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HARRY POTTER, Old Magic, Chapter 48

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Chapter 48: New Member for Ravenclaw

"You want to do what?" Filius Flitwick, the Charms instructor, asked, shock making his voice squeak more than usual.

Dumbledore sighed. He knew Filius wasn't going to like this but once the man understood the situation he would come around quickly. He loved his students and protected them fiercely so all he had to do is get the little man to listen.

"Filius, please hear me out," he pleaded in as soothing a tone as he could manage.

Professor Flitwick snapped his mouth shut, crossed his arms and waited. Those that didn't know him would think him comical standing there so proud and strong even though he stood just under four feet but he was part goblin and could be fierce in battle. The best charms instructor known this century and former duelist of the highest caliber, Flitwick was no one anyone would want to mess with.

Patiently and carefully, Dumbledore briefed Flitwick on what had been happening with the Malfoy family and what information Severus had imparted of the boy's need to be moved for his own safety.

Flitwick blinked in surprised shock as one piece of information caught his attention among all the other stunning revelations Dumbledore relayed. "Draco Malfoy has turned from the dark and made friends with a Gryffindor … when did that happen? I've never seen anything but enmity displayed by the young man for his rivals since school began and worse during their first Quidditch Game. And won't there be trouble from Lucius Malfoy over the switch?"

"Oh yes, I am certain there would be if Lucius Malfoy had the time to hear of it but I have been told, on good authority, he will be soon running from the Aurors as a revealed Death Eater."

"I knew it! I suspected he was lying all this time!" Flitwick said with great satisfaction. "Alright, then if his father isn't going to rail at us what about his mother? Narcissa is just as fierce about her position with the Dark Lord."

"Mrs. Malfoy has turned to the Light or at least taken a neutral stance on the matter and has signed a document that states only she may make decision for her son. And, what's more, she has provided another layer of protection that I am not allowed to divulge. Suffice it to say you wont see this protector no matter how hard you look because it isn't someone you would believe is acting as such which makes them the perfect guard. Draco Malfoy is presently being apprised of his new place at Hogwarts by Severus," Dumbledore said.

"Amazing!" Flitwick said, shaking his head. "Then I assume it is the suspected Death Eater children that is the true threat here?"

"Yes, and any other collaborators we have not unearthed yet," Dumbledore added.

Flitwick rubbed his face thoughtfully then nodded. "Right! Then I agree to the transfer and will warn my students of the dangers. You say Draco has many protectors?"

"That is correct. There are ones as I said, that I cannot divulge but the ones I can are: Severus, Hagrid, and myself, course, you, your students, and the castle spirit."

"The castle spirit … truly? From what you have told us, it doesn't really involve itself with individuals, only the population within as a whole. This has changed?" Flitwick asked, surprised.

"You are correct, Filius, but matters are changing so much, it has informed me that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy play a significant part in those changes and must be protected. I know not what it is alluding to and since I can only get impressions not words from it, I cannot fathom what might be coming in our futures only that significant changes to our world is coming."

Flitwick felt a chill slither down his spine. He had heard rumors of a new prophecy but not its context and here was a new clue that things were happening that most of the faculty were not being informed on.

Frowning, he asked, "When will the rest of us learn what you do know, Albus? I don't like working in the dark this way."

Dumbledore sighed. "Believe me, Filius, I don't either. Even as head of the Order, I know very little and am being given only the barest details by those who are apparently in charge of whatever is going on. I am told it is for reasons of security and ordered by the others who represent the magical beasts of the Forbidden Forest, who are responsible for some of these events."

Flitwick gaped at him. Being a half breed, he had to decide early whether to accept his goblin half or go with his human half and had chosen his human half so he was not cognizant of anything out of the ordinary with the magical beasts that inhabited the world and wasn't aware there was even a council.

"What do you mean representatives of the magical beasts? There is some kind of formal group? Albus you are making no sense."

"I know and I wish I could tell you what I do know so far but I can't. However..." he held up his hand when Flitwick was about to interrupt, "... I have been informed that everyone will be in the know on everything very soon but that is all I have been allowed to say."

Flitwick flicked an eyebrow up at that. "And you don't like that at all, I'm sure."

A look of annoyance flashed in Dumbledore's eyes a moment before he replied. "No it does not. It doesn't sit well to be "sidelined" as the saying goes when it seems we are all at the cusp of world changing events."

Grunting Flitwick shook his head. "No, I wouldn't either. I hope this "soon" is not a long wait."

