Harry and Ron were called back into the dining room by Mrs Weasley.

"Come on, boys. Your Hogwarts letters have arrived. A little early this year," Molly commented as she handed Ron his letter. Hedwig came soaring through the window and dropped an extra thick letter in Harry's lap. She stalked over to Pig, Ron's owl, and hooted genially at him as she gulped some pumpkin juice from Percy's pitcher. Harry opened his letter, and aside from the usual school stuff he found a note. It read:

'Dear Mr Potter,

I am aware that an incident occurred recently that involved you and the Weasleys- an attack of Death Eaters. My associate was able to assist you in this predicament, but I now ask that whenever you or your friends venture outside, you have an adult company. Be on your guard. Enjoy the rest of your school holidays.

By the way, I wish for you to continue your Occlumency lessons this year. I shall tutor you in this subject on Wednesday evenings in my office at nine o'clock, as soon as we begin the new school term.

Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'

Harry stuffed the note into his robe pocket to show Ron and Hermione tonight. He didn't want the rest of the Weasleys to panic- particularly Molly. He glanced over at Ron and Hermione, who were staring at their regular Hogwarts letters. Harry pulled his out. He looked under a heading that said 'curriculum overview'. Hmm, he thought. Mione must be loving this part. He was reflecting on that thought when he heard an excited squeal from across him. Hermione grabbed Ron's arm in her glee.

"Oh, look, Ron! Sixth years have a new subject!" Ron groaned.

"Not another, surely?" Hermione slapped him playfully. Harry felt his heart sinking. Another subject?

"I already have to continue with Occlumency this year. Another?"

What if it was like Potions, or Divination? He didn't think he could handle it. Hermione continued happily.

"All sixth years study psyche for a year. Won't that be fun?"

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, we can finally prove to everyone Trelawney's off her rocker!"

Fred put down the letter he was reading to stare off dreamily into space. "Oh, loved that class. Great visual aides," he said, chortling. George rolled his eyes, smiling distantly.

"Oh, you mean her, don't you? Too true," he agreed. "Very pretty."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Well, Harry," Charlie answered, "I remember that class. Great memories." He added with a grin. "Psyche isn't about proving Trelawney's crazy."

Hermione nodded earnestly. "Yes, it's about the mind, not sanity. It says here in the curriculum overview – ''

" - Knew you'd love that part, Mione," cut in Harry with a smirk,

"-that it delves into the more magical aspects of psyche. Like," she said, eyes widening slightly, "Psychics and telepathy." She finished by emphasising the last words.

Harry's heart skipped a beat when she said that so pointedly to him, but he didn't let on to the rest of them, so as not to upset Mr and Mrs Weasley. He spared a thought of Dumbledore as he replaced his letter back in its letter for later perusal. He glanced at the address on the front of the envelope. Harry marvelled how Professor Dumbledore seemed to know everything all the time. Events, locations, thoughts…Dumbledore was brilliant. Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Hey, Mione, who's teaching us?"

"Doesn't say. Ooh, I love surprises! Except the nasty ones," she ammended. Ron snickered.

"Yeah, but I suppose that's what happens when you're friends with a nutter like Harry. Lots of nasty surprises." Harry glared at his so-called friend.

"Gee, thanks."

"Well, it's true. There hasn't been a lasting Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since you came to Hogwarts. Well, apart from you," admitted Hermione, referring to the DA lessons Harry had taught in last year during Umbridge's reign of terror. Harry looked hurt, and frowned with a 'hmph'. The rest of the family tittered quietly behind their hands while Molly looked on disapprovingly. Harry sighed and quipped,

"I'm just wacky like that."

"Can't deny it, Harry. It's the truth," Ginny giggled a bit too loudly. Molly opened her mouth to defend Harry. Honestly, behaving like this in her very own house! She stopped when Harry's mournful face met her eyes.

"It's alright, Ms Weasley. I understand. It's just natural to pick on the most roguishly handsome person in a group. Just another one of my curses." At this, Fred, who had been drinking orange juice at the time snorted loudly and sprayed the table with sticky juice. George started to roar with laughter.

"Oh, boy! That's a good one, Harry."

"Roguishly handsome? Oh, my sides hurt!"

They chanced a look at Harry's cold glare and stopped abruptly.

Ron snickered again. "See, mum? I was right. He's not full of himself at all." Harry smacked him in the arm.

"Sure. Right. Let's all pick on Harry," he muttered and left the table. Harry really loved it here.

~ ~ ~

Thousands of kilometres away, a boy stood on a balcony, staring off into the distance. It was a beautiful sunset, but all this was lost on him. He thought about what he had heard earlier that day. The boy recalled the glee in his father's voice as he had told his son about the new developments with the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

"Well, son, things are going well. My Lord is breaking the girl's resolve. She is very powerful, and shall be a great asset to our cause when she joins us. As you shall be also, eh, son?"

The boy was silent. He had no intention of joining his father.

"Draco?" his father prodded harshly. He was very expectant of his son.

"Yes, father?" he answered automatically. Draco knew he could not lie to his father. Lucius would speak to his Lord, who could tell when anyone's lying.

"You will become a Death Eater like me." It was a command, not a request. Draco's heart felt very bitter with hatred for his father. He would never become a Death Eater, not after he witnessed what they did to the girl. What Lucius had done to the girl. He paused before answering,

"All in due time, father. I can hardly be useful to the Dark Lord while still in school at Hogwarts."

"Or…perhaps you can. You are placed in an excellent position to inform us on anything that old fool Dumbledore plans. We would have no need to infiltrate the school quite so often if you do."

Draco had a horrible twisting feeling in the pit of his stomach. He squirmed uncomfortably. "Quite." He decided he would be a spy. Not for his father, but for Dumbledore. He would make Lucius pay for what he did to Draco's cousin. How any man could torture his own flesh and blood was beyond him. Draco shuddered to think what Lucius might do to him if he resisted the Dark Lord. He was so powerful, he had broken Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban two weeks ago.

The boy had loved her deeply. Not in the romantic sense, but she was different. She was more family to Draco than his mother or father had ever been. Every time he saw her - her smile, her fierce, passionate eyes, he wished he were more like her. She was special: that much was obvious. His cousin was also very powerful, but she intended to use her gifts for good. It didn't matter to Draco that his cousin wasn't entirely human. She was half Fey, but that didn't matter. She was one of the most compassionate people in the world. The Dark Lord wanted her because she was powerful: Draco knew this. He also knew that she wasn't a pushover. He felt the icy claw of hatred plunge deep into his chest.

Someone was going to pay.

Draco would make sure of that.

A/N

Oooh very rebellious Draco here. Yummy…