Title: Second Chance (1/1)

Author: granger2malfoy

Pairing: Draco-centric. None really, possibly a hint of future d/hr

Rating: All ages.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Sorry, not betad. This was inspired by the video-a Draco, HBP promo BY Kiwi with the words spoken from a promo by Charlie on Lost. Found here: size=1 width=100% noshade>Second Chance

A cloaked figure stood on the hillside at the edge of the dark forest to the side of the magical castle of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. From under the shadow of the raised hood, a puff of smoke rolled out in the form a curvy snake as the lighted tip of a lit cigarette got pulled forward and then tossed carelessly to the side.

How long will it take for redemption? For the chance, to put the past behind me. To start over.

The solitary figure lowered his head solemnly as his pale skin to raise the cloth on the covering his left forearm and reveal to himself the brand of a madman. A mark of a bad decision made at too young of an age and done when he thought there was no other choice. Yet, there he stood at the one place he thought he never wanted to be again. But much time has passed since those thoughts crossed his mind on a daily basis when he was forced to endure a life cage within those stonewalls.

Maybe that's what this is. A second chance. An opportunity to earn forgiveness.

With the skull and snake burnt into the pale skin still shown to the cool night air, yet the cold eyes were raised to watch another figure leave through the open doors of the school of his youth and the place where his last life-changing event happened. He recognized the soft curves of the female coming to him with her wand held tightly in her hand. Her bushy brown hair and head held high screamed the Know-It-All that once irritated him for six straight years. Yet, she took the chance to contact him and to ask for his help to cleaning up the lose ends to the war, which so recently ended.

They say everything happens for a reason

Yet, his hand once again covered his Dark Mark as Granger came closer to him but his eyes moved from his the one person offering him a second chance back to the castle. Well to be more exact, the tallest tower of the enchanted castle and the place of a plotted murder, which he had responsible for. Not his first sin, nor his last. But the sin most damning.

I wish I could believe that.

In front of him, the young witch not yet twenty stood eyeing him up and down before extending her hand. The one small hand represented something so tempting and frightening all at once. He could turn away and disappear again for the Wizarding World to go back to the life he had been living for the past three years. Yet, he couldn't do that. As much as he hated it, he needed what she was offering to him and it did not matter the cost to him. Slowly the cloaked figure extended his hand and shook hers, sealing their written deal and sealing his now hopeful redemption.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Malfoy," Hermione spoke as his other hand lowered his hood to show his shoulder-length silver blond hair and the once childhood enemies began down a new road before them.

The End