The End And A New Beginning

~~Chapter One~~

It all started one day during Potions class in my seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Snape, the school's Potions master, was in an utter most unpleasent mood that day...

"Wake up, Potter!" Snapped Professor Snape. "You just squashed your beatle!" Seventeen-year-old Harry Potter woke with a start. "How are you going to learn how to make the healing potion work if you just keep on sleeping during my lessons?"

He heard a few of his classmates snickering at him.

"Uh, sorry, Professor," Harry mumbled quickly in reply. "Won't happen again."

Snape's lessons were, for the most part, pretty boring. Harry had been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately at night, so he usually found Potions class to be the perfect time for a nap. However, Snape always managed to catch him sleeping and would find a way to embarrass him in front of the class.

"Twenty-five points from Gryffindor!" barked Snape, ignoring Harry's apology. "And you Gryffindors are all welcome to thank Mr. Potter for his laziness and desire to sleep in my class!" The snickering stopped. Some fellow Gryffindor students were now glaring at Harry. Harry felt a twing of guilt.

The only ones still laughing were those students from Slytherin House. Draco Malfoy, Harry's arch rival since their first year, looked especially smug. So far, Slytherin was the only House which hadn't lost any points that year. Hard to imagine Slytherin was the only House which seemed to be gaining points, while the other three - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw - were losing points.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I must leave the classroom for a few minutes to gather some more supplies, I seem to be running low...AND IF ANY OF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT CAUSING ANY TROUBLE, BOTH HOUSES WILL LOSE A VAST NUMBER OF POINTS AND EACH STUDENT IN THIS CLASSROOM WILL SERVE DETENTION!"

With that, Snape stalked out and shut the door behind him. The room was quiet, but only for a few minutes.

"Wake up, Potter! You just squashed your beatle!" It was Malfoy, mocking Snape's wakeup call to Harry. The Slytherins sniggered louder.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry spat at him.

Malfoy sneered. "Make me," he hissed. The room went quiet again, this time the Slytherins stopped laughing.

Harry looked at his best friend, Ron Weasley, who was sitting next to him. Ron was Head Boy, so when a teacher wasn't around, he had the floor on what was acceptable behavior. Ron just shook his head warningly at him.

But Harry was fed up with Malfoy and his bullying since year one. "Just watch me!" Harry finally said through clentched teeth.

"Oooh, I'm scared!" Malfoy exclaimed sarcastically. "What are you going to do, Potter? Squash me like you did with that beatle of yours?" The Slytherins laughed again. "You must be good at that..." This was too much for the Slytherins. They began laughing like hyenas.

Harry stood up, furious. Took out his wand, and pointed it at Malfoy - ready to curse him. Unfortunately, just his luck, Snape strolled back into the classroom at that very moment.

"Potter!" shouted an irritated Snape.

But Harry ignored him. "Hellacoffious!" Harry shouted. Malfoy's eyes went wide in surprise as the spell hit him, knocking him backwards and onto the floor. Snape lunged at Harry and ended up dropping the glass measuring cups he had in his arms onto the floor. Snape grabbed the wand from Harry, looking outraged.

"Ooooh..." Harry could hear Malfoy moan. Malfoy was clutching his stomach and rolling from side to side.

"Crabbe! Goyle! Get Malfoy up to the hospital wing immediately!" Snape barked at Malfoy's Slytherin croonies. The two big, dimwitted students took Malfoy by the arms and practically had to drag him out of the classroom. Snape turned to stare at Harry. The class went so silent, you could hear a pin drop.

"I don't know what you think you were doing," Snape hissed coldly. "But I hope you do realize that you are in major trouble..." Harry stared just as coldly back at him.

"I didn't do anything wrong - Malfoy was asking for it!" he shot back.

"I don't care who deserved what!" snapped Snape. "Just wait until I tell Dumbledore about this..."

Harry gulped. He hoped Snape really wasn't going to tell Professor Dumbledore, but knowing Snape, he probably would. Snape would go out of his way to get Harry expelled from Hogwarts so Snape would never have to see him again.

"Come with me, Potter," Snape ordered. Harry followed Snape out of the classroom. The whole class continued to stare at them as they left the dungeon where Potions was taught. Harry and Snape walked down an empty corridor and then up a flight of stairs to the main floor, where Dumbledore's office was.

They headed toward an entrance with a large, golden statue of a Phoenix bird placed in the center. They stepped inside the little doorway and Snape said the password: "Galloid". A twisting staircase started growing, bringing them up into Dumbledore's office.

Harry had been in Dumbledore's office before - not many students were allowed in the headmaster's office - and it was always fascinating for Harry. But today, because he knew he was in big trouble, he wasn't too thrilled about being there.

"Professor Dumbledore, Sir," Snape called when they stepped inside the office. "It's Professor Snape, and Mr. Harry Potter..."

At hearing Harry's name, Dumbledore emerged from the shadows of the room's farthest corner. "Ah," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "I've been expecting you."

"Sir, today in my Potions class, Mr. Potter stirred an utter most disturbance in my class," Snape started, clearing his throat. Dumbledore sat down at his desk.

"I see," Dumbledore said. "What exactly did he do?"

"Potter, here had put a curse on Mr. Malfoy after I told my class to not cause any trouble while I was gone for a few minutes, getting more supplies." Dumbledore nodded at this. He turned to look at Harry.

"So what is your side, Harry?" he asked calmly. "Why did you curse Malfoy?"

Harry sighed. "I...I didn't mean to, Sir," he stammered. "It's just that Malfoy was asking for it."

Snape snorted. "Rubbish...the boy has no valid reasons on why he cursed one of my students!"

"Calm down, Professor," Dumbledore said. He turned back to Harry. "Why did Malfoy deserve it?"

"He was making fun of me for sleeping in class," Harry muttered, embarrassed about it. "When I told him to 'shut up', he told me to 'make him', so I did." Dumbledore nodded again. Harry was going to lie, but Snape was right there with him and both Snape and Dumbledore would know if he was lying. So he had to tell the truth.

"Oh, and that's another thing..." Snape started.

Dumbledore put up a hand to silence Snape. He cleared his throat. "What I see here," Dumbledore started. "Is that Harry and Draco are still struggling with their differences. Now, I know this rivarly thing has been going on for quite some time. But what I find incredibly amazing is how they keep on taunting and bullying each other even though they are almost adults. I think it is time that Harry and Draco spend more time getting to know each other better..."

"What?" Harry cried out, interrupting Dumbledore. "No way am I going to spend anymore time with Malfoy than I have to!"

"Well, how about this?" Dumbledore suggested slowly. "You and Draco Malfoy either start learning how to get along with each other, or the both of you will be expelled and won't graduate." At this, an evil grin spred across Snape's face.

Harry blinked, and gasped at what Dumbledore had just said. "So, so - you mean that if we don't start getting along, the both of us will have to be expelled?" Dumbledore nodded, there was that twinkle in his eyes again. "But - but that's not fair! You can't do that!"

"I believe I am the headmaster at Hogwarts and can make these kind of rules," Dumbledore replied. "It is time that you got over this rivarly with Malfoy and at least showed some respect for each other."

Harry's mouth was hanging wide open. How could Dumbledore force him to make up with Malfoy? There was just no possible way...