A Taste of Smoke

About three days after Dumbledore had his morning talk with Draco, Draco had another shock when he went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Suddenly it seemed that there were millions of people in the Hall. Actually it was more like fifty, but after seeing the Hall empty for so long, any more than three people in it seemed a lot to Draco. The Professors had come back to Hogwarts. Draco nodded to his former Professors and made his way to old seat at the Slytherin table. Surprisingly, there was not a place set for him. Draco frowned at the incompetence of the House Elves when he heard a discrete cough. He looked up to see Dumbledore twinkling at him. "As a staff, I thought to would be best if you sat up with us," explained the Headmaster.

Draco just gaped at him or would have if Malfoys were allowed to show surprise. Instead he just calmly walked up to the dais and sneered, challenging anyone to comment on his blunder. No one did, in fact no one really paid any attention to Draco. This did not bother Draco much, he did not want to speak to anyone and he was used to silent meals. Idle conversation was not something you did at Malfoy family dinners. Draco just attached his sneer firmly on his face and continued to eat.

Unbeknownst to Draco, he was being watch by both Dumbledore and Snape. Neither of the professors were very sure about Draco's new place in Hogwarts or how he would react to it. Hogwarts had never been put in this position of harboring a former student against his will. Neither professor knew why Draco was staying but they did know he did not want to be there, he never did.

The last day before the students came back to Hogwarts was a rather full day for Draco. He had to move his affairs into a new room, which was larger but still part of the Slytherin dungeons. Actually, Draco had a choice where he wanted to live and the dungeons were the least repulsive of the choices. Then he had to go meet with Dumbledore and Filch to learn of his new duties. For what Draco could tell, his new duties consisted of drawing up patrol schedules and enforcing it, dealing with the students who were caught, patrolling the grounds, and making sure no prefect was abusing the power he or she was given. Draco thought the last stipulation was idiotic but he didn't have to enforce it if he did not want to, he was in charge.

The next day, Hogwarts fairly hummed with excitement. Everyone was scurrying around trying to get the castle ready for the students. Even the ghosts were excited. Peeves made his mark by annoying every single person in the castle including the House Elves. Draco wandered around observing all the bustle. He did not have much to do that day except make up the patrol list. He had a lot of fun making the Gryffindor prefects patrol on the weekends and most of the other not so enjoyable days. Of course, this list was only for September and eventually all the prefects from all the houses would have to patrol on weekends, but it was still fun to torment the Gryffs.

The day seemed to slip away without any control. Sooner than Draco would have liked, it was time for the Sorting Feast. Draco took his seat at end of the dais and looked out on the Hogwarts student body. It wasn't as if he didn't know most of the students, he was only a year ahead of the seventh years. He knew the exact moment every student became aware of his presence. They would glace up at the dais, their eyes idly wandering over the professors. They would glance back once or twice at the new DADA professor, but every student was used to having a new DADA professor. Their eyes would continue to wander down the row until they reached where Draco was sitting. Their leisurely perusal would stop and their glances would slide directly back to their table, as if they were afraid to look at Draco directly. Then they would start whispering to their friends, wondering why Draco Malfoy was back at Hogwarts. There was one notable exception that Draco noticed. He expected his presence to cause a huge ruckus at the Gryffindor table lead by the Weasleys, or the one Weasley left this year. Instead, the littlest Weasley simply glanced over at Draco, raised an eyebrow and went back to talking with Colin Creevey about Merlin knows what. To tell the truth, Draco was slightly disappointed about the Gryffindors reaction to his presence, or lack of reaction. "They probably have lost all their Gryffindor courage now that Potty's gone," thought Draco, sending a sneer their way.

At that moment, McGonagall sent in the first years for the Sorting Ceremony. Draco had always liked the Sorting Ceremony. The songs alone provided fodder for his renowned wit, that and the idiotic antics of the first years. Really, their fear of the stupid hat was ridiculous. McGonagall gave her customary pre-hat speech, the one that never changed. Then the Hat started in on his song.

