A/N: Hey guys, so I'm back, and I know I haven't updated my other story in a while, but I'm getting around to it in about a week. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this story, and I hope to update every few days, a week at most. I'm determined to finish this story in a decent amount of time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, that all belongs to the wonderful mind of Jo. (: If I did own this, Ginny would have died in CoS, a lot of people wouldn't have died, and Harry would have caught onto Dumbledore's manipulative tendencies. REINE (pronounced "rain") and PIPER are my characters. That's it. (:
Changes: Fred is NOT dead, and neither is Severus. I haven't decided if Dobby is dead, or not.
Summary: When everyone returns for their seventh year, Harry and Draco are asked to fill the positions of Potions Master and Defense Professor, as no one else was available to fill the posts. How will their relationship work out right after the war? Especially when an unwanted surprise guest shows up to wrench a hole in all of Draco's plans.
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
{Parseltongue}
Letters or signs or notifications
Warning: This WILL BE SLASH! Boy/Boy. Don't like, don't read. Criticism accepted, flames not. Send me a flame, and you'll get one right back.
Now, on to the story! (:
One: The Return to Hogwarts
Draco
"Welcome back to Hogwarts! We are glad to see all of you have returned, considering the last year's events," my godfather announced. From my seat at the head table, I could see the haunted looks on the students' faces. My gaze drifted to the empty seat on the left side of the headmaster's place. I had heard a rumour that the Saviour himself would be returning, but when he wasn't present for the re-sorting, I didn't believe it to be true. Upon seeing the still empty seat, a pool of dread settled in the pit of my stomach. That seat was the only on he could logically be at. I hadn't thanked him for saving my family from death. He saved my mother and me from Azkaban and the Kiss, and even found a way to save Severus after his attack from Nagini. My father was a lost cause, and we weren't as broken up about it as we probably should have been. This year was going to be tense if I had to work with him.
I tuned back in at the end of Severus's speech, "And we have two new professors this year to welcome. Professor Malfoy," I stood, "the new Potions Master," he continued. I nodded and sat back down, ignoring the loathing stares. Severus continued, "And your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, who unfortunately, couldn't make it to supper." I waited for him to say a name, but he never did. "With that said, let's eat!" My plate was filled with delectable food, but I didn't have the stomach to eat it anymore. Severus took his place next to me, and I watched him take a bite of his pork before I leaned over, keeping my eyes on the Slytherin table where Blaise, Pansy, Nott, and the re-sorted Weasel sat.
"So, Sev, who is the new Defense instructor?" He swallowed carefully and followed my gaze to the Slytherin table.
"You'll see later, I suppose. He wanted his privacy, not that I blame him. I can say, however, that I do think he will be the one to break the so-called curse on that position." He went back to eating, and I leaned back out of his space after stealing a bite of his pudding.
"I'll see you later then, Sev. If you need me, my floo is open, and I know where your office is. The password is still the same, I assume." He nodded, so I stood up and walked down the aisle between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables toward the large doors at the end of the Great Hall. I could feel the stares from the returning students. I absently scratched at the mark permanently burned into my left forearm. My Death-Eater days were behind me, and they hadn't even been my choice from the start, but people still didn't trust me, and I couldn't blame them. Teaching these people was going to be hard, especially knowing what most of them thought of me.
I had my eyes trained on the ground as I walked down toward my rooms in the dungeons, so I didn't notice the figure walking directly at me.
"Draco? I heard you were coming back this year." A shiver went down my spine at hearing the smooth voice that spoke my name so easily, and my eyes snapped up to see a raven-haired, green-eyed, tanned beauty strutting toward me. My breath caught in my throat as I watched him step closer and closer and closer…
"Harry?" My jaw dropped in a very un-Malfoy manner as his presence finally sunk in. "What are you doing here?" I asked dumbly, as though I couldn't figure that out on my own.
"I'm the new Defense professor, and you as I hear it, are the new Potions master." I nodded, "Well congratulations, mate." My heart stopped for a moment as he smiled. I realized I had been staring a little too late and saw he had cocked his head to the side in confusion with curiosity and something else glittering in his eyes. Shaking my head, I slipped my mask back on.
"Thank you," I said seriously, "For everything." I smiled briefly at his surprised expression and walked past him and down the stairs to my rooms. I brushed his arm as I rushed by, sending another shiver down my spine.
"Pull yourself together, Draco. He's with the Weaslette, anyway," I muttered to myself. I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself down enough to greet my house before curfew. I would think about this all later.
Harry
The polite words from Draco kept echoing through my head. 'Wait, when did Malfoy become Draco? And why did he look at me like that? This is going to be a fun year,' I thought to my self, 'I'll talk to him tomorrow, I suppose.'
