When the Order had received intel regarding Voldemort's Horcruxes, they had taken quick action. Luckily, of the five Horcruxes mentioned, one (the diary) had already been taken care of, by none other than Harry himself back in his second year.
Two – the locket and the cup – were easily attainable. Kreacher handed the locket over when Sirius commanded him to, though not without a display of reluctance. Hufflepuff's cup had been a breeze too. It was in the Lestrange vault, which could be easily accessed by the House of Black now. The protective charms Bellatrix had placed on the vault, namely the Gemini Curse and a couple others, still existed. The charms were 'loyal' to the person who cast them, not the owner of the vault, so it had been up to the goblins to withdraw the cup safely.
The means of destroying the Horcrux were available too. The sword of Gryffindor had been infused with Basilisk venom when Harry had used it in the Chamber of Secrets, essentially turning it into a Horcrux-killing super-sword.
The locket and the cup were both destroyed with the sword, with over half of the Order present to ensure nothing went wrong. The locket had required a Parselmouth to open it before it could be destroyed, and Harry had been glad to help, though Sirius had made him stand a good fifteen feet away from the locket. As soon as it opened, Sirius brought the sword down and cracked the locket in two, just before it could unleash whatever defensive charms it had.
With Nagini safely with Voldemort, who as per their intelligence, was likely regrouping somewhere in eastern Europe, the only Horcrux that remained that they could get at the moment was the ring. They were lucky that Voldemort hadn't found yet that his Horcruxes were being hunted. According to Dumbledore he had lost direction connection to them because of all the years he was without physical form.
The ring was located in the Gaunt shack, outside Little Hangleton. It was likely protected by a large number of defensive protective charms, much like the locket had been prior to being retrieved by Kreacher and Regulus, so the Order had prepared a task force, supported by the Auror office. It consisted of Mad-Eye, Bill & Arthur Weasley, Shacklebolt, Tonks, and Dawlish.
The exact location of the shack was found using an old Ministry report. In 1926, one of the residents of the shack, Morfin Gaunt had attacked a Muggle from the nearby town, prompting a visit from Ministry officials. However, when the group reached the area described in the report, some distance off the road, there was no shack.
"Maybe it's been demolished?" Tonks suggested. "The report is what, 70 years old?"
Mad-Eye simply grunted and raised wand in front of him. A small white orb was glowing at the tip, and the wand was emitting a soft humming noise. Mad-eye slowly moved his wand around, the humming noise grew louder to the left of the group, and the white orb started turning red.
"It's over there," he said. "It's been hidden."
"Huh…" Tonks said. "They don't teach that spell in Auror training."
"Of course, they don't," Mad-Eye said. "I invented it. Detects magically-concealed objects."
Shacklebolt waved his wand towards where Moody had indicated, and the concealment charm was lifted revealing a tiny, broken-down shack made of rotting planks and cracked, mossy stone.
"Everybody, be on your guard," Moody said. "You-Know-Who will have rigged this place with booby-traps and defensive charms. There's no telling what we might face in there."
They approached the shack cautiously, wands raised. As soon as they entered the shack though, everything went pitch black, even though it was barely noon. It was as though the sun itself had gone out. A couple of surprised yelps aside, the group quickly activated Lumos, which made it a bit better; they could now see a couple feet around them at least, but beyond that it was pitch black again.
"Everyone, group together," Arthur said. "Mad-Eye, is your other eye working?"
"Yeah, I'm looking for the ring," Mad-Eye grunted, sounding more annoyed than anything with the current predicament.
Suddenly they heard a hissing voice, followed by the sound of a curse hitting something on the ground. A moment later, Bill spoke, "Some kind of snake… haven't seen anything like it before."
Suddenly the hissing sounds multiplied, coming from every direction, accompanied by many small flashes of red light as the group tried to counter the snakes. There were hundreds of them slithering towards the group from all sides, and the limited lighting made it significantly worse.
A spell from Dawlish's wand missed its target and hit the rotting floorboards, causing Tonks to crash through the floor.
"Ow…" she groaned.
"Tonks!" Moody yelled from above. "The ring is down there with you, it's a couple feet to your right!"
Tonks picked up her wand and pointed it to her right, searching for the ring frantically before finally spotting it. It was a gold ring, inset with a black stone and some markings etched onto it.
"I got it!" Tonks yelled as she climbed back up.
"Let's get out of here, then!" Bill yelled.
"We can't apparate in here!" Arthur responded. "Mad-Eye where's the door?!"
"I see it, everyone follow me!" Mad-Eye shouted.
"We can't see you!" Tonks said.
