CHAPTER 23: Happy Returns

"Daphne, I know it's going to take every ounce of self-control to prevent yourself from doing this, but please do not hex Fred Weasley on sight."

"Can I do it after he's spotted me?"

"No?"

"Why?" Daphne huffed, crossing her arms, "Legally, if he's seen me, it's a fair fight. I looked it up."

"That is a very problematic law if it's true," Theo pointed out, his eyes still trained on the book in his hands.

"Of course you looked it up," Madeline sighed, rubbing her temples and leaning back in her seat, "Of course you bloody did."

The Slytherin Trio had managed to snag a train carriage to themselves on their journey back to Hogwarts. And of course, the first point of conversation had to be Daphne's ever-growing distaste for a specific Weasley.

"I'm just saying," Daphne continued, "That no one would complain if my wand slipped and-"

"Daphne, no."

And although Madeline tried to look annoyed, she did crack a grin. Because as much as Daphne could insinuate violence, Madeline knew she was only trying to cheer her up. And really, it was working.

Seeing her friends again had definitely cheered Madeline up. Sure, they visited over summer, but it was different to see them returning back to their normality. Daphne had returned with sharper features and brighter eyes, while Theo's studious eyes seemed to relax a bit when he saw his two friends. It felt a little like coming home.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the compartment door. It slid open, revealing timid-looking Evie Sterling stood at the door, with a jumper two sizes too big and her ginger bob pulled up into a ponytail. But despite the slightly dishevelled appearance, she had a grin on her face.

"Good morning Evie!" Daphne cheerily greeted her, patting the empty space next to her, "Fancy joining us?"

"I'm in the carriage a few door down with the other second years, but thank you," Evie smiled politely, almost proudly claiming her title as a second year. She began turning to each of the trio, "I thought I'd come to say hi and- Oh wow Madeline, your hair grew!"

"My aunt said that," Madeline laughed, the ends of her hair hanging low down her back, "Maybe I should get it cut. How've you been, Evie?"

The girl shrugged, "The same. I helped mum in the shop over summer, and I saw a couple of friends from my old muggle school. But, that's about it." And then her eyes widened, "Did you all go to France, like you said you would?"

Daphne nodded proudly, "Yes we did, young Evie. Spent a few weeks in the Bisset mansion sipping wine and attending balls-"

"No, we didn't."

"Shut up Theo," Daphne sighed, closing her eyes dramatically, "Don't ruin the magic."

Evie laughed, turning when she heard her name being called further down the carriage. She turned back to the trio apologetically, "I should head back to the others. I'll see you guys later!"

The trio bid the young Slytherin goodbye, the compartment door sliding closed once more. The noise from the other carriage was shut out once more, the trio left alone.

"She's come out of her shell," Theo mused.

"Of course she did," Madeline bragged proudly, "She's friends with us."

Daphne nodded thoughtfully, and after a few moments, she stood up. She walked to the compartment door, opening it a crack and peering around. She shut it with finality, locking it, before pulling the blind over the glass pane. Now, they were alone.

"What are you doing?" Theo asked, eyes finally trained away from his book.

"We need to talk," Daphne announced, taking her seat opposite Theo and Madeline, "And I doubt we want anyone else to hear us."

"She's going to admit to murder," Madeline jokingly gasped, "Come on Greengrass, what is it-"

"Bisset, people are talking."

Madeline raised her eyebrow curiously, "About?"

"Harry Potter," Daphne continued, "Everyone is saying he's mental because he thinks He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back."

Madeline froze. Of course, no one ever wanted to believe in a worst-case scenario.

"They're probably going to heighten security," Theo mused, "I mean, after Rita Skeeter running around writing rumours about every Gryffindor caught her eye, they're bound to expect even more press this year. Especially after the trial."

"The trial?" Madeline asked in confusion, "What trial?"

Theo and Daphne exchanged a confused look, before Daphne groaned in frustration, "I don't understand how you're dating a Weasley and he doesn't tell you about these things. Seriously, please reconsider my offer of a hex."

"What trial?" Madeline asked again.

Theo and Daphne exchanged another look, before Daphne took the lead, "I don't think it's public knowledge yet, but I've got a cousin in The Wizengamot. He said there was a disciplinary hearing for Harry's use of underage magic outside of Hogwarts. Apparently Dumbledore was there and everything. He nearly got expelled."