{Procellae Draco} [A/N: 'Stormy dragon' in Latin], I hissed at the portrait of Salazar Slytherin that guarded my personal quarters. He smirked and winked at me in that all-knowing way of his.
{You must speak to me one day. It is nice to have someone that understands my language. By the by, I give you fair warning.}, he hissed back at me and swung open, allowing my entrance. Salazar had this thing for letting anyone into my rooms if they held an intelligent conversation with him or they were pretty enough.
"Hello, Harry." I flinched at the syrup-sweet voice grating across my ears. I turned to the fireplace to see a petite girl with ginger hair in a short dress sitting in my favorite chair.
"Hello, Ginny," I said stiffly, narrowing my eyes, "What are you doing here? You know you're only allowed in with my personal permission, and you are not welcome here." She pushed up, out of the chair, and stalked over to me. I backed up, forcefully stopped when I hit the wall next to the entrance. Ginny continued approaching and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Oh, Love, don't be like that. You know you want me," she whispered in my ear. She tried to miss me, so I shoved her back, making her stumble and land on the floor.
"You bastard! What was that for?" she demanded. Ginny's face was beginning to blend in with her red hair. I shook my head, trying to keep a smirk off my face as I pointed to the door.
"Get out. Leave now, Ginny. We've been over this and over this. I'm GAY! I don't want you, and I never will. Not as anything other than a little sister." She stood up, made a rude gesture with her finger, and huffed as she stormed out. The last thing I heard before the painting slammed shut was Salazar hissing a line of profanities at Ginny as she told him to shut up. I sighed and slumped to the ground, suddenly exhausted, but with one more task to complete.
Draco
"Does anyone have and questions for me?" I asked my snakes. Weasley stayed in the back, but listened dutifully to everything I said. To say I was surprised was an understatement. No one answered me, so I nodded in dismissal. Weasley walked up to me, looking very uncomfortable.
"Yes?" I drawled when he didn't say anything.
"Er…I wanted to apologize for being a prat in the past, and I hoped we could move past it. So, I'm sorry Mal – Sir," Weasley choked out. I laughed at his use of my title and saw anger flit across his face. I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently when he flinched.
"Don't call me sir, Weasel," I said with a smile. "We were both gits to each other," I continued, "so this is me accepting your apology and apologizing back. Forgive me?" I stuck my hand out for him to take, and he visibly relaxed.
"Forgiven, Ferret," he said with a smiled as he shook my hand.
"Draco! Come say hello before you slink away, will you?" I heard Pansy call. I patted Weasley's shoulder once more before walking off to get Pansy off my back. I had things to get prepared for classes tomorrow.
"Hello, Pansy, Blaise," I stated calmly with a nod to each. Pansy launched herself at me and I chuckled, hugging her back.
"Oh, I'm so glad we're back and all together!" she squealed in my ear, and I winced at the volume of it.
"Yes, me too, but I'm a professor now, so I have things to prepare for. I must go, but you two are always welcome to spend meals and free periods with me." Pansy nodded her head to hard I thought it was bound to fall off. Blaise puller her to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down. Even if I was straight, I wouldn't have the patience to deal with that much Pansy excitement all the time. Blaise was a braver man than I to put up with it.
"We'll take you up on that, Draco. See you tomorrow, mate," Blaise said with a wide grin. I smiled back at my two best friends and walked back to my rooms.
Walking into my bedchamber, I noticed my beautiful eagle owl perched on the frame at the foot of the bed. 'Maybe Mother sent me something,' I thought to myself as I untied the letter from his leg. The seal wasn't that of the Malfoy or Black families, so that ruled out any other the most logical options. The seal was one I recognized but couldn't exactly place. Odd. I untied the ribbon around it and broke the seal, unrolling the elegant parchment to satisfy my curiosity.
Draco,
I appreciate the gratitude, but it was unnecessary. Everyone has been thanking me nowadays, and it would be nice to have someone treat me like a normal person. You and Severus are the only people who have acted towards me like I am just another wizard at Hogwarts. I thank you for that.
To show my gratitude, I would like to extend an invitation to have dinner with me in my quarters tomorrow at 7:30 to put our differences behind us and start anew.
Sincerely,
H. Potter
When I had finished reading the letter, I read it again and again. I read it at least five times before the shock subsided and I could think again. Harry Potter, the boy who had turned me down eight years ago – though not entirely his fault – was asking me to dinner. "Draco, this is not a date," I berated myself, "It's a dinner to possibly start a new relationship as colleagues." My brain just wouldn't give up the crazy idea, though it looked like I was going to go to that dinner.
A/N: Hope y'all enjoyed that! Next chapter soon! Reviews are welcome! (: