Chapter Five – The Great Hall

It was hard to keep the noise level down. Everyone was happy to be back at school and anxious for the Feast to begin. The doors opened, and Professor McGonagall led the first years down to the front of the hall, where the sorting hat was waiting.

"Any look like they could be Gryffindors?"

"That's a Slytherin if I ever saw one."

Professor McGonagall looked the Great Hall over, ensuring silence. Neville caught Luna's eye across the hall and gave her a grin. This was when he was sad that she was in Ravenclaw. Neville knew she was smart, but hadn't she proven over and over her bravery, granting her a place in Gryffindor?

But when the first years were still, everyone went and stared at the Sorting Hat, waiting to here it's new song. The Sorting Hat seemed to take a moment to collect itself, then opened it's brim to sing.

Hogwarts' door is always wide

In the times of peace and in strife.

The lessons that you learn here,

Will guide you through your life.

Potions and Charms are well and fine,

Books and brooms all take a turn.

But there is one class you must take,

One lesson you must learn.

While you live in separate houses,

Four different ones in all.

You take your meals together,

Dining in this Great Old Hall.

Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff

Slytherin and Gryffindor.

Together make a wondrous tale,

Worthy of Hogwarts lore.

Ambition and those Slytherins

Always go hand in hand.

Balanced by Gryffindor, whose brave deeds

Are known across the land.

Be in Ravenclaw and you will find

Wisdom and learning at your feet.

Add the loyal Hufflepuffs and

Your circle is now complete.

Founded in equality,

The teachers looked far and wide

For students with a will to learn

Their lessons side by side.

So please remember when in doubt

Of the chamber that you sleep.

That more important than them all,

Is the name Wizard that you keep.

Neville tried to think what the Sorting Hat was telling them. It had certainly changed its song from the first year, when it simply sang about the different houses.

Professor McGonagall then started to read off the names of the students to be sorted. Was it just him, or were there more first years now than when he had been a first year?

"Wait for it…" Ron said slowly.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said softly, shaking her head. "You can't be hungry after all the sweets you ate on the train."

Just then Professor Dumbledore stood up and said, "Welcome to what promises to be an exciting year at Hogwarts. Before we get into the start of term details, I have just one thing to say. Tuck in!"

The next moment, the table was filled with food for the banquet. Everyone was silent for the next few minutes as they decided what to eat and more importantly, actually start to eat. Neville helped himself to a lamp chop and a twice baked potato. Remembering Luna's pleas to eat more vegetables, he added some asparagus at the last minute.

The Feast was over far too soon. When everyone was getting drowsy, Professor Dumbledore stood up again and asked for silence.

"I only have a few announcements, so please pretend you're listening and this will be over in no time," Professor Dumbledore said with a grin. "I have been asked to remind you that the list of Forbidden items will be posted on the bulletin board in every common room. Please take a moment of your time to peruse it. Also, as in every year since this castle was built, the Forbidden Forest is absolutely off limits.

"For the first time in many years, I have not had to introduce a new Professor. I am quite pleased with that fact, and hope you all work hard to keep it that way," Professor Dumbledore told them, with a twinkle in his eye.

Almost every student turned and looked at Professor Binns-Morgan. A young professor with curly brown hair, she had been the Defense Against the Arts Teacher last year. No one thought for a moment that she would be back for a second year.

"I don't believe it!"

"Is the curse really broken?"

"She's about as exciting as her Great-grandfather."

Professor Dumbledore raised his hand. "I'll take your murmurs as excitement for the fresh term. And at that announcement, it is time to go to your common rooms. Prefects, please lead the first years to their various Common Rooms. Good night to all."

When Professor Dumbledore sat down, every student stood up and started going their separate ways. Neville wasn't planning on going to the common room; he wanted to check his plants.

Neville craned his neck to look for Luna, and somehow managed to knock his wizarding cap off of his head. A first year stepped on it accidentally and looked at Neville fearfully.

"I'm sorry!" the young girl squeaked. Neville couldn't quite believe it, but the girl actually sounded a bit frightened of him.

"It's fine!" Neville said, bending over to pick up his hat. "Please don't worry at all."

She nodded her head and ran off with the rest of the Gryffindor first years. Neville felt someone put their arms around his waist and assumed it was Luna.

