Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or TrueBlood. Only the characters I make up and this story.

Please review. They really motivate me. I hope you enjoy!

-

My name is Ginny Weasley. I live a kind of normal life, I guess. I have lots of friends, a great family, I'm in my sixth year in Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry (everyone had to repeat their last year because of the War), and the War is over because Harry defeated Voldemort – but with the exception of the rare occasion when I was allowed to help in the War, my life was fairly boring up until about three years ago.

Three years ago, vampires announced their existence on national television. As a witch myself, I know about the supernaturals, also called supes, but vampires had always been just stories until then. Hogwarts had students that were weres and shifters (people that changed into animals on the full moon – or whenever they really wanted if they were strong enough), but they kept themselves on the down-low.

When Nan Flanagan (the vampire representative) went on TV, Hogwarts made itself vampire-proof. Since there was an inflow of vampire students, there were classes held at night. But for those who wanted to mainstream a bit more, the windows were enchanted to show only fake sunlight, an extra door and room was added inside the main door to the castle so that when someone wanted to go in or out, they wouldn't let in unwanted sunlight, vampire-only rooms in the dorms, and TrueBlood, one of the more expensive synthetic blood drinks on the market, was added to meals. This way, the vamp students could have more freedom to do what they wished without disturbing the other students. There were about fifteen vamp students, so this wasn't a huge deal.

So I guess my life isn't too normal, anymore. Especially not after this year. Come September, it would change forever.

-

HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED IS DEAD

Harry Potter has finally done it. The boy who lived knew that he was the last horcrux and yet still sacrificed himself to save the world. He was hit with the killing curse for the second time in his life, but this time, he did not survive it. Harry Potter died that night, but because of his enormous sacrifice, he was somehow revived by strong magic…

Draco took his eyes away from the paper. He was sitting at his desk and it was almost time for lunch. He had gotten a letter this morning from Headmistress McGonagall asking everyone from last year to repeat the year, as it was not up to standards and run badly because it was during a time of war and turmoil.

He was going back. He was really going back. His seventh year all over again. Well, technically his eighth. He was being given another chance. He vowed to get O's this year in his NEWTS, as he wasn't able to take them last year and his grades were very poor.

Voldemort was defeated by Potter in June at the end of their seventh year. Dumbledore would have been dead for a full year, now, courtesy to Severus Snape, had Draco not turned around and attacked the other Death Eaters. In the end, Draco could not kill him. He never wanted to, but it was his life or the headmaster's – and truthfully, he really liked his headmaster. Killing was never in his blood. Save for the two Dumbledore had gotten rid of, Potter, Weasel, and Granger had managed to get all but the seventh horcrux, which turned out to be Potter himself.

All of the horcruxes were listed in the Daily Prophet.Draco had read them and remembered a few during his stay at Hogwarts. He heard about the fall of the dark lord's beloved snake, Nagini. He remembered the diary his father slipped into Ginny Weasley's bucket in her first year, his second. He hadn't known how dangerous that book was, though. He now felt incredibly guilty. No one should go through what happened to her. She seemed alright, now, but he remembered her being quiet and reserved for two or three years. Then there was a ring and a locket of some sort – he knew nothing about them. Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem were the last two objects. Voldemort had not known that he made Harry Potter a horcrux when he tried to kill him seventeen years ago. That was the last – Potter. He died to ensure the safety of the Wizarding and muggle worlds because of what he knew, and Voldemort didn't. Then he rose again, brought back to life because of the biggest sacrifice one can make, and killed Voldemort. When Potter was killed, it was like time had stopped. Draco himself had been praying for him to not be dead.

Draco's father had broken away from the imperius curse sometime during the battle after seeing his son begin to fight for the light side. Draco had been hit with a horrible curse when he jumped in front of Ginny Weasley. It was sectum sempra. He had known it would have probably killed her. Seeing that happen was what forced the imperius out of Lucius's head. He fought with all of his might against the death eaters. Lucius and Severus were appealed. Severus was awarded an Order of Merlin First Class; McGonagall and the rest of the Order proved Snape's great assistance as a spy, and the magical residue of the Imperius curse that was still on Lucius was proof enough for them to pardon him. Not to mention, the forced confession of a few death eaters via veritaserum helped greatly.

