Chapter Twenty-One: Back to Abnormal:
It was the last week of school, the yearly battle against Voldemort or one of his minions had taken place the week before (it was a minion). The group was sitting at breakfast, eating like every other day when there was suddenly a crack and then another.
Where once sat six year old Harry and five year old Draco now sat thirteen year old Harry and fourteen year old Draco.
"Wha—?" Harry examined himself, making sure everything was back to his real age, before pumping his fist into the air, whooping happily, "I'm back!"
Draco however was not handling the change well. He had liked being little, nobody had held any grudges against him for his actions or that of his family. Now he was back to normal and was surrounded by people who would love to do him harm in revenge.
The kind smiles the Gryffindors were giving him now he saw as malicious grins, leering at him. He gave a squeak and dug around in his clothes for his wand. And then he remembered he didn't have it. If possible he went paler than he was naturally. He was only armed with his practice wand, severely limiting him to only first year spells.
What was it that Levin was always repeating…Oh! Right!
He punched out the Weasel, used the ensuing confusion to steal the wand of a Ravenclaw, and fled the Hall.
"BLOODY BAST—" Ron roared as he held his bruising jaw.
"He's probably just confused Ron," Neville said reasonably.
"That wasn't confusion," Julie spoke slowly, lowly, "that was pure terror. He's scared to death…"
"Why?"
"He's a Malfoy, scion of one of the darkest families in wizarding history," Hermione explained…
"FU—" Gwen cursed, getting up on the table and casting a Sonorus charm to announce, "GRYFFINDORS, HUFFLEPUFFS. WE HAVE A SCARED, ARMED WIZARD ON THE RUN. FIND HIM BUT DO NOT APPROACH! GO!"
As one the two houses, soon followed by Ravenclaw, rose and raced out of the Hall, spreading all throughout Hogwarts. As the students were working the staff was moving quickly to lock down the grounds so the boy couldn't leave the school.
An hour later the main group, plus the other three Weasleys and Cedric, had been summoned to outside an unused classroom. It was on the third floor but hadn't been used in years…
"He's fortifying things," Julian, the Hufflepuff who had found their quarry, told them, "there's gotta be a dozen or so wards he's put up and they're pretty darn good for someone working with a stolen wand, and he keeps putting up more!"
"Lemme try," Gwen spoke softly, rolling up her sleeves, marching to the door, and knocking.
"Leave me alone." Was the reply.
"Draco," she spoke still softly, gently, "C'mon out. Nobody's mad or going to hurt you…We all forgive you…Your father was a bad influence but you're different now…"
"Lies! It's a trap! You're going to ambush me as soon as I step foot outside this room! You're going to strip me of my wand, my magic and send me to the Dementors! That way you can shut me up because I know too much!"
"We will do no such thing."
"Liar."
She sighed before realizing, "How about this Draco, we send in someone with your wand. They will be unarmed."
"Muggleborn," was the reply, "first year. Girl. Hufflepuff. No one else. Any tricks and I will hurt her."
"Alright…" she moved away from the door.
"I know of someone," Cedric said, "I just have to find her…"
"You have time," Gwen assured him, "but not much, we still have to go grab his wand."
"I'll do that." Julie volunteered.
"Good, now go."
Both took off running.
"Ben, Ginny, I need you to secure the windows…"
"Right."
"Okay."
They dashed off.
"Mione, Harry, go get Pomfrey—"
"Okay. C'mon Harry…" Hand in hand the two left at a run.
"Luna, Ron, get Snape, McGonagall, and Sprout. Verdona too if you meet her—"
"Alright. Coming Luna?"
"On your six Ronald!"
They took off at a speedy dash, hand in hand, disappearing quickly.
"Fred, George, go get a house-elf. He might be in there for awhile."
"Right oh dear cousin." They exclaimed in unison before backing into a painting and disappearing.
