Lions Vs Snakes

Chapter One

Draco's hands were shaking as he buttoned up his ironed white dress shirt for his first day back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With each button his hands began to shake more and more, his fingers tried to hold each button hole still as he slipped the button through. He struggled on the third button and in his frustration he tore the button loose and hurled it across the dormitory and let out a scream. His mind travelled to thoughts about what had happened the last time he has been at Hogwarts. 

The battle, the war, his parents. He tried to push all those thoughts out of his head. But with every thought he couldn't push away, the thoughts of his cowardly behaviour all his life came flooding back. How he could never stand up to his father. Because deep down he feared he didn't ever want to stand up to his father. 

Could I possibly start new? Could they really believe that I've changed? Or will I still just be a filthy death eater to them?  Warm tears began to swell up in his eyes. He tried to blink them back. Now was not the time or the place, still despite his efforts the tears fell. His little self-pity party was interrupted by the sounds of his roommates arriving. He quickly  rushed into the lavatory, wiped his tears, and splashed his face with water. Hoping the red would go away in time. He had known the train would be arriving today but he wished it wasn't. He liked being alone these days. The only person who could judge him was himself.

A few other 7th years, including some of his old "friends", the ones who weren't sent away by nervous parents, burst into the dormitory room. They shouted and hollered with excitement at being back at Hogwarts for their last year, for the second time. The room fell silent when their eyes all rested on Draco. No one said anything for a beat. 

"We uh missed you on the train..." one of the boys Draco hardly recognised trailed off. Draco rushed out of the room. One of the boys tried to grab his arm but he shook him off without looking back.  

At this point Draco's deep "involvement" with Voldemort was well known throughout the school. While most of his other young comrades were able to simply say "it was all my parents! I can't help being taught hate!" and the ministry and the public gave them the pass it was more difficult for Malfoy. As the remaining death eaters turned on each-other in an effort to save their own cowardly skins, it became public record that Draco Malfoy was tasked with the murder of Dumbledore. Of course everyone also knew thanks to the Wonder-boy Potter that it was actually Snape who did the deed. But he was cleared on account of the whole double-agent thing. The Amazing Harry Freaking Potter to the rescue again.  The rumour on the Hogwarts side was that Malfoy would have done it but Snape got in the way (heroics) and of course those loyal to the dark lord were sure Draco didn't have the guts just like his father and traitor mother. And so it felt like the young boy was on trial for a crime he had failed to commit. But it wasn't true.

Draco wasn't entirely sure what was true. He didn't want to kill Dumbledore. He didn't particularly like him but he didn't know if he could ever kill anyone. He probably couldn't kill Potter even though he loathed him. 

He walked hastily through the common room. Ignoring everything that was going on in the ever so busy room. He just walked swiftly past everyone, his head hanging watching his feet drag on the carpet floor. Hoping to be ignored like he had been most of the Summer. 

"Hey Draco!" Pansy Parkinson waved at him from across the common room smiling brightly at her friend. Draco wanted to wave back or even say hi, but he couldn't bring himself to it. He wanted to scream "Hi I've missed you so much, how was your Summer, tell me everything"  but instead He just shrugged his shoulders and buried his hands in his pockets. Pansy knew something was wrong. She walked across the room to Draco but half way through, her attention was quickly turned to some 2nd years asking questions about the war and Draco was able to disappear into the castle halls.