Since then, peace settled throughout the world. The remaining death eaters are being slowly rounded up, though there are still a few scattered here and there, obviously wanting to avenge their lord. But that wasn't going to happen, Draco knew. There were just too few of them left to do anything about it. His father was helping the aurors catch them, which was restoring his family's name a great deal. It had been revealed that Lucius Malfoy was imperiused, then threatened with his family's life seventeen years ago. His wife and infant son would be killed if he did not join the dark lord's service. The imperius curse has not been on him for a long time, but Voldemort needed him to have no faults during the battle, so he placed it on him again.

Draco had calmed down greatly, too. His near-death experience, and the fact that Potter had saved his life without question, grounded him and got him thinking. It changed him, somewhat. He no longer bullied anyone, because he didn't have to. He no longer sneered at 'mudbloods' and muggleborns because he wasn't forced to hate them, and it was the reason for his side change during the final battle. He had no image to keep up, because Voldemort was finally dead, and he was free to be who he really was.

-

"What's that?"

"None of your beeswax."

"Aw c'mon, Gin."

"No. It's my business, not yours, so bud out."

"Why are you annoying our dearest Gin-Gin, Ronniekins?" Fred asked. It was morning, about a week before Ron, Harry, and I were to be shipped off to Hogwarts, and we were sitting around the kitchen table. The twins decided to stay with the family in the Burrow instead of their place in Diagon Alley during the week before Hogwarts started. The school owls had just come with their book lists, and I had something extra.

"Gin got another letter with her book list and won't tell me what it is."

"That's because I haven't opened it yet," I said exasperatedly.

"Leave her alone, Ronald," Mum scolded. "It's hers, not yours, so let her open it without you looming over her shoulder."

Ron grumbled about annoying sisters and mothers, and received a whap on his head from a rolled up newspaper. I chuckled and opened my letter. My eyes widened in shock.

"PREFECT?" Ron shouted when the scarlet badge fell onto the table. Mum practically threw the plates she was washing back into the sink and ran over to the table, drying her hands hastily before throwing her arms around me.

"Oh, GINNY! I'm so proud! My little Ginny! A prefect!"

Fred and George wrinkled their noses. "I thought you were like us, Gin," Fred said.

"Yeah. We can't have a prefect on our team."

"HUSH!" Mum said, threatening them with a wooden spoon.

"I'm not accepting."

"Of course you're…what?" My mother loosened her grip on me and straightened. I didn't dare look at her in fear of seeing the horror-struck expression on her face. "Not…accepting?"

"Why?" Ron asked.

"I'm not prefect material. They just appointed me because of my grades. I can't take this away from someone who truly wants it. I'll send back a reply telling them to give it to the next person who qualified."

Mum looked like someone died, Ron was surprised, and Fred and George looked proud.

"But…Ginny…"

"I'm sorry, mum. I have too many classes to be able to perform my duties, anyway, even if I did want it."

"Look at the bright side, mum," said George.

"You've had four prefects in the family, out of a brood of seven. Let's not corrupt Gin-Gin, yeah?"

Mum bustled into the living room, ignoring Fred and George and trying not to be too upset about me. "Well, let's not wait to get your things. Someone go up and get Harry, for goodness' sake. We'll go to Diagon Alley today before the rush," she called from the other room. I could tell she was upset, but I didn't want to bring it up after the topic had already been closed.

Fred and George went upstairs to wake him. When they came back down, they waved to us. "Alright, mum. George and I are off to work. Have fun, you lot!" The twins snickered as they exited the kitchen, dodging napkins and silverware from us two youngest Weasleys.

"RONALD! GINEVRA! You will NOT throw forks and knives in my house! At your BROTHERS, no less!" mum screeched, having seen them from the living room. But she couldn't hold back her smile.

I grinned. This year would be hard, especially with advanced double potions and arithmancy, but I knew I could do it. Especially with Snape as my professor. I secretly loved him as a professor, and he secretly loved me as a student. We were very close, but no one knew about it. I looked to him like a second father, or an uncle, perhaps. We loved challenging each other and our bickering seemed hostile to untrained eyes, but he always made up for it when I came to his office later to talk. I think that's what attracted him to me (as a student, of course); my willingness to challenge him instead of just being downright annoying.

