A Whispered Confession Can Change Everything

Epilogue

Draco gulped softly to himself, disembarking from the train with the other years. Cassie gave him a wink, she and the twins forming a little protective huddle around him. Viola wrapped herself around his neck, bleeting softly. They unconsciously shielded him from the other houses sneering at him since he wasn’t walking with his body guards like normal, “First years! Right this way.”

Giving his arm a squeeze, whispering softly in his ear, “Courage is putting one step in front of the
other, in spite of common sense.”

Exhaling softly, he followed after the first years, winking at Pansy who gave him an encouraging look and boarded the carriage. He knew no matter what, she would always be his blood sister. Ron frowned next to Dean Thomas, about to board, “What’s that git doin’...hey, Malfoy! You lost or what ya git?”

Draco froze for a moment, turning slowly to give Weasley a look before carefully unfastening the front
of his robes. Where you would expect to see a collared shirt he was wearing a cotton t-shirt, emblazoned with the phrase:

If you’ve taken the time to read this, you’re deeply stupid


Ron gaped and turned bright red while Draco gave a cheeky grin and joined the herd of first years. Cassie gave the Gryffindor a sneer, surrounded by her peers, “He’s with us, carrot top!” There were giggles and snickers from the other first years, the redhead sputtering before he was pushed gently into the carriage by Dean. Harry gave a discreet thumbs up before climbing in with Hermione and Pansy.

Remus made his way quietly around the crowd, whispering to Hagrid and indicating the distant mist that was gathering. He gave a smile to Draco before moving to the nearest carriage at a fast clip, “Alright now, s’nough of that. Hey there, Draco.”

Giving the half-giant a small grin, “Hi Hagrid.”

The large man gave the blond a welcoming smile before getting everyone’s attention, “Alright then, this way to the boats. Next stop...Hogwarts...”

Draco whispered the words along with him. This night was just like then, his fate sealed on that eve.
He was tossed in Slytherin, labeled a clone of his father and Death eater scum. But with the reassuring presence of Cassie he felt his inner cynic relax. Maybe it would be different this time around. Actually, it was going to be different no matter what.

The little first years, and he felt himself mentally smirk at that thought. Though two years of school difference, they were all the relative same age as he. He was as awashed with awe as the rest of them as Hogwarts came into view. But while they saw an immense castle, lighted and magical, he saw home.

Draco was surprised to see Severus, his godfather tense and wand out. His eyes were on the lake, gesturing for the children to enter the safety of the castle. Minerva was waiting for them at the entrance, giving him a small smile not easily spotted before leading them up the winding staircase, “Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few minutes you will go through these doors and join your classmates but before you will be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Now while you’re here, your house will be your family...”

He hadn’t meant to but he’d tuned her out a bit, realizing it was the same speech every year. Just like his first time, she left them for a few moments while checking to be sure preparations were ready for them. The firsties talked amongst themselves, Draco hanging back against Cassie and nervously wondering if he would indeed be a Slytherin forever, or if he had a different house to await him. The one he’d wished for since he’d been here the first time.

Hen nudged him, “Where will you be sorted?”

Draco shrugged, “I don’t know...”

Alex winked at her sister, “Sure you do. Where do you want to be more than anywhere?”

Sighing softly, he opened his mouth but snapped it shut when McGonagall appeared, “We’re ready for you now. Follow me.”

They all moved into pairs, through the great hall. Cassie was at his side and the dynamic duo followed directly behind him. He blinked in surprise. The hall had been expanded and a new table added along the back wall, next to Slytherin. All the home kids were here. He looked up front, the staff table doubled and filled to the brim with professors and aides. He couldn’t help the bright grin, even as he and the others moved around the sorting hat.

He tuned out the hat and McGonagall and the sorting up until his name was called, staring at everything in fascination,”...Draco...” Minerva glanced at Albus who nodded,”...Dumbledore.”

Blinking, he became instantly aware of the hush that fell over the great hall. Of course many had known, it was hard to miss the news. It must have traveled to every wizarding paper in the world that Albus Dumbledore had adopted a child, but perhaps not everyone knew who that child had been. Ron looked left and right in confusion. Since he’d been in Romania all summer he hadn’t known.

Swallowing once, gathering himself together, he forced himself to move. < You can do this Draco. You can....you will.>

Ignoring the confused murmur through the great hall, he stepped up to the stool and sat down. Albus rose to his feet, “A moment, Professor.” Minerva hadn’t moved yet, just watching with concern. The boy was so pale, “The bylaws that this school was founded on were very specific. On the eve of their eleventh birthday, a student will come before the sorting hat and be sorted into their house. And as Mr. Dumbledore had just turned eleven...” The murmur escalated with gasps of surprise before subsiding,”...he shall be sorted.”

Ron caught the unsurprised look on Harry’s face, “You knew?” Harry shrugged a little but said nothing, devilishly curious where Draco would go. Hermione was silently biting her lip. She knew where he really wanted and wished it for him.

