A/N: So yea, this is my first time writing anything for the Drarry ship r even the Harry Potter fandom so I hope you enjoy it. I actually really enjoyed writing this fic a hell of a lot! So I hope you enjoy it and if you like it let me know :D
The war was over.
The Dark Lord had been defeated and everything went back to a quasi-normal state. After the Battle of Hogwarts, many thought the school would have been closed for a large portion of time, however, in mid-July following the battle, letters were mailed off to all the students of Hogwarts. Those who were newly of age and those who would have graduated under normal circumstances but were forced to take their final year off recieved letters different from the other years. Prospective First-years received the traditional first year letter. The students who would normally be graduates of the prestigious school of wizarding received a different letter. These returning students had the option to either repeat their year at Hogwarts or to reject the notion and receive complete documentation stating that they finished their 7th year and have graduated. Those who decided to repeat their year at Hogwarts did not have to pay tuition, and all returning students who had lost any items damaged or destroyed as a result of the battle, had their items replaced as best as possible, courtesy of the Ministry of letters were all signed by the new Headmaster, Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Minerva was troubled. As she personally reviewed each of the letters that came back to Hogwarts she had been excited to see some of her favorite students return for their final year. Harry, Ron, Hermoine, just to name a few. However, they were not the source of her troubles. When it came to allowing the re-admittance of some students, the offer was also extended to students who had aided the dark lord. As she read through the letters she had not expected any of them to reply, however there was one member who she had definitely not expected to receive a return letter from. For the most part there had been no reply from Voldemort's aids and McGonagall had breathed a sigh of relief. However, on the last day to reply, August 15th, after she had finished going through all the other letters and was ready to close up for the day and focus on the final preparations for the students, a final letter rocketed into her open window and placed itself on the Headmaster's desk. Opening the letter, she skimmed through, finding the box for re-admittance to be checked and the box for 7th year to be checked as well. Everything seemed in order until she read the signature at the bottom which read clearly Draco Malfoy.
"Oh dear", were the only words she was able to mutter before she sat down heavily. She told herself that it was what Dumbledore would have wanted, but McGonagall knew that a conference was inevitable, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.
On September 1st students, old and new, filed into platform 93/4excited to begin a new year in the beloved School of Wizardry. For Harry and his friends, it was a vacation of sorts, after spending a year running after and destroying the various horcruxes, they were simply excited for the change of pace. The morbidity that was the Weasley borough was becoming too much for them to handle. It had been almost enough to sever the relationship that Ron and Hermoine had developed. Though with Hermoine's rational thinking, they were able to find the problems and salvage their relationship. Harry on the other hand hadn't been so lucky. After the war, he had changed a bit. Seeing all the death and destruction around him had been enough to cause him to withdraw from all of those around him. With the strain that their break-up at the end of his sixth year and subsequent year apart had put on their relationship, as well as Ginny dating others during that year and Harry's withdrawal, Ginny thought it a good idea to end whatever remnants of a relationship were left between them. This didn't help Harry very much with his depression and while no one could blame Ginny, several had wished she'd at least waited to break the news to him. Harry was glad that he received the letter from McGonagall, another year at Hogwarts would help him recharge his batteries before going out into the "real world". He also needed to take his N.E.W.T's to become an auror, but that was more of a formality than anything else.
The arrival at Hogwarts had been no less grand than it had in previous years and Hogwarts looked as though a war had never even been waged there. Everything was in pristine condition as was unexpected to those who had lived through the battle. Walking in, they were welcomed by the staff of the large castle like building that was Hogwarts. The professors huddled the first-years to a passageway that led to the great hall where they would be sorted. For many, the nostalgic air gave them a second wind, Harry's mood picked up quite a lot as he sat in the great hall, with Hermoine and Ron, making guesses at which first-years would be sorted to which house. However, for one person in particular, he wasn't all too fond of the festivities.
Draco entered into the hall the last in the line, hiding from the other students, afraid of what they might do to him. He filed in, last to fill in the Slytherin table, which had considerably less 7th years than other tables. As he took his seat, Minerva entered into the room followed by the first year students, some bushy eyed and excited, others scared and nervous. Reaching the podium where the sorting hat rests, Minerva turned to make a statement to the students.
