Divination Teacher before the holidays!
"Mister Weasley is in St Mungo's," Draco read out, looking at his letter as he & his friend's trudged back from classes, "My cousin will explain why or how when I come for Christmas."
"Sounds like a right cheer up for the holidays," Blaise said, tiredly.
"Tell me about it."
"Explains why the Weasley's disappeared for a day or so... But, why Potter?" Alex asked.
"I have no idea. Maybe since the Weasley's consider him as family or... Moral support?"
"Granger was here though," Pansy pointed out, maybe there is more to it.
The blond shrugged, "Look, I do not know what to tell you but once I find out, I'll tell you whether or not I am allowed to that is."
"Good, can we move on now?" She said, then yawned, "I would like to know which of you pricks want to help me with herbiology."
"I'll do it," Spoons said, excitedly.
"Brilliant. On our next Hogsmeade trip I shall spoil you rotten."
"Are you forgetting we will anyway?"
"Oh yeah. Birthday... Still."
They smiled, "You don't need to. I am fine with a D & D session after some coffee at the tea shop."
"So, a great breakfast after presents, hogsmeade to shop then coffee, be back in time for dinner & then back to the dorms for D&D with snacks? That's the plan?"
Jack grinned, "Isn't it always, Pansy?"
She rolled her eyes, "Fair enough."
Then, they heard a blood curdling scream making Jack. Alex, Lukas & Spoons nearly shit themselves as the other 3 ripped their wands out as they nearly jumped out of their skins.
"Alex, do you have a sister we don't know?" Lukas asked, hiding behind Blaise.
"Oh, fuck off!"
"Over there!"
They rushed to entry hall where a fairly large crowd is formed on the stairs & on the ground in front of them.
They, heard another wail making Lukas' grip tighten on Draco's arm (good arm). He leaned closer to the boy to press his side against his since the boy hated screaming like that.
It came with his boggart.
They shoved through the crowd to see what was going on, & was met with the sight that made Spoons & Jack's heart shatter.
Professor Trelawney, one of their favorite teachers, was surrounded with her trunks & bags. She was shaking & crying as she aimed her wand, unsteady, at the teacher everyone hated.
Umbridge.
She had a sickening smile that made their stomachs drop at the other teacher.
"YOU CANNOT SACK ME!"
"I'm afraid that I can do as I wish."
"THIS IS MY HOME!"
"Not anymore, dear," The other said, calmly before pointing at the door behind Draco, "Now, remove yourself from this castle."
Draco spotted Harry in the crowd on the stairs just before Pansy marched forward & stood in front of the Divination teacher with a murderous glare. The blond blinked & quickly followed then Jack, then Spoons, then Lukas, Alex & Blaise (who sighed before doing so). They surrounded her like a shield much to her & everyone's surprise.
"What on earth is going on?!"
"Does the headmaster know about you doing this?!" Pansy demanded.
"I have the authority to make this decision!"
"No, the heck you don't! The headmaster does! & we are not moving until he comes!"
"Yeah. Besides. You only have the authority to dismiss the teachers. However, you can't remove them from the castle."
"That is correct, Mister Tomson."
They all turned to see the headmaster himself walking towards the Umbridge & the others.
"It is a good thing you were all here to stop her from doing so."
"Oh? & what of the new quarters when I appoint the new teacher? Surely, you cannot expect them to-" She asked, glaring at the group of Slytherin's then Dumbledore.
"That will not be necessary. I have already found a successor. The ministry can only appoint new teachers if I cannot find one. I think you will find him suitable enough."
Draco was trying not to laugh at the woman in pink's face.
The doors leading to the grounds had then swung open. An ebony skinned centaur trotted in & scanned through the crowd then landed on Dumbledore before giving him a smile.
"This is Firenze."
Draco looked at him in awe as Spoon seemed star struck.
"Hi," Alex said, with a smile.
The centaur looked at her & gave her a smile too, "Hello."
Draco was picked up from the station by Tonks who tightly hugged him when he saw her (he said goodbye to his friends on the train to save time). He made sure he was one of the first ones off as well as coming out near the back so that his parents didn't see him (or the Deatheater who took him to the station at the beginning of the year). They managed to sneak off of the platform & out of the station after she had shrunken his things into her pocket.
"How was your school year?"
"Fun except for Umbridge being... Her."
"I feel you. I hate her. I met her a few times at the Ministry. She's a right stuck up."
"I know right? So, where are we going?"
"Right now, I am taking you to a muggle café where mum will be meeting us."
"Isn't a muggle café just like a wizard one?"
"It is but there is going to be a lot more variety in coffees."
Draco rolled his eyes at her excited grin & let her link arms with him. Before they got to the main streets they stopped at an alley way to put a beanie on his head & quickly change his robes for some muggle ripped at the knee jeans, a black & blue faded baseball t-shirts (which was 2 sizes too big for him because it was hers), blue hoodie, ugg boots & a jacket. He didn't want to wear gloves or a scarf so he just pocketed them before they headed to the café where his aunt was.
