Chapter 54

The Slug Club

Harry spent a lot of the last week of the holidays pondering about the meaning of Cassius' letter. What disturbed him most was the thought of a student working with the Death Eaters. He was worried about Cassius, and couldn't help but wonder who the student was. He did not tell anyone about the letter, believing that it should be a secret between him, Cassius, and Dumbledore. During the week, a second letter came from Cassius, this one shorter than the other.

Harry,

The two I have mentioned last time are being trained by Lestrange. They are always wearing masks, so I cannot see their faces again. I have tried to ask for their names, but Marcus Flint stopped me. No update on what the plan is, but it involves Hogwarts in some way. Most, if not all of my housemates are here. I've saw Lestrange and the werewolf talking yesterday; they still have the giants and werewolves on their side as well as dementors. Whatever they are planning, it will happen soon.

CW

After Harry read it, his heart sank. Werewolves, giants, Death Eaters… what is it that Bellatrix could be planning? He had hoped that the war could have ended with Voldemort's death, and the Aurors could handle capturing the Death Eaters. He guessed he was wrong.

The day before Harry left for Hogwarts, Sirius and Lupin visited again with Teddy. "We really do not want to sound rude Harry," Lupin began. "But thank you for staying here instead of home. Teddy had had some horrible few nights and we did not want it to bother."

"No—don't think about it, it's fine," Harry said quickly, looking down at Teddy with a smile. "It must be hard, I mean you two still cannot get out of the house," he said.

"True, but luckily Tonk's mother took a shining to him. Treats him like he's her grandson," Sirius said. "And it's nice having time with my aunt."

"How is Tonks anyway?" Harry asked. He hasn't seen the Auror since the battle at the Ministry.

"She is doing fine actually," Sirius said. "She was just at Grimmauld Place a few days ago. Oh, that reminds me… Harry, Remus and I have been thinking."

"What?"

"Well… Grimmauld Place is not a house I would want to raise Teddy," Sirius said. "So, we've decided to look for a more… lighter house."

"That's awesome!" Harry said, excited that they will be leaving Grimmauld Place. "Do you have any place in mind yet?"

"We are looking, but it is difficult when you're still wanted for a crime you've been cleared on," Sirius joked. "Tonks is helping us by looking at some available houses and telling us about them."

"That is good," Mrs. Weasley said nodding. "But houses can be very expensive Sirius, do you know how you will play?"

"Ehh I'll just blow the entire Black Vault if I have to, lord knows that money isn't doing anything good if someone else uses it," Sirius said.

Mrs. Weasley nodded and looked at Harry, "Harry, I've been meaning to explain about the security arrangements for the journey to Hogwarts tomorrow. We've got Ministry cars again, and there will be Aurors waiting at the station—"

"Is Tonks going to be there?" Harry asked.

"No, I don't think so, she's been stationed somewhere else, right boys?" Mrs. Weasley said looking at Sirius and Lupin who nodded. "You'd better get on, Harry. I want the trunks ready tonight, if possible, so we don't have the usual last-minute scramble."

The departure the following morning was smoother than usual. The Ministry cars glided up to the front ofo the Burrow to find them waiting, trunks packed; Hermione's cat Crookshanks, safely enclosed in his traveling basket; and Hedwig,; Ron's owl Pigwidgeon; and Ginny's new purple Pygmy Puff, Arnold, in cages.

"Au revoir, 'Arry," Fleur said throatily, kissing him goodbye. The drivers only glanced warily at Harry when he got in, wearing his Slytherin robes. It was as if they had forgotten that the savior of the Wizarding World was a Slytherin.

There was no cheerful Hagrid waiting for them at King's Cross Station. Instead, two grim-faced, bearded Aurors in dark Muggle suits moved forward the moment the cars stopped and, flanking the party, marched them into the station without speaking.

"Quick, quick, through the barrier," Mrs. Weasley said, who seemed a little flustered by the austere efficiency. "Harry had better go first, with—"

She looked inquiringly at one of the Aurors, who nodded briefly, seized Harry's upper arm, and attempted to steer him toward the barrier between nine and ten.

