Harry was a bit apprehensive that morning. It was exactly a week before school started and since Remus was facing the full moon the next night; Lucius was taking both their sons back to school. Though Draco would be living in his prefect room in the dorms, he'd be staying with Harry and his father in their apartments for the week so he wouldn't be alone.

Remus hugged Harry who looked as pale as a ghost. "You know you're just going back to school. Albus isn't there any more and no students will be there yet."

Draco nodded. "Think of all the fun we can have in the school. I'm sure we can get into some mischief."

Lucius chuckled as he came into the room. "Considering I'm the new transfiguration teacher at the school, I will forget that I heard that."

Harry knew he was being silly as he knew the teachers at the school had supported Harry through this all and there would be no other teachers but he still felt this unease about going. Severus was coming with them and Remus had assured his son the house elves would let him out after the full moon.

Remus pulled Harry close. "You did okay when you went for a weekend to London Harry. You'll be fine at school. Your father and Draco and Sev will make sure."

Harry nodded. "I know dad, and I don't want you to worry about me either. It's just going to be odd being back there. I know no one is back yet but still."

Severus had come into the room. "Are you guys ready to go? The Knight Bus should be arriving soon for us and we have to get to the edge of the grounds."

Harry gave his dad one last hug and he follow his father and Severus out through the grounds, with Draco by his side. He had to smile at the sight of the Knight bus which he had ridden twice before. Draco felt slightly better to see his smile. They couldn't floo to school and the train didn't run yet so it had left the bus and apparation or ask the ministry to create a portkey. Harry hated apparation so they decided on the bus.

Draco clambered on. "I for one am glad you hate to apparate Harry. I have never had the chance to ride this thing before."

Harry smiled ay his brother. "Be glad though it is the day time. You wouldn't want to be on this thing at night when it has beds. Believe me."

Lucius steered them towards four chairs which were open. "I recall taking this thing at bus when I was a teen. I tend to agree with you on that Harry."

When they plopped down in the chairs and the bus took off Lucius smiled in appreciation at Draco who pulled out a copy of the quidditch magazine the boys always seemed to be poring over and soon pulled Harry into it. The boys barely saw time pass before they pulled up at the school gates. They made it into the castle and even into the dungeons without meeting anyone. Harry was grateful but had no idea Lucius had asked the teachers to keep their distance from now.

They entered into a cozy sitting room behind a painting of an old tower with a dragon wrapped around it. "Welcome home boys."

Severus pointed to a door near the fireplace. "Leads directly into my apartments. The painting of the cobra we passed, across from my class, was my entrance."

Harry had never been in a teachers' rooms and suspected these were some what more grandly decorated then usual and suspected most of it came from the manor. A fireplace was in the junction of two walls and those walls except for the door into Severus' rooms, were covered in bookcases. He realized some where in the mahogany bookcases though there was an ornate cabinet unit as well. There was a painting of the manor above the fire and a sofa in green and red, and armchairs in either color in front of the fire and a table with four chairs, along one wall, done in green, gold, silver and red.

They went into the hall and Lucius directed Harry to a second door. "That is your room. A second bed was added for Draco for the week till school starts again."

Harry walked to the door and pushed it open. "Wow. This is going to be a change. Especially after Draco moves into the dorms."

Draco smiled. "Having a private room? I know, this is my first year with a prefect room as fifth years don't. No more sharing a dorm with four other boys."

The room looked like his room back at the manor with quidditch posters on the walls but also a mix of Slytherin and Gryffindor color hangings for warmth in the dungeons. There were two single canopy beds right now but he realized that the one queen size in the room had been divided into two for now, one in Gryffindor colors and the other in Slytherin. The elves had brought up their trunks from the bus and Harry found his unpacked. There was a wardrobe which had been magiced to look like a window and Harry could see the same view that he had from Gryffindor.

Harry went over to the desk where he found his books and such set out for him already. "Nice to have a quiet place to study, not the library or common room."

Draco clapped him on the back. "You know when you're ready, you're welcome to come to Slytherin and hang out when ever. Even if you don't re-sort."

Harry some how knew he would be spending a lot of time there and he allowed his brother to take him to look at Slytherin where they inspected Draco's new prefect room where most of Draco's things were unpacked except what he'd need for a week. Harry admitted to his brother that this wasn't the first time he had been in their common room before and Draco had a good laugh when he learned about Harry and his friends in second year.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Lucius led the boys up to the Great Hall for dinner. They had avoided it for lunch and he had told them they could eat in the apartment if they chose but he and Sev had been asked to join the other teachers for dinner and Draco and Harry agreed. Harry was actually looking forward to seeing Hagrid and he had to admit it would be nice to see some of his teachers as well.

Hagrid spotted them when they were coming up from the dungeons. "Harry. I'm so glad to see you. I heard about Remus and Lucius adopting you."

Harry stayed back a bit for he wasn't ready for one of his giant hugs but he smiled. "I missed you too Hagrid. And yes father and Remus adopted me and they wed."

Hagrid turned to Lucius. "I hear congratulations not only on Harry but you're wedding and your new job is in order.. Welcome to the staff Professor Malfoy."

