3. Malfoy and Wilhelm

Ron, Harry and Hermione still had one year left at Hogwarts. Hermione had become ecstatic when she received word that she would be filling the post of Head Girl. The Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan, would be Head Boy.

Harry forgot to ask McGonagall who would be in charge of the school, but sincerely hoped it would be her. Several days were spent at Grimmauld Place, as it was so unsafe to go back to the Burrow. The time to go back to school was drawing ever nearer. One week, five days, three days, one day. It was time. On the morning of September first, very early at that, Harry heard two people arguing.

"Go wake him up!" he heard Hermione say. Harry was still in bed, and guessed it was probably time to get up.

"Oh come on Hermione. Just because you woke me up, doesn't mean you can't wake Harry up."

"Fine! I will." Hermione burst into Harry's room.

"Come on Harry, time for breakfast," she said angrily.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked sleepily.

"It's nearly time to go. I just thought it would be nicer for Ron to wake you up rather than me. That's why I didn't wake you up sooner. I thought he was going to." Ron walked into the room.

"What, you want me to do your dirty work? You want me to be the mean one who wakes everyone up?"

"Rubbish," she muttered as she stormed out of the room.

Harry had a quick breakfast and quickly gathered his things. Everyone was running about trying to find the things they forgot to pack.

"Come on! It's a quarter to eleven," shrieked Mrs. Weasley. Harry supposed they would be Apparating, and so they did. They hurried through Kings Cross station until they found platform nine and three quarters, ran through the barrier, and found themselves looking at the magnificent Hogwarts Express.

A few people were still climbing aboard when they got there, but it looked like everyone else was already seated. Hermione and Ron were, as usual, going to sit with the other Prefects, not that they had much of a choice.

Harry and Ginny walked down the corridor until they found a deserted compartment. They both sat down opposite each other by the window. Harry looked around and noticed that there was someone sitting in the corner, next to the door, reading the Daily Prophet. The newspaper was held in such a way that the person's face was hidden from view

."So," Harry said to Ginny, ignoring the other person, "what do you plan on doing after Hogwarts?"

"Oh, I don't know. It would be neat to be an Auror with you. Then we could catch dark wizards together, you know. I'd be happy doing anything with you Harry," she added quietly.

"Well, one dark wizard I want to catch would be Snape," Harry said bitterly. "...and Malfoy." he continued.

"Why would you want to catch me? You don't have any proof I did anything wrong," came a drawling voice from the corner of the compartment. Harry turned his head sharply. The person reading the newspaper was no longer reading it, but staring at Harry with folded arms, bearing a smug expression. To Harry's immense horror, it was Draco Malfoy.

"You! Why aren't you in Azkaban?" Harry couldn't refrain from showing his true feelings any longer.

"Like I said Potter, no one has any proof I did anything wrong." He got up and left the compartment, and Harry could hear him laughing to himself.

Ron and Hermione joined Harry and Ginny shortly afterwards, and were just as horrified to learn that Draco was aboard.

"What the bloody h-"

"Ron, foul language is not appealing to a girl," Ginny said sternly. Harry was greatly reminded of Mrs. Weasley.

"I was just going to say, what on earth does he think he's doing? Some nerve. He's got some serious issues." The time seemed to fly by to Harry. He was so happy. He was with his friends, they were going back to school, and everything seemed to be going smoothly so far. The trained slowed down as it pulled into the station.

The corridors were crowded as everyone pushed to get off. It was not Hagrid's voice that first met their ears. Yet, it sounded familiar. Harry could tell instantly that it wasn't even Professor Grubly-Plank. "First Yeers, over heer." It sounded like a heavy French accent. It was already very dark outside, but Harry could just make out the outline of an enormous woman.

"Hi there Harry!" came the unmistakable voice of Hagrid. "Olympe is helpin' me with the firs' years." At first Harry didn't know who he meant by "Olympe," but then realized it must be Madam Maxime. She was the Head Mistress of a French Witchcraft and Wizardry school. Hagrid and her kept looking over their shoulders, and Harry guessed they had hired her for safety issues.

"Why isn't she at Beauxbatons?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Oh, she resigned a while back. Now she lives in the house I built her. It's not to far from me own hut. She's helpin' out ol' McGonagall. And she works in the library. Madam Pince quit." Harry realized they were blocking the way for other students to pass.

"Come on," he said. Hermione and Ron had to help people move along, so Harry and Ginny got into one of the Thestral drawn carriages. It was just starting to rain when they made it into the Entrance Hall.

People were pushing their way in and it seemed they were all already wet. Harry saw Hermione yelling at some oafish Slytherins (Crabbe and Goyle) for tripping some young second years, so he supposed she would be taking her Head Girl position very seriously.

Eventually everyone was in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was sitting where Dumbledore used to sit, and she looked very tired and stressed. There was a very short sorting ceremony, where there were only about thirty new students. When McGonagall stood up, silence swept the hall.

"As you all know, the former Head Master, Professor Dumbledore, has passed on. I will be filling in, in his stead. I would like you younger students to know that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils, as it is too dangerous to go outside. And I would like you all to kindly welcome aboard, Professor Wilhelm. She has consented to fill the post of Offense Against the Dark Arts teacher." A wave of whispering swept the hall.

"Offense?" said Hermione, looking excited. Everybody seemed to be thinking the same thing. Professor McGonagall continued,

"Madam Maxime will be our new librarian. She has brought with her, a seventh year student who is transferring from Beauxbatons. Please kindly welcome her to Hogwarts. Lastly, Professor Wilhelm has also consented to be Head of Slytherin. Oh, and there will be no house cup. That is all." There was a breakout of blabber when Professor McGonagall finished her speech.

"Wow," said Hermione, looking awestruck, "there's so much going on this year."

The feast now began. The plates in front of Harry magically filled with food. But he was fully aware that it was house elfs who prepared it all.

"So, who's this Professor Wilhelm?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. I've never heard of her. Why isn't she eating at the staff table?" Harry couldn't think of any reason why a new teacher wouldn't dine there.

"Where's the Beauxbatons transfer?" Hermione inquired. Her question was answered almost immediately. They saw that there was a great deal of talking going on at the Slytherin table, and that there was one student, who didn't yet have a uniform.

"That must be her," Ron pointed out. Harry couldn't see her face, but saw that she had thick, long, dark hair, that was almost black. There seemed to be more people talking about her, than talking with her.

"Don't most Beauxbatons have blond hair?"Ron asked.

"They don't all have to," Hermione said irritably.

The meal was finally finished, and they were off to the dormitories.