The Dragon Tamed

Chapter 1.

Dorothea Maggi frowned as she looked from her school trunk to the Hogwarts Express, stationary, in front of her. Her stupid stepbrother had only driven her to the local train station, leaving her to lug her belongings from train to train before she ended up at Kings Cross. To be honest though, she had been lucky to get that much out of him.

Now all she had to do was get her trunk, and everything else, including Cleo's empty basket, into the train. Cleo was in fact spending her time curling around Thea's legs, nearly tripping her up every ten seconds and meowing loudly whenever she thought Thea was actually going to tread on her.

Just as she was about to attempt to drag her trunk on by herself, she was pushed aside by a stocky redhead. A second, identical to the first promptly joined him.

'What are you doing?' asked one of the pair.

'Last time I checked, you actually have to lift the trunk to get it on the train. Just looking at it hopelessly and wishing for a miracle doesn't work. Wouldn't you agree, Fred?'

'Indeed I would, George.'

Dorothea smiled. It was good to see the twins again, and if they were here, that meant her best friend Ginny was too. Just as she thought that, she heard her best friend calling above the noise of the crowds.

'Thea! You're here,' she exclaimed, pulling her into a huge bear hug. As she pulled back, she looked at the twins. 'Well, what are you waiting for? Put her trunk on the train, and while you're at it, take mine for me too.' She smiled sweetly at them.

They grinned at each other as they simultaneously bowed.

'Yes, Miss Ginny.'

'Whatever you say, your Majesty.'

However, despite the sarcasm, they did pick up the trunks and carry them onto the train.

Ginny looped her arm through Thea's. 'So, how was the rest of your holiday? Suitably dreadful?'

Thea grinned. 'Completely. Did my homework, read, went to the cinema and went on long walks to keep away from my stepbrother. Wish I could have spent the entire holiday at The Burrow. How 'bout you? Did anything interesting happen once I left?'

Ginny laughed. 'Oh, you know our place. Always something happening. Hermione left about a week after you. I didn't manage to get anymore out of her though,' she finished regretfully.

'No matter,' Thea told her, 'we have all year to find out.'

'Apart from that nothing much happened. Fred and George drove Mum suitably mad every time they came round. Bill and Charlie managed another visit and that's about it.'

'And Percy?' Thea asked tentatively. She knew it was a delicate subject.

'Didn't come around again after that time. Mum goes and sees him still in London. She had a word, or twenty, with Charlie, Ron, and the twins but none of them look anymore likely to forgive him than they did a year ago.'

Thea, feeling slightly guilty that she had asked, changed the subject. 'Do you think the twins actually found us a compartment?'

'They better have!'

Fred and George, having dealt with the trunks, came to stand with them on the platform.

Ginny eyed them suspiciously. 'You did get us an actual compartment, didn't you?'

'Ginny,' they said reproachfully.

'How could you even ask?' said Fred, or at least Thea thought it was Fred.

'You wound us.'

'As if we would do something like that.'

Ginny just rolled her eyes at them as Thea laughed. It was moments like this that she had missed last year without the twins around.

'Do we have a compartment?' Ginny asked again.

'Of course you do,'

'We put Colin and Benji there as well,' added George.

'Coll and Ben are already here?' asked Thea eagerly. 'I didn't see them.'

'They were probably avoiding you both,' George told her.

'Know they have to spend the rest of the year listening to the pair of you.'

'Want the peace and quiet to last just a little bit longer,' they finished together.

Ginny and Thea hit a twin each.

'So, how is the shop going?' asked Thea as the twins rubbed their arms.

Fred grinned. 'It's coming on a treat.'

'They are testing out some new products at the moment,' Ginny told her. 'But don't let on to mum. You know what she thinks of their newest stuff. You don't even want to know what she'd say if she heard about this new lot.'

Thea laughed. She knew what Mrs Weasley thought of the newest products in the shop all right. Every time they had visited The Burrow - which had been nearly everyday around dinnertime - Mrs Weasley had kept on at them about their inventions, the trouble they could cause and how dangerous some of them could be.

