Sacrifice

Chapter 3
The Beginning of Another Year

Harry lifted his sleep encrusted-eyelids slowly, feeling the weight beside him. A thin glaze of warm summer sweat lay over the two boys intertwined on the floor of Ron's bedroom. The long limbs curled and twisted around each other to form a breathing knot both Harry and Draco felt secure in each other's embrace. At some point during the night, Draco had rolled off the bed and onto Harry, who had the floor that night. Whenever they were together, they inevitably found their way into that position, regardless of what had happened before they fell asleep.

Security. That was a word that Harry could no longer afford to keep in his vocabulary. Harry felt a slight sigh escape Draco, and the long, fine hair brush against his shoulder as Draco pushed his head further into the crook of Harry's neck. Harry was outwardly at peace with the world, watching the sprawling form sleep. Inwardly, his mind roiled with thoughts and fears about the upcoming year. After the last letter from Voldemort, and his decision to join him, he could no longer afford to take trust, compassion, or the truth for granted.. He would have to lie to his friends, aquaintances and enemies for the first time in his life. And he would have to get used to it.

But he could not bring himself to lie to the sleeping figure in his arms. A boy who he had brought back from the brink of destruction, and with whom he'd fallen in love. Harry subconsciously squeezed Draco's body a little closer to his own, trying to bury himself in his lover's arms. As hard as he tried, Harry could not lie to the boy who had brought him so much pleasure and pain through the years, and who had given himself to Harry so completely.

Returning to Hogwarts for my seventh year. I wonder what this year will bring to me? Will Voldemort attack the school again? Will I have to fight for him this year? What will he want from me? What about Ron and Hermione? How will they react? How can I tell them? I can't, he thought finally. But how can I survive without their friendships? He clutched Draco to him and closed his eyes, trying to regain the peace of sleep. Harry began to control his breathing, drawing deep breaths in and out, letting his mind wander over the events of the past week, and a surprising conversation that he had overheard.

Harry walked up to Ron's room and stopped at the shut door. He hear arguing, and put his ear up to the wood, listening. Hermione sounded exasperated, and both Draco and Ron sounded peeved at each other.

"You two are his friends, and yet you seem intent on ignoring him and his problems."

"When did you ever become the know it all, Malfoy?" Ron taunted.

"When did your family ever-" Draco responded, slipping back into old patterns.

"Both of you shut up right now. Malfoy, we are Harry's best friends, and we would never ignore him."

There was a momentary silence. Harry wondered what this was all about. Draco broke the silence, tearing into both Ron and Hermione.

"Both of you are his friends, right? Then why don't you act like it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are too busy playing Relationship to notice what's going on." There was another silence, and then Draco continued. "I don't know what it is, but I intend to find out." Harry could hear Draco come towards the door.

"Malfoy, wait. Yes, Ron and I are spending a lot of time together, but we still care about Harry."

"You have a funny way of showing it," Draco said simply, and Harry imagined Ron advancing on the smaller boy.

"Don't ever say that again, ferret, you have no right."

"No right? I have no right? No, of course I don't. I never have any right, even though Harry is mine. Both of you listen to me, and listen well, because I'm only going to say this once. Harry needs all of us. I don't know why, but he seemed different in Diagon Alley, and he's only gotten more tense since then. I love Harry, and would anything for him, but I need to know what's going on."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked in her librarian's mode voice that she put on every time she tackled a problem.

"Well, he seems distant to me. Before I left, he was more responsive."

"And this worries you because?" Ron asked sarcastically.

"Ron, shut up." Hermione said. "Go on, Draco."

"Physically everything is fine, but emotionally he isn't open with me. When in the potions shop he said we needed to talk about something, but he wouldn't say what it was, and we we still haven't talked." Draco finished.

"I noticed that he was distant," Hermione said. " And he had to go see Professor Dumbledore right after he arrived. He seemed flustered about something. Did he say anything to you, Ron?"

"No." Ron huffed. "Was there anything else, Malfoy?"

"Just that. I wonder what is so important that he has to wait to tell me," Draco sighed.

"Do you think he'll tell us?" Ron asked after a moment's pause.

Harry walked down the hall and down the stairs, not wanting to listen any longer.

He smiled at the memory, and a warm feeling spread over his body as he thought about what he had overheard Draco saying. "I love Harry, and would do anything for him." That statement alone would brighten up the rest of his day.

