Hi everyone,

thank you all for your kind words and feedback. I have to apologise this chapter is really rather short but I hope you will enjoy it anyway. I've been writing all day yesterday and have made good progress, so I'm happy to report I'll be able to keep up the frequency of publishing new chapters. At least for a little while longer.

Alright, so things are getting a little sticky at Hogwarts...

Chapter Seventeen

'Thank you for coming to me with this, Hermione,' Minerva said after she had been given an account of what was currently going on in Slytherin house.

'I didn't expect everything to go smoothly but I hadn't thought it would be this bad. I have no chance but to expel the culprits.'

'Minerva, please don't,' Hermione cut in and was confronted with a confused look.

'If you expel them, it won't solve the problem. They will go home and will have learnt nothing and I'm sure someone will fill their place. They need to be helped. What they need is some sort of guidance, I suppose. Muggle schools have pastoral care for things like that. I think what we need is someone who they respect and can look up to, a role model to show them that change isn't bad.'

Minerva pondered Hermione's words. She knew she was right, of course. Expelling the students wouldn't solve anything in the long run. It was a tricky situation.

'Thank you, Hermione. Can you come and meet me here after dinner? Bring Fleur too, please. It's always good to have somewhat of an outside perspective,' Minerva said before dismissing Hermione.

Hermione didn't see Draco at breakfast or at lunch but both times, she was distracted by Ginny who couldn't stop talking about the upcoming game against Ravenclaw. Apparently, she had put together the best team that Gryffindor had ever seen. As per the headmistress' wishes, Hermione had told nobody about the goings on in Slytherin. Ginny had caught on, of course. She knew Hermione too well to overlook the signs but after Hermione had explained that something was going on and she wasn't allowed to say yet, Ginny had backed off. For now.

At Dinner, there was still no sign of Draco and Hermione figured he might have gone to the kitchens to eat, just to avoid the Great Hall.

Fleur came to pick her up from the Gryffindor table and together they made their way to Minerva's office.

Upon arrival, they noticed that there were four chairs set out in front of McGonagall's desk but before either of them could ask about it Minerva motioned for them to sit down and the stairs began to move again.

'Miss Greengrass, Mister Malfoy, please take a seat. Tea anyone?' Minerva offered and all four accepted.

'Let me get straight to the point. I have second hand knowledge of what is going on in the dungeons.'

'Hermione! You promised!' Daphne interjected, a betrayed look on her face.

'Miss Greengrass, please remain quiet. I understand your outrage but I'm glad I was informed about the situation. It is not acceptable and has to be remedied. But I have done enough damage by imposing my new rules on the school without being aware of the possible consequences. This is why you all are here. I happen to believe that Miss Granger is one of the sharpest minds we have, Miss Delacour comes with an outsider perspective and you two can help us understand and predict the actions of your house mates.' Minerva explained.

'You...you are asking us what we think and what we need?' Draco asked, nonplussed.

'Yes, Mister Malfoy. I have learned from my mistake and I would like to apologise and rectify it,' the headmistress nodded.

'Great. I need a place where I can actually find some sleep and food that is guaranteed not to be laced with poisons or potions. I need my house mates to grow the fuck up!' Draco snapped. The sleep deprivation and stress of the last few weeks was catching up on him.

Daphne put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down but he shrugged her off with a snide remark.

Surprisingly, Headmistress McGonagall didn't scold him for his outburst but waited until he had cooled off.

'Mister Malfoy, I will make sure that you have your own quarters tonight, far away from the dungeons. I will see to it that a proper breakfast will be brought to you directly from the kitchens and you are excused from tomorrow's lessons. I will not hold it against you if you would like to postpone this meeting until tomorrow evening to catch some sleep but personally, I would like to get it done now,' McGonagall said in a surprisingly soft tone.

Draco's eyes grew wide. He hadn't counted on a response like that.

'What can we do to help?' Daphne spoke.

'Everyone is traumatised but contrary to the other students, the Slytherins seem to have the hardest time to find their way. I'm a Gryffindor and cannot fully understand the way Slytherin house works. I have had a chat with your head of house who was called away at the last moment but he assured me that you would be a more than suitable substitute. So please, tell me what you think the Slytherins need to calm down,' Minerva said.