< You deserve it, Draco.>

Draco closed his eyes, jumping just a little when he heard the hat. [ Well now, I’m a little surprised to see you again, young one. Not often I get to read a student a second time...I see. Well, now that I don’t have to protect you let’s take a look...hmm...you have the cunning...a bit of mischief...intelligence, oh yes...what’s this...oh, well that clenches it...]

“RAVENCLAW!”

His eyes popping open in surprise, even as Minerva carefully pulled the hat off of his head. It wasn’t possible. Was it? Good things didn’t happen to him. He didn’t get the friends he wanted. He didn’t get the house he wanted. No one ever cared enough to save him...

He sat there, frozen even as his new house clapped respectfully. But it was Cassie that did it, cheering from her seat next to the twins and gesturing for him to join them. Forgetting all about the eleven years of poise and dignity that was drummed into him, he grinned and fairly leaped to his table. Hermione and Pansy both jumped to their feet, clapping and cheering, Harry smirking and whistling through his fingers. The Gryffindors and Slytherins were simply stunned.

The Hufflepuffs glanced at one another before nodding, climbing to their feet and clapping. The home kids had started cheering as soon as Draco had been sorted. After a few moments everyone settled down and the last of the sorting commenced.

Ron gave Harry a dirty look, “You like the git...don’t you?”

The brunette sighed, “Yes.”

The redhead just blinked in surprise for several seconds before blurting out, “What?!”

Frowning but not about to keep it a secret, “Draco and I are friends so yeah...I like the git.”

Hermione smirked a little to herself but said nothing. Harry, she knew, could get away with saying that
with no fear of retaliation, “How...why?!”

Harry sighed, “I’ll tell you later. Not now, Ron. Later. Or not at all.” And the brunette left it at that. Hermione only wished she could be as bold. She wasn’t as convinced that she would be as successful. Harry was far more popular than she was. The feast had been underway for about ten minutes before Dumbledore stood up.

A hush fell over the crowd of students, “I have a few start of term announcements. The first years should note that the dark forest is forbidden to all students. I realize the schedule may look a bit confusing for those of you returning and perhaps even more so for those who are new. Your Heads of House will review your schedules with any questions but I have a few clarifications to help. On your time table, after the subject you will have the listing of what year you will be attending, level 1 through 7, which coincides with first year level up through seventh. So for example, if you are a second year but your charms curriculum is for level 4, then this means you’ve been promoted to 4th year charms. If your particular schedule is advanced, you will be receiving the advanced curriculum for that course, and the same is true if you have been placed in remedial.”

Ron slumped down in his seat. Half of his classes were remedial. Mentally he smirked. Malfoy-Dumbledore...whatever was probably just as bad. There was no way the bastard could be that good at Quidich...and he could admit the prick was good...and have good grades, “Now, there will a few new courses, many of you have seen this in your schedules. And along with the new classes we have a few new professors and of course, lots of assistance for any questions or problems. There are, I’m afraid, too many wonderful people here tonight to introduce all of them, so I will simply highlight with a most unprecedented and historic event. We will have students teaching three different classes at Hogwarts, not as a special privilege or favoritism but no, because they have passed the university mandated final exam and have received professorship privileges in their fields. Will Miss Hermione Granger please rise?”

Hermione burst into a bright blush but rose to her feet, many of the students looking unsurprised and the Gryffindors proud, “Miss Granger has tested beyond our ability to teach her in Transfiguration, and will be taking over the first and second year classes this year. As she has also done phenomenally well in History of Magic, she will be replacing Professor Binns in instructing first through fourth year.”

Harry stood up and whistled through his fingers, clapping and looking around. “No more Binns, you guys.”

Several of the Gryffindors perked up at that or laughed. Albus just smiled and waited for Harry to sit down again, “Thank you, Mr. Potter. Thank you Miss Granger.” Hermione smiled and sat back down. Nodding, “And will Mr. Dumbledore please rise?”

There were gasps and murmurs that broke out through the hall as Draco rose from his bench. And he didn’t sneer or smirk, on his best behavior as he met his father’s eyes, doing the man proud. Blaise smirked a little, glaring at any sneer he noticed and commanding his fellow Slytherins to show respect. The Ravenclaws all straightened up. He was one of them now. Severus was rather proud, “Mr. Dumbledore has also tested beyond our teaching abilities but in potions and will taking over first year potions, as well as all remedial classes. His abilities were also exceptional in History of Magic and will be handling seventh year classes.”

Blaise, taking seventh year History of Magic this year, was the first to stand and clap. He was not a Gryffindor so his clapping was polite but soon most of Slytherin joined him with a smattering of applause amongst the other houses. Ron sunk down into his bench while Harry brightened considerably, “Thank you Mr. Dumbledore.” Draco nodded and sat down, breathing for the first time.

“Students, this will be an auspicious year. There will be many changes to our school, to our staff, and with you all, I should think. You will share hopes, triumphs and dreams...Welcome to Hogwarts.”

Yeah. Done. And I hope to not update it again.