New School, New City, New Hellmouth

Harry stirred his spoon listlessly through his breakfast. Tonks gave him a worried look.

"Harry..."

"Yes, Tonks?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm not at the Dursleys, which is always something to be thankful for."

He relived that endless moment again. He couldn't stop seeing Sirius die. And it was all his fault. If he hadn't rushed in. . . Sirius might still be alive. What was that saying? Oh yeah. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. That was him alright. A world-class fool, who thought he could make a difference.

Tonks bit her lip slightly, still more then slightly worried about him.

"You'll be going back to school soon," she said cheerfully. "And I know Ron and Hermoine are coming around this week to help pick out school supplies."

"Great," Harry said dully.

~*~*~*~

In another house in a different part of England, far more refined then Grimauld place, Draco stared at his mother, disbelievingly.

"I'm what?"

"There's a new school opening in America..."

"You're sending me to the Colonies. Honestly, Mother, why can't I just attend Durmstrang? Or even Beauxbatons?"

"Because your father's in gaol and we need to at least appear to be going along with Dumbledore," Narcissa said in a cool voice. "He's the only person who can put in a word for Lucius."

"If he was stupid enough to get caught-"

"I do not want to hear you say a single disparaging word about your father, Draco Malfoy, have I made myself clear?" Narcissa hissed venomously. Draco nodded curtly.
"Perfectly, as usual, Mother. I think I'll go practice my Charms, if you would excuse me..."

"Oh, and Blaise is going to Chambreloa too," Narcissa informem.
m.

Draco twitched slightly. "And that's supposed to make me feel better, how?"

He knew Blaise his cousin far better then he wished he did. She was the reason he was so good at Locking, Silencing and Invisibility charms. So he could stay as
far away from her and her idea of fun involving him as possible. He'd thought he was finally going to get away from the little black haired, blue eyed highly violent and venomous china doll. But no. Life as always, hated him with a passion.

~*~*~*~

Back in Grimmauld Place, the newly reunited friends had just received some very bad news.

“What do you mean Hogwarts has been destroyed?” Hermione gasped. “How is this even possible? I’ve read Hogwarts: A History, many times, and it is supposed to be impervious to dark magic.”

“Yes,” Tonks said sadly. “But not to demons. However, all is not lost. Your credits have all transferred. Some students are going to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang, but you four,” she looked at Ginny with a smile, “will be going to a new school, Chambreloa, in America. New Orleans, Louisiana, to be exact.” As to prove her point, a school owl arrived at the window, with all four Chambreloa letters. They became absorbed in their letters, along with the supplies they’d need. Ginny looked confused.

“My letter says I’m on scholarship, paid by the Watcher’s Council of Great Britain. What’s that?”

“Mine says the same thing,” Ron said.

“It’s a muggle organization determined to eliminate the demon population of the world. They’ve worked alongside the Ministry for years.”

"And despite the fact that they work with the Ministry, which is damning in and of itself, we're just supposed to trust this, right?" Harry said. "And why do we have to buy stakes?"

"Gift horse, Harry," Ron said, scanning the letter. "Oh, crap!"

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Snape is teaching Potions there!" Harry twitched slightly.

"Well, maybe he won't be so bad out of Hogwarts?" Hermione suggested. Ginny made a face.

"'Mione, he'll be somewhere he hates, talking to students he despises, and I bet he doesn't know any of the teachers. He's going to be worse then ever with a whole new load of bitterness and loathing for the world."

“Would it make you feel any better to know that, firstly, this whole thing was Dumbledore’s ideAnd And secondly, Snape’s only teaching half the forms. There are two potions teachers, Professor Snape and Professor Halliwell,” Tonks said, smiling.
~*~*~*~

Blaise picked up the letter as it fluttered to the table in front of her and the courier owl flew back
out the window. She opened it and giggled slightly as she read it.

New Orleans.

My, but this was going to be fun.

~*~*~*~

Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron raced through Ddiagon Alley, picking up the things they needed for the new school year. Out of the corner, Harry saw Draco.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky,” Hermione supplied, “And Draco will be going to Durmstrang.”