"I can walk, thanks," Harry said irritably, jerking his arm out of the Auror's grip. He pushed his trolley directly at the solid barrier, ignoring his silent companion, and found himself, a second later, standing on the platform nine and three quarters, where the scarlet Hogwarts Express stood belching steam over the crowd. Hermione and the Weasleys joined him within seconds. Harry ignored his grim-faced protectors when he saw Draco standing with Blaise and Theo. He ran up to them and smiled. "Draco! Blaise! Theo!" He yelled, hugging Blaise and Theo before kissing Draco. The Aurors moved immediately to intercede but Harry glared at them. "Can't I even kiss my fiancé now?" he asked.

The aurors looked at each other, but said nothing.

"We better get on," Draco said. "Harry's here so there's no point in waiting. Blaise, Theo, you two watch him while I deal with Pansy in the Prefect's cabin."

"Dray, I don't need protection!"Harry said irritably. Draco chuckled and kissed Harry. "I know love," he smirked, "but I can't help being over-protected."

"Fine… least Blaise and Theo are loads better than the Aurors," Harry said as the four got on the train. Blaise took his trunk in his hand as Draco left to the back of the train. Harry watched till Draco disappeared. People stared shamelessly as he and the couple walked down the aisle. They even pressed their faces against the windows of their compartments to get a look at him. He had expected an upswing in the amount of gaping and gawping he would have to endure this term after he and Draco defeated Voldemort, and the rumors the Daily Prophet had wrote about him. He hated being in the spotlight like this.

"Here's an empty one," Harry said, pointing to a compartment. The three Slytherins walked in and Blaise placed their trunks on the overhead as Harry and Theo sat down. "So, how was your summer? I haven't gotten any letters," Harry said.

"Oh, sorry about that," Blaise said. "We had a umm Veela thing," he explained as he sat down next to Theo, pulling his submissive onto his lap. "Since we have been together technically for six years, we had to go through a claiming ceremony."

"A claiming ceremony?" Harry asked, interested.

"Yeah, think of it like a marriage…" Theo said. "To the Veelas, I'm Theodore Zabini now, not Theodore Nott."

Blaise nodded, "But except of a big expensive ring and celebration, we mate—err have a lot and lot of sex, until he was basically covered by my scent."

"And experience I think we should keep to ourselves honey," Theo said.

"Can't help it! You should have seen how beautiful you were, your pink flushed skin drowned in my seed and your hole—"

"ENOUGH!" Theo yelled, both him and Harry beet-red. He turned around and whispered a threat Harry couldn't hear. "Anyway, we spent the entire summer with Blaise's family in Italy, and because of the mating ceremony, we were not allowed to contact the outside world before, during, and after it. My parents only learned yesterday."

Harry nodded and smiled, "Then umm I guess congratulations are in order?"

"You're damn right!" Blaise said, "Now I get to spoil my husband and mate rotten!"

"There is only one thing I want from you dear right now," Theo said, smiling at Blaise. "And that is for you to not tell Harry or anyone else about our sex life."

"Only if we can have a sex life," Blaise smirked.

"Of course dear. So Harry, how is the world treating you, now that you're basically enemy number one of all Death Eaters?"

"Annoying to be honest," Harry said. He told his friends about how the Ministry was treating him, wanting to basically keep him in one place without a legion of aurors. "And I thought it was bad when Sirius and Remus kept me in!"

"Wow… well, hopefully the rest of the Death Eaters will be caught soon and people will forgot that you're supposed to be protected," Blaise shrugged.

"I hope so," Harry said. There was a knock on the door and they looked to see Neville standing sheepishly at the door. "Umm hi guys… can I sit here?"

"Sure Nev!" Harry smiled, happy to see the round-faced boy. Blaise and Theo said their hellos as Neville came in and sat down. Neville looked outside the compartment and blushed, "They're even staring at me," he said as he looked around.

"Well, you were at the Ministry Neville," Theo said. "Your little adventure was all over the Daily Prophet. Even Blaise's family in Italy couldn't stop talking about it for a couple of weeks."

"Yeah… I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity," Neville said, "but she was really pleased. Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. …and Viktor was very relieved to see me in Bulgaria."

"You visited Viktor during the summer?" Harry asked.

