Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe Belongs to J.K Rowling, not me (Unfortunately)
Chapter 2: The Welcome Feast:
The Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry was lit up as usual. Floating candles decorated the ceiling, hovering just above the tallest students heads. Above each of the four house tables were massive banners depicting the specific crest of the house. The ceiling, enchanted to look like the sky outside, was twinkling merrily with stars and a shining moon, making the entire thing look a bit surreal.
Harry and his friends slowly made their way to the Gryffindor table, which was situated on the far right side of the hall, next to it was the Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw and to the far left of the hall was the Slytherin table. It only made sense that they were so far away from the Gryffindors, considering that the two houses were sworn enemies. Turning his head, Harry watched as Malfoy and his cronies entered, however, instead of Crabbe and Goyle flanking Malfoy like the good body guards they were, they were flanking the new kid, seeming to watch him more then they had ever Malfoy. Frowning, Harry filed this information away into the part of his brain that seemed dedicated to Malfoy and his stupid house.
"Err Harry?" Hermione murmured, catching his attention from her place across the table from him.
"Yea 'Mione?" He asked, looking confused, why was she looking at him like that?
"Are you trying to kill Malfoy with your eyes? Cause you seem to be staring at them an awful lot" She cautioned, not wanting her friend to get teased on the first day of school, again.
"Oh, heh, sorry, thanks 'Mione" He said, shaking his head and turning his attention to the Entrance Hall, since it was time for the first years to enter and be sorted.
As the nervous group of timid students entered, lead by non-other then Minerva McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House and the Professor of Transfiguration, his attention was once again caught by Malfoy. He was confused, why was this new student not being sorted, and instead already seated, quite comfortably, at the Slytherin table, talking to Zabini as if they were old friends.
"Harry" Ron hissed, nudging his friend, surfacing from his thoughts, Harry glanced around, realizing that the table in front of him was laden with food and he had completely missed the sorting.
"Oops" The boy murmured, glancing at Ron and shrugging, "Sorry" He said, ignoring Hermione's scandalized glare, she seemed to think that the Sorting Hat was always worth listening to, even though Harry always thought the Hat was a bit deranged; it had wanted to put him in Slytherin after all.
After the feast, as everyone was just beginning to feel sleepy, Professor Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet. Instantly the Hall fell into silence, anticipating the speech that would come after every Welcoming Feast.
"Here we are again, the start of another year at our beloved school" Dumbledore said, his kind voice carrying to the far reaches of the hall.
"I'm sure you're all anxious to get to your beds after that magnificent feast, however let me steal just a few more moments of your time" He said, smiling at the few chuckles that escaped from the students.
"Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you all fanged frisbees, dungbombs and a whole list of items are banned. For more information this list can be found in Mr. Filch's office on the fourth floor. Also, Quidditch tryouts will be held in two weeks, speak to your head of house for a sign up sheet. Sixth Years are eligible for a class in apparition, if you are interested, there is a sign up sheet on the wall outside this hall" He said, smiling at the cheers from the sixth years.
"This year we have a new teacher joining us, Professor Umbridge as agreed to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts while Professor Lupin is away on holiday" He said as Umbridge stood up, acknowledging the scattered applause from the students.
"Lastly, I know you've all noticed a new addition to the Slytherin table this year. I'd like to take a moment to introduce you all to Adrian Malfoy, he was withheld from Hogwarts due to an illness and now is able to join us as a fifth year student. I expect you all to treat him as any new student to our school" He said, as everyone turned to stare at the newest Malfoy.
"With that, I wish you good night and a good sleep before classes begin tomorrow" He said, dismissing the students with a casual wave of his hand.
"So that's who he is" Ron said, looking a bit off.
"You've heard of him?" Hermione asked as the trio began the walk to Gryffindor tower. Shooting a glance over his shoulder, Harry watched Malfoy and his group head off in the opposite direction, towards the dungeon.
"Well yea" Ron said, looking a bit pained, as if remembering a bad memory.
"Adrian Malfoy is Draco Malfoy's twin brother" He said in a hushed voice.