Draco shifted one of his legs, and wrapped himself around Harry even more tightly. Harry looked at his small clock, and grimaced at the time. He thought about moving, but instead brought his lips down upon Draco's in a good morning wake up kiss. His breath was slightly stale, but enjoyable to Harry regardless. It took only a few moments for Draco to realize what was going on and who was kissing him, and he rolled on top of Harry and relaxed into the kiss. Their mouths parted, and two tongues greeted each other. Soft endearments escaped their lips as they kissed each other.

Harry's hand slipped under Draco's t-shirt, and began making circles on his
shoulder blades and up and down his spine. His fingers traveled lower, caressing the curve of his arse before heading back up to his neck.

"Do you two mind? There is another person in the room," Ron complained. The two boys broke apart, falling over each other to disentangle and sit up. Ron laughed.

"Sure, Weasley, ruin our fun," Draco pouted, before leaning into Harry and kissing him softly on the cheek. Harry blushed a little, before returning the kiss. Ron simply harumphed.

"Ron, Draco and I--"

"Harry, it's too early in the morning--" Ron was cut off by a furious pounding on the door.

"Boys! Get up now! You're very late! It's almost nine!" Mrs. Weasley's frantic voice called. The three boys bolted out of bed and began to pull on their clothes for the day. Luckily, they had packed their trunks the night before, but they still had to double check to make sure that they hadn't forgotten anything. Ten minutes later, they walked down to breakfast.

Hermione and Ginny were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for them. Each of the girls smiled and greeted the late rising boys. Breakfast was a hurried affair, but Harry's mind floated far away wondering what the year would hold for him.

"Anyone home?" Ginny snapped her fingers in front of Harry, breaking his thought pattern.

"What were we discussing?" Harry asked. Draco slipped his hand into Harry's, squeezing softly.

"Who gets to be the Head Boy and Girl," Ron said, before continuing. "I still think it's Neville."

"Neville?" Draco sputtered. "Trevor's Neville? I swear, sometimes that toad has more sense than--" he was cut off by Harry's free hand covering his mouth.

"And Head Girl?" Hermione asked. She was disappointed that it had not been her, but it did, after all, give her more time to study. And she was still a prefect, besides.

"I heard it was Millicent Bulstrode." Harry replied, with complete seriousness. Everyone, including Draco, shot him a glare that would have frozen him in place, had he not decided at that moment to break up his hard boiled egg.

"Ewwww," was Ginny's only response.

"Agreed," Ron and Draco said, moments after each other.

"Neville is Head Boy. Hannah Abbot is Head Girl," Hermione chimed in, just to end the conversation.

"Kids, let's go." Mrs. Weasley came into the kitchen. "The Ministry car is here and waiting. We're going to make it onto the train this year, right?" She scolded the four Gyffindors. They looked abashed for a second, until all of them remembered the fun they had racing the train down the tracks until they could catch up with it the previous September.

They put the dishes in the sink, and helped each other take the trunks out the door, and load them safely into the boot of the car. Quickly they piled into the back seat of one of the car. Arthur was already waiting for them inside, and Molly joined them after leaving the Burrow. The cars were a gift from the Ministry, due to Arthur's Department Head position.

"King's Cross Station and hurry," Arthur told the car, and it came to life with a loud pop, and then began to drive down the lane until it could gather up enough speed to Disapparate.

Minutes later, the car and it's occupants were in busy downtown London, heading to King's Cross station. The Ministry car slowed, and then halted outside of the station, and the extended Weasley family all piled out of the car, stretching their legs and arms. The boot unlatched, and each child's school things were quickly retrieved. As soon as that was accomplished, the car popped back to life, became invisible, and pressumably Disapparated from the station.

The family made their way across the busy station, until they stood between the signs for platforms 9 and 10.

"All right then, who's first?" Molly asked.

"I'll go," Ginny replied as she lined up with the wall and began to run towards it. She passed through with ease. Harry felt a hand grip his shoulder.

"Hello Harry," Sirius's warm voice made Harry turn towards the older man.

"Sirius!" The seventh year hugged his godfather. He was confused however.

"You're wondering what I'm doing here?"

"Yes," Draco interrupted for Harry. Sirius noticed him for the first time, and gave a smile.

"Draco. How are you? Did you enjoy the summer? You're looking very--"

"Tan." Remus finished his friend's statement. Harry extended his hand, and the professor shook it vigouriously.

