I know it's been awhile, but I got a kind of writer's block for this story. So I apologize ahead of time if this chapter isn't up to par. Check out Something So Small to make you feel better about my writing haha. Also sneak peak of my newest project, "I'm Alive": "Damnit Fred leave me alone! Please, don't go, I'm sorry," Hermione clutched her chest and reached out into the darkness sobbing. Fred had been gone almost a year, she had watched his coffin be lowered into the ground, and yet he haunts her. He didn't even come back as a ghost. No one else can see him or hear him, except her. "Shhh, it's going to be fine Hermione, I'm always with you now. I'll never leave you," he whispered into her ear. She could almost feel his arms around her, which was bad. Harry and Ron, everyone really, had told her he was gone and needed to let him go. She sighed and relaxed, his ghostly arms around her. She wasn't letting this feeling go, ever.
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I blink at him in confusion. "Harry and I are no longer each other's responsibilities. We went our separate ways long ago Weasley. You know this." His ginger hair is soaked and I can't help but wonder how, since there hasn't been any rain in weeks. "Please, may I come in, I won't stay long Draco." I unlock my door and can't help but wonder if this isn't so much about Harry, but the Weasley family. They have been suffering losses ever since Fred passed. "I heard about George. Is there anything they can do for him," I ask quietly as I hand him a cup of tea. Ron sighs and winces slightly, "Nothing yet. They say once the shock passes he will do better. It's hard on all of us. Bill and Charlie are easy to miss; they haven't lived at home in years. It was hard saying good bye when they returned to work. Percy floats in and out, but he blames himself for Fred's death. George hasn't been to his flat since Fred was buried. I work and Ginny, well, she is still in love with Harry."
As he finished his story, I had nothing to say. What could I say? I could apologize, but I know that's not enough. The last 5 years have worn on him too. The joy is gone from his eyes. "Ron. I'm sure it is hard on you. I saw Harry earlier. He looks awful. When did you two last get drinks?" Ron shifts nervously in his seat. "Harry has been keeping peace among our world. Deterring all threats and rebuilding the Department of Mysteries. That's where he really works most of the time, since the demand for Aurors isn't as high in need. Well, one day he went down there, and came back out with a crazed look in his eye. I know this happens to those workers, but Draco, this is strange. Hermione was the one who was constantly researching. Harry has her beat. It's always the same topic to: Resurrection." "That's only possible if there is someone willing to take the returning member's place…even then it's not guaranteed," I whisper.
We sit in silence for a while; the only sounds were those of sloshing tea. I couldn't stand the silence anymore, "You don't think he is trying to bring back his parents, do you?" Ron shakes his head, "No. It'd be too strange for him. Being 22 years old and finally having your parents. I'm thinking he isn't so much bringing people back, but trying to find a gateway so we can visit their spirits." My jaw drops as the thoughts start running in my head. I could say I was sorry to everyone I took for granted. "Has he made any progress?" Ron looks to the window, "Once. He had almost gotten to Sirius. He said he could hear his laughter. I guess something went wrong though, because he was suddenly jerked back to this world. He has been laboring away ever since trying to get back."
Once again I am at a loss for words. "Was it his laugh, or was he hallucinating again," I manage to utter. Ron shrugs at me. "Why are you here," I urge. His eyes flash to me, "Hermione and I can't watch him anymore. Here is his file. It has copies of his journal and discoveries. Distract him Draco. We are all better off leaving the dead, well, dead." I hesitantly take the file. It only weighs a couple of pounds, but it feels as though it weighs ten. Showing Ron to the door, I send an owl to Harry, begging him to join me at my flat tonight. No reply comes, and no knock at my door.
I spent the next weeks pacing. I had quit my job at the ministry and accepted the teaching position. I knew Harry was going to be stationed up there once term started, and it was easier to keep an eye on him. The morning of September 1st I was all packed up and ready to board the Hogwart's Express when Hedwig II flew through my window. She wasn't as snowy white as her predecessor, but had more of a cream color to her feathers. I stroked her head as she held out her leg.
Really Draco? I can take care of myself. I know Ron visited you, but to follow me back to Hogwarts? Isn't that a little much? Don't be so clingy and let me work. This could benefit both of us.
Sighing I gave Hedwig an owl treat and she affectionately nipped my ear and flew on her way. I can't let Harry's bitterness bother me. Hogwarts was my home, much like it was for him. It was the only place I was safe for the longest time. Even that was taken away from me. I picked up my briefcase and began the commute to King's Cross. It's not his fault that these things are happening to him. Life started out hard on him. All his friends are off and getting married, making families, and he sits behind them, watching them, envying them.
There are so many glares as I step onto the platform. Children of people a few years older than myself even seem to know who I as they shy behind their parents' legs. Sighing I find an empty compartment and close the door. "It's going be a long term," I mumble to myself as I pull out the Prophet. They have taken to listing the families that need to report to the ministry for questioning. This month's list ends at the K's. My family will be on their list next month. "Incendio," I murmur and watch as the paper bursts into flames. They will never get anything right. Somewhere in that paper I know there is a list of the people they are "detaining" for further questioning. I can't help but chuckle. Detaining my ass, more like torturing.
