New Beginnings Series by HPFangirl71
Chapter 1: Unexpected Meeting
Draco's arms were full of books as he rounded a corner in the library, which explains why he didn't see the other man coming his way with his own armload of books. As their bodies collided, books flew in complete disarray. Draco looked up into the face of the last person he'd expected to see upon coming to work at Hogwarts.
"Potter, what are you doing here?" he asked in an almost accusatory tone.
Last Draco had heard Potter was away in America, training to be some big shot Auror, not that Draco was really keeping track or anything. When he'd accepted McGonagall's offer to come back to Hogwarts as the new Arithmancy teacher upon Professor Vector's retirement, Potter was the last person he'd expected to run into. He still owed the man for saving his life and it irked him to be so beholden to the newly sung hero. He'd hoped to avoid the man altogether but it seemed that his luck wasn't that fortunate.
"I guess you didn't hear…" Potter said in a whisper as he reached out to help Draco pick up the mess of books.
"Didn't hear what?" Draco asked in an offhand manner as he reached for another of the fallen books.
"I'm working here," he said in that same almost bashful tone
Draco looked at him, the surprise unhidden within his grey eyes. He was about to question him as to why but then he was speaking again in that softly quiet voice.
"It seems being an Auror isn't in the cards for me after all… the nightmares have been too much and so McGonagall gave me a position here at Hogwarts. I think I'll be able to heal here; Hogwarts has always been like home to me. Anyway I don't know why I'm telling you all this… you could probably care less"
Draco didn't say a word, just went on picking up the scattered books. His fingers brushed against Potters as they both reached for the same object and he fought back the urge to grasp that hand in an effort to feel its warmth once again. He looked away, picked up another more weather beaten tome, and looked down at a picture of a man upon a horse. The picture had the horse rearing up and the man was completely headless and shrouded in a thick blanket of fog. The picture was chilling and Draco quickly handed it off to Potter. He'd been plagued with his own multitude of nightmares and the image upon the book wasn't anything he wished to bring to bed with him.
"So what are you teaching?" he asked politely.
"Muggle Studies, seems they needed a replacement after Burbage's untimely death"
Draco swallowed around his own guilt, he'd witnessed Burbage's murder by Voldemort and it was still something that sent chills down his spine. Her pleas for help still haunted his nightmares but he'd never admit that to the man kneeling next to him. He quickly finished retrieving the rest of his books from Potter and stood awkwardly, hesitantly wondering just what he should say to the man. Luckily, he didn't have to dig for the right words for long because soon Potter was standing up and telling him goodbye. As Draco watched his quick retreat, he was left wondering at the subtle note of sadness within Potter's emerald eyes…
