Hi there, sorry for the lack of update for so long. What was originally just a visit to my family in Australia has turned into my whole family moving back down under. Do not ask me how it happened, personally, I think my parents had it planned for a while and decided to conveniently not tell me -.- Anyway, I haven't had much time to write any chapters-I originally had a number of chapters all written out that I had planned to update over a period of time, but that was before we moved and I updated them all in one go because I was too excited for you all to read them, I'm so sorry! I didn't know we would be moving, and I've been trying to settle down, but starting school here again wasn't easy-I still have to catch up on all the tests and assignments I missed. I have a whole new respect for the authors that update frequently.
A SPECIAL APOLOGY TO SOME OF MY REVIEWERS! A number of weeks ago, I sent out a message to a few reviewers that told them I'd have a chapter out within the next week and I would just like to say: I AM REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY! Sorry for making a promise I didn't keep. I'll refrain from sending out messages to my reviewers until I've physically gone and uploaded the chapters.
Also, a note for when you read this chapter, keep in mind that due to the fact that almost all my readers so far have said that they would prefer cannon couples, there will be no HermioneXDraco action(Sad face, I love those two). Not even a little. So if you don't ship HermioneXDraco, don't worry about a thing when you read this chapter. There won't be the slightest touch of romance between the two, only a gradual friendship that I mentioned earlier on in the fanfic in my other author's notes.
Harry POV
The first day back at Hogwarts passed by fairly quickly-to Harry at least. By the end of the day, Ron was already complaining about the amount of homework they would be receiving from their numerous professors the next day. Hermione was positively beaming at the prospect of the return of assignments and Harry couldn't help but agree with Hermione's positive attitude that came with the thought of a pile of homework. Just a bit. It brought back the sense of home and a simple life that he had always felt when he was at Hogwarts, like he was just another student. It was almost like the war had never happened with Ron's lack of table manners and Hermione's head buried in books, even if they didn't have any classes. Despite having to start school (for real this time), he finally felt at home.
When dinner finally rolled around, he was exhausted as ever, but he couldn't help the face splitting grin as he stood at the entrance to the Great Hall. A sense of déjà vu washed over him as he soaked up the familiar sounds of chatter and laughter. The ceiling was a clear night sky and he could see Ron and Hermione waving to him from a spot near the middle of the Gryffindor table, Ron's face stuffed with chicken as well as a chicken leg in hand. He waved back and started towards them, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something unusual. He turned his head to identify it and realised that it was a table. It was just like the house tables with benches either side of it, only a lot shorter, about a third the length of the original house tables. He briefly wondered what it was before mentally shrugging it off, deciding that Professor McGonagall would explain it sooner or later.
Ginny greeted him with a peck on the cheek as he sat down and Ron looked pointedly elsewhere, his mouth stopping its furious chewing for the time being. Guessing that the coast was clear, he turned back to Harry and immediately started spraying him with food. "I gan' beweim how muk homeworg wair gonna ge'!" He winced, wiping away the flecks of food that had sprayed on his robes and glasses.
"Say it don't spray it Ron." Scowled Ginny. It was only then that Harry noticed a shiny silver badge gleaming on Hermione's robes with three squiggles that he suspected were words. He was about to ask what it was when Ginny beat him to it. "Hermione, what's that on your robes? It looks like my Head Girl badge, only a different colour." Looking down at Ginny's robes, he noticed the gleaming gold badge and remembered congratulating Ginny with the rest of the Weasleys-'that's the third head in our family now!'-at the burrow. George had let out a rare joke-'Watch out for silver 'cos it means a Slytherin's gotten Head Boy.'-and Mrs Weasley had nearly burst into tears. It was rare to see even a genuine smile from George these days.
Hermione's face broke into a wide smile. "Now you've done it." groaned Ron. Hermione promptly ignored him.
"I've been appointed Senior Head Girl!" She announced, smiling proudly. Taking the stunned silence as a cue to keep going, she continued, "Professor McGonagall told me just then before dinner. I was called up to the Headmaster's office with another student. She gave us these and told us that we have the exact same rights as the original Head Boy and Girl, the only difference being, we can over rule a Prefect or a Head. We do need to do patrols, so we need to set up another meeting right after dinner, but our patrol duties aren't as mandatory as the original Heads and Prefects. In other words, we can push them onto you if we want." Ginny looked absolutely horrified at this. "But don't worry, I wouldn't do that, I take my responsibilities much too seriously than to do something so atrocious. We also have to attend any meetings that include school events that need planing. We can also call meetings and attendance to those are mandatory." There was a pregnant pause for a few seconds before Ginny finally spoke.
