Author's Note: The lyrics listed before each chapter are the lyrics that inspired the writing of that chapter.
"It's a long way from the moon up to the sun
It's a longer road ahead of me, the road that I've begun
Stop to think of all the time I've lost
Start to think of all the bridges that I've burned that must be crossed
I've been poison, I've been rain
I've been fooled again
I've seen ashes shine like chrome
Someday I'll see home"
"Home"-Switchfoot
Chapter One: Home Again
Gwendolyn Malkin-Pryce joined the only other Slytherin from her year in a compartment on the train.
"Gwendolyn," Draco Malfoy greeted curtly.
"Draco," she responded the same. Normally, she was never around the blonde, but with their return to school after the war, she was sure he'd be the only one to talk to her. Gwen set her bag on the seat beside her and decided to nap.
Draco had been startled to see another Slytherin from their year return. He had only come back as the beginning of his long road to redemption. He was going to better the name of Malfoy if it killed him, and it might. He watched as the brunette threw her bag on the seat and curled up to sleep. He assumed that they were sticking to the Slytherin code. Which meant it was going to be a long year. Especially, since he and Gwendolyn were not exactly friends. She most likely would make snide remarks about how he and his family had gotten light sentences. Draco was never charged along with his mother and his father was put under house arrest. So besides having a few Aurors around the house, it wasn't that bad of a sentence. It could have been worse if it hadn't been for Potter. Merlin how he hoped Potter didn't show this year.
The glass door slid open, and Hermione Granger stared at the two. Draco groaned inwardly. If the princess was here then surely Potter and Weasel were here, too.
"Malfoy, I didn't know that you would be returning," she said cautiously. Draco would normally have a vicious remark for her, but it seemed pointless to do so now.
"Yes, well I am," was all that he replied. She looked at him and then stared at the back of the brunette.
"Did Pansy return as well?" Hermione asked. She had been certain that Parkinson wouldn't return.
"No, that's Gwendolyn Malkin-Pryce, I won't tell her you called her Pansy. She wouldn't enjoy that," Draco taunted. How could the know-it-all not tell the difference between Pansy's ebony hair and Gwendolyn's deep brown?
"Oh, yes, I heard her father had been put into Azkaban after the battle."
"Granger, why the bloody hell are you talking to me?" Draco lashed at her.
"I was trying to be nice, Malfoy," she said as she slid the door shut rather hard. The noise it made had caused Gwen to wake-up.
"What was that?" She asked him.
"Granger being an annoying chit as always," he answered without looking at her.
"And here I thought you were suddenly friends with her Gryffindor Highness," Gwen retorted. Draco narrowed his eyes, but didn't retaliate. Instead, he spoke.
"Listen, we're the only Slytherins returning this year and I'm fairly certain that no one is going to welcome us back with open arms. So, maybe we should put all the pathetic stuff behind us and try to stand together this year," he suggested. Gwen thought about it for a moment. It may be the best idea, but she didn't want to agree. She'd make it alone through this.
"I'd rather not," she said as she grabbed her bag, "I'll deal with you because you're a fellow Slytherin, but I won't be your friend or your follower."
Draco expected her to say as much. He'd never known her to be dependent on anyone. He nodded. If that's what she wanted, then that's what he'd do.
She took her stuff and headed to a carriage. To her dismay, it was the last one and Draco was going to be riding with her. They sat in silence the entire trip.
When they entered the Great Hall, the room had collectively gasped. Gwen was sure it was more for Draco than herself as she barely was known.
"Hey isn't that the girl who's father was sentenced to Azkaban in yesterday's Prophet?" She heard a Hufflepuff ask. So much for them not knowing who she was, it made her glad that her robes covered her left arm. Voldemort had given her and a bunch of other Death Eaters' children the Dark Mark at a mass ceremony only a fortnight before the Battle of Hogwarts in May.
Both Draco and she held their heads high as they walked to the Slytherin table and took seats. McGonagall waited for them to do so before beginning the feast.
"Good evening," she began, "I want to begin by welcoming everyone. I have a few announcements. Joining us this year will be Professor Minos Flint for Potions and new head of Slytherin house, Professor William Weasley for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Robin Locksley for Muggle Studies, and finally Professor Nickson interning for Transfiguration."