"I am. I think Harry likes it," Draco grinned cheekily, slipping his hand into Harry's. Harry's face turned cherry red instantly, and Hermione and Ron laughed, which caused his face to turn even more red.

"Anyway, Professor Dumbledore wanted a few Aurors to come along for the ride. Remus likes his yearly train rides. He likes to stick his head out the window--"

"That's enough Sirius," Remus said quickly. "Seriously, though, the Headmaster has received reliable information that there will be an attack at some point, and he wants a few trained wizards to be on hand - in case anything happens. Besides we're going to be living in Hogsmeade this year. I've agreed to stay on as Defense Professor, with Sirius's assistance. We need all the help we can get, and he will take some of the more advanced classes."

"Makes sense," Hermione said.

"You usually do," her boyfriend replied. "But if we want to make the train, we need to be moving along.",

"The voice of reason speaks. Amazing!" Harry smirked as he attached himself to his bags. He ran towards the brick barrier, and passed through it with ease.

He arrived at the other side of the barrier, and looked in wonderment at the scene before him. It never ceased to awe him that all of this was real, that he really was a wizard, even after seven years. There were the typical first years, small and scared of leaving their parents, regardless of whether they were Muggle or wizard. Next came the groups of returning students, greeting their mates, waving goodbye to family or simply, much as Harry was, taking in the scenery around them.

The gleaming red engine stood proudly against the ancient brick structure housing it. A trail of opaque white steam puffed out of the stack, and a whistle pierced the air, signaling that it was time to board the train.

Harry moved across the platform, and waited by one of the last cars, watching for the rest of his friends. They came through the platform one by one, Molly and Arthur last of all. Harry waved to them, and they waved through the crowd to him.

"Well, this is goodbye," Harry said, embracing Molly.

"It was wonderful having you this week, Harry. Take care of yourself this year, and we'll see you at the end of the school year," Molly said, wiping a tear from her eye and moving onto Hermione. Harry tensed.

You won't see me at the end of the school year. Perhaps never again. Take care of yourself, and thank you, he thought, blindly moving to Arthur.

"Harry, you need to take of yourself this year. You know why," Arthur said as softly as he could. "Be careful." Hermione piqued up at this, and she gave Harry a curious look. But Harry ignored it, and slipped his hand into Draco's.

"Ready?" Harry asked the towhead.

"Anytime," Draco smirked. Harry smiled in reply, and his mood lifted slightly. His mood was further lifted by the expression of utter horror that Ron wore. His eyes were squeezed shut, and he had his freckled hand over his mouth, making gagging noises.

Hermione poked him in the stomach. "Really, Ron. Must you be so...childish about it?" she told him as she swept into the car, already looking for an empty compartment. Harry pulled Draco along after her, and Ginny followed after him. Ron stood there for a moment, snorted, and then climbed into the car behind them.

They walked down the crowded corridor, looking for an empty compartment. Finally finding one, the five of them piled in and settled down. Harry took one of the window seats, with Draco beside him. Harry's mind was far away as he stroked the cool, soft skin of his boyfriend's hand.

I look out, and what do I see? I see the happy parents, waving goodbye to their children. How many of them won't survive the year? How many will --

"Harry?" Draco's voice cut across the tendrils of Harry's thoughts. "Harry, can you stop squeezing my hand, you're hurting it."

Harry realized that he was, indeed hurting Draco's hand and he quickly loosened his grip. Hermione gave him another questioning glance, but again he ignored it.

"Hello? Is anyone at home?" Justin Fitch-Fletchly stopped at the door and leaned against the compartment frame, his eyes sparkling.

"Hi Justin." Ginny stood, and took a step to her boyfriend. "How was the end of your summer?"

"Fine, thanks bit it's better now. Could I have the pleasure of escorting you to our car?" He bowed low.

"Certainly. I would be honored," Ginny curtsied, and then waved goodbye to the occupants of the compartment.

The four seventh years waved back, and then the two couples settled into each other, hoping to get an hour or two of sleep before the trolley witch came strolling by.

For Harry, however, that was not to be. He was restless, made even more so by the body snuggled next to him. He tried going to sleep, but couldn't seem to settle down. He gently pushed Draco away, and stood up, ready to walk the corridor until he was more relaxed. Just outside of the compartment, he ran into one of the few people that he did not want to see - Pansy Parkinson.

"What do you want, Parkinson?" The girl blocking Harry had not changed much over the summer.

"I just wanted to drop by and taunt the four of you," Pansy sneered.

"How very noble of you to do so in front of our faces."

"Cute, Potter." She took a peek into the compartment and leaned over him. "I actually wanted to see you." Glancing around her to make sure no one was watching, she lifted her left sleeve to reveal the bottom of a Dark Mark.

"Are you mad, Parkinson?"

"No more than usual, I'm afraid, Potter. Listen well. Our Master has told the Death Eaters at Hogwarts that you are to join us. Know this, Potter. I will be watching you. The others as well. No one is to know about your betrayal, not even your precious boyfriend." She said the last with a sneer. It was common knowledge that Draco had broken up with her to be with Harry. And it was also common knowledge that it had been a good move on Draco's part.

"Get back to your friends, Parkinson," he spat, and turned to walk back into the compartment. Draco shifted and woke up. He noticed Pansy standing still and watching Harry.

"What's going on?" Draco asked, blinking, and looking around. Harry replied,

"Oh nothing. Pansy was just leaving, weren't you Pansy?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"Oh yes, Potter. Just remember what I told you. And Potter, watch your back," She said, chuckling as she sauntered down the corridor.

"Harry, what did she talk to you about?" Draco asked, settling back as Harry took his place in the corner.

"Draco, I can't tell you," Harry finally said after a moment's pause. He immediately regretted his utterance, because Draco's body suddenly became very cold and stiff.

"Sure. Don't tell me. I know when something is eating you up, Harry. You can't hide it from me. I know you too well." Harry lifted his free hand and began to play with the fine stands of Draco's hair.

"Look, Draco, I'm sorry. I just can't tell you now. It's about -- well, it's the hardest decision I've ever had to make." Harry sighed, his flushed face contorting for the briefest of moments while he contemplated exactly what we was doing.

"Harry, what is it?" Draco asked, a little bit more forcefully. He squirmed around, and looked into Harry's face, trying to devulge what was inside his boyfriend's brain. "I'm worried about you. Granger and Weasley and I had a conversation earlier. We all want to know what's going on in that brain of yours, Potter." Draco smiled feebly at his humor. Harry kept his face neutral. "Look, Harry, just tell me what it is."

Harry leaned forward slightly, letting his arms rest on his knees. He grasped Draco's hands, and held onto them like a lifeline. "Draco, I promise you I will tell you. But not now. Wait until we get back to school, alright?" Draco sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Good. Then let's try and get some sleep." Draco rustled around, laying back into Harry. The raven haired boy listened to his boyfriend's breathing, feeling it become regular and relaxed. A few moments later, both of them were asleep, safe in each other's arms.

"Anything off the trolley dears?" The frumpy witch peeked into the compartment as Harry blinked awake. The sun had begun to set, leaving the running landscape awash with the reds of late August.

"No, thanks. We'll wait until the feast, thanks." She nodded in response and began her journey further down the train. Neither Ron nor Hermione woke, and Harry didn't have the heart to wake them to let them eat. Hogwarts was only an hour away, at most.

Harry watched the landscape roll by, his eyes wandering around the compartment, watching everyone sleep peacefully. Ron and Hermione had curled around each other, and Hermione was snoring softly.

Suddenly Harry saw unmistakable silhouette, a rider on a broomstick, reflected by the warm light onto the hill because of the train. Harry looked morre carefully and saw the shapes of twenty riders, catching up with the train. It took Harry only a moment to put all of the pieces together.

"Get up, all of you!" Harry shouted, shaking Draco, Ron and Hermione awake. He wasted no time in running out into the corridor, and looking frantically up and down the car. The three other occupants stumbled out a moment later. "Ron, I want you to find Sirius and the other Aurors. Draco, find Neville and Hannah - tell them that we need all of the help we can get."

"Harry what's going on?" Draco asked, uncertainty in his eyes.

"A group of broomsticks is flying behind us, and they don't look friendly. Go on, you two."

"Harry?" Draco said a second time.

"Yeah, Draco?" He gripped the other's hand tightly.

"Take care of yourself." Draco and Ron sped away down the corridor, knocking on the doors and telling the other students about the threat. Hermione turned to Harry.

"So what is it exactly that you want me to do?"

"Twenty broomsticks coming up fast, and I don't think they mean to pay a friendly visit. We're going to slow them down. Come on." The two Gryffindors stalked down the corridor, wands at the ready, getting closer to the end of the train. A silence fell over them as they looked out the last car door and at the sight of black garbed riders.. Harry and Hermione separated. Pulling open the furthest window, Harry put a Binding Charm on his wand, hand, and glasses, and pushed his head out to get a good view of the rapidly approaching riders.

