Chapter 4
Draco was not yet trained to handle the current situation he was caught in. Blaise and Daphne, the happy yet wicked couple, were smiling serenely at him; laughing quietly to themselves from across the compartment as they watched him deal with the sleeping girl he held in his lap and arms.
He had certainly remembered when she had at first fell asleep, her head had tilted slightly to rest comfortably on his shoulder. Draco was a bit surprised but hadn't seen any harm in it, and continued reading. But then, he wasn't sure when, it appeared that he had fallen asleep as well.
He was now propped up with his back to the cushioned corner of his seat. His left leg had found its way up onto the bench and he was effectively spread out across the length of the compartment seat. Pansy was allowed a little space at the end next to the window, which had been propped open to allow the cool night air into the carriage, but that really wasn't the problem.
Astoria was draped across his chest, her back snuggled leisurely into his arm and side. Her sweet smelling hair fanned across his shoulder and her breath created a cool breeze across his exposed shoulder bone. She was very light, but her body was warm against his own, and it was comfortable and relaxing.
The train was nearing Hogsmeade, and Draco needed desperately to wake Astoria and begin to gather their things. The first years would need guidance to the boats, and that was his own assigned task. But he didn't want to wake her. She was too peaceful and
flawless while she slept, and he himself didn't want to move under her pleasant weight.
But again, waking her wasn't the problem. He could easily wake her. Draco would only need to sit up, and she would undoubtedly be wide awake. Draco just wasn't positive how she would handle their current positions. And neither Daphne or Pansy were forthcoming with answers. Blaise had just shrugged at him.
He raised his hand to her face, carefully brushing a few strand of hair away from her face. Once he had mentally prepared himself to call her name, he would. Draco froze for a few seconds. The silence within the compartment was complete as each member focused entirely on the sleeping girl.
Unexpectedly, lights began passing the train at regular intervals, and the brakes screeched as they began to slow down. They were arriving in Hogsmeade.
The sound had roused Astoria. She blearily opened her vivid eyes and immediately caught Draco's own grey orbs.
That quickly shed light on exactly what situation they were in.
"Oh!" Astoria quickly sat up, still half in Draco's lap. In her newly awakened state, her blush wasn't as noticeable, but Draco couldn't help but smile. He stretched his arms behind his head.
"We're almost stopped. Astoria? If you wouldn't mind helping me with the first years, I'd greatly appreciate it. We'll be leading the boats." He straightened his clothes and smoothed out Astoria's a bit as well. He wouldn't have her looking less than perfect.
The train slowed to an almost complete stop.
"Would you mind taking care of our luggage?" Draco asked Blaise, who smirked and nodded to him. Draco stood up, balancing Astoria as he pulled her up simultaneously.
They exited the compartment amidst the rush of the other students who were hastily trying to leave the train as fast as possible. Easily, Draco made a way through the crowd, gleaming headboy badge on his chest while he tugged Astoria along behind him.
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It took a few minutes for Astoria to get her bearings. She had woken up from a heavenly dream to find that she had used Draco as a pillow. Embarrassing as that was, she could barely speak afterwards, exclaiming a soft 'Oh!' at the situation.
Draco hadn't seemed to mind about him being used as a pillow, and had smiled before pulling her out of the compartment. It was then that she realized how chilly it was. She had gotten too used to Draco's heat, which still seemed to cling to her side and back. The students parted for them as they walked through the corridor, and suddenly they were down the steps and outside.
She couldn't help but gaze upwards, towards the dimming sky and the speckling of stars that had begun to appear. When she looked back down, Draco was watching her.
Feeling more fully awake, she helped him gather the first years towards the boats. Hagrid wasn't there. She turned to Draco.
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"Where's the half-giant?" Astoria asked, Draco smirked in response.
"He hasn't left if thats what you're thinking, apparently Snape is finally putting him to work. It really should be the prefects job in the first place to escort the first years." Draco answered her while flicking his wand over the group of first years, taking a brief head count. "I think we're all set."
"First years, follow us!" Draco led the way down a gravelly path to a small fleet of boats next to the lake. From the angle, a more mountainous part of the forest concealed Hogwarts completely from view.