As the Headmistress had called each name, they stood and hands were clapped for the new staff members. Draco had barely paid attention since Gwendolyn's head had snapped up at the mention of Marcus Flint's older brother. He was curious to her reaction.
McGonagall stated that the students here to make-up for last school year should stay after the feast for a meeting with her. When she was through, the food appeared, Draco and Gwen ate without speaking.
When the feast had ended and the rest of the students had filed off to bed, the eighteen students returning approached the staff table.
"This year will be different from your previous ones at Hogwarts. First, since you are all of-age you will have private dormitories and common rooms near your house common rooms. Second, you will not be able to participate in House Quidditch, but if you want to make two teams amongst yourselves, then I'll allow you to have matches. Finally, you will have classes together because there are so few of you. You should attend only those classes you obtained OWLs in. I will pass out the schedules in the morning. If you don't qualify for a class, then consider that time a free period. Now, you Head of House will escort you to the new dormitories," she explained to them somberly.
Draco had approached Minos Flint without delay because he was exhausted, but noticed how Gwendolyn positioned herself behind him. It was as if she were afraid of the new Professor.
"Good evening Mr. Malfoy, Miss Malkin-Pryce," he greeted them with a look that made Gwen shiver. She wasn't sure if coming back had been the right choice after all.
"Follow me," he said as he led them to the dungeons. They stopped at a newly erected portrait of Severus Snape. "This portrait is the entrance to your private common room. I'll leave you to decide a password. I look forward to seeing you in class."
Gwen was sure the lingering look he gave her before retreating to his own quarters was meant to warn her that they would discuss their future. It wasn't an everyday occurrence to have your intended teaching you. She didn't even know him. He was eight years older than she, and his name had only been spoken when her parents told her the arrangement had been made. Now that she had met him, she thought he resembled a troll, much like Marcus.
"Hello? Have you not been listening?" Draco asked annoyed.
"Sorry what did you say?"
"What do you want for a password?"
"I don't care. Just make one."
"Fine, 'polyjuice,'" he said to the portrait and Snape's head nodded before the frame revealed an opening. They entered and took in the surroundings. It was still a cold dungeon, but it had been decorated better than the Slytherin common room. There was a fireplace with a green couch and two silver squashy chairs in front of it. There were two large desks with built-in bookcases at each side of the room. Two small staircases on the left and the right led down to their bedchambers. On the right door there was a portrait of Gwendolyn, the wife of Merlin and to the left a portrait of the constellation, Draco.
"Well they chose our rooms for us," Draco mentioned as he headed down the steps to the left. Gwen did the same to the right.
"Password?" The legendary witch asked.
"Betrothed," Gwen said. She couldn't forget the word as she was going to be having class with Minos Flint all year long. The portrait granted her access and she looked at where she would be sleeping for this school year. The full-size four-poster was decorated in silver and green. To the left was a door she was sure led to the loo. She opened it and was greeted by Draco.
"Well that should make for an interesting year," he drawled before closing his door. Gwen sighed. Staying at home really seemed like a good idea now.
The next morning at breakfast, McGonagall handed out the eighteen returnees their special schedules. Gwen let out a frustrated breath. They had double Potions twice a week. She had acquired eight OWLs: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Astronomy. Gwen looked at the schedule again.
Monday: 1st Morning Class-Double Potions, 1st Afternoon Class-Divination, 2nd Afternoon Class-Arithmancy
Tuesday: 1st Morning Class-Charms, 2nd Morning Class-Transfiguration, 1st Afternoon Class-Defense Against the Dark Arts, 2nd Afternoon Class-Ancient Runes
Wednesday: 1st Morning Class-History of Magic, 2nd Morning Class-Herbology, 1st Afternoon Class-Double Potions
Thursday: 1st Morning Class-Charms, 2nd Morning Class-Transfiguration, 1st Afternoon Class-Defense Against the Dark Arts, 2nd Afternoon Class-Ancient Runes
Friday: 1st Morning Class-Divination, 2nd Morning Class-History of Magic, 1st Afternoon Class-Herbology, 2nd Afternoon Class-Arithmancy
Beyond the two hours and fifteen minutes of Potions twice a week, Gwen's schedule was not upsetting. She wouldn't have class during any Divination and History of Magic periods. Since today was Wednesday, she didn't have class until ten-thirty. That left her with an hour and a half to do nothing. It also meant her first class was in the greenhouses. She stood up from the Slytherin table and decided to return to her room.