Madeline eyes widened. Fred hadn't told her, and hell, she'd even exchanged a couple of letters with Harry before he too stopped replying. Something was going on, she was sure of it.

She thought back to her own lessons with her aunt. She knew the rules for underage magic still applied in France, but she knew her family had a loophole into it. Something about Eloise Bisset being a teacher, or perhaps her uncle had pulled a couple of strings in the Ministry to allow her to practice magic with her grandmother. Either way, she was eternally grateful that she'd flown under the radar, because she couldn't imagine being expelled.

"People think Harry is mental already. I heard Tracy's parents almost didn't let her come back," Daphne continued, "We don't know what happened in that maze last year, but if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, there is going to be a bright red target on Harry Potter's back."

The ride back to Hogwarts had always been a long one. Madeline would gaze out of the window, watching the Scottish countryside zoom past them as they made their way to the castle, the low rumble of the wheels on the tracks below them reminding Madeline that sooner or later, she'd be back in Hogwarts with her friends.

And Fred.

She made her way out of the bathroom compartment, now changed into her Slytherin robes. The feeling of the green tie once again around her neck, the Slytherin crest proudly embroidered on her chest… It made her feel powerful again.

She could feel the weight of the Bisset pendant underneath her robes, hidden beneath her shirt. She hadn't dared ask her aunt about it during her visit home. In fact, she had barely paid the necklace any mind. Her mother was becoming more and more of a closed book these days, and she knew asking her would bring more suspicion than answers.

She slipped past compartments upon compartments, catching glimpses inside. Hannah Abbott was proudly bragging about her new shiny yellow Prefect badge in one compartment, while Dean Thomas was animatedly chatting with a couple of the younger Gryffindors in the next. Madeline even got a wave from Evie Sterling and her friends, a whole six of them crammed into a compartment together.

And yet, still no sign of Fred.

She wasn't necessarily looking for him. No, she wouldn't. Well, maybe later. God, everything felt like a mess, it was all-

"Oh, sorry Madeline!"

Madeline had been too caught up in her own thoughts to notice that she'd in fact bumped into none other than The Boy Who Lived himself, also dressed back into his Gryffindor robes, and with a much better haircut than he'd had just a few months before.

"Sorry Potter, didn't see you there," Madeline replied, "But, uh, how've you been?"

Harry shrugged, partly because he didn't know how to reply, but also because the last time they'd spoken like this, a boy had been dead, "I'm alright, apart from all the nonsense from the Daily Prophet. You?"

"I'm back in Sunny Scotland, how could I be unhappy?" Madeline joked a small grin being pulled from Harry's face.

But then Madeline remembered that he too had been hiding something from her, that Fred was somewhere on this train keeping his distance, and she wasn't about to entertain either boy with friendship or anything else.

"But I should probably get back to my carriage," Madeline eventually continued, any trace of a smile wiped on her face, "I'll catch you later, yeah?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," Harry hastily nodded. Madeline smiled a thin polite smile, squeezing past him in the narrow train corridor. She didn't look back, making her way back to the rear of the train, away from the Gryffindor.

Harry watched her leave. He could feel the weight of the photograph Mad-Eye Moody had given him just a few weeks before, sitting in his robe pocket. Madeline was a friend, she'd always been, but the Bisset bloodline was a poisonous one. His hand slipped into his pocket, fingers curling around the ageing photograph as he recalled Moody's words.

"...Caradoc Dearborn, vanished six months after this, we never found his body…"

"I can't believe it," Daphne huffed as she dramatically slid the compartment door open, returning from dressing back into her own robes, "Guess who snagged Slytherin Prefects?"

"If it's Crabbe and Goyle I'll off myself."

"Worse," Daphne shook her head solemnly, closing the door behind her, "Malfoy and Parkinson."

Madeline snorted, a laugh bubbling out between her lips, "You're kidding."

"I wish I was," Daphne shook her head once more, taking a seat opposite Theo, "Saw it with my own eyes. Pansy was bragging about it in the loo."

"Odd place to brag," Theo observed.

