A flash of red caught Harry's attention. Ginny. As she turned and saw him something gripped at his heart; a feeling that he didn't understand soared through him at the sight of her bright hair, her brown eyes sparkling in the sun. He gulped as she rushed towards him.

"Harry, there you are!"

"Yeah, right here, just waiting for you." He resisted the urge to fling his arms around her as Hermione and Ron rushed up. Bill and Mr. Weasley stood close behind.

Kingsley gave a gentle cough. "I'll send this ahead to the Weasley's," he indicated the trunk as he gave a brilliant flick of his wand. "You five are free to continue your shopping, as long as you stay within sight of one of us at all times." He indicated himself, Hagrid, and the two Weasley men.

"Brilliant," declared Ron. "Where should we go first?"

Soon the group found themselves squeezing into Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions as Hagrid waited outside. Hermione browsed dress robes as Draco was fitted for his new school robes.

"This is quite lovely, don't you think?" Ginny held a set of deep blue robes up to herself. Harry found himself fighting a sudden urge to buy it for her.

"That would look fantastic on you. I'm sure Dean would love it." Hermione agreed teasingly. "I've always fancied purple myself. Especially lilac." She pulled out a shimmering silver robe. "Ooh, I think I'll have to try this on!"

"Ow!" Draco exclaimed from across the store. Harry peered around a rack to see what had happened. "Be careful with those pins!" He rubbed his left arm as Madam Malkin apologized. Gently, she began repinning the sleeve.

Finally they trouped out of the store clutching their packages. Hermione had bought a lovely new set of dress robes. Harry, Ron and Ginny each had one new set of plain black work robes, and Draco carried four matching sets. They passed their packages off to Hagrid and headed to Flourish and Blott's for their new textbooks.

A good many more packages had been added to the ones Hagrid was carrying when the group was finished with their shopping. Fred and George's shop had been simply astounding, filled with every joke item imaginable. In a special back room the twins had shown Harry their stash of muggle magic tricks, as well as items imbued with protection charms that they were developing for the Ministry. Harry had been impressed at their proficiency with spells. By the time they returned to the Burrow it was already dark.

Harry spent the last weeks of the summer in a happy bliss, surrounded by his closest friends and his favourite activities. The Burrow became a shelter from the atrocities surrounding them, a bright hideaway in an otherwise dark world. Now that he had been away from Malfoy Manor for some time Draco was more relaxed than ever, and seemed happy, truly happy, to enjoy his time with the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione. Ron had warmed up considerably to the blond boy and had even begun to joke with him, finding that they weren't quite so different as they had previously thought. As Draco explained the Muggle contraptions that Harry had shown him Ron whistled in amusement. Harry and Hermione laughed at the two boys, astounded by simple things like microwaves and dishwashers. Ron seemed particularly excited at the idea of a movie, and begged his parents to let Harry take him to one.

The cuts on Draco's arm were slow to heal, but thanks to the ministrations of Mrs. Weasley they began to improve, scars forming as a reminder of what had happened. His Mark continued to burn and hurt regularly.

Harry continued to have nightmares. Most nights he would jerk awake, sweat pouring down his face as the blankets twisted viciously around him. From across the room he often heard Draco sobbing into his pillow, awoken by his own unpleasant dreams.

The morning of September first was a whirlwind of preparations in the Weasley home. With five of its inhabitants returning to school there was a large pile of trunks waiting at the door when the Ministry cars arrived to escort them safely to King's Cross. Mr. Weasley had briefed Harry and Draco the night before about the security measures that would be put into place for them on their journey to school. In addition to providing cars, the Ministry was sending a team of aurors to see the boys safely onto the Hogwarts Express and to deal with any situations that arose due to either of their presence. Harry was glad to know that, for once, he was not the main reason for this protection. The Ministry suspected that some of the Death Eaters who had children at Hogwarts might try to attack Draco as he boarded the train.

Even with its extending charm the car was crowded as Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco, Ginny and Bill slid in. A second car carried Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as the two aurors. Even with the five trunks divided between the cars Harry had to hold Hedwig's cage on his lap, a difficult feat when Hermione's ginger cat Crookshanks was prowling around their laps.

After a tense drive the two cars pulled up to King's Cross Station. The aurors positioned themselves around Harry and Draco as the trunks were unloaded and stacked onto carts. Finally, with a sigh and a glance at her wristwatch (which read quarter to 11), Mrs. Weasley led the way through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾.

The station was bustling as Harry stepped through with an auror, followed closely by Draco and the second escort. After taking a moment to say goodbye to the Weasleys the boys were hurried onto the train and into an empty compartment. Ron and Hermione followed, dragging their trunks, before dashing off to the prefect's car. Ginny wandered off in search of Dean as the train pulled away from the station.

Draco glanced warily down the hall before shutting the compartment window and settling into a seat.

Harry ran a hand through his wild hair. "Well, guess I won't be convincing anyone that I'm not the chosen one," he laughed nervously.

"At least people will be looking up to you. A quarter of the school is going to be out to get me all year."

Harry looked at Draco. For the first time he noticed the bags under the pale boy's eyes and the gaunt expression on his face. "You know you'll be safe right? Dumbledore won't let anything happen to you."

"Dumbledore doesn't know everything that happens at Hogwarts," Draco answered in a tired voice. "If anyone can get to me it'll be the Slytherins."

Harry thought for a moment. "Have you decided which house you're going to join yet? It's just- I mean, you could join Gryffindor. Ron and I would be happy to have you, and Neville's really great. Dean and Seamus can be tossers but we mostly ignore them. None of us would let anything happen to you."

