Chapter 2

J.K. Rowling owns it all; I am merely manipulating it in a way that pleases me.

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Chapter 2

The chatter at the table ceased. Everyone stared at Malfoy. They knew about his past and that he was a Death Eater. He spent the last year in the company of Voldemort, who had used Malfoy Manor as a headquarters.

The shock of a known Death Eater sitting down at the table had Hermione at a loss for words. She realized that her mouth was gaping open and hastened to close it. Malfoy didn't look at them or say a word. He stared at the empty plate in front of him.

Just when Hermione thought she would shoot some offhanded remark to him, Professor McGonagall walked in the Great Hall. She came up to the table and sat down in the last empty chair.

"Good afternoon, everyone," she said. "There are several things we need to discuss before the rest of the school comes this evening, but first we will have our lunch."

With that, lunch appeared and everyone began to eat in earnest. Hermione noticed that while Malfoy was eating, he barely took his eyes off his plate. Was he being shy and reserved? No, of course not, she assured herself. He will be back to his arrogant, snotty pureblood righteousness just as soon as the headmistress was out of sight.

At first there was no conversation. Slowly as everyone ate their fill, small conversations started. Soon, one by one they all joined in. Hermione smiled, she felt like she was home. She didn't realize how much she had missed this when she was gone last year. She had spent her seventh year on the run. Hiding from the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, Voldemort and his followers, helping Harry find the missing Horcruxes and destroying them.

Being here in the castle wasn't going to be the same without her two best friends, but at least she was going to get to finish school. When Professor McGonagall had sent her an owl and asked to see her last month, she had agreed. McGonagall told her that she would be allowed to return and finish school. Hermione was relieved. She had been afraid that she would have to start this year with the returning sixth years, which would put her a year behind. But the headmistress informed her that based on her grades and her exemplary performance during all of her years at Hogwarts, not to mention her 13 O.W.L.s in her fifth year, she would be able to return and do the review work with the rest of her class.

Just then Professor McGonagall stood and the table fell quiet.

"I would like to thank you all for agreeing to meet with me before we welcome the rest of school back this evening. Now as I am sure you are all very aware, this is a very unusual situation for this school. We have agreed to set up a review course of your classes so that we can refresh and prepare you for your N.E.W.T.s. Our plan is to have everyone caught up by the holidays. We will spend January reviewing and the testing will begin in February. This will enable the professors to spend the remainder of the year preparing the seventh years for their N.E.W.T.s in June. We have a classroom prepared for all of you to use to review. I will be with you daily to help in any way I can. Each evening, the other professors will make time to come to our classroom after dinner and work on some of the more complex assignments with you. Any pratical work will be done during this time.

"Also for those of you taking Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, Professors Sprout and Hagrid have agreed to give up their free periods during the week to assist you. Herbology will of course meet in the green houses and Care of Magical Creatures can meet Professor Hagrid by his cabin."

"Since the professors and I feel we should treat you like guests and not students, we have made some special arrangements for you. You will not be living in your regular dormitories. There is simply not enough room with the new students coming in. I have had some of the guest quarters transformed to a dormitory where you can all stay together. There is a common room and several bedrooms, one for each of you. As I explained in your letters, if you chose to commute each day to school, that is fine. I believe that only one of you has decided on this course of action.

"Draco," she said looking at the pale boy, "your common room fire is connected to the Floo Network and will return you to the manor every night."

Draco raised his head for the first time and nodded at Professor McGonagall as she said this. He quickly returned his gaze to his fingers which he had been intently studying all during her speech.

"You are all free to come and go as you please in your free time. There is no curfew for you, though we do increase security in the castle at midnight. So do try to be back here by then. If you need something in Hogsmeade, just be sure to let someone know you are leaving the castle. Also, Madam Pince has agreed to remain in the library until 11:30 pm every night. The students will not be allowed in there after 10 pm without special permission. This time is strictly for you, to assist you in reviewing for you N.E.W.T.s. You are permitted to use the Restricted Section, though those books must remain in the library.

"You will still remain members of your house, although there will be some changes made to how we will meet as a school. In order to show a more united front for the whole school, we are doing away with house tables this year. We will have several smaller tables where students will sit according to year during feasts and special events. Everyday meals can be taken at whichever table you feel most comfortable. Our hope is that during the school year this may help create stronger bonds with students from all houses. We are looking to you and our prefects to make examples to the younger students of school unity.

"Lastly, as most of the professors do not have a lot of time to spend with you, we want for you to work as a group to make sure that every one achieves their best on their N.E.W.T.s. All of you spent at least some time here last year with the exception of Ms. Granger. It will be best if each of you recognize your strengths and weaknesses so we know what areas you need to improve in. We are looking to each of you to rely on the others for help if possible. Each of you has strength in subjects and may need help in others. Teaching is also a form of learning. It will greatly improve your skills to practice spells and charms with one another. I hope you will rely on each other for necessary tutoring.

"Now if you will all follow me, I will lead you to your quarters. You can settle in while we wait the rest of the school to arrive. I will come and get you before the feast."

With that she stood and motioned for them to follow her. Hermione noticed when they reached the entrance hall that their trunks must have already been taken to their new dorms while they were eating. Professor McGonagall began to climb the stairs, and they all followed wondering just where they were heading. Hermione was deep in thought when she realized she had never thought about where the guest quarters were located.

She also realized she never stopped to consider where the professors and staff stayed during their time at Hogwarts. She knew that Madam Pomfrey had quarters close to the hospital wing. There were rumors that Professor Snape, who was a professor at the school until the end of their sixth year, had quarters down in the dungeons. But there was never any mention of Staff quarters, not even in "Hogwarts a History", which she has read thoroughly and on numerous occasions.

She was so lost in her thoughts she barely noticed they had turned down the second floor corridor. At the end was a large tapestry with the Hogwarts crest. Professor McGonagall said a password and the tapestry dissolved and another corridor appeared.

She turned to them and said, "This is staff corridor, most of our living quarters are down here. You will all be given a password to the tapestry that will allow you to enter here. Please do not share with anyone your password. Also, do not share with the other students this location. We try to retain some privacy for the staff, so the less the students know, the better."

She turned and continued back down the corridor. Hermione noticed there were very few pictures and statues here. Several doors led off to what she assumed were the teacher's quarters. When they reached the end of the corridor, they turned to the left and continued down a smaller corridor. At the end they came to a door.

Professor McGonagall turned and said to them "This is the entrance to your quarters. The password is Encore, which I feel you are doing here with us this year."

Hermione noticed a slight smile on her face when she said this.

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A/N: Sorry for my delays in posting and responding to reviews. I decided to spend some time in the mountains and I have very limited computer access there (using an air card with slightly poor reception). Hope you all enjoy this. My thanks to my betas whose help is greatly appreciated, liliywillow, coley21 and sempra (who also did some Brit picking for me) Thanks gals!