Draco had followed his dorm-mate back to their common room. He was lost in thought about his schedule. He had obtained the same eight OWLs has his housemate. This meant they would have the exact same schedule.
She stopped suddenly and he walked into her back. She jumped at the contact.
"Are you following me?" Gwen asked him in a tone that relayed her frustration.
"No, I just don't have class until Herbology," he answered.
"Oh, I don't either," she said as they approached Snape.
"Polyjuice," Draco uttered and it swung open.
Gwen followed him into the room. She noticed that the desk on the right now contained school books. She approached them and pulled out her text for Herbology. She placed it in her bag, set the bag on the desk, and descended the steps to her bedroom. She decided that a nap couldn't hurt.
Gwen woke up again half an hour before Herbology was to begin. She quickly redid her ponytail and used a de-wrinkle charm on her clothes and robes. She left her bedroom and grabbed her bag from the desk and left the common room.
The greenhouses were empty when she first got there. She had been ten minutes early. Finally, a few moments before the bell, Draco and eight other students entered.
"Please partner up, there is a set of potted plants in front of you. All of them are mundane, but contain magical properties. I want you to name the plant and list what it could be used for in magic. You have the whole class hour to complete the task," Professor Sprout instructed them. She set out toward the second greenhouse to let them do their work.
Gwen watched as the students paired up and knew that it was going to be her and Draco. This turned out to be true when the other students lined up at workstations. The first one held Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Behind them were Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. To the left of Brown and Patil sat Susan Bones and Megan Jones. The right workstation contained Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley. She and Draco sat at the station in the far back. Gwen sighed.
"Seems we're stuck together," Draco mentioned as he joined her. He started to pick up the plants and examine them.
"The one you are holding is wormwood and it's used in Draught of Living Death," Gwen told him. He understood the statement to mean that she just wanted to get their work done.
The hour went by quickly with Draco and Gwen working side by side. They had completely filled out the parchment. They brought it to Professor Sprout's desk in Greenhouse Three and then made their way back to the castle.
In the Great Hall, Gwen took the same seat at the end of the Slytherin table that she did at the feast the night before and stared at the array of sandwiches that were prepared for lunch. Pumpkin juice was set out in goblets and she took one for herself. She would have eaten, but her stomach was too anxious for their afternoon Potions lesson. She wasn't ready for this. She could always go to the infirmary, but knew that she couldn't do that all year long. Gwen came to terms with her inevitable fate of facing Minos Flint and tried to mentally prepare herself for the encounter.
Gwen entered the common room and went straight to her desk. She pulled out the Potions text, placed it in her bag, and then made her way down the corridor to the classroom. She was the earliest student once again. Two minutes later, Hermione Granger joined her in the dungeon room. Granger took a seat at the very front. Gwen was already sitting in the farthest left of the third row back. She watched as all five Ravenclaws entered and took the remaining seats in the front of the room. Draco was the last to enter, and he took a seat in the farthest right of the third row back. Gwen snickered inwardly at the seating arrangement.
"Death Eaters shouldn't even be here," one of the Ravenclaw boys whispered harshly. Gwen would have hexed him if Minos hadn't entered the classroom in the same instant.
"Good morning class, as you were told yesterday, I'm Professor Flint and I'll be teaching you NEWTs level Potions. Before you ask, yes I'm related to Marcus Flint and no, I'm not a Death Eater. As well as I will not tolerate prejudice of any kind in my classroom," he warned looking at the offending Ravenclaw. Gwen and Draco groaned at the same time. The easiest way to promote bad behavior was to single out the students who did it on the first day.
"Is this year over yet?" Gwen quietly mumbled.
