Will took his seat at the Slytherin table, with Sylvia beside him as usual. For some reason, Malfoy led his two sidekicks over and sat down on Will's right.
Will gave him a curious look. Malfoy forced a rather unnatural smile, and Goyle and Crabbe grinned foolishly along with him. After a moment's thought, Will realized Lucius might have said something to his son.
He didn't pay it much mind.
Over at the Gryffindor table, though, Ron and Harry were talking about something and glancing toward him and Malfoy now and then.
The Sorting Ceremony went on as usual, an old Hogwarts tradition. Once the Sorting Hat finished its song, it waited for the young witches and wizards to try it on. This year, though, it seemed considerably cleaner than last year.
Will was thoroughly bored. Among the new students, he recognized only Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood.
After the sorting, Dumbledore announced that the new professor, Lockhart, would teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. Will glanced at Snape, who looked as though he was considering slipping Lockhart something.
Everything else went as usual, except there was no explosive news of Harry and Ron crashing the Flying Ford Anglia into the Whomping Willow. When the feast ended, Will collected his trunk from the Slytherin dormitory and headed up to the Seventh Floor.
His dormitory had essentially remained empty, yet his bed was still reserved for him. Quite a few new students wondered where this older student was going with a trunk so late at night. Some helpful older students—Malfoy, for instance—told them about Will's exploits. Just like that, Will's reputation among the newcomers soared.
Life at Hogwarts had become predictable for Will, and a little dull. Almost none of the second-year classes were of much use to him.
Each day