A/N: Hi again! Told you I'd try and get the next chapter up today...It's a bit shorter than the others, but I thought that it was a good place to stop, so...I'd like to thank all of my reviewers, you guys just rock! Love ya all, your so nice, and you're just...wonderful! Well, in this chapter, they finally get back to school, so now the real intrigue can start! And, if you have any ideas on how to get the romance started, please please tell me, cause I'm having sooo much trouble with that. Well here you go - enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own. Any of it.
Warnings: See prev chapters
Chapter 7: Back for the last time, or…?
Draco had been doing a lot of thinking this past month. He had known that his father was evil, but it was only after his death that he found out just how evil.
He had spent most of his time trying to clear the Malfoy name after publicly announcing that they would have nothing more to do with the Dark Lord. Needless to say, things were a bit…tense after that.
And today Draco was going back to Hogwarts for the last time. He couldn't help but feel al little sad at that, after all, he had been very sheltered there, and now he would have to face the adult world.
As he sat in the back of the black limo with his mother he thought about the promises that he had made to her. He would not do anything to Potter, Granger and Weasely. Merlin, this year was going to be dull!
"We're here, my dragon. Now, remember what you promised me?"
"Yes, mother. I remember perfectly well. Are you going to with me onto the platform?"
"Of course I am. Let's go."
As they got out of the car, their servant had already loaded Draco's trunks on a trolley and started to push it towards the gateway between platforms 9 and 10.
As Draco stepped on board the Hogwarts Express after saying good bye to his mother, he went straight to his usual compartment at the front of the train to find his friends. He needed to fill them in on his plans.
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In another part of the train, things were also tense.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny had spent the last month planning and spending almost every minute of every day together. Ron was not included after he had a bit of a fit over the whole Hermione going to see Harry thing. This had made him even more jealous and bitter, and he was now convinced that Harry and Hermione were sleeping together.
Now the four of them were sitting in their usual compartment not speaking.
Suddenly Ron spoke up.
" Were you even going to tell me? I figured it out, you know." His tone was very angry and the others shared a glance, before Harry answered in a very cold voice.
"Tell you what, Ron?"
"That you and Mione are sleeping together! She's a real slut, you know, been coming on to both the twins and me!"
"WHAT!" Hermione shrieked as her face turned red from anger.
"Get. Out. NOW. Or I will make you leave." Harry said with power radiating from him.
"Fine, I'll leave. But consider this friendship over."
"That we will. Good bye, Ronald."
Ron stood up and stalked out of the compartment dragging his trunk behind him.
As soon as the door closed behind him Hermione turned to the other two.
"This is going to be a problem."
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When they arrived at Hogsmead station Draco, Blaise and Pansy had finally perfected their plans. They had agreed that they would try and make friends with the Golden Trio to make them allies in the coming war.
If you can't beat them, join them, right?
"So we are agreed that we'll make the first move after the Feast?"
"Yes, Draco. Now, let's get a carriage so we can get out of this rain."
"Fine, Pansy. Let's get that one over there."
They quickly got in to the carriage and it set off for Hogwarts. When the carriage pulled to a halt, they got out and made their way into the Great Hall and to the Slytherin table.
The Hall was almost completely full, when the doors banged open and Ron Weasley marched in looking like a thundercloud.
"There's Weasley…But where are the rest of the Golden Trio?" Draco whispered to the girls. They both shook their heads to indicate that they didn't know.
The Hall fell quiet as Professor Dumbledore stood up to make his speech.
"Welcome to another y…" He suddenly stopped and looked towards the doors. This caused every student and teacher to do the same.
The doors flew open and in stepped three of the most beautiful people Draco had ever seen.
He could hear people gasping around him, but other than that the entire Hall was silent.
The man looked to be 6'1" and his midnight black hair fell loosely to his shoulders. His emerald eyes seemed to pierce your soul if he looked at you, and some Hufflepuffs actually fainted when he smirked at something.
He was wearing a long sleeved cotton shirt that was blood red and black jeans that hugged his legs before they flared out a bit from the knee. With this he had black boots and piercings in his ears and lip.
His two female companions were just as drop dead gorgeous. The one to his left had long golden brown hair in loose ringlets and her cinnamon coloured eyes made you want to melt. She was dressed in a dark blue shirt that showed off her chest and tiny waist, and a short black skirt that showed off her legs. With this she had knee high lace up boots with a 2 inch heel.
The girl to his right had dark red hair that hung to her hips in soft waves. She had piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare you down. She was wearing and emerald green top and hip hugging jeans with black pumps.
As they made their way towards the Gryffindor table, Blaise gasped.
"Oh, my God it's him! It's Harry Potter!"
At this the entire Hall erupted with noise.
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It was quite amusing really, to see everyone staring at you unable to speak.
Harry smirked at the thought, and noticed that some Hufflepuffs actually fainted.