When reaching the beach, he gestured to the boats. A sense of magic and exhilaration permeated the air around all of them, and it was in complete silence that everyone boarded, little heads turned skyward.
He helped Astoria into a boat as well, memories of this first ride bringing a sense of nostalgia to Draco. This was going to be his final year at Hogwarts.
With a wave of his wand, the boats set forward through the dark lake, reflecting the evening sky above.
A synchronized gasp echoed through the first years as the lit castle came into view. The two upperclassmen smiled, and the excitement filling the first years finally broke loose, and they chattered happily for the rest of the ride.
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Meanwhile, Astoria was thinking quietly to herself. In her peripheral vision Draco sat; solemnly watching the sky.
His scent had stuck to her blouse and she breathed it in headily, feeling almost guilty about it.
Certainly that had to be wrong on several levels, she chided herself. And to fall asleep on him? She would certainly have to apologize for that later. But it had been nice while it lasted.
She was really beginning to understand the whole 'Slytherin Prince' concept of Draco Malfoy.
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Professor McGonnagel met them in the front hall, and stoically relieved them of their duties. She glared rather harshly at Draco, before questioningly turning her gaze on Astoria. Draco ignored her, nodded to the first years behind him (who looked at him in absolute awe) and guided Astoria into the great hall. More than a few heads turned towards them as they both headed to the right and walked between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables. Finally, they parted ways when Mandy pulled Astoria into the seat next to her. Draco sat across the aisle from her at the Slytherin table, between Blaise and Tracey Davis.
Tracey immediately turned to him to ask him about his summer. She was in his year, and was one of Pansy's posse. He answered her shortly and began a deep conversation with Blaise about the oncoming Slytherin quidditch tryouts. Truth be told, he had been dying to talk about it ever since that conversation in the Raven compartment.
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"Where the bloody hell were you?! Didn't you promise to come back to the compartment during lunch?" Mandy asked her, half seriously and half playfully. "Just because you've got a shiny new boyfriend doesn't mean you can ditch the rest of us."
Michael Corner and Jason Samuels, the Raven's quidditch captain, perked up at the last sentence. The boys both surveyed her for a moment before looking over her shoulder eyeing Malfoy suspiciously. Astoria pinned a glare of death on her friend.
"You know he isn't my boyfriend, Mandy." She turned to look back at Draco for a moment. The pretty blonde girl sitting next to him flicked her hair flirtatiously over her shoulder while leaning closer to him. She seemed to ask him a question, and smiled wickedly at him, batting her eyes. Astoria turned abruptly back to her own table.
"So do you have a boyfriend?" Stew Ackerly asked her from across the table to her left. Astoria swore she would have been blushing if she was capable. Why would little Stew want to know if she was taken? She seriously was not interested in any awkward and uncomfortable questions or situations with him. Or with any boy for that matter.
"Of course not." Astoria snapped at him. Suddenly she felt peeved, Daphne was wrong, boys were definitely not worth the time.
"Are you interested in having a boyfriend?" Michael waggled his eyebrows at her, while Jason leaned his elbows next to the shiny but empty dishes, propping himself forward so he could hear her answer. Her mouth dropped open. Surely they were kidding?
Before she could answer, the double doors burst open and Professor McGonnagel led the meager looking first year group into the hall. Not only were they ridiculously short and appearing to be scared right out of their tiny school robes; there weren't as many of them this year. Normally there were around forty new students, give or take. This year, there was maybe a few more than twenty five, though it was difficult to estimate due to their puny size.
Astoria supposed she hadn't really thought about it when they were on the boats. Indeed, she had been preoccupied. Discreetly, she inhaled deeply through her nose. Her blouse still smelled exactly like Draco Malfoy.
The group walked unnecessarily close together as they made their way to the front of the hall, where the sorting hat waited patiently for them. The Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables studied them stoically, wondering if there were less Puffs in this round of fresh students.
Astoria assumed this was the case, the same as for the lack of prefects.
As soon as the first years reached the front, several of them jumped immediately backwards as the sorting hat burst urgently into song.
