Chapter 36

When he woke up it took Draco a minute to realise where he was. He had been expected to see the dragon covered walls that he had woken up to most days. But now he awoke in a four posted bed, in a circular room covered with midnight blue hangings.

It hadn't been a dream then. He had really left home for Hogwarts the day before. He was a Ravenclaw and he had to get up and get his but to class.

And he had seen his mother once more. She had come. She had been there!

It was with that thought in his head that he began the day.

One of the weirdest things he had to face since he had left home so far was the idea of sharing a room with complete strangers. He was so used to having a room to himself. But now he was in a dormitory with four other boys his age. Terry and Michael seemed to be the two he was most drawn too. They were intelligent (but considering what house they were in, that was hardly surprising), witty and chatty. Michael had longish dark hair that hang just past his ears, and was, he had revealed by the end of the their first night as dorm companions, a half blood, causing difficult for Draco. He had met and liked Harry before he had known who he was and felt less guilty about liking him, but pulled back a bit from Michael. Had he been in Slytherin as he knew his father had wished him to be deep down, he would not have had to worry over who he was mixing with in his dorm.

Terry came from a pureblood family though, and seemed to want to make fast friends with the young Malfoy heir. The other two beds in there room had been occupied by Antony Goldstein and Stephen Cornfoot.

It was with these four boys that he made his way back down to the Great Hall the morning after they were sorted. It was an unspoken unanimous decision between them that at least for now there was a safety to be found in numbers, just as it had been for him and Ron.

When they got to the table they found that the girls who were in there year and house had made it there before the boys, and were already being handed there very first time table by Professor Flitwick. Across the hall, he could see Vincent and Greg being given there own by Severus and he felt a desperate ache to be under the green banner with them.

But as it was he was not. And he was never going too be, so he was just going to have to get used to it. He had been brought up surrounded by Slytherin's so that had always been where his loyalty had been placed where it came to Hogwarts houses. He was going to have to change that and transfer it to his own house.

He looked at the Ravenclaw banner. He did like blue.

"Right here we are gents," said his tiny Head of House as he passed the five boys their respective timetables. It was there very first day of proper lessons.

Draco had to say he was relieved when he saw that his first class was going to be with Flitwick. The night before he had come into the common room to see the first years and to welcome the older students.

He seemed like a nice wizard but he could not help but wish his Head of House was Severus.

He soon got himself some toast and was drinking his cup of tea when the mail begun to arrive. Hercules, distinctive from his size and grace was among them. As soon as he got to his new master he stuck out his leg after he had given Draco an affectionate nip on the finger.

He carried two letters.

The first was written on such rich parchment in and in such a strong masculine scribe that he knew it could only come from one person. The green seal marked with his own family emblem also gave it away. He felt a nervous excitement as he opened it and could only hope that his father had meant it when he had said that he did not mind what house he was in. But if he was really that angry surely he would have sent a Howler?

My dearest Prince,

Your uncle came to me last night and told me what house you got into, Ravenclaw – so the first intention of this letter is to congratulate you and to tell you how proud you have made an ageing man. Ravenclaw is a respectable House Draco – I am sure you will do well.

The manor already seems quiet without you and as ever when you are gone I long for your company. Yet I also recognize it is time I let you grow up into the fine young man that I know you already are. I know you will behave yourself and make friends only with those who are worthy of your friendship.

In other words son, I have faith in you, as I ever have.

Missing you dearly already, (I am counting down to Christmas!)

Written by the hand of your affectionate father,

Lucius Malfoy.

Feeling more confident from the sentiments that his father had sent him Draco let a relieved smile take over his face. His cousin who had been watching him from her own Hufflepuff table was left in no doubt of what he had just received. Her uncle's blessing to be a Ravenclaw.

The other letter was written by the hand of a woman. The hand was considerably more girly and on top of her i's there were little witch's hats instead of dots.

Young Master Draco,

I was so delighted when I got your fathers owl saying you had made it in to Ravenclaw, what an achievement! I have arrived at what I suppose I must think of as my new home yet it is not the Malfoy Manor and I miss that home and all it holds. Why did you have to grew so fast my dear boy?

Looking forward to hearing all of the achievements I know you will come too,

Written with love – I remain,

Your Jane.

He looked over both the letters again and they made his heart ache for the simply days when it had just been them at home together – when Jane was his teacher and mentor.

He would have got upset he was sure but the fact was he had no time too. Jane and his father would write again soon. For the time being though, he had to get to class.

It was not long till the boys were eagerly queuing up outside of the charms classroom. It felt real that they were at school now that they were going to class. Draco felt anticipation in his heart and butterfly's in his belly.

Draco was rather disappointed he had to say to learn that he had his first class was with the Hufflepuffs. While he liked his cousin's house he had been hoping to see his friends or to be with Harry and Ron again.