"Wow. Um, slightly overwhelming, but congratulations anyway. I'll call up a meeting right after dinner."
"No need Ginny, Professor McGonagall's going to announce it right after dinner."
"Wait a minute." Ron's voice sounded, "Who's Senior Head Boy then?" Hermione shifted a bit and looked slightly uncomfortable, glancing at the oblivious red head drinking from his goblet while staring over the rim with curious eyes.
"Don't get mad, I don't think you're going to take this very well." She took a deep breath before speaking, "Malfoy." Ron choked and Harry was once again sprayed with the contents of Ron's mouth.
"How did that git get Senior Head Boy?" He shouted, slamming his goblet down. Neville slid down the bench a bit, bumping into Seamus, who had done the same, only a lot slower.
"He's honestly not that bad Ron!" Hermione cried exasperatedly. "I honestly think he's improved since last year." Ron opened his mouth, only to be cut off, "And all the years before that." She added hastliy.
"Tell that to my head!" He growled. "He threw a shoe at it this morning!"
"Oh come on Ron, even you know that, that was a joke. It didn't have any malicious intent behind it. The war changed a lot of us, many for the better. Malfoy is no exception." Harry couldn't help but agree with this.
"I don't know what has gotten into you and McGonagall's head, making Malfoy of all people, Senior Head Boy, not to mention you approve of it! Malfoy, Hermione, Malfoy!"
"Nothing's gotten into Professor McGonagall's head or mine for that matter!" She argued back, putting extra emphasis on the 'professor' that Ron had missed. "Professor McGonagall is perfectly capable of choosing a sensible Senior Head."
Trying to change the subject, Harry butted in, blurting the first thing that came to his head. "Ok, well, speaking of new things, what's that table in the middle of the hall? No one's sitting at it." Ron fumed and stabbed into his chicken with his fork. He glowered at Hermione who glared back fiercely in return. He then turned his gaze onto his innocent chicken before stabbing into it viciously with his fork.
"That table is the first decision the Senior Head Boy and I made. It was a unanimous vote and my counter part head was the one who came up with the idea in the first place." she stared at Ron pointedly, who ignored her, continuing to attack his innocent chicken. "Since the eighth years are living together as well as the fact that they are in a bit of a different league compared to the other traditional years, that will be the eighth year table. Professor McGonagall will be explaining it along with the new Senior Head announcement after dinner."
It was silent after that for a few seconds before Ron seemed to finally calm down.
"I still don't like this 'Malfoy is better now' business, but if you're fine with it Hermione..." He said begrudgingly. Hermione hid a smile, though she had visibly brightened. The sound of silverware hitting a glass reached his ears just as the food vanished from the plates and platters lining the four tables, leaving them clean, as though they hadn't been used yet.
"Before you all go to bed," Professor McGonagall spoke, "I have a few announcements to make. First, I would like students to be aware that there are now two new Senior Heads from the eighth years..." He zoned out after that, already knowing what was to come. When she finally reached the announcement of the new table for the eighth years, the lack of outrage was not that surprising. There was more of a stunned silence, and what surprised him the most, was the silence of the Slytherin table. It was mostly the fifth to sixth years and below that murmured amongst them selves, but other than that, there wasn't much else. Curiously, he glanced over at Malfoy, who was doing nothing but resting his cheek against his fist in a bored manner.
Blaise Zabini was also the picture of neutrality, mindlessly twirling his wand between his fingers. Goyle's back was to Harry, but he could tell that he was moping and didn't seem to have registered anything that the Professor had just said. He could make out a glint of rectangular silver on Malfoy's robes, indicating his new status. Malfoy's eyes rose to meet his and he nodded in acknowledgment. Malfoy's face remained neutral as he nodded back before Harry turned back around to face Hermione.
Hermione gave a look, as if she were saying, 'I told so.' He rolled his eyes in response. He never disagreed with her. The sound of shuffling feet and wood scraping against stone brought him back to the present as he stood up with the rest of the table to head back to Gryffi-er-the eighth year dorms. He noticed that Ginny and Hermione had already disappeared and briefly remembered the meeting that the brunette had mentioned.
"Come on Harry." Ron muttered, shoving his way past a sixth year.
Passing the crystalline figure of the flirty sea creature, he and Ron climbed up the grand staircase and down the hallway into their dorm room. Malfoy and Zabini barely batted an eye at them when they entered.
It was later at night when he woke up. He didn't know whether it was the excitement of coming back to school, or the oddness of the first night back, or maybe even the nerves of anticipation for the following day. Either way, he couldn't get back to sleep. Silently, he slid off his bed and fumbled for his glasses, wincing as the scraping sound reached his ears. Ron snorted in his sleep, but didn't wake.