Ginny had told her, after her first dinner the twins had been at, that Mrs Weasley was only worried about them being on Diagon Alley because of the attacks that had already taken place there. She was worried they were in too much danger.

'At this rate we'll be able to expand in a few months,' George told them.

Ginny's eyes widened. 'Expand? You never told me that!'

George smiled at his younger sister. 'Well, we weren't sure.'

'Wouldn't want to disappoint you,' piped up Fred.

'Where would you expand to?' asked Thea, although she already had a pretty fair idea.

They both grinned knowingly, exchanging a glance with each other. 'Wouldn't you like to know.'

Ginny squealed in frustration. 'Tell me now!'

Thea laughed at her friend. 'Bet I know where they want to get their next shop.' All three of them looked at her.

'Where?' asked Ginny excitedly.

'Why, where they feel their greatest competition would be, of course. Just down the road from Zonko's.'

Ginny turned to her brothers impatiently. 'Are you really going to get a shop in Hogsmeade?'

Mock-glaring at Thea, who grinned triumphantly at them, George answered, 'Once we can afford it, then yes.'

'Should be sometime next year,' added Fred.

Thea and Ginny grinned at each other; if the twins ended up in near proximity to Hogwarts, it could be very interesting.

'Dunno where the others are,' said Fred changing the subject.

'Yeah,' his brother agreed. ' Last I looked they where right behind us.'

At that moment a mass of people appeared on the platform and walked over to them. Bill and Charlie came first, with Harry and Hermione, pushing the trolleys. All of them seemed to be trying not to laugh.

As Bill and Charlie passed them with the trunks, Bill said under his breath, 'Pig's cage fell off Ron's trolley and Pig escaped.'

Charlie opened his mouth as though he was about to add something but instead burst out laughing.

'It was hysterical,' Harry told them. 'Pig started to fly about, around everyone's heads, Muggle and wizard alike...' he broke off laughing.

Hermione smiled as she took up the story. 'Ron then started jumping around after Pig, trying to catch him, or at least that's what we assumed he was trying to do. After a lot of mayhem, caused more by Ron jumping into people, Pig flew back into his cage.'

Thea couldn't stop laughing at the image she had in her head of Ron leaping around Kings Cross trying to catch Pig. If only she had been there.

'Then Mum started yelling at him,' Bill told them, smiling broadly as he and Charlie rejoined them.

'Oh, I can just imagine that,' Fred said gleefully.

George opened his mouth, probably to do an impression of Mrs Weasley, but they could hear the real Mrs Weasley hissing at Ron as they approached, Ron looking as though he was in pain.

'...so irresponsible. Why didn't you check his cage was securely fastened? Really Ron, anything could have happened?'

'He just annoyed a few Muggles, that's all,' Ron protested weakly.

'That's all?' exclaimed Mrs Weasley, her voice rising.

Just then the whistle blew and Mrs Weasley started to fuss.' 'Now, have you got everything? Are you all sure?'

'Bit late if they haven't, Mum,' Charlie pointed out.

The Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione all hugged goodbye and the twins seemed to think that Thea couldn't be left out. As she climbed into the train, George grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a bear hug. 'Don't miss us too much,' he sighed dramatically.

Fred then grabbed her, and falling on one knee, declared, 'Parting is such sweet sorrow.'

Through her laughter Thea said, 'And to think I was going to miss you again this year. I'd forgotten how truly awful you both can be. I should never have told you both how boring last year was without you two around.'

'Fred, George, get here now and leave the poor girl alone,' snapped Mrs Weasley, who herself then leaned over and gave Thea a motherly kiss goodbye.

As Bill slammed the door shut the train pulled away from the platform, and they all leaned out the window to wave goodbye to Mrs Weasley, Bill, Charlie and the twins.

Ron and Hermione immediately made their way down towards the prefects' carriage.

Hermione could be heard saying to Ron, 'Hurry up, I really must be there on time. How would it look for the Head Girl to be late?'

Just as they got to the end of the carriage, Harry called out to them, 'Remember to tell us who's Head Boy.'

Ron waved as they disappeared into the next carriage.