As he, Hermione and Ginny made their way over to the Gryffindor table, he could hear someone gasp.
"Oh, my God it's him! It's Harry Potter!"
Then all Hell broke loose as everybody started talking.
Dumbledork seemed to recover first, as he quickly shouted for silence. As everybody quieted down, Harry and the girls sat down at the top of the Gryffindor table.
"What is the meaning of this, mr Potter? Ms Granger? Ms Weasley? Care to explain your entrance just now?" Dumbledork actually had the nerve to address them now!
Harry quickly schooled his features and slipped on his mask before answering in a perfectly level voice.
"The meaning? The meaning was to come and join the Feast. Or is that not allowed any more?"
Laughs could be heard from the Slytherin table at Harry's answer. Apparently they found his answer very amusing and Harry and the girls smirked at the thought. Their plan had stared out to perfection.
"W-what? How dare you? What has happened to you? You would not have acted this way last year."
"Really, Dumbledore, do you want to have this conversation here? In front of the entire school?" Harry drawled while Hermione and Ginny giggled at the teachers' faces.
They were all doing goldfish impressions as they could not believe that nice, little Gryffindors could behave like that.
"I demand an answer, mr Potter."
"Fine. I'm through following your lead, and so are the girls. We won't take orders from you anymore." At his words the entire Hall fell silent again as they waited for Dumbledore's answer. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"So, the worst has happened then? You have joined the Dark side?"
"Don't sound so melodramatic, Dumbledore, of course we haven't 'joined the Dark side'. We're just sick and tired of having to be the victims of your manipulations, and we're going to end this our way."
With this the three of them calmly started to eat their food, totally ignoring everyone else.
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At the Slytherin table the entire house was in awe of the Golden Boy. Now, they would never have thought that the day would come, but when it had happened, they had to admit it.
"He is good. I never would have thought I'd see the day when the Golden Boy would stand up to Dumbledore." Draco said in a voice laced with respect for Harry.
"I know! This must've been what he was talking about this summer. But I wonder why Weasley doesn't seem to be in on it?" Blaise said.
"You talked to him this summer, Zabini?" a sixth year named Lory Stevens asked.
"Well, I ran in to him at Madam Malkin's about a month ago, and he told me things would be different this year. This must be what he meant."
"I wonder what his plans are? Maybe, this will make our plan that much easier? We should still talk to them after the Feast, after all, with the Weasel out of the picture we might have a decent shot at a conversation."
Pansy and Blaise nodded at Draco's thoughts. They weren't worried, they knew Draco always got his way (except when it came to beating Potter at quidditch – but no one mentioned that in his presence), and right now his way consisted of getting Potter, Granger and the Weaselette on their side.
They quickly finished their meal and waited for the Gryffindors to leave. Everyone, except for the Weasel, seemed to naturally follow the trio as they walked out of the Great Hall without a backward glance at the high table.
The Slytherins could see Dumbledork fuming over this. The only teacher that seemed to have composed himself was Professor Snape. He was staring after the Gryffindors with a strange expression on his face. It looked almost like…respect.
Draco motioned for the two girls to follow him as he made his way after Potter. When they stepped out of the Great Hall they – to their great surprise – found Potter, Granger and the girl Weasley waiting for them.
"Hello, Potter, Granger, Weasley. We'd like a word."
"Malfoy. We were hoping that you would say that." To their surprise, it was not Potter that spoke, but Granger.
Potter just watched him with an unreadable expression. It was quite unnerving, actually.
"Can we go someplace and talk? We have a proposition for you."
"Follow us. We know a place where no one will bother us. This way."
With that the Gryffindors turned around and started walking up the many staircases. Draco, Blaise and Pansy followed warily. After all, they could be leading them into a trap.
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Harry, Hermione and Ginny swiftly lead the three Slytherins up to the Room of Requirement. Once there Harry stalked in front of the wall three times thinking about a place where they could have a meeting.
When the door appeared, he quickly ushered everyone inside.
They stepped into a large room with white walls, a fireplace and two black leather sofas with a table in between them.
"Take a seat, and then you can tell us your idea." Harry said as he watched Draco with the same unreadable mask.
All the while his thoughts were running a little wild. What if this didn't work? And what if Malfoy didn't accept him as a soul-mate?
Then a vital part of their plan would be foiled.
'Harry, you need to calm down. And try and stay focused, will you?'
'Sorry, Mione. It's just, well a lot depends on this going well and I'm nervous.'
'Well, you're not showing it. Now, pay attention!'
As Hermione thought the last of that, she sent Harry an amused glare, and the Slytherins were very surprised to see Harry blush. Of course, they didn't know that Harry, Hermione and Ginny had performed a spell two weeks ago that would allow them to speak telepathically with one another.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Ginny asked.
"We're here to offer a truce."
A/N 2:There you have it! Make my day, and leave a review if you please?
Until next time/LoveGD