After Hogwarts

Chapter 10

At supper that night many of the Slytherins were surprised to see Draco Malfoy enter the Great Hall and seat himself at one of the tables, alone. Charlie walked over and introduced himself as the head of house and Draco about had a heart attack to find out that a Gryffindor was now his head of house. Charlie explained the rules of the house, the new rules, and warned Draco that he would be watched very closely. Draco got another surprise when no food appeared on his plate and when he was told he had to fill his plate himself, Draco tried to order a first year to serve him but the first year refused.

When Draco entered the common room after his first meal back he was encircled by several of the fifth through seventh years and informed that his usual tactics and attitudes wouldn't be tolerated. "Charlie Weasley is a fair head of house and we don't want to suffer because of your actions. The Weasley twins are the potions instructors and they actually teach instead of just giving people points. You don't want to upset the Transfiguration instructor as she is even worse than McGonagall when it comes to proper behavior in class. I don't know if you are going to last long in Defense as Harry Potter is the instructor and one of the assignments is for you to defend against attacks during class and at meals; you can be attacked by Harry or Bill Weasley, who is the head of Gryffindor, at any time – and Potter doesn't always use his wand. There have been many changes here and most of them we like. So, just to be fair we are warning you ahead of time to watch your step because if you screw up we will be your worse nightmare. Oh, and you have been replaced as Seeker since you didn't bother to show up at the start of the year. Now have we made ourselves clear, or do we need to reenforce things the old way?" was the speech given by several of the older students. All of this had been observed and overheard by Charlie, who just smiled.

Draco's first class the next day just happened to be Charms and Flitwick gave them a review exam on the practical aspect of what had been covered first semester. The bad thing was that Hermione was there to help out and Draco couldn't seem to get half of the spells correct, even the few fifth year spells he was asked to preform. Flitwick told Draco he would have the choice of retaking fifth year Charms or he could volunteer for extra sessions each night to try and catch up. Draco elected to do the extra sessions.

Draco had the same problem in each of his classes that day. The only class where he didn't have a problem was Potions, he was ejected out of the class in the first five minutes by Fred for trying to ruin someone's potion. After supper that night Draco was summoned to the Headmistress' office and told that she was putting him back into fifth year so maybe he wouldn't fail. "Mr Malfoy, I thought I made myself clear before you came back that things have changed here at Hogwarts. I gave you the benefit of doubt that you might be able to enter as a sixth year, it appears I was mistaken. While I'm sure you have been studying some while trying to obtain a wand, it would appear that you are further behind than I would have thought. To not even be able to preform fifth year spells leaves me no choice in this matter. I have reversed your assigned detention in Potions due to my mistake in assigning you to sixth year, but this is the last time I will interfere on your behalf. Here is your new schedule, you will note that you have Charms first thing in the morning so I suggest you review the assigned lesson before then, you might get one of the fifth years to help you catch up" McGonagall explained and then dismissed Draco.

When Draco got back to the Slytherin's common room he was met by Charlie Weasley. "Well Mr Malfoy I have convinced Mr Broadmore to help you get caught up on your assignments, he won't do the work for you but he will inform you of what is expected in each of your classes. I have prevailed on your instructors to not take points from Slytherin House due to your actions today and at the request of the Headmistress. I have taken the liberty of having a copy of the house rules made available so you will know what to expect and what is expected. Have a nice evening" Charlie explained.

When Draco entered the common room Mr Broadmore introduced himself and told Draco to get his books and he would be shown where they were in each of his classes that they shared. "I don't know if you will be responsible for the holiday homework or not as you weren't here last semester. But I do know you will need to learn the 'paintball' spell for Defense and I hope you can put up a decent shield or else you will be multicolored in that class. Now besides the required courses what are you taking so I can see if I can find someone to help out?" Broadmore asked. Draco it turned out wasn't taking anything but the minimum required classes.

