Chapter One: The Welcome Back
Taking a steadying breath, Draco stepped towards the portrait. "Puddlemere United", he mumbled, watching the portrait swing forward in response to the password. He had never been in the Gryffindor Tower before, never really wanted to either, but due to the massive destruction of the castle, sleeping arrangements and houses had to be rearranged. Headmistress McGonagall had thought it best that rather than divide the students by their usual houses and create further division, it would be prudent to house students based on their year in school. Draco was placed with the other seventh years and the sixth years to live in Gryffindor Tower, which had been renamed Lupin Tower after the beloved former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Perfect, he thought, being forced to live together will make it so much easier for everyone to hostilely ignore me and mock the downfall of my life.
He glumly walked through the portrait hole, hearing warm conversations between his peers and bracing himself for the inevitable silence that he was sure would follow his appearance in the common room. He quickly surveyed the room, noticing the familiar, albeit surprised, faces. Conversations quickly quieted as everyone looked at the tall, slender boy. He gave a curt nod and proceeded to head for the dormitory stairs when he heard a female's voice behind him. "Draco—um, we didn't know you were returning for your final year. It's…erm…nice to see you again."
He turned, fully expecting her to be kidding about being happy to see him, but Hermione had a look of utter sincerity on her face. "Erm…yeah, I had to come back. Can't really do much without my N.E.W.T.s, now can I?" He reflexively sneered at her, and she looked wounded.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend…" She mumbled, clearly hurt by his curtness. He mentally cringed, nice first introduction, you bloody wanker, he thought to himself, but he maintained his composure as he continued towards the dormitory stairs. He took them two at a time, opened the door to his bunk room, and entered. You've got to be fucking kidding me. I have to room with Potter, Weasley, Longbottom, and McLaggen. Fucking brilliant. This just went from shitty to absolutely fucking awful.
Sighing, he briefly considered leaving right now and going back home, before ultimately deciding to stay. Sullenly, Draco began unpacking his trunk, when he heard someone open the dormitory door. Turning, he saw the familiar flash of red hair that could only belong to a Weasley. Draco said nothing, turning back to his pile of school robes that he was attempting to iron with his wand. "Erm…" Ron started nervously, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet uncomfortably, "you know, Hermione was only trying to be nice. She's on this bloody mission for Inter-House Cooperation. McGonagall encouraged it. Complete bullocks if you ask me, but it's worth a shot, I 'spose."
Draco said nothing, continuing to stare at Ron, wondering what Ron expected him to say. "Right, well, we're having a bit of a welcome back gathering in the common room. There's firewhiskey, or butterbeer if you prefer, and lots of food. Maybe you will come down when you're finished?" Draco nodded, stunned at the invitation from the Gryffindor whom had always hated Draco.
Ron left the room quickly, looking relieved to have finished the awkward conversation. Draco knew that the only reason he had come up here was because Hermione had forced her boyfriend to talk to Draco and invite him to the party. Alone again, Draco doubted how welcome he could be at any party thrown by The Boy Who Lived and his friends, but decided that if nothing else, he would go down and take a bottle of Firewhiskey back to the dorm. Being drunk certainly would make this uncomfortable first night back more bearable. And he certainly didn't want any of them to think he was cared about what they thought of him-even though I do care, he thought, although he would never say that out loud.
Closing his trunk, Draco ran his hands over his face, reflecting on the events from the past few years that had brought him here. Having been a Death Eater and a follower of Voldemort, Draco could hardly fathom the hatred that his classmates must have for him. He honestly couldn't blame them. Most had lost friends or family during the war, and Draco was a member of the side that had killed them. How could this situation possibly not be hostile? Still, Granger did welcome me back, and she has more reason to hate me than most…he thought, flinching with the memories of her brief stay at Malfoy Manor. But he had tried to help her, Harry, and Ron—but did she realize that?
Draco was surprised at himself for actually caring about whether or not Hermione knew he tried to protect her. This is bloody mad. She hates me. She won't care if I tried to help her. One good deed doesn't erase all the bad ones. Composing himself, Draco headed downstairs towards his reveling peers. Time to face the music…not exactly like I don't deserve what may be coming to me…