"Here we go," thought Draco.

You think I am old and dusty

But don't be confused

Even though I may smell musty

(Really, one would think he spent the year balled up in a corner. Disgusting.)

I can still be used.

The Founders made me with a plan

It is up to me in which House you'll land

And what wonderful four friend they were

Until they started to disband.

What a silly fight it was

And hurt all involved.

(Oh boo hoo, I bet the Puffs paid him to put that in. I am sure Salazaar was not "hurt" "overjoyed" is more like it. I would be.)

Yet I believe without a doubt

All this can be solved.

Just listen to the House values

And forget the past.

Listen to me when I sort you.

I warn you, I will not be sassed.

(Who knew, the Hat has a personality!)

First there was Helga

With her smile so bright

She was loyal to the end

And could never stand a fight.

(Poor sod)

The students that go to Hufflepuff

Are loyal, cheerful, and a joy

They will stand by you until the end

They are people you will always enjoy.

(Enjoy? Enjoy! Forget is more like it.)

The best of friends was she

With Rowena Ravenclaw

Her wit was sharp and her eyes were bright.

Her mental exercises left one in awe.

(Probably ugly as sin too. Hunched from reading all the time, glasses for near-sightedness, no hygene, bushy hair... A real witch.)

Those who belong in her house

Are clever, wise, and bright.

Their thirst for knowledge

Will guide them to the greatest height.

(To the nearest Library more likely.)

Firm friends were they with Salazaar

Whose tongue was sharp but his mind was pure

All the best for the wizard race

Was what he tried to ensure.

(Friends? Never. The hat is definitely batty.)

For his house he tries to find

Those who know best what's in their minds

They will help each other to achieve their goals.

In his house, it is ambition and drive that binds.

(Bloody right!)

Finally came the boisterous Godric,

The Gryffindor with his ready laugh,

Itching to fight and do what's right

He would always battle on your behalf.

(Sounds like a bloody idiot to me.)

For his house you need to be brave

And willing to defend the lot

Boldness is what this house craves

And their names are always on the list of those who fought.

(Attention hogs, the lot of them and the bloody darlings of the school.)

So you see each House is separate

But together they are strong

The goal of the Houses is to provide

A place where every wizard can belong

And friends that are lifelong.

(Bloody Hell Hat, how saccharine can you get? Thank Merlin that's over!)

After having his little fun, albeit only with himself, Draco sighed and shifted. Here was his least favorite part of the evening, watching the firsties be sorted. It was a long tedious affair and this year he couldn't even cheer for those sorted in Slytherin, not that he usually cheered. The most he ever did deign the new firstie is a superior smile and a knowing look that usually made him cower. By the time the firsties sat down at the Slytherin table, they all knew who Draco Malfoy was and had heard of the terrors waiting for them when they returned to the Common Room. Every Slytherin first year had to go through an induction process sometime during the year. It had to be invisible to the school but visible in the Slytherin dorms. Really, they weren't as bad as it was made out to be, but tormenting firsties was such fun! Even Draco had to go through induction. For a week his robes were charmed so that they were invisible in the Common Room and every piece of clothing except his boxers was hidden. Draco spent more time picking out his underwear that week than any other piece of clothing. Draco smiled at the memory and then caught himself. The entire school could see him. It was not proper to show any form emotion. How many times had his father told him that smiling created bonds with unwanted individuals? Too many to count. He quickly glanced around the hall to see if anyone noticed and met a pair of brown eyes and quirked eyebrows. "That's the second time tonight the Weaselette has raised an eyebrow in my direction. What is she about?" wondered Draco. In response to her silent and amused inquiry, Draco scowled at her. She just smirked in return. For the second time that summer, Draco was surprised. He was enraged when she turned away to eat her food, effectively dismissing him from her speculation. "No one dismisses a Malfoy, who does she think she is?" He turned his face to his plate, stabbed his meat, and refused to look up the rest of the meal.