"Lumos Maxima!" shouted Mad-Eye, and the whole room was briefly illuminated by a powerful burst of light, allowing everyone to see where he was and move towards to him. Mad-Eye lead the group out of the shack, all the while they were all firing hexes at the snakes.
When they stepped out of the shack, their vision returned to normal, briefly blinding them. A few snakes followed them outside but vanished as soon as the light hit them.
"Everyone okay?" Kingsley asked in his deep reassuring voice.
"Well I think I may have bruised my leg when I fell," Tonks said. "But other than that I'm fine, I think."
"I'm fine too," Dawlish said casually. "There is this snake bite though."
He pulled back his trousers, revealing bite-marks on his calf, and the skin around them was quickly turning purple.
"Oh- Christ!" Tonks said with a wince.
"I'll get him to St. Mungo's, then rendezvous with you back at headquarters," Bill said.
Mad-Eye nodded, then turned to Tonks. "The ring?"
Tonks, who had been clutching the ring tightly in her hand, gave the horcrux to Mad-Eye. Just before the ring switched hands, she felt a sudden, powerful urge to keep it. Mad-Eye took the ring and pocketed it quickly, and with that, the remaining group Apparated back to Grimmauld Place, where the Sword of Gryffindor awaited the horcrux.
[…]
(A few weeks later)
As I was eating breakfast one fine August morning, I was interrupted by Kreacher who popped into the room, holding an envelope.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Master Malfoy," he said, and raised the envelope. "But this just came for you."
"Thanks," I said through a mouthful of eggs and toast as I took the envelope. Kreacher bowed and disappeared.
At first I thought it was from Daphne, but then I saw the purple Hogwarts seal and nearly choked on my food.
Fuck this was it… my OWL results… I had forgotten all about them!
Feeling my breakfast coming back up, I clasped a hand over my mouth just in case. I stared at the envelope for a few minutes, or possibly a few hours, I wasn't really sure. But eventually I finally mustered the courage to open it. There were two documents inside, one a list of the new school books and the other, the result card.
STUDENT NAME: Draco Malfoy
SUBJECT GRADE
Ancient Runes Acceptable
Astronomy Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures Dreadful
Charms Acceptable
Defense Against the Dark Arts Exceeds Expectations
Herbology Poor
History of Magic Exceeds Expectations
Potions Outstanding
Transfiguration Exceeds Expectations
Overall Exceeds Expectations
Holy… shit!
HOLY SHIT!
SEVEN OWLS! I ONLY FLUNKED TWO! AND NOT A SINGLE TROLL! FUCK YEAAA-
More than clearing most of my subjects, I could also pursue the Curse-Breaking route now. I had gotten the OWL I needed for Potions, and could advance to NEWT level for Ancient Runes, Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
I quickly downed the rest of my breakfast and immediately wrote a letter to Daphne. I also wrote one to Hestia, figured she'd be happy to hear I could pursue becoming a curse-breaker now. I also wrote one to Narcissa and Lucius, they should know after all… I didn't know if the letter could reach them but I'd try nonetheless.
[…]
The next few weeks seemed to be a blur. Soon I found myself, once again, at platform nine-and-three-quarters but for the first time, alone. I made my way past all the families exchanging their last goodbyes, and boarded the train. While looking for Daphne, I passed the spot where I had been reincarnated. A shiver went down my spine as I passed it… it was so weird to think that it had already been a whole year since that. It really didn't feel that long…
I found Daphne sitting in a compartment by herself. Her face lit up when she saw me enter, and we hugged. After that one stolen night, we hadn't really seen each other in the town.
"I missed you," I said.
"I missed you more," she said.
"False, I missed you more," I said.
"No, I did-"
"Yes, yes, you both missed each other very much, now could you please move Draco? You're blocking the entrance," a new voice said.
I turned around and saw Nott standing behind me.
"Ah, Theo," I said. "That was what, twenty words? Means you've filled your social interaction quota for the month, I reckon…"
"Ha ha," he said dryly.
"Did you have a good summer, Theodore?" Daphne asked.
"It was fine," he said.
I racked my brains. Nott's dad was a death eater. Or rather, had been. In the canon Goblet of Fire, he had been present at Voldemort's return. But I think in this timeline he wasn't there, based purely on what Lucius had been murmuring about that night, almost two years ago.
"Draco, shouldn't you be in the prefects' compartment?" Nott asked.
"Ughhhhh," I groaned. "I had forgotten about that… well I'll see if I can drop by early. See ya."
I took my stuff and made my way up to the prefects' compartment. On the way I passed a compartment full of fourth or fifth-year girls, and I noticed they were looking at me funny. One of them waved at me. Without really thinking, I waved back, only for the girl to devolve into a blushing mess while the others giggled.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable I quickened my pace. Next compartment I passed gave me a completely different reaction. Cold stares and silence. I recognized most of them, they were from Slytherin.
