A/N Well, this is pretty much my first ever fic from a Draco Malfoy-centric world...I'm surprisingly addicted to it already, despite dodgy present tense and its a bit angsty, too. Anyway, my first non-oneshot in the Harry Potter universe,except this really old one I'm not going to go into...hmm. Well. Enjoy!

The battle is over and a new world has begun.

These are the words that come out of Professor Minerva McGonagall's mouth, when the excitement dies down, when everyone is ready to hear what other people have to say and not just rejoice in their own happiness. Draco Malfoy feels as though she is speaking directly to him, looking at him with, ironically enough, Dumbledore's gaze. There are heroes sitting at these tables, brave men, women and children who have defeated the darkest evil known to wizardkind with almost no regard for their own safety, and here he sits, a traitor, only alive because Voldemort died before his orders could be carried out. He has no place here.

Draco Malfoy sits at the same table as these heroes and knows he does not belong. He looks at his mother, who is watching him nervously, and cannot find it within him to hate her. She has the same motives as he himself - to keep Draco Malfoy alive for as long as possible.

Draco fights the urge to spit in disgust at the whole Malfoy family.

Professor McGonagall has left the staff table and is heading up to the Headmistresses office, and Draco Malfoy makes a decision. He waits for the Great Hall to become suitably rowdy, then slips out whilst his mother is greeting Andromeda Tonks tearfully, another reunion. The Great Hall is quiet comparatively, with hardly anybody but a few over-joyful couples celebrating the victory in their own way. Malfoy snorts and heads towards the office, ignoring the annoyed looks given to him as he passes the over-zealous students. Finally, he reaches the headmistresses office, and within he can hear Professor McGonagall talking to someone. He recognises his voice - it is Harry Potter, Potter the hero. Draco Malfoy nearly gives up then and there, but he has made his decision and he sticks to it. Stiffening his resolve, he knocks at the door.

It swings open, revealing McGonagall and Potter looking at him accusatorily.

"C-could I have a word, Professor?" asks Malfoy, cursing his suddenly weak and stuttery voice.

McGonagall raises an eyebrow.

"Go ahead, Mr Malfoy," she says finally, motioning him in.

"In private, Professor?"

"Whatever you want to say to me you can say to Mr Potter."

Fine, thinks Draco, and then out loud - "Well...I know, I've been...um..." It is the only word he can think of, "utterly crap since possibly the day I was born."

Potter snorts.

"But I'd like to start making amends for that. So...I was wondering, if I could teach. Here."

McGonagall has the grace to look surprised.

"And what post would you be looking towards taking on, Mr Malfoy?"

Malfoy curses. He hasn't thought of this.

"Wherever you have a vacancy, Professor. I have my NEWTS, if I pass them at least, and...well" and he is suddenly embarrassed, "I want to teach people not to follow my example. To teach them not to do what I have done."

"Muggle Studies?" suggests Potter, smirking.

"I'm afraid Mr Malfoy hasn't even got an OWL in that, Harry. I'm sorry to disappoint you." says McGonagall, still thinking, but her lips unconciously curving into a smile. "Okay, Malfoy. We'll be needing a new Charms teacher, as Professor Flitwick is moving into Transfiguration, because obviously I can't teach that anymore. How would that suit you?"

Draco Malfoy hasn't realised he's been holding his breath with anticipation until he lets it out in one big, long woosh.

"Thankyou, Professor," he says, forgetting his usual arrogant mannerisms in his sudden and amazing gratitude, "I won't let you down. I promise!"

McGonagall is smiling openly, instinctively happy at the change in strange Draco Malfoy..

"I'll contact you by owl in the summer after your NEWT results come in, Mr Malfoy. You may leave now."

Professor McGonagall and Harry Potter watch the door as it swings shut, and swear they can hear whistling as Draco Malfoy leaves the corridor.

A/N. AHEM blue...button...PRESS! REVIEW! Please?