"Want to come with me to the Greenhouse?" he asked, smiling. The Greenhouse was their special place at Hogwarts. He admitted his true feelings there last year after the Halloween Ball.

"Can I tell some of the plants about our summer?" Luna asked, her eyes widening. Luna loved to talk to the plants almost as much as Neville did.

"Of course," Neville said. He took her hand and together they left the Great Hall.

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"I thought that maybe, just maybe, for our last year at Hogwarts that we might not have to take Potions with Slytherin," Ron grumbled the next morning. The Great Hall was fairly silent, as everyone was studying the new schedules.

"Well, at least Draco's not in Slytherin anymore," Harry said darkly.

"Why isn't he?" Neville asked eagerly, wanting to know the details.

Ron rolled his eyes. Neville turned and looked down at the end of the Ravenclaw table. Draco Malfoy was sitting at the end, staring hard at the cereal in front of him. There was quite a lot of space between him and the person next to him.

"For his protection. He's agreed to testify against his parents," Hermione said. Then added, "He looks awful, doesn't he?

"His fault. He's the idiot who tried to use an unforgivable on an Auror," Ron said matter of factly.

"Ron…" Hermione said, biting her lip.

"Love, if you're trying to get me to feel sympathy for Draco Malfoy, you're wasting your time," Ron said. Harry nodded in agreement. "I had to spend three weeks in the same house with him, and believe me, that was plenty."

"Three weeks with who?" Luna asked dreamily, as she sat down next to Neville.

"Draco Malfoy," Ginny answered. "We stayed at Headquarters over the summer and Draco was brought there after he was released from Azkaban for his protection."

"Be fair, Ron," Hermione said. "He was forced to stay in his room almost the entire time. It's not like you actually had to speak to him or anything."

"But to know that he was under the same roof…" Ron trailed off, and jabbed a piece of sausage with his fork.

"He wasn't in our Common Room at all," Luna said thoughtfully. "I overheard Terry Boot say that he went straight to bed and had the curtains drawn all night."

Luna glanced towards the Ravenclaw table and her face suddenly clenched. "Luna, what's wrong?" Ginny asked.

"He's in my seat," Luna said. Only Neville, who knew her so well, could hear just a hint of anger in her voice. Just the slightest hint. To everyone else, Neville was sure she sounded like she did all the time. "He didn't sit there last night, during the Feast. That's my seat. That's been my seat for five years."

Neville watched in surprise as Luna stood up and walked purposely towards the end of the Ravenclaw table. The group all watched as Luna said something to Draco, who looked completely surprised to be spoken to. Ron muttered something about needing an Extendable Ear.

Even more baffling was when Draco nodded and pushed his plate to the other side of the table. He then proceeded to stand up and sit down across from where he was sitting. Luna sat down happily at exactly the spot Draco had just been in.

"Your girlfriend's eating breakfast with Draco Malfoy," Harry said softly.

"Thank you, Harry," Neville said dryly. "I can see that."

"Classes are about to begin, boys," Ginny said. "Let's concentrate on breakfast for a bit, shall we?"

Neville tried. But he couldn't stop the unsettling feeling in his stomach when he looked down at Luna and saw her head thrown back in laughter.

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It was halfway through lunch before Neville was able to fully wake himself up.

"It's almost a punishment to have History of Magic first thing on Monday morning," Ron grumbled.

Hermione, who still looked nice and awake, simply said, "Maybe you could actually try to stay awake in class. That might help."

"Sleeping through History of Magic is the only thing that makes the class bearable!" Ron replied hotly.

"Honestly, Ron. You're the one who said you were going to put in a bit of effort this year," Hermione retorted.

"Yeah, but just not in History of Magic first thing bloody Monday morning."

"Don't swear, Ron."

Ginny looked up from her toasted cheese sandwich. "If this is some sort of verbal foreplay between you two, please leave the table. I'm trying to eat."

Hermione suddenly became very interested in her soup. Ginny gave Neville a look that clearly said, "Those two…"

"Where's Harry?" Neville asked, trying to change the subject.

"Professor Binns-Morgan found him after class. They're talking about the schedule for the D.A.," Hermione said in a meek voice, still clearly embarrassed by what Ginny said.