There were a few moments of silence as everyone present pondered what was requested of them.

Draco spoke first, 'If you open the Daily Prophet there is news of more Death Eaters being captured and tried every day. These are known Death Eaters, yes. They are guilty, yes. However, they are parents too. There are students who listen to the wireless everyday to hear if their parents or aunts or uncles were caught. I believe that you have recent experience in how that feels.'

Daphne nodded. She agreed wholeheartedly and added her thoughts.

'What is the most important role of a parent? To explain the world to their children and make sure they feel safe. That is exactly what is taken away from these bullies. They have nobody that they can look up to and learn from. They have no role model that shows them it's not weakness to change your mind. They have nobody who tells them that everything is going to be alright. They are afraid and they don't know how to deal, so they lash out because that's what they've always done.'

'So what you're saying is, that Slytherin house needs someone to talk to?' Minerva asked.

'I think that would be a good start. It's not going to be easy though,' Draco mused.

'It will 'ave to be someone 'oo 'as their respect, which means it needs to be someone 'oo was a known believer in pure-blood supremacy. Of course, this person needs to 'ave changed their opinion and be comfortable with making this known. It also needs to be someone 'oo inspires trust and knows 'ow to deal with teenagers. Most importantly, this person needs to be a former Slytherin to truly understand the workings of the 'ouse. Basically, we're doomed.' Fleur summarised the profile of the needed person.

'Now, now, Fleur. Let's not give up before we started,' Minerva chided the potions teacher before turning directly to Draco and Daphne, 'Can you think of any such person?'

They both shook their heads. It was clear, they shared an opinion with Fleur.

'How about we all sleep on it and maybe we can come up with a name tomorrow?' Minerva suggested.

'Wait,' Hermione spoke, 'I know you might not like it, Draco, I'm not overly fond of the idea myself, but what about Narcissa?'

'What? No! No way! My mother will NOT be coming to work at Hogwarts!' Draco protested vehemently.

'Draco, consider it. She might not even be such a bad choice,' Daphne interjected.

'She fulfils all the requirements and she knows how to deal with kids. I've seen her take-no-shit-from-anyone side but I've also seen her caring side,' she added. Hermione bit her tongue to prevent any snide remarks from slipping out.

'Oh really? Why don't we ask your mother then?' Draco snapped but immediately shut up when Daphne just stared at him, tears building in her eyes.

'Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry Daphne. I wasn't thinking. Please, forgive me. I'm overtired,' Draco apologised. Daphne just nodded and turned away to blink the tears away.

'May I make a suggestion? On your way to your temporary quarters, why don't you make a detour to the owlery and ask your mother what she thinks of the plan. Possibly, she can suggest someone equally qualified. Please, let her know that she can always floo me for faster communication,' Minerva suggested and everyone agreed.

When they had all left the office, Draco was immediately approached by a house elf to show him to his quarters but before he could go, Fleur asked him to wait just a moment.

Then she told Hermione to go ahead, she would catch up with her. Assuming that Fleur would simply try to persuade Draco to accept his mother as a counsellor, she made her way home.

As soon as Hermione was out of earshot, Fleur approached the blond man, 'I don't like to admit it but I am at my wits end concerning Hermione's arm. It is getting worse and it doesn't respond to anything the Hogwarts library suggests. I see her flexing her hand as if to see if that hurts too and sometimes she gets up at night to put ice on it. She thinks I don't know. She's tried to disguise her bad mood but I know it's there and where it's coming from. I promised 'er to find a cure and I'm am sorry to say that I 'ave ex'austed my possibilities. When you write to your mother tonight, could you ask 'er to consider 'elping me. This 'as to be done in secret. If 'ermione finds out, I will make you personally responsible for it.'

Draco understood. It had been a question of time until Fleur would ask for help, Hermione would never do it. But Fleur would not be able to watch Hermione in agony. And Hermione was not yet in enough pain to disregard her pride and ask for help. He knew that if Hermione could take more pain than his lunatic aunt could dish out, she wouldn't ask for help even if it killed her.

'I understand. Whatever we come up with, it will look like your doing. Now, if you would excuse me. I have a letter to write and a few hours of sleep to catch up on.'