Suddenly Cedric was back with a cute little first year girl, saying, "This's Abby Gunners. Top of her class in most things and trained in muggle martial arts…"
"How can I help?" Abby asked, holding out her wand with the grip pointing at them.
"You're awfully brave for a Hufflepuff," Kevin rumbled. Abby ruffled under the insinuation.
"Contrary to popular belief sir," Abby said menacingly softly, "We Puffs usually are brave. We just happen to be smart about our bravery. We are also loyal, it's the house trait. Draco may not realize it but he is still a Hufflepuff, honorary or not, big or little, and we take care of our own."
"You've got the job." Gwen smiled, taking the offered wand, "Please take off your robes, muggle clothes only so he doesn't think you're hiding anything…Julie, you have his wand?"
"Yeah, Harry's too when he gets back…This our Puff?"
"Yes," Abby nodded, "I'm Abby Gunners. Is that Draco's wand?"
"Yep. Hawthorn, unicorn hair core." Julie handed the little girl the wand.
Abby nodded, "Tell him I'm coming in…"
"Draco," Gwen called through the door, "we're sending in your wand. The girl's name is Abby, she's unarmed."
"Back up! Away from the door!" was his reply, "Anything funny and she'll never use magic again!"
"Alright…" everyone present but Abby backed up, "you can open the door now."
The flashed open and close, Abby disappearing inside the room.
Seconds later Ron and Luna returned with the requested safe members, quickly followed by Harry, Hermione, and Madam Pomfrey.
They quickly got them updated on the situation.
"Let me speak to him," Snape said silkily, walking up to the door, "Draco?"
The softness and gentleness of his voice surprised everyone.
"Uncle Severus?" came the hopeful reply.
"Yes, Draco. Can you please come out here…I'm sure we can talk this misunderstanding out over some tea."
"They're going to hurt me."
Verdona stepped up, "Draco, Sweetheart. It's Grandma, do you remember me?"
"Yes Grandma…"
"Okay, good. I'm Headmistress now. So I can personally guarantee that nobody in this school but the Slytherins will want to see you harmed. Come out and we all can talk this over…"
"Can you get Grandpa Max?" Draco asked hopefully, "and everyone else in Potter's gang and the other Weasleys?"
Verdona smiled, "Yes darling, just come out so we can talk. We'll Floo for Max as soon as we get to my office."
"Am I in trouble for punching out the Weasel and stealing that girl's wand?"
"No, nobody's mad," Luna voiced, "Right Ronald?"
"Yeah," Ron nodded, "Nothing Pomfrey can't fix and you're family…"
"The Ravenclaw?"
"She forgives you," Gwen said softly, "she'd just like her wand back…"
"…Okay, I'm coming out…"
Once he came out, and the twins had gotten back with a house-elf named Dobby who turned out to be a former servant of the Malfoy family, the news that he had been found was spread, the students were instructed to return to breakfast and then their common rooms, Abby earning fifty point for Hufflepuff, and then the so called 'Potter's Gang' and the other three Weasleys retreated to the Headmistress' office, with Snape, Sprout, McGonagall and Pomfrey in tow. Dobby brought up some tea and pastries while Grandpa Max was flooed over and Evander brought up. And then they all settled in for a nice long, calm discussion.
Eventually they managed to soothe the anxious boy's fears of retaliation for his and his family's past evil deeds, reassuring him of his spot and safety in both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and in the Tennyson and Weasley families. He was even pleasantly shocked when the Ravenclaw he had taken the wand from hugged him as he gave it back and passed along the message that he'd have no trouble from her house. She even pledged that Ravenclaw house would be watching his back when it came to the Slytherins
And so Draco was put at ease, smiling as they headed back to Gryffindor. He and Harry both still slept in the spare room of the apartment within Gryffindor house but he was learning to trust people.
It was a novel concept, trust. He had been raised to trust no one except, maybe, his own mother. But he had great people to learn with and from.