"We're not going to hear the end of this ever," Daphne continued, peering out the window. The grey clouds hung low over the sky, casting a dark shadow over the tracks. It was almost sunset, "I think we're almost there."

Madeline felt nervousness prickling in her fingers. This moment had to arrive eventually, but the prospect of seeing Fred was still a little intimidating. Okay, a lot intimidating, but hey! She'd never had a boyfriend before. Of course she'd be nervous.

"Relax," Daphne smiled at her, sensing her nerves, "He's a dead man if he tries anything."

"Hey-"

"Kidding," Daphne winked, turning back to the window and looking outside dreamily.

"How's Terence?" Madeline asked, "I know you guys broke up, but you're still friends, right?"

"Sure," Daphne shrugged, eyes still fixed on the window, "I mean, we didn't have much to talk about in the first place anyway. I didn't really speak to him over summer either."

"What a tragic loss," Theo sighed sarcastically.

The Slytherin Trio lost themselves in jokes and tales, talking about what they'd done with the rest of their summer, and Madeline's awkward encounter with Harry. They were so lost in conversation, in fact, that they didn't realise they'd arrived until the train came to a screeching stop.

"We're here," Theo observed in surprise, the trio finally noticing students piling into the corridor outside their compartment.

Daphne groaned, "It's going to be hell getting off this thing."

Madeline sighed, standing and beginning to unload the luggage from their luggage compartments, "The sooner we get to the feast, the better. I'm starving."

The Trio unloaded their luggage and waited patiently at the door of their compartment for a gap to queue up in, but of course, no one wanted to let the Slytherins push in front of them on the mad rush to get out of the train. After a few minutes of disapproving glares, Daphne had managed to squeeze herself and Theo into the queue, Madeline pulling her luggage behind her as she slipped behind Theo.

She'd just managed to straighten herself up when her luggage rolled into her ankle. She hissed at the sharp pain, her leg buckling. But surprisingly, someone grabbed her waist just before she could lose balance.

"Merlin, thanks," Madeline sighed as she composed herself, turning to see who'd helped her.

The minute she met those eyes, her breath caught in her throat.

So. Draco Malfoy had grown into himself.

Now don't get her wrong, he was still a slimy little git with a sneer that could rival Snape's own, but he'd definitely grown into his features, his cheekbones sharper and jawline more prominent. Not to mention, he'd grown a few inches. Madeline almost had to look up to see his face. He was almost handsome. Almost.

"Bloody hell. Clumsy as alway, Dearborn."

Ah, there it was. The spell was broken.

"Get your hands off me you twat," Madeline huffed, pulling away from his grip, "And don't call me that."

"It's your name, isn't it?"

"Bisset," Madeline seethed, glaring at him viciously. God, she hadn't missed him, "My name is Bisset."

"Manners, Madeline, or I'll have to give you a detention," Draco cockily pointed out, a wicked grin on his face, "You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."

"Fancy way of saying you're stuck up Snape's arse."

"You little b-"

"Come on," Theo pressed softly, turning around and grabbing her arm, "The queue is moving."

Madeline glared at Draco one last time before turning back around to Theo, her hair most definitely whipping Draco's cocky little smirk off his face. She grabbed her luggage, speedily following her friends off the train.

God, she hated Malfoy.

Madeline followed her friends on the path towards the horseless carriages that would take anyone above first year to the castle. She'd shaken off the encounter with Draco, but hadn't shaken off her rage quite yet.

When they finally found an empty carriage, Madeline stared at it in confusion.

"Aren't they meant to be horseless?" Madeline asked as her two friends began loading their luggage into the carriage.

Daphne stared at her as if she were crazy, "They are? Come on, before we get stuck with Crabbe and Goyle or something."

Madeline stared at the space between the carriage shafts in confusion. A fleshless, reptile-like horse stood laced between them, it's black coat clinging to its skeleton, making every bone in it's body visible. Wings sprouted from each side - vast, black leathery wings that looked as though they should to belong to giant bats, much less be taking students to school. Looking around, Madeline noticed each carriage was being pulled by one of these creatures.

"You don't see them?" Madeline asked in confusion, pulling her luggage into the carriage, "Are you playing a prank on me or something?"

