NOTE: I do not own any characters etc. – it is all J.K. Rowling BAMFness. Also, thanks for the reviews! And now…
-O-O-O-O-
Hermione put the last few things in her trunk while listening to the chaos erupting throughout the rest of the Weasley household. Arthur had decided to go to the office late today in order to help with getting Harry, Ron and Hermione to Hogwarts. The change in transportation made things both easier and harder. With the possibility of too many people heading through the Floo network and clogging it up, Professor McGonagall had organized a schedule with specific times for each student. Ron's Floo time was in five minutes, and Molly was worried that he wouldn't make it. Hermione didn't have to leave for another half-hour, but once she closed her trunk, she brought it downstairs just to provide Molly with some peace of mind. In the living room, Hermione found Ginny playing with Crookshanks. The half-kneazle was in a magical cage so that it would be easier to Floo with him. At the moment it was large enough for him to chase the string that Ginny was waving. Hermione silently thanked the younger girl for distracting Crookshanks so that he wouldn't fuss.
The good-bye process had already begun in the kitchen. Harry had left ten minutes before, and so had missed the brunt of Molly's farewell frenzy. Not that he hadn't been absolutely smothered in hugs and last minute sandwiches.
"Mum," Ron sighed in exasperation. "I think it's time for me to go." Despite his apparent annoyance, he leaned down to give her one last hug and kiss. Arthur gave him a clap on the back, and then Ron waved to Hermione and Ginny, who was peeking around the door. "See you soon!" he called, and then he was gone in a flash of emerald light. Molly dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief her husband had conjured for her. Arthur wrapped his arm around shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. It seemed to work – she relaxed and put the handkerchief away.
"I'm sorry about this, Hermione," Molly apologized. "It's just so hard knowing his is the last year that I will know what's going on in their lives. All the boys come back to visit, but it's just not the same…"
"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, crossing the room to hug the woman who was almost like a second mother to her. Molly smiled and patted her cheek. The two of them sat at the table with Ginny while Molly recounted stories from her own seventh year. Too soon, it felt, it was time for Hermione to leave. She hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and then Ginny.
"I'll see you soon, I promise!" she called as she threw Floo powder on the fire. Shouting for Professor McGonagall's office, she let herself be spun away in the emerald flames.
-O-O-O-O-
Sinking into one of the familiar leather armchairs, Draco heaved a sigh of relief. Leaning his cane on the arm of the chair, he rubbed his eyes and yawned. He was back at Hogwarts, and it felt good. He had felt guilty about leaving his mother alone in the manor, but then she announced she was going to Italy for several weeks with Mrs. Nott. The two women had decided to go on a trip instead of sitting at home and missing their sons. Draco was pleased that his mother was getting out of the house. Hopefully the sun and change of scenery would be good for her.
Draco looked at his watch. He had Flooed to Hogwarts around four. He knew he was one of the last arrivals, but he was thankful to McGonagall for sparing him two days of stares and whispers. Well, two more days – he knew he was going to get the stares and whispers no matter what. McGonagall had actually been nice to him. True, she had stayed stern and unsmiling throughout their meeting when he had stumbled out of the fireplace, but she seemed unbiased. She had even gone so far as to give him a small smile and make him promise to see her if he encountered any trouble. He had thanked her, and come down to the Slytherin common room immediately.
Blaise entered the common room from the dorms where he had been writing a letter to his aunt. He nodded towards Draco.
"It's five thirty. We should probably head over to the Great Hall." Draco nodded in reply and pushed himself to his feet. Blaise looked at him in concern, but decided against offering help until Draco asked for it. There was supposed to be a meeting for all the returning eighth-years, which was probably why they were at Hogwarts three days early.
"So," Blaise said as they made their way through the hallways, "what are you going to do about your arm?" Draco knew what Blaise was referring to – his Dark Mark. Had it been anyone else, he would have hexed them, but he knew Blaise was genuinely concerned. He hadn't missed the look Blaise had given him in the common room when he was getting out of the chair.
"Wear long sleeves," he said shortly. A few seconds later, he added, "and a Concealment Charm." He had spent the past week getting himself in the habit of reapplying it each morning, just so he wouldn't forget and terrify some poor first year – or seventh year, for that matter. Blaise nodded in approval.