Draco looked around carefully. No sign of Blaise. No sign of. . . and the universe slapped him down again. Potter, two Weasels and the mudblood. Fantastic. Maybe if I just ignore them, they'll go away. . . He walked into Flourish and Blott's to get his books for the upcoming school year.

"Draco!"

Blaise leapt on his back and Draco gagged slightly as she not so accidentally throttled him.

"Are you coming to the new school?"

"Nice to see you're as immature in mind as you appear in body, Zabini," Draco said hoarsely as she got down and looked at him with huge innocent eyes.

She looked like a Catholic schoolgirl, in high knee socks, patented buckle shoes, extremely short
skirt and a half untucked white blouse. A large white bow securing her silky black hair out of her face
completed the picture. . . and the black dog collar with spikes around her neck.

"And you're just as much of an inbred ass as usual," she said in a sweet voice.

"Tell me, did your last boyfriend get out of gaol for sex with a minor?"

"That was you? I taught you well, Padawan. Truly evil. Very nice touch. But I'm still going to remove your entrails through your nose."

She smiled at him and batted her eyelashes, looking about ten.

Ginny watched the interaction between the two former Slytherins with interest. God but Draco was beautiful, even if he was a conniving slime ball on the inside. And Blaise was. . . Blaise. Well, at least Luna was coming to Chambreloa. It would be nice to have at least one friend in her form. Ginny’s forehead crinkled as she read the letter.

“Hermione, what does this mean: ‘Girls may wear either traditional witches robes and cloaks, or black skirts with white tartan patterns, plaid skirts in house colours, knee socks, dress shoes, and white button-down collared blouses, with black cardigans, and headbands in house colours.’?”

“Well, it seems they’re giving us a choice. We can either wear robes, like we do at Hogwarts, or we can wear Muggle school uniforms. I think I’ll get each, so I can alternate on different days. It does say we need stretchy work-out clothes as well. Do you have any of those?” Ginny shook her head.

“Well, until we can go to a Muggle shop, you can borrow some of mine for now.”

“Thanks,” Ginny said, now a little apprehensive over needing things she had never even heard about before. Wooden stakes were bad enough, but to take a class on weaponry? The note warned that no first-years would be allowed to bring their own swords or axes. Truth be told, Ginny was a little bit afraid of this school, though she knew she could take it on, and make a difference.

"Look! Gryffindors! Let's scare them!" Blaise grinned evilly and flexed her hands together. Draco smiled slightly.

"Zabini, feel free."

"Watch the master work."

"Shouldn't that be mistress?"

"Quiet, slave, or there will be pain. I am mistress of pain, but you can call me Betty." And with that complete non-sequitur to someone who wasn't familiar with exceptionally poor muggle comedy movies, Blaise moved off for the kill. Draco settled back to watch. Blaise in action was like watching a cute fluffy
kitten suddenly devour a small child whole. Amusing, shocking, and wrong on so many levels you can't count them.
"Hi!" She bounced slightly on her toes, smiling at Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

"Hi," Ron said guardedly.

"Are you coming to Chambreloa as well?" Blaise asked. She only barely came to the middle of Hermione's chest, being extremely petite in stature. She fluttered her eyelashes artfully at Harry and Ron, for the moment ignoring Hermione and Ginny.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Why?"

"Because New Orleans has one of the highest missing persons rate of any city in America," Blaise said, still smiling innocently. "And I bet that you for instance w dis disappear real easy." Hermione smiled sweetly at Blaise.

“That’s very true, Blaise. But did you also know that New Orleans has one of the highest vampire populations in the world? And as far as I understand, they’re very attracted to Goths.”

"Tell me, have you actually seen a vampire, mudblood?" Blaise said, still looking innocent.

"Don't call her that!" Ron growled.

Blaise tilted her head slightly. "Why ever not? It's the truth. And to call you a closet gay who lusts over both his best friends would be true too."

"Don't say stuff like that about my brother!" Ginny snapped.