Theo and Daphne exchanged a worried glance as Madeline climbed in, seating herself next to Daphne, "We have no idea what you're talking about."

Madeline was becoming worried, "Can't… Can't you see them?"

Theo frowned, "See what?"

"Can't you see what's pulling the carriages?"

"…No?"

Madeline huffed, looking out and around the carriage to see if anyone else had noticed them. Nothing. No one even glanced at the creatures. She frowned; was she hallucinating or something?

"You're having stress hallucinations," Daphne concluded wearily, still shooting Theo a subtle worried glance, "Your brain is trying to make up for empty space."

"Right," Madeline agreed hesitantly as the carriage began moving, "No, right. You're right."

Daphne made a mental note to take her friend to the Hospital Wing as soon as possible.

The carriages jingled to a halt near the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors of the Entrance Hall. The short carriage ride had done nothing to calm Madeline. In fact, she could feel the nerves taking over once more, fingertips tingling as the three friends stepped out of the carriage.

"They always get our trunks to us somehow," Theo mused as the trio left their luggage in the carriage, "It's quite impressive."

"We're literally in a magical wizarding school, Theo," Daphne pointed out, noticing Madeline's eyes trained on the empty space in front of their carriage, "Oi, Bisset, you still hungry?"

"What?" Madeline snapped her head back to her friends, "Oh, yeah. Let's go."

Daphne frowned, placing her hand to Madeline's head, "You don't have a fever."

"I'm not ill - I'm probably just tired," Madeline brushed Daphne's hand away, "Come on, I'm starving."

The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast. Madeline found herself comforted as she found herself lost in the sea of dark robes, her eyes trained in front of her as the three friends shuffled into the Great Hall.

The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another's new haircuts and robes.

The trio drifted to the Slytherin table easily, being some of the first students to arrive. They took their seats higher towards the end of the table, taking the seats of those who'd been in their place the year before. It was the start of their fifth year, excitement rising in the air as more and more students flooded in.

Daphne sat on Madeline's right, while Theo took a seat in front of them. From here, Madeline could see the rest of the hall, spotting a few familiar heads in the crowds. It was odd not to see the light blue of the Beauxbatons uniforms, a pang of sadness in realising that Fleur wouldn't be here this year. Nevertheless, she had her Slytherins on her side.

Tracy Davies slipped into the seat next to Daphne, a beaming smile on her face as her boyfriend took the seat next to her, "Well, this is exciting. Lots of new first years, too."

"Good evening Tracy," Madeline nodded, "Nice break?"

"I spent it at Cassius' house," Tracy smiled happily, her boyfriend grinning besides her, "What about you guys?"

"Madeline introduced us to the high French societies," Daphne speedily bragged, "Oh it was beautiful; the vineyards, the gowns-"

"We literally collectively drank like, one bottle of wine over the week."

"Shut up Theo."

Madeline laughed, turning back to the rest of the hall. During her conversation with Tracy, more and more people had entered the hall, tables quickly filling up. She spotted a familiar pair of twin ginger-haired boys at the Gryffindor table, but the crowds were far too thick to see anything but the tops of their heads. Nevertheless, her heart began to beat a little faster.

She only broke her gaze when Daphne spluttered.

"She did not look like that last year."

Madeline furrowed her eyebrows, turning to where Daphne had been looking. Sure enough, Loony Lovegood was making her way into the hall and to the Ravenclaw table. Her hair seemed a little more controlled than last year, yet still falling in wild blonde ringlets. Her features were sharper, like Draco's had been, and she'd definitely grown more than a few inches.

"Lovegood?" Madeline asked in confusion, "You mean her?"

"I mean- yes," Daphne stressed, "She looks… Different."

"And I'm the one going crazy."

"Oi!"

Theo looked at Daphnee with an unreadable expression, but before any of the friends could push the matter any further, Daphne's eyes trailed up to the Professors table.

'Who's that?' she asked sharply, looking at the middle of the Professors table.

Madeline and Theo also turned, furrowing their eyebrows. An unfamiliar teacher sat at the table, overlooking the hall with a thoughtful eye and a harrowingly sweet smile stitched onto her face. She was short, with cropped curly mouse-brown hair in which she had placed a horrible pink Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes.

"Dunno," Madeline shrugged, "She wasn't at the station."

