Chapter 7
It was a few weeks later when we all stood on the platform to the train, I, being under the custody of the Weasley's since my father had to return to the school the day previous, was being watched by at least a dozen people. I clutched onto the trolley I had, staring at Ó Dufaigh perched proudly on top.
Mrs. Weasley said her goodbyes to her four children and then got to me.
"Don't forget to write, and don't let that silly dad of your's make you boring." She hugged me and smiled.
She had said that same thing to me every year she has sent me to Hogwarts, which now was six years.
Standing on the platform, the first time I knew it would truly be safe, I couldn't help but feel so excited I wanted to cry, and as I looked over at Fred and George I could tell they felt the same. But George grabbed my hand and pulled me to the train with Fred quickly in toe, and I felt that immense joy I bottled up leading to my first day of school escape as I let out a loud laugh and found I couldn't stop.
The train ride was as crazy and wild as ever with me lounging until I had to get up to do rounds.
"A prefect's job never stops." Percy had told me last year when I complained about missing time with my friends while doing rounds.
Everything was normal, I wasted a little time talking to Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville about You-Know-Who. Harry joked about me stealing his nickname like I thought he would.
Everything was all just a little too normal.
But alas, we got off the train as normal, got in the carriages, and got to Hogwarts all normal.
Maybe things are just cooling down.
Cool?
When we got inside the Great Hall I said my goodbyes to the Weasleys and Company and made my way over to the Slytherin table, waving a little hello to my father from where he stood scowling at the head table.
I saw my white haired friend and plopped myself between him the the enormous croneys he kept himself with.
"Hello Draco."
"Hey Lil. How come I didn't see you on the train?"
He draped an arm around my shoulder as we watched Professor Flitwick bring the rickety old stool and the hat that was falling apart to the front of the hall.
"I didn't go check in with the heads, I just did my normal rounds. I don't think I could face all the 'what happened? What spells did you use? I head you used a machete, is that true?' Questions."
"Yeah, about that. What did happen?"
"Nothing of importance, I just defeated the Dark Lord."
"Yeah like that isn't of importance." His playful smile and chuckle was echoed by a few around us.
"I mean, what? Like it's hard?"
With that there was a roar throughout the Slytherin table, with a few professors giving us a dirty look.
Then I saw the doors at the entryway swing open revealing Professor McGonagall leading the first years to the front of the hall.
I, as do my comrades with me, sneer at the first years from across the Ravenclaw table.
I notice one kid look at us curiously, almost like she wasn't afraid.
Probably a muggleborn.
We waited as the hat began to sing its new song all about peace and the first years looking at the hat with wonder.
It was almost boring.
As it turns out, when not thinking about how you are trying to infiltrate the Dark Lord, life goes pretty slowly.
Then the kids start being sorted.
A gryffindor here. A Hufflepuff there. A legacy Slytherin coming once or twice.
Then finally McGonagall calls out for the girl that was looking at us before.
"Florence Williams."
The girl walked up to the chair, looked at it curiously and sat down.
The hat opened its wide brim, then closed it. The girl, Florence, was again giving the hat a strange look, her eyes looking at the brim the flooped just at her eyebrows.
Then the hat opened its brim again.
"SLYTHERIN!"
What?
Suddenly I was swept up in excitement, jumping up with my fellow Slytherins and clapping proudly as new blood was added to our crew.
Suddenly the head boy came over to me and told me that I was going to take the first years to the dormitory. I nod and sit back down when the headmaster shoots a sharp look at us to settle.
The sorting continued and in the end Slytherin had ten new additions. Six boys and four girls. All, from what I could tell, purebloods. Maybe not Florance Williams, I new a few pureblood Williams families, never one with a daughter named Florence though.
It didn't matter though, now I have to move on with the feast. Chatting quietly with Draco, Crabbe and Goyle and a few other older or younger students which I am friendly with.
Soon enough, though, I was given the signal by the Head Boy and stood up.
"First years follow me!"
