Chapter 9 – Back at Hogwarts

It was now January 1st and Draco and Hermione had made all the necessary arrangements for their departure to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall had left Draco with a curriculum for the rest of the term so he would have something to work from. Draco was still free to make some adjustments, as long as the subjects on the finals were covered. Whilst going over the list of books required for each year Draco was happy to find much of the books were still the same from his schooldays and luckily for Draco the few additional books Hermione just happened to already own. Before departing his small apartment in London on the eve of January 1st Draco felt like he had the situation under control. He had studied the curriculum carefully and re-read all the books. Trunks packed Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and they apperated to Hogsmead where a carriage pulled by thestrals awaited them.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing them. Makes you realise how much we've actually been through, doesn't it?" Hermione said in a low voice referring to the ominous horse-like creatures.

"When were you first able to see them?" Draco asked.

"When I came back the sixth year. After Sirius… passed." she trailed off.

Draco felt a sting of guilt. It had been his aunt Bellatrix, yet again, who killed Sirius Black. Draco shrugged, trying to tell himself that he is not his family.

"How about you?" Hermione asked.

Draco swallowed hard before answering; regretting he'd asked Hermione in the first place.

"Also sixth year. The summer before the sixth year Voldemort killed Professor Burbage and had Nagini eat her. It was in the Manor. On our dining room table." he said in a small voice looking out of the window of the carriage.

Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight.

"That wasn't fair for you to have to witness. But you made it through that; just like you will make it through anything." she said simple.

Draco exhaled and kissed her hand.

"With your support I know I can." he said and pulled her closer to him as the carriage took them closer to Hogwarts.

They arrived at the castle just before the dinner feast and Professor McGonagall greeted them at the gate. She told them their trunks would be carried to their room, which she would show them to after dinner. Even though the spring term had not yet started and many students wouldn't be back until classes started on January 3rd Professor McGonagall insisted on introducing them to the students who were still at Hogwarts. As they walked into the castle and into the Great Hall Draco felt like a student again. He had to keep reminding himself that he was now walking through the Great Hall as a professor. The idea still seemed ridiculous to him. They followed Professor McGonagall to the heads table where she showed them their seats. Once all the students entered the hall Draco noticed many of the few students who were spending their Christmas Holiday at school gave both him and Hermione curious looks. Most of the students obviously recognised both him and Hermione since they graduated just last year. The first years and some of the second years were still new faces for Draco.

"Welcome, dear students." Professor McGonagall greeted the students as they took their seats. "I know it's not customary to make announcements when there are still so many absent. I do however have two announcements to make tonight as we have two new faces to welcome to out school, no doubt I will make the same announcement once we are all back from our holiday. Firstly, I would like to welcome Ms Granger back to Hogwarts. She is currently writing a textbook on the Second Wizarding War and Hogwarts is very honoured to have our library at her disposal for research." Hermione stood up and waved a small wave to the students who clapped politely.

"Secondly, I would very much like to welcome Professor Malfoy back to our school, who will be your substitute teacher in Defence Against the Dark Arts this term. Professor Malfoy has kindly agreed to take on this very important job and he has my, and the staffs, full support, and we are very thankful that he is helping us out this term." Professor McGonagall said. Draco rose from his chair and gave a small wave, just like he'd seen Hermione do. The students also gave Draco a polite applauds and Draco sat down again.

"Now that that's sorted – lets dig in!" Professor McGonagall announced and the food magically appeared on the plates.

Draco found it rather odd sitting at the staff table, as he'd spent close to eight years sitting at the Slytherin table. During dinner he received a warm welcome from the other staff member. Professor Slughorn merrily told both Draco and Hermione he was happy to have some decent people to discuss potions with. Professor Flitwick came up and wished Draco good luck and started giving him tips for teaching and announced his joy of having such bright young wizards and witches back at Hogwarts. Madame Hooch came up to Draco and told him she was happy to have another Quidditch fan on the staff team. Professor Sinistra came up to them and wished them welcome back and that she was happy to see more of them. Hagrid, however, was not making any attempts on seeming like he was glad to see Draco again but he practically beamed at Hermione inviting her to tea in his cabin the next day, not bothering inviting Draco. Hermione happily accepted. Over all Draco thought dinner went well and he felt much more welcome by the rest of the staff than he'd expected. After dinner Professor McGonagall escorted Draco and Hermione to their quarters. Professor McGonagall made it perfectly clear that she did not wish to pry in Draco and Hermione's relationship but she assumed they would be comfortable sharing a dorm. Hermione assured the professor they would. Draco was surprised to find that they were given the same dorm they had previous year as Head Girl and Head Boy. Apparently Peeves, the obnoxious poltergeist who terrorised the school, had caused a rather problematic water leak and sett lose a cage of Cornish Pixies in the dorm right before the start of the year so the new Head Boy and Head Girl had been located elsewhere. The leak had now been fixed and the pixies were all caught, Professor McGonagall presumed. She gave Draco and Hermione the password and bid them good night. After Professor McGonagall had left Draco took a seat on the sofa by the fireplace and put his feet up on the coffee table.

"It's strange being back, don't you think?" Hermione asked him sitting down next to him on the sofa.

"As we walked into the castle and the Great Hall I had to remind myself several times I not here as a student anymore." Draco said and put his arm behind Hermione on the backrest. Hermione leaned into his side and took a deep breath.

"It's nice though. Being here I mean. I've always felt safe here." she said as she closed her eyes for a moment. Draco absentmindedly stroke her hair as he hummed in assent. Now that he relaxed he noticed how tired he was. Tired from dealing with his parents, tired from dealing with his new found (supposedly better) personality, tired from going over curriculums and books, tired from fear of not being able to pull off the teaching job. And perhaps the thing that tired him the most; not being able to figure out what the kiss Hermione gave him on Christmas meant. Had it just been a simple Christmas kiss, or had it meant something more? Draco was getting tired of guessing, but at the same time he didn't have the energy to figure it out. His own feelings for Hermione were clear as day; he was in love with her. That much was clear to him, and had been for quite some time. What he was going to do about it, however, he didn't have a clue. He had no idea how to be a good boyfriend, a partner. His parents hadn't exactly set an example of affections relationship. In the beginning of his relationship with Pansy he'd never considered her feelings or bothered to make an effort; he'd been too preoccupied avoiding death by Voldemort. After the war when he felt ready to emotionally connect with Pansy, he realised they'd grown apart. Now, over a year later after their breakup he hadn't as much as gone out on one date. Well, sure, he'd spent a few nights with various witches but it was nothing even remotely resembling a date. For this, he blamed Hermione. No other witch Draco had met the last year made him feel the way Hermione did, and he'd slowly come to the realisation that no other witch ever would. He studied her peaceful face; having her near him soothed him and made him feel like he didn't have a care in the world. Hermione looked up at him and his silver grey eyes met her amber. Draco smiled at her. Hermione smiled back.

"Well, I'm off to Bedfordshire." Hermione said and sat up. She leaned in and kissed Draco on the cheek.

"Sweet dreams." was all Draco could think of to say.

He watched Hermione as she levitated her trunk and walked up the staircase to her old Head Girls room. Draco drew a deep sigh before he followed her example and levitated his own trunk to his old room.