The Secret Author

3. The Floating Candles

1st September 1998

POV: DRACO
Mother woke me up ridiculously earlier, screaming about anything and everything and how she is so excited for me to go back.
Me on the other?
I am not. Part of my sentence from being a Death Eater- sorry, Ex-Death Eater, is to help rebuild the castle then to go back to complete my education, though I don't see the point. It's not like anyone is gonna employ me anyway. Even though the dark mark faded after Voldemort's demise, there is still scared so that anyone close enough can see. But the worst part about returning is seeing Potter. That saviour, with his stupid scar and his messy hair, well-built body, I bet he gives good hugs, and his gorgeous eyes- wAit! Did I just call Potter's eyes gorgeous? I don't like him like that. I means I'm gay, but I don't like Potter, not at all right?

POV: REMUS
"Harry get your ass up." I heard my husband bellow down the corridor.
"Sirius!!!" I said, glaring at him, giving what he and Harry calls my 'Moony Stare', "That boy may be 18, a legal adult, but that is no way to speak to our child!"
Padfoot just laughed, kissed my forehead and walked downstairs yelling something about breakfast will be ready in ten and we need to leave for Charing Cross in an hour. I smiled to myself, that man will be the death of me!

POV: HARRY
"-get your ass up!" That would be Padfoot. I rolled over climbing out of my bed and heading into the bathroom to have a shower and get ready. Today was the day I was going back to Hogwarts and to say I am nervous would be an understatement. I moved my trunk downstairs alongside a few other belongings.

Padfoot pulled me aside as I was heading down to the kitchens,
"Look Pup, I really don't want to have to ask you this but Narcissa-no don't interrupt me- Narcissa asked me to ask you to just keep an eye out for the Malfoy Spawn. Apparently she's worried about his health and all that and because she understands that you too seem to quote on quote, 'see each other often', whatever that means?, she reckons you can keep an eye out to see if he has any drastic changes. Please Pup, just have a nosy everyone in a while!"
"Ight, I'll do that, for you and Narcissa- she saved my life- but don't think I'm doing this for him"
Sirius nodded at me and walked off, me following closely behind. I ate breakfast with Pads and Moony before flooing into Charing Cross. When we got their all my nerves dissolved as I stood in front of the scarlet train which would be taking me home: The Hogwarts Express.

I got on the train after bumping into Neville on the platform. Padfoot helped me get my trunk on the train and Nev and I found mine, Ron's, and Hermione's old compartment. I looked out of the window and saw Remus engrossed in conversation with Molly who, I'm assuming, came to wave Ginny off. Sirius saw me first and started waving, Remus and Molly soon following as I felt the train jerk underneath me. We were on our way, no turning back now!

Ginny and Luna, hand in hand, joined Nev and I in our compartment soon into the journey. We got chocolate frogs from the Trolly Lady and lo and behold, who do I get?

Myself.

I actually got my own face on my chocolate frog card. I don't need that; I own a mirror! Neville got Hermione, again, this is the third chocolate frog he's opened on this journey, and the second Hermione. He said he's going to send it to her as a joke.

About four hours into the journey, the urban areas of Birmingham and the other midland cities slowly changed into the green rolling hills of the English countryside as we progressed north up to Scotland. We were sitting, Luna and Ginny were telling Nev and I what they did over the summer whilst we were sharing a packet of Berty Bots every flavour beans when we heard a small dainty tap on the door. Me being the closest to the door slide it open without a second thought.
"Hi can we help you- Malfoy. To what do we owe this pleasure!" I said sarcastically. Malfoy rolled his eyes, flushing lightly.
"Potter, Longbottom, Weaslette, Luna! No Weasel or Granger eh? Sorry to be intruding on what looks to be a sugar fest," he replied nodding at each of us then proceeding to scan over the collection of wrappers and boxes scattered across the room, almost concerned, "I was just wondering, Potter, whether I could join you three Gryffindorks and Luna here for the last couple of hours of the train journey. Believe me
when I say this was my last option but I do not think I can bear Pansy for a moment longer and you're the only other compartment that has even opened the door to me." Draco drawled.
"Well it must be bad if you decided to come and sit with us?" Neville questioned. Neville had really grown into his body in the past two months. He was taller, his hair fitted his face (which had appeared to have slimmed down a lot) and he discovered his fashion sense, with the help of Luna and Ginny of course.
Draco rolled his eyes and pushed me into the door, motioned for Luna to move up and sat down beside her, shocking Gin, Nev and myself. Luna smiled and turned to Malfoy and talked to him as if they had been best friends for years. Ginny cleared her throat after several uncomfortable minutes, causing Luna and Malfoy to pause their conversation...
"As confusing as this is, me and Luna need to go and change into our robes." She grabbed Luna's hand, pulling her to her feet and ran out of the compartment, leaving me, Malfoy and Nev to make awkward conversation and snide remarks to one another.

We arrived about an hour later, just as night began to fall over Hogsmeade Station.
"First years o'er 'ere" I heard a familiar voice bellow across the sea of excited children. Hagrid scanned the crowd, noticing me and my... unusual... company as Malfoy was yet to leave our side, he smiled at me then turned back to his task of getting a group of 11 year olds onto boats to take them to the castle.

"Oi Malfoy mate! Over here!" Blaise yelled from a carriage.
"Well then Gryffindorks, it was strange journey I must admit. Hope you hated that as much as I did!" And then Malfoy let just like that. I shook my head, he imposed himself onto my friends then ditched us. But what did I care, I got into a carriage and sat talking to Neville and a couple of 6th years, the shadow of Hogwarts looming over us.

POV: DRACO
It was a shame I must admit when Blaise called me over, but I can't have Potter and co. thinking I enjoyed their company now can I!
"Draco, did you really think that was a good idea. Sitting with Harry Potter, a Gryffindor, you enemy, the chosen one-"
"Yes I know who Potter is thank you very much Pansy-"
"I'm just saying, it can't be good for you to be sitting with him, it will just bring up bad memories defeating the point of all of our Therapy sessions!"
Pansy decided she would be my Therapist after the war as no one wanted to talk to an Ex-Death eater. She took a muggle Inertet? Ninterweb? Inter-web? course and passed with 'flying colours', making her qualified in her opinion. I must say it had worked a little bit even if most of her solutions was us going and doing a bit of retail shopping in a Muggle Shopping Centre.
"Well Pansy, just remember our bet. I'm just trying to win!" She went silent.

After a few moments of a comfortable silence, we arrived at most would call home, but what I called hell. We walked through the entrance hall and into the Great hall. I noticed almost immediately that that there was 5 tables and the teachers table running perpendicular to them. The middle table was a lot shorter than the other 4. Above the middle table was a banner of the Hogwarts emblem with a large gold 8 instead of the 'H'. Professor, sorry Headmistress McGonagall pointed to the middle table implying that's where we were to sit. I sat down looking up at the familiar sight of the thousands of floating candles. We watched the house sorting, Slytherin gained a few new members, all appearing to fit right in.

McGonagall gave a very good headteachers speech, clapping and soon the tables were filled with food, lots, and lots of food. Whilst I was eating, I felt a pair of green eyes staring at me. I turned to look at Potter, sneered and then continued to eat. I didn't catch him staring until the very end of the feast. When we all walked back to our common rooms. McGonagall explained that we would still be in our houses but 8th years would have their own small living quarters off the edge of our main house common room.
We walked through the dungeons and through a small door into a moderately large lounge, colours green and black. Off the lounge there was several rooms, each labelled. Blaise and I were rooming together. I was very relieved to discover we were sharing rooms. I unpacked and laid on my bed wondering...

What was going to happen this year?