Harry Potter and the Return of Black

CHAPTER 3

The Oddness of Draco Malfoy

The holidays had finally come to an end. Harry was so looking forward to this day to come, when he would be going back to Hogwarts, going home. In the morning of September the first, Mrs Weasley, Ron and Ginny Weasley, Harry and Hermione arrived at platform nine and three quarters just in time to catch Hogwarts express, accompanied by Lupin and Tonks.

'Better hurry up, or we're going to be late on board,' said Tonks casually, checking her watch, while Mrs Weasley took in turns to hug her children, Harry and Hermione.

'We?' said Ginny curiously.

'Ha!' said Tonks, whose hair was long and shiny black today, just like Cho's, which made Harry couldn't help peeking at her. 'I thought no one was going to point that out.'

'Tonks' going to be your substitute teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts,' said Lupin, smiling at those surprised looks of Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione.

'Listen, Harry,' said Lupin paternally, clapping on Harry's back. 'All's going to be fine. I know you can take it, Harry, I know you can.'

Harry looked at the pale face of Lupin, which was inches from his face, and nodded. He wondered why was Lupin acting so worried about him; he was not a child anymore, after all. Not wanting to get more concerns, Harry muttered a 'Bye' to Lupin and Mrs Weasley, and got onto the train.

'Wait Harry,' said Hermione, trotting after Harry. 'I'll meet you afterwards, all right?'

'Yea,' said Harry, trying to force a smile.

'See you later, Harry,' said Ron, who had come standing beside Hermione.

Hermione looked startled and quickly turned heading towards the Prefects carriage.

'Am I as dreadful as a troll?' said Ron, staring longingly at Hermione's back.

'No,' said Harry. 'You're not, Ron.'

'She doesn't even want to look at me,' said Ron in a groan and stomped towards the Prefects carriage before Harry could say anything.

Feeling deeply sorry for Ron, Harry dragged his luggage towards the last compartment, which was always empty. After stowing his trunk and Hedwig's cage in the luggage rack, he sat down by the window and peered out of it. Harry could see families still on the platform, hugging and saying goodbye with their children. Somewhere near the barrier, he could clearly see the scene when exactly one year ago, a bear-like black dog was waving his tail energetically and giving joyful barks there. He could see Sirius in his dog form, reared on to his hind legs and placed its front paws on his shoulders there. He could even see a shaggy black dog looking at him, half-hiding behind the barrier.

'SIRIUS!' shouted Harry, who had jumped on his feet and had half of his body sticking out of the window.

For one moment, he could have sworn that he had seen Sirius, hiding behind the barrier and was looking at him. After checking the barrier and places around the platform for several minutes regardless of the puzzled looks around the platform, he saw no Sirius or the dog. Half disappointed and half furious with himself, Harry flopped back to his seat, feeling rather depressed.

The compartment door slipped open as the train began to move.

'Harry,' said Ginny, standing in the doorway. 'I just knew you'd be here.'

'Excuse me,' came a boy's voice behind Ginny. Although couldn't see his face, Harry could recognize that voice for Dean Thomas's. 'I was just wondering if we could have a word.'

'Oh, OK,' said Ginny. 'See you later, Harry.'

'Bye,' said Harry, who was quite glad that she was leaving.

Minutes ticked by...and once again, the compartment door slipped open. This time, Harry's least favourite and expected person appeared at the doorway. A mixture of excitement and bitterness was on Draco Malfoy's face. For minutes, none of them had started a conversation, but they just kept staring at one another.

'What do you want?' said Harry coolly. He had started to get annoyed staring at his arch-enemy.

'Don't mind me take a seat, do you?' said Malfoy, who had stepped inside and took a seat opposite to Harry.

'Did I say - '

'Drop this, Harry,' said Malfoy. 'I'm here to apologize. I'm sorry for what I've done before this. Are you happy now?'

'I don't know what you're up to, Malfoy,' said Harry firmly. 'But one thing for sure, you're not going to fool me anyway.'

'Quite stubborn, aren't you?' said Malfoy delightedly. 'But that's - well - I like you being like this.'

'Get out in instant if you don't want to be turned into a slug-like creature,' said Harry, getting rather angry now.

'I'd like to see that,' said Malfoy airily.

Harry reached inside his robes for his wand and took it out. He was pointing it at Malfoy now.

'Certainly you should not treat anyone who wants to be your friend like this, Harry,' said Malfoy calmly.

'Think about it, you definitely don't want any more enemy now,' said Malfoy as he was heading towards the compartment door. 'See you later, then.' He then opened the door, stepped out of it and did not look back.

Don't know what he was playing at, thought Harry, feeling both annoyed and suspicious.

*

'Anything off the trolley, dear?'

Harry was engrossed in thoughts about Malfoy's sinister motives while the smiling, dimpled trolley woman arrived at his doorway. Feeling extremely hungry and 'empty', he bought some chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties and cauldron cakes. When he had flopped back to his seat and was beginning to unwrap his chocolate frog, the compartment door was yet again slid open.

