

Alice grinned. "Yeah. I love him a lot. We're getting married once we are out of school. He asked right before we came back," She grabbed her wand and took away a disillusionment spell to reveal a simple diamond ring. "I keep it hidden because I don't want all the attention. I know it's not much but I love it. It's just going to be a small affair. Then we are going into Auror training together if our NEWTS are good enough."

"I'm sure they will be," Hermione said. "Congratulations to the two of you."

"Thank you. Oh it's the girls."

Hermione turned towards the castle and saw three girls walking towards them. "Emmeline," She pointed to the girl with black hair, "Doesn't hang out with us as much as Dorcas does."

"Sorry we're late," Emmeline apologized. She made eye contact with Benjy. "Mervyn was picking on a third year."

Benjy looked at her bewildered. "Mervyn is a third year himself," Benjy groaned in realization. "Was it that Lockhart twit? Mervyn has complained about him a lot."

Emmeline nodded. "Benjy, did hobbsnaggers take the book?" Dorcas asked.

"Sure did, Dorcas. Those hobbsnaggers are crazy little buggers," Benjy and Draco chuckled together. "Dorcas, Emmeline, meet Henry Paxton and Lucy Winters. They are some new Gryffindors."

Emmeline waved at the two. "Dumbledore also stopped us. He wanted me to get you three," she said to Lily, James, and Remus. "He wants a Prefects meeting now. It was nice to meet you two."

Emmeline left with the three Gryffindors. Dorcas only stared at them. Hermione remembered one of the girls last night saying that Dorcas had been friends with a Ravenclaw named Pandora. She wondered if that happened to be Luna's mother. It most likely was.

"You two are very peculiar," she said at last.

Sirius snorted. "You're one to talk." Marlene hit him upside the head.

"Dumbledore is starting preparation," Dorcas said. "He's going to bring us in."

"Into what?" Draco asked.

Hermione knew. It was very obvious, and the grins on the others' faces meant they knew too. Dorcas answered his question. "The Order of the Phoenix."