When they reached the entrance to the Great Hall, Draco paused. The students barely filled half of one of the long dining tables, yet he knew nearly all of them had been in that secret defense group from fifth year. Scanning the table, he saw Potter and his two sidekicks, Longbottom, the Bones girl and a good number of other Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, who, for the most part, were mingling together. Taking a deep breath, he made his way towards the conspicuously small group of people seated away from everyone else, at the Slytherin table. Trying to ignore the stares and whispers, he kept his face expressionless. He was a master at this, having it drilled into him by Lucius. Malfoys are strong. They do not know pain or fear. Only power. He focused on each step, finally settling near the head of the table with Blaise on his right and Daphne Greengrass on his left. He glanced around the group, realizing they were all outcasts together. There was Theo Nott, Pansy Parkinson, and Daphne. Thank Merlin the girls had each other. There were so few of them.
Just as he was catching up with the other Slytherins, the Headmistress walked in. He hadn't noticed – and mentally kicked himself for it – but several faculty members had also come in and were standing at the edges of the room. Professor McGonagall stood in front and fixed her sharp gaze on the students.
"Welcome back," she began. "I hope you all enjoyed your summers. I am glad you have all chosen to come back. And thank you for coming early – I know it may not have been as convenient as the train to get here through other means. As you know, these are very special circumstances. The rest of the faculty and I have thought long and hard of what to do with you. You are all of age and have been through too much to be treated like children anymore. So, I will address the main issues I think will concern you next year.
"You will remain part of the House you were sorted into. While you may still gain and lose points, this is only at the discretion of the faculty members, not the prefects or the Head Boy and Girl. You all have your schedules and will attend classes with the rest of the student body. There are also some advanced classes that have been created especially for you." Here she stopped to take breath before continuing.
"There have been some changes with the dormitory situation. Because your old dormitories were designed to only hold seven years of students, they are too small to accommodate you. Therefore, there are new dorms for you, which I will show you momentarily, that will fit all of you who have chosen to return. It may be difficult for some of you, but we decided to trust that you are mature and responsible enough to handle this." She shot a glare towards the tables to quell the whispers that had sprung up. Draco was surprised, and quirked an eyebrow at Blaise to see what he thought. Blaise made a face, but then shrugged his shoulders. Draco nodded in agreement. McGonagall opened her mouth to speak once more.
"Also, I will take this time to introduce some faculty changes. Professor Flitwick has graciously agreed to act as the Deputy Headmaster." Here there was a round of applause. "Also, Professor Slughorn has graciously agreed to remain as Head of Slytherin and potions master." Most of the applause this time was from the remaining Slytherins. "We also welcome a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Kemp. He graduated from Gryffindor several years ago and has worked closely with the Auror department. He and I will be sharing duties as Head of Gryffindor until he is more settled in." A more enthusiastic round of applause.
The new professor was young – he looked to be about thirty. With brown hair and gold-brown eyes, Draco supposed the ladies would find him attractive. From the way Pansy was studying him, he would bet on mild flirtation in class but nothing more than that. Thank Merlin Pansy had only been twelve when Lockhart was teaching.
McGonagall was now heading towards the door to lead them to their new dorm. Thankfully, they only had to go up one staircase, and then follow several corridors. Draco and Blaise had fallen behind slightly – Draco had trouble with stairs and Blaise was walking at his pace to keep him company. When they finally caught up, Draco caught Potter and Granger staring at him. He deliberately met each of their gazes and then focused on Professor McGonagall, gratified to see Granger blush and both of them look away in embarrassment. They had stopped beside a portrait of the four founders sitting at a table. They appeared to be having a meeting of sorts, and on one of the chairs hung a hat, which he recognized as none other than the Sorting Hat. The founders waved excitedly when they saw the group.
"For right now, the password is 'wrackspurt'," Professor McGonagall informed them. "However, as I'm sure some of you are aware, some common rooms can be accessed through other means. The founders may give you riddles or questions of character as well." The portrait opened, and they followed the Headmistress inside.