Dumbledore grimaced. "So do I. Now about Mr. Malfoy..." he said deliberating changing the subject.

Flitwick acquiesced despite the burning questions still on his tongue. "So I understand you want Mr. Malfoy transferred today?"

"Yes, please, Filius. Notify your students before evening so the transition can be accomplished while the students are occupied with homework and private time."

"Very well. I will take care of it and keep you informed on how it goes."

"Excellent. Thank you, Filius."

Filius simply nodded and left for his own offices. As he strode down the stairs to the main hall he couldn't help thinking, "What a strange day this has turned out to be! What could be going on that even Albus wasn't told about? I like not all this secrecy. Better keep my ears sharp because I feel trouble and changes are in the wind."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Lunch was a very noisy affair in the kitchens of Hogwarts as Dobby wandered about getting familiar with the area. Elves were hustling about with finished dishes of food while others were putting finishing touches on what they were preparing at huge side counters and at the multiple stoves that filled one wall.

"Hey, who you?" A rather ugly and large house elf demanded, stepping in Dobby's way.

"Dobby, my name is. Headmaster Dumbledore sent me here. Dobby new house elf to Hogwarts," He said rather bluntly. Here among his own kind they weren't so subservient to each other and could more or less speak their own mind if they wished. He had already insured his charge was safe and in class along with Harry Potter so decided to see where he could be of help and check in, as it were.

"Heh, you are huh? I am Firg, head house elf. What house you come from?"

Dobby shook his head and looked down, an obvious sign of emotional and possibly physical abuse, one too many house elves were familiar with.

The leader of the kitchen staff huffed but asked no more questions as that would be impolite. Instead gave Dobby the most common commandment house elves follow, "Find a need!" He instructed. The saying meant one should look for what needed to be done and do the task.

Dobby nodded and did as told, noting the delivery of food to the apparition table needed some assistance and hurried off to help.

As he worked, a voice spoke to him in his mind. "Welcome to Hogwarts, protector of Harry Potter. Summon me if you need my help. I will aid you immediately." Dobby startled and nearly dropped the huge bowl of mashed potatoes he was hugging to his chest, to the floor.

"Who speaks to Dobby?" He whispered, not wanting any to hear him. "I am Hogwarts," the voice said simply, speaking in understandable words, something it rarely did. Dumbledore would have been angry and upset to learn it was capable of doing that but chose not to with the Headmaster. Dobby blinked at that bald statement a long moment then remembered what his mother had told him a long time ago. A myth handed down from house elf to house elf.

He set the bowl on the apparition table and smiled. "Thank you sir." He said back to what he knew now was the castle spirit. The fact the spirit had been willing to speak to someone as insignificant as Dobby was a great honor. He hugged that thought as well as the blush of warmth that had passed through him from the spirit itself as a gift to treasure.

He already loved it here despite the danger that lingered like black sticky fingers left behind in the shadows. A fierce thought struck him, "Hogwarts will be clean and pure once more! Dobby will make sure of it!"

Promise made, Dobby returned to work with renewed determination.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

The day passed swiftly with the students totally unaware of all the events that were going on behind the scenes. As promised, Flitwick had gathered his students in their common room just before dinner and announced the placement of a new student in their house and met the expected shock and dismay.

"Draco Malfoy! Why is he transferring in here?" Terry Boot demanded, not happy about this turn of event at all.

"I have been informed the young man has been secretly allied with the Light and needs to be removed from Slytherin House for his own safety. And, no, he is not a spy for the dark. He has been cleared of that accusation by Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Additionally, I was told Malfoy is a secret friend of Harry Potter. Because the threat to his life is real and present within Hogwarts, Draco is under the direct protection of Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape who is Draco's Godfather, myself, and apparently many others I haven't been given names of." He eyed his students to see how they were taking the news then spoke again before any could respond. "I want you all to welcome him and help him settle in. He really has had a bad time of it and is grateful for a chance to finally be safe."

"Oh, poor boy. He deserves a chance at what we all take for granted within Ravenclaw, safety and comfort," Luna Lovegood spoke first.

"Once a Slytherin always a Slytherin," Robert Hilliard growled, an ugly expression on his face. He was the captain of Ravenclaw Quidditch Team and had been exposed to the Slytherins cheating ways during games … before, during, and after. He wasn't in the mood to be terribly forgiving.