The fierce winds whipped past Harry's face, and he fought against them to keep his eyes open. He pointed his wand at the nearest masked rider and shouted "Prosterno". Harry watched as a silver thread beat against the wind and hit the rider's broom. The broom absorbed the spell, and began to thrash about wildly. The rider quickly lost all control, and the broom threw him off and settled beside the track with a slow ease. Harry took aim at another rider and repeated the process.

Other flashes flew by his head as the Aurors joined he and Hermione in defending the train. Their numbers thinning, the eight remaining riders broke off pursuit and slowed to a stop. Harry watching them Disapparated a moment later. He pulled himself back into the car, and left the compartment.

"Harry, Hermione, are you all right?" Ron asked, striding down the corridor, with Draco and Sirius behind him.

"We're fine," Harry replied, before being drawn into a strong embrace by Draco. As they disentangled themselves, they could hear eight distinct pops above them on the roof of the car.

"What the--" Sirius began, but did not finish, because the ceiling of the last car collapsed beside them, showering debris all over their robes. "Stupefy!" five voices called at once, and five Death Eaters fell to the ground. Three of the eight, however, were too quick to be stunned, and they began a mad dash to the car door. Five pairs of feet followed close behind them, and two more Death Eaters fell to the ground just before the door could be opened. However the last was able to get into the next car, and he disappeared into the side compartment. Harry was through the door first, and yelled "Stupefy!" at the Death Eater as fast as he could.

It was too late. The cooling body of Natalie MacDonald lay sprawled on the left seat, her wand out and ready. The Death Eater Disapparated. Harry froze. No. No. No, no, no. This can't be real. Please, let me wake up. No. No, no. No. Please. Let this be a dream. Why? Why does this have to happen to us? WHY? Harry's mind screeched in pain. He did not feel the strong arms envelop him, nor the salty tears running down his face. His world was a world of pain, and there was nothing in the world but the blackness of it.

The tired scarlet engine pulled into the station at Hogsmeade, and let out a weary hiss of steam after it stopped. Car doors opened, slowly, and many of the students filing out had red faces. Older students continued comforte the younger, trying to calm them with stories of the strength of Dumbledore and Hogwarts, and how they were safe there. A few jokes were told half-heartedly, but no one truly wanted to speak.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco were four of the last to leave. They had spent the last hour of the train ride simply being together, holding each other. It was too painful to do otherwise. To realize that they had come so close to saving Natalie's life, and then have it snatched away was hard. As he blindly got off the train, Harry was reminded of last March, and his desperate race to the Great Hall.

Three tired faces looked at him. Smudges of dirt and sweat lay covering their faces, and they relaxed. The last Death Eater was been stunned, and they could reasonably expect that the Ministry would arrive to collect the Stupified bodies.

Heavy footsteps pounded outside the classroom, as Neville Longbottom ran down the corridor. He passed by, skidding to a halt when he saw who was in there.

"We've got to get down to the Great Hall! There are still Death Eaters attacking there!

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco all moved into action, and raced out of the classroom, their black cloaks billowing behind them as they ran.

Faster, faster. Down the corridor, past the statue of Marge the Mad, the five students turned onto the stairway and took the stairs as fast as they could. Suddenly, the staircase they were on began to change, the bottom shifting to a new spot in the castle.

"Harry, do you have the Marauder's Map?" Hermione asked, as they reached the end of the still moving staircase.

"I do." Harry yanked it out of his pocket and tapped his wand on it. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"

The empty parchment sprouted dark veins of ink, which shifted and changed shape until the castle of Hogwarts lay before them. Harry quickly found where their dots were, and then located the Great Hall.

By this time the staircase was in place, and the five students took off, hardly waiting for it to 'click' locked before moving onto the landing. Harry led the way through the new corridor, his footsteps echoing loudly along the empty corridor. He skidded at the turn, and continued as fast as he could run - through another heavy door, and then across a small landing, until the main staircase lay before him.

Ignoring the few Death Eaters and Ministry Aurors that had fallen on the stairs, Harry ran into the Great Hall. In one corner, there were first years, with saucer-like eyes huddled against the wall. Several tables had been destroyed, and a large section of the ceiling was damaged.

