Chapter 10

Settling in

"Good morning every one. I have an announcement to make." Draco sighed into his coffee. Monday's were entirely too long to start off having to listen to him. "This year, it has been decided that we will celebrate Halloween in true style."

Draco looked to the sunshine yellow robes the Headmaster was wearing and just rolled his eyes. The old coot wouldn't know style if it jumped up and pulled on his beard. "For the first years, Hufflepuff House is going to host a night of games and such. The second year party will be hosted by Ravenclaw House, the third years by Gryffindor House, and the fourth years will meet in the Slytherin House. The fifth through seventh years will have their celebration here in the Great Hall."

Excited chatter filled the room. The Gryffindors surrounding Draco were all smiling and pleased. Again, Draco missed the Slytherins. He knew if he looked behind him he wouldn't see smiles but disgust at the thought of opening their common room for kids from other houses.

"Now everyone, as I know you are all excited at this turn of events, as you should be, the first Hogsmeade visit will take place this Saturday so you can look for costumes or new robes."

Now the excitement really rose and no one noticed when the headmaster sat down. Who cared if it was a Hogsmeade weekend? The castle had provided them with clothes, books, and supplies but not Galleons. There was nothing worse than shopping and not being able to buy anything.

Not that it mattered if he did have access to his vault, the committee had already decided that the first Hogsmeade day would be spent in searching out Gaunt's shack. So far, the search hadn't been going to well. The crown Potter and his cronies were looking for during the battle was not where they remembered it being. Or the room had changed quite a bit in twenty years. Either way, they had spent the last two Saturday's looking for it with no luck.

Draco was not that happy about the Halloween celebration either. First off, he had no Pansy here. She really was the best fall back girl a guy could ever ask for. Second, he didn't even know anyone to ask to a party like that. The two girls and three boys who had flirted with him in Gryffindor house made him sick to his stomach. These people were actually as old as his mother.

He turned around to look back at Narcissa. Like usual, she was sitting by Regulus who was sitting by Potter. They were like the new golden trio. Narcissa smiled at Potter and gave him one of those coy looks that girls give boys. Potter seemed oblivious but Draco's blood ran cold. What if they changed the past and Potter ended up being his father?

Merlin, He would kill Potter dead before inheriting that hair.

Potter laughed and nudged Regulus with shoulder. That was his family over there making nice with Potter.

"I hope you're planning a nice prank and not murder."

"What?" Draco asked Sirius.

"That was a pretty intense look you got there. Want to prank the Slytherin's. Snape is such a great target."

"Actually, I would love to prank Scarhead. Do you have anything in mind?"

Sirius turned to study Potter, "Regi seems to like him so he can't be any good."

"Oh, he is definitely evil."

James huffed and dropped the paper he was reading in disgust. "Witches or wizards unknown my ass. They know exatctly who is behind these raids. Why don't they print the truth?"

"Prongs my man, don't get yourself worked up. We will ace our NEWTs, get accepted to the auror academy, then save the world. But right now we got something important to discuss. It's time to prank a slytherin."

"I've finally got Lily talking to me. I don't want to mess around with Snape and tick her off."

"I'm not talking about snivelous. I'm talking about the not James Potter."

"What did he do?"

"He got sorted into Slytherin."

"I guess you're right, that is a good enough reason. Got a plan?"

"I got something better than a plan. I've got the location of a boggart."

Draco sat back and took another sip on his black coffee. Luna wanted him to make a friendly overture. Well here it was. He was getting James and Sirius to pay Potter some attention. Scarhead wouldn't even know what hit him.

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The defense class was just winding down when Fabian went up to do the Monday tally. "It looks like Harry Potter is still in the lead. Though I'm surprised your score hasn't gone up now that you're not injured."

"I haven't had time to try again."

"Everyone needs to practice, even those naturally gifted in Dueling. If you don't find time to put in a try, you will do it at the start of next Monday's class in front of everyone. Now, James Potter and Sirius Black now tie for second at 81. That puts Ron Weasley in fourth place with 80 points and Narcissa Black in Fifth place with 75 points."

