Hi everyone. I'm back just like I promised. I have really enjoyed writing this story. I hope you like it.
I don't own Harry Potter and co.
Thoughts are indicated by ( )
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
CHAPTER SIX- REACTIONS BACK AT HOGWARTS
Two months had passed and Harry and his gang were heading back to school. The train ride was quiet. Harry was wondering what was missing and asked Hermione if she also felt like something was off. The young witch sat up and thought for a moment.
"I know" she said suddenly "Malfoy didn't make his usual visit. I wonder why?"
The three wizards kept on coming up with bizarre scenarios that would explain the blonde's absence. When the train stopped and they got off, Harry scanned the crowd and didn't see anyone with platinum blond hair.
(How strange) thought Harry.
They made their way to the Gryffindor table and waited for the sorting ceremony to start. Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder and told him to look at the Slytherin table. The usual group of sixth years Slytherins was sitting all together with the exception of their usual leader Malfoy who was no where to be seen. Harry, Hermione and Ron gave themselves puzzled looks. They were distracted when professor McGonagall came in with the first years. After the sorting was done professor Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech.
"Welcome to students old and new. As usual I have a few start of year announcements to make. First I would like to remind everyone that the forbidden forest is still forbidden." He gave the golden trio a quick look after saying this. "Secondly there will be no use of magic in the halls or you may be punished with detentions for getting caught. Thirdly Mr. Filch has a list of forbidden items in his office so anyone wanted more information can contact him. Fourthly we have a student that disappeared without a trace this summer and we have no clue as to wither this is the work of Voldemort or not so please be careful." The aged wizard took the time to look around the room to see if anyone would have noticed Draco's absence. He noticed that some of the sixth year Gryffindors were looking at the Slytherin table.
"Draco Malfoy disappeared on the fifth of July this summer." The noise level suddenly went up as the students turned around to get a good look at the Slytherin table. The Slytherin themselves didn't look too troubled with the fact that one of their own was missing.
The headmaster lifted a hand and the room became quiet again. "Now please keep in hope in your hearts that Mr. Malfoy is safe. Only time will tell. Now there will be two school dances this year. One for Halloween and one for Valentine 's Day. The dances will be for the fourth years and up. Now I would like you to meet your defense against the dark arts teacher professor Lupin. He has returned to help us in this difficult time. With the return of Voldemort we will need his expert teaching skills. Some of you may remember that he thought the same class three years ago. And I know that most of you know that he is a werewolf." The students gasped when the headmaster made Remus' condition known.
"Please be respectful of your teacher. Professor Lupin receives the wolfbane potion from professor Snape. So when the full moon does arrive he is quite safe and will be in a location where he won't be in contact with other people. Professor Lupin is one of the rare wizards, outside of the auror and unspeakable departments; that have his mastery in DADA so his assistance is quiet valuable. Now it is time for us to eat." With a clap of his hands the food suddenly appeared and the kids quickly started to eat.
Harry seemed thoughtful as he ate. He had never really hated Malfoy, he just hated what he stood for. Deep down he would miss the rivalry that they shared. Quidich would be boring now that he wasn't there to challenge him. He would really miss the beautiful blond (Now where did that come from? Since when do I find Malfoy beautiful?). With a sigh he returned to eating his food. Hermione seemed to notice that he was deep in thought and asked if he could tell her what he had been thinking about.
"I don't know Hermione, Here I thought that the Malfoys were some of the top supporters of Voldemort and this summer he had Lucius killed inside Azkaban and Narcissa has gone into hiding. Now Draco has disappeared, this worries me as to what will Voldemort do next."
"Your right Harry, I think that Voldemort is starting to turn on his own people. And look at the Slytherin table, you wouldn't think that they've lost one of their members by the way they are acting." The two Gryffindors looked back at the Slytherin table where the group was talking with hushed voices and giving anybody else death glares.
After the feast they were making their way out of the hall when they bumped into Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Watch it Potty, can't you look where you're going?"
"Zabini, I'm surprised you came out of your shell. Trying to take Malfoy's place are you?" Hermione was quick with her reply.
"Why would anyone want to take the place of that traitor."
Harry frowned. "What do you mean with traitor?"
Zabini smirked and as he turned around to leave he said something that would make everyone act like a bomb had dropped on the school
"That traitor refused the dark mark this summer and our Lord has placed his name next to yours on his want to kill list."
The three Slytherins left the others standing in the hall. Harry had his mouth opened in shock then he turned around to look at Ron and Hermione who had paled.
"Did he just say what I think he said."
"Yes Ron, I think you heard the same thing as we did. Malfoy must have gone into hiding like his mother after he refused the mark. But why would professor Dumbledore say that he disappeared?'
"Because he has…" The three Gryffindors turned around when they heard the headmaster's voice.
