Something there that wasn't there before

-16-

-Draco-

I walked out in my school uniform with my robes in my hand. I was trying to get my tie straight when Ginny walked out of her room. Ginny walked over to me and laid her robes on the back of the couch. "All these years and you've never learned to tie your tie?" I sighed. 'My hands are shaking, I'm nervous' Ginny chuckled and reached up to fix my tie, and then pulled her robes on. We silently walked to the great hall, we didn't pass anyone on the way there. I checked my watch 9:45 we still had fifteen minutes until assembly but I guess everyone was at breakfast. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I pushed the heavy door open, letting Ginny in first and then walking behind her. Nobody batted an eye at Ginny as she walked over to the Gryffendor table and took a seat. I walked over and took a seat at the Slytherin table on the end away from the people looking at me. All of the first years were sitting at the unmarked table in the middle of the room, I folded my hands together on the table and watched what was going on around me. Friends were catching up and getting along, boyfriends and girlfriends holding hands. I looked over to Ginny and I saw she was talking to Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. I smiled to myself, happy that at least this was going well for Ginny. McGonagall walked up and stood behind the podium. "Hello everyone and welcome to the assembly. First things first, these are your teachers. McGonagall went down the whole list of professors and then moved onto prefects. I listened closely to this list as I would have to work with them. "Luna Lovegood, Nevill Longbottom, Patricia Parkinson" ï inwardly groaned at that name. "Charolette Thomas, Annabelle Nott, Alexander Wilson, Michael Atwood, Allison Chang, Drew Walters, Arianna Mitchell, Lainey Ludlow and Marcus Finnegan." There was a round of applause as the prefects stood and waved. Once we quieted down McGonagall continued, "Now I am very proud to announce this terms Head Girl and Head Boy. Ms. Ginny Weasley and Mr. Draco Malfoy" the applause that started for Ginny died almost immediately and there were hushed whispers around the room. "This decision was not made lightly, nor will I listen to any objections." The room fell silent once more as the sorting hat was brought out onto the stage. The hat had sorted through about 10 children when it called out for Hannah Wilson there was a tiny girl struggling to get up from where two other kids had her pinned in. She pushed on the table so hard that she tumbled out onto the floor right behind me. Laughter erupted from all around, so I closed my eyes turned around getting out of my seat. The room once again fell silent as I crouched down to help Hannah up off of the floor. I reached my hand out and she took it scrambling to her feet, her face was red and she was nervous. "I'm Draco, what's your name?" She nervously glanced around 'I'm Hannah' I smiled at her "well, Hannah, let's get you to the sorting hat huh?" She nodded and I stood up holding her hand. I walked her to the front and helped her up on the stage. McGonagall smiled and nodded at me slightly. I turned and walked back to my seat, Ginny was smiling at me from across the room as I sat down in my seat.

Once the sorting was finished the prefects took the first years on a tour and the head prefects followed Ginny and I to the transfiguration Classroom. Nevill, Luna, Patricia, Charlotte, Ginny and I sat around a table and we all awkwardly looked at each-other. Luna cleared her throat "so what is the plan?" Ginny pulled out a list of things that McGonagall said that we needed to take care of. 'First up. Patrolling schedules to make sure children are in bed and not roaming the halls too late.'  Nevill spoke up starting to make a layout of houses patrolling. "I think the head prefects and us" I motioned between Ginny and I "should take the late patrol, sometime between 11 and midnight. The prefects can take the early patrol between nine and ten" Charolette spoke up in agreement. 'Then that's settled' Ginny spoke up. 'Next on the list is, planning a Halloween bash, Christmas Ball and we need to scrape the wax on all of the candles around the castle and re melt it.' "We could melt and fix the candles as we patrol over the next couple of nights." I nodded 'That sounds great Luna' "so can I say the thing that we're all thinking?" Nevill said. We all just looked at each-other. "Nobody wants to patrol with the Deatheater." It went silent in the room and I tucked my hands in my lap. 'Don't worry, nobody will have to patrol with me. I can go alone.' "But should we really trust this guy to patrol on his own?" I could practically feel Ginny vibrating with anger beside me. I put my hand on her thigh under the table where nobody would see. I opened my mouth but Ginny spoke first. "He won't be alone, he will be with me. We are a package deal." Nevill looked taken aback 'but Ginny. He..' Luna laid her hand on Nevill's arm. "It's not our place to judge people Nevill." Ginny cleared her throat. 'So how about this be the patrol schedule.' Patricia said and slid a piece of parchment to the center of the table that had a schedule on it. Ginny waved her wand over the parchment and it multiplied. "Please post one in your common rooms, give one to each of the prefects and keep one for yourselves." Everyone took their schedules. "Please come up with some ideas for the Halloween bash and the Christmas ball, we will meet again on in two weeks." Everyone nodded and got up to leave. I leaned forward and smacked my forehead on the table. Ginny stood behind me and rubbed my shoulders, "it's gonna be okay." Ginny kissed the top of my head and we headed to the great hall to get some lunch. Most of the students were right outside of the great hall doors since they were just returning from the castle tour. Hanna was chasing after a much larger boy that was a first year also. "Please give it back it's mine, it's mine!" Hanna tripped and landed on her knees crying. I stepped out in-front of the boy who was cradling something and running. The boys eyes met mine with a look that I use to wear often when I was younger. 'What is that you've got?' "It's just a stupid cat" 'and does this cat belong to you?' 'No, but whiney Wilson doesn't deserve it.' I held my hand out and he grudgingly placed the kitten in my hand. "15 points from Slytherin for bullying" the look that crossed his face I'm sure was much like mine when I got in trouble for doing something I saw no problem with. I turned to all of the students that were now staring at me as I held the little tabby cat in my arms. "We don't bully, and we don't abuse one another. Am I clear?" I scanned the group of kids. I could see a few of the older kids gritting their teeth. "Is there something you would like to say?" A tall gangly boy in Ravenclaw stepped forward. 'Why should we listen to you? You were the most horrible person for years.' I stepped forward still Petting the kitten. "Yes, I was. I won't lie and I won't pretend like I wasn't. But I'm paying for my mistakes and I'm trying to make amends." McGonagall walked out of the great hall doors 'let's go have lunch shall we?' I walked over to Hanna who was still sitting on the floor on her knees while the rest of the kids made their way into the great hall. I reached my hand out and Hanna took it and stood up, "I think this is yours." Hanna reached out and grabbed it. 'Thank you, Hagrid told me that I should take it straight back to my dorm but on my way there..' She looked over her shoulder towards the boy. "I bet Ms. Weasley will walk you to your dormitory to put the kitten away." I looked over my shoulder at Ginny and she was smiling and she nodded holding her hand out for Hanna to take. I squeezed Ginny's arm on the way by and I turned to walk into the great hall.