The next morning things started out badly for Draco in that every time he reached for his juice it would moved. When he arrived at Charms he was informed that they were to have another practical test and this time it was Potter who was helping evaluate. Making Draco's day even was was the fact that Flitwick asked Harry to test Draco. Harry had Draco start with first year charms quickly progressing up to the level the class was currently learning. Draco complained that the rest of the class wasn't starting with first year charms Harry told him that was because they had already tested at the start of the year and only had to review what was covered the first semester. Draco couldn't believe that these fifth years were now into early sixth year charms, at least what he considered early sixth year spells. Harry even warned Draco that he needed to brush up on cross species transfiguration as that was where he would be when that class came around.

At the end of class Harry told Draco that he had received an "Acceptable" for the class and that Draco needed to practice more on doing the multicolored charms. When Draco asked for a demonstration Harry had one of the other students to do the charm. The student used Draco as a target and made him four different colors at one time, Draco now looked like a mixture of Gryffindor and Slytherin. His face was the colors of Gryffindor but his arms and hands were the colors of Slytherin, Draco realized later that the student had even changed the color of all of Draco's clothes – even his underwear.

The next class was Herbology; Draco had very little problem in that class, except that he resented Neville being the instructor. After lunch Draco had CMC and was surprised to see his head of house as the instructor. When asked for the uses of dragon blood Draco couldn't answer more than three of the twelve known uses. It was then that Charlie told the class that due to some research over the holidays that he had found another use but that information was still under review. Draco was excused from the next part of class as he had no idea as how to determine what type dragon a scale came from, instead he was assigned to do a one page explanation of the characteristics of the Hippogriff to be handed in at the end of class.

Draco's next class was the one he had been dreading since before his return, Defense with Harry. Following roll-call, Harry asked if anyone could tell Mr Malfoy the motto of this class. Everyone shouted out Constant Vigilance at the same time. When Harry pointed his finger at the class everyone but Draco put up a shield, Draco now had several colorful spots on his robes. "Would someone please clean up our newest student and then split into two teams. Team one will draw a name to see who you will go against in a friendly duel against team two. Since there is now an odd number of people the odd person will duel me using first through fifth year spells or you may elect to duel an elf with the same restrictions" Harry explained.

After the class had divided up the smallest girl in the class said she would like to volunteer to duel the elf as it would give her more practice and more of a challenge, Draco snickered at that statement. Both Harry and the girl heard Draco, so Harry declined the offer but said she could go against Draco, who smiled evilly. They were the first two opponents and Harry asked if Draco was familiar with the spells allowed and the rules. Draco implied that he had been given a list of the spells covered so far, Harry told him that all of the fifth year spells were allowed – even the ones not covered yet in class.

Draco and the small girl, Jane, faced off. Draco tried to shoot a spell before they even had time to bow to each other only to see his spell countered by Jane. Harry gave Draco a warning and had them try again to bow. As soon as Harry gave the "GO" command Draco found himself hanging in the air upside down, at least he wore pants this time. Even though he still had his wand he was disorientated and got more so when Jane started him spinning. "Professor, are you sure I can't face the elf this is just too easy?" Jane asked as she now shot balls of paint at Draco.

Harry did his best to keep from laughing as Draco spun and was hit by several of the paint-balls. "Well, I know Mr Malfoy is better than what he has shown so far. How about you disarm him and we do a rematch after he has had time to recover and the winner of that rematch can face off against an elf later. In fact you will all get the chance to duel an elf before end of term" Harry replied.

Jane quickly took Draco's wand from him and handed it to Harry. Draco staggered over to a chair and sat down and looked at all the paint on his robes. The "duel" had only lasted a couple of minutes. As Draco watched several of the following duels he saw that the students didn't just shield but dodged and ducked the oncoming spells, only using a shield when needed. The odd person got ready to take his turn and elected to face the prof., the kid was large but he said he didn't think he was ready to face an elf. What really got Draco's attention was that the kid was doing many spells without a wand, he still lost against Harry.