The first day seemed to be very much about letting the first years adjust to their new surroundings and getting used to being away from home.

In Charms, Flitwick gave them a talk about the theory of Charms and explained that they were going to beginning with levitation that term. He knew that when he looked back, Draco was going to find this all very boring – in a few years times when he had been able to make things levitate for years. But that time had not yet come. He was therefore rather excited.

And so he, just like the rest of the Ravenclaw's begun to make impeccable notes that would help him when he came back to revise later. Already he knew some of his class mates had begun to consider the exams that they were going to sit at the end of the year. He was a Malfoy and so he had to be the best. The silent competition that went along with every year of Ravenclaw's to get the top marks had begun between them already.

If he could not be a Slytherin, he would at least be the top of Ravenclaw he told himself.

The next class was a blessing and a curse. When they had been in the common room the night before, their prefect, Penelope Clearwater had warned them that History of Magic was not the most riveting class that they were going to attend in there Hogwarts career. In fact, that they were soon to learn had been an understatement.

Professor Binns, Draco was sure was the singularly most boring ghost he had met. He was not like The Grey Lady who had welcomed the first years to their house the night before. To be a ghost and to still be boring had to count as some sort of odd achievement didn't it?

What did make the class bearable though was the fact her got to see Harry and Ron. The students had to sit in rows of three and they were among the only ones who had the courage to sit with some who were not in their own house. He could for instant see that the Granger girl was with Longbottom and Lavender Brown.

She seemed to have sharp ears though and as soon as the three boys begun writing notes to one another, she turned to them with a look as if to say 'I know exactly what your doing and I don't approve one little one bit.'

"Do you reckon she intends to let us have any fun this year?" Ron asked Draco and Harry. Both shook their heads.

"Probably not."

Lunch was, as the feast had been the night before, a noisy affair. He supposed with so many people at Hogwarts most meals were loud. Nothing like the quiet suppers he had had when he had been at home.

"How you doing kid?" said a voice behind him.

"Oh hey Dora, I'm ok." He said to her. She had her uniform on, but her bubble gum pink hair spiky out making her as distinctive as ever. "Mum reckons I should calm it down when I am at school. I just think she's boring." she shrugged as she saw him looking at her hair, making him laugh. "So how has your first day been, ok? What have you got next?"

Draco got his time table out. Swallowing down the last of his pasta, he read allowed to her; "Transfiguration – with the Slytherins!" he said delighted.

At the end of the hall he could see Theodore and Blaise. They beckoned him over. With a wave to Dora and a quick kiss goodbye (which was hurriedly wiped of when she could not see him) he run down to met them.

"Rotten luck getting in Ravenclaw." Said Theodore with a pityingly look. Draco did not like the feeling he was being pitied. Malfoy's were not pitied, ever.

"It isn't so bad. Terry's ok." He shrugged. He was annoyed though. He was already growing fond of being in Ravenclaw.

As soon as Vincent and Greg had joined them the five boys walked off to Transfiguration together.

"What's the Slytherin common room like?" he asked.

From what they told him it wasn't all that more interesting than the Ravenclaws. He could not believe that the level of conversation was so superior either. And he was shocked to learn that they had one set pass word, when he as a Ravenclaw had to answer a riddle if he wanted to get into his common room.

He preferred that way. It would increase his learning. Without realising it, Draco was already turning into quite the little scholar.

That said, in the walk up to the classroom he did delight in the company of his old friends. Maybe sharing a dorm would have been easier if it had been with people he had known or his entire life.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Slytherin's and Ravenclaw's alike learned in the hour they had with her that McGonagall was just as strict as she looked. Draco got the feeling she was a fair teacher as long as you worked hard. And he intended too.

The Ravenclaws were paired back with the Hufflepuffs for their last lessons of the day. It had been the one he had really been looking forward to for the simple fact it was potions. He made sure he was there on time. He got the feeling his uncle was going to be a good teacher to him but he was not going to allow him to use there relationship to his own ends.

He went into the class confidently and sat at the front of the class. Having read through his books and having down some theory with Jane before he left the manor he felt he was better prepared for potions than he had been for any of the other classes.

Severus swept in to the room after all the students had been seated. Draco knew this was a very different Severus to the one he had known when he had grown up.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and making. As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate powers of the liquids that can pass into the humans veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses...I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death. That is, as long as you are not a bigger bunch of dunderheads as I normally teach."

Draco didn't think he has ever seen Sev like this and he felt as if he was watching the master at work. It didn't alarm him as he had thought it would at first, but because he knew the man who was under the Potions Master - it turned it into some sort of joke.

"Malfoy," Severus turned to him. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"A Draught of Living Death."

"And if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"Stomach of a goat."