Flitwick gave him an understanding but firm look. "We do not judge a book by its cover here, Mr. Hilliard. I expect you to give Draco Malfoy a fair hearing before giving a snap judgement based on association. Has he done you some type of harm? Think hard before you answer and I am not talking about what liberties his house has taken on the Quidditch field. Only what Draco Malfoy himself may or may not have done to you personally."

Robert blushed, snapping his mouth closed on some more ill chosen words and thought about what Professor Flitwick was demanding of him.

In Ravenclaw, thinking before speaking was respected while blurting gossip or heresy was cause for censure by their fellow students.

He took a moment now to really think and review his many interactions with Malfoy. As he did so, Hilliard realized Draco had never done by word or action anything against him or his friends. Blushing with embarrassment, he swallowed his shame before responding with a more carefully thought out answer.

"My apologizes, professor. I was indeed going by what Slytherin House was known to do and not what Draco Malfoy personally has done. I am ashamed to admit that, nay...he has not offered injury, foul words, threats, nor any other actions against myself and my mates. I will treat him as I would any new student, sir."

"Well said and thought out, Mr. Hilliard. Sometime between now and after dinner, Mr. Malfoy's belongings will be delivered then sometime after that, when he is ready, Draco will present himself. Again make him welcome, tell him the house rules, answer any questions he may have, and show him his bed space. I know you will not disgrace your house with any ill thought out words," he said, smiling benignly. " You may go about your business now. Good evening." Everyone murmured the same back then Flitwick was gone, back to his offices in the highest part of the tower.

As soon as the door closed behind Flitwick the students began discussing and arguing over this stunning news. From her seat near the door to the corridor, Luna Lovegood just smiled. She had felt in her soul that Draco had a good heart and was glad to find she had been right. She couldn't wait to welcome him. And to relay this bit of news to her father as well.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

They had him pinned down in Myrtle's bathroom on the first floor. He had taken to hiding in the haunted bathroom when the hostility within Slytherin House had gotten too much for him. It was difficult despite his father's "lessons" on how to act around stupid, uncouth, or supercilious people with the appropriate haughty manners but it sickened him to be spouting some of that pure blood nonsense and seeming like he was all in on causing as much mayhem he could on Gryffindor and others that weren't on their side. It simply grew too tiring.

So this had become his sanctuary as no one wanted to deal with Moaning Myrtle, the poor girl who had been killed in this bathroom a couple of decades earlier. But when he first ducked into here and Myrtle appeared it seemed she knew somehow what he was dealing with and commiserated with him and a new friendship was born.

He treasured that friendship and the safety the bathroom provided. He did have to take great care in not being seen coming in here so often or his enemies would surely use this as a new place to torment him, that is, if they could ignore Myrtle. He smiled at that. Despite being a ghost, Myrtle could be formidably scary.

If there was a down side to the relationship it was Myrtle's incessant need to wail about her woes but that is what ghosts do. Fortunately, he was able to get her to talk about other things and she did so adore the latest gossip from him even though she did hear from other ghosts on what was going on around the castle. But it was the personal knowledge aspect she hungered for the most besides the company that Draco provided. She even let him in on the secret that the castle spirit did speak to a rare few in the castle and was aware of what was going on within it. That news had made Draco a bit wary. Before it had just been a myth that the castle was sentient but knowing that something as huge and powerful as the castle was in fact listening to them and protecting them was a bit intimidating and spooky.

"Want me to scare them off?" Myrtle suddenly spoke right next to his ear startling him back to the moment. She hadn't appeared when he had entered some minutes ago but she did that sometimes to allow him to be alone with his thoughts if she thought he seemed to need it.

His heart already beating fast in fear of those outside the door, nearly jumped from his chest at this second fright. "I wish you wouldn't do that Myrtle." She merely gave him a naughty smirk. This was one quirk of hers he never enjoyed but it was the one thing that delighted her so he let it pass with just a snarky remark.

About to reply to her suggestion in the negative, he froze when he heard Marcus Flint shout, "Stop being such girls and pull him out!" Other voices joined his so he knew there were quite a few students collecting outside the door.

"Brilliant," he thought, sourly. "I guess you should do your thing, Myrtle or I wont be leaving this bathroom without receiving a beating."

"Oh, this will be so much fun," Myrtle giggled before bursting through the door and enlarging herself to three times her size then screaming horribly at the small group getting ready to charge the door.

Screams of shock and horror sent nearly all the students running off down the corridor, all except Flint, Nott, and Derrick who flinched but stood their ground.

Laughing uproariously at her trick, Myrtle ignored the three Slytherins and disappeared as ghosts are wont to do. But she did reappear in the bathroom before the waiting Draco.