"Before we begin I would like to make a few statements. First, I would like to say that the Dark Forest is forbidden to all first-years as it has in years past. Next, I would like to present to you our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, he was auror for the Ministry of Magic but felt that he needed to teach our young one how to defend themselves should we ever find ourselves in crisis again. Everyone please give a warm Hogwarts welcome to Hawkes Hawlish." Hawkes stood up and nodded at the full hall and took a seat again. "Now, for my final announcement, many of you may not have noticed but we have a student that has returned from the clutches of the ex-Dark Lord himself." The hall went deathly silent as everyone looked around to find the traitorous individual. Draco broke into a cold sweat, regretting ever returning to Hogwarts, or even agreeing to this stupid announcement. Though deep down, he knew that if he were to ever begin to feel good about himself again, he would need to start here. "Draco, if you would" McGonagall said looking directly at him. Removing the large concealing cloak he stood, fear in his eyes. He looked around at the other students, most with hatred, others with indifference. Just as he was about to sit down, he locked eyes with the famous Harry Potter. The look of pure hatred on his face made Draco almost vomit immediately and feel weak. Sitting down as composed as possible he couldn't stop his body from shaking at that look. "Now I know that many of you feel that Draco is a traitor to Hogwarts, but I can assure you, that he is now loyal to Hogwarts and that there will be no need to treat without the utmost respect as you would give any of your other peers. It will benefit you all to show courtesy as all acts of harassment or any sort of fighting will not be tolerated by myself, nor any of the teachers." said McGonagall as her eyes scanned across the room. Harry scoffed loudly as he heard that earning a look from Minerva. "That goes for you too Mr. Potter, you may have defeated the Dark Lord but any misbehaving, even from you, will not be accepted. Do I make myself understood?" The room was silent in response. "Forgive me, but I believe I asked a question. Do I make myself understood?"
"Yes head master" the hall said in unison.
"Excellent, then let the sorting begin." The sorting lasted for about a half hour through which Draco squirmed uncomfortably, feeling the burning gaze of Harry Potter never leave him. Even after the food appeared in the large banquet platters. Draco, appetite leaving him, took all the bustle and excitement about the bountiful food as a good cover for him to slip away to his dormitory.
Harry saw his arch-rival scurrying out of the hall and decided to follow him. If there was one thing that Harry did not approve of, it was HIM returning to this school, not after what he'd done. Walking swiftly he exited the hall, giving Ron and Hermoine some excuse of having to go to the bathroom without putting much thought to it. Reaching the corridor, Harry turned just to see the pale boy turn down another corridor. In his most silent run Harry did his best job catching up to him but Draco moved rather fast for someone as frail looking as he looked. In the last corridor before the door to the Slytherin common room, Harry pulled his wand out. "Hey Ferret boy" he called out, ready for a duel.
"There is no need to follow me Potter," Draco said, stopping, but not turning to face the boy with the lightning scar.
"Yes there is, I'm onto you Malfoy, I know what you did and that you're still loyal to Voldemort and all of his followers"
He turned around an exhausted chuckle passing his lips, "Potter, you know nothing about me or where my loyalties lie. My loyalties are to myself only, and I will not stand here and lower myself by talking to you." Turning, Malfoy left to the Slytherin Common Room.
"I'm watching you Malfoy!" Harry yelled after him.
Safe in his room, Draco cast a privacy charm and a silencing charm on his quarters. He didnt want anyone eavesdropping on him as he broke down in tears. Thoughts of regret, and self-hate swirled through his mind as he reflected on all the horrible things he'd done. He'd done so much, He'd betrayed his school, his professors, and his headmaster. Draco watched as one of his best friends was killed by his own fiendfyre curse. Harry had saved him that day from the fyre. He had been terrified the entire ordeal and he wished he could make it up to Harry. Though the hate filled gaze that Harry greeted him with proved that he may never get that chance. The year was off to a great start for Malfoy so far.
A/N: Hey thanks for making it to the end :D you get two authors notes for the price of one :D Anyways, I've already written chapters 2 and 3 of this fic because of reasons, I'll try to release the chapter on some sort of schedule so its not all at once. Lemme know what you think :)