"His what?" Harry hissed in surprise, "I didn't know Malfoy had a twin" He was more confused then ever.
"Anyway, I met Adrian once when we were little, well I saw him more then met him. It was at the ministry, I was visiting Dad with Mum, Fred and George" Ron explained, "It was maybe three years after you defeated You-Know-Who Harry, so we were four" He said with a shrug, "Well, Mum was talking to Dad when Lucius Malfoy comes barreling around the corner. I've never seen a Malfoy so worried, in his arms he was holding Adrian, Narcissa was behind him running with Draco" He explained, "Dad stopped them, worried of course. Malfoy was yelling about getting to St. Mungos and all sorts of stuff, Draco was crying, and Adrian..." Ron trailed off, looking faint. "I've never seen a kid like that before. He was convulsing mate, shaking so bad his Dad could barely hold him, and he couldn't breath. Of course, Dad made a portkey and set them to Mungos, but I've always remembered that. Mum told us who they were when George asked, that was the first time I'd ever seen the Malfoys" He explained.
Hermione looked worried, "I wonder if he's doing better and that's why he's allowed back.." She muttered as they came to the portrait of the Fat Lady and the entrance of the Gryffindor common room.
"Apollo" Hermione stated primly, waiting as the picture swung forward before they entered.
"Either way, I've never seen Malfoy so protective or worried about someone, besides himself" Harry said, before they trio split ways, Hermione going to the girls dormitory and Harry and Ron to the boys.
Down in the Slytherin common room, Draco, Adrian, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were seated on the comfortable green leather couches that surrounded the fire. Adrian's blue-grey eyes were wide as he took in the common room.
"Its nothing like you described Drake" He whined, shaking his head at his twin. "You always said it was this ominous dungeon"
"Well it is in the dungeons" Pansy pointed out, "But it's charmed to not look like it. We are under the lake, so it'd be rather dreary down here without the charms" She explained.
"Well still" Adrian murmured, rubbing his eyes lightly. He was still shaken from his episode earlier, and a nasty bruise was spreading itself over his cheek where Weasley had struck him.
Draco sighed, looking around at his 'kingdom' though his attention was focused on his twin, and to the letter he was writing home.
"Who are you writing to Dray?" Blaise asked curiously, peering at his friend with a small frown.
"My parents" Draco answered, signing his name at the bottom of the parchment and glancing at his twin.
"You're telling them, aren't you?" Adrian muttered, looking a mixture between cross and worried.
"I have to" Draco said, "You know that" looking pleadingly at his twin, "Fine" Adrian huffed, though he knew it was necessary.
"Anyway, I'm off to bed, and you all should be as well" Pansy said, standing up and smoothing her grey skirt.
"We have classes tomorrow, and it is our OWL year" She reminded them, "Stuff it" Blaise said with a small chuckle.
"Anyway, we should go to bed" He agreed, after Pansy had glowered him into the ground.
Nodding, Draco rose, followed by Adrian, "Our dorm is this way, we share with Vince, Greg and Blaise" He said, pushing open a door that had a small snake on it.
Adrian's eyes grew wide once again as he surveyed the room, five beds were set up haphazardly, they all had hangings and were in Slytherin colours. "There's a loo just over there" Blaise pointed at a silver coloured door before falling onto his bed.
"You're next to me" Draco told his twin, pointing out the bed settled in the corner, seemingly cut off, yet the most protected.
"Thanks Dray" Adrian said, looking at his trunk, which was already situated there.
"No problem" His twin answered, heading into the washroom with a bundle of clothes. The other boys had less modesty and stripped next to their beds before crawling in. Drawing the hangings around his bed, Adrian changed with the little privacy they added, before opening them up again. He didn't like the feeling of being surrounded as he slept, and he noticed none of the others had theirs drawn either.
The washroom door opened and Draco emerged, smiling reassuringly at his twin, "See you all in the morning" He said, crawling into bed. With a chorus of good nights and a flick of Blaise's wand, the lights went out and soon the five boys were sound asleep.