The exit was jammed as every student tried to get out of the bedroom and into the foyer. A house meeting had been called, to let everyone get to know their new recruits and to make them feel at home.

Everyone in! There are plenty of chairs, so don't just stand around! Thibaut called out, trying to make his voice heard over the cacophony of noisy children. Once all had settled down, he continued. Let's have all the exchange students come over here to the front so you can introduce yourselves.

Draco stood up, nervous, and made his way to the front of the room carefully, stepping over legs outstretched by gangly boys. He merged into a larger group of students who were making their way to the front also, most of them girls, but some unknown boys.

Now, stand in a line, and I want each of you to tell us your name, age, and what school you are from. Is that good? Thibaut asked. They nodded in response and aligned themselves. After that was done, the introductions began.

A small girl, with red hair was first. I'm Anastasia from the Moscow Magical Centre of Learning, and I'm sixteen just this last week.

I'm Joel, from Mozambique, a lanky, dark-skinned fellow said. I'm sixteen now, but I'll be seventeen in a month. Already the girls were following his every move, undressing him with their eyes. He'd obviously be very popular with the ladies.

On and on it went, down the line. It was Draco's turn now, and there was still a third of the line waiting for introduction. I'm Draco, from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm seventeen now, he said. A small gasp was heard from down the line, from the ones not yet introduced. He turned his head, trying to catch sight of the person who had let it. Draco scanned the line, and saw one very familiar face.

Granger.

Sure, she was one of the most talented people in the school, but why did she have to come to this house? Maybe she should have just followed Potter's lead, and gone to Renard. This would put a damper on the whole trip. He thought he would get away from her after the boat, but no. Here she was, in the same house!

On and on, the induction went. When it got to Hermione, Draco let out no sign of acknowledgement, just stood there rigidly. She would not get the best out of him, and his carefully trained expression showed no one.

Afterwards, Thomas came up to Draco. "I thought you said you knew that Hermione chick. What was the deal?" he asked.

"Yes, I know her, but I do not want to be in the same house as her. She's horrid. I hate and detest and loathe her."

"That's pretty harsh," Thomas said. "What did she do to you? Surely you're blowing it out of proportions."

"I am not. And I can't tell you what she did, because.I don't really know myself. She just gets on my nerves." Draco told him, thinking about this for really the first time. Was it just because she was a Mudblood that he despised her? Yes, he told himself firmly. That was a good enough reason. Or, at least, that was what his father had always said.

"Anyways, who all did you say you knew here besides Hermione?" Thomas asked.

"Well, there are some other students from Hogwarts, that I don't really know, and then there is this perfectly horrid girl named Pansy, but you don't want to associate with that wench. She'll suck you dry as bone, and just leave a shell of a person where you once were." Draco told him in all seriousness. "Trust me, you don't want to mess with her."

Thomas nodded as if slightly scared by this outburst, then turned and got his robes to put on. It was almost dinnertime, and for their first meal as a group. After everyone was dressed, they headed down the stairs to supper.

About half of the school was there, waiting impatiently for their food. As soon as the rest of the school was there, the food appeared abundantly on the circular tables. Simple porcelain dishes housed the victuals, and held them well. The cuisine was simple, not as lavish as that of Hogwarts, but was much more sustaining. The bread alone was enough to keep a gaggle of teenage boys fed for a week. That was a lot of food, and of it appetizing to the palate. The tables were open to anyone who wanted to sit, but most often houses sat together within themselves. This was true of every house and counter. Conversations arose above the clatter of silverware, about which of the transfer students various people liked or didn't. Most of the newcomers were liked, with just a few rare exceptions.

Draco joined into the conversation with the other transfers like Joel and got to know his roommates better. It couldn't hurt, seeing as he would have to sleep in the same room as these people, wouldn't he. Best to be on the safe side.

As it turned out, in other countries, though the curricula was the same, the focus was on different studies of magic. In Mozambique, Joel told them, most of their studies had to do with tribal magic.

It's quite an interesting subject, really. I know how to find out if Muggles have curses on them, from wizards gone astray. Muggle relations are quite good, since most people believe in magic, and we don't have to conceal ourselves as much. We also do a lot of work with charms, and protective things like that. I can make a stone that will protect the wearer from drowning, he announced proudly.

In Russia, Anastasia said, Our magic is mostly nature harmony, and trying to undo damages unwitting Muggles have done. The site of that radioactive explosion was just a cover-up to keep Muggles from the dragon hatchery site. We can't have them just running around finding all of these great big eggs around. Remember when there was that big hullabaloo in the Muggle papers about the dinosaur eggs? Well, those were really dragon eggs that were improperly disposed of. So we study how to fix these problems. She informed them, and Draco got an enlightening insight. Lucius always read the Muggle tabloids to see if there were any information leaks to their unprepared ears. Sometimes these reporters got scarily close to the truth, and had to be talked to. That was his father's job, and every time there was no more mention of any such thing. Mr. Malfoy could be intimidating without effort.

The conversation continued on to other subjects, and everyone had a jolly time that night. Dessert was un gâteau au chocolat sliced thinly and draped in a caramel sauce. All students went back to their rooms fully stuffed, and slowly got ready for bed. Draco looked at his watch in shock as they neared the chamber. 10:00 already! How long had they sat there after eating? It had obviously been quite some time. He shook his head, overcome by a sense of déjà vu. This was his first time here, it couldn't have happened before.

He went to get his bath things and moved for the lavatory. It was unrestrained in its Yuletide cheer, decorated happily still with boughs of holly and sprigs of ivy. Draco headed to a shower stall and bathed away his tiredness. He put on his pyjamas, consisting of black and green sleep pants and nothing else, and went back to his bed. The covers were pulled down for him, and a foot warmer was placed in the bed. Touches of home.

He lay down between the soft sheets, and thought of his own home. This wasn't the way it was there; there he would have to go sleep alone, in a cold and unwelcoming house. Draco thought briefly of the classes he would be expected to attend the next day. What would the heart of the lessons be? Could he do them well enough to satisfy their expectations? Rolling over, he forgot these worries, and concentrated only on falling asleep in this warm and comforting bed.