The few days left before Draco returned to Hogwarts, were excruciating for him. He spent almost 15 hours a day with his father, working on controlling the Amulet. And five more were spent learning the Dark Arts. Draco fell in to bed each night around two a.m. and woke up around five a.m. This left him looking like a zombie, and it didn't help any that his father and mother both kept giving him smart-ass remarks about how he was weak enough to show tiredness. Of course, Narcissa and Lucius also weren't getting only three hours of sleep a night either.


By the time Lucius was packing Draco's trunks (A/N yes, he has more that one, he has one trunk especially for hair care products, another given over to his clothes, and the last for school supplies... vain boy, isn't he?) into his Mercedes, Draco was a horrible mess. He was weak from lack of sleep or food, and he was paler than usual. Of course, Lucius didn't say anything about it, because, either he didn't care, or he thought it was disappointing.

To make matters worse, the whole way to King's Cross, Lucius kept going on and on and on (get the idea) about how Draco was a disappointment. You would think that our cold-hearted little Malfoy wouldn't have any feelings, and could care less about his father's comments. But care he did. Draco had to bite his lower lip and keep his eyes closed the entire drive, for he didn't want complain, or look sad in front of his father.

By the time Draco was settled in a compartment on the train, Draco was ready to cry. The strain on him was so great. The only 'good' thing that had come out of this ordeal was that Draco could now control the Amulet. But he would have given anything to have another father, even a Weasley, as long as they weren't Lucius.

He stared out the window of the compartment, watching the other students walk through the barrier that separated the muggle world from Platform 9 3/4 (he was usually the first on the train, as his father wanted to observe the other students parents). He glared through the window at Harry, who was laughing with Hermione and Ron all of them were looking completely stress free. He pulled out a piece of parchment, which had his neat handwriting all over it.

That was another thing to add to his list of reason's why he disliked Harry:

1,004 - He never shows stress

And after some thought, added:

1,005 - He has real friends

He stuffed the parchment back into his trunk, just as Crabbe and Goyle walked in. Goyle looked at him, curiously. "You don't look so good, Draco. Are you feeling okay?" He would have liked to say that he felt awful, and that he felt like he had been given the Cruciartus Curse ten times, but he knew that they would both report it to their parents, and then their parents would tell his father, and then all hell would break loose. So, he lied.

"I'm fine Goyle, what took you guys so long to get in here?" Goyle looked at Crabbe.

"Er.. we were kind of held up by a new student." Crabbe said, sheepishly. "And food."

"Yes, I noticed." He sneered, pointing to the food that decided to make itself at home on Goyle's robes. Goyle looked as if he would reply, but just then, the compartment door opened. Draco looked at the girl standing there, and sneered. She was very pretty, with wavy chestnut hair, and gold speckled brown eyes. But, she looked like a Gryffindor.

"Hello," she said, smiling, despite Draco's sneer. "Do you mind if I sit in here? The other compartments are full." She said, with a look at Draco.

"Yes, you can, but don't expect much from us, we don't know you, after all," he said, coldly. He watched her for her reaction. To his great surprise, she glared at him. Her brown eyes turned a color that could only be descried as the color of a rainy day. Draco felt as though she were piercing into his soul, he wanted to turn away, but he decided to counter her glare, with one of his own.

She watched him, amused, as his eyes did similar to hers. His silvery eyes turned a dark gray, and he glared. She was surprised that he hadn't turned away, so she smiled. This apparently, confused him, but he gave a sort of half smile. Goyle coughed. Both Draco and the new girl looked over at them.

"Are you two done yet?" he asked, annoyed. Draco grinned a bit.

"Yes," he turned to the girl. "You are okay, never met anyone with a glare worse than mine. Who are you?" This came out sounding rude, but for Draco, it was his best effort at being nice to someone.

"My name is Hali Steyn, I am in fifth year."

"Why haven't we ever seen you before then?" Crabbe asked. Draco shook his head.

"That is a stupid question, obviously she is a transfer student."

Hali nodded. "Yes, I transferred here from Egypt. My father worked for the ministry their, Minister of Magic actually, but he decided to come here, Dumbledore asked him to. So, I will be sorted before the first years, I imagine."

Draco took all that information in. His father would want him to tell him everything, but Draco had a feeling that he shouldn't and so, he wouldn't. "Hmm, I have always wanted to go to Egypt. So, what house do you want to be in?" he asked, hoping it wouldn't be Gryffindor.

"Well, either Ravenclaw or Slytherin, either would be cool, I really don't want Hufflepuff though," Goyle and Crabbe grunted a laugh at this remark. Draco gave a tight smile.

"We are Slytherin's, in case you haven't noticed." She smiled.

"I knew you were, but I wasn't sure if they were." She said, pointing at Crabbe and Goyle. The Witch pushing the food cart came to the door.

Draco sighed, and closed his eyes. "I warn you, watching them eat is disgusting." He whispered to her. She smiled. "Here they go." Hali looked up, and saw that Crabbe and Goyle both had their hands filled with pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs. "Want anything?" he asked. She nodded. "Come on then."

Both got up, and went over to the cart, while Crabbe and Goyle sat down, starting to open their food. Hali bought five chocolate frogs, a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavour beans, and a licorice wand. Draco raised an eyebrow at her, as he paid for a pumpkin pastie and a sugar quill.

"What?" she asked, laughing. "I am hungry." Draco shook his head in amusement. "By the way, who are they?" she asked, pointing at Crabbe and Goyle.

"The biggest one is Vincent Crabbe, and the other is Gregory Goyle." She nodded, and they sat in silence for the remainder of the journey to Hogwarts. When they got to Hogsmeade station, he led her out of the train, and down to one of the horseless carriages. Crabbe and Goyle, who were looking at Draco peculiarly, followed them both, but he didn't notice the weird looks, as he was to busy telling Hali about Hogwarts.

When she saw the castle she gasped. "Wow, this is, gigantic. My school in Egypt was also a castle, but not half this size." She stared at it, until they reached the front entranceway. A strict looking witch stood in the doorway.

"I am Professor McGonagall, you must be Hali Steyn." Hali nodded. "Good, come with me, we will be sorting you before the first years." She waved goodbye to Draco and Co. and followed the professor. "Now, dear, don't be nervous. All you have to do is put the hat on, and then go to the appointed table." Hali nodded. She was beginning to feel a bit nervous.


Professor McGonagall brought her into a very large room, where some of the students were filing in, and sitting down. "This is the Great Hall, this is where you will eat all three meals, and where you will come in case of an emergency." She led her up to a long table, where the Professors were seated. She noticed the one sitting by Dumbledore, more than any other. Something about him made her keep looking at him, as she stood by Professor McGonagall.

He looked very tall, six feet maybe, and he had coal black eyes, and shoulder-length black hair. He must have felt her looking at him, for he turned directly to her. Hali blushed a bit, but did not look down; instead, she waved to Dumbledore. The black haired Professor was looking out at the hall when she looked at him again. "Er.. Professor?" she asked Professor McGonagall. "Who is that Professor sitting next to the Headmaster, the one with black hair?"

Hali noticed the professor gave her a dark look before answering. "That," she said, saying it like he was some kind of bug, "is the Slytherin Head of 'This Severus Snape was very intriguing. I must get to know more about him' she thought.

Dumbledore stood up. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Professors and Ghosts, and Peeves," he said, looking at the Poltergeist who was speaking with a creepy looking ghost over at the Slytherin table. "After the feast, I will have some important announcements, so make sure you stay awake," he said, his blue eyes twinkling in the direction of some students at the Ravenclaw table. "Please welcome our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Lupin. He has kindly returned for this position." As he made this announcement, the Professor indicated waved to some students at the Gryffindor table.

"I would also like you all to welcome a new student. She is in the fifth year, and has transferred here from Egypt." Hali felt hundreds of eyes on her, as Dumbledore continued. "Her name is Hali Steyn, and she will be Sorted before we bring in the first years." A tiny professor, whom Hali thought looked like a dwarf, came into the hall, carrying a stool, and a frayed hat. Professor McGonagall walked her towards the stool, once the tiny Professor had set it down.


Hali sat on it, and placed the hat onto her head. "Hmmm... You have a brilliant mind, my dear. I see you are also ambitious, and powerful. I think you belong in SLYTHERIN!" the hat said, yelling the last bit to the school. Applause was heard from the Slytherin table, as she pulled the hat off her head. She smiled at Professor McGonagall, and walked over to the Slytherin table.


"Hey, welcome to Slytherin, Hali." Draco said to her, with a small smile. She smiled back to him, and sat in the chair next to him. She looked around to the rest of the Slytherin's, and noticed all of them were looking at her curiously. One of them, a girl, whom in Hali's opinion looked like a bulldog, was glaring at her.

"Hey, Draco, that a girlfriend?" she asked, gesturing to the black haired girl. Draco grimaced.

"That is Pansy Parkinson. She thinks she is my girlfriend. Personally, I can't stand her." Hali smiled at him, and then turned around and smiled at the rest of the Slytherin's, some of them smiled back.

Just then, Professor McGonagall re-entered the Great Hall, in front of a line of trembling first years. Professor McGonagall started calling them up, one at a time, to try on the hat. Hali decided that the sorting was rather boring to watch, so she looked around the Great Hall, her eye's stopping on a black haired boy at the Gryffindor table. Draco noticed where she was looking.

"Harry Potter, the boy who lived." He sneered. "Thinks he is king of he world, and gets away with everything."

"Jealous are we?" She asked him, teasingly. He looked horrorstricken that she could even suggest it.

"Hell no! I wouldn't switch places with him is I were to get a millions galleons out of the deal!" He said, angrily.

"Hey, cool it Dragon boy. I was just kidding," she said, soothingly.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Dragon boy?"

"Yes, Draco means Dragon in Latin, right?" Draco nodded slowly. "So, you're Dragon boy!" she said, laughing. Just then, Dumbledore stood up.


"I have only to words to say two you 'dig in!'" he said, as he sat down again. Immediately, the golden plates filled with food. Hali looked around the table, and smiled, as she saw baked chicken.

"Delicious," she said to Draco, as he grinned at her. Draco suddenly started laughing. "What?" she asked him. He pointed over her shoulder. She turned around, and saw Pansy Parkinson staring at her, with a look of what could only be called angry amazement on her face. Hali also noticed, however, that all the other Slytherin's were too. She shrugged, and turned back to her chicken.


Half an hour later, the golden plates were wiped clean, and once again, Dumbledore stood up. His face was oddly serious. "This year has started out, unlike any other. Voldemort is back, as you might recall me saying at the end of last year. I fear greatly for your safety, as do the other Professors. We have decided to change a few rules this year.

"One; you may not be out of your common room, unless with a teacher, after 6:00 p.m." their was a lot of groans at this announcement, but Dumbledore ignored them. "Two; Quidditch practices will not be held after dark. Now, for the final and most important rule; you do not go to Hogsmeade, unless you are with a group of at least four people." Once again, groans were heard. Dumbledore's eyes were now lit with fire.

"Last year, we lost a student to Voldemort, and I will not let that happen again. The Minister of Magic flat out refuses to believe he is back. But he is. Their has already been two Death-Eater attacks reported." Gasps were heard from around the great hall. "Heed these rules. Take this seriously." He said, looking over towards the Gryffindor table.

"Now, everyone, go to your common rooms. Sleep well, classes begin tomorrow." And with that, he left the Great Hall. Hali turned to face Draco, who was looking very white.

She tapped him on the elbow. "What's wrong Draco? You look terrified." He looked at her.

"That's because I am," he said, in a serious whisper.

"You don't look to good, come on, let's go to the common room, I think you need some sleep." He didn't protest as she grabbed his hand, and walked with him to the Slytherin Common Room, which was down in the dungeons.

He didn't speak, until they were inside standing by the hidden entrance to the boys Dormitories. "Thanks Hali. I better go to bed, er... you might want to watch out for Pansy, you two are in the same dorm room." She nodded at him, and he went through the door. She sighed, and walked over to a blonde Slytherin second year. "Uh, hi, I was wondering if you could tell me how to get into the fifth year girls dormitories?" she pointed towards statue by the fireplace. "Thank you." She said, as she walked towards the statue of a fierce looking griffin.

She pulled its front talon, and, to her amazement, it slid over, revealing a stone corridor. "That was easy," she muttered to herself, as she walked down the corridor, stopping at the first room, which had 'Serpent Room' written on a gold plaque. She opened the door, and saw that her trunk was placed at the end of one of the four beds.

Sighing, she pulled open the green and silver hangings, and sat herself on the bed. A few minutes later, deciding she should get to sleep, she got back up, and went to her trunk. She pulled out a brush and her nightgown. She walked over to the mirror over her dresser, and started brushing her hair. "You've got lovely hair dear," her mirror said, sleepily.

"Thanks," she replied, before slipping off her robes, and pulling her nightgown over her head. She walked over to her four-poster, and snuggled herself under the sheets. She pulled the hangings shut, just as two Slytherin girls walked in.

"Don't know who she thinks she is." One of them said, sounding annoyed. "Hitting on Draco, she obviously didn't listen when he told her I was his girlfriend, either that, or she put a charm on him" Hali giggled softly. 'Must be Pansy.'

"Yes, no kidding. I can't believe she is a Slytherin. She doesn't act like one." The other replied.

"Millicent, she probably talked the hat into it, I mean, you know that stupid hat wanted to put me in Hufflepuff, but I absolutely refused to be put there, especially since I saw Draco be put into Slytherin." Pansy said. Hali giggled once more. This time, she was overheard. Luckily for her, these Slytherin girls were idiots.

"Did you here something Pansy?" Millicent asked. Pansy must have nodded, for she continued on. "Sounded like giggling, or something."

"Nah, probably just a mouse. I'm going to bed." Hali lay there, trying hard not to laugh out loud again, and soon, after hearing no more, she fell asleep.



******Meanwhile, in the Snape's office******



"Damnit Marissa, are you sure the translation is wolfsbane, and not something else, because it doesn't seem that wolfsbane should go in this." Severus said, to the Ancient Runes teacher Marissa Venally.

The tall, blonde haired witch glared before answering. "Of course I am, Severus. I can read hieroglyphics better than anyone at this school." She snapped at him. "It says here, chopped, so start cutting." She ordered

"Fine, but if something goes wrong, don't blame me." He said, annoyed. He looked at the wolfesbane carefully, before cutting it up into little pieces.

"Do you two ever quit bickering?" Marilee Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher asked. Looking up at the two, before going back to the star chart she had been looking at.

Before anyone could answer, Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore walked in. "At it again, are they?" Remus asked. Marilee nodded. "No surprise their."

"Shut up, werewolf." Severus said, in a cold voice.

"Severus." Albus said, warningly.

He looked up, and managed a small smile. "Sorry, Albus, I am a bit worked up."

Albus smiled at him, and was about to say something else, but Marilee jumped up, a big smile on her tired face. "Got it!" she said, and all the professors looked at her, expectantly. "On September the fifth, the potion will turn him 11 again." Dumbledore smiled.