When Ron went upstairs to get his trainers on, I took one last look at the kitchen I would sorely miss over the next three and a half months. I loved Hogwarts, but I was already looking forward to Christmas break.

Apparently Fred and George scared Harry out of his mind when they woke him up, but Ron and I gave up asking what happened because Harry would just grumble and not say anything else.

"Sourpuss…" Ron muttered. They were walking through Diagon Alley.

"We have to go to Fred and George's place again!" I said excitedly. Ron and Harry perked up at this, but as soon as Ron's smile appeared, it left.

"They won't give me anything for free, though, or discounted. They always give you stuff," he told me sullenly.

"Well if you're nice to me, I'm sure I can persuade them to give you a thing or two." This made Ron happy again.

"Work first! Then play!"

"Yes, mum."

We had to dodge photographers and journalists who were trying to get at Harry, but we finally got into Flourish and Blott's.

"Go get what you need, dears, and I'll wait over here by the window. Here are your lists."

Ron and I immediately headed to the 'used books' section, and Harry followed. I felt a set of eyes on me, but I didn't know who they belonged to, so I was on edge a little. When I looked up, I saw Malfoy pass by the shop outside on the street. Not that that was connected, or anything. After a while, we found all of the books we needed and headed back to my mother. She looked sadly at my pile and I instantly felt bad.

"My, Ginny, that's a lot of books. Why do you have more than Harry and Ron?"

I felt myself blush. "I'm sorry, mum. If it's too much, I can put them back. I was planning on taking more classes than what's normal, but I don't have to."

"Nonsense. I was just curious, is all. We'll manage. Come, now; it's getting crowded."

When we approached the counter, the man waved his hand. "I know you three. Put those over here, I'll take care of 'em. Your books have already been paid for."

Four sets of wide, shocked eyes stared at him.

"Paid for? Nonsense! We haven't been here yet this summer, and they just got their book lists this morning," mum said.

"I know, ma'am, but someone came here earlier today, when we first opened, and had the lists. The person told me to keep them here behind the counter for you, that they were 'thank you' gifts, and to keep 'im anonymous."

"I can't accept that," I said. Harry and Ron agreed.

"I was told you'd say that. I was also told to not allow you to buy anything from here until you take these here books with you when you leave. Sorry. Those are my orders." He looked apologetic. "Got paid a lot of money to see 'em through."

We were confused, but took the books anyway.

"Thank you," I said. He handed us each a bag of books – mine with more than the others.

"Oh wait, I almost forgot. There's one here for Miss Hermione Granger, too. If you see her, tell her please?"

"We will," mum said, and we left.

"Who would do that?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, but you three should be grateful," mum said. "As much as I hate people giving us things, someone obviously wants you to have those books very much, and is very thankful for something you did. Merlin only knows what…or who it is. Well, do any of you need new robes?" We shook our heads. "Alright, then. Supplies? Parchment, quills, ink?"

"I could do with more parchment and ink," Harry said.

Ron blushed. "I'm fine with what I have. I don't need more."

Harry got much more parchment and ink than he needed. He'd slip it into Ron's trunk later, as he did every year.

-

"Good bye! I'll see you at Christmas!"

We met up with Hermione and waved to my parents as we boarded the train. When we got settled, Hermione revealed that she had gotten the position of Head Girl.

"Wow, Hermione! That's great! I knew you'd get it!" I enthused.

"Of course, I wasn't surprised," Ron said, making Hermione blush. They weren't a couple yet, but they were closer to being one than they ever have been.

"Me neither," said Harry.

"Thanks, guys," Hermione said.

"Hey," Ron asked suddenly, "do you think Malfoy came back to school?"

"Dunno," Harry replied.

"Do you think he's too ashamed about what happened?" Hermione asked them.

"Why would he be?" I responded. "His family name was cleared and he did help us in the final battle. His mother saved Harry's life, and he took that curse for me, remember?"

Ron shuddered. "Yeah…I don't ever want to think about that again. You almost died. As much as I hate to say it, I owe him one…"

"Oh Ron," I said, smiling. Our compartment door was open but Hermione got up and shut it with an aggravated sigh after a couple of students walked by with wide eyes.