Draco snorted and looked away. "I'm not brave. Besides, the others would never accept me. Have you forgotten what my aunt did to Longbottom's parents? I'm sure he hasn't."

There was a sudden knock on the door, followed by a familiar voice. "Harry, are you in there?"

Grinning widely, Harry threw open the door. Right on cue, Neville tramped in, followed closely by Luna Lovegood.

"Hello Harry!" the blond girl greeted. "It's good to see you. I see your head is full of nargles." She turned to the other occupant of the compartment. "Oh, hello Draco. Surprise to see you here. Have a good summer?"

Draco blanched at the sudden interaction. Neville stood frozen to the spot, his mouth hanging open as he stared towards the unexpected visitor.

"Neville," Harry said, forcing him to look away from Draco. "It's good to see you."

Neville stared blankly at Harry. "What is he doing here?" he stabbed a finger towards Draco.

"Draco's been staying with me and the Weasleys for the summer. He's-"

Ignoring Harry, Neville pulled his wand from his pocket. "If you hurt any of my friends-" he gestured menacingly towards Draco.

Draco stared at Neville defiantly for a moment before lowering his head and holding out his hands. "Listen, Longbottom, I'm sorry. I know what my family has done to yours, and I know what I've done to you. I deserve whatever you give me."

Neville's wand wavered for a moment as he glanced between Harry and Draco. "Did Malfoy just apologize to me?" He lowered his wand to his side.

Draco seized the opportunity and launched into a quick explanation of the previous months. Harry noticed that he failed to mention his Dark Mark.

Satisfied by the boy's explanation, Luna sat in the seat beside him. She reached into the bag she was carrying to pull out a copy of the Quibbler. "It was really brave of you to apologize."

Harry gave Draco a pointed look as Neville settled in across from Luna.

Ron and Hermione had just returned when a Hufflepuff girl knocked at the door. "Messages from Professor Slughorn!"

Harry opened the door and took three pieces of parchment from the girl's hand.

"Neville, Draco, there are for you. He handed the papers around before unfolding his own.

Harry

I would be delighted if you would join me for a bit of lunch in compartment C.

Sincerely,

Professor H.E.F. Slughorn

"Who is Slughorn?" Neville asked.

"New professor," Harry answered. "We went with Dumbledore to meet him over the summer. What do you think he wants?"

Draco snorted. "Probably to 'collect' us into his little club. Before you know it we'll be pictures on his mantle."

Harry laughed at the memory of their first meeting with the strange man. "We should probably go anyways. Don't want to make him mad at us before classes even start." He looked at Neville.

"Fine," Draco huffed. "But if he invited the three of us I bet there'll be others too. I'm not responsible for anything that happens if there's other Slytherins."

"That's fair," Ron cut in.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You're going to have to see them eventually. Might as well be now."

The three boys attracted a lot of attention in the corridors. Students stopped in the halls, whispering behind their hands as Harry approached. Others peeked out of compartments, gesturing madly to their friends to watch as they walked by.

When they arrived at Compartment C they saw that there had indeed been others invited. Harry saw Ginny first; she was sitting crammed into a corner nearly behind the large man who had summoned them. Casting his eyes around he saw three other boys.

"Harry, pleasure to see you!" Slughorn's voice boomed out. He gestured around the compartment. "Ah, I see that you have brought Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Malfoy with you. Please, gentlemen, take a seat."

Harry's eyes rested on a dark Slytherin boy in the back. As Draco entered the compartment the boy stood.

"Zabini," Draco greeted coolly.

"Surprising to see you here," Zabini spat back. "Get tired of living with the muggles? Filthy blood traitor."

Draco's wand was in his hand in an instant. Harry grabbed his arm before he could raise it. Slughorn made a strangled noise in his throat.

"Oh look, your little friend's going to stop you." Zabini pulled his own wand slowly from his sleeve. "What are you going to do now?"

Suddenly Zabini dropped his wand and pulled his fingers up to his nose. A panicked expression spread over his face.

"Whab ib thib?" he shouted. "Wha's habbening?" As he pulled his fingers away something came flying out of his nose. A moment later a second shape followed. As the shapes soared upwards they spread out, taking the form of bats. Harry glanced at Ginny and chuckled.

"Ah, the bat bogey hex," Professor Slughorn said with a small smile. "I invited this young lady after I saw her perform it on a particularly vexing young man. I am afraid, Mr. Zabini, that I shall have to ask you to leave until you are quite finished with expelling bats from your nose."

Zabini clutched at his nose as he scrambled quickly out of the apartment. Draco gave him a sharp glare as he pulled the door open. "You're lucky she got to you before me."

The door clicked shut and Harry, Neville and Draco settled into the compartment. Soon Slughorn was passing around lunch items (brought from home; he found that the candy available from the trolley didn't agree with his stomach) and interrogating his guests about their family connections and extraordinary talents. It wasn't until the sky outside was quite dark that he noticed the time and sent the students to change into their school robes.

As the train pulled to a stop Harry and Draco leapt off, followed closely by Neville and Luna. Earlier that week Draco had received a letter from Professor Dumbledore instructing him to take the first possible carriage to the school so that they could speak about his House choice before the Welcoming Feast.

"The Thestrals look particularly happy today," Luna said as the carriage started it's bumpy journey. "I wonder if they remember us from last year?"

Draco glanced towards the front of the carriage. "Those horse things pull the carriages?" he asked in astonishment.

"Weren't you listening in Care of Magical Creatures last year?" Harry said.

"Not really. I was only half sure they were even real."

"They're definitely real," Neville mumbled. "All the rest of us can see them."

The rest of the trip to the castle was silent.