September 1st, 1992

The Hogwarts express began to chug its way out of the station as the returning students made their first attempts at exerting dominance over each other for the school year. It didn't matter that the inside of the train was always large enough to allow everyone their own personal compartment if they went looking. But it gave their ego a good stroking if they were able to throw others out of a compartment that he or she deemed as theirs.

Near the rear of the train, Draco Malfoy was holding court with his minions - *AHEM* - "friends". This particular group was a tad concerned with his behavior during the previous year.

"Oh, Draky-Poo!" A pug also known as Pansy Parkinson cried. "Why ever would you spend so much time with those icky half-breeds?"

"Didn't your Father refuse to buy you a broom because of that?" Blaise Zabini piped in.

The remaining sycophants let off a chorus of gasps.

Draco scowled. "My Father is a fool that can't see the bigger picture."

"Whut?" The pug barked.

"He never let me get a word in edgewise, so i'm just going to leave him out in the cold." Draco demurred coldly. "He's going to regret dismissing me out of hand! - Stop touching me Pansy! - If the wizarding world is going to preserve it's pureblood lines we are going to need innovation. The mudbloods are not just polluting the world with their presence, they are actually STEALING our blood!"

The group gasped yet again.

"Yes! But I have discovered a way to save us!" Draco raised his fist. "With careful research, I have found that the Centaurs can be used to inoculate ourselves from the theft of our pure blood! And if we work together, a full scale production facility can be established with enough growth capital."

"Production of what?"

"What's growth capital?"

*shriek* "My blood?!"

"What the bloody hell is 'inoculate'?"

Blaise saw a flaw in this plan and decided to speak up. "Where are we going to get the money? I doubt our parents will help us with something so controversial."

Draco grinned confidently. "I thought of that too. - Damn it, Pansy! - We can re-use empty ButterBeer bottles or conjure our own. Once we coax the Centaurs into producing their milk, we sell the filled bottles to other Slytherins for a reasonable fee."

Leaping onto Draco's train of logic, Blaise nodded to him. "And by the time we graduate, we'll have enough capital to setup a production farm and a shop in Diagon Alley!"

Draco examined his nails haughtily. "The dumb beasts will even do it for free. They practically lined up when they found out what I was up to..."

The blonde's group of sycophants continued planning through the remainder of the trip. One way or another, the PureBlood Aristocracy of Wizarding Britain were going to regret not getting in on this new venture.

Further up the train, Parvati was doing some hard core gossiping to make up for lost time during the summer.

"Oh, Lav! You'll never guess what I just found out!" Parvati shrieked as she violently shook the other girl's shoulders hard enough to give her whiplash.

*sputter* "W-what?" Lavender had built up a tolerance of sorts to her friend's "enthusiasm", and merely took the physical treatment in stride.

"I heard from Lisa, who heard from Terry, who was told by Padma, who overheard Angelina, who got shouted at by George, who heard from Dean, who stole a note from Su Li, who was told by Pansy, who beat up a Hufflepuff, who was talking with Ginny Weasley, who overheard her Mum talking to her Dad about Harry's Aunt Marge getting eaten to death by her own dogs!"

*moan* Lavender's lips nearly bled. "Oh Morgaaaannnnnaaaa…."

"Right?!"

Yet further up the train, Angelina Johnson burst her way into a compartment containing Ron, Harry, and Hermione. "Oh, Ron-Ron!"

3 heads swiveled in her direction.

"Whut?"

Not bothering for social graces, Angelina plopped herself next to the redhead and draped over him. "I've been looking everywhere for you." She moaned breathlessly.

"Really?" Ron was on a roll with the one word answers today. Hermione glared at him for the perceived slight. 'Girls, am I right?'

Angelina gathered herself up and looked directly into his eyes for a moment causing Ron to gulp. "Ronald Weasley?"

"Y-yes?"

"I have decided that you're my boyfriend now." The dark skinned girl proclaimed. "From now on, you will be the perfect companion."

"I am?"

"You are… if you know what's good for you." Angelina's voice took a threatening lilt.

"Okay.." The redhead gasped in fright, before looking to his friends for support.