"Three are left...that horrible Flint boy, the idiot Nott, and I don't know the last one," she reported.

"Thanks, Myrtle," He had just enough time to say before the three boys shoved the door open violently and looked around for him, faces ugly with anger. Myrtle hissed at them but they ignored her.

"There you are you wanker!" Flint crowed victoriously. As he closed in on Malfoy, he snarled, "We heard the Dark Lord is gone and that you or your father had something to do with it!"

As he backed away quickly, Draco blinked in shocked surprise. That was not what he expected to hear. How the heck did they know already? He thought that secret was still unknown to most everyone.

"What the hell are you talking about? I haven't heard from my father since I was returned to Hogwarts and if you have forgotten, I was a prisoner so I couldn't have done anything about anyone. And how do you know the Dark Lord is dead?" He demanded, trying to pretend he held the upper hand in this conflict.

It worked … sort of. Flint did pause, frowning at Draco's words, but then shook his head and as the apparent leader of this motley group, began stalking Draco who had managed to keep his distance from the three boys by keeping the round, fountain style, sink between them and himself. But it was beginning to appear as if no one was using what few brain cells they had and were more interested in giving him a beating.

They apparently had been building up to this in the days since the kidnapping of both himself and Severus. It could have been because since that event, he had begun to distance himself more from all his fellow Slytherins. Unfortunately, in hindsight, that seemed to have been the wrong tactic to take under the circumstances and only managed to make the worst of the Slytherins more suspicious of him and the things they thought he might be up to.

Pulling his wand out, Draco prepared defend himself with the judicious use of the spells and charms he was skilled at. But suddenly and without any warning all three boys vanished.

"Wha?" Draco managed, lowering his wand and gaping at the empty space. No one could apparate due to the Anti-Disapparition Jinx within Hogwarts so how did they disappear.

Myrtle made a squeak of surprise too then gasped a second later at what suddenly appeared before her friend.

"Are you alright Draco Malfoy?" Dobby asked looking concerned. "Dobby sorry. Dobby only just noticed danger the young sir was in and sent evil boys to the Dark Tower. It has cells but Dobby put them in the center of the room. They have long walk to main floors," he told Draco, worried the boy would be angry at him.

Draco relaxed and grinned assurance at the welcome sight of the house elf. "It's alright Dobby. All that counts is you did make it in time though I think Myrtle might have managed to help me if I needed it."

Dobby blinked then noticed the ghost. "Oh, Dobby sorry. Did you wish to aid Draco Malfoy?"

Myrtle eyed the house elf in surprise, floating down to face him more fully. "I might have but you did a better thing. You are new here. Why did you protect Draco. House elves at Hogwart don't do that."

"Must keep secret, ghost..."

"My name is Myrtle," she interrupted.

Dobby nodded his head quickly. "Must keep secret of what Dobby do, Ms Myrtle. Dobby under orders from Headmaster Dumbledore to protect Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter."

"Oh, that is so wicked! I have never heard of a house elf being a guard. Don't worry I wont tell anyone. I may like to gossip but I do know when to keep secrets," Myrtle promised.

"Dobby thanks you for being such a good friend. Hope Dobby be your friend too."

"Oh sure, that would be brilliant," she grinned.

"That was nice of you Dobby. And thank you for coming to my rescue. And brilliant solution sending them to the Dark Tower." Then his pleased grin fell off his face when he realized what Marcus had said meant for the Light. "Oh no. What the Slytherins seem to think has happened is not good. Dobby you must tell Professor Snape that apparently a rumor is going around that the Dark Lord is dead and that I or my father were being held responsible. He needs to know that secret is circulating sooner than he hoped."

Dobby didn't look happy at that news either. "Dobby tell. Does Draco Malfoy desire me to send him somewhere first?"

"Wait!" Mrytle cried. "I haven't heard this … the Dark Lord is truly gone?"

"Yes," Draco said.

"You swear?" She demanded.

"I swear it is the truth. I got it from Professor Snape and I saw the tattoo was gone from his arm as proof. But despite the rumor circulating, Myrtle don't confirm that with anyone please until Professor Snape gives us permission. Alright?"

She stared at him for a long moment then nodded her head, expression grave. "I understand. This could mean real trouble with the Death Eaters." Then a brilliant smile broke out on her ghostly face. "But for me, it's the best news I have ever heard but no one will hear it from me. Have a better evening Draco," She said before disappearing.