'Hello, Harry!' said Neville with a grin spreading across his round face.

'Sorry for just now, Harry,' said Ginny, who had come in to the compartment, followed by Luna Lovegood.

'Guess what my Grandma told me? said Neville, looking at Harry eagerly.

'You've grown tall?' said Harry, wondering how he would have known before Neville told him.

'Well, yea, she did. But I'm not talking about this,' said Neville excitedly, losing grip of Trevor the toad. 'My grandma said she's so proud of me! And that's because of you, Harry! She was so happy that I went dueling with those Death-Eaters with you.'

'Yes, we beat them, and we lost someone,' said Luna dreamily, a Quibbler in her hand.

'What plan have you got on Quidditch, Harry?' said Ginny, obviously wanting to drop the previous subject. 'As now you're the Captain.'

'Well, some,' lied Harry, who was suddenly reminded of the responsibilities of being the Captain.

'Good,' said Ginny. 'Really looking forward to it.'

The minutes snailed by, yet, Ron and Hermione hadn't turned up.

'What do you reckon Ron and Hermione are doing?' said Neville.

'Patrolling the train's corridors?' suggested Harry.

'Can't be,' said Ginny, frowning. 'The Head Boy and Girl had only told us to return to our own compartment.'

'Maybe they'd joined other Prefects in another compartment,' said Harry. He had thought of Malfoy and he thought he should tell the others about his turn up.

'Listen, just - '

The compartment door was slid open. This time, Hermione was standing in the doorway, looking pretty but worried.

'I've got news to you all,' said Hermione breathlessly, who had obviously dashed here.

'Bad news,' said Ron, walking in the compartment after Hermione.

'Look at this,' said Hermione handing Harry the Daily Prophet.

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN: THE DEATH EATERS

The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban.

Speaking to the reporters, Cornelius Fudge, Ministry for Magic confirmed that ten He Who Must Not Be Named's followers (more commonly known as Death Eaters), who were caught and sent to Azkaban in early summer has broken out of the prison in the early hours of yesterday evening. In a brief statement, Fudge told us that the main cause of this incident is that the lost of the Azkaban's Guards, Dementors.

'The Dementors must have gone to Voldemort's side,' said Harry, ignoring the terrified expression on Neville's round face. 'Malfoy told me so months ago and that his father and the others would be out in no time.'

'I bet everything that Malfoy has now joined the Death Eaters,' said Ron.

'They were getting active now,' said Hermione. 'It was reported too that a family of Muggles was attacked, and Dark Mark was found hovering in the sky near where they were attacked.'

'They killed to get attention,' said Luna thoughtfully. 'They want to make people anxious and they can have their plan going on smoothly.'

'What plan?' asked Neville.

'I do not know,' said Luna, retreated behind her upside down Quibbler.

*

It was nighttime when the Hogwarts journey had finally ended.

'Firs'-years over 'ere...'firs'-years...c'mon...'urry up...

Harry was so happy listening to the familiar call again, and he thought Hagrid was looking much more cheerful than usual. He winked at Harry, who waved back, grinning.

As they had joined the crowds jostling into the Entrance Hall, where thousands of candles were floating in mid-air and where the ceilings were enchanted to reflect the starry night outside, Harry felt that he was really at home again.

'Hey, Harry!' called Ernie Macmillan from the Hufflepuff table.

'Nice summer, Harry?' came another voice next to Ernie, Justin Finch-Fletchley's.

'Hi, Harry!' shouted Anthony Goldstein from the Ravenclaw's table.

The DA members were shouting greetings at their leader, well, perhaps except Cho and her friend, Marietta and Harry seemed to notice that too.

'Good to see you again, Harry!' said the Creevey Brothers, Colin and Dennis happily. 'When will we be starting the DA class again?'

'Well, I suppose - ' Harry meant to say that maybe they should stop the class because they would be having a decent DADA teacher, Tonks, but knew better than say it. ' - very soon.'

After the Sorting Ceremony, Dumbledore got to his feet gently to greet all his students.

'To all newcomers, welcome to Hogwarts!' said Dumbledore, beaming. 'And to all old hands of Hogwarts, welcome back!'

'It is time for speech-making again, I'm afraid,' Dumbledore continued, looking round at them all. 'Wizarding unity is essential, thank you very much.' He sat down again, facing the delicious food that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

'Cool!' said Ron. 'I'm starving - want this, Hermione?'

'Yes, Please,' said Hermione, smiling sweetly.

'Do you think we should continue the DA class, as now we've got Tonks?' said Harry.

Ginny contracted her eyes brows, thinking.

'Are you still writing to that Krum?' Ron was asking Hermione.

'Well, yea,' said Hermione. 'We're pen-pals.'