Neville nodded. "He almost demanded it. He told me that either I would go there, or he will come here to take me. … He was very worried after he heard what happened."

"Of course he would be," Blaise said. "There is no way I can concentrate if I knew something happened to my Theo."

"Yeah… Viktor told me the same thing," Neville blushed. "He didn't let me out of his sight the entire time. Even when he goes out to coach his Seekers."

"How's the coaching going for him?" Harry asked, remembering Viktor training him in his fourth year.

"Great! He's working with two boys right now, one's really young and the other is almost our age. It's amazing how different he can be to the two. He's always firm, but fair. Like he's always is. He has them call him tren'or, and tells them to treat me with the same respect they give him, even though I'm his momche."

"Mom…chi?" Blaise asked.

Harry shook his head and chuckled. "It's a special work Viktor uses for boys special to him." Neville nodded. "He only calls Harry and I that, but with different meanings obviously." Harry chuckled as they both blushed. "Anyway, I've learned lots there, you should really see the plant life in Bulgaria Harry, it's amazing! There's this one plant that gives such a sweet scent, but if you get near it, it'll try to bite your nose. And another one that Viktor says has these great properties for potions that I've never hear of, but you know me… rubbish at potions so I never tried it."

"That sounds interesting," Harry smiled.

"Oh, and he's a bit angry with you Harry… he heard what happened to you and the Slytherin Quidditch team," Neville said.

"Oh… right," Harry said.

"He's not mad at you, he's just really angry that they kicked you off the team after you two spent so much time training," Neville said. Harry nodded and offered a smile.

"So, what did you and Viktor do during your time there?" Blaise asked, with a knowing smirk on his face.

Neville either ignored the smirk or missed it as he smiled and started to list the places he and Krum visited during the summer vacation. He was in the middle of describing an expensive restaurant Viktor brought him to when there was a disturbance outside their compartment door. A group of fourth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass.

"You ask him!"

"No, you!"

"I'll do it!"

And one of them, a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair pushed her way through the door.

"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. "I know you're a Slytherin, but why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with… them," she said in a stage whisper, pointing to Neville, who was trying to busy himself with his hands, and Theo and Blaise, who were looking at her oddly. "Being with some girls might be… good for you, you know?"

"They're friends of mine," Harry said coldly.

"I know…" the girls said surpised, "it's just that—"

"Why are you out of your compartment?" Draco's cold voice asked as he appeared behind the Ravenclaws. The girls shrieked in terror as they turned to see Draco.

"M-Malfoy," Vane said, trying to gain her confidence back. "We're allowed to walk the train, it's not against school rules."

"Well it is against my rules when you are bothering my fiancé," Draco stated. "So I suggest you leave before I decide to deduct points before the hat begins singing."

Romilda Vane glared at Draco, but soon looked away and left with her friends. Draco sighed and shook his head. "Women," he muttered as he walked into the compartment. Neville stood up to make room but Draco shook his head. He simply sat down between Harry and the window and pulled Harry somewhat on his lap. "What was her deal?" he asked Harry.

"People expect Harry to have cooler friends then me," Neville said grimly.

"You are cool!" Harry said shortly. "None of them was at the Ministry, they didn't fight with me!"

Neville nodded and said, "Thanks… but we didn't face him like you and Draco did."

"Doesn't matter," Draco said. "You did your part and took care of Death Eaters. That's more than any of these people will do."

Harry laughed uncomfortably and changed the subject to O.W.L. results as soon as he could. Neville recited his grades and wondered aloud whether he would be allowed to take a Transfiguration N.E.W.T. with only an "Acceptable." The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer; they passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight. It was during this time that Ron and Hermione came in and sat down.

The compartment door opened an hour later, the boys all talking about Quidditch as Hermione read one of her new textbook, and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside. "I'm supposed to give these to Neville Longbottom, D-Draco M-Malfoy, B-Blaise Zabini and—and Harry P-P-P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out four scrolls of parchment tired with violet ribbon. Perplexed, the four took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.

"What is it?" Ron demanded as Harry unrolled his.

"An invitation," Harry said.

Harry,

I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in Compartment C.

Sincerely,

Professor H.E.F. Slughorn

"Who's Professor Slughorn?" Neville asked, looking perplexing at his own invitation.