"Now, I will pair you up and place you at the lab tables that I would prefer. Boot and Corner, I would like you to partner and sit at this table," he said pointing at the table to the right in the front row. He then continued with each table in the row from there, "Goldstein and Granger front and center please. Malfoy and Malkin-Pryce, you will be in this far left table in the front. Finally, Patil and Turpin, I would like you two to sit at the middle table in the second row." Everyone went to their new assigned seats. Gwen and Draco begrudgingly made their way to the front table. Neither had sat in the front row before, and they were not happy about it now.
"As a beginning of the year review, I want you to brew a Sleeping Draught of the highest potency in pairs and bring it to my desk at the end of class," he instructed.
Gwen smiled wickedly. She could brew a Sleeping Draught in third year. Draco grinned as well and began to help Gwen gather the ingredients.
They worked silently together the whole hour and placed a portion of their draught in a vial to be graded. Gwen brought the vial to the desk and tried to deposit it quickly.
"Gwendolyn, can you stay a few moments after class?" Professor Flint asked before she could escape. Gwen really wanted to say no, but couldn't think of a good enough excuse.
"Yes sir," she responded instead.
Draco watched the exchange from their table and noticed her tense reaction. He decided he would wait around after class for her. The rest of the students left as he slowly packed his stuff. Flint shot him an impatient look. Draco finished and thanked Merlin that he still had an Extendable Ear that he confiscated. He used it to listen from the corridor.
"Well, we finally meet," Flint said to Gwen as she stood in front of his desk.
"Yes," she answered.
"You do know who I am?" He asked.
"Yes, you're the man I'm supposed to marry. My father made a Marriage Arrangement Vow with yours," Gwen answered, venom evident in her voice.
Draco's eyes widened as he heard her admission. He understood her apprehension from the previous night.
"Glad to know you're this cheerful 'bout it," he started to respond, "Don't get too cheeky. As you're legally my intended, I have rights over you."
Gwen stared daggers at him, but didn't speak. She knew she was going to hate him.
"You're excused for now, but I expect that I'll be requiring your company again." He waved her off and she proceeded to get her bag and return to her common room.
Draco quickly hid the Extendable Ear and started to walk toward their common room. Gwen noticed him and seethed at the intrusion of her privacy.
"I know you heard!" She screamed down the corridor to him. He stopped, but didn't face her.
"So what if I did?" He asked in a bored tone.
"Don't give me that rubbish Draco! Probably want to rub it in that your father was too busy avoiding sentences in Azkaban to make a Marriage Arrangement," she spat at him.
"Not really," he simply answered. His casual dismissal of the information made her angrier.
"Shove off," she said as she pushed past him.
"She'll be mental before Christmas," Draco muttered to himself as he went the same way she had.
Gwen was grateful when dinner was over and she could be in the common room permanently for the night. As she made her way from the Great Hall to their quarters, Draco and the others gave her a wide berth. Draco did because of their earlier altercation. The others avoided her because they suspected she was a Death Eater.
Gwen walked directly to her bedchambers. She didn't feel like she could do this all year. Her bed looked inviting, so, she crawled into it and started to cry.
Draco made it to the common room moments after her. He went to his room and removed his robes and tie. He placed them in the wardrobe. He contemplated the idea of Gwen being arranged to marry Flint and was repulsed. The man was close to ten years her senior and had the appeal of an ogre. If those weren't enough reasons to feel sympathy for her, then Flint's attitude with her surely would. After last year, Draco understood the weight of being someone's possession. He and his family had been possessions to Voldemort, along with his home. It had been the worst two years of his life.
He continued to ponder these thoughts as he entered the lavatory for a shower. Instantly, he heard her sobs on the other side of her door. He knew he should ignore them. The sounds made him remember his own days of crying and worry. His memories made him turn on the water and tend to his shower.
Gwen heard the water so she knew he heard her crying. She was thankful he didn't intrude. She wouldn't have been able to handle it if he did. Gwen let the sobs rack her body while the water could cover most of the sound from being heard. She composed herself once the water stopped.
Draco stepped out of the shower compartment and listened. He didn't hear anything so he assumed that she had cried herself to sleep. Sliding his pyjama pants on, he decided that if he noticed her start to get like he did in sixth year, then he was going to do something to help her.