AN: Holy shit. I honestly have no idea what to say. I am so sorry I've been gone for so long. Hectic semester, writers block, online summer class, my laptop just gave up, all true but I know nobody really gives a shit about excuses. All I can do is apologize and give you what you have been waiting months for. So here it is…

Oh, someone pointed out that James is out of character and that he was truly felt that he had enough money for himself and his family to live comfortable without him having to work. Thank you for pointing that out, as I didn't remember that from the books (or if it was written somewhere else, I never saw it), but I feel I should stress that in this story James is out of character and is therefore less arrogant than he is in cannon.

Anyway, I swear from now on I will try to keep my authors notes short and update as often as I can.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other familiar characters. I only own Leanne Potter (side note, all OC's will likely have Americanized names).

Chapter 9

Arabella jumped as her fireplace sprang to life with vibrant green flames. In the past sixty years since her exile from the Wizarding World, she had received a total of three Floo calls. Her supply of Floo powder had remained unused until Harry had to buy his school supplies.

Now, at seven thirty in the morning, an unknown call through the Floo Network could mean nothing good. It wasn't like a Muggle telephone, where you could dial a wrong number. Sure, children pop out of the wrong fireplace all the time, but that only occurs in public places; the Ministry ensures that and with all the security measures placed on private fireplaces, and unexpected call is rare.

Arabella turned to the roaring flames. There, staring back out at her was the one person who has ever called her. "Good Lord, Minerva," she said, offering her oldest friend a hand. "What are you doing in my fireplace at 7:30 in the morning?"

"Good morning to you too, Arabella," the teacher replied, fixing the other woman with the stern look every Hogwarts student, graduate, and most teachers fear. "I suggest we skip the tea, if you don't mind. I'm expected back at Hogwarts for breakfast at eight."

The squib simply stared at the other woman. "Forgive me for being blunt, Minerva, but why are you here? Is something wrong?"

"Arabella, how well do you know the young Jameson boy?"

"Harry? I'm the one who told him he was a wizard. His aunt and uncle don't approve of magic, you see. I'm very close to the boy, possibly the only adult he trusts I'm afraid." Arabella paused, unsure how much Minerva knew. After all, she was very close to Lily and James during the war. "What is this about?"

"Something has come to my attention regarding Mr. Jameson. As his head of house, I feel it is my responsibility to learn the full story."

Mrs. Figg looked her friend in the eye. "Is this about his parents? His true identity?"

Minerva nodded; she expected as much. "How long have you known?"

"Since we went to Gringotts a few weeks ago. Griphook suggested we tell him the same story his aunt did, that his parents had died in a car accident. I didn't know what else to do, so I went along with it."

Minerva sighed. "I can't say I blame you. What on Earth do you tell a child in such a situation?"

Arabella made a face. "If he's anything like Lily, he'll through a fit when he finds out."

"Well, we can't exactly tell him right now. It's his first day of class after all. And I want to feel out the rest of the staff. Poppy knows as well, so do the Weasley twins. I'm sure Percy and Ron will figure it out too at some point."

"Minerva? You don't think Albus …"

"Oh, I'm sure that meddling old fool has something to do with this. How or why I'm not sure. Therefore, I'd prefer to tell the poor boy away from the castle. Hopefully when he comes home for the winter holidays."

"Ha! With that aunt and uncle of his? If he didn't have me, he'd be begging to stay at Hogwarts for the summer!"

Minerva frowned. "We'll have to talk about that later. I must leave soon or I'll be missed. I'll owl you if I figure something out with Harry; the sooner we tell him the better." With that, the professor stepped into the fireplace, leaving the squib to her own thoughts.

Breakfast at Hogwarts that morning was a silent affair, mostly due to the fact that Ron and Leanne were absent. "Let me guess," Hermione said as Harry, Draco, and Neville joined her at the table, with the Weasley twins again serving as bodyguards. "Ron is sleeping in too?"

Neville shrugged. "So is Seamus."

"As long as they are with Leanne, they can do whatever they want," Harry explained as if it were obvious.

A smirk spread across Hermione's usually serious face. "She's convinced all my other roommates of that as well."

"Not you?" Draco asked, reaching across the table for some toast while ignoring the death glares he was receiving from most of the student body.

Hermione smiled kindly at him. "Well, the Hat considered putting me in Ravenclaw."