"You too" Draco said to the air knowing she would hear him.

Then he turned his attention back to Dobby's previous question. He thought about that a moment. "Have my belongings been sent to Ravenclaw yet, Dobby?"

"Dobby collected and delivered your things over an hour ago, Draco Malfoy."

"Good then just send me to the entry corridor for Ravenclaw so I can appear to have walked there, and thank you for your all your help, Dobby."

Dobby smiled broadly. "You are welcome Draco Malfoy." Then he snapped his long spindly fingers.

Draco barely had time to blink before he was in the Ravenclaw corridor and he was alone. "Wow! What an easy way to travel. I never felt the passage at all", he thought bemused. Shaking his head in wonder at yet another example of just how powerful house elves were. He could kick himself for being so blasé about them before now. With his mind full of what he needed to say and do when he met his new house mates, he walked toward the entrance to Ravenclaw Common Room.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Draco used the big brass eagle hanging in the center of the door to bang against the wood. The eagle woke up and began to ask a riddle but the door opened from inside instead saving him the effort of answering the usually difficult riddle.

"Welcome, Draco Malfoy to Ravenclaw," Luna said, beating Robert, the prefect, in answering the door.

"Yeah, welcome Malfoy," Robert said belatedly, annoyed at Luna. The pair stepped aside and allowed Draco to enter.

"Thank you," Draco began then halted in shock as he took in the common room. It was unlike all the others he had seen as it could get. "Wow! What a cool place. I love the blue accents," he said sincerely.

Those willing to meet Draco were sitting around the room as a fire roared in the huge fireplace. Smiles wreathed their faces when they heard his compliment of their common room.

Robert was surprised and pleased by the response from the former Slytherin and was more willing to entertain a different mind set about Malfoy. Now that the boy wasn't standing amid those of Slytherin House he seemed like a really nice guy and it was obvious he was grateful for being accepted here.

Luna smiled happily at the positive impression Draco had made on her fellow Ravenclaws. She grasped his hand dragged him into the center of the room and began a slow, methodical introduction of everyone there which Draco appreciated.

But as he was being introduced he couldn't help continue his perusal of the amazing looking room. First of all it was wider than Slytherins and it was circular with an airy feel to it. The arched windows let in lots of natural light and they were hung with blue and bronze silks as drapes. A midnight blue carpet graced the huge floor and was covered in a pattern of stars which, when Luna pointed upward, was reflected onto the domed ceiling. Smiling broadly, she led him to the windows so he could gasp at the excellent view of the school grounds from up here which included the lake, Forbidden Forest, Quidditch Pitch, Herbology gardens, and the surrounding mountains.

"What an amazing view. One can almost feel they are at the top of the world if it weren't for the fact the Astronomy Tower is taller," Draco said admiringly.

He turned away from the windows and admired the furnishings. Not only were there many tables and chairs for studying, there were nice comfy couches set before the fire and around the room were bookcases and by the doors leading up to the dorms stood the tall statue of Rowena Ravenclaw made of white marble. It was just breathtaking. But more than that it had a feeling of warmth and friendship instead of the cold and unfeeling sensation one got in Slytherin's common room.

"Is it drafty up here?" Draco asked, being so high up meant lots of wind.

"Only a little. I find the sound of the wind whistling around the windows is relaxing when one is trying to go to sleep," Robert said, smiling a little. "Do you want me to show you your bed now?"

Draco thought about it then nodded. "Sure."

"Draco, please come back and talk with us," Luna begged.

He eyed her a moment. Draco had always thought of Luna as a bit of an airhead but he had since learned there was a brilliant mind under all that freakishness she liked to spout. Besides that she was very pretty, open, and honest. A refreshing change from the girls in Slytherin. An image of brutish Millicent Bulstrode flashed in his mind before he shoved it hurriedly away.

He gave her a warm smile. "I would like that. Be right back."

Robert lead him up the right hand door to the boy's dorm

In the sleeping quarters things weren't much different than his Slytherin one and, he discovered, he was in about the same area of the room as in his former quarters and he told Robert that.

The prefect gave him a genuine smile. "Well that's brilliant. Then you shouldn't have any trouble adjusting here then."

"Trust me, I am going to be glad to get my first true calm nights sleep without having to worry about being attacked," Draco said soberly as he checked his trunk and other things before deeming all was well. He didn't even miss the green and silver curtains that used to grace the bed. These were a deep blue with bronze trimming...very soothing to his eyes.

"I hope you have gotten your new colors," Robert said in a questioning tone.

