Only You

Chapter One

Chapter One

Draco always knew that he was privileged, arrogant, and truthfully, a jackass. He didn't care, he just loved the power that came with it. He was able to get almost everything he wanted. Almost. There was one girl that had completely blindsided him, almost making him want to change. Almost. If only stupid Hermione Granger hadn't come to the Yule Ball all dressed up and dazzling, maybe then he'd be able to sleep at night instead of regretting everything he had done to her. Months had passed, and there were times where he thought he'd gotten over his delusion, but then he'd have a dream about her. Kissing her. Holding her. Laughing with her. And he would wake up, just as delusional as before. He refused to admit he had a crush on her, it was just too wild an idea. She was a mudblood after all, muggle born, and totally below him. So, he pushed her away. For years he denied what he was feeling, and you know the rest. He helped the Dark Lord rise. He had power, but he felt more lonely and broken than ever. So, when he saw Hagrid carrying Harry and the way that Hermione was looking at his limp form, Draco knew he would do anything to save her, even if it meant risking his own life. And he did.

Now the summer was over, and Draco was retaking his seventh year. He wanted to try to start over, he wanted to be better, and more than anything, he wanted her. She was dating Weasley, but everyone knew they were better off as friends. Besides, Draco was a slytherin, cunning to the core, and more determined than ever. This would be his story of how he got the girl.

* * *

It was September 1st, the first day back to Hogwarts. Draco had been living at Hogwarts for the first bit of summer helping to rebuild alongside some other students and professors, but had stayed with his mother for the latter half. Though he knew it wouldn't be enough, he still wanted to try to earn back some respect from his peers. When he had helped Harry in the Battle of Hogwarts, he had lost all of his connections with his Slytherin brethren, but helping out over the summer, he had made some new friends. It was them who he stood with on the platform. Leanne Noman was a sweet fourth year Hufflepuff who he had mistaken for a Weasley at first. She had a halo of red frizzy hair and was covered in freckles. Her clothes were almost always covered in dirt or dust and her knees always covered in bandaids. She was very kind, even to Draco, but if you let her she would talk your ear off about her massive collection of plants. Even then, she was balancing three potted plants in her arms and had even coerced Draco and Silas to carry one each. Silas Greene was a Slytherin too and only a year younger than Draco. He had never spoken outright to either of them without encouragement, but was very considerate in his actions. His parents had pulled him from school the year before after hearing stories of the changing condition of Hogwarts. However, they encouraged him to go help repair the school (they were both Hufflepuffs in their time) because they lived rather close by.

Standing on the platform made Draco quite anxious. In past years, he was confident and able to walk with swagger. Now, he didn't know who he was or who he was supposed to be. He had only one goal, one plan, and the rest of life was guesswork. He was grateful to his new friends, without which he most certainly would have been panicking.

As they boarded the train together and found an empty compartment, Draco caught a glimpse of the Weasley girl and Hermione hugging Ron and Harry goodbye. The latter two had already begun training to become Aurors while the girls had planned to finish school. Draco watched her give a light kiss to Ron and instantly felt anger flare inside him. He struggled to control it, but his instinct was strong. He sneered at them until Leanne finally tugged him into his seat.

"Calm down Draco" she said, "I swear I can see steam coming out of your ears. They're all red and everything."

Draco covered his ears, earning a belly laugh from Leanne and a chuckle from Silas who had been observing this interaction in silence.