"New teacher," Harry said.

"He taught my parents," Draco said. "Well, shall we have a look?"

"What does he want me for?" Neville asked nervously, as though he was expecting detention.

"No idea," Harry said, which was entirely true. "Let's go find out."

The four left their compartment and headed towards Compartment C. Students stared at them as they walked, whispering to each other as Harry and Draco passed them, much to Draco's annoyance. "I should dock points for all of them," he muttered.

"If you do that then everyone will start in the negatives," Harry said.

When they reach compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly anticipated.

"Harry, m'boy!" Slughorn said, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great velvet-covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Malfoy! You look just like your father dear boy, so sorry for your lost. And Mr. Zabini… and Mr. Longbottom! Good lord, looks like we are all here then! Come sit, sit down please!"

They sat down in the only avalible seats, and Harry looked around. There were two seventh-year boys Harry did not know and, squished in the corner beside Slughorn looking as though she was not entirely sure how she had got there, was Ginny.

"Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and the others. "I take it you four know each other, all in the same year and all. This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other—? No?"

Cormac, a large, wiry-haired youth, raised a hand, and Neville and Harry nodded back at him. Harry barely remembers him from Quidditch matches.

"—and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether—?"

Belby, who was thin and nervous-looking, gave a strained smile. "—and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!"

Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville from behind Slughorn's back. "Well, now, this is most pleasant," Slughorn said cozily. "A chance to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things. …Pheasant, Belby?"

Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant. "I was just gelling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Harry and Draco, now passing around a basket of rolls. Draco took three and gave one to Harry and Blaise. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"

Unfortunately Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant; in his haste to answer Slughorn he swallowed too fast; turned purple, and began to choke.

"Anapneo," Slughorn said calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once.

"Not… much of him, no," gasped Belby, his eyes streaming.

"Well, of course, I daresay he's busy," Slughorn said, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work! And you Draco," he said, turning his attention to Draco. "How is your mother doing? I knew both her and your father very well. Being their Head of House and all."

"She is doing fine," Draco said. "She had took over our Apothecary and had talks of starting a business of herself—robes design."

"Ahh yes, an admirable woman your mother is," Slughorn nodded. "Worked just as hard as your father did, your mother." Draco stayed silent, not wanting to talk about his father anymore. Slughorn nodded and turned his attention to McLaggen instead. Harry only half listened as he looked at Draco. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah, just don't want to talk about my father," Draco whispered. "I just hope he does not bring up my father's work with the Death Eaters." Harry nodded and leaned on Draco's shoulder.

Slughorn was handing out a tray of pies, still talking with McLaggan. It seemed that everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were connected to somebody well-known or influential—everyone except Ginny. Slughorn talked with Blaise next, who talked about his mother and rumor Veela relations. Next it was Neville's turn, which was a very uncomfortable ten minutes as Neville's parents, two well known Aurors, were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange.

"And now," Slughorn said, shifting massively in his seat with the air of a compere introducing his star act. "Harry Potter! Though, I hear that the last name will be changing soon to Malfoy! Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" He contemplated harry for a moment as though he was a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant, then said. "Defeater of the Dark Lord! That is what they are calling you now, I hear."

Harry said nothing. Belby and McLaggen were staring at him and Draco. "And, we cannot forget your fiancé Draco. Though, they papers barely mentioned you, I know what you have done," Slughorn smiled. McLaggen then gave a small snicker.

"Yeah McLaggen, because you're so talented… at posing…"

Oh dear!" Slughorn chuckled comfortably, looking around at Ginny, who was glaring at McLaggen. "You want to be careful Cormac! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn't cross her!"

McLaggen simply looked contemptuous. "Anyway," Slughorn said, looking at Harry and Draco. "Such rumors this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes—but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!"

Harry, who could not think of a convincing lie, nodded but still said nothing. Slughorn beamed at him.

"So modest, so modest no wonder Dumbledore is so fond—you were there then? And you did defeat You-Know-Who," Slughorn grinned. "And you too, Draco. Must have been quite a fight to see…"

Harry hoped that Slughorn would end interrogating him as the man meandered off into a long-winded reminiscences about Gwenog Jones. The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the "Slug Club" at Hogwarts. Harry could not wait to leave, but couldn't see how to do so politely. He just relaxed onto Draco's shoulder, feeling protected sitting between his boyfriend and Blaise. Ginny kept glancing at Harry, but only to show her similar want to escape the compartment. Finally, the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.