Being more careful this time, he pressed his glasses onto his face before padding barefooted to the floor ceiling high window, not noticing until he got there that a pale figure was already crouched on one side of the wide frame. He stifled a shout with his fist when he sat down on the other side, only to come face to face with an expressionless Malfoy. He could've sworn he saw the Slytherin's lips quirk up a bit, but it was gone as soon as it appeared.
He sat in awkward silence for a few seconds that seemed to last forever, when he decided to break it. "Can't sleep?" He whispered. Malfoy rolled his eyes before he waved his hand and muttered a quick 'Silencio'. For a second he thought that he had done wandless magic, then he noticed that Malfoy's wand was tucked into his sleeve, the tip peeking out.
"You don't need to whisper Potter." At this remark, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of the old Malfoy and despite himself, he couldn't help but roll his eyes. He didn't reply and they sat for a bit more in a silence that bordered on awkward.
Trying to break the silence, with hopefully more success this time, he spoke up. "I'm sorry." Malfoy turned to him, his eyes instantly guarded and wary.
"For what?"
"About your dad. I heard that he got the dementor's kiss and I just wanted to sa-"
"I don't need your pity Potter." He snapped, no longer looking at him. His shoulders were tense and he was staring out the window, his jaw clenched. The silence stretched on for a while before he finally worked up the courage to say something again.
"I'm sorry." He said simply. Nothing could've prepared him for what happened next. Malfoy turned to him and let a single tear fall down his face. His expression then, was as unguarded as he had ever seen.
"I know you are." The blonde replied with a touch of bitterness in his voice. They sat through yet another length of silence, Malfoy refusing to acknowledge the tear that glistened on his cheek before it finally fell. When there was no longer any sign of any tear being shed, he sighed. "He wasn't the best father, y'know, but he loved me. Me and my mum. When You-Voldemort came back, he stopped inviting people over to the manor, stopped letting me go out to Blaise's. The first time I went out during the Summer break was when we went to Diagon Ally. Then sixth year came and that was a whole different story." Harry sat and soaked up the blonde's words like a sponge. He couldn't believe how open he was being all of a sudden. A scoff came out of the blonde. "Fuck. That sounded so corny." He turned back to Harry, an emotionless mask back up. "Not a word, Potter, not a word."
He stood up and headed for his bed, when Harry called out to him. "I know he did." Draco paused, "Love you, I mean. So does your mum. We heard a conversation between him and Voldemort, right before Professor Snape... Passed away, and the only thing he could concentrate on was you. Your mum risked lying to Voldemort for you. That's the only reason he thought I was dead-because I told your mum you were alive in exchange for her help in deceiving him." He could make out heavy, but ragged breathing coming from Draco, and decided that that was enough for the night. "He might not have been the best of men, but he was a good father, even if he didn't show 'til the very end." He said softly to Draco's back.
"Thankyou." was the soft answer he received.
Deciding to push it just a bit further, "You're a good man too, you know." The silences that Draco was so fond of came in once more before he answered.
"You're not so bad yourself." He heard the rustling of sheets and although it wasn't quite a compliment or thanks, it was the best he was going to get from the former Slytherin, in fact, it was probably the best any one would ever get from him. Smiling, he leaned his head against the window and stared out at the moonlit grounds of Hogwarts. As he stared out over at Hagrid's hut, he could still picture the scenes of horror of the war outside that he had caught glimpses of while running around the castle.
All that seemed a million years ago as he stared over the enchanting glow that the moonlight gave the grounds. It was eerily beautiful and he felt truly at peace. Hopefully this year would be the equivalent to a normal wizarding school year and it would be so much more now that he could practically feel the new bonds that he would form with former enemies.
As his eyelids grew heavier and slowly lowered themselves, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He vaguely registered Hagrid limply holding a lamp, both arms dangling by his sides while he walked with a dreamy expression, eyes glazed over, as he walked out of the forest like a zombie and to his hut. Fang followed slowly behind, as if he hadn't wanted to leave. Hagrid didn't seem to notice that he almost shut Fang out of his hut when he closed the door behind him.
Normally, Harry would've gone down to investigate, but his sleep addled brain barely registered any of this and decided that he would ask the half-giant what he was doing out so late and what had been the cause of his strange behaviour. Finally, he allowed his head to drop back onto the glass of the window as he fell asleep with a peaceful expression adorning his face.
