Disclaimer: We disclaim.

A/N: This is a reposted, rewritten, practically not the same version of Crossing the Fine Line. Hope you like it.


RETURN TO HOGWARTS

That one glance had done it. As Draco Malfoy had walked past, the point of Professor McGonagall's wand at his back, Harry had lost his hate for his former enemy. The seventeen-year-old had looked haunted, unshaven, and, in a way, broken. It hadn't been a particularly long moment, but it hit Harry with force. Perhaps the once prideful Slytherin reminded him of Sirius for those few seconds, but whatever it was, sympathy was there.

For reasons he couldn't explain to himself, Harry waited until Professor McGonagall came out of the room she had led the young Malfoy into. It was about an hour later when she came out, looking disturbed. When she saw Harry standing there, her face registered surprise, but it was then filled with exhaustion. "Come with me, Potter."

She led him to the meeting room that was currently empty except for a long table and chairs. The Headmistress sat down, and Harry followed suit, sitting across from her.

"Yes?" he asked, finally speaking out of curiosity.

"You know what happened last June better than I do. What do you think we should do with Mr. Malfoy?"

Harry started at this, taken aback by her forwardness. "I- um- well, what does he want?"

"Protection," she answered simply and shortly, but her usual strict demeanor seemed to be softened by fatigue.

Harry thought about this for a moment, the painful memories of June coming back to him. He had been forced to change his views on Draco since then, but it still hurt to think about what had happened. "Won't his father come after him?"

Professor McGonagall shook her head, looking even grimmer. "No. The boy's family is dead."

Although he was not the least bit sad to hear about Lucius Malfoy's death, Harry couldn't help but feel a small amount of empathy for Draco Malfoy. Harry's parents had died before he really knew them, but Draco had known his all his life.

"Well," Harry said after deliberation, "he'll need to tell us everything he knows and help us when we ask. I think we can trust him for that."

The Headmistress nodded, seeming to approve. Harry was surprised that his Professor trusted his opinion that much.

"He already told me he wants nothing to do with the Order unless absolutely necessary. I suppose after we get the information we can send him to Tonks'. She is his cousin."

Harry nodded and stood, turning to exit the room. "Potter." He looked around to see Professor McGonagall surveying at him through her square spectacles, a serious expression on her face.

"Yes?" he asked self-consciously.

"Are you sure about this?"

Harry paused for a moment before nodding shortly. Professor McGonagall didn't say another word, and so the seventeen-year-old turned back and walked out, closing the door behind him. As soon as his hand left the doorknob, the weight of this decision came crashing upon him and only one thing rang through his mind. "What have I done?"

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It was odd being at Hogwarts this year. The absence of their former Headmaster was overpowering, except to the first years. The castle seemed to emit a different aura, one of urgency. But as they sat down at their respective house tables, the students seemed to forget themselves in the excitement. They were able to feel welcome.

Ron Weasley looked around the Great Hall, glad to be back again. While he was observing, waiting for the first years to arrive, his eyes caught a flash of white blond. Upon closer inspection, he found none other than Draco Malfoy sitting soberly at the Slytherin table, his faithful pug Pansy Parkinson fawning at his side. "What the hell is he doing here?!"

"Who?" asked Hermione, who had been focused on a conversation with Nearly Headless Nick, and peered in the direction Ron was glaring. "Malfoy!" she hissed.

Ginny had also looked up at her brother's vehemence and frowned when she saw the young Malfoy there. She glanced at Harry and was surprised to see a rather closed expression on his face.

"I wonder how he tricked Professor McGonagall into allowing him to come back," Hermione scoffed.

Ron replied with, "By being a bloody snake, that's what! I swear-"

Ginny was only half-listening to this, her focus on Harry. "Harry, what's the matter?"

Her concern also caught the attention of Ron and Hermione, both turning to gaze anxiously at their best friend. Harry looked at Ginny for a moment, surprised at the shift in attention, and then looked away. "Nothing." he said, a little too casually.