In one of of the clear areas of the Great Hall, Lucius Malfoy towered above a first year, Marlie Walston. Harry raised his wand, but froze. He couldn't think of any spells, his mind was a blank sheet, and he watched in horror as a green light flickered from the end of Lucius' wand and Marlie dropped to the cold stone floor. Harry watched as Draco took a step forward, around Harry, and cried "Stupefy!" Lucius was too busy gloating to notice the light, and collapsed to the ground a moment later.

As the small group left the train, they walked in silence over to the carriages. Professor Dumbledore and the four House heads were standing together, waiting for the older students to gather together. Harry saw Sirius and Remus speak to the headmaster for a moment. They nodded, and Sirius joined the Aurors while Remus waited for the headmaster. The Aurors reached the outer limits of the Anti-Apparition Wards, and then Disapparated with a pop. Professor McGonagall's face was hard, her lips drawn tight, while her hands clenching the sides of her robes fiercely. Dumbledore took a step forward, and began to speak.

"It is with great sadness that we begin the school year. What we lost on this day we can never be replace. It is only by the quick thinking of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy that more lives were not lost. Let us honor the memory of Natalie MacDonald by dedicating the welcoming feast to her memory, and the memory of all those students who have gone before us."

Dumbledore finished, and climbed into a carriage with the other faculty. For a long moment, no one moved; each wanted to preserve the moment and Natalie's memory. Slowly, the clumps of students began to thin, as the first years headed over to the boats and the older students found carriages with their friends.

Holding tightly onto each other, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Draco found an empty carriage and climbed into it. When they were all inside and settled the carriage began to move up the road to the school. No one spoke, each occupant of the carriage lost in their own thoughts. Harry sighed.

"I couldn't save her," he told them.

"Harry there was nothing you could have done," Hermione replied half-heartedly.

"Still. If I wasn't so weak, I could have --"

"Weak? You are anything but weak, Harry. No one blames you for her death, and neither should you. You saved lives this afternoon. There were how many riders, twenty?" Draco pulled Harry towards him.

"But she still died." Harry fought the rising urge to break, and instead focused on the warmpth of his boyfriend. If I wasn't so weak, then...

"Hermione's right. There was nothing you could have done."

"But--"

"Harry, mate, put it out of your mind. You did the best you could," Ron cut in, and the carriage lapsed into silence.

The best I could do wasn't good enough. She died because of me, because I wasn't fast enough to stun the Death Eater. I must be better, a side of his mind told him. A small voice crept in. What are you going to do when you are forced to torture Muggles? Or wizards? What about killing them? You are weak, Harry Potter. You will fail unless you grow stronger. Strength is everything. And only you can provide the strength to survive.

The carriages glided to a stop, and the students began the stream into the castle. The clear night sky shone down on them, a crescent moon casting pale, haunted shadows over the ground.

Entering the castle, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco walked silently up the winding stairs until they entered the Great Hall. The house tables gleamed the polish of a thousand rubs, any trace of the previous year's destruction erased.

The conversations in the Hall were muted, small groups of friends trying to come to grips with what happened on the train. A few of the Gryffindor fourth years were crying, holding on to each other for support. Natalie had been their close friend.

Draco and Harry parted, the Slytherin walked forlornly over to his table and sitting down at the end, alone. Harry's heart broke even further, knowing what Draco would have to deal with for the next year. Not all Slytherins were Death Eaters, but you certainly did not want to get on their bad side, and so most of the house ignored him.

Harry walked down the long gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, and sat down so that he could see his boyfriend. He gave the blond a smile, which did not go unnoticed.

Dumbledore came out of the antechamber and sat down. A moment later, Professor McGonagall lead the new first years down the main aisle, and she took her place in front of the Sorting Hat. Harry listened to the song half-heartedly, watching the scene with little interest. The words simpled meshed together, and Harry found the song over before he realized it.

"When I call your name, you will place the hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." McGonagall picked up the list, and began to read the names. "Anderson, Amera." A mousy girl walked nervously up to the hat, and sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall dropped the hat onto her head, partially obscuring her freckled face. A moment later the Hat shouted "Ravenclaw!" Harry noted that, while still enthusiastic about the sorting, the hat did not have it's usual enthusiasm, as if it too was affected by Natalie's death so early in the school year. The house in question cheered slightly, and the incident on the train was slowly put out of people's minds as the sorting continued.

"Collins, Stewart" became a Gryffindor, as well as "Hollis, Violet" and "MacDonald, Peter" Natalie's younger brother. He was a wreck, having cried all the way across the lake. As he passed by the head of the table, Ron stopped him.

