Chapter 2 – Welcome Back to Hogwarts

When Draco finally came out of his certainly-not-sulking mood, he joined his friends in their tale of the past summer. Blaise told them about his dreamlike vacations in his family Antilles' resort where he'd met his mother's soon-to-be 8th husband. Or was it the 9th? Pansy had not been so lucky. Her mother had thought it was time her only daughter starts to acquaint herself more intimately with the wizarding high society. Apparently, war was no reason to neglect one's social circle. Accordingly, Victoria Parkinson had insisted to bring Pansy along at every social occasions: balls, diners, tea and garden parties alike. None too gracefully, the Slytherin girl confessed to her housemates that if she had to say, "Hi, it was so kind of you to invite us" or the likes ever again, she was going to snap.

It was followed by a discussion about the year to come. Blaise had chosen some random easy classes this year. He cared very little about these, except maybe for Herbology. The black haired boy insisted it was only because he liked getting down and dirty but Draco knew Blaise was genuinely fascinated with it. His otherwise lack of interest for scholarly pursuits was due to his already knowing he would take the head of one of the resorts his family owned, preferably somewhere hot and sunny, and, eventually, of the whole Zabini Corporation. For her part, Pansy had virtually loaded her schedule. Her ambition was to work for the Ministry of Magic in the Justice Department, an ambition Draco had no doubt she would fulfil. Ultimately, he wouldn't be surprised if she ended Head of the entire department. Her parents weren't supportive of their daughter in her career choice. Of course, in their world, women rarely had career of their own. They got married and supported their husband's ambitions.

Draco hadn't even expected to come back this year, so he had been at lost when the time to choose his classes had arrived. In the end, he had taken all the basic subjects: Potions, Charms, DADA, Transfiguration and History. As for the future, after what he'd been through, he tried not to think too much about it. As it were, things were not looking up for the Malfoy family.

Once the Hogwarts Express came to a stop, the three Slytherins quickly changed into their robes and got out of the wagon, planning to find an available carriage to the castle. At that point, Pansy thought wise to join her female friends. It had probably something to do with Blaise enumerating the virtues of very small bikinis. So the trio parted. It only took a few minutes for the boys to locate an empty carriage, but just as they were about to climb in the cart, they were called out by a feminine voice.

"Hey! Would you mind if we shared the carriage with you, guys? The rest are already full."

Turning around, Draco saw red. Quite literally. The young Weasley was patiently waiting for their answer, but it wasn't Ginevra who had asked permission. Pavarti Patil (Draco guessed which twin she was by her Gryffindor's outfit) was currently stamping on the ground, hands on her hips.

"So?" she asked, her annoyance at their silence clear in her voice.

Draco was getting ready to throw the impertinent girl a hard-hitting comment, but his dark-haired housemate cut in first.

"My deepest apologies, young ladies! You'll have to forgive us. At the view of two lovely creatures such as yourselves, we went momentarily speechless. Of course, it will be our deepest pleasure to escort you to Hogwarts"

Draco gave his friend an unhappy look that clearly said he owed him for that one. Blaise gracefully ignored the look and helped the girls in the carriage. Jumping in, the blond Slytherin noted with displeasure that Zabini was already sitting next the Patil twin which meant that he had to share seat with the freckled pixie. Making sure his sullen mood was plain to see, he took place as far as possible of the youngest Weasley. For some mysterious reason, it seems that he couldn't think clearly while being physically near her. Bloody hormones! He thought to himself. The carriage went it motion.

Blaise turned himself toward the brunette next to him, decided to break the uneasy silence.

"So, Patil, how was your summer?"

Then, Draco noted that the Gryffindors shared a brief look. So brief in fact, that had he been less sharp-eyed, he wouldn't have notice. What was that about? He wondered.

Patil cleared her throat.

"I'd say it was a… learning experience to say the least. Yes. Very enlightening in fact." A soft smile played on her lips.

Misreading the girl's response, Blaise's face wore a carnal look.

"Learning experience, really?" And he slowly closed the distance between them, waving his eyebrows suggestively.

Both girls laughed at his antics.

"Not that kind of "learning", you pervert!" She hit him on the chest. Motioning to the other girl, Pavarti explained. "Ginny and I spend our summer at a witches' camp in Canada. A camp for gilrs exclusively! So it would have been impossible to instruct ourselves in the way you implied we did."

Blaise's smile grew to a grin. Then he took an overdramatic contrite look.

"Oh, that's too bad, really. But fortunately, now that you came back to civilisation, you won't have any trouble finding someone to fulfil all your… unattended needs."

"In truth, Zabini, I didn't miss the attention all that much. Not to hear stuff like 'Wow! What a nice pair of… huh… eyes!' for three months was kind of refreshing."