"No," Ron said, slightly suspicious, "what is it?"

"I said it was nothing." As Ron and Hermione exchanged knowing glances, knowing after seven years exactly when Harry was lying, Harry said irritably, "What makes you so convinced there's something wrong?"

Both Hermione and Ron were surprised at Harry's sudden burst of temper. Ron cautiously quipped, "Maybe the fact that you're suddenly so defensive?"

Hermione took a softer approach, asking gently, "Is it because Malfoy is back at Hogwarts?"

"Do you really think Draco Malfoy would have been able to trick Professor McGonagall? She's too smart for that," Harry answered, trying to brush the whole thing off.

Ginny's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Harry, what are you hiding?"

"Look, it's nothing okay?" Harry finally snapped, annoyed that they wouldn't just leave it alone. "Just realize Malfoy wouldn't be here unless it was okay."

Ginny's eyes widened and filled with hurt that he had only snapped when she had asked a question. "Alright. I'm sorry I asked," she said, trying and failing to keep the hurt out of her voice.

"Ginny…" Harry said, regretting that he had hurt her feelings. Unable to find the words to say what he wanted to, Harry simply turned to watch the first years come in.

Gazing at the boy that she had loved for so long, familiar with his communication issues, Ginny simply shook her head, letting it go. "It's fine, Harry. I trust you."

Harry turned to smile at her, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thanks. That means a lot."

Hermione, who had been watching the exchange with a quizzical look on her face, turned to Ron. He was looking sullen, probably at the fact that it didn't look like they would be hearing why Malfoy was here. Hermione grabbed his hand and smiled when he turned to look at her. With all of the strain on Harry and Ginny's relationship, she figured this was something they should stay out of for the moment.

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"Parkinson, we're over."

This was said rather randomly into the silence of the Slytherin Common Room after the feast. Pansy looked up from her book in shock. Others were now watching also, waiting to see what would happen. "What?" she squeaked out.

"Was I not clear enough?" Draco said in an amused sort of way. "Here, I'll say it again: we're over."

Pansy could feel tears spring to her eyes. Normally she was very good at hiding her true emotions and reacting the way she chose, but not right now. This had come as too much of a surprise. "But... Draco..."

"But what?" Draco asked in disinterest. He really could care less what her protest was. His mind was made up.

"But you can't!" As she always did in this type of emotionally revealing and embarrassing situation, she hid behind her mask of snobbery. "My father-

"I can do whatever I please, Parkinson." Draco replied, looking down his nose at her.

Pansy just sat there in shock, her mouth hanging most unbecomingly open.

Draco glanced at her and said in irritation. "Close your mouth. You look like an idiot." Because she had made him grouchy, he decided to make another jab. In a thoughtful tone, he mused, "Although maybe that's just letting your true self shine..."

Pansy came back to life, stuttering, "You- You can't do this!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Must I always repeat myself with you? I can do whatever I want, Parkinson."

Now that she had managed to shove aside her shock, Pansy was angry. "Fine!" she said indignantly. To try to snub him back she said, "It's not like I can't get someone else."

But that was a mistake. Draco had a lot of experience with making witty, slicing remarks, and Pansy could never hope to best him. She could only successfully imitate him from time to time. Draco's eyes flashed and, without missing a beat, said, "I wouldn't be so sure of that. Unless they're after your father's money... you certainly have nothing else to recommend you."

Pansy felt extremely hurt. She knew she was rather plain, but she had always tried to behave in a way that she thought would please Draco. Feeling betrayed she shot out angrily, "Like you would know! I'm not even going to talk to you, Draco Malfoy. You can just go fall off the Astronomy Tower."

Although Draco hid a wince at the reference, he had come to his decision and thus could not be angered. "You not talking to me was exactly what I wanted."

Pansy gasped. Speechless and afraid she may embarrass herself by bursting into tears, she covered it by stomping off.