"I must inform Hagrid!" he said, happily, he turned around, and walked out of the room, leaving four very frustrated professor's together... The reason for their frustration was this:

Hagrid, having never finished schooling at Hogwarts, wanted nothing more than to fulfill his magical training. Dumbledore had spent the better part of his summer, trying to find a way to turn him back into an eleven year old again, so he could start all over again. He had been searching a newly found tomb in the Valley of the Kings, which a fellow wizard had discovered. A witch found a secret room, and it was filled with ancient magical texts and books. Dumbledore had found one that he thought to contain the Aging Potion, and brought it back to Hogwarts.

Professor Venally, who knew how to read and write hieroglyphics, had translated the section they needed. So, Professors Snape, Venally, Lupin and Sinistra had spent the better part of the summer making the potion, and it was slow go, as hieroglyphics are not very easy to read.


But now, the potion was almost done, and the teachers could go back to teaching in peace. Severus sneered at the chopped wolfsbane, and said aloud. "If any of you care to watch, I am putting in the last ingredient." The other three professors came over to the cauldron, and watched as he dropped the final ingredient in.


Their was a loud bang, which none of the professor's thought was a problem (as none of them knew too much on potions) but they knew their was one, when they saw Severus' face. "Ah, Severus, is something wrong?" Remus asked him. He nodded, but was didn't answer, as he was staring at the cauldron. The other professors, who were feeling quit frightened, looked to where he was staring.

A purplish colored fog was rising from the potion, and to the professors horror, was spreading rapidly. Within seconds, it had engulfed the whole room. Remus turned to Severus, who was staring at the cauldron. "Severus?" Remus asked, tentatively. When he got no reply, he tried again.

Finally, worried that something was wrong with Severus, he slapped him. This brought him back into reality. But he looked even paler than usual. "Severus? Is something wrong?" Marissa asked him. Severus turned to face her.

"Yes, something is wrong. Potions are not supposed to explode, and shoot fog everywhere. We did something wrong, and apparently whatever this potion is; we are all now infected with it. And lets just hope this isn't poison." The other professor's looked at him, worried. But before any of them could do anything, they fainted.



******3 hours later, in the Infirmary******


Marilee opened her eyes, and looked around. "What the..." she mumbled, before looking around. She couldn't see the person in the bed next to her, and she assumed it was Severus, as he was the only Professor, besides her and Minerva McGonagall, with black hair. She sat up, and she felt as though something was different, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

She tried to think of why she might be in the infirmary, but all that came to her was a jumble of fuzzy pictures, that were slightly purple looking. She gasped, as she remembered the potion that Severus, Marissa, Remus and herself had been working on, and the effect the final ingredient had had on it.

"Poppy!" she called to the nurse. "Poppy, I need to speak with Dumbledore." She called out, hoping the nurse was near. 'Hmm.. I sound a bit odd, must be the flu, or something' she thought to herself. Dumbledore appeared in the doorway.

"Ahh... Marilee, are you feeling well?" he asked, somewhat nervously.

"Yes, Albus, but why do you look so serious. I'm not dying, am I?" she asked him, slightly frightened.

He shook his head, gravely. "No, but, I need you to get up." She looked at him, curiously, but she slid off the bed, and went to stand next to him. "I want you to look in this mirror," he said, conjuring a large silver mirror.

"What is it, do I have boils or someth... oh my god!" she shrieked, staring at the reflection in the mirror. 'Her' reflection, was not what it had been when she woke up that morning. "What the hell happened? I look like I did when I was like 14!" she said, looking at him.


"Actually, 15." She opened her mouth to ask him what was going on. But he spoke before her. "Well, I suppose you want to know what's going on." She nodded. "Well, I am not sure yet. All I know, is that something happened to that potion, which made it turn you all into fifteen year old versions of yourself." She stared at him.

"How, what? I don't understand, we followed the instructions perfectly. And besides, how in all the magical world can a potion have an effect, when not applied directly, or taken orally, it isn't logically possible." She went on like this, for a few more minutes.

"Marilee dear, why don't you calm down, I believe Severus ahs just awoken." He said to her, turning to the lump that was Severus. "Why don't you sit down, while I explain this to him." He suggestion. She nodded, and sat back down on the bed.