The flirty Slytherin was now almost leaning over the dark-haired Gryffindor, but she didn't seem to mind.

"It's a shame that you would have to endure such behaviour. But please, do not spread your judgment over all menfolk. There are still men who would treat you like the lady you are and praise you as you should be."

Draco had to admit his friend had been bless with a very special gift when it comes to the gentle sex. He watched him play his skill with a mix of annoyance and amusement. Funnily, Patil looked barely touched by the legendary Zabini charm. The girl gave Blaise an innocent gaze that was fooling no one.

"Is that so? And who would those men be?" She asked.

"Well… you can count me as one of those worthy males." Then he turned to the other seat's occupants, serving an irritating smile to Draco. "And that git over there can be a perfect gentleman when he wants to be." He winked at Ginny.

Draco rolled his eyes thinking "Please, Blaise, keep me out of your little game."

"Sorry, Blaise, but I doubt you could find a compliment that really hits home to me. I have an identical twin. That kind of dilutes any compliment because it could just as well be served to her. Doesn't really make one feel special, you know?"

"I don't find that you and your sister are that much alike." Patil looked sceptical. "I really don't!" He insisted. "Like most of the Ravenclaws, your sister often wears a snobbish look. Also, you don't bear yourselves alike; you don't have the same posture, or the same walk. Padma always looks like she has a broomstick stock up her… well, you know. You, on the other hand, walk like a feline. So graceful and feminine. I'd bet you are an amazing dancer."

She considered him for a minute, playing dreamily with a dark strip of hair like she was deep in thought.

Keeping her eyes to his face, she said "You and I. First Hogsmeade weekend. It's a date."

Blaise smiled broadly.

"As the lady wishes." And he kissed her knuckles.

Draco shook his head, incredulous.

"Really!" he sighted at the same time than the girl next to him. Their eyes met for a second, and Draco found that it was almost unbearable to stand this dark brown stare. He turned his gaze to the window. What was it about her that made him feel like that?

For a couple of minutes, they stayed silent, distractedly listening to the shameless flirtatious behaviour their friends were displaying on the other seat. Draco felt restless for some reason, so he broke the silence. A little word fight with a Weasley seemed to be just what the doctor ordered.

"So, Weasley, happy to learn your parents could find the galleons to send you camping… that's how they call sleeping in dirt, right? Camping? But I guess you're used to it by now."

He had opted for the direct attack. Comments about the Weasley's finances had become one of his classics. Moreover, it worked wonderfully when the objective was to make one of them bluster. A hot tempered bunch, the Weasleys.

For a moment, Draco thought the redhead was about to punch him. Now, that's the Weasley I remember. He discreetly grabbed his wand but kept it in his pocket. One's never too cautious with Ginny Weasley. Just when the redness behind the girl's freckles was about to reach a critical point, the Patil twin kicked her friend foot and gave her a warning look. The blond Slytherin felt like he was missing something important. The small Gryffindor took a breath and turned to him.

"If you really want to know, as there are just Ron and I at home now, money isn't that much of a problem anymore. And for your information, we did no camping this summer. True, the camp is in the deep forest, but we didn't sleep in tents or anything that rustic."

Draco was more than a little troubled by her cool façade, although he was rather comforted by her almost-bust of anger. He didn't know what to think of her control and calmness. The fact that there was something changed about her and that he should know what kept tickling his mind. He never had any problem standing anybody's stare before. Never. The other way around was more frequent. Well, except for his father's stare… until recently. But her eyes… It was like she could read him somehow. Like, if he didn't pay attention, she would seek all his secrets. A troubling thought for someone as secretive as he was.

Before he knew it, their carriage arrived before the castle's entrance. The girls stepped out of the cart, helped by Blaise. The duo hooked arms and went toward the colossal doors, but not before Pavarti winked at Blaise over her shoulder. The dark-haired young man shook his head, smiling while he watched the sensuous sway of the tallest girl's hips.

"What happened to these Gryffindors?" He asked, more to himself.

Draco grudged. "Don't know. Maybe they fed them something sour at that camp."

His friend laughed.

"I was thinking something more in the line of 'Since when are the Gryffindors allowed to be so sexy!'"

Draco rolled his eyes, but smile all the same. "You really are unbelievable, dear friend."

"What can I say? I'm not called Hogwarts' Ladies Man for nothing! Still, it's rather strange don't you think? Two Gryffindors being civil with Slytherins. They usually are too concerned about the possibility of our evilness rubbing off to hang out with the Snakes. And not any snake. You, of all people! Don't take it wrong, mate, but you're not exactly in the little Griffins' good graces."

Talk about an understatement.