When the duel was over the kid thanked Harry for the workout and said he never thought he could beat the prof. but had fun trying. "Hey Professor, it looks like I got lucky at least once. You've got one spot on your robes" the kid said and sure enough there was a small spot of paint on Harry's robes. The whole class clapped, except for Draco – Harry didn't bother to tell them that spot was from Bill Weasley and the seventh year class.

"Okay, now that we have all had a laugh it is time for the rematch; Ms. O'Connell, Mr Malfoy if you will take the platform again. Only this time lets let Mr Malfoy cast the first spell, and Ms. O'Connell please use something besides second and third year spells. It would be nice if I saw a few of the spells we have covered this year, besides the paintball spell" Harry instructed.

The two mounted the platform and bowed to each other, then Jane took up a defensive position. The first spell from Draco was Expelliarmus, which was dodged. Next Draco tried a body bind and it too missed. After five more spells missed Jane she returned fire and suddenly Draco was wearing too small robes and his wand was in Jane's hand. "I'm sorry prof. but it only took a couple of second year spells to win, can I still face off against the elf?" Jane said as she returned Draco's robes to the correct size and tossed his wand back to him. Draco tried to spell her as she walked away but she shielded and took his wand again without even taking out her wand.

"Mr Malfoy that will be 20 points from Slytherin and a detention for unsportsmanlike conduct. That is the most points I've ever had to take from a house this year, in addition you will be prepared to demonstrate ALL spells learned up to this date by this time next week – in front of this class. Any spell you miss or can't do will result in a loss of 5 points per spell. Your detention will be served with Prof. Charlie Weasley. Now class dismissed." Harry said.

As he left class Draco was surrounded by several Slytherins and Broadmore told him that he had just lost more points at one time than any student in the house had that year. "Also, just so you know, one of the requirements of this class is to be able to shield yourself at a moments notice. The girl you attacked twice today is the top Defense student in our year, you got lucky she didn't kill you – but we might!" Broadmore said and walked away. Draco kept a low profile for the remainder of the day. As he was walking into the dinning area for supper he was hit with six paintball spells at one time. From the angle Draco suspected most of them had come from his own house.

Just as supper was ending Charlie Weasley stood and told the hall that all Slytherins were to report to the common room for a house meeting, no exceptions. When the meeting started Charlie stood in front of his house, "Today this house lost points, the most points lost at one time for the year. Now I understand the loss of points for not being prepared in class, but those points are usually made up for by points gained. The loss of so many points by one student is NOT ACCEPTABLE. If this happens again then ALL extracurricular activities will be forfeit and that includes Hogsmead. Mr Malfoy your detention is postponed until next Saturday and your performance in Defense next week will determine if it is made into more than one session. Mr Broadmore, while I will not order you to help Malfoy I will ask that you think about it for the good of the house. Now I won't mention who but the elves have told me that a few of you have left messes for them to clean up, this was discussed at the start of the year and isn't allowed. If you can't keep this place clean and neat then you will all suffer. Those of you who need to go to the library to finish your homework are excused, the rest are to get busy and finish your work."

Once Charlie had left the room Draco was again surrounded by his dorm-mates and made painfully aware they were not happy with him. Broadmore came in Draco's room a short time later and told him to come with him, it was time for "remedial" lessons. Draco told him to leave him alone only to be bound and floated out of the room and into the common room where Broadmore announced that Draco had refused help. Draco was again made "painfully" aware that this was an unacceptable choice and followed Broadmore to the Defense practice room. Draco made the same trip each night and it wasn't always Broadmore who helped with the "remedial" lessons, sometimes Harry was there too.

