Thanks to reviewers for pointing out mistakes- and for reviewing. Your support is greatly appreciated! This is an updated chapter 1, with hopefully no more mistakes. Chapter 2 should be out tomorrow at the latest. :)
Harry Potter, Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger stepped off the Hogwarts express onto Platform 9 3/4. In the distance, they could see the towers of Hogwarts, familiar and comforting even after the battle that had taken place last year. Minerva McGonagall, now Hogwarts headmaster, had decided that the last year of Hogwarts needed a second chance, as many hadn't been able to attend and those that had attended had learned nothing of value. No one complained, not even the students who had to do the year over. They were too relived to have things back to the way they were supposed to be. The trio boarded a carriage with Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasly. Ginny and Harry were happily back together and Ron and Luna had fallen in love after the final battle of the previous year. Neville and Hermione, who currently had no one, just looked at each other and shrugged as the couples went into their own happy little worlds.
"Good summer, Neville?" Hermione asked.
He grinned, "Yeah. My parents are out of the hospital. They moved back in with me and Gran."
"Oh that's great, Neville! They must be so proud of you."
"They are. Of Gran too, after they heard about her standing up to the Deatheaters. How was your summer?"
"Oh, great." Hermione replied, "My parents were so happy that Voldemort was gone- they said they were proud that I was a witch but that I didn't need so much danger or excitement in my life."
Neville laughed, "Please. We're going to be so bored now."
The two laughed together, then Hermione said, "Oh, I almost forgot- Malfoy is coming back to Hogwarts."
Ginny, Harry, Luna and Ron heard her and focused their attention on her.
"What are you talking about mione?" Ron asked.
"Your dad mentioned it before we left." Hermione explained, "Apparently Lucius had him under the Imperius Curse. Dumbledore says that the 'real Malfoy' is the same in a lot of ways, but different too... It will be interesting I guess."
"Interesting?" Harry cried, "Mione are you forgetting he tried to kill us?"
"He didn't. He was just going to turn us into Voldemort. He never actually killed anyone and it wasn't his fault, he had no idea what he was doing."
"Well how long has he been under the Imperius Curse?" Ginny asked.
"Um... According to Mr. Weasly, since the beginning of 5th year."
"Oh dear." Luna whispered, "three years... Does he remember anything?"
"Everything." Hermione said, "The whole time he could see what was going on he just couldn't control his actions."
"Oh dear." Luna repeated.
"Oh well." Harry said, "He's probably still a git- was before 5th year."
Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville nodded but Luna shrugged, "Maybe he's changed."
They all stared at her.
"Well it had to be a horrifying experience for him- those three years."
Harry frowned, "I don't think-"
He was cut off by Ron who wrapped an arm around Luna's shoulder and said , "Maybe. We can hope. I think we'd all be better off for it."
Luna smiled gratefully at him and the couples turned back to focus on each other.
"I think Ron's right." Neville said ,"About it being better? Especially for Malfoy. And you."
Hermione looked at him in surprise. While it was true that Malfoy had been quite mean to her over the years, she hadn't been the only one Malfoy had turned his anger on.
"What are you talking about, Neville?"
Now it was his turn to look surprised, "You mean you didn't know?"
"Know what?"
"Um... well... He was pretty mean to you, that's all."
"That's not what you meant!" Hermione argued.
But despite the effort she put into getting an answer out of him for the rest of the trip, Neville remained thoughtfully silent. Finally the four 7th students and the two 6th years students arrived at their beloved school. They all crowded in at the Griffindor table and watched as twice as many first year students then normal file into be sorted. Ginny nudged Harry and angled her head towards the Slytherin table and the others followed the direction of her head. Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table, sitting alone at the far end. The other Slytherins were avoiding him as well as they could, causing one end of the table to be incredibly squashed. They didn't seem to know what to make of him anymore. He couldn't even depend on Crabbe and Goyle to sit with him, as Crabbe was dead and Goyle had not returned for another year at Hogwarts.
"He looks so sad." Luna remarked quietly, sounding quite miserable herself.
People are just confused, honey." Ron said comfortingly, "he'll probably get his posse back soon."
"But those aren't real friends." Luna pointed out, "I wonder if he's ever had one."
"I'm sure he..." Ginny began, then fell silent.
"Has never had a real friend in his life." Neville finished for her.
Harry glared at all of them and said to Hermione, "Are you going to start feeling sorry for him too?"
"Harry." Ginny said sternly, "What's wrong with you? You don't feel sorry for him at all?"
"No! He tried to kill Dumbledore! He tried to give us up to Voldemort."
"No he didn't! He was under a spell. Everyone deserves a second chance Harry. Is this how you felt about me when you found out I had been under Voldemort's spell?"
"No! Ginny... This is different." Harry said quickly, but Ginny stood and stalked from the table. Harry leapt up and followed her.
"Well. Malfoy's return is already causing trouble." Ron muttered.
"Ron." Luna said warningly, staring after her friend with concern in her eyes.
"Sorry, Luna." Ron replied automatically, but guiltily.
Hermione sighed and looked over at the blonde Slytherin. He had been watching the sorting, but as if he had felt her eyes on him he turned his head to look at her. Hermione stared back, curious. Malfoy's face shifted into a sneer, but he didn't seem to be able to keep that expression for long anymore. As he looked away again towards the front of the room, the sad look flitted back over his face and stayed there.