With an uneasy feeling in my stomach, I kept walking ahead. I passed Rachel Rosier standing at the door of her compartment, chatting with Millicent Bulstrode. She ignored me. Thank god. I got to the prefect compartments. Ron and Hermione saw me pass by. Hermione smiled and waved, while Ron did an awkward sort of gesture that may have been a respectful nod.
Then the door of the Slytherin compartment opened and Astoria, came out.
"Hi," she said with a smile.
"Hey," I said back. She had changed a bit over the summer. And no, I don't mean she had boobs now… well, that too, but she looked a bit sick. Her skin was paler than I remembered, and there were shadows under her eyes…
"Everything alright?" she asked.
"Well, you tell me," I said. "Heard you were sick over the summer. Feeling better now?"
"Oh… oh yeah, it was nothing. Much better now, don't worry," she said. "Did Daphne tell you I was sick?"
"Yeah, she may have mentioned it…" I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "So uh, you're a prefect now? Awesome!"
"Dunno about 'awesome' if that's what I have to deal with the rest of the year," she said, pointing back into the compartment. I took a look, and sheesh them cold stares from the rest of the Slytherin prefects…
"Yeeaaah, let's go somewhere else," I said and turned straight around.
"Aren't we supposed to stay here?" she said.
"Nah, don't worry about it," I said. "Nobody takes train duty seriously, learnt that last year."
I went back to Daphne and Nott's compartment, Astoria following me.
"Well, when you said you'd be back early I wasn't expecting immediately," Daphne said as I closed the door behind me and sat down. "Train hasn't even started moving yet."
"Well, the reception in the Slytherin compartment was a bit… chilly," I said. "But hey, I managed to rescue Astoria at least."
"My hero," Astoria said, in a tone of mock fawning.
"You say that like it's a good thing," Daphne said. Astoria promptly flipped her off.
The train started moving at last, and the four of us chatted casually all the way to Hogwarts
[…]
A few hours later, we arrived at Hogsmeade station. As always, the first-years were led away by Hagrid towards the lake while the returning students got on the Thestral-pulled carriages.
I was quiet as we approached the castle, all I could think about was how, one year ago, I had witnessed the most beautiful, joyful sight in my entire life, and wondered if I'd feel the same way when I saw it again.
The answer?
Yes.
One hundred percent, yes.
Seeing Hogwarts after a summer away was still a magical experience. The moonlight once again, cast a silver dreamy shine over the castle, and the windows like tiny flecks of gold. The déjà vu was real, and I loved it.
At the huge oaken doors of the castle, we were all inspected by Filch and his Dark Detector, which was to be expected, given the circumstances.
Once seated in the Great Hall, I saw an elderly, fat, jolly-looking man who I assumed was Professor Horace Slughorn was seated at the High Table, which was interesting…
Another interesting thing happened during the Sorting Ceremony. In addition to the first-years being sorted, there were also two exchange students, from Durmstrang. A boy named Dragomir, sorted into Ravenclaw, and a girl named Anastasia, sorted into Slytherin. Both in their fifth year, and neither looked particularly happy about being at Hogwarts.
As for why there was a Durmstrang-Hogwarts exchange program given the current circumstances, I didn't know. To be honest, I didn't particularly care either… it was just something mildly intriguing but didn't really affect me. Didn't stop the rest of the Great Hall from murmuring, though. I also noticed a few of the guys on the Slytherin table were very not-subtly eying Anastasia.
Once the sorting was done, Dumbledore got up and addressed the school. Announced the staff changes, Kingsley not returning, Slughorn taking over Potions and Snape getting Defense Against the Dark Arts, then briefly talked about the exchange program, emphasizing the need to strengthen our bonds. According to Daphne the decision to exchange students with Durmstrang was particularly controversial… since they (allegedly) taught Dark Arts there.
Beyond that, it was mostly the same as the movie. 'Dark forces attempting to penetrate this castle' and all that. I knew it all by heart, so I didn't pay that much attention. The delicious feast that was to come was on my mind, right now.
I gazed across the table and noticed Anastasia staring at me, very intensely. Like I got the feeling she was looking into my soul and being very judgmental about it.
We locked eyes for a few moments, but she looked away when Dumbledore ended his speech and the food appeared. She didn't look my way for the rest of the feast. I tried putting it out of my mind, but it had been kinda creepy. There was something kinda off about her…
Whatever. It was probably nothing. I was back home at last, that was what's important.
Cheers to the new year!