"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise, Draco—any time you're passing. Same goes for you, miss," he twinkled at Ginny. "Well, off you go, off you go!"

The four pushed past the compartment and walked back along the train with Ginny.

"I'm glad that's over," muttered Neville. "Strange man, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is a bit," Harry said. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?"

"He saw me hex Zacharias Smith," Ginny said. "You remember him right? That idiot Hufflepuff from the D.A.? He kept on and on asking about what happened at the Ministry and in the end he annoyed me so much I hexed him—when Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch! Mad, eh?"

Blaise laughed at that. "Well, better reason than inviting a person with a famous uncle," he said.

"What 'bout you and your famous mother, Zabini?" Ginny asked.

Blaise shrugged. "Hey! I'm definitely more than my mother's fame. Besides, Veela's gotta satisfy herself."

"Right… umm are Veela pairings… permanent?" Ginny asked.

"Why you wanna know?" Blaise asked.

"Phlegm," Ginny said in slight disgust.

"Who?"

"You remember Fleur Delacour?" Harry said, "The girl who competed in the Triwizard Tournament?"

"The other veela!" Blaise said in remembrance. "Yeah, we don't have set mates or anything, we just find who we love and marry them." He shrugged.

"Then what is with that ceremony you've been telling me about!?" Harry asked.

"That's only for Italian Veelas. Different cultures," Blaise said smoothly. "Why you want to know Weasley?"

"She's engaged to my brother," Ginny said.

"Good job," Blaise said. "Seems like he got a good catch," he chuckled. Ginny glared at him. "I'm sure she's a lovely lady!" he said.

Ginny just rolled her eyes and walked ahead of the boys. Blaise looked confused but said nothing of it. Instead he waited till they were all back in the compartment and asked Ron and Hermione. They both explained to their best ability, about the situation at the Burrow and Blaise just nodded, deciding to not say anything about the subject. They all soon changed into their robes, and as the train pulled to a stop Ron and Hermione got out to do their prefect duties, and Neville left to find Seamus and Dean. The four Slytherins followed the crowd of students walking over towards the carriages. In the crowd, Harry noticed Pansy Parkinson. She looked gleeful as she talked with several seventh year Slytherins. Harry tried to ignore her, but something about her smile reminded him of Cassius' letter. Perhaps she was the student he was referring to. … Harry hoped that Cassius was alright as he got into the carriage, his hand moving to his pocket, where Cassius' letter still stood.

His mind was preoccupied during the ride, barely listening to the others talking. He was too busy thinking of how he will give the letter to Dumbledore without anyone seeing it. He did not want the student who was helping the Death Eaters know about Cassius. When the carriages stopped, Harry looked outside and noticed Aurors standing guard. The iron gates opened with Filch waiting sourly for the students to hurry up. Filch glared at each and every passing student, his lantern held high as if he was looking for Dark Objects, or worst Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The students walked through the path that led to the entrance hall of the castle and into the Great Hall.

Harry's eyes immediately went to the staff table. Dumbledore was already there, sitting in his usual throne of a seat, with Slughorn on his left and Professor McGonagall on his right.. Perhaps Harry could use that to get to Dumbledore, he thought. As the four walked towards the Slytherin table, Harry patted Draco's arm. "I have something to ask McGonagall," he said. "Order business," he whispered.

Draco just nodded and promised to save a seat. Harry walked up to the staff table, ignoring the stares and whispers. "Professor McGonagall," he said clearly, so that nearby students could hear.

"Potter? Is something the matter?" Professor McGonagall asked. Harry stood between her and Professor Dumbledore as his left hand darted into his robes and procured the letter. "I just have a question, Professor… about the Slytherin Quidditch team," he said as he shown both Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall the letter. McGonagall looked at it, apparently knowing it's meaning and nodded. "Of course, I am sorry Harry, but if you want to rejoin your Quidditch team you will either have to bring the issue with your Head of House or talk with the captain of the team himself," she said as Harry dropped the letter on the staff table.

