Disclaimer: All of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling except Delana Cotterbee.

LOVE IS WORK

Draco's Diary

September 1st

My last school year started today. Together with this I received the liability of being made Head boy. I don't really know how that happened, the last time I checked us Malfoys were the outcasts of society – no one wants to be associated with us anymore. We have finally fallen from grace. Father and Mother are in Azkaban together with the rest of the Death Eaters who survived the war.

Because I was underage at the time the Wizengamot gave me the choice between finishing my education and Azkaban. No choice really - both are punishment enough. And what makes matters worse is that the Wizengamot insisted I take every class Hogwarts has to offer. This includes Muggle Studies and it's widely renowned that I don't particularly care for muggles. Being back at Hogwarts makes me the outcast. People perceive me as weak. Weak that I chose the wrong and easy way at the end. Weak that I blindly followed in my Father's footsteps. Weak that I didn't accept Dumbledore's final offer of help. Weak that I don't have to suffer the consequences for all my actions. I can see it in the fleeting moment when my eyes meet with theirs. The looks of pity on some of their faces are the worst. Even though the Death Eaters doesn't exist anymore I can still see a trace of fear on the faces of the younger students. This makes me feel better - as if I still hold a little power.

So I have no choice but to stay here, take a stupid class and have extra liabilities as Head boy. Father is happy though; the old frame of mind that Malfoys always excel and lead are clear in his letters to me. At this point I despise my name because this time it cannot help me. The values for which the Malfoy name stand that Father always taught me; purity, superiority, status, wealth, power is gone. It disappeared as my parents gave their first step into Azkaban. It means nothing to me now. I cannot use it to get what I want this time. I'm labelled as a coward, weak, inferior… The complete opposite of what we were.

But I will hold my head high and carry on as I always have.

Hermione's Diary

1st of September 21:41

I just cannot believe that we are about to enter our final year! So much has happened in our seven years here. Good and bad things. But I believe that it was necessary to happen to get us where we are today. It formed and developed us into the adolescents we are now. Together we faced a lot and overcame everything with a fight. It is great to see all the people again with whom we developed such a strong bond after everything we've been through together.

Some of our friends seemed to have developed a new type of bond during the summer. Luna and Neville seem very fond of each other. Harry and Ginny are back together and Ron and I are, well, we're not us. Furthermore, the castle is restored to its former glory and there is no Dark Lord to fear anymore. We can live in peace. But not everything is back to normal yet.

Seeing all my friends also reminds me of all the people we lost during the war. When I entered the Great Hall today again for the first time after the war I was completely overwhelmed by a feeling of incredible pain and sadness. I half anticipated it but didn't expect it to be so intense. There is a looming feeling of loss all around, you can't see it but you feel it. Everywhere I turn I feel hollow because the last time I was here I fought in these very halls. I associate them with people falling, screaming and bleeding. I truly hope this feeling subsides during the year. Luckily I have the extra responsibilities of Head girl to take my mind off things. I am proud to be able to serve my school that has meant so much to me during the years.

We were all shocked to see Malfoy here. We just assumed he would be going to Azkaban as well. I'm sure there is a reason behind as to why he is back. And what's more is that he's been made Head boy! When McGonagall announced his name after mine the Great Hall fell completely silent. He just sat there, as if he didn't even realise what just happened, looking grim and terribly annoyed. I could have sworn that I saw a trace of loneliness on his face. But then he looked up at all of us and smirked.

"Good afternoon students. Welcome to your first Muggle Studies class of the year. I hope you all had a splendid holiday. I am Delana Cotterbee – your new professor."

All around the classroom there was a murmur of acknowledgement. Overall the students weren't too eager to start class again. Hermione on the other hand was right in the front somewhere. Professor Cotterbee chuckled at the students' obvious disinterest and carried on whatsoever.

"I am going to kick of this class by giving you your very first assignment."

A wave of groans swept through the class.

"Now don't worry. This assignment is to be handed in at the end of the year. I daresay that you will find it quite interesting."

Professor Cotterbee flicked her wand and the pile of papers that was on her desk started handing themselves out.

"As you can see on the papers that has just been handed out, your assignment is about love."

The classroom erupted with whispers of surprise and students started to discuss it immediately. The girls started to chatter away excitedly while the boys looked as if they were stripped from their manhood.

"I think it is a very appropriate subject seeing that most of you think you are masters when it comes to love. Many of you, I'm sure, are in relationships or have been in one before. But this assignment goes farther than that. This assignment will be an integration of all your classes. You will apply all your knowledge that you acquire during this year to complete this. Your final products will be taken in and then randomly owled to someone else in this class so as to get an idea of what everyone thinks of this topic. It will of course remain anonymous. All further information about the assignment is on the handouts. I will advise you to begin as soon as possible."

INTRODUCTION

Draco Malfoy

I have wondered about love for a few years now. I suppose it comes with age. Now that I am older these thoughts become more prominent; more serious. How do you know if the love you feel is real and not just a product of habit - an ancient tradition carried on by generations? How love just seem to happen between two people. People always say true love exists but I'm not so sure. They also say everybody has a specific soul mate. How do you know when you have met the one? How can one define love? I can find no definition for it because I've never felt nor experienced it. I've never truly had the gift of love.

INTRODUCTION

Hermione Granger

I've never really given much thought to love and falling in love. For me it's an automatic process. I've grown up surrounded by love. The love I have for my parents and friends, their love for me and their love for each other. I was created in a moment of intense love. I know love is pure, kind and not jealous. Love is an emotion so strong that it can conquer almost everything. Love can save you. I believe there are different types of love. Friendship, relationship, comradeship, fellowship, partners, lovers, infatuation, true love… Love is all you need and it comes so quick it can sweep you off your feet. Then there is love at first sight. I don't know if I really believe in it. But after reading Romeo and Juliet I start to wonder. Is love really that powerful and that specific? I believe love is like energy. It can't be created nor destroyed but it can change form. Love happens.

Credits

Law of energy from Wikipedia – search words: law of energy.

Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one state to the other.

A/N: On to chapter 2…