It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 48

"Well, it's going to be quite the show, isn't it?" Lucius looked over at Harry and Ron.

"You'll get the hang of it, Lucius.  Just act your old arrogant self, but for our side!" Ron laughed.

"That . . .I can manage," Lucius smiled.  "Years of practice, you see," he added, straight faced, as he swung his new wand around, getting the feel of it.  Then he looked at his wife. "How about you, old girl?"

"Old girl ?Don't you 'old girl' me, Lucius Malfoy!" replied Cissa, trying to look stern, but then ruining it by leaning over and giving her husband a kiss on the check.

"Well, it's time you all got into place . . . ah, here comes Hermione,"  Albus suggested, just as the tunnel portrait opened and Hermione climbed down the ladder.

"Narcissa!" Hermione greeted Draco's mum with a hug and then turned to Lucius. "I see you've brought someone with you . . .Welcome to Hogwarts . . . Lucius."

"I'm glad to hear the welcome part, especially . . . Hermione.  Thank you."  Lucius did a bit of a bow, but wasn't terribly surprised when Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him, too; Draco had warned him.

"Ah, well, what's a Galleon," he muttered, as Hermione stepped back.

"Excuse me?" She looked at him quizzically.

"My son bet me a Galleon that you'd give me a hug, straightaway.  I thought you'd wait and see how it was going . . . I lost."

"Ah, well, Draco's picked up on a few things, hanging with this lot," Hermione giggled, indicating Harry and Ron.

"And he's a Galleon richer!  So, let's get in place, shall we. Did you send Tykey down to warn the others, sir?"  Harry asked. "Draco, especially."

"Yes, Draco and those who need to take action are aware," Dumbledore reassured him, shooing them to the door.  "But be careful, the D.A. will get the students out of the way, but keep an eye on the older Slytherins, especially.  The staff will cover the Carrows."

"Right, well, see you in a bit, sir!" called Ron, as he pushed open the door and checked the hallway, before leading the group out of the Room of Requirement.

X X X

As Draco walked into the Great Hall with Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, he cast a glance at Neville Longbottom, who lifted his chin in greeting and then winked.  Draco halfway smiled and flicked his nose with this finger.  "Someday,' he said to himself, 'I'm going to watch that Muggle movie and find out about this 'Sting signal' business.'

The members of what had been come to be known, among the students, as the 'Senior D.A.', which consisted of the original members, were looking around, silently checking with the other, newer members, giving them the signal to be ready.  Nods were exchanged and the students were settling down at their places when Severus Snape came striding in the doors, proceeding halfway down the room before he stopped, turned and pointed to Draco.

"You!  Come here!"

The silence that descended on the students and staff was instantaneous.  Draco appeared startled, looking left and right, then pointing to himself.

"Me? What did I do?"

"SILENCE!" Snape roared, as he indicated that Draco should come to him, immediately.  Draco stood and then walked around the ends of the tables to join the Headmaster in the middle aisle, not looking particularly worried, but then, he was Draco Malfoy, after all. The entire room was focused on them.