Dumbledore took the letter and opened it, reading it quickly. "Thank you Harry," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I hope we can solve this problem of yours quickly. Horace, did you know that Harry is a Quidditch player?" he asked, turning to Slughorn who was watching with interest.

"No I did not, Harry m'boy you must tell me all about it one day, I must introduce you to Gwenog Jones one of these days," Slughorn said.

"That will be all Potter, thank you," Professor McGonagall said, dismissing Harry.

Harry nodded and returned to Draco. He looked back up at the staff table and saw Dumbledore passing the letter to McGonagall before returning to converse with Slughorn. "What was that about?" Blaise asked.

"Asked to see if Professor McGonagall could do anything to get me back on the team," Harry said.

"Ahh," Blaise said.

Soon Professor McGonagall left the Great Hall to take the first years from Hagrid. Harry only half-paid attention to the Sorting Hat's song and sorting as he looked around the table. Somehow knowing that he was sitting with a traitor, a person who wishes everybody harm send a shiver down his spine. He couldn't help but glance around at the table, his eyes falling on everyone. A group of Seventh Year Slytherins were whispering to each other, pointing at certain scared looking first years as they came nearer and nearer to the Sorting Hat. If he strained, he could hear them debating which one of the new students will be Slytherins. Next to them were a mixed group of fifth years watching intently while gossiping about cute guys. The Sixth Year girls were sitting with Seventh Year Slytherin boys, Pansy was smirking as she talked with one boy. She kept glancing at Draco.

"Who is she talking to?" Harry whispered to Draco, pointing at the Seventh Year.

Draco looked at the Slytherin. He seemed tall, with very pale complexion. He had dark eyes, and a knowing smirk as he looked towards Harry and Draco.

"Lucian Bole," Draco said. "I don't know much about him though, he is not part of the Elite Twenty-Seven, and my father did not work much with his father though."

"But his father was a Death Eater," Harry guessed. Draco nodded and a sick feeling twisted in Harry's stomach. He did not like the way Pansy and Lucian were looking at him. The thought that maybe either one of them was the traitor crossed his mind. It made sense as they were both children of Death Eaters… but so are most Slytherins he thought. Harry continued to stare at them, and figured that he should keep an eye on the two of them. "I need to tell Cassius," he said under his breath.

"What Harry?" Draco asked, turning to him.

"Nothing," Harry said, as he shook his head.

The sorting was over and food appeared on the five long tables. Harry looked down at the first years and frowned. He hoped that they were not as corrupted as the rest of the Slytherins. He suddenly felt as if he did not belong at that table, surrounded by enemies and soon-to-be enemies. What would stop them from trying to attack him… or Draco in the Slytherin common room? Are Blaise and Theo safe? Harry worried for his friends safety throughout the feast that he barely ate anything. When Dumbledore stood up to Harry was surprised.

"The very best of evenings to you!" he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room. To our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you. Mr. Filch, our caretaker, had asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items brought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Though… I must say that they have a fine selection of Muggle tricks there. Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise.

"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn"—Slughorn stood up, his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow—"is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."

"Potions?"

"Potions?"

The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore said, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

The Gryffindor table became loud with outrage while the Slytherin table applauded. Snape did not stand up at the mention of his name; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgement of he applause from the Slytherin Table, a small look of triumph on his face.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, as the whole Hall had erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire. Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.

"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort's followers are once more at large and gaining in strength, even after the death of their master." The silence seemed to tauten and strain as Dumbledore spoke. Harry glanced at Pansy, she and Lucian were barely paying attention. Lucian making his fork hover in midair.

"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them—in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the caslte, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."

Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more. He sent them to bed and with the usual deafening scraping noise, the benches were moved back and hundreds of students began to file out of the Great Hall toward their dormitories. Harry tried to stay close to Draco and Blaise, hoping that them being the tallest and most muscular of the Slytherins will protect him as he continued to search around the group of Slytherins, looking for an attack.

But none came, the group of Slytherins reached the Slytherin Common Room and filtered in. Everything seemed to be peaceful, except for the usual glares and whispers as Harry and Draco walked through the room. Parkinson stood in front of their way as they tried to go to their dormitories. "Draco," she said.