This legendary hogwarts school
has been here for an age
while tradition is more simple
its time for a new page
The Snakes all have ambition,
but when bound with a Lion's valor
Both will find that when they're friends
Nothing is outside their power
The Badgers are hardworking,
but when joined by a Raven's insights
both will make it easily through
any and all plights
Each of you has a gift
you just need the desire
combine your talents and you'll achieve
anything you might aspire.
The four houses are all different,
I'll divide you, but keep in mind
You're a force when you're together
Despite the house that you're assigned.
The hat closed its rimmed mouth just as abruptly as it had opened it, and sat silently on the stool for a moment as its audience took in the message. A few teachers clapped hesitantly at first, gauging the headmaster's reaction, who after a moment, stood up and began to clap very loudly.
At this, the Slytherin table rose as one and began a round of applause; Professor Snape had remained their head of house and they would follow his lead. The rest of the hall stared at the Snakes in shock, not expecting them to take kindly to the message. Slowly, the Ravens and Lions joined them, and were immediately followed by the Puffs, who meant not to get left behind.
Once the noise died down and whispers of the strange song and reactions begun, the teachers sat down along with the rest of the hall. Professor McGonnagel pulled a list from her robes and began dutifully placing the students into their respected houses.
A full ten students were placed into Slytherin as usual, eight into both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, and a measly four into Hufflepuff. A total of thirty students.
Each and every new Snake experienced a nearly solid glare from both the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables while they walked to their new table. There was less applause for the new Snakes as well, only polite clapping from the teachers (aside from the Headmaster, and two new professors Astoria hadn't met) accompanied by a roar from the student's fellow Slytherins. New Lions on the other hand were given a warm enthusiastic welcome from nearly everyone.
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Draco shook his head. The bias against the Snakes was ridiculously clear, he was very thankful that their own numbers weren't reduced at all from the war; it would be easier to defend themselves against attack when they were a majority.
The population of Snakes who had graduated Hogwarts had, in contrast, been reduced over the past few years. Draco's own family was in the center of the war, along with many of his classmates. Parents and family friends of the other Snakes were killed regularly or placed in Azkaban. And it wasn't uncommon to find a younger Snake sobbing in the common room due to a death or other tragedy.
There would probably be even more of that this year. Slytherins themselves were being used as a sort of scapegoat in the war, and it showed.
He was going to make sure he made the students of his house feel secure and safe. It was his duty as headboy, but also his social obligation as a Snake. The Snakes stood up for eachother, and that was law.
After the sorting, Severus stood up from his seat once more, and addressed the hall.
"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts." This statement panged the hearts of many older students, as it had been a phrase repeated by Snape's predecessor, Dumbledore.
"I realize that this year is in stark difference to other years, as there have been many changes in faculty, and the war itself has had its own effect on Hogwarts and its students." Snape's voice was deep and low, which caused each student to remain quiet and listen intently.
"Hogwarts was a haven from the war, and while I still want it to remain as such, there are other forces at work. I expect the separate houses to work together, as you will not have that choice in the outside world." Snape gazed over his students, a different entity from the warm Dumbledore, but certainly a force to be reckoned with.
"I have two new professors to introduce. Both of them shall be treated with kindness and respect, as there may be outside consequences if anything goes astray." The meaning of this was not taken lightly by the students, Gryffindors in particular (Draco couldn't help but smirk at this), wearily peered over towards two similar looking people at the right end of the head table.
"This is Professor Amycus Carrow and Professor Alecto Carrow. They will be teaching muggle studies, and defense against the dark arts, respectfully."
The female, Alecto, was short and bony with high cheek bones and dark brown eyes. She held her dominating gaze over the students and slightly upturned the side of her mouth as if to say 'hello, I do bite.'
The male was also short, but in a squat lumpy way in contrast to his sister. His eyes were of the same brown, but set further back into his head. A wicked smile graced his lips as his eyes bounced quickly throughout the hall.
Draco, of course, knew them personally, and had known of their appointment at Hogwarts. It had in fact been ordered by the Dark Lord himself. The man had set up residence in Malfoy Manor over the summer, which caused a situation Draco wasn't pleased with. The Dark Lord's ideas and ideals were something entirely different from his actions and demeanor, and for Draco, receiving that wake up call was very disappointing.
Severus went on to outline school rules as Draco's thoughts wandered.
