Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series is JKR's work of art.
Author's Note: This is my first ever fan fiction. Hope you guys appreciate it. R&R!
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Chapter 1
"Dammit! Why can't they leave me alone just for once!" a blonde, pale boy of the age of seventeen just swore in front of the fireplace on their Manor while sitting in the cold stone floor. This is Draco Malfoy. He's getting irritated with the Ministry Officials who are owling him almost every hour. The war between Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Just-Can't-Die, and the Dark Lord had just finished last month. And the Ministry is still restless in finding the Death Eaters who supported He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Of course, Draco is a Death Eater. He became one in their sixth year at Hogwarts. But he has switched sides during the war. He had a change of heart on the night that Dumbledore was murdered. Not by him but by Severus Snape. But he was the one who made way through the death of the Hogwarts' Headmaster and he was also the supposed murderer of Dumbledore but he can't do it. So Snape, his godfather, did it because of an Unbreakable Vow that he had made with his mother, Narcissa.
Narcissa Malfoy is now dead too. She died because of depression just last week. She can't bear the fact that Lucius, his father was given the Dementor's Kiss. Narcissa and Draco were not sent in Azkaban. Thanks to the Boy-Who-Just-Can't-Die, he helped them clear their names. But his statement, the one that saved him and his mother, is also the one that sent Lucius to Azkaban and made him deserve the Dementor's Kiss.
Draco doesn't know if he really should thank Harry for saving him now that he was left utterly alone. His father was dead, the same as his mother. And now, the Ministry is bombarding him with questions as to the Death Eaters' whereabouts. How will he know where are they hiding for heaven's sake?! For all he know, they may already be hiding somewhere in the Arctic!
Next week, it will already be his birthday. And he'll going to spend it alone. Well, there's nothing new with that. The only difference of his birthday next week will be no one will be giving him presents and nobody will gonna greet him a 'happy birthday'. Not that it matters though, because he clearly knew that all those who had greeted him in his past birthdays do not love him. Nobody loves him. He is utterly alone. Lonely. Everybody hates him. No, not hate, but loathes him.
Sometimes he wonders why he can't just die. It's the easiest escape, death. He had tried for so many times to commit suicide. From the time that he became a Death Eater until now. But for some unknown reason, he can't do it. It's as if there's some barrier that prevents him from meeting Death. Why can't he just die if his life is a living hell?! There's really no point in living. Maybe this is his punishment for all his evil doings. He envy his mother, because she's dead. She's now resting in Merlin-knows-where! But he doesn't know about his father. Well, his soul was sucked out of him. But, isn't better to live in the Dementor's small intestines or large intestines, if they do have one, rather than living in hell? He's pretty sure that his father's soul would be in hell if he died the natural way.
He got up and sat on the couch, thinking. Then, he was disturbed by his house elf, Egda. "Master Draco," the elf squeaked. "Egda is wonders if Master Draco want to eat Master Draco's lunch, sir." The elf said fearfully.
Now, I'm left alone with this bloody house-elf. Might as well be nice to her. After Dobby was freed by that stupid Potter, his father bought another house-elf, and this is Egda. "Yes Egda. Is my lunch ready?" he asked.
"Yes sir, your lunch is prepare on the dining table, sir."
He stood up to proceed to the Dining Room. The Malfoy Manor is so big that you could get lost if you are new in there. To call this a 'mansion' is an understatement. It's more of a palace.
"Oh Egda." He stopped.
"Master Draco is ask Egda, sir! What can Egda for her Master?" the elf squeaked.
"Er… Do you… Do you mind eating lunch with me?" he said, now almost wanting to take back what he had just said.
The elf is almost tearful. "Master Draco order Egda to eat lunch with himself! Master Dra-" she was cut off by Draco, the elf's voice is near crying. She just can't believe that her Master asked her to eat with him! It is such an honor!
"Oh no Egda! I'm not ordering you! I'm just asking you, that's all. It's not an order." Draco said looking surprised with what he had just said. What's gotten into me? Asking a house elf to dine with me! Outrageous! What the hell is happening?!
"Of course sir! Egda would loves to! Master Draco is so great! I can't believe it!" the elf replied almost jumping with excitement and joy, tears running down her golf-sized yellow eyes. Her face is somehow contorted. Draco realized that it was a smile. Smile! When was the last time I have seen somebody smile?! A genuine smile?
He went off to the dining room, getting conscious of his self. He can't believe that he had just asked his house elf to dine with him. If his father or mother would even know about this, they would certainly throw him out of the Manor and take back his surname. He would be a complete disgrace.
Disgrace? Oh! I've been one since I saved Hermione Granger, the Muggle-born, from Aunt Bella! Really, what's gotten into me!
During the battle of Hogwarts, when curses are flying everywhere, Draco Malfoy had saved Hermione Granger from an Avada Kedavra that Bellatrix Lestrange sent her, narrowly missing her by centimeters. Draco pushed Hermione out of the way when he saw Bellatrix pointing her wand into Hermione, who was dueling with Avery at that time, at his own risk. Well, he wasn't harmed anyway. But to risk his life, a pureblood, just for the life a bloody witch who has no drop of magical blood in her! And he's a Malfoy for heaven's sake! It's unheard of.
He's just halfway through his lunch when he stood up and left. Leaving Egda there, not even giving her a chance to speak. He went straight to his room.
He sat on his bed, hands on his face. He simply don't know what to do now.
Tap, tap, tap…
He lifted his head and saw that an owl is just outside his window. He stood up and threw it open. The owl dropped the letter on his feet and quickly flew out. He picked it up. This better be not a Ministry letter! But who would be writing to me anyway?
He was surprised when there wasn't any Ministry seal in it, but the Hogwarts seal! What is this now? I have just finished my seventh year! What do they need from me now?
He quickly opened it. And read.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
As you know well, last month's war had caused us a decrease in number. Some of the professors died, the others disabled, and some grew tired and retired.
In line with this, I am pleased to inform you that you have been given the opportunity to be next year's Potions Professor. Professor Slughorn just went back to retirement, leaving the position empty.
If you are interested in teaching here at Hogwarts, please send your reply to me as soon as you made your decision, or you may just come here personally at school. Next week, you will be trained to teach here at Hogwarts, since the lessons in your seventh year were not completed.
Yours,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts' Headmistress