"Move over Parkinson, we're tired," Draco said.

"Draco…" she said again. "This… this is your last chance."

"I don't want to hear it Parkinson, move," Draco said a bit more roughly. Parkinson shook her head and stood firm, her arms outstretched. "I'm serious Draco, please listen to me. I do not want you to get hurt—"

"Sod off Parkinson," Draco said, getting annoyed at the girl.

"Draco, I'm serious!" Pansy said as Draco pushed passed her, keeping Harry close to him as they reached the stairs. "This is your entire fault Potter! If it weren't for you then Draco wouldn't be in danger!" she screamed as they walked up the stairs.

Harry frowned and looked back for a moment as he and Draco enter the sixth year boy's dorm. "What do you think that was about?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Draco said. "Most likely the woman being her usual insane self." He shook his head. "Danger… we're all in danger because Lestrange and the others are still loose!"

"Draco…" Harry said, figuring to tell his fiancé his theory. "Maybe she means that you are in danger… because of me."

"What are you talking about love?"

"I think… one of the Slytherin students is a traitor," Harry began. He looked up at Draco and saw that he was about to interrupt. "Let me explain first! Dumbledore… he has a new Order member in the Death Eaters. He told Dumbledore and me about the Death Eater's process."

"How so?" Draco asked, looking doubtful.

"… he's mailing me letters," Harry said. "I've already gotten two of them. The reason I went up to the staff table tonight? It was to give Dumbledore the letters."

Draco nodded and considered what Harry said for a moment. He looked at Harry straight in the eyes and asked, "Who is he?"

"I can't tell you," Harry said.

"Why not? Don't you trust me Harry?"

"I do Dray but… he told me to keep his identity between me and Dumbledore," Harry said. "Please understand it is not that I don't trust you, it's just that I don't trust everyone around us."

"Everyone around us?"

"Anyone of the Slytherins downstairs can be the traitor Draco. Any. Single. One of them. I need to know who they are and what they are planning before it's too late."

"Too late? Too late for what?"

"Hogwarts is in trouble Draco," Harry said. "I need to find out who the traitor is, before Hogwarts falls," Harry said. Draco frowned and stepped towards Harry.

"Let me help you," he begged. Harry shook his head, "I can do this by myself Dray… I don't want to worry you anymore."

"Bit late for that love," Draco said. "At least tell me this. Do you have any suspects?"

"No… I don't," Harry said, looking up at Draco, showing all his fear and anxiety. "I really don't."

Draco hugged him closer, burying Harry's head in his chest. "Don't worry… you'll find them, I know you will. Come on, we have classes tomorrow. Sleep, classes, then we can work on finding out the traitor."

Harry allowed himself to be steered towards bed. Draco took his time undressing him, both boys not caring about Blaise's and Theo's presence as the second couple do the same. Safe under the covers, Harry waited until he felt Draco's weight in the bed to move towards him and closed his eyes. Even though he tried to relax and sleep, his mind wondered to the traitor and the seemingly endless list of Slytherins who could be it.

A/N: A moment of time for some shameless advertisement! I have begun a third Harry Potter fic! And don't worry, I am positive that this one will end before the third one! It would be awkward finishing the third one while still working on the first. It is called The Shattered Family, and I will let the first chapter speak for itself! Now, onto the replies!

Kigen Dawn: Well, you still need to stay PG-13. Sorry! And normal? There will be nothing normal for the rest of this story lol. And no, no adult story. Bad Kigen.

MinevraMcGee: Welcome! Thanks for reviewing!

Angelcataana: I'm glad too, I hope they can stay that way.

Littlespout: Thanks!

Persephone Vulturi Uchiha: Hello again. Umm my goal with who? I'm confused.

Ern: Yeah, trouble's brewing, and it's going to be explosive!

Yukino76: Don't worry he'll try his best!

Sasuhinas fan: Hope this update was fast enough

Jokul Frosti: Here is how I look at it. Muggle clothes: stuff like jeans and a T-shirt Wizard clothes: robe (obviously) along with a uniform that matches it. And Draco's drinking will never come up again… nope, not at all…. I'm serious!