"That's Dolores Umbridge," Theo recognised, "I think she's part of The Wizengamot with your cousin or something, Daphne."

"I knew I recognised her," Daphne nodded thoughtfully. Madeline spotted Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'd just returned from leading the first years across the lake, meaning that the Sorting Ceremony would start soon.

Surely enough, a few seconds later, the doors from the Entrance Hall opened. A long line of scared-looking first-years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on which sat the Sorting Hat, no less ancient and matted than when Madeline had her own sorting just a year before.

Her gaze travelled back to the Gryffindor table. What would her life have been like had she been sorted into Gryffindor?

The hall slowly faded into silence. The first-years lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back. Madeline almost fell out of her seat when the Sorting Hat began singing, glaring playfully at Theo and Daphne when they chuckled at her.

She barely paid much attention to the song; it was far too long for her liking. However, the final verse did catch her attention, sending a cold shiver down her spine.

"Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger,
From external, deadly foes.
And we must unite inside her,
Or we'll crumble from within."

"Crumble from within," Madeline muttered to herself in the haze of applause for the Sorting Hat.

"Bit bold this year, isn't it?" Theo mused, eyes on the hat.

Madeline didn't answer, but Tracy leant over, "I wonder if it's ever given warnings before?"

No one answered. Instead, all eyes fell back on the first years, watching the sorting happen before them. Of course, the first one had been a Gryffindor, who'd received far more applause for someone who'd only put a hat on their head.

The long line of first-years slowly began trickling down. Whenever someone would be sorted into Slytherin, Madeline and the older Slytherins would clap and cheer extra loud, making up for the silence of the other houses. No one was going to feel alone or estranged this year, if they could help it.

Once the final first year had been sorted, Professor McGonagall picked up the Hat and stool and marched them away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "Welcome! To our old hands… Welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

And of course, perfectly on cue, the tables began filling with food and drinks, gasps and giggles flooding the table as the first years were welcomed and the older years tucked in. Daphne spotted a couple of Gryffindors eyeing the Slytherin first-years wearily, which she rolled her eyes at.

"That hat wants the houses to be friends?" Daphne snorted, "Fat chance."

After the meal had been eaten, Madeline had begun to feel the tiredness from her journey start to hit her. The noise level in the Hall was starting to creep upwards again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the Headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," began Dumbledore. "First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students-and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"The what-now?" Madeline whispered, "Where is Hagrid?"

There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause, especially from the Slytherin table. Quite frankly, everyone looked like they could use a good nap.

Dumbledore continued, 'Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the-"

Dumbledore was, however, cut off by the sound of Professor Umbridge clearing her throat, and although Madeline hadn't noticed at first, the short woman had gotten up and was standing next to Dumbledore, almost expectantly.

Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her flyaway hair and Professor McGonagall's mouth had been pulled incredibly thin. It was quite comical, in Madeline's opinion.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "For those kind words of welcome."

Her voice was high-pitched, breathy and little-girlish. Madeline could see herself not liking this woman one bit.

"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" she smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!"

Daphne snorted into her glass of pumpkin juice, having caught a glimpse of Crabbe and Goyle's empty, expressionless faces. To be fair, no one else looked rather engaged in Umbridge's announcements.

"'I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Umbridge continued. This time Madeline barely contained her own smirk,

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the wizarding community must be passed down the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

"Bloody hell," Daphne whispered.

Umbridge's speech was perhaps the most bored Madeline had ever been in Hogwarts. She managed to keep herself awake and tune in for the tail-end of her final point, which was quite an achievement, in her opinion.

"Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited.'"

She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Madeline noticed that several of them brought their hands together only once or twice before stopping. A few students joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, not having listened to more than a few words of it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up again.

"The Ministry is interfering with Hogwarts," Daphne whispered to her friends as Dumbledore resumed his own speech, "That's why she's here."

Madeline looked at Umbridge curiously, who seemed to have her own eyes trained on the sea of gold and red that was Gryffindor, no doubt scouting out The Boy Who Lived. She shook her head. Couldn't the Ministry at least be a little subtle about it all?

A/N: PLEASE NOTE: A lot of the scene from the Great Hall is directly quoted from the Order of The Phoenix book!