A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first Harry Potter fic, and I am incredibly excited to finally be able to post it. I've written several stories before but I am new to writing HP. I would love some feedback and I hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own this story or the characters! J.K. Rowling does. But we all know this.

Advisory: This story is rated M because it will contain language, suggestive themes, and adult material. If you aren't comfortable reading this story, you don't have to.

Summary: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have been enemies since first year. But what happens when Voldemort is defeated and the war is over? Will they remain hateful, make a truce or form something more? Post DH, Dumbledore, Snape, and Fred alive.

The Serpent's Call

Harry Potter was never one to have peaceful sleep, and this night was no exception. The night had been full of his feverish tossing and turning. Harry's breathing grew frantic, the pace becoming faster and faster until suddenly he awoke with a gasp.

"Bloody hell, mate," Ron swore. "I thought you said the nightmares had stopped after the war?"

Harry reached blindly around for his glasses, hands shaking. "I'm fine, Ron."

But in fact, he wasn't. The defeat of Voldemort had done nothing to curb the gut-wrenching dreams and flashbacks. If anything, they made them worse. He often was tormented in his sleep by the screams of his dead beloved. Lily. James. Sirius. Remus. Mad-Eye. The list went on and on, and even the Boy Who Lived could not keep the memories from returning. He knew it was best to not pity the dead—they didn't have to be in pain anymore!—but even still, Harry missed them all. Life was harder without people to trust.

Ron shot him a sympathetic look before climbing out of his bed. The Weasley boy had learned what came along with being friends with Harry. The whole experience during the past seven years would be enough to wear anybody down. But somehow, they'd made it through it all.

And the effects of the war were not entirely negative. Ron and Hermione had finally gotten together as a couple—so had Neville and Luna. Harry and Ginny had already been unofficially dating for a while now…but even Harry wasn't sure where they stood.

"Merlin, some things never change," muttered Hermione. The Great Hall had finally been restored and the students could have a place to relax and enjoy the elf-made meals. Ron was currently stuffing his face and succeeding in looking like a red-haired pig. Hermione didn't hide her disgust but still sat close to her boyfriend.

None of the Hogwarts students that remained after the war were surprised in the least when the Golden Trio remained the Golden Trio. Although the four Houses had all become somewhat more unified and tolerable of each other, the groups and segregation was still distinguishable.

"Hi, guys," chirped Ginny as she sat down besides Harry. He felt a blush spreading across his face and to his horror, he saw the Twins wink at him in unison from down the table. Hermione smiled all knowingly. "Hello, Ginny. How was the library?"

The redhead groaned. "You don't want to know. We're making progress, but it is still a mess. Tons of books are missing and even more are ruined beyond magical repair. It's a pain in the arse, really."

Ron spluttered. "Gin!"

"Calm down," she replied good naturedly. Casually, she slipped her hand into Harry's. He smiled awkwardly and tried to resist the urge to hide under the tables. It didn't feel right. Harry knew he had strong feelings for Ginny, but the relationship felt so forced. He didn't know what to do. Maybe he was just bad when girls came involved? He'd always been a bit shy around his love interests. If he only—

"Sweet Moses' third nipple on a cracker, Malfoy's back?" Ron gaped. "I can't bloody believe it. Surely Dumbledore wouldn't let a Death Eater come back to Hogwarts? Not after all that happened?" He stopped talking and yelped as Hermione elbowed him.

She glared. "Ronald, you heard what the Headmaster said! House unity. The war is over. We can't keep fighting. Besides, Malfoy isn't as bad as you think he is."

He snorted and gulped down some pumpkin juice before continuing his rant. "Please. We risked our lives for him in the Room of Requirement, don't you remember? And who was the only student at Hogwarts who joined You-Know-Who when they thought they won?"

The two girls sighed. It was Ginny who spoke this time. "Ron, he had to. They would have killed him. Plus, his family was there."

"I'm not having this conversation," snapped Ron before storming off with a muffin in hand. Harry rolled his eyes. He had always been forgiving, but maybe Ron was right. After all, it was Malfoy who stood by while Hermione was tortured in Malfoy Manor.

Another part of Harry wanted to protest. Malfoy had also lied to not knowing Harry's identity at the very same manor, which had probably saved his life. He didn't know what to think.

Hermione noticed Harry was drifting off in thought and snapped her fingers at him. "Harry, don't think too much about it. He's none of our business. Ron's just being a bit of a prat right now. Don't mind him, just enjoy your food."

Harry complied but couldn't help but feel an ache inside.