The Silent Order: Draco Malfoy

Chapter 3

As I sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall the next morning I still had no idea where my classes were to be held since Draco never actually helped me.

"I'm sure that someone will point you in the right direction," said Daphne Greengrass, my new roommate.

"Listen if you can't find your classes you could just ditch," Pansy laughed. "It's not even your fault since your dads kept you from orientation last night."

I had to admit that she had a point there. And I wouldn't mind taking another nap with Millicent's cat.

I met my roommates earlier this morning. It was a bit awkward since they awoke to find a strange girl sleeping in a bed in their room, nonetheless the ward of the two scariest faculty members, but we had all laughed it off and made introductions. When I told them I had to take fourth-year classes Pansy looked horrified, stating how she "was here to have fun and do school second."

They commiserated with me on my unfortunate academic luck all the way to the Great Hall. As the fourth-year is the penultimate year before O.W.L.s I was extraordinarily lucky to be starting my official schooling in one of the heaviest years for homework.

"What is your first class of the day Lilian?" asked Millicent.

"I have Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Quirrell and the Hufflepuffs," I answered. I had met the professor before, but the turban was a recent fashion choice I couldn't get behind. He was also a lot weirder than I remember from last year. Fidgety. Nervous. It made me uneasy but that could just be because I was anxious about starting classes with other kids.

"You know you could just approach the faculty table and ask where your first class is..." said Daphne.

"That would be so embarrassing!" exclaimed Pansy.

But she was only right again. However, I didn't really know what other options I had at this point. As I finished my breakfast I approached the faculty dais. I could feel the eyes on my back from the other Slytherins as I strode down the aisle but I was determined to figure out my schedule and apparently nobody else would help me.

"Good morning child," said Dumbledore, watching me like a hawk. "What do you require?"

Of course, I thought, I can't just approach him for some small talk. Every interaction a transaction with us.

"Good morning dad," I replied, emphasizing the fact that I just referred to him as my father despite the fact that I typically don't call him that as he has made it abundantly clear throughout my life his apathy toward me. This seemed to jostle him and his eyes narrowed at the emerald green crest on my robes. The other professors hushed their conversations clearly eavesdropping on whatever pre-teen angst I was about to throw upon their boss.

Right. Not totally over last night's meltdown about the Slytherin thing.

I ignored his judgmental attitude and continued, "Due to our pep talk last night I missed Slytherin orientation and I have not been able to find out where my classes are to be held, nor do I know how to actually get to them if I did know where they were."

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Snape whip his head to Draco and give him a death glare, but Draco didn't notice as he continued to shovel breakfast beans into his mouth. Strange, he was the only student in the immediate vicinity of the faculty dais who wasn't watching this interaction. I suppose the undiscussed adopted ward of two strict professors with an obviously not-so-fuzzy relationship made me a fascinating specimen. Already getting off on the right foot for this whole "be a normal student" thing.

"And what is your first class Lilian?" Dumbledore asked.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts with Quirrell and the other Slytherin and Hufflepuff fourth-years," I answered.