Thea, Ginny and Harry went into the compartment where Harry, Ron and Hermione's trunks were and sat down. There was no need to hurry to their compartment as Colin and Benji were there. Cleo immediately jumped onto Thea and settled herself down to sleep while Crookshanks settled on Ginny. As they settled down they began to reminisce about their time at The Burrow, most of it centring on the pranks Fred and George had pulled on, well, everyone. Harry was in the middle of telling Thea about a particularly funny prank they had played on Bill when the compartment door had opened.

Seamus, Dean and Neville walked in and sat down, all of them looking a little pensive.

'What's the matter guys?' asked Harry. 'I know it's the beginning of the year and we have our NEWTs but no need to look so glum.'

It's not that, Harry,' Dean told him.

'Have you lot seen the Prophet today?' asked Neville.

All three of them shook their heads. Thea had been at home and knowing the Weasley tradition of chaos, they probably had not had time to read a paper that morning.

Silently Seamus handed Harry his copy while Neville gave his to Ginny and Thea.

"Muggle-born and half-blood families attacked last night. At least two Dark Marks reported," was the headline that that screamed up at them.

'He hasn't miraculously disappeared then?' asked Thea quietly as she read the article.

'No such luck,' said Harry tightly as he handed the paper back to Seamus and leaned his head back on the seat. 'Not yet.'

'Wonder what he'll do next,' speculated Dean.

'Let's not talk about it,' said Harry in a tired voice.

'So guys, what did you do over the holidays?' asked Ginny with false cheerfulness.

Very soon everyone was discussing their holidays.

Eventually Ginny looked over at Thea. 'How much longer do you think Ron and Hermione can be? I bet Coll and Ben are going to kill us for taking this long.'

Just as Thea was about to answer, the compartment door slid open and Ron and Hermione walked through looking rather ill.

Seamus noticed them first. 'Hey guys, how you doing?' After taking one look at the expressions on their faces he added, 'What's wrong?'

Ron seemed unable to talk and he threw himself down on the seat next to Harry.

Hermione was, therefore, the one who got to break the bad news to the Gryffindors. 'This year's Head Boy is none other than our dear friend Draco Malfoy.'

Everyone sat up straight and started to protest about Malfoy being Head Boy. The facts that he was the son of a prominent Death Eater and universally hated were all high on the list.

Just as Ginny was saying, '...but he's an arrogant bastard, the Dark Prince of Slytherin. Why would Dumbledore chose him?' Malfoy himself stepped through the door.

He surveyed the room and sneered at Ginny as his eyes came to rest on her; obviously he had heard everything she said. 'Perhaps the old bat decided that he needed to add a bit of class this year. You know, to balance out the Mudblood.'

Ron was about to dive at Malfoy when Seamus and Dean grabbed hold of him and held him back. Neville also helped them. Ron had grown even taller over the holidays and all the Quidditch had made him rather strong too, although Malfoy didn't seem to be too bothered. Personally, if Ron were baying for Thea's blood, she would be trying to get as far away from him as possible. Of course, this was Malfoy, so who knew what he was thinking. He was unconcernedly picking imaginary lint off his robes and checking his fingernails.

'Don't talk about Hermione or Dumbledore like that again, Malfoy,' said Harry in a low voice.

Malfoy looked up from inspecting his nails. 'Or you'll what, Potter? Thick as you are, pay attention, and that does go for all you Gryffindorks. I'm Head Boy now and if you put one toe out of line, I can take away as many points as I want and give as many detentions as I want.'

Harry glared at Malfoy but didn't say anything, while the others were still holding back Ron.

Thea had been watching Malfoy through the entire exchange - there seemed something different about him, but she could not for the life of her work out what. Then she got it. 'Hey Malfoy, where are all your minions? No bodyguards and no groupies. They don't seem to be following you around anymore. Why is that?'

Malfoy narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. 'And why should you care?' They seemed to be spitting ice. Thea was sure that if looks could kill she would have been long dead.

'Well, I don't really, it's just I don't think I've ever seen you walking around without them before. It's a new look for you,' she decided.