"Oh good," Neville said pleased. He loved working with the D.A. One of the highlights last year was when there was a duel competition, and Neville actually somehow managed to defeat Draco Malfoy in the Final Round.

"Last year was good," Ron said. "I hope we can learn more, though."

"Imagine my brother actually wanting to put more knowledge into his head. Mum would be so proud," Ginny smirked.

Just then, Harry sat down at the table. "We're going to be meeting on Tuesdays at seven o'clock. Binns-Morgan said that we're actually going to start meeting here in the Great Hall. That it's impractical to keep meeting in the Room of Requirements, too many people," he said, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Just as long as it's better than the Duel Club here with Lockhart," Ron snickered. Neville rolled his eyes, remembering the disaster that was, and the insults Professor Snape threw at him.

"Neville, Luna's waving at you," Hermione said.

"Where?" Neville said, looking around.

"At the Ravenclaw table," Hermione said slowly. Everyone turned to look, and sure enough, Luna was waving from her regular seat, right across from Draco Malfoy. She beckoned Neville over.

"You're not going over there, are you?" Harry asked.

Neville took a deep breath. "I'm not going to ignore her," he said, standing up. He picked up his book bag and told the group that he'd see them in Transfiguration next period.

When he was closer, Luna patted the seat next to her. Neville sat down, not quite willing to look at the person who had caused him so much mental anguish over the last six years.

"Longbottom," Draco said, nodding his head.

"Hello, Malfoy," Neville said shortly. "Luna, I'm going to go to the Greenhouse. I'll see you at dinner."

Luna grabbed his arm. "Stay," she said, with just a hint of pleading in her voice. "Eat some dessert."

Now Neville was really confused. Luna never pushed sweets on him, seeing as she didn't eat any herself. "Okay," he said finally. Neville finally took a good look at Draco, and was surprised to see how much he had changed in the past nine months.

He had lost weight, that much was certain. And considering how thin he was before, now he almost looked sickly. There was a slight scar on the side of his cheek, marring his once chiseled good looks. No one would call Draco Malfoy handsome now.

Their eyes met, and the only words Neville could find to describe Draco's eyes were haunted. That he had seen things he desperately wanted to forget, but would never leave him.

Draco brought out his wand and started playing with it. Neville realized at once that it wasn't his old wand. Neville should know; he'd seen that wand pointed at him enough over the years.

"New wand?" Luna asked, trying to break up the awkward silence.

"It's a loaner from the school," Draco said dully. "My own wand was broken in half when I was sent…" He trailed off. Neville mentally finished the sentence in his head.

"You couldn't get a new wand?" Neville asked in spite of himself.

"The powers that be weren't too thrilled about the idea of giving the convicted felon a wand of his own." The sneer that Neville remembered so well appeared for just a moment on Draco's face. "I'm lucky they let me use this one."

Now the silence was really awkward. What do you say to that?

"I read in the other paper that you have a year's probation. You'll have your own wand soon enough," Luna said serenely. Draco's features relaxed. Somehow, Luna knew exactly what to say.

"Right," Draco said sarcastically, switching gears instantly. "Because the Daily Prophet knows so much about what happened. At least they talked to me. The Quibbler just ran some stupid article, getting all the facts wrong, like they normally do."

Or maybe not.

Luna's eyebrows rose slightly. She pushed the sleeves up of her robe and placed her wand behind her ear. Without another word, she grabbed Neville's hand and dragged him out of the Great Hall.

"What was that all about?" Neville asked bewildered.

Luna crossed her arms against her chest and sighed. "He's lonely, isn't it obvious?"

"Lonely?" Neville asked.

"He told me a bit at breakfast. Eight months in Azkaban, with no one to talk to. And then a month in the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, where he wasn't allowed to leave his room without permission. It could make anyone go mad." Luna said simply.

"Malfoy insulted the Quibbler," Neville said seriously.

"Neville, students insult the Quibbler to my face every day," Luna said dreamily. "I'm used to it."

"Then why'd you leave the table?" Neville asked, trying to understand the situation.

"Because he was getting upset. I don't think he's ready to deal with any of it yet," Luna said, taking a ribbon out of the pocket of her robe. She tied her hair back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck.

"So are you going to talk to him again?" Neville asked warily.

"Tomorrow, at breakfast."