Chapter 12: In the Wolf Den

The group in the middle of the hall remained seated, until the hall cleared, and then they rose and approached the head table. They waited patiently for Dumbledore to finish speaking to McGonagall, grouped closely together, with the exception of Malfoy who stood arms crossed off to the side, Harry glance at his emotion band briefly, it was warm red, grey, light blue and purple, he could empathize with the other boy's emotions it was how he had been made to feel everyday at the Dursley's. Dumbledore looked at them, a faint smile on his face, "Well, if you will follow me, we will let you get settled in," he gestured for them to come up the steps and lead them through a door to the left of the staff table. They walked up to two copper suits of armor with axes crossed protectively over a door, "Your common room and dorms are through here, and you will each have your own private bed chamber, bath and study, your password is 'Skiving Snackbox,' Harry I would like a word, the rest of you may go up, your things have been placed in your assigned room."

Harry and Dumbledore waited for the door to close behind the others, and then sat down in a pair of chairs the older wizard conjured. Harry looked at Dumbledore expectantly, "Did you know this would happen, sir?"

"I knew it to be a possibility, Harry."

"Why, did the color of our robes change?"

"The eight of you are the most powerful students in the school, and you have been set apart, and the other students must learn to follow you, this will be easier for them if they see you as different, from the average witch or wizard."

"It is late and I must get to bed, so I must ask you to do a few things for me, first you will need, as Head of House, to appoint two prefects and a Quidditch captain. I would also like to inform you that any detentions you assign as head of house or in your classroom are to be served under the supervision of Mr. Filch. Please make sure your house sits together and that no students from other Houses be allowed to join you. Also I would ask that you keep Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley from killing each other."

Harry sighed, "Sir, I think that is the hardest task that I will ever be given, but I will do my best."

They were all sitting dumbfounded, staring at each other when Harry ascended the moving stair case, into the common room, he glanced around to find that it was far nicer than then Gryffindor or Slytherin common room, and doubted that it was merely from lack of use. He walked over to his stunned schoolmates and cleared his throat; they looked up at him, not as their Head of House or a Professor, but merely as someone who might help them make sense of what had happened. "I have several announcements, Ron and Hermione will be taking over prefect duties and Ginny will be Quidditch Captain. Also the Headmaster insists that meal times be spent exclusively with our House. Personally, I feel that it is time for me to retire."

Ron rose and Harry made to follow him up to their dorm, before Malfoy spoke behind, the first words Harry had heard him say all day, "Potter, you and I are over here." Harry nodded, turned and followed Malfoy through the door to their chambers. They walked into a small foyer, with a door on either side of it, Malfoy went through one and Harry turned to see his name on the other, he entered to find a large four poster bed, among other furnishings. There was a door on the opposite wall which he assumed led to his bathroom, and an archway which led to his study. Too tired to worry about anything else he flopped onto his bed and went to sleep.

Harry woke earlier than the others, he showered and dressed, than glancing at his clock he saw that it was still to early to go down to breakfast, he decided to explore his new surroundings. He left his room and the foyer as quietly as possible, so as not to disturb Malfoy. When He re-entered the common room he saw that it was a hexagon with two walls longer than the others, these walls housed the entrance and a massive pair of double doors. Each of the shorter walls housed a single door leading to what Harry presumed was a foyer much like the one between his room and Malfoy's. Between each pair of apartment doors, was a massive fireplace, one fireplace was surrounded by comfortable purple couches and chairs, while before the opposing fireplace was a large table with eight chairs perfect for studying as a group. The walls and carpet where a rich cream, which soften the deep purple.

Harry felt a pair of eyes on him as he examined the room; he turned to find Malfoy leaning against the door to their rooms watching him. They stood their maintaining eye contact until the girls came out of their rooms, admiring their new purple robes. Ron and Neville joined them seconds later and as a group they stepped onto the descending stairs.

As they rode down the stairs, more to make conversation than anything, Hermione said, "You know, muggles consider purple to be the color of royalty."

Then with no detectable emotion in his voice, Draco said, "So do wizards."

After a moments pause Luna said certainly, "The Royal House." They all reflected quietly on this as they descended the stairs into the Great Hall, trying to ignore the curious stairs they were being given.

Breakfast that morning was a subdued affair until Hedwig arrived, bringing Harry their schedules to hand out. As he looked at his own schedule Harry felt a momentary pang that he would not be able to attend lessons with Charlie but knew he had a full schedule teaching twelve classes and attending three N.E.W.T. level classes of his own. He then joined in the lively discussion about classes with Ron, Hermione, Ginny; Luna and Tuesday were discussing their summers and Neville was switching back and forth between the two groups. Malfoy, who was seated on Harry's left, would answer the questions Harry asked him and then retreat into his own thoughts refusing to be drawn into the conversation.