"Peter, why don't you sit with us?" The red-head asked the frail boy.

"O-okay," He croaked, and sat between Ron and Seamus.

The clink of a glass was heard, and Professor Dumbledore stood up to address the school before the Welcoming Feast.

"I heard the funniest joke over the summer holidays, and for the life of me I can't remember what it was. Let's eat!" With a flick of his wand, mounds of food appeared in the middle of the house tables, and the feast began in earnest. Plies of chicken, turkey, roast beef, ham, pork, salads, roasted poatoes and steamed vegetables were quickly devoured, and the conversation quieted. Harry forced himself to take a few morsels of food, and he ground them to bits before chewing. In the end, he took very little, and ate even less.

Dessert was next - tortes and cakes, custards and pies took the place of bones and half eaten meals. Harry, although never starved outright, lost weight every summer and always looked forward to this moment every year. This year was different, however, and Harry, in the beginning, ate mechanically.

He dug into the mountainous peak of chocolate custard before him and took a bite. The thick brown desserte tasted cool against his tongue. He licked the spoon clean and out of the corner of his eye caught Draco staring at him. Harry dug his spoon into the dish once again, pulling up another gooey lump of chocolate. He lifted it to his mouth slowly, never losing eye contact with Draco for a moment. Draco looked hungry. Harry turned the spoon vertically, and moved it next to his mouth, where the lump of chocolate pudding promptly fell onto his lap.

Draco, who had raised his goblet to drink, swallowed quickly, but the juice got stuck in his throat. He began to cough violently, his tan face turning more red by the second. He looked wildly around, trying to get someone to help him. Finally Pansy nodded, and Crabbe lumbered over to him and gave him a quick pounding on the back. A moment later his coughing stopped, and Draco glared at Pansy, who simply smiled. Draco started to laugh, nervously at first, but gaining strength. Soon his laughter filled the Great Hall. Harry turned a deep shade of crimson, and began to slip below the table, trying to hide.

Ginny, who was sitting next to him pulled Harry up by the back of his collar, and waved her wand over his chocolate stain. She sighed, tsked, and then continued talking to Colin Creevey about her summer. Harry mumbled a thanks, and then tried to finish his custard without further incidents.

Dumbledore stood up, and pushed the high backed chair away from him. Tapping his glass, he was rewarded moments later with silence.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts for another year. The Forbidden Forest remains forbidden, and I would not advise any to enter there. An additional seventy-three items have been placed on the banned list, and the total listing of nine hundred and eighty-one items is available in Mr. Filch's office should anyone be curious. I would like to extend my most sincere condolences to Peter MacDonald, for the loss of his sister, Natalie. She will be sorely missed." Ron put his arm on Peter's shoulder, squeezing it as the boy looked on the verge of another breakdown. Dumbledore continued,

"We have a new Head Boy and Head Girl, that most of you met this afternoon, but let me introduce them to you again. Head Boy this year is Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor and Head Girl is Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff!" The two students in question stood and made themselves known. "As is our tradition before the feast ends, let us all sing the Hogwarts school song! Everyone stand up, pick your favorite melody and begin!"

With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore began to write the words to the school song in the air, so that those who didn't know them could read them. The student body sang in a braying cacophony of sound, each student clashing with the one next to him or her, and no two melodies were the same. Harry and Draco both chose a slow romantic tune, their two voices harmonizing with each other effortlessly. They ended up holding the last note long after all of the other students had finished. It was a fitting tribute to the student that they had lost, and Peter looked with glassy eyes at The Boy Who Lived. Ron put an arm around him, and the first year Gryffindor snuggled into the crook of his arm, relaxing slightly.

"Thank you. Finally, the Dueling Club will be holding try-outs for any new fourth years or above who wishes to try for a spot on the club's roster. A sheet of parchment will be posted in the front of the hall tomorrow morning for all interested. Prefects, please lead your houses back to the dormitories."

The four Hogwarts houses, in a tradition that was almost as old as the school itself, filed out of the Great Hall. Amid the jostling crowd, Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. A feminine voice whispered into his ear, "Tonight, midnight. Charms classroom, third floor." Harry nodded, and continued on his way.

The Gryffindor common room, with it's high ceiling, warm fireplace and comfy chairs, never looked so inviting to Harry. The prefects led the new students were led up to their dormitories, but the older students were at a loss at to what to do. All of the fourth years sat in a corner, talking softly. The other students clumped together, and there was soft chatter in the common room for a long time after the feast had finished.

