Hi! I'm so excited about starting this fanfic. It's not the first one I've written, but it is the first I've published. First off, I am aware that there are other fanfics with this basic plot line, but I really wanted to try this out for myself. So I'll try to keep it as different as possible.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. But neither do you. So don't get nit picky!

Chapter One: Prologue

It was September, on the first night of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy were there for their seventh year, along with most of the other students in their grade, aside from a few like Vincent Crabbe, who died in the war, and the Patil twins, who decided to start their careers in the wizarding world early. Hermione was overjoyed about coming back to Hogwarts after the war, especially because she made Head Girl. The only downside was that Draco Malfoy unfortunately made Head Boy, meaning they had to share a dorm and common room.

Draco was already making "good" use of his private room. With a groan, he emptied himself into the girl who was shrieking and writhing in pleasure beneath him. He rolled over and sprawled out on the bed. "You can go now." he said, sleep threatening to overpower him. The girl did not budge, but instead, latched upon his arm. "Now Draco darling, I don't really think you want me to do that," she cooed, "The night is cold, and soon your bed will be too. And you wouldn't want me wandering around the chilly halls well after curfew."

"I don't give a damn about my bed or the night!" Draco snapped, "And I don't give a damn about curfew, and I certainly don't give a damn about you. If you're not out in ten seconds-"

But the girl was already up, scrambling for her clothes and sniffing back tears. "I'm leaving, I'm leaving." she muttered under her breath, fighting the pangs of humiliation, "I didn't realize you were such a..... such a..... a beast! I never should have come."

Draco heard her whispered accusations, but chose to ignore them. He secretly prided himself on his icy-cruel interior, knowing that it kept away liars and fortune hunter-girls, like this one here most likely was. No one ever slept with him because he was Draco; no, Draco was much too cruel. The girls of Hogwarts wanted to sleep with him because he was Draco Malfoy, heir to the incredible Malfoy fortune.

"I'm really leaving now." a voice said from the doorway, interrupting Draco's thoughts. The girl was desperately trying a last-ditch attempt, to get him to want her to stay. "Good for you," Draco replied, turning over and pulling the sheets up on the bed, "Don't trip over the step at the door."

The girl huffed and stalked out, slamming his door so hard that Head Boy plate on the front rattled violently. Draco smirked to himself. Finally, I can have some real sleep!, he thought. But the peace did not last long. As sleep was slowly overtaking him, Draco heard something. "Draco, Draco!" a voice was calling.

"Go away," he groaned, "It's not even close to dawn and I'm in no mood-"

"Draco!" the voice said sharply, "Look at me!"

With a groan, Draco rolled over and sat up. Rubbing his eyes, he came face to face with.... Dumbledore?

"But, you're dead!" Draco gasped, "I saw you die! How did you...?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled just a little. "I am dead." he said, "I am, in fact, a ghost. And now I'm here to talk to you. This is a good time?"

Draco, too shocked to say anything and too scared to say no to a ghost, nodded.

"Good!" said Dumbledore with a clap of his hands. "Now, to get directly to the point of my visit. I've head from different sources that you have found yourself incapable of love. Is that correct?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know..... sir." he said, unsure of how to address a ghost, "I- I love my mother, I suppose."

Dumbledore frowned. "That's it?" he asked skeptically, "The only person in the world you love is your mother?"

"Most people are pricks," Draco said defensively, "Or liars or money-grubbers."

With a sigh, Dumbledore looked sadly upon Draco. "I didn't want to have to do this, but I believe it is for the best, Mr. Malfoy. You have until the end of the school year to find love, and be loved in return."

"That's not going to be hard." Draco said cockily, locking his hands behind his head, "No girl can resist my charm and good looks."

"You're going to have to stick with the charm," Dumbledore said with pity, "From now on, you are cursed. Unless you find love, true love that is pure and selfless, you will stay this way forever."

"What way?" Draco demanded, suddenly seriously concerned, "What are you talking about?"

But Dumbledore ignored his question, and instead, handed him a small mirror. "Have you heard of the Mirror of Erised?" he asked. When Draco nodded and took it, he continued, "This is like it. It shows what you truly desire. Be careful with it, and don't let it get into the wrong hands. Remember, until the end of the school year." With that, Dumbledore vanished.

Draco blinked, and was then overcome by a sudden pain, like his blood was boiling and his skin was in ice. He screamed and screamed, until at last the pain stopped as suddenly as it began, and Draco fell back to his bed, unconscious to the world around him.