A Few Hours Earlier
Hagrid POV
Fang barked happily beside him as he strolled through the forest gathering random plants and catching the odd magical creature here and there that he came across that would make good exhibits in the coming week of classes. He'd been out in the forest all day, making various trips to and from his hut. He'd been up since five in the morning, right before the full moon disappeared and just in time to snag a few mooncalves before they disappeared into their burrows for another month. He'd been lucky enough to bottle a few jars of their dung as well as find the burrow of a pair he'd caught. He'd nicked one of their eggs. Just one. He'd decided that once he'd seen the egg hatch for himself as well as taught a few classes on the creatures, he'd release them back into the forest.
Throughout the day he'd gathered quite the mix. It was oddly quite in the forest-he didn't know what the centaurs had found so interesting that they'd leave their territory so unguarded for such a long time, but it was a chance that one only got once in a million years and he wasn't about to waste time wondering what had gotten their bows in a knot. No. He spent the whole day sneaking in and out of the centaur's territory, making it all the way to the campfire at one point to take the one and only peak anyone would ever get at the center of a centaur's territory. He'd seen only a few foals occupying the place and they'd been as friendly as human children. He'd requested they not mention his presence in the camp and they'd happily obliged once he told them that their chief would come chasing after him if he found out he'd been there. They'd promised to keep their lips sealed after that, knowing the fury of their chief was not one to be taken lightly.
Over all, he'd gathered a number of horklumps that had most certainly not been happy to be snatched out of the ground and dumped hurriedly into a basket with no soil to bury their tentacle-like roots in. They'd used said tentacles to wrap around Hagrid's fingers while he tried to put them into the basket until he let them go. He'd finally decided to leave with what he'd got and come back with a large shovel later.
Of course, after he'd dug up the mushrooms, he'd gotten side tracked while carrying the basket of ugly mushrooms back to his hut by a pair of jarveys. He'd tried unsuccessfully to catch them after they'd begun spewing insults at him so he left them, expecting them to leave him once he left, but the pesky things followed him all the way back to his hut. He set Fang on them. A few 'slobber face', 'dumb dog' and 'stinky breath's later, Fang had the pair of over sized ferrets pinned down beneath him, barking happily to his master who promptly dumped the two in a cage none too gently.
He'd gathered dozens of plants and creatures he'd probably never get to see again in his life all in one day and he thanked whatever had the centaurs so preoccupied. He'd even managed to procure a pair of jobberknolls and a single moke. It was long after sundown before he realised how late it was and that he should begin to head back but the sound of stampeding hooves caught his curiosity and he couldn't help but wait until they'd gone before following the trail of newly stamped hoof prints. It was almost midnight and he was about to turn around when the clearing finally came into view. It was beautiful, but that wasn't quite the word to describe it, it was more of an enchanting site.
It was an area of grass in an almost perfect circle and right at the center was what made the area so enchanting. Under the moonlight, it was beautiful, a cave like structure with vines covering the mouth covering half a pool of the bluest water he'd ever seen. It wasn't just blue water either, there was something about the water that was just so enchanting. He didn't realise he'd been walking closer to the pool until Fang started barking. Very loudly. He snapped out of his trance and tried to get the dog to quieten down. He failed miserably as the black hound bounded towards the pool.
Oddly enough, the half-giant could smell smoke in the air, though he could see no signs of a fire. He did see an odd pile of rocks sitting on the grass that looked extremely out of place in the enchanting place. Deciding he wanted a closer look, he followed his energetic dog to the pool.
"Quite now Fang, yer goin' to wa-" He cut himself off as he tripped over what looked like a ring of oddly coloured glass hidden by the grass. He found it odd but dismissed it when Fang jumped in the pool and started swimming to a small tube sticking out of the water that he hadn't noticed until just then. It was barely visible in the dark but Fang's increasing excitement had his curiosity piqued. Suddenly Fang stopped swimming. He floated a few centimeters away from the odd tube and whimpered slightly.
Hagrid stopped walking. Fang's paws scrabbled for a hold on the top of the tube as he stopped swimming. The pool was still. Too still.
Then he saw it. A dark shape loomed underneath the water, drawing closer and closer to the surface. Another joined it. Fang barked at the water but made no move to swim to the shore.
"Fang!" He hissed. The dog paid him no heed. He stood like a deer caught in headlights as four figures emerged from the water.
Once again, so sorry for not updating!
Now you can obviously guess who the four figures are and like I promised, he meets the girls, but only for less than a second. I was planning to do the whole encounter, but I think it would be better for me to space out my chapters from here on out. School starts again in about a week so I'll hopefully have another chapter out by that time.
I am once again, really, really sorry.
P.S. I was going through some of my old chapters and realised how bad some of the grammar mistakes were. I promise to all of you once I finish this fanfic, I will go back and edit ALL grammar mistakes.
Happy school holdiays to all you Australian readers.