Severus sat up. "What the?" he said, noticing where he was. He turned, and saw Dumbledore standing by Marilee's bed. "Albus, what's going on, why am I in the Infirmary?" he asked Dumbledore suspiciously.

"Do you recall the potion you were making earlier Severus?" he nodded. "Okay, then do you remember what happened before you fainted?" Severus went white.


"Oh, Bloody Hell. I almost forgot. What happened, exactly?" he asked Dumbledore.

"Why don't you look in the mirror and find out." Marilee said from her bed. Dumbledore frowned at her, but nodded to Severus, who got up, and stood in front of the mirror. He didn't say anything, but his jaw dropped.

"What the... I look... like I did at 16." He said, astounded.

"Er, that's because you are, well, 15 actually." Severus looked at him, bewildered. Before he could say anything, however, the door to the infirmary opened.

"Madame Pomfrey I... Professor Snape?" Hali asked, astounded. She was standing in the doorway, staring strait at the Professor. Severus frowned, but Dumbledore smiled.

"Ah, Miss Steyn. How is it, may I ask, that you knew that was Severus Snape, when he looks completely different?" he asked her. Severus looked at her. She blushed.

"Er... I... Erm...Uh..." she stammered, facing downward. Dumbledore turned to her, eyes twinkling.

"I think I know, but I believe we need to chat tomorrow. Please come to my office after your first lesson, I believe you have a free period after that." She nodded, still blushing. "Now, what is it you needed from the Infirmary at two in the morning?"

This question brought Hali out of her embarrassment. "Oh, yes, I was wondering if I could get a Sleeping Draught for Draco, sir. He is having trouble sleeping."

"How is it that you know he is having problems sleeping?" Marilee asked, amused. Hali blushed again.


"He told me, Professor. Asked me to get something for him." She said. Severus looked amused.

"Yes, and why is it that he asked you, and not one of his friends? Like Vincent or Gregory." He asked, sneering.

"Quit badgering the girl, Severus..." Dumbledore started, but Hali cut him off.

"Excuse me, professor, but I AM one of his friends." She said, icily. "He wanted me to, because he did not trust any of the others to not poison him." Severus and Marilee both stared at her, surprised.


"I'm afraid Madame Pomfrey doesn't keep Sleeping Draughts in the Infirmary. But I know Severus here might have some, stored somewhere, as he is the Potions Master." Dumbledore said, looking pointedly at Severus.

"Yes, I do." He sneered.

"So, you will take her down there and get her one to give Mr. Malfoy, won't you?" Dumbledore said.

"Yes, I guess so. And I am not coming back. When everyone one awakens, and they find out they are all 15 again, please tell me, so we can figure out what to do." He said, and with that, he stomped off, Hali behind him.


Marilee turned to Dumbledore. "You don't think that she..." Dumbledore nodded. "But who? How? I mean, he's Severus." She said, as she watched Severus stalk off to the dungeons, the girl behind him.

"There is nothing wrong with Severus, Marilee." He said to her sternly.

"Yes, well, to the small problem concerning our ages... what are we going to do? Classes start tomorrow! How will we explain this?" she asked him, suddenly feeling apprehensive.


"We will deal with that, once Remus and Marissa are awake." Dumbledore said, before turning away from her, to face the two sleeping forms of her friends. Marilee sighed, and sank down on the bed, and buried her face into the scratchy blankets.

A/N - Well, how o you like it?? I think it is pretty good. But then again, I am the author, so obviously I like it.. hehe. Anyways, I don't think the books ever say who the Ancient Runes professor is, so I made her up. Please review, and thanks to all my reviewers, though I didn't have many. *hugs to all* Oh, and no, I don't use a beta reader, and I am really sorry if this has any spelling errors, but I am in a hurry to get this out, because I am leaving tomorrow, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to post it. I will fix any errors later.

F.O.E.