He had been raised to praise the Dark Lord, as Voldemort had been a revolutionary who had finally stood up for the rights purebloods had been rapidly losing. For the followers he had left behind, Voldemort was an icon, exaggeration built up on his reputation.
Upon his return, Lucius was among the first to realize what a lunatic the Dark Lord had become, but the Malfoys had already twisted their fate too clearly with that side. All of this had been shielded from Draco until recently, after he had received his deathmark and pledged the Deatheater's oath.
Lucius had sat him down and told him exactly what was going on, away from the eyes and ears of anyone. His father's actions were fixed, and if he strayed from the Dark Lord, the entire family would reap the consequences; this was a chance that Lucius hadn't wanted to take.
Draco had come to truly appreciate Dumbledore's offer to him in the months after his death. The crazy old man had really known what he was talking about.
The Dark Lord on the other hand, seemed to be easily fooled. He was overconfident in his power.
A strange 'niau' like sound brought Draco's attention back to the present. His eyes whipped to Pansy, who he realized, was sitting across the table from him. She was fumbling with something in her robes. A white tail with a black tip slipped out before revealing the small head of a young cat for another split second. One that Draco recognized from on the train. Draco leaned his elbows on the table and pushed forward to whisper to Pansy.
"Would you mind telling me exactly why you are keeping Emrys in your robes?" Draco asked her in a low trained voice and smirked at her. She sighed.
"I tried to get him into the cage for Astoria, but the damned thing started making an awful racket, so I just grabbed him and levitated everything else onto the platform." She looked to her left and right, making sure that no one was paying attention to their whispered conversation. She was fairly sure that cats weren't allowed in the great hall during meals. For some odd reason, the majority of hufflepuffs were allergic. And wizarding allergies were not some sort of pleasant ordeal by any means.
"Could you take him? He's more yours than he is mine." Before he could argue, Pansy had knocked her fork to the floor and ducked carefully below the table, depositing a silky small cat in his lap before reappearing. The grin on her face balanced out his small frown.
Thankfully the cat seemed to have taken a keen liking to his lap, and curled up into a compact ball he easily concealed with his robes. On a second thought, he cast a non-hair-shedding spell. He didn't want hair on his robes to give him away. He focussed his attention once more on the headmaster.
"Now that we have most of that covered, lets hope for a smooth school year. Finally, let us eat." Severus sat abruptly back down, looking socially awkward as he probably hadn't been the type to give public speeches prior to this occasion.
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The spaces between Astoria and her friends were now comically filled with little first year Ravens who were enthusiastically talking, laughing, and eating. Astoria wasn't surprised when the identical twins next to her began arguing with the little boy across from them. They were discussing the final chapter of the first year herbology book. All three of them had already read it. Astoria remembered being the same way, it was a Ravenclaw thing.
Heather and Lea Finnigan were the names of the two girls, both the younger sisters of one Seamus Finnigan, a seventh year Gryffindor, Astoria believed. Both had long thin sandy hair to their mid backs and bright hazel eyes. She hadn't caught the boy's name, but he was slowly going red in the face as the two girls argued him into a corner.
Exasperated, he gave up, slumping into the bench and going silent. Both girls laughed at him.
"We're only kidding."
"You were right, aconite should only be harvested during the full moon."
"Thats why its called wolfsbane."
The boy looked up at them in disbelief.
"You-" the boy let his mouth drop open but was interrupted by Michael Corner who put his arm around him and started laughing.
Astoria smiled and brushed her hair over her shoulder, first year ravenclaws were always interesting. Too much intelligence and enthusiasm wrapped into too small of a package.
After the dessert arrived, Snape dismissed the students, who began to leave in twos or threes while some others stayed for the remainder of the dessert. The hufflepuffs shuffled quickly out of the hall and took the stairs down to their dorms near the kitchens.
Astoria stood up and caught Anthony Goldstein's eye. The prefects would need to escort the first years to the dorms. The five of them easily rounded up the eight tiny first years and directed them towards the exit.
Astoria's eyes flitted around the hall for a moment, she felt like she was forgetting something. Her gaze caught on a blonde head and handsome profile. Her heart sped up for a moment.