The children continued chatting and ignoring the look at least one of them was receiving. At about eight thirty, the heads of houses began passing out schedules. Harry took Ron's and Seamus' while Hermione was given an extra four cards. "Tell Miss. Potter and her companions that they will receive no special treatment," the stern professor said as she moved on.

By the time the four eleven year olds were ready to leave, the owls had come in with packages from home of things forgotten and letters from anxious parents. Two owls made their way to the small group. Neville eagerly reached out for the barn owl carrying a large parcel. "Thank Merlin! I forgot my Potions and Transfigurations textbooks."

The second owl, a beautiful eagle owl, landed on the table before Draco and held out his leg. The blond boy hesitantly took the letter and studied the wax seal on the back. With a nervous glance at his friends, he slowly tore open the letter.

Draco stood in silence, reading the letter several times. "I, I have to go speak with McGonagall."

"Draco," Hermione asked, alarmed. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," the blond said quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just … go on ahead without me. You'll be late."

The three other first years watched in silence as the blond made his way to McGonagall, said a few words, and followed her out a side door into a hidden back room.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asked, fearing that she knew what the issue was.

"Professor," the boy began before biting his lip and clearing his throat. "Professor, did you write my father about the incident last night?"

McGonagall sighed. "Yes, I did. You were injured, Mr. Malfoy. As your head of house, I am required to notify your parents when you are in the hospital wing." Here, she paused, studying the boy's face. "I suppose that is the problem."

"My father is … displeased by my sorting. He has set up a meeting with the Headmaster to … discuss a resort."

"Mr. Malfoy, you are aware that there are rarely, if ever, resorts?"

"Yes, Professor. And I don't want a resort either. I like Gryffindor. But my father … he sent me a letter and said … he said he'd disown me if I'm not in Slytherin by lunch."

McGonagall felt disgusted; as much as she hated it, this was the way old pureblood families such as the Malfoy's worked and there was nothing she could do. "I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy. I can speak to the Headmaster, but I fear there is little that can be done."

Draco didn't seem too surprised with her answer. "I understand, Professor. I believe my mother has a sister who was disowned herself for marrying a muggleborn? If it comes to it, I suppose I could write her and see if she will take me in."

McGonagall could only nod. The first year must have been prepared for such an outcome; and given his family, she couldn't say his reaction was unexpected. "Very well then. Your aunt's name is Andromeda Tonks."

"Thank you, Professor, for your understanding." The young blond turned to leave before a thought occurred to him. "Professor? I won't have to see my father when he is denied the resort, will I?"

"I will ensure that you are not present for the meeting, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco smiled in relief before nodding politely to his head of house and rushing to his common room.

Leanne's eyes snapped opened at the sound of drawers slamming by her head. A glance at her watch showed that it was quarter to nine. With a groan, the pampered red-head tore opened the curtains surrounding her bed. "What are you doing?"

Hermione barely glanced at her as she thrusted a schedule in her general direction. "Class starts in fifteen minutes," the brunette muttered.

"What?" A breathless voice cried from the bathroom. Shelby Miller, a petite blond muggleborn, rushed out the door and to her bed. "Leanne! You said we didn't have class today!"

"Actually, I said that as my friends, you lot don't have to go to class today."

As Shelby tearfully pulled on her robes, Hermione scowled at Leanne. "First," she said hotly. "I'm not your friend …"

"Then it looks like you have to go to class today, Herman!" Leanne said, much to the amusement of Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.

"And secondly," Hermione continued loudly over the laughter. "Professor McGonagall expects everyone in class today. She doesn't give a damn who you are."

Leanne glared at the brunette, crumbling her schedule and flopping back onto her bed. Lavender and Parvati simply placed their schedules in their drawers and returned to bed. Shelby studied her schedule, biting her lip. Hermione finished packing her school bag and opened the door. "Well, I'm going to class; the four of you should too."

In the common room, Hermione met up with Draco, Harry, Neville, and Dean Thomas. Harry grinned at her. "At least half the house is going to class," he said cheerfully.

The brunette scoffed. "It's not my fault if they get in trouble."

Laughing, the group of first years made their way to Charms.

AN: Again, I apologize for the wait. If it makes anyone feel better, I am ashamed to admit that after losing my notes, I was forced go to my profile and re-read my story. So, yeah. Please forgive me for the long wait and the quality of this chapter. I swear that I will update again by September.