"And where should I start on you? There's so many pleasant options of emotional pain. Ahem. I hear New Orleans has a lot of snakes, particularly in summer. The Basilisk population has never been healthier. Fancy catching up on some summer reading and talking with an old friend, Virginia? Well, not talking per se, because you'll both be writing but it worked well last time. Until Harry nearly let you die. Tell me, Boy Wonder, how does it feel to add another death up to your idiocy? Cedric wasn't enough?"

And with that last emotional chainsaw, Blaise skipped off merrily, giggling with her hands clasped behind her back. Draco clapped slowly, winked at the white Harry and took Blaise's arm in a gentlemanly posture before they both strolled off.

"Excellent work, Zabini."

Ginny’s hands curled into fists. “Right now I can think of no reason not to beat her little face in,” Ginny said. She had only recently gotten very strong, overnight. She hadn’t told anybody, which was probably a mistake, but still, she knew she could easily throw Blaise about 20 feet without even breaking a sweat.

“Gin, come on, it’s all right, we’ll just go into the bookstore. That’s our last stop, and we’ll have everything on out lists that can be bought in Diagon Alley.” Hermione had nerves of steel. Ever since the day in first year when Ron had made her cry, she hadn’t let a single mean word affect her. It had become her policy to just let the comments roll off her back like water on a duck. Hermione led her three best friends into Flourish and Blott’s.

"Don't listen to her, Harry," Ron said. Harry shrugged slightly.
"She's right though. It is my fault."

"Harry Potter, I never want to hear you say that agai Her Hermione snapped. "It wasn't, and it isn't. Since when do you actually listen to anything a Slytherin says anyway?"

"When they're right." Harry picked up a copy of 'Demonology 101 - Common demons and how to slay them'. "Which is more often then I have been lately."

"I want to kick puppies and make small children cry." Blaise's eyes glinted. "I'm on a high now. Swear, I saw tears in Harry's eyes."

"Maybe this won't be so bad," Draco said slowly "Yes, you can hang out with the intelligent evil people now. Crabbe and Goyle are going to Durmstrang."

Ginny walked around, gathering the books on her list. “Oh, did you hear? The Patil twins are going to Beaubaxtons, but Lavender’s coming to Chambreloa with us, as well as Neville, Dean, and Seamus. This year might not be quite so bad after all.” Ron nodded.

“Maybe not. But Padma, well, she’s okay, Parvati as well. Do you know if Cho is going yet?”

“I don’t know,” Ginny replied.

“Me neither,” Hermione said. “Well, I think we have everything. Anybody else up for an ice cream? I know I am.”

"When do I say no to sugar?" Ginny said.

"Blood lollipops," Ron said promptly.

"Those don't have sugar in them...do they?"

"I think they have some."

"That's blasphemous!"

The group set off for the ice cream parlour after they bought their texts. Harry carried his books and felt his shoulders go down lower in depression. It was uncanny how Blaise knew exactly how to stick a knife in and then rub salt gleefully into the wound.

"Luna!" Hermione ran to hug the other girl who smiled slightly and tucked her newspaper under her arm.

"Hello, 'Mione. Hello everyone else. How's life? No unexplained pixie kidnappings?"

Draco watched Blaise manipulate the girl at the counter into giving her free ice cream.

"You're very good at this."

"Looking ten should have some advantages." She licked her ice cream spoon as he lounged elegantly across from her. "You haven't run for your mother yet, crying. I'm losing my touch."

"So far you've confined your venom to Potter. Seeing him emotionally devastated tends to put me in a good mood."

"Oh, I know."

Meanwhile, the five friends had fun catching up over the events of the summer.

“Oh!” Luna said, “Did you hear the exciting news? New Orleans has the highest disappearance and murder rate out of any city in America!” Ron groaned.

“You would find that exciting, wouldn’t you.”

“So, Luna,” Hermione said, cutting in, “Will you be joining us later, with out portkey? I’m really looking forward to this school. It seems like it’s a combination of wizarding and muggle education. I’m quite surprised that Malfoy and Zabini are being allowed to attend. I overheard Mr. Weasley say that some of the staff are Muggles.”