I know I don't have to say it twice, all at once all ten of the student rose to their feet and follow me to the door, where I nod to Hermione leading the Gryffindors.
I lead them through the winding hallways, mentioning a few tips and tricks on how not to get trapped in the booby-traps scattered around Hogwarts on my tour.
The first years, already introduced to the Bloody Baron in the Great Hall, we acquainted with Peeves when there was a sudden splash from behind me.
I turned around and saw the first-years standing covered in water.
One first-year. Clarence Beron, stood shivering, "What...kind of tr-trap was th-that?"
Suddenly Peeves swooped down from his perch above and bowed deeply to the first-years.
"That would be Peeves the Poltergeist." I said, smiling at one of my favorite people at Hogwarts.
"At your service," Peeves said, "Lily it is finally my favorite time of year."
"Gotta love fresh blood."
"Yes."
"Of course, but for now I need to go."
With that the Poltergeist swept off and I raise my wand to the first years, casting a quick drying spell and spinning to continue my path to the dungeon.
I stop when we get to the entrance to the dungeon.
"Now," I said, "to get into the common room, as most of you know, you will have to whisper a password to one of these walls. The password changes every fortnight, so keep your eyes on the board. The common room is sacred, no member of any other house has entered for hundreds of years. Keep it this way."
Then, turning to the wall I whisper the start of term password to the wall and it swings open for me.
The common room, even though it has been a long day and classes start tomorrow, is buzzing with life.
Kids catching up, dueling for fun, looking out into the lake and waving to the various creatures that were residing there.
It was beautiful.
As soon as I lead the group to respective dorms I found my way back out to the common room. I find Draco, casually leaning against a far wall. The lights have been dimmed and his face is doused in an eerie green light from the lanterns on the wall.
"How was getting the others down here?" I ask as he hands me a small flask with what I assume is firewhisky in it.
"It was fine, the third years are getting more annoying as time passes though."
We both chuckle as I take a swing from the flask, the liquid burning as it goes down. I turn my head towards a pair of fourth years playing exploding snaps.
"Is this what it feels like to be normal?" I ask before I can stop myself.
"What, boring?" His voice comes out bitter.
"No, more like… empty or plain."
"Yep. This is really it."
"It's terrible."
"Welcome to mediocracy."
"Please Draco, at some point this year I will do something so tremendously stupid it'll look heroic."
"I don't underestimate your ability to do that, especially since you keep yourself with the lowest class of Weasley."
I smack him upside the head. Both of us letting out a little giggle.
"I have to say, everyone looks...relaxed. Happy. Except, so many have lost family members, it's crazy." Draco said, looking around at the smiling faces.
"True, I mean, look at Berny Lockless, I watched his father get taken in, he doesn't even seem to care."
"He probably doesn't, in fact, no one here probably cares. Present company included."
"Oh jeez Draco I forgot about your parents, what happened."
Draco turned his head a smidge away from me, his cheeks turning a little red, "last I heard Fathers is in trials, pretty much on his way to Azkaban. They took Mom in for questioning, but let her go when they realised Father's been changing her memory for years, taking away her free will."
"What about you?"
"They pretty much left me alone. Asked a few questions about mine and my family's involvement, but I think Dumbledore and Lupin spoke to the ministry on my behalf."
"And have you been staying at home?"
I asked the question with all sincerity. Draco always talked about running away from home, especially when I started working for the Dark Lord, secretly letting him know I was only doing it to help the Order.
He looked guilty, almost like he was trying to decide whether or not to tell the truth.
"Kind of."
"Draco…"
"I know, I know, I plan to pack up all my stuff during Christmas break."
"Well, if you want to move into the Manor i'll give you the key. You know Papa won't mind."
'I know, I just, I don't want to give Mother a reason to do, anything."
"I know, just remember that you're always welcomed."
Just then the door to the common room swings open and I hear the Head Boy yelling.
"Alright. Alright. I'll tell her, just go away!"
I look over.
"Lily, you're being summoned."
