Harry Potter and his sister Alison

Chapter 35

Returning to Hogwarts this year wasn't nearly as joyful as it always was. The moment everyone got off the train they were put into two lines, male and female, to be identified and inspected by the Carrows. Any Muggleborns were pulled aside by two other Death Eaters and pulled off, usually screaming, into the forest. Everyone else was tense and deadly silent as the wandered from the station to the Great Hall.

When she got to Alecto Carrow she quietly gave her name and tried to quickly walk past the Death Eater, but she had grabbed onto her arm tightly, a smirk on her face.

"Well, well, if it isn't the baby Potter!" Her eyes were wide with crazed delight.

"And look who I've got over here," Amycus walked over holding Draco by his neck. "The traitor!"

"That will do Amycus, Alecto." Snape's calm voice caused the two to spin around, releasing Alison and Draco. "I will take them from here."

The Carrows looked disappointed but carried on with the other students while Draco and Alison followed the new Headmaster up the front steps and into the castle.

"I must say, you look much better than the last time I saw you." Snape said with a look that almost looked like amusement on his face as he looked the young Malfoy over. "I was hoping you both would stay hidden away under the Order's care this year."

"They agreed we'd be safer here." Alison explained in a quiet voice, her eyes on the floor. She felt very uncomfortable right now standing in front of the man who murdered Albus Dumbledore. The man who had betrayed the Order. But, she did what Sirius and Remus said and went along like it hadn't happened.

"You will help us, won't you?" Draco crossed his arms and glared at the older man as if daring him to refuse.

"Of course." Snape sighed. "It won't be easy, but I'll convince the others to leave you two alone and figure out how to keep this from the Dark Lord. If he does find out I'll inform you both."

Draco sighed with relief and nodded. "Thank you, Severus."

"Just don't draw any attention to yourselves." The Headmaster said then turned and walked into the Great Hall.

"You'd think that'd be easy enough." Alison muttered as she and Draco returned to the other students and fell back in line as they walked to the Great Hall.

Alison sat in between Neville and Ginny as they sat at the Gryffindor, glancing over at the Slytherin table where Draco sat with Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and Blaise. She had been worried they'd turn their backs on him after last year and this summer but they were as loyal friends to him as ever.

The Great Hall was filled with the same tense, silence as outside as Professor Snape stood to welcome the students to Hogwarts and explained the new rules: there would be no extracurricular activities or clubs, there was no more Quidditch, Muggle Studies would now be taught by Alecto Carrow and Defense Against the Dark Arts would be changed to just "Dark Arts" and would be taught by Amycus Carrow. Many students murmured unhappily but a pointed look from Snape caused the room to be deadly silent again.

Alison looked over at Professor McGonagall who was giving Snape a look that would probably cause anyone else to burst into flames if she'd look at them like that. Hagrid looked like he was in tears and the other teachers and staff all looked just as unhappy and upset. But no one said a word.

"Now," Snape continued. "You will all receive your schedules and books from your Heads of Houses in your common rooms after dinner." He turned to sit down just as food appeared on the tables before them, looking much more plain and colorless than the extravagant feasts the students were used to having at the school.