"Would you three please come with me to my office?"
All three nodded and followed their headmaster. When they got to the gargoyle they waited for the old wizard to say the password. "Chocolate Frogs"
Harry rolled his eyes at the usual treat name for the headmaster's password. He smiled at his friends and followed the headmaster up the stairs. Once they were in the office they sat down on the chairs in front of the headmaster's desk.
"I wanted to talk to you three because of what happened last year. I wanted to let you know that because of your obvious knack of getting yourselves in trouble that all three of you will not be attending regular classes. I have talked to your parents and guardians and they agreed that due to you three being high on Voldemort's hit list that you will receive special advance training in all your classes by special tutors. This way you will be able to finish your NEWTS at the end of the year. Then all three of you will receive auror training."
All three wizards were shocked that their lives would now revolve around training for the war. Hermione seemed exited, Ron had paled but sat up strait with a look of determination in his eyes and Harry was saddened to know that his friend's lives would be turned around because they were his friends. Hermione seemed to feel her friend's mood and gave him a stern tongue lashing.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER, YOU STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF RIGHT NOW! I know that you think this is your fault but understand this. We would have been targets of Voldemort anyways. Me for being muggleborn and Ron because his whole family is on the side of the light and that they are a powerful family. Now I'm happy to be included in this training because you guys won't be around me 24/7 so I will need to know how to defend myself. And if I'm at home during an attack I want to be able to defend my muggle parents. This is also good for Ron." She turned around and looked at the redhead.
"Think of this Ron, with this training you will be able to graduate one year ahead from anyone in your family, and you will be auror trained. Now that is something to be proud about don't you think?"
Ron thought about what she had said and nodded in agreement. "She's right Harry. I mean this will be good for us. We will always be at your side. For us to be well trained will only be an advantage." Then turning back to the headmaster who eyes were twinkling like mad he asked. "Who will be our tutors?"
"For potions it will be a French potion master named Louis Vanderville. He will teach you on Monday mornings. You will have three hour lessons once a week with him. Next will be Animagus training. You will study this Monday afternoon with professor McGonagall. Then it will be occlumency and legimency thought by myself on Monday nights."
Harry smiled when he saw Ron's expression of relieve when they heard that potions would be thought by someone else that Snape. He himself was relived that occlumency would be though by the headmaster. He shook himself out of his thoughts and continued listening to the professor.
"Tuesday morning you will have advanced DADA with professor Lupin. In the afternoon you will have more advance DADA with Alistor Moody. You will have Tuesday evenings free to either finish some homework or relax. Wednesday morning you will have transfiguration with Hestia Jones who is also a transfiguration mistress like professor McGonagall. She works for the department of mysteries and has agreed to teach you one morning a week. In the afternoon you will have Herbology. This will help with your potion lessons. In the evening you will have occlumency with me again. We will do this until all three of you are able to defend your minds. Thursday mornings for the first months you will have apparition lessons. When you pass your license then we will change those courses to muggle self defense, in both of these lessons you will be though by Kingsley Shacklebot. In the afternoon you will have DADA again with Moody. You will have the evening off. Now on Friday you will have charms with professor Flitwick and in the afternoon you will have Care of Magical creatures with Charlie Weasley. I'm sorry to say Hermione that you will have to give up Muggle studies and Arithmancy. You will be able to have ancient runes with the other advance students on Friday night if you wish. You boys will have Friday evening free. Saturday morning you will have two hours of animagus training again. Professor Vanderville will brew the required potions and hopefully you will achieve the change within six months depending on what your forms will be. Now do you have any questions?"
The three flabbergasted students just shook their heads.
"Good then, I will have all the books you need ready for you by tomorrow evening. As tomorrow is Sunday I want you to enjoy the day. I will give you a special pass into Hogsmead for the day. Professor Lupin and Tonks will accompany you as guards. Now I think you should return to your dorms. You will stay there for tonight but tomorrow you will be moved to private quarters so that your schedule doesn't bother too many people."
The three young wizards got up and bid their headmaster good night. Just before leaving the room Harry turned around and asked.
"Has Draco Malfoy really turned down receiving the dark mark before he disappeared?"
"Yes he has Harry, Severus who is his godfather was with Voldemort when he received Draco's refusal letter. Let's just say that it took Severus three days in the hospital wing to come back from his injuries giving to him by a very angry Tom after he had read the letter. Severus was proud of his godson and said that he would go through it again if it meant that Draco didn't have to become one of Voldemort's slaves."
Harry thanked the professor and hurried to catch up to his friends. They had a lot to discuss this evening before going to bed.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
TBC
Another chapter done. In my next chapter we will fast forward two years. Soon Draco and Harry will meet again. Until then bye for now!
Kungzoune