It was time for Draco to show his spell work it had been a week since his assignment. Surprisingly it was Jane who offered to help out and provide the target, herself; but Harry said Draco would use the same target they had used the first of the year – the scoring target. What Draco wasn't expecting was the arrival of Flitwick and Hermione to watch him preform. The first thing Harry asked was to see Draco's shield, it took two tries before Draco raised his shield; Flitwick shot a paintball at the shield and the shield held. Next Draco was told to fire a Reducto at the target, he got a 45 (kinda weak) so Harry told him to put more strength into the spell and to try again. This time Draco got a 55, and fell down. Harry allowed Draco to rest for 5 minutes before continuing the test. Draco passed with all the first through fourth year spells and got 75% of the current fifth year spells correctly, which meant that Draco lost 30 points (6 x 5 points each). Harry said he would return 20 points if Draco's shield could stand up to the spell of a second year of Harry's choice. There were several moans from the Slytherins in the class, and a few knuckles were cracked too.

Harry sent a note to Tom's instructor and asked to "borrow" Tom for a few minutes. When Tom arrived Draco was instructed to stand at one end of the classroom and Tom would throw a spell at Draco's shield. Harry told Tom to cast a MILD fist of air at Draco. "Now Mr Malfoy, this is a second year student. He is going to attempt to hit you with a burst of air and a paintball. If he hits with the paintball you lose the 20 points, if the paintball doesn't hit because of your shield then you get back 20 points; is this agreeable to you?" Harry asked. Draco said it was agreeable and Tom gave him a chance to put up his shield. The fist of air hit Draco in the stomach and Draco lost his concentration the paintball hit Draco in the forehead.

"That will be another 20 points from Slytherin. I guess it was a good thing Tom only used a mild air spell. But to be fair, Mr Malfoy can choose any student from this class and if they fail to stop the same air spell then he won't lose the extra points. In fact he can choose up to three students, if they are willing, to undergo the same test of their shields" Harry said. To try and get his revenge Draco chose Jane, Broadmore, and the big kid. Harry had the three stand where Draco had stood, but he put them side by side. Tom asked for a minute and walked down to Jane, "You aren't going to be mad if I hit you with that fist of air are you? I don't like trying to hit a girl for no reason" Tom said. Jane just told him if he hit with his spell it just showed she wasn't as strong as she thought, but would want his help later to improve and she wanted him to not hold back just because she was a girl - "Give me your best shot, best MILD shot that is". The two boys told him the same thing.

Tom returned to his position and counted down from 10, then fired three fist of air at the trio – one at each. Jane didn't move, Broadmore and the big kid were knocked backwards. A spot of paint appeared on each boys chest and on the shield of Jane. Harry just shook his head, then Jane asked if Tom could try again but harder – just to see if her shield would hold. Harry looked at Tom and he shrugged and fired off a stronger blast, it took three more blasts before Jane was wearing a spot of paint on her chest, but she looked happy. "Professor that was almost as strong as I can cast that spell without help from my friend Abe" Tom said then turned and tried to apologize to Jane, but she would have nothing to do with the apology since she asked for the chance to test her shield.

Harry asked the class what they thought, should Draco get the points back or not. Draco lost the total of 50 points, only one person besides Draco, voted to reduce the points. Draco was not well received by his fellow Slytherins, or his head of house. "Ms. O'Donnell 20 points for demonstrating a good shield charm and another 20 points to Tom for his demonstration of that spell and silently as well" Harry remarked. As the class ended Draco had to ask what spell Tom had used, the whole class answered "Fist of Air".

That night at supper, and Draco was still eating alone, a first year delivered a note to him informing him that he was expected at Hagrid's hut at 9am on Saturday to do his detention and to wear old clothes and no robes. As Draco was leaving the hall he heard Charlie ask Prof. Spout how much dragon fertilizer she needed since he was going to the reserve that weekend. When Draco arrived in the common room he overheard Broadmore saying he was glad the air spell hit in his stomach instead of his groin, that would have really hurt.

A/N: Well Draco is back and it would appear that he hasn't changed much. Draco's detention will be the next chapter - he will hate it and you will love it (I hope).

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