He got nothing but smirks in return.

- SVH -

Hours later, the Hogwarts Express finally reached its final stop at Hogsmeade Station. Lined up on the platform were a dozen Centaurs with an even more juiced up Bane in the lead. Although they were not waiting quietly, for an argument had broken out.

"You can't hog the Malfoy to yourself Bane!" Firenze asserted.

"It's not fair!" Random Centaur #1 shouted.

"I was his first!" Random Centaur #2 griped petulantly.

Bane was having none of it. "Be silent! All of you!" He flexed his obscene arms threateningly. "I believe i have already proven myself superior to all of you! Draco is MINE!"

Firenze shuddered at the memory. Bane's idea of proving himself had left the other Centaurs with very sore backsides. Firenze in particular was still leaking Bane's frustrations from his rear after a week.

Random Centaur #7 appeared to have an idea. "I advocate for a compromise!"

"What's he on about?"

"Compromise?"

"Mars has been waning a bit…"

Bane locked eyes with Random Centaur #7 in an effort to intimidate him. "What do you suggest?"

"What if we were to… have part time access?" The centaur explained. "Perhaps when you are recuperating we could -" He was suddenly drowned out by the offloading students.

"There they are!" Pansy shouted belligerently.

"Ah, Draco…" Bane's attention landed upon the said blonde. "I have missed you so." Bane then strutted up to the boy and began to not-so subtly flex and show off.

"H-h-hello, Bane." Draco just sorted of gasped breathlessly as his face heated up. 'What is wrong with me? Why does my heart flutter like this? He's just a source of future income! How dare you betray me you overrated organ!'

Blaise startled him out of his revere with a harsh poke. "Don't you have something to ask of them?"

"Yes! Uhh…" Draco flustered a moment. "Bane! My friends and I were wondering if we could discuss an arrangement."

The other Centaurs gathered around the Slytherin students in interest. They were quick on the uptake and knew /immediately/ what was about to be discussed. If their eager smiles were anything to go by.

'My Draco is so smart, and generous!' Bane pride shown from his face like a beacon on a dreary shore line.

- SVH -

At the head table, Albus Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with renewed power. To his right the previously empty seats designated for the DADA and Potions Professors were now filled by Gilderoy Lockhart and Horace Slughorn respectively. Old Horace had also been convinced to return to his position as Head of Slytherin House once more. Although you'd be hard pressed to notice the new staff members, when your attention is being conquered by the Headmaster's choice in robes that day. The Swingin' 60's had made a comeback.

In front of the Head Table, the Sorting Ceremony was in full swing.

"Creepy-CREEVEY, Colin!" Minerva looked mortified at failing to catch herself as she called the boy to be sorted.

Not even noticing the slip of the tongue, Colin eagerly ran to the stool. 'Oh, Boy! MAGIC!'

The Sorting Hat had barely touched the boy's head when suddenly it's "eyes" widened in horror when it discovered what thoughts occupied Colin's skull. "GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR! MERLIN'S SWEATY BALLS, GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" It then began to sob and scream inconsolably as it tried to climb over Mcgonagall in a bid for escape.

"YAY!" The creepy little blonde obliviously hopped off the stool, ran for the Gryffindor table, and proceeded to stare at Harry Potter in a disturbingly fanatical manner. "Alright, Harry?"

"Uh, Hi?"

"Do you need anything, Harry?"

"No, I think I'm good. Thanks?" Harry was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the situation.

"Are you suuuurrrrreee?" Colin's eyes were vacant and his smile was… off. Of course Harry being the little psychopath that he is, recognised an opportunity when one leaped into his lap and tried to lick his face like a puppy on the verge of pissing itself.

"I might have something… later?"

Colin then sat directly upon the floor near Harry like a loyal canine, while smiling vacantly.

"Lovegood, Luna!"

"What the bloody hell is a Nargle?! - UGH! - RAVENCLAW! - FASTER MINERVA! I CAN FEEL MYSELF LOSING MY SANITY BY BEING IN PROXIMITY TO THIS, THIS, AAAAAAAAHHHH!"