"Damn it!" Blaise dropped her spoon and disappeared under the table. Draco rubbed his forehead slightly and wondered if it would be impolite to Charm his headache away.

Blaise meanwhile had spelled the girl's shoelaces in the booth behind them into tying unpredicatably, set to start half an hour after she left the store. Another tap of her wand and every thread vanished from the guy's clothing. She shimmied back up into her seat, smiling.

"I distrust that smile. What did you" Dr" Draco asked suspiciously.

"What do you think?"

"Minor random acts of evil."

"And none of them on you, yet."

"I'm shaking," Draco said dryly.

"Oh, I know." Blaise's smile got wider and happier. "I love that bowel loosening terror that passes for respect, don't you?"

"Honestly, can you never get away from Weasleys wherever you go?" Draco said as the group eed. ed.

"The pod people are spawning! Nggghh!" Blaise jumped the table and hung onto Draco in a parody of terror and a B-grade horror movie starlet. "Oh, Ray, whatever shall we do?"

"We could start with killing them all so that no further damage to the gene pool may be commited,"
Draco said. B "Can you cease touching me now, Zabini?"

"Oh, c'mon, Draco, when was the last time you had some moderately attractive chick hanging off you? Why not just relax and enjoy it?"

"You've got a new taser, haven't you?" Blaise grinned.

"Yeah huh!"

"God, get off me now. I don't appreciate seizures."

"But what if I shocked Loony?"

"Shock Harry and I'll videotape it. We could make a fortune. Another one, anyway."

Hermione and Luna ignored the two Slytherins as they read the Chambreloa pamphlets.

“This school looks exciting,” Hermione said. “Look, we have two Vampire Slayers for teachers, as well as two werewolves, the post powerful good witches in the history of the world, and two vampires with souls teaching demonology. Luna, I bet your father was quite pleased to be sending you here.”

“Absolutely,” Luna grinned.

“Hey, look, Professor Lupin’s teaching D.A.D.A., along with a Buffy Summers. I think she’s one of the Slayer-people.” Harry chuckled.

“Just as long as it isn’t Slayer the band!” Hermione laughed, wrinkling her nose.

“Oh no thank you, no heavy metal for me!” Ron, Ginny, and Luna looked confused.

“Wait,” Ron said slowly. “All metal is heavy, unless you shrink it, or it’s a ring or something. Why wouldn’t you want any heavy metal?”

"Idiot," Blaise sniffed. "Honestly, I think I know more muggle culture then you do." She got off Draco's lap, skirt sliding up to reveal a lot of leg. "Which considering you people want to protect them like
endangered animals is just sad."

"Speaking of endangered animals, how is that baby harp seal coat working out?"

"It's soft and fluffy and the thought of baby seals getting their skulls smashed in gives me a warm tingly feeling."

"You are so..." Ginny shook her head in disgust.

"I say it like it is, sweet innocent Virginia. Virginial. Hey, Draco, new bet." Blaise tapped her
long black nails on the table. "Siska ign kathul histh, kisa jih fissf."

"Got to be joking me, no way in hell," Draco said, shaking his head.

"Oh, c'mon, you know you want to."

"Should I be glad I don't know what they're talking about, or very very frightened?" Ginny said slowly. Blaise smiled at her.

"I think I'm going with very very frightened here."

"Hush, my brave little Gryffindor. Do not fret, for you will go to a land where there are rainbows and Hello Kitty and fluffy little puppy dogs that won't run away from you," Blaise said.

"You realize that made no sense?"

"Made sense to me, Gryff pussy." Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Come on, mates. We’re leaving. I, for one, can feel my brain melting into goo as I am surrounded by Slytherins with the emotional maturity of blueberry scones.” The five of the got up and headed back to where they were meeting Tonks and Me. And Mrs. Weasley, before they took the portkey to New Orleans.

"That insult was very, very pitiful," Blaise said, shaking her head slightly. She finished off her
ice cream and then stood up. "Let's go spread terror in a whole new country. C'mon, it'll be fun." Draco's mouth twitched upwards in an amused grin.

"Perhaps so." They left to make their own way to the new school.

New Orleans would never know what hit it.