Harry checked his watch, and yawned. Ten o'clock. He yawned a second time, and then wished Ron and Hermione goodnight.

"Night Harry," they replied, before turning back to Dean and Seamus, who were in the midst of the perennial Football-Quidditch argument. Dean had apparently invited Seamus over the summer to see a football game, and there was yet another argument coming out of it. Seamus just couldn't see the need for a red card at all.

Harry sighed, and trudged up the stairs to the dormitory. He pushed open the door, and was greeted with the crisp smell of newly washed bedding. Finding his trunk, he opened it, and dug around until he found his father's invisibility cloak. Harry threw it onto the bed before taking out his battered copy of Quidditch Through The Ages and leafed through it, refreshing himself on all of the strategies.

An hour later after he had heard the other four come to bed, he put away his quill, parchment and books, and slipped the invisibility cloak over his tall body. He had to crouch a little to hide himself, but not too much. Harry opened the door slowly, and listened for the even sounds of his roommates sleeping before creeping out. He made his way down the stone stairs, watching the common room for signs of life. Finding none, he walked quickly across the room, and pushed open the portrait.

The school's hallways always thrilled him at night. He stealthily moved around the corridors, slithering his way past Mrs. Norris on several occasions, before arriving at the Charms classroom on the third floor. Harry pushed open the door, and went inside.

Two of the side torches were lit, giving the room a flickering aspect. Pansy waited for him in her usual seat, second row from the front, nearest to Professor Flitwick's desk. She wore dark green robes, with gold needlework along the opening. Her brown hair was pulled harshly back in a bun, and a sharp nail tapped against the desk. Harry walked in front of her and pulled the cloak off.

"What did you want, Parkinson?" Harry demanded. He used his strong voice to cover showing weakness.

"I wanted to talk to you about your initiation," She said, matter-of-factly, getting up and walking over to him.

"So tell me. I need to get some sleep before this night is over."

"Potter, our Master will be most unforgiving if you continue to act the way that you have. I would hate for him to have to know about your misuse of your organizational skills - how you held off twenty Death Eaters, almost single-handedly. Your skillsare impressive and you kept up the ruse of your being a true Mudblood lover. However, you must now turn your abilities to...purer purposes," she circled him. "I can tell the rest of our Master's hounds to lay off - but you have to give me some assurances. I really would hate for our Master to have to mar this skin." Her slender fingers reached for him and traced the outline of his cheek.

"Don't touch me, Parkinson," he growled slapping her hand away.

"Tut, tut, Harry. Do not think that this incident and your involvement in its failure will go unnoticed. You will be punished - soon. Perhaps that will teach you to be a little more circumspect in the future," Phe smiled sweetly at him. "And it's too bad about Natalie, it really is," she added, a little more forcefully. "But then, you couldn't save her. You were too slow. Oh well. I guess that's just the price we pay for being in a war." She laughed cruelly, getting her sarcasm across.

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously at her. "Is that all you want from me?? If you wanted to taunt me, do so in the daylight. If you have more information, tell, but don't waste my time," Harry made as if to leave. Pansy called out to him,

"Tomorrow morning you will receive a letter, detailing what you must do in order to join us. You will be working under me, Harry. If you need to contact me, tap the top of your desk three times at the beginning of Charms. If I need to speak to you, I will do the same. We will meet here, at Midnight. Snape is our leader here at Hogwarts. All communication to and from our Master will go through him." She turned, and began to walk away. "Oh and one more thing, Harry. Remember that I am the student leader. You will submit to me and to my will. Precious Potter has to start at the bottom of the ladder, and I will tell you now that Death Eaters do not like social climbers."

Harry glared at her for a moment before replying, "I will submit to your will, Pansy."

"Good." She had walked two thirds of the way across the room before he added softly,

"For now." His tone was dark, and for the briefest of moments, her confidence faltered and she froze. Gathering herself together, she finished walking across the floor with ease, her night slippers barely making a sound as she walked.

He turned, and looked out of the paned window onto the grounds, and down to the lake. What I must do. Must. What I must do. No one else. How am I going to tell him? A flutter of a cloak behind him forced him to turn around. Across the room Draco stood, defiant and angry, his gray eyes burning with fury and rage. He strode across the room and grabbed Harry roughly.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Draco's eyes caught the light, flashing with fury.