"Great job everyone."

The class started to file out. Luckily, most of the committee had already left with only his mother waiting as Potter packed up his bag. Draco rushed to hold Potter back like planned, "You'd love that wouldn't you, Scarhead?"

"What are you talking about now?"

"Oh come on, we all know how you love to show off. You probably running through your dueling moves in your mind. Always playing for the crowd."

Draco saw Sirius stick his head back in the room but didn't take his eyes off Potter. "You are such a prat."

"Sing a new song."

"Kiss my ass." He turned toward the door and bumped his bag against Draco as he twirled. Draco couldn't contain his smirk.

"You look like you're planning something."

Draco looked up to his mother. She always could tell when he was up to something. "I have no idea what you are talking about." The laughter from the hall seemed to belie that. They both turned to run for the commotion.

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Harry had no clue what the hell was wrong with Malfoy, except for the constant personality issues, but he'd always been like that. Luna had asked him to cut Malfoy some slack and because it was her, he had tried.

It wasn't until he passed a snickering James and Sirius that he realized he maybe should be on his guard. As it was, the mops falling out of the closet at his feet had him drawing his wand on reflex. The swirling black mist was eerily familiar until it formed in front of him in the shape of a large arch with a long black veil. The whispers and voices called to him. Sirius laughter echoed through the corridor.

He could almost hear his own agonizing screams and feel the soild band of Remus' arm around his waist. Only now it was Hermione desperately holding him from behind and the only sound was that of laughter and until Sirius said, "Curtains I say. It'll be curtains for you."

He was vaguely aware of Ron coming up on his left. He landed a solid punch on Malfoy's jaw which would have been satisfying if Malfoy had not flown back toward the veil. Harry screamed.

Malfoy quickly approached the veil. Harry tried to pull free but Luna had joined Hermione in pulling him back away from the whispering voices. No matter how much Harry really disliked the git, he really didn't want to watch another person fall through.

Pop.

A swirl of smoke and the arch began to change form. Malfoy ended up landing on his arse at the feet of the snake faced Lord Voldemort.

He scurried back away crab style from the apparition that was coming toward him. He stopped when he came to the obstruction that was Harry still being restrained by his two friends. Malfoy reached up and took Harry's wand.

"Riddiculus"

Pop. Voldemort was still there but on his once bald head was a blonde curly wig topped by a diamond tiara. His flowing black wizard robes were replaced with a pink sparkly tutu. And to top off the outfit, the breast of his tutu was adorned with a large glittery gold lightning bolt.

Neville was the first to laugh. The other time travelers quickly followed. Harry was laughing so hard that he fell to the floor next to Draco.

Hermione stepped forward and banished the boggart back into the closet. "That wasn't funny. I understand you idiots like to think you're clever, but that was just mean." She then addressed Draco, "After everything that we have been through to pull something like that..."

"What's the big deal? Sure the snake guy was a little weird but I really don't see how someone could fear curtains." Sirius said with a sneer.

Harry was no longer laughing but tears were still staining his face. He didn't wipe them off. "Last time I faced a Boggart it was a dementor. Would that have been better?"

A/N

I hate it when Authors post little notes about how sorry they are that they are posting late. But I'm sorry; I haven't forgotten this story at all. I blame the holidays.

I'm posting this story as I write it. And the writing was actually going pretty well. But because I'm not plotting it out, each new section is a surprise and I've had to go back and change some things in early chapters. Nothing too big. Also I got a little stuck so I went back to reread the earlier chapters for clues. In rereading, I did a little revising. Again, nothing too big. Just cleaned up some of the grammar, added a few action tags to clarify dialogue. That sort of stuff. I hope it's better. If anything still seems vague, shoot me a review and I'll try and fix it.

Real Life is rearing its ugly head so I give no guarantee about when I'll get time to post the next chapter. But I do guarantee that it will get posted.