She decided that she would very much like to forget that ever happened. Shaking her head to herself, she followed the other prefects out.
Marietta Edgecomb pulled her aside just as they exited the great hall.
"I need to get to the library, there's something I've been needing to look up all summer, and the only copy of the book was here at Hogwarts. Would you mind taking charge of the female first years? You probably remember the drill, just show them the dorms and go over a few base rules that weren't covered at the meeting." Marietta began running in the opposite direction. "Thanks!"
Astoria knew how that was. Thankfully the Greengrass library had enough piled resources to last her through the summer. She couldn't imagine the three months without it. She caught up to the group of prefects and first years just as they hit the staircase. Most Ravens didn't use this route, preferring instead to loop up the astronomy stair case and passing through a tapestry to the main sixth floor corridor. It was more efficient, as many Ravens had timed and tested its usage. But for the first years, it was important to experience the moving staircases first hand before classes the next day.
"Anthony? Marietta went to the library." He nodded at this statement, understanding its meaning. Marietta wouldn't be available for another few hours at the least. "She asked me to cover Raven procedure, and to show the girls to the dorms, since Su Li isn't here either."
He glanced sideways at her as they continued along the staircases, first years trailing behind while examining the portraits.
"That seems alright." He then addressed Stephen Cornfoot, who was a little behind him and to the left. "Cornfoot, go on ahead and get the common room settled before we get there. Alexander is going to explain security and how to get inside the common room, and Astoria and I will cover the rules and tours." He paused for a breath, but seemed to be taking on his senior Ravenclaw prefect duties very well. He was, in essence, in charge of the rest of the raven prefects.
"The other years know when to join us."
Stephen nodded in acknowledgment before picking up his pace to get to the common room before the rest. Alexander then pulled up to walk next to them.
"I wonder what the eagle has come up with this time. The first question from over the summer is always the most difficult." He looked troubled by this, but Anthony clapped him on the back while laughing.
"You'll answer it without any problem."
After a few more minutes, they had to wait for a staircase to move back into position, they reached the absolute end of the primary sixth floor corridor. Anthony stopped in front of a elegant marble framed maple door. It was framed on each side by a single ionic column, but the actual door was unembellished except for an engraved bronze door knocker depicting the Ravenclaw Eagle.
The eight first years gathered around it in an eager half circle, gazing at the older prefects expectantly.
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Draco finished his slice of pumpkin pie and laid his fork down on the table beside his plate. None of the Slytherins had left the table as of yet, since it was tradition to rise as one, especially for the initial feast. They would then hold the Slytherin briefing and orientation down in the common room.
He made a move to rise from his seat before realizing that he was still holding the sleeping cat in his lap. Quickly looking around, he found that Astoria was no longer at the Ravenclaw table.
Exasperatedly, he maneuvered the cat into a large concealed pocket on the inside of his robes. He'd have to find Astoria before she freaked out about her missing cat. Although it would have to wait until after the Slytherin meeting.
Which would mean that he would have to miss the start of the Snake's return party.
He wondered idly if Ravens went to sleep early; he would hate to have to wake her twice in one day.
'Although,' he thought, 'her reaction to that wasn't so horrible.'
He wouldn't mind seeing her blush again.
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A/N
Wow hey. I basically just spit this chapter out. There was not too much revising done, so if you spot any flaws or even parts of the story that need help, point them out and I'll fix em and repost.
I just decided that I needed to post before I read any fics this weekend, as it wasn't fair otherwise.
Anyway, this is the longest chapter so far. 11 pages. This chapter wasn't so much about feelings, as what the last chapter was about, it was more logistical stuff, and i apologize for that.
I hope you like the sorting hat's song. I couldn't resist.
Please REVIEW!!! Its the only motivating factor that keeps me writing this!
although i admit, its fun to write.
Some criticism would be much appreciated. But only if its very specific.
Have fun reading, and I hope you enjoy it.
ALSO. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
If you just save this story to your favorites, you won't get an email when I update it, meaning that you'll miss out on new chapters and stuff. So add it to your STORY ALERTS. If you liked it that is. And I really do appreciate it when you favorite my story, don't get me wrong. ha ha
enough rambling. Love you all
Q