"WHY must they continuously stare at you like you're an exhibit in a museum?" she asked Harry.

He shrugged. "I saved them all…and their families…"

"I know, Harry, but don't they know how modest you are by now? You hate attention."

"I've gotten used to it…"

"But I can tell it still bothers you." Harry shrugged and looked out the window. Hermione's expression softened and she placed a hand on his knee; they were sitting across from each other. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Mione." He smiled at her and put his hand on hers. Ron smiled at the two; they were as much like siblings as siblings could get. They reminded me of Ron and me, or Harry and me. Harry and I were really close for two people not related to each other. But he was as much a brother to me as my others.

The ride went without interruption until about halfway through. Once everyone settled down and the trolley lady came through, we left the door open. People usually didn't walk up and down the aisle unless they were prefects. Hermione had gone to and come back from her meeting and was settled, once again, in her seat next to Ron. We were making small talk about what would happen this year when we felt a presence at the door. My eyes widened when I saw him standing there. He had never looked so laid back and…sad? There was something in his grey eyes that was almost haunting, but free at the same time. He looked…well, good. No longer like the annoying, rigid little git who constantly bothered us before the War.

Harry noticed him. "Malfoy."

"Potter."

After a few moments of silence, Harry broke it again. "Did you want something?"

"Could I speak with you?"

Harry could tell the blonde wanted to talk to him alone, so he got up and left the compartment with him. Hermione, Ron, and I looked at each other in surprise.

"He's never been so…"

"Nice before?" I offered.

Hermione nodded. "Yes…nice…there was never a time when I saw him let his guard down."

"A slytherin never lets their guard down, Hermione," I said. "Just because he's not as cold as he used to be doesn't mean it's not there."

"Oh…well I suppose…"

"How do you know so much about slytherins?" Ron asked.

I shrugged. "Because I have a lot of their qualities, I guess. I dunno."

We waited in silence until Harry and Draco came back.

-

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked politely. His face was still red from people pressing their faces against the glass to watch him as he walked by. They were in the small area between train cars, where the bathrooms were.

"I wanted to thank you, Potter." Harry's eyes widened slightly. He didn't really expect a thank you out of Malfoy, but he wasn't too surprised. "For saving my life…and the rest of the world."

"Oh…uh…you're welcome."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Articulate as ever, I see." Harry's eyes narrowed, but they changed to surprise when he saw the next expression on Malfoy's face. "Why did you save my life?"

"I…don't really know. I couldn't just let you die."

Draco looked away. "You should have…" he mumbled. Harry's eyes widened.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Why did you say that?"

"I said it's nothing!" Draco said loudly, bringing his eyes back to lock Harry in an intense stare.

"Ok…I guess I did it because I knew you weren't evil. You've always been sort of tame when it came to our rivalry, and you didn't kill Dumbledore last year when you had the chance to. You lowered your wand; I was watching from below." Draco was shocked.

"You saw that?" he asked, mortified.

"It's not the first time I've seen your tears, Malfoy." Draco's memory flashed to the bathroom in 6th year when Potter came in and they fought – it ended with Draco on his back, bleeding everywhere. "Yeah, I'm um…really sorry about that. I didn't know what that spell did…but I used it on you, anyway…which was stupid. And I never said sorry..."

Draco shrugged and shifted on his feet. "Whatever. It happened. It's over."

"Yeah…"

"Hurt like a bitch, though."

Harry realized that Malfoy's tone had humor to it, and he smiled weakly. "I bet."

Draco held out his hand, and a shocked Harry took it. They didn't need words to accept the truce.

"So what happened?" Ron asked when Harry came back. Harry noticed Luna and Neville were sitting with them, and waved a hello.

"He said thank you."

"Thank you?" Hermione said, surprised.

"That's all?" I asked.

"I mean, that wasn't the entire conversation but that was why he pulled me aside. It's getting kind of late, and we're close. We should change."

The others noticed his obvious want to not talk about what was said between him and Malfoy, so they accepted it and didn't prod any further. Neither did I.

-

Thank you for reading and giving this story a chance. More will come soon!