As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.

#

As Harry and Hermione walked through the express back to their friends, there was an easy silence between them. Harry's revelation was still whirling round in her head and to be honest; the idea was not at all uncomfortable for her. She had always felt a very close affinity to Harry, and she knew that he held her in high regards, the highest as it turns out.

Either by luck or design, Hermione turned to speak with Harry as a red spell flashed past her shoulder harmlessly and hit the side of the train. Harry saw the spell impact the wall and pulled Hermione behind him as he scanned the corridor ahead. From an open compartment, he saw the sneering face of Draco Malfoy, the look in his eye almost goading Harry to do something.

Harry stalked to the compartment, Malfoy backed away slightly as Crabbe and Goyle took up flanking positions to protect their cohort.

'No Harry, He's not worth it' beseeched Hermione.

Harry looked over his shoulder with an uncharacteristically feral look on his face and smiled at her

'Don't worry, Malfoy and I are only going to have our annual pre-school catch-up. I'll see you in a minute.'

Harry stood in front of the open compartment door 'You two, out now.'

Both heavy set boys moved on instinct and left the compartment, before running along the corridor back to the safety of their compartment.

'What do you think you're doing, Scar head?' sneered Malfoy in an attempt to sound brave as Harry slowly slid the door closed.

'Sit down Draco; we're going to have a little chat.' said Harry, the tone of his voice promised that there would be swift and final retribution if he did not comply.

Draco sat across from Harry, Hermione stood outside the compartment watching what was unfolding, with rapt attention.

'My fath-' began Draco. Harry held up his hand to stop the blonde boy.

'Don't worry Draco, your father will hear all about this.' Harry sat back on the seat, clasping his hands behind his head. The nonchalant way Harry was relaxing was unsettling Draco.

'What do you what Potter?' asked Draco.

'Well let me see, first off I want all hostility specifically towards me, Neville, and Hermione to end as of right now.'

'That's not going to happen Potty, it's too much fun pushing the buttons of lesser beings like mud blood's and squibs, urgh' Draco didn't get to finish his sentence before Harry was out of his seat with his left land around Malfoy's throat, with the boy forced against the back of the seat.

'Harry, don't he's not worth it, please Harry.' cried Hermione from outside the compartment, her voice was barely audible above the din caused by the group that had heard of the commotion.

Harry spoke in a low growl 'Consider this your Gypsy's Warning Draco; I don't want to hurt you; however, if you speak about my friends like that again, they will never find your corpse.' Harry slowly squeezed Draco's throat causing his face to turn an alarming shade of red, Draco looked into Harry's eyes hoping to find some measure of mercy in those emerald pools, all he saw there was an unending abyss.

'HARRY!' screeched Hermione, the panic causing the pitch of her voice to skyrocket, Harry released Draco and sat back down watching as the Slytherin prince collapsed onto the seat, coughing and drawing ragged breaths.

'Do we have an understanding, so far?' Asked Harry. Draco looked up and nodded.

'Wonderful, now just so we are clear if anyone so much as glances at Hermione or Neville in a way that I dislike; I will be coming for you.' said Harry.

'W...what's in this for me?' Draco asked between coughs.

In the corridor you could hear a pin drop, the prefects and head pupils were as transfixed as everyone else as they watched as Harry drew his wand and pointed it at Draco saying 'Lenio.' Causing his cough and the rawness of Draco's throat to disappear.

'Take a good hard look around you Draco, everything that you've been led to believe is a lie; your traditions and bigoted agendas are crumbling around you, but you're just too blind or too stupid to notice.' Harry stood up and extended his hand 'I understand that this is a lot to take in, I'll give you a few days to think about it.'

Draco looked at the offered hand then looked at Harry in confusion 'It's customary at the end of a meeting to shake hands, Draco, surely you know that; right?'

Malfoy took the offered hand and got to his feet; Harry's grip was firm but not too firm. Both boys shook hands.

'You never mentioned Weasley, why?' asked Draco

Harry leaned in and whispered 'I'll leave that to your better judgment' before leaving the compartment and into the scrum that was loitering in the corridor.

Draco slumped back into the seat, his mind whirling in a thousand different directions. He would have to take a few days to think this through.

