New Beginnings

Part 3

"Are you certain this is what you want?" Narcissa Malfoy asked her son.

Draco nodded, closing the locks on his trunk. "You and Dad graduated; so why can't I?"

And, though he never admitted to it, he missed Hogwarts. Everything was packed- spell books, robes, potion ingredients- even his prefect badge. Slughorn had vouched for Draco on that. He was ready for school. Draco's parents accompanied him to King's Cross Station, and when they said goodbye, Lucius actually embraced him. It wasn't exactly common with Draco's father, to show much affection. But life had completely turned around for them, in the best way possible. They were hoping to become a real family now. Maybe Narcissa hadn't contacted her estranged sister Andromeda yet (which Draco thought might be good for her)... Still.

One step at a time.
*********************************
His last train ride ended so quickly. Most of it he spent looking out his window, finally appreciating the beauty of the countryside. Others ignored him, mostly. Whatever. Draco wasn't here to win any popularity contest.

Leaving the Hogwarts Express, he finally saw what pulled the carriages, and book illustrations hardly did them justice. Thestrals were downright ugly horses. Their appearance represented something worse; it meant Draco had witnessed death. Sad but true. The last time he'd seen Hogwarts, it lay in complete shambles. Ministry employees (including Draco's father) had worked all summer to reconstruct it- magic could only accomplish so much at once, and each individual could only work for so long before they needed rest. Now there wasn't a brick out of place. As Draco viewed the castle, he wondered at the way Muggles lived without magic. How else did Hogwarts still function after thousands of years?

Good to be back, he found himself thinking.

In the Great Hall, Draco chose a seat near the front of the Slytherin table, where sorted first-years would soon join him. They'd need prefects to show them around. But his only friends, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini, weren't coming back. Pansy and Blaise had already graduated. He assumed that Goyle was running from the Ministry alongside his Death Eater family. And, well, Crabbe... Poor Crabbe. Burning to death couldn't have been pleasant.

Draco watched everyone's heads bend in deep conversations, eyes fixed on him. There were whispered phrases like: Death Eater. Black family. Cowards. Even among Slytherins, he'd become an outsider. Not every Slytherin practiced dark magic, and those who did, those who had Death Eaters in their family, were angry with him for betraying them. It might take a while before they could trust him again. If they didn't like who Draco really was, then so be it.

He looked ahead to see the professors. They were all here again; Flitwick, Sprout, Hagrid, Trelawney (what the devil was that loony doing out of the Divination tower?), Slughorn, and others. Draco also saw unfamiliar professors, hired to replace those who died last year. But he doubted they could replace the only professor he'd ever truly liked and respected- Snape. Nobody really knew how the man had passed away. Draco had no desire to find out, either. That didn't change this void left behind.

Hogwarts would never be the same. As a result, Professor McGonagall wasn't occupying her usual seat, but a golden chair at the middle of the table.

"Attention! May I have your attention, please?" she commanded once everyone had settled down.

Draco shot a scathing look at the younger Slytherins who didn't stop chatting. One look at his badge and they grew quiet. Ah, the perks of being a prefect, he thought. Everybody has to listen to me. The first-years waited nervously up front as Professor Flitwick came to meet them, holding the Sorting Hat and a stool.

"Welcome, everyone!" McGonagall cheered. "I'm certainly glad to see your faces, both new and old. For those of you who may not be aware, I am your Headmistress, Professor McGonagall. Let's get on to Sorting, shall we? Professor Flitwick?"

The Charms professor nodded, and one by one, each first-year learned where they belonged in Hogwarts. Draco recalled his own Sorting; how the Hat cried "Slytherin!" as soon as it was placed on his head.

McGonagall stood again when the Sorting finished, beaming. "Well-done, first-years! I hope you make your Houses proud. Before the feast, I'd like to say a few words. As usual, no student is allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest."

Draco suppressed the urge to laugh. He could envision himself telling the first-year Slytherins: Don't believe everything she says. I got sent into the forest as a punishment during my first year...

"Today," the new Headmistress continued, "we begin a new era at Hogwarts. The devastation of this past spring cannot be understated, for it was the worst our school has seen in decades. Many of you are still grieving the loss of friends and family. But, as it must, life continues. It's necessary, in times like these, to find strength in one another. To all first-years, I pray you learn from the examples set by your elder peers. And don't be afraid to speak with your professors outside of class. We're not only here to teach; we're here to guide you. Speaking of professors, I'd like to introduce three new additions to our staff."

Draco paid little attention to these professors; he would get acquainted with them later, anyway. When the feast began, he scanned the Gryffindor table. As expected, Ginny Weasley's flaming red hair caught his eyes instantly. She was talking with another girl whose voice had always irritated Draco. The bushy curls were unmistakable.

"I should've known you'd come back, Granger."

He'd guessed right. Hermione Granger peered at him from across the table.

"Of course I did," she said. "Now that Voldemort's gone, I can finally return to what I love: an enriching education." Draco couldn't help being impressed that Hermione spoke the Dark Lord's name aloud. "I'm just confused about why you're here, Malfoy."

"Well, you may find it hard to believe, but I thought it was important to finish school, too."

"I suppose I can respect that," she answered, not meeting his eyes. Ginny wasn't even noticing Draco's presence.

"Oi, Weasley!" he jeered. "Where's that no-good brother of yours? Or Potter, for that matter? He defeats the most evil wizard of all time, and suddenly, he decides he's too legendary for school?"

Ginny swerved around to face him. "If you must know, they weren't interested in graduating. They've been offered part-time internships at the Ministry, anyways. A little reward for what they accomplished last year. Hermione got an internship offer, too, but she didn't take it."

"Leave her alone, Malfoy," Hermione snapped. "One word to McGonagall and I can have her take away your badge. Then there would be no more prefects' bathroom for you..."

"Shut it."

"Is that any way to speak to your Head Girl?" she replied.

"You're not Head-oh." Draco's smug expression faded when he noticed the shiny pin on Hermione's robes. Indeed, she had been named Head Girl.

What a surprise.

"Er... I'll just see you in class, then."

If that was any indication, Draco expected a long, fun-filled seventh year.