Hi All! Sorry it's taken me so long to update! My family life has been really crappy lately. You'd think parents would lose a little control when you've been living on your own for 10 yrs, but no such luck here.

A.L. Nowicki-Welcome back! I've missed your reviews! I love Narcissa and Remus too, but they won't play a major part for the next few chapters.

amethyst-rose, princess, and CindaSwan-glad you all like it! It's fun to write this!

draco'sgurl-don't worry. Harry will get a girlfriend eventually, but he wil be very frustrating to you first:D

Pia O'Leary-Yes, it will get very interesting at Hogwarts!

faeriepuck-I love ya babe! Thanks for understanding the insanity that is my life. Homeschooling the big ones while trying to keep the little one out of trouble. haha

Chapter 18

When the train arrived in Hogsmeade, Ginny heard the usual "Firs years, over 'ere! Firs years!" that so obviously came from Hagrid. She decided that if Draco was going to be a true Gryffindor, he needed to ask Hagrid for forgiveness for all he'd put him through. So, she dragged him over. Hagrid looked more than a little surprised, but took Draco's hand and said "No permanent harm done." How could he be so forgiving? Draco wondered.

They piled into a carriage and headed for the school. So far, they had managed to avoid all the Slytherins, but once they entered the Great Hall, Draco knew he'd have to face them. Ginny saw the concern in his eyes, so she patted his hand and said, "It'll be ok. You have us now." Her words and her touch seemed to have the calming effect she had been hoping for, but she was a little scared as well.

The Great Hall looked as spectacular as ever and when they entered the ceiling looked like the night sky. There was a full moon and Draco hoped that his mum was far from Remus tonight.

He tried to avoid looking at his old house when he sat down with the Gryffindors, but he was getting curious glances up and down both tables. Neville poked Harry in the side and whispered, "What's he doing here?" Harry just said "Things have changed," and left it at that. Neville shot nervous looks through the whole sorting ceremony and Dumbledore's start of term announcements.

Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were well, freaking out. Draco was their leader and they hardly knew how to walk without him telling them. "What in the bloody hell is he doing there, and next to a Weasley as well?" Pansy screeched.

As soon as the feast was over, Draco, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Neville all got up to leave as a group. So, of course, the Slytherins followed. They caught up to them in the hall. "Draco what do you think you're doing with that trash?" she spat. "Do you realize what they are? They're the enemy."

"No, actually that would be you, Pansy," Draco replied. "These people are my friends and you better not try anything to any of us." Crabbe and Goyle looked dumbfounded, which was, of course, a vast improvement. They were looking back and forth between Draco and Pansy as if unsure where their loyalties should lie. After all, they had spent the last five years doing all of Draco's dirty work. "Now we are going to excuse ourselves to our common room, if you don't mind." He pushed Crabbe aside and Neville, getting over his initial shock, pulled out his new wand and looked menacingly at the Slytherins. The two groups parted ways as Ron thumped Neville on the back. "I don't know where that look came from, mate, but I'm glad you're on our side!"

Actually, after having his father's wand broken in the Ministry of Magic last term during the fight with the Death Eaters, Neville seemed to have gained a lot of self-confidence. "They say the wand chooses the wizard, so since I'm not using my dad's anymore, I should be much better at casting spells." Everyone looked at him with newfound respect as they entered the common room.

The guys were expecting to be in their same room again, but it only slept five and now there were six, so their room was changed to the very top of the tower. All their things had already been brought up. Dean and Seamus were in the room when the other four entered. And, for what seemed like the 100th timeDraco had to explain all about being resorted and his dad dying. While not convinced yet of his good motives, Seamus was at least, civil. Dean, on the other hand, had noticed him sitting with Ginny. Almost as soon as summer began, Ginny had broken up with him. He wondered if the reason was standing right in front of him. "Ginny's too good for you and she always will be," he spat at Draco.

Ron spoke up. "Look, no one is good enough for my little sister, but she's the one who gets to choose, not us. Now we all have to live with that."

In the girls' dorms, there was much gossiping going on. "I heard he's in hiding from You-Know-Who and needs Harry for protection," said Lavender. "Well, I heard that he's been put in the witness protection program," said Parvati. "Oh, nonsense!" said Hermione. "If you really must know......and now he's in Gryffindor." They both looked stunned at this revelation.

Draco left the dorm room and made his way back down the circular stairs to the common room. He was hoping for a little privacy so he could write his mum a letter and let her know how his first day was. When he came into the room, however, he discovered he wasn't alone at all. There was a red head sitting in a chair in front of the fire apparently deep in thought.

He tiptoed up behind her and covered her eyes. "Guess who!" he whispered into her ear, his breath sending tingles up her back. She reached up and took hold of his hands and with one great tug, had flipped him over her head and onto the rug in front of her. He looked at her astonished. "How, why did you do that?" he asked. "Well, I did it because I don't like being sneaked up on, and Charley taught me that trick when I was 5 and Fred and George liked to try and tease me." She was smiling and held out a hand to help him to his feet. "Right, mental note, don't sneak up on Ginny. Got it."

She pulled him into the overstuffed chair with her and asked him softly, "What are you doing down here, anyway?" He kissed her gently on the nose and said, "I came down to write a letter to my mum. I wanted to make sure she's ok what with the full moon and all." He looked at her to see if she understood. Ginny nodded and said, "I was just here thinking. Those girls never stop talking. I don't know how people are supposed to think in this place. They wanted to know all about you of course."

"What did you tell them, my love?" He whispered quietly, but she knew he wanted a response. "I told them that you were the best at snogging, and that they better keep their hands off of you," she said matter-of-factly. He laughed and kissed her long and deep.

After a while, Ginny finally broke away and decided she better get to bed. Draco asked if he could come to, but he was only kidding. He had a letter to write anyway.

Dear Mum,

How are you doing tonight? I just got settled into my dorm and had a very interesting evening. Had a run-in with Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy already and was very pleased to see that my new friends stood up for me. Even Neville Longbottom, who wasn't there all summer. I feel so at home here, but I miss you terribly. How are you and Remus getting on? I hope well. Given that potions has always been your specialty, maybe you could start making the Wolsfbane potion for him instead of Snape. I have yet to see him here, but we start classes tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll have him first thing. Ginny asked you to give her mum her love.

Write back soon. I'm missing you already.

Love,

Draco

He went to find his owl so he could mail the letter. Then he went to bed and dreamed about werewolves.

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