"No offense taken. I've always thought being number one on their to-kill-list was highly flattering."

They went through the doors, and Draco couldn't help but notice there were many students missing. Of course, with Dumbledore's death at the hand of one of the teachers, parents were bonded to reconsider sending their children at Hogwarts. Draco knew exactly what had happen that night. He couldn't forget even if he wanted to.

Surprisingly enough, his role in the event hadn't spread among the students. There were rumours, but then again there had always been rumours about him. Draco had been surprised to learn that the professor Slughorn had insisted that they gave him a chance to finish his schooling. After all, he was no part of the potion master's pet club. But what he had found even more surprising was that his father wanted him to go back. Lucius hadn't explained why. Lucius never explained himself. Better not to ask too much questions when you know he doesn't want to give answers. The joy of being the Malfoy heir!

The two young men entered the Great Hall and spotted Pansy who was currently being courted by Gregory Goyle. She looked like she was about to puke. Time to save the damsel! Draco thought humorously, sharing a smile with Blaise. There was no need to say anything. The second they arrived at the table, the muscle tower slid on the bench to let the 7th year prefect sit. Pansy gave him a grateful sigh. At his first glance around the Slytherin table, Draco knew that most of his housemates had heard at least parts of the last year's drama. A raise of eyebrow sufficed for them to look away. The next weeks promised to be quite interesting.

Then the first year made their entrance in the Great Hall. There weren't even twenty of them. Waiting at the room's centre, the kids looked so scared, Draco noted. But then, these days were scary ones. At that moment, he noticed that something was missing. The Sorting Hat hadn't sung its yearly song. Now, that was unheard of. The Hat was an object of great magic. It had a mind of its own. Who knew what its motives were or even if mere humans could comprehend it.

Everybody seemed confused. You could hear the hall murmuring. But most didn't seem to understand the potential importance of the Sorting Hat muteness. Draco did. He couldn't explain it, but he felt it. A tension. Somehow, it felt like there was a great power waiting, like a giant holding its breath. Even the Headmistress McGonagall couldn't hide her apprehension and a hint of fear. Nevertheless, she invited the first student to be sorted and the sorting began. The tension eased a bit, but didn't disappear. The sorting went on as usual. Comforting.

Draco's gaze swept across the hall and he realized that Slytherins were getting burning looks from the other houses. Well, more than usual, that is. I guess that with our parentage and the war going on we are judged guilty by association, the young man thought wryly. The Headmistress cleared her throat, and the hall calmed down.

"Welcome, to every new student, and welcome back, to all known faces. As many of you must have noticed, some of your fellow students are not back among us." The room was dead silent. "Some people thought it would have been wiser to close the school, considering the current… events. However, we felt it was our duty to open our doors to every student who wishes to receive our teaching. Hogwarts has always been a place of knowledge, and knowledge has great significance in times such as this one." She let the crowd a second to digest her words. She pursued her speech on a lighter tone. "Several new items have been forbidden, most of them being Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes's products." She frowned slightly. "You'll find the list on Mr Filch's office door. Also, I remind you that the Forbidden Forest is still forbidden, to any students." She threw a sharp look to the Gryffindor table. "I wish you all a good year and I won't take anymore of your time. As a great respected wizard would have said: dig in!" As she finished her speech, a large selection of appetizing dishes appeared on all four tables.

Shaking his head to clear it of the unease he was feeling about this night, he started to help himself with a large portion of fuming stew. As he was about to take his first bit, he realised that Pansy was looking at him with one of her evil-Slytherin smile. Draco had a moment of wondering what his female friend was up to, until it hit him. She had probably seen them getting in the carriage with the Gryffindor girls. I know that smile, he thought. Now she possessed serious teasing material on both of them.

"So", she started innocently, "the big bad Slytherin Snakes lured the poor innocent little lions into their dark den. Have eaten them whole yet?" She finally asked grinning.

Draco rolled his eyes at her. Blaise sighed dramatically.

"I wish! But, you know, I'm not all that sure about the innocent part. I don't think I would qualify Pavarti as innocent. I swear, had I known that she could be that good a flirt, I'd have gone after her sooner. As for the Weasley girl, now that's something else altogether. She has virgin marked all over her face!"

Draco frowned. At the moment, he had an almost overwhelming urge to defend the girl's honour. This was not only ridiculous, but also completely out of character coming from him. He managed to restrain himself, but barely. However, he couldn't help but search for the petite redhead at the Gryffindor table. When he found her, he was surprise by her expression. She looked very angry. From time to time, she threw a furious look at the head table while mumbling heatedly to Pavarti. The older girl put an arm around her friend, visibly trying to soothe her. What can she be so anxious about?