"Oh, I don't really know," Draco said, surprised he had forgotten that in all the excitement before the actual move. He went to his trunk, spoke a soft word that would unlock it, then lifted the lid and searched his robes. Sighing in relief, he held up one of the ties and a robe showing off the change in color of the tie and the attachment of the correct house emblem

on the robe. "Brilliant! Looks like someone ensured that had been taken care of," he said in relief.

"That is good news and proves what we've been told. You have protectors taking care of you. Don't worry," Robert said raising a soothing palm. We were only told of two of your protectors and that the rest were on a need to know basis at least for a bit longer. Though we are curious as to why that is, we wont be asking you about it."

Draco smiled at him. "Thank you for your forbearance. Trust me you will know what is going on very soon. I have that on good authority."

Clapping Draco on the back, Robert nodded to the trunk. "Lock up and let us go back downstairs. Maybe someone may have ordered some evening refreshments and I could use one now."

"Me too." Draco closed and secured his trunk then followed Robert back downstairs. He had been worried a bit about what Robert Hilliard's reaction to him would be and was greatly relieved that his fears were unfounded. Everything he had heard about Ravenclaw thinking before acting on anything was true and it certainly benefited him now when rumors about what was going on with him and others were circulating like the powerful winds that buffeted the tower.

Back in the common room, he was given a glass of butter beer by Luna and a seat next to her. The comfortable cushion chair made him groan in pleasure as he settle in and prepared or a light grilling by the students surrounding him on chairs, couches, the rug, and standing near the fireplace. Apparently, more had decided to come speak with him so the room was fairly full.

The session wasn't too terrible and he was able to satisfy some of their curiosity as well as allay some of their fears about his being among them. None of them seemed too worried about that. Treating him as more of a problem to be solved rather than an issue to be too concerned about.

Draco could feel a light current of animosity from a few of those around him but that was to be expected but it was nothing like the suspicious and deadly aggressive anger Slytherins could generate.

The rules of this house weren't as difficult to obey as Slytherins had been as theirs had been all about cheating, reporting information useful to their Death Eater parents, and ways to annoy or beat down students from other houses. The riddles to get into Ravenclaw might be a bit difficult but nothing he couldn't eventually master. He did know he would have to be on his toes academically though. Ravenclaws were very competitive and could even turn on each other at times but not normally viciously. All in all a genial place to be and never boring.

After about a couple of hours he was released. He sank down into the couch more, closing his eyes to soak in more of the peace and feelings of safety he got just being here. He hadn't realized just how tense he had been until all his muscles relaxed and he felt nearly boneless. It was wonderful.

"Don't become too comfortable, Draco," Cho Chang said, amused. "You do have homework to get done after all." Draco's groan was her answer. She laughed pleasantly then drifted off to one of the tables to work on her potion's homework.

"She is right, Draco. It is getting late. I will wish you pleasant dreams when you finally seek your bed and see you in the morning," Luna was the next to speak to him before rising from her seat beside him and heading to bed. She had already finished her work.

He opened a lazy eye and smiled up at her. "Thank you, I think for the first time I may have good dreams. Good night, Luna."

She nodded warmly and walked away, graceful and light on her feet, as if she were floating. He smiled again. "Yes, things were finally looking up for me," he thought. Reluctantly, he reached over to his backpack that he had laid next to the couch and dragged out his Herbology book. It was at least two more hours before he finished his homework and the last of his beer. But as he prepared to head to his new dorm, there was a pop then a head appeared in the fire. It was Severus.

"Draco, I am sorry it is so late but did you want that conversation now?"

Malfoy felt a yawn threatening to escape and his eyes were heavy after such a long day. He really wanted answers to the many questions he had been holding for awhile but he was far too tired right now to even hear the answers.

Shaking his head, he said softly, "No, thanks Professor Snape. I am too tired now. Rain check?"

Snape smiled gently only for Draco, the few students still there were on the far side of the room finishing their homework so didn't see or hear him. "Of course, as you wish. Have you settled in alright?"

Draco smiled widely. "Yes. It was better than I hoped it would be. They have mostly accepted me and the few that don't like it are more inclined to leave me alone than attack. I am looking forward to a good night's sleep. Tomorrow will be very chaotic, challenging, and stressful so I need my beauty rest."

"You do indeed. Goodnight Godson, peaceful dreams."

"Thank you Godfather and you too." Then Snape's image was gone. Still smiling, Draco hefted his backpack on his shoulder and made for bed.
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