Malfoy's eyes flashed dangerously for a second before falling back to the more familiar look of cold disinterest. 'I suggest that you mind your own business and don't stick your nose into things that do not concern you,' he drawled. Regaining the composure he had seemed close to losing, he said, 'Now if you'd excuse me, I have things to do.' With that he turned on his heel and left.

They all stared after Malfoy and exchanged confused glances.

'He didn't call you a Mudblood, Thea,' Neville said, sounding very puzzled. About as perplexed as everyone did, Thea thought. The Malfoy they remembered didn't walk away from a fight like that. It was all a bit strange. However, as they got talking again it was all forgotten; well, all forgotten except by Thea.

Ginny looked up at her. 'Shall we go and find Coll and Benji now and see what trouble they got up to in the holiday?'

Thea smiled. It would be good to see her two other close friends. 'Sounds like a good idea,' she agreed.

They excused themselves and went wandering up and down the train, looking for their friends and their trunks. Of course, the twins hadn't actually told them where they had put them. Eventually they found them, playing Exploding Snap in an empty carriage, near the back of the train.

'Hey guys,' Ginny said in greeting as she sat down next to Colin.

'Girls,' exclaimed Benji, standing up and giving Thea a big hug. 'How are the two of you?'

Thea hugged Benji back. 'We're good. Nice normal holidays. Nothing exciting.'

'You want to join our game?' asked Colin.

'Well, of course we do,' Ginny teased. 'Gotta get back into my winning ways, haven't I?'

As they played, they talked. 'So have you heard who the new Head Boy is?' asked Ginny gloomily.

Benji shook his head. 'Nope, but from the look on your face, we're not going to like it, are we?'

Ginny shook her head.

'Malfoy,' Thea told them. 'It's Malfoy.'

Colin dropped his cards. 'You are kidding me, yes?'

This time Thea shook her head.

'But...but...but...' stammered Benji.

'I know,' agreed Ginny. 'He's a bastard Death Eater's son.'

'And the Dark Prince of Slytherin,' moaned Colin. 'However,' he continued cheerfully, 'I know of something that will cheer you both up.'

'And what would that be?' asked Thea.

'My summer photos,' enthused Colin. 'I've taken loads.'

Benji smiled at them, somewhat painfully. 'He refused to show me until you were both here.' Under his breath he muttered, so only they could hear, 'Thank god.'

Thea smiled. Obviously Benji wanted someone to share the pain with. It wasn't that they disliked Colin's photos; it was just there were always so many of them. He was undeniably talented but that did not mean it did not get a tad tiresome looking through photos for hours on end.

As Colin's summer photos got passed around, and there were a lot of them, they started chatting again.

'So, girls, how did the dreaded OWLs go?' Benji asked.

Ginny grinned. 'Well, apart from History of Magic, I did good.'

'What did you get in History?' asked Colin.

Ginny giggled. 'I got a P.'

'Oh, I can beat a P,' said Thea, handing Colin the photos she was holding.

'You got worse than a P in History?' asked Benji, sounding shocked.

Thea laughed. 'Of course not. I got an O in History.' Both Colin and Benji looked relieved to hear that. 'No, I'm talking about Divination.' She smiled round proudly at Colin and Benji as Ginny rolled her eyes. Since Thea had been at The Burrow when they had received their results she already knew what she was going to say. 'I got a D in it.'

Colin and Benji burst out laughing.

'Imagine that, you got a D in Divination. Did you even revise?' said Colin.

Thea shrugged. 'Well, if it makes you feel any better, I got a P in Arithmacy.'

'Didn't I tell you, you weren't doing enough revision?' demanded Benji.

Thea smiled at him. 'Yeah, you did. But I reckon I would have got a D if you hadn't made me do the revision I did. What did you get in it, as if I need to ask?'

'I got an O.'

'So, who's doing Potions this year?' asked Colin.

'Me,' said Thea.

'Me too,' said Ginny.

'Me not three,' said Benji, the relief evident in his voice. 'I only got an A. What about you Colin?'

'Yep, I'm doing it too.'

'You poor sods,' laughed Benji. 'Bet you Potions will be first thing on a Monday morning too.'