"And the difference between monkhood and wolfsbane?"

"They are the same plant."

"Very good." Said Severus though he didn't look very impressed. "Let's just hope the rest of you are up to Mister Malfoys standards."

For the rest of the lesson, there were instructions put up on the board which made a potion to curer boils. It was rather simple his uncle said, but to a first year student it didn't seem so. But he found at the same time he rather enjoyed potions. It seemed in a odd way a more relaxing and soothing lesson than the other classes he had attended. What had Severus called it? A subtle science.... Draco agreed. So wrapped up was he in his own work that he failed to notice his uncle bullying his class mates.

As class came to an end and the homework was set, Severus caught Draco's eyes and gave him a look that told him he was to stay after.

"Are you coming Draco?" Michael called.

"In a minute. You lot go ahead without me." He said as the last students fought their books back into their bags and proceeded to the common room to relax after their first day of class, leaving uncle and nephew alone. As soon as everyone else was gone, Draco knew he was once again with Uncle Sev, not Professor Snape.

"So how was it?" Severus asked, genuinely interested in how his first day as a student had been.

"Good fun, I think I am going to like being at Hogwarts after all." He admitted.

"I am glad," the Potions Master told him. The fact was after everything that had happened, Severus had been concerned that Draco was not going to get along at school. There were of course other ways to magically educate a child, but he wanted Draco to be at Hogwarts so he could get a taste of normality. It was highs time that he made friends with people his own age. Lucius had had the boy to himself for far too long.

"History of Magic was a bit boring though – my other classes were good."

"Binns bores all." Severus nodded, reminded of how many glasses he had had to sit through before he had dropped it going on to NEWT level.

"I think so." Draco drawled. His eyes dropped to the floor. "Are you mad I'm not Slytherin?" he asked tentatively.

"Not at all. It is unfair that the only student I have every really wanted in my house should be denied me but life isn't fair Draco." He shrugged. "You mustn't worry over us being upset as we're not. Your father was so proud when I told him you were Ravenclaw."

"Really?"

"Indeed."

A warm feeling spread throughout his body just as it had when he had read the letter – but hearing it made it seemed true.

He wished he had been the one to tell him though.

"How was he?"

"Fine...Draco you had been apart from one another ten hours, what did you think would have changed?"

A shrug and a copy grin told him he didn't know.

"Well go on then, catch up with your friends," said Sev as he got up and ruffled Draco's hair in a fond, paternal manor.

He was soon on his way back to the common room, retracting the steps of his friends just ten minutes before him. Over all he felt his first day had gone very well. In fact, it had been nothing short of a triumph.

With ease he answered the riddle and walked into the common room, his eyes dancing as he looked about it. Everything was still so fresh to him!

"He didn't lay into you, did he?" asked Mandy, a girl in his year said as soon as he got in. Him was obviously Sev. It was apparent she had been worried about him. Draco shook his head as if the idea was ridicules. But Lisa Turpin shared the look Mandy had had on her face.

"Don't you think he is unpleasant?" she asked.

"Not in the slightest," he said on the defence. "He's a friend of the family."

They jumped back, looked awkwardly at there shoes and pretty soon he was on the way up to his room where he found the boys.

"I'm glad that's over," said Michael as he put his books in his trunk, but whether he was talking about the lesson or the day in general he was not sure. He felt quite put out at the idea of his friends not liking his uncle. "Shall we go and get some food?"

Draco nodded. All this work did make him hungry.

But by the end of the day what the girls had said was weighing heavy on his mind. Maybe he had been to immersed in his work to notice, but was it possible he had been treated differently to all the other students? Or that he had presented a different face to him? When they had discussed it over dinner, the boys seem to agree with the girls depicting of Severus, though they had avoided the issue as he was there he felt.

Lying in bed, he realised why the idea of his uncle treated his other class mated differently to him upset him so much. It was because of her...

She had been so different, so fake when she had been with his father and so cruel to him when they had been alone.

A shiver run through him. The thought of comparing that woman to his wonderful uncle haunted him to the depths of his soul. The comparison terrified him. Severus was nothing like Maria; they were complete different beings. When he looked back, he didn't see a woman but a monster. Sev had been the one who had saved him, he reminded himself. He had been the one who had put an end to that hellish era in his life.

But he wished there was someone to relay his fears to. It was Jane he needed now and then maybe his father when she had rationalised things.

But at Hogwarts there was no one to tuck you in. No review of the day with someone you loved. There was no cup of coco and no gentle kisses on the forehead as you drifted off to your dreams.

Overall, Draco had enjoyed his first day, and though he battled homesickness as he lay in bed listening to the other boys talk, he knew his father had been right. Hogwarts was the right place for him. But he just hadn't expected to have to work out his own answers to his own problems so quickly.

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