##

'I'm just saying that you could get into a lot of trouble, is all.' Said Hermione as she opened the compartment door.

'Who could get in trouble?' asked Ron, a look of confusion on his face.

Harry answered 'She means me; Draco and I had a little chat.'

'I don't think asphyxiating Draco Malfoy, can be listed under little. Or chatting for that matter; it's usually classed as Assault and Battery or attempted murder' Explained Hermione.

'Just like you, Hermione, to spoil everyone's fun. Honestly, you're mental' sniggered Ron before shovelling more sweets into his mouth.

Neville, who had been watching Harry very closely since he and Hermione came back into the compartment, noticed the dark look that Harry was giving Ron.

In an attempt to defuse the situation, he said 'My Gran was telling me that there was something big happening this year at school. The whole ministry is buzzing about it.'

Ginny asked 'any ideas what it might be?'

Neville shook his head, 'Gran told me that the Wizengamot is very tight-lipped about it., but it has taken over two years to plan.'

'Great' said Harry sarcastically 'and here was me hoping for a quiet year.'

'What do you think, Hermione?' asked Ginny

Hermione was deep in thought, trying to process what Harry has told her, and what she had just witnessed both with Draco and the look that Harry gave Ron. Something wasn't adding up with Harry, 'Hmmm? What was that Gin?' she said as she snapped out of her excogitating.

'Nev was saying that something is happening this year at school, have you got any thoughts about it?' Ginny asked.

'I've not thought about it. Perhaps it has something to do with the fiasco at the world cup this summer.' offered Hermione.

Neville continued to watch Harry for the rest of the trip; being considered a step above a squib lets you blend into the background. Over the years, Neville had grown very adept at observing people. Something had changed with Harry, and he couldn't put his finger on it.

##

As the Hogwarts Express made its way through the highlands; in southern England, plans were in motion for the eventual rebirth of the darkest wizard in living memory.

In London, an unkempt man and his equally scraggly dog were purposefully making their way to a rundown pub. They had a meeting to attend that would hopefully alter the lives of a couple of people for the better.

Deep in the Highlands, the imposing eddiface of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry stood as a beacon for all magical people in the British Isles. Unfortunately, not all was well within the school and specifically between the Deputy headmistress and the Potions master.

'Potter has gone too far this time, I'll have his wand for this!' ranted Professor Snape

'Of course, Mr Malfoy would be entirely blameless; an innocent bystander no less. Is that what you would have us believe Severus?' enquired Minerva with a hint of steel in her voice.

'Potter has had the run of this school since day one, and your lacklustre performance as his head of house has given him carte blanche to do as he and his minions see fit.' Snapped Snape

'You would do well to remember to whom you are speaking Professor.' Remarked Minerva.

The rest of the staff watched the verbal tennis match in absolute silence, no one could look away, and no one wanted to intervene.

'For this coming year, there will be set procedures for all detentions. The relevant Head of House shall be advised of the reason for the punishment. If there is cause the detention will stand; however, I am giving fair warning that ALL notices of detentions shall be fully investigated.' Minerva's eyes never wavered from the Potions master as she spoke.

'Minerva, are you sure that this is a wise course of action to be taking? You will effectively be undermining the authority of the staff. I cannot allow this.' Said the headmaster.

Minerva smiled serenely towards her boss. 'Unfortunately, Albus, you have no say in the matter. The Hogwarts Charter clearly states that all matters of staff training and discipline fall under the remit of the deputy head, further more the charter also gives the aforementioned Duputy head the sole responsibility of terminating the employment of any member of staff up to and including heads of house.'

She turned the full glare of her ire towards the hated poitions master and said 'consider yourself duly warned Professor Snape.'

Albus stood in defence of his professor 'Severus has my full trust and confidence, Minerva.'

Before the transfiguration professor could responde, Professor Babbling cleared her throat and said 'Severus may have your full trust and confidence, Headmaster, but he doesn't have ours.' A resounding chorus of "hear hear" rang around the room.

Snape sat fuming at one end of the table, Minerva sat smiling at the other end while in the middle

Albus rubbed his eyes in frustration and said 'if there is nothing more I will close this staff meeting, the minutes shall be dispersed as normal. I shall see you all at the welcoming feast.'