'So Benji, apart from Arithmancy, did you get any other Os?' asked Ginny.

'Charms and Astronomy,' he told them.

'Ah, me and Thea only got As in Astronomy and Es in Charms. Colin?'

'E's in both,' he said as he packed away some of the photos they had all seen.

'So anymore Os for anyone else?' asked Benji.

'Herbology and Ancient Runes,' said Colin.

'Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Thea.

'Dark Arts as well and Herbology.'

'Wow, Gin. You got an O in Herbology?' asked Colin in mock amazement.

'We would never have guessed that, so unexpected,' added Benji.

'Well, just to finish off, what else did everyone get?' asked Colin.

Me and Thea got Es,' said Ginny absentmindedly as she looked through more photos. 'This one is fantastic, Colin,' she told him, turning one around to show him.

Colin smiled at her. 'Thanks, it's one of my favourites. Well, I got an E in Transfiguration and As in History, Divination and Magical Creatures. Benji?'

'E in Transfiguration and As in all the rest.'

'Do we know how anyone else did?' asked Colin.

Ginny shook her head. 'Not a clue.'

'Guess we'll find out in a bit,' said Colin as they approached Hogsmeade station.

The train pulled into the station and they all got out, Thea taking Cleo with her. They met up with Harry and the others while Ron and Hermione left them to help with the first years. Although prefects didn't usually travel with the first years across the lake, there were added precautions this year because of the war.

Once in the hallway of Hogwarts they went into the Great Hall for the welcome feast, and, of course, the Sorting.

Thea sat with Ginny, Benji and Colin while Harry and his friends all sat next to them.

The Sorting produced some new housemates for Gryffindor, although not as many as usual. Thea had heard Mr Weasley telling his wife that numerous wizarding families were moving abroad until the War was over. Several had gone to either the American or Australian wizarding communities. As Ginny pointed out though, Hogwarts was the safest place you could hope to be. Dumbledore was there for starters, and everyone knew that a certain Dark Lord feared him.

Dumbledore then started with the announcements. They started off mundane with the usual warnings about immediate death if you entered the Forbidden Forest (for some reason his gaze seemed to linger on the Gryffindor table as he said that) and the number of items Filch had banned from the corridors. 'I do believe it has reached an impressive six hundred and thirty two.'

He then went onto a couple of more interesting items. 'As I am sure most of you are aware the war is becoming more pronounced. Now many believe that this is a time for fear to prevail and curtail the activities we all enjoy, such as Quidditch and Hogsmeade visits.' At this there were very vocal protests; Dumbledore overrode them with, 'However, rest assured that I do not agree with such sentiments, and - unless it becomes too dangerous - all Quidditch matches and Hogsmeade visits will continue.'

Ginny leant over to Thea. 'And by that he means when Death Eaters and Dementors are literally at the school gates.'

Thea nodded her agreement.

Dumbledore continued. 'And now to announce the new professors of the year.'

At this, a murmur ran the length of the hall, nothing new about replacing the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but who else was being replaced?

Dumbledore naturally answered this with his next sentence. 'Professor Binns finally decided to leave us over the summer and as such it was necessary to find a replacement for him. As such it gives me great pleasure to re-introduce as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, Remus Lupin; and introduce, as Professor of History of Magic, Sirius Black.' He looked around. 'But they do seem to be running somewhat late.'

The entire hall was in uproar. Any cheering for Lupin (and there had been a lot) was promptly drowned out by the gasps and screams of horror at the mention of Sirius Black. Malfoy could be heard commenting over the noise, 'A werewolf and a deranged murderer? Dear Salazar, just how desperate is this sorry excuse for a school?'

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Thea on the other hand were positively beaming at the news. Enough so that they could all ignore Malfoy's comments.

'So that's the surprise they refused to tell me over the holidays,' laughed Harry.