'But he's really wanting something more than just friendship,' said Ron. 'Trust me, we're both - '

'Ron?' said Harry, who had been watching them talking and wondering if they had heard him saying. 'Hermione?'

They turned to look at Harry. 'Yes?' Hermione said.

'Is there something we haven't known and should have known?' said Ginny suspiciously.

Malfoy's words, 'I'm here to apologise...' flashed through Harry's mind and when he was at the point of telling the others about it, Ron spoke first.

'I'm Hermione's boyfriend now,' said Ron happily, putting his arm round Hermione's shoulder.

'Oh,' said Hermione nervously, blushing uncomfortably. 'Don't look at me like this!' shrieked Hermione in high pitch at the open-mouthed Ginny and eyes brows-raised Harry, who were staring at them, thunderstruck.

'How did it happen?' said Ginny demandingly.

Ron laughed and Hermione blushed even harder, looking at the boiled potatoes that Ron had just passed to her.

'Well, we sort of talked a bit on the train and - '

'And we kissed,' said Ron

'You WHAT?' said Harry disbelievingly.

'Harry!' said Hermione. 'You and Cho kissed too, remember?'

'It's just hard to believe that both my best friends had just kissed,' said Harry reassuringly. 'And Cho - ' Harry stopped. His eyes lingered on Cho, who was speaking to Michael Corner at the Ravenclaw table and he found that quite enraging. ' - has had Michael Corner now.'

*

'What subjects are you taking, Hermione?' said Ron.

'Subjects for an Auror and for Healing,' said Hermione.

They were discussing the NEWT subjects as Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall to have breakfast. Professor McGonagall had started handing out timetables the moment the three of them had taken seats at the Gryffindor table.

'I don't think Snape would like me to be in his NEWT class,' came Neville's groan several seats from Harry.

'We'll have Defence Against the Dark Arts today,' said Ron excitedly. 'So we're going to see Tonks teaching.'

'She'll be a really good teacher,' said Hermione. 'And she's an Auror, we can seek advise from her.'

'Morning.' Draco Malfoy had come to the Gryffindor table, flanked by unwilling looking Crabbe and Goyle. 'I've brought them here to apologise too.' Malfoy turned to look at Crabbe and Goyle with menacing expression on his face.

'Sorry,' muttered Crabbe and Goyle, not looking at them all.

'Louder, big boys,' snarled Malfoy.

'Sorry.' A much more louder voice was heard but Malfoy didn't seem to have satisfied. 'And?' said Malfoy.

'And we'll not act like trolls anymore,' said Crabbe and Goyle dully.

'Very well,' said Malfoy in a satisfied tone. 'You can go now.'

Crabbe and Goyle walked as fast as their heavy legs can carry them back to Slytherin table.

'What d'you think?' said Malfoy gleefully.

'What d'you think you're playing at?' said Ron.

'Apologise,' said Malfoy. 'Didn't you see it?'

'What are you doing it for?' said Hermione.'

'I just want to make friends with you all, of course,' said Malfoy matter-of-factly.

'I don't see why I should make friends with some Slytherin ferret,' said Harry coolly.

Malfoy went neither red nor purple at Harry's offensive words, he merely stared at him for minutes and then smiled queerly.

'Fine, I understand.' said Malfoy and off he stalked away.

'Could anyone tell me what has just happened?' said Ron when Malfoy was out of earshot. 'Did Malfoy has just told us that he wants to be our friend? Or did Hagrid has stopped fancying his monster mates?'

'I can tell that those are the least likely events imaginable.' said Harry.

'He must be up to something,' said Hermione, helping herself to some bacon. 'And he seems to be particularly interested in Harry.

'What do you mean?' said Harry.

'Do you think he wants to befriend Harry and then trick something out of him for his father?' said Ron, lowering his voice. 'And his father will tell You-Know-Who?'

'It's possible,' said Hermione. 'I don't know, Harry. He didn't even sound like himself. You need to be more careful.'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'Never trust that slimy git.'

'I know,' said Harry. 'I'm not stupid enough to believe in Malfoy's words.'

'Good morning,' said Ginny, sitting down to join them at the Gryffindor table.

'I thought you were sitting with Dean Thomas,' said Ron darkly.

'No, Ron,' said Ginny. 'I've just thought that we should discuss, about Quidditch.'

'Oh, right,' said Ron, looking happy suddenly. 'When will we be starting the Quidditch practise, Harry?'

'Er -,' said Harry. 'I think we should get enough players first.'

'Yea,' said Ginny. 'As now Angelina, Katie and Alicia had left. You should announce a tryout for new players, Harry.'

'Okay,' said Harry, taking up momentum. 'I think we should have it on this Friday. How about five o'clock?'

'No problem,' said Ron. 'Ginny?'

'Perfect,' said Ginny.

'I can help to make an announcement note on the common-room notice board, if you like,' said Hermione.

'Thanks, Hermione,' said Harry, couldn't help feeling gratitude towards her.