Lucius shook his hand. "Thank you Hagrid, and of course you can continue to call me Lucius. I hope you know my attitude towards you was always because of my roll as a spy."

Hagrid nodded. "Even if I had my doubts Lucius, knowing who you married and your adoption of Harry, I would trust you."

Harry smiled as they were led into the Great Hall and he noticed the only table in the hall was a giant round one which had enough room for the teachers as well as the two students who'd be dinning with them. Harry noted that only Remus was missing. He was happy to be on the other side of the table from Filch. He sat flanked by his brother and Severus while his father sat between Draco and Flitwick and Minerva was on the other side of Severus.

Minerva turned to Harry. "We're so glad to have you back among us Harry. You know we were all concerned for you and our love was with you."

Harry smiled and nodded. "Father and Severus told me how you and Professor Flitwick helped with Dumbledore. I am grateful for your support."

Professor Flitwick smiled. "You are a wonderful you man Harry and it was a shame what the headmaster did. You know your mother was one of my favourites?"

Harry shook his head. "I hadn't known but dad tells me she was always good in charms, actually one of the first things I knew about her. Ollivander told me first."

Harry remembered years later what Ollivander had told him when he had gone for his wand. He had told Harry that James had been good at transfiguration and his wand was made for it. Of course James had turned into an animagi so that proved true. And Lily's wand had been good for charms. He wondered if his children went into the store one day, what the man would say about his wand.

Minerva spoke up as the desert came in. "Harry, I'd like to talk to you tomorrow if you wouldn't mind meeting me after breakfast."

Harry was a bit surprised and he turned to his father who nodded. "Is there something wrong Professor McGonagall?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Of course not Harry. I just thought we should talk about a few of the changes that were made. Nothing to worry about, I promise."

Lucius smiled at his son. "I think you could handle that Harry. I will bring you up to Minerva's office when you're done breakfast in the morning."

Harry decided that he was just jumping at shadows and reminded himself the woman was not only his head of house but she had also supported forcing Albus to retire when she heard what had happened to Harry. She was never one to play favourites with her own house but was always fair and he had never had a problem with her.

After dinner Draco smirked when they headed back to the dungeons. "Your first day back at school, classes not even started, and you're already called to the office."

Harry knew his brother was just joking so he laughed. "Watch what you say or I could come up with some interesting excuse to get you detention with me big brother."

Lucius clapped them both on the backs. "No need to be concerned about any of this you two. I'm sure Minerva just wants to make sure Harry remains a lion."

Harry laughed. "She would hate to see the Gryffindors lose the quidditch cup without me on the team. I mean all she has left from the dream team is me and Katie."

Draco nodded. "Well and when we steal you, Katie doesn't stand a chance. A few years ago with your old dream team they might have."

Harry kind of felt bad at the thought of abandoning the lions quidditch team if he re-sorted but it was made easier by the fact that if he did, the only one he really was leaving would be Katie. The twins, Angelina and Alicia were gone now as well, and Oliver had been gone since third year. He still missed the old team and he would miss, if he decided to re-sort, playing with Katie but he knew she'd understand. Unlike Oliver or even the twins, she'd not threaten to hex him in a game, over it.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Later that evening he took Severus' invitation to come through his apartments and into his private potions lab. Severus had turned his second bedroom into a potions lab which could be accessed from his rooms or from his office which was at the bottom of the steps into the dungeons.

Severus looked up with a smile when he entered. "Come to help me with a burn cream?"

Harry nodded and slipping on an apron went to work on some of the slugs. "I think I could actually do this one blindfolded or without the instructions at least."

Severus smiled. "I bet you could. You know you're doing so well and with Draco as a partner this year, I think you two will beat Miss Granger for top marks."

Harry knew Draco and Hermione were the top students in every class and Hermione usually narrowly beat Draco out in most classes. Potions was really the only one that Draco had ever beaten her in on individual marks but she usually beat him out over all. His brother said he loved the competition but he knew Draco would love to beat her once.

Harry looked up from the slugs. "Can I ask you something?"

Severus smiled. "I thought we got to the point you knew you could ask me anything?"

Harry nodded. Since the last week of the potion when he had allowed Severus to do it alone they had become closer and they had taken longer walks together. Harry had found himself more at ease talking to him and while he still wasn't sure about dating Severus, he definitely knew he could confide in him.

"Father says there is nothing to worry about with McGonagall but what do you think? I mean I haven't ever been called to her office." Harry admitted.

Severus smiled. "She is the headmistress now and I think she has the re-sort on her mind a bit but I think she is also trying to make up for mistakes she feels she made."

The re-sort made sense and the headmistress but the last part confused him. "Past mistakes?'

Severus nodded. "She felt guilty she was your head of house and didn't know you were being beaten at home. She feels bad you never felt you could tell her."

Harry sighed. "I know your students feel like they can talk to you and you're used to it, but McGonagall had never seemed the most approachable person."

Severus put a hand on his arm. "I know Harry. But it can't help her guilt. She just wants a chance to talk to you. I know it isn't anything else."

Some how hearing those words from Severus put him more at ease then when his father had told him there was nothing to worry about. He sometimes got the feeling his father was saying it just so Harry wouldn't worry. He knew Severus always tried to be blunt, even though he softened it, or was there to catch Harry.