Sirius had been pardoned after Peter had been caught and questioned under Veritaserum, in the middle of the previous year. He had spilled his guts to one and all, leaving no one in doubt that Sirius was in fact innocent of all charges. There had also been some embarrassing questions about how the Ministry of Magic had handled the situation and why Veritaserum hadn't been used on Sirius in the first place, or even why he hadn't had a trial. However, despite all of this Sirius' name still scared many people - he had been something of a bogeyman for every wizarding child for the past fifteen years.

'And now I think it is time we all ate,' concluded Dumbledore, seemingly oblivious to the noise in the hall.

Just as the food appeared on the tables, and Ron started piling food on his plate, the doors to the hall opened and two very familiar figures appeared: Sirius and Remus.

'Sorry we missed the beginning of the feast, Professor,' said Sirius in his deep voice.

'Remus here insisted on getting us hopelessly lost, before I took over.'

The look of indignation on Remus' face suggested to Thea and those around her by the looks of things that, it had, in fact been the other way round.

'Of course Sirius, it wasn't a problem. If you would like to join us?'

As they walked to the front of the hall, Sirius winked at Harry as they passed him. Remus smiled at them all.

Once the feast was over, Harry and the others all waited for Sirius and Remus to finish talking with Dumbledore. Since Ginny was waiting as well, Thea decided to wait too. She had met Sirius at The Burrow that summer when he had visited with Remus and had really liked him, even if she did find him a tad intimidating. Colin and Benji had decided to make their way to the common room.

As Sirius and Remus approached Harry stood up straighter.

'Harry! It's good to see you,' said Sirius smiling and clapping him on the back.

Harry laughed. 'It's good to see you too, Sirius.'

'Hello, Harry,' said Remus in his calm voice.

Harry turned to smile at him. 'Hi Remus. It's good to see you as well.'

Everyone else then greeted them in turn.

'So how did the rest of the school take my appointment?' asked Sirius gleefully.

Harry laughed. 'There were a lot of gasps and screams.'

Thea added, 'I'm afraid to say no one fainted though. I, for one, was quite upset about that.'

Sirius turned and looked at her. 'Ha bloody ha,' he said smiling. 'It's good to see you again, Thea.'

She grinned.

'I can't believe you didn't tell me,' accused Harry, mock-glaring at Remus and Sirius.

'Didn't want to spoil the surprise, did we, Moony?' said Sirius.

Rolling his eyes Remus said, 'No, Padfoot, we didn't. What can we say, Harry? We're Marauders at heart. Right then everyone, I'm afraid Sirius and I have got to go and get ready for tomorrow.'

'Yeah,' said Sirius regretfully. 'I have to be responsible, apparently.'

'There is no "apparently" about it, Padfoot,' Remus told him.

'I know, I know,' Sirius grumbled. 'Harry, do you want to come back with us for a while?'

'Harry needs to unpack,' Hermione reminded them.

'Unpacking can wait,' Harry declared. 'I'll see you all later, OK?'

'Yeah, you go on mate,' Ron told him.

Harry walked off with Sirius and Remus while Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Thea walked back to the common room. As they walked in they could hear all the Gryffindors talking about Sirius' appointment, and most of it wasn't good, despite Neville objecting to what they said.

Hermione walked in, cleared her throat and glared at them all. 'Since he was cleared of all charges, do you not think it is ridiculous to talk about how he might kill you in your sleep?' she demanded.

Everyone muttered under their breath, refusing to look at Hermione.

'No matter what you have heard, Sirius Black is not dangerous.'

'As long as you aren't Slytherin,' Ron muttered so only Ginny and Thea could hear him.

Now, everyone upstairs. You should all be unpacking.'

Ginny and Thea laughed as they walked over to Colin and Benji. Typical Hermione. Trying to organise everyone.

'We're off to unpack,' Ginny told them as they approached. 'Thought we'd come say goodnight.'

'Night then, girls,' said Colin.

'Yeah, don't let the bedbugs bite,' Benji called after them.

Ginny frowned at Thea as they climbed the stairs. 'I really wish he's stop saying that,' she said, irritated. 'I really don't like it.'

Thea only smiled.

As Thea and Ginny got ready for bed, Thea looked over at Ginny and said, 'It's going to be an interesting year, I bet.'

Ginny nodded and smiled in agreement.