I glance out the window. The buildings have disappeared and been replaced by a countryside. The snack cart rolls by and I ignore the little old witch's calls. My stomach has been churning. Harry is so hard to figure out nowadays. One day he is genuinely happy to see me, the next it's like I am vermin once again. I feel around in my bag for a necklace he bought me. I know there is something about this that he enchanted, but Merlin if I know what it is. I slip it around my neck and suddenly I am engulfed in a scent of Lilacs; which just happen to be my favorites. As my mind begins to calm from the fumes I find myself less worried about the Ministry calling my family. So what if they do? Mother and I are safe. Father has just been released from Azkaban and been and bed rest ever since. It is highly unlikely that he has any part of whatever is going on. Unless it was started in the prison, but that would mean I helped it come into society by begging for my father's release. No. This is not my fault. If he got himself mixed up in this, it was his own doing. Gently I drift off to sleep feeling as if I am in a field of lilacs.
Hours later I am woken by the slowing of the train. I jump off at the Hogsmead Platform, push by Hagrid who is only two feet taller than myself, but still five of me wide."Oi! Draco! Still as stuck up as ever," he calls after me. I scoff and climb into the teacher carriage. "Still an olf I see," I yell from the window and I hear his booming laugh before he starts hollering for the first years. Grumbling I tuck myself into a corner. I have an image to uphold. The only people who have seen my soft side are Harry and his cronies, and that is how it will stay. As the carriage pulls me to the castle, I begin mentally prepping myself to fill Snape's shoes. Slughorn may have taken over for him, but it will always be my Godfather's office, his seat at the Head Table, shivering I realize that I will probably be made Head of Slytherin House, since after Snape's passing that was bestowed upon Horace Slughorn. "Wonderful. Just peachy," I mumble as I press my fingers to my temples. "I really should have thought of that before accepting this position."
The castle's "renovation" after the war, didn't change it at all. The stones still look ancient. The layout hasn't changed. It's amazing what a little bit of magic can do. I earn myself a few glances from my old teachers as I take the Potion Master's seat next to a funny looking man, "Albert Bones, Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am pleased to meet you Mr. Malfoy and just as proud to say that it appears I have broken the curse over this position, for this is my third year and I have run into no problems." "Pleased to meet you Albert; please, call me Draco." I assess the table: Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Hagrid, Professor Trelawney, Professor Vector, Professor McGonagall, Madam Pince, Madam Pomfrey, Madam Hooch, Professor Babbling, and Professor Binns are all that remain. There are other new teachers down the table that must be the replacements for Burbage and McGonagall. Filch is looked worn as he stands off against a door with a raggy Mrs. Norris.
Around the Great Hall there are Aurors everywhere. Many of them watching me or the Slytherin table. I see there are still issues between my old house and the Gryffindors; they remain seated at opposite ends of the hallways. I chuckle as the first years walk in. So many of them have already made new friends, but those could be torn apart by the Sorting Hat's choosing. Then I see Harry, bringing up the rear of the little ones. I look away from his eyes and start to see if I recognize anyone from my old house that still remains. There are quite a few familiar faces; many of which idolized me at one point. I jump as someone passes behind me. In my reminiscing, I missed Harry taking a stance behind me, causing quite a few heads to turn. Sighing I pick at the napkin in front of me. Just I came here to watch him, he is also going to be watching me. I chuckle at this. "At least no one will think of anything if we spend a lot of time alone together," I think as a smile creeps onto my face.
The sorting has finished and McGonagall stands and begins the start of term announcements. The last of which catches my attention, "As you all can see, there are a few alumni returning this year. Mr. Malfoy will be teaching Potions and be Head of Slytherin, Mrs. Weasley, better known as Ms. Granger will be teaching Muggle Studies and be Head of Gryffindor, and Mr. Finnegan will teach Transfiguration. As you can see there are also many Ministry members in our hall tonight as well. They are here to help in any way they can with school security to prevent issues like we had a few years back, some of you here may remember. With that, let's eat!" The hall is suddenly filled with chatter and clinking as everyone begins their meals.
Harry shifts behind me and I turn around. "Sorry about my letter Draco. It was harsher than I intended. I will meet you in your quarters tonight after locking down the castle. I am head Auror now so I have to oversee everything." Unsure of what I should say, I just nod and turn back around. He sighs behind me again and begins walking the halls, formally introducing himself to students, hugging Hermione and Neville, and shaking hands with his favorite teachers.
McGonagall stands again, dismisses the faculty, staff, and students to bed. I retreat to the dungeons as the prefects show the first years to their respective house dormitories. I prepare my office and classroom for the next day of classes in the dank of the dungeons and for once, I feel at home. Above me, I can hear the hustle and bustle and laughter. I go through the door in the back of my office and look at my new room. It's empty of Snape's belongings and waiting to be filled with my own. It has clearly been magically enlarged. I unpack my trunk with all the belongings from my flat which I am currently renting out to a cute muggle family. In the silence, I hear the bolts locking the main entrance to the castle. With all these new security measures, I can't help but wonder if they still have all the secret passageways out of the castle closed off. At least the ones they know. I chuckle to myself as I think of how baffled Filch was when Fred and George kept getting out. Suddenly, there is a gentle knocking at me door.
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I hope this kind of makes up for my absence.
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WeasleyWriter225