"Finally..." Draco muttered to himself as he sank into the couch, and all of the Slytherins that had been watching now turned back to what they had originally been doing.

Theodore Nott had just entered the common room in time to see Pansy storm off. "Is Parkinson in another snit?" he asked conversationally as he strolled over to Draco.

Theodore was a loner but clever. He didn't follow Draco, and that combined with his intelligence was one of the reasons Draco respected him as someone he actually considered an equal. They didn't talk often, but at least they could have conversations that had a point. With Crabbe and Goyle, Draco often was left as the only one talking.

Draco responded with a derisive snort. "Something like that, I'm sure. I finally ditched her."

One of Theodore's eyebrows rose delicately before he responded in cultured tones, "On one level I applaud you, but are you sure that was wise?"

Draco gave him an odd look and asked, "Why exactly would it be otherwise?"

Theodore hesitated before saying, "Well, there aren't that many pureblood females around. I'm sure your father expected your family line to continue...'untainted'."

Draco rolled his eyes at this, but there wasn't any real emotion behind it. It didn't need to be said that 'untainted blood' was indeed what his father had wanted. However, now it was a decision that Draco could make for himself without the pressure of others. "That doesn't mean I'm stuck with Hogwarts girls."

"Of course." Theodore replied. "I was simply curious to what other options you were considering now that Parkinson was no longer on your list."

Draco sat in silence, making no reply because he didn't really have a plan anymore but refusing to admit so.

Theodore sighed, knowing what this was actually about. "Malfoy, it's up to you. But it's not just Hogwarts girls you aren't fixed with anymore."

Draco's grey eyes looked up and zeroed intently on Theodore's at this declaration, and Theodore could tell Draco had calculated what he had meant by that. "I know."

And with that, Theodore left Draco to his cluttered confusion.

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The Gryffindor Common Room, unlike the current Slytherin one, was rather peaceful at the moment. Harry, Ron, and Hermione (along with Ginny) were now all collected around the fireplace. Hermione and Ron sat next to each other on the couch, Harry was in an armchair, and Ginny lay on her stomach on a rug, focused on the flickering orange flames.

It seemed to be an unwritten rule that they weren't to talk about anything serious, and so here they were, Harry teasing Ron about how Lavender had flaunted her new boyfriend at him earlier that evening.

"Oh, come on, Ron, as if it wasn't obvious." Hermione added, joining Harry, who grinned at the encouragement.

"I hope you gave her that necklace back…" Harry teased.

"What necklace is this?" Hermione asked with interest, while Ron gave Harry a deadly glare.

Ginny, however, didn't join in the ribbing, content to watch the way that, for the moment, Harry seemed unguarded and - normal. The summer had made him a lot more serious and sober, as it had for almost all of them. It was nice to see his green eyes looking happy.

Of course it would have been even nicer if she hadn't needed to watch all of this out of the corner of her eye. Perhaps she didn't need to, she doubted he would notice right now, but the feeling was there. It pained her that she seemed to be right back where she had started with him, except now he shared her hurt. That fact didn't comfort her.

"Ginny, help me out here," Ron said, interrupting her thoughts.

She turned around, a smile on her face. "And why should I do that?" she teased.

"Why?!" Ron blustered. "I'm your brother; that's why."

"So?"

Ron stuck his tongue out at her and then went back to playfully arguing. She slowly sat up, turning to face them. All of it seemed too ordinary, as though Voldemort was dead and defeated. Ginny knew this wasn't true; she knew that it was lurking in the back of all of their minds, that tomorrow it would probably be different. But right now, feeling warmth and happiness, she allowed herself the hope that it wouldn't. It was a dangerous thing to do.

She got up off the ground and saying a goodnight to the three, ambled in the direction of the dormitories. And when she glanced back, catching the look Harry was giving her as she climbed the stairs; she decided that just maybe that hope was worth it.