Nothing was like it was before..
But maybe that was a good thing.
But change doesn't come easy for everybody.
Especially when you are a Malfoy
Draco was confused, not a feeling he particularly liked. In the end he was glad the Dark Lord had lost. But was still in doubt if his cause wasn't correct. Was there no other way to safe the Magical World from all these people who had no idea what all the half bloods and muggle borns were doing to this world? Being raised as a pureblood, he never interacted with anyone with lesser blood. Unless you counted the sneers and insults.
He was forced by his mother to finish his education. After all, he had a standard to uphold. With his father in Azkaban, where in Draco's opinion, he belonged. There was only his mother to command him around. And she wasn't that bad. With Lucius gone, she felt like the world had shifted in her benefit. Even though she loved her husband once, he changed a big deal when he smelled the power of the Dark Lord. She just wanted a peacefull life, with her family. Even if it was just her and Draco now.
After the war, Hogwarts was rebuild with a lot of help from all who held Hogwarts dear to their hearts, or who had the money to spare and a political agenda to work by. Draco and his mother funded some of the rebuild, but never participated. Why get their hands dirty? And all the talk was something they wanted to avoid. Even though Draco was cleared of all charges, people were still suspicious. Draco couldn't blame him, he was suspicious too. More due to a halfblood who safed the world, and a muggleborn who helped him. How was this even possible?
The first day of school was awkward, to say the least. Not only because everything that had happened, and all the rumours following Draco around. But also because the Headmistress had forced a Interhouse Unity on the students. There were four tables in the Great Hall still, but no signs of the House Banners or colors. Only the Hogwarts crest decorated the walls, together with some paintings of Beasts, creatures and all. Students could sit wherever they wanted, no matter their house. For some, like Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley or even Neville Longbottom, who were sitting with some Ravenclaws at the Hufflepuff table, it was no big deal. Even Granger was sitting next to Ginny, talking animated with Lovegood! But the Slytherins abide more to the old rules, due to hesitation to go befriend 'them'. And the other students seemed to be reluctact to sit at the former Slytherin table.
'All the better', Draco thought. He was sitting next to Theo and Pansy, Blaise was sitting across from them, his back to all other students, looking amused. 'Why are you smiling Zabini?' Draco asked. 'Doesn't this look hilarious to you? After everything forced upon us, here we are, still shunt by everyone'. 'Thank you for the sarcasm Zabini, but you really thought it would change overnight?' Pansy responded. 'Well.. did you get orders from your parents to befriend all students, muggleborn or not? Because I did, and it will be a hell of a job doing that, it would help if I could start right away' Draco looked stunned. 'What?! You are kidding right? Your mom expects you to be friends with The Golden Girl and her followers?' 'You know my mother never cared for all that blood purity shit the Dark Lord proclaimed, I just followed my Pureblood insticts and kept under the radar. Selfpreservation and all.. and seeing as I don't wear an ugly fading tattoo on my arm, I did a good job.' Draco was instantly fuming. 'Yeah, like Theo and I had a choice in this? If it wasn't for our fathers...' 'Yes yes, we know Draco, but you are the only one who still questions if the Dark Lord had a point', Pansy cut him of.
They had a long and honest talk about this all over the summer. None of his friends were under such strict rules and pureblood upbringing as Draco was. Although Theo's came close. But his father was not a man of patience or words, for that matter. Theo had the rules beaten into him, but his mind always wandered and wondered when being punished for his questions.
Theo was staring ahead. 'You really still think they are a threat to our world?' Draco shrugged. 'So many people followed His believe, that can't be all out of fear you know...' 'We know Draco, but we think those people are mad for saying those things and even madder for taking action upon torturing and killing everyone with lesser blood. If they keep it up like this, there won't be much wizards and witched left you know?' Blaise said. 'Not to mention all the inbreeding for the amount of Purebloods there are left...' Pansy complemented. 'Doesn't mean that I will befriend them anytime soon' Draco was wary, even though his father wasn't in the picture anymore, and his mother didn't really think that muggleborns were that bad. They couldn't help they were born with magic afterall. Or so she said. He just couldn't see himself being friends with Granger, or Loony Lovegood. Was that really an option? Without reprecussions from other Pureblood believers?
Blaise stood up, looked around with a wicked smile on his face. 'What are you up to Zabini?' Draco mused. 'There's no time like the present...' and with that he walked over to the Hufflepuf table. Pansy looked amused, Theo stunned and Draco was shocked. Even more so to see Weasley stand up, appraise him, and to the blank face of Blaise himself, shocked a lot of people by shaking his hand and slide over to make room for him on their table. 'Only Zabini can get away with that' Theo scoffed. 'I doubt we will get the same gesture'. 'Yeah, Granger will probable punch me again if I get that close' 'I doubt that Draco, she did testify on your behalf.' Pansy reminded him.
Draco rolled his eyes 'Like I could ever forget...'.
'Just wait, our time will come, for now, just keep our heads down, and follow Blaise's lead'. Pansy said, looking around the hall. 'Maybe sooner than later Draco..' poking Draco with her elbow to show him Granger who was staring at him.