They saw her through the glass wall at the front where she had sat at taking three cushioned chairs & a coffee table. She had her coffee & a cake already with her. Tonks grinned & made him move faster into the store making the door jingle. Draco was met with the sweet smell of cakes & the bitter smell of coffee.
He wondered what type of music that was playing as he went up to the counter with his cousin.
"What do you want?"
"A cappuccino."
"Want any syrups in it?"
"What do they have?"
"Caramel, vanilla & hazelnut."
"Caramel. Please."
"Any sugars?"
"Two."
"Alright. I'll get you an apple pie, yeah?"
"Yeah, that'll be great."
"Heated up?"
"Yes please."
"Okay, go sit with mum."
"Okay."
He went over to her just after they noticed them & Draco was taken back of how much she looked like his aunt Bellatrix. The only difference was her lighter brown hair & her perfect teeth. He froze when those grey eyes landed on him & seemingly to look through him after checking over him. He was about to back away when she smile so warmly he stopped & she stood up. She opened her arms for him & he subconsciously walked into them. When she hugged him it was the most best feeling in the world.
It was so welcoming & he felt like he was loved.
It made his heart swell.
"Dragon. It has been a while."
He hummed, snuggling his face into her neck.
Once she released him, they sat down on the chairs & she asked him all about Hogwarts. Then, his friends & how he was. It was almost as if she was his mother instead of his own. She listened to him intently & when Tonks returned with a tray of their orders, she continued to ask all about him. Tonks seemed glad to see them get along.
After their coffees & cake, the three of them migrated outside so that they could go to where Draco would be staying. Tonks had relinked arms with him as his aunt kept brushing his long fringe back when the bitter wind would get into his face. Then, they reached a seat which was across from a park. This was when his aunt parted ways with them after a long hug that he did not want to end.
When she was out of sight, Tonks took him silently between two homes that were 11 &13 Grimmauld Place. He looked at her bemused before out of nowhere the flats moved a part revealing another home.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
He blinked in surprised before he was dragged into the door where Remus Lupin & Mad Eye Moody where waiting with wands. They used their wand to scan him & her for dark objects as well as anything else magical.
"What was the very creature I used in my first class with you?" Remus asked, him.
"Boggart. Yours turned into a full moon."
He smiled & turned to Tonks then asked her a question which she answered easily.
"We have to do that incase someone is posed as you or Nymphadora."
"Don't call me that," Tonks snapped, making her hair turn red.
Draco glanced at her, "Is Dora fine?"
"For you, yes. For them, no."
She dragged him down a hall towards a dining room where he could see several people there.
"The Weasleys?"
"They are part of the Order too. One of the main reasons why you were forced out of the awful place. Mrs Weasley couldn't bare it."
"& auntie Andi?"
"Yes. A lot of people wanted you out. Remus, Sirius, McGonagall Heck, even Snape."
"He's my godfather. Of course he wanted me safe."
"Who's your godmother?"
"I don't know."
When they entered the dining room, all eyes were on them. Draco tensed up & subconsciously moved closer to his cousin.
His eye's found Harry's who stood up from his seat & walked over to him with a grin, "You came," He said, before hugging him.
Draco didn't need to look to know half of the room was looking at them bemused especially when he found himself hugging back.
"Yeah. I did..."
When he released him, the blond noticed his caved in & dark bags under his eyes.
He frowned, "Have y-"
"Draco."
He turned to meet a man that he had seen so many times on the newspaper.
"Sirius Black."
He grinned & opened his arms for him. The blond also grinned & walked into the hug, eagerly.
"Nice to finally meet you."
"You too."
When he released the blond, he held him at arms length to study him further before nodding.
"People were wrong. You look more like your mother. & it seems you have inherit the Black's grey eyes. I mind Cissy threw a fit being the odd one out with her dark eyes."
"Sperm donor says she threw a fit when she found out I had grey eyes."
"Still the same as always."
He nodded, "Yeah."
Mad eye moody limped to a seat after Sirius released him, "I was at the station. Your parents weren't there looking for you."
"I imagine they sent a low ranking deatheater to collect me. No doubt, they'll be dead by now. My parents didn't take me to 9 & 3/4s a deatheater did. I can't recall his name but he doesn't hide his mark."
"I see. I did see a few dodgy characters eyeing a group of Slytherins up."
The blond pursed his lip, "Was one of them Pansy Parkinson?"
"I assume so. She looks like her mother."
"Those would be my friends. Maybe my parents hired more than one person."
"Who failed at their job it seems."
"Well yeah. I didn't change into this until after we left. It's hard to miss my hair as you know."
He looked at him, "Most low ranking Deatheaters are never sober these days. Or they don't know it's you. Anyways, it's done now. You'll be staying here until you are of age & you can choose where you go from there. I'm sure your mother would want you safe."
"Yeah."
Sirius clasped his shoulder, "Now. Shall we get you to your room?"
"Yeah. That'll be great."