Chapter 1: New Beginnings

There is only so much Harry can take. The funerals he can handle, if not for the solemn support from his friends, and the Ministry meetings he can offer a stiff smile to, but, really, speeches were taking it too far. They always expected him to offer a heartwarming empowering play on how they must move on from the pain, conquer the new status of Wizarding England, and move past all boundaries of former people, er, limitations. The truth was he could barely move past from the pain himself, and he was no closer to making a change than he was before. And it wasn't like anyone from syltherin- er, anyone adverse to him, was willing to chat over a cup of tea.

He smiled though, more of a lopsided grin, and addressed the crowd with a cleared throat. "Erm, And I would like to thank the Ministry for this amazing opportunity. Opening an academy in erm, my name, is a momentous success to all who put in funding. But this is not just for me. It is for all affected by the war, and everyone who will come after, to find opportunities that weren't available to them before. We accept everyone at Winsdale, and I will be attending there along with Ms. Hermione and Mr. Ronald this fall. Now, for the celebration!"

He looked back at Hermione while the crowd erupted into applause, and she offered him big thumbs up. The idea was presented by her first, in fact, and Harry would be lying if he didn't think the idea was that bad in all. He was getting soft. "Excellent job, mate!" Ron pat him on the back from behind and Harry gave a true smile for the first time this evening. His friends could always make a huge event turn into a mere task. Harry turned around, and his smile faded. Behind him was the current Minister, Kinglsey Shacklebot, and on days like today, when Harry was supposed to be holding his own, he did simply not help.

"Oh. Hullo, Minister." He greeted, bowing a little just to get on his nerves. "Harry! I have told you this before. Call me Kingsley. And do not bow, I am not the queen." He guffawed. "Oh, look at me, getting all off topic! Harry, you must complete your preparatory admission by next week. You do not get off it just because you're the Hero of the Wizarding World, I'm afraid." He smiled his business smile and continued. "I do hope you become an Auror, you're quite fit for it. And it would be a great duty to all those lost in the war." He frowned solemnly, possibly for effect, and leaned down to face Harry. "Do tell me when you're finished, all right?" Finally, Finally, he left, in that stiff ministry way of his.

Harry turned back and offered Hermione puppy eyes. "Pretty please help me with the essay part? I haven't got a clue for what to say to the 'My mark on the world' part."

~.~.~.~.

There was only so much Draco could take. One, the bustling bodies on either side of him was quite distracting from the stage. And no, unfortunately, he was not at a club. He was watching Harry Potter embarrass himself into oblivion onstage. Really, could not one of his adoring fans notice how much he quivered or the way his eyes went back and forth from his crumpled paper and the audience? He was in the back, and yet it was clear as day. Someone needed to get the Wizarding World some eyeglasses.

"Oh, he's such a looker now, isn't he? But I doubt that rigorous training program he'll be on in the fall will do much damage. Quite the contrary, in fact." Pansy was blabbing along the latest gossip while flipping her bangs around as if they were at a venue instead of a mandatory meeting. But he only partially annoyed at her for this, they had to know how to cope somehow.

"Oh Ms. Parkinson! Do not talk in such devilish ways! Mr. Potter was a dream come true to us, saving us with his testimony from Azkaban. Oh, he was such a service to us all." His mother stood on the other side, yet another Potter fan since his testimony in June. She acted as if it was a crime that he and Harry were not the best of friends yet, since their terse meeting after the Jury decided. He had apologized and thanked Harry, Harry had blanched in surprise at the polite talk, as if Draco was out of his mind. He stifled a cough and held out his hand, saying a small "It wasn't your fault. You did it for your family. Don't lie, what is true stays true. Your path is not defined by you. Hermione saw that in a book once." He smiled and looked in Draco's eyes, the obvious challenge in his own. But Draco was nothing but his ambition, so he stuck out his arm even though touching Potter might bring up some painful memories. But all that happened was a brief shake, and Draco had to ignore the spark it sent through him. Potter was quite attractive, he'd be blind not to notice. But it is what it is.

"Ladies, if you are done conversing, they are finishing." He nodded to the stage as Harry left the podium and stood by the side with Granger and Weasley. He admired the way Harry handled his composure, something Draco could have never done. As a child, he dreamed of being the one everyone payed attention to, now he feared it like no other. Mother and Pansy were already collecting their bearings, probably gearing up for some suspicious glances and sneers, something that would never go away. Draco himself dug in his briefcase, looking for the admission paper in the clutter. Mother wanted him to go, and there was no question that there'd be no arguing, as she had that look. But he was still not done with the 'My mark on the world' part. Because really, what did he have to offer?

He was so busy rifling through the briefcase that he did not notice the footsteps coming up in front of him. He should have, due to the shifting crowd and the bemused gasps, but Draco was not one for listening skills. And there was the great Hero himself, Harry Potter, Boy who lived twice, standing in front of him. And really, was that outfit supposed to be professional? He looked like one of those rumpled models on the front of the Witch Weekly's most eligible Bachelor's list! But that face was not a look the newspapers would have liked, however, as he conveyed more nervousness that humble beauty.

"Er, hello Malfoy! Nice, seeing you here! Wait, that's not right, you'd be here anyway. It Is mandatory after all. Anyways, I've come to return your wand. You'll need it for Winsdale- ah! You're on that part too! Bloody admission people." He glanced at Draco's now bent essay piece. "Uh, maybe this is to public a place. Anywhere else you'd prefer?" He chewed his lip in a way that signified he was thinking too hard, and it was time to intervene. "It's quite all right, Mr. Potter. I'll take it now. I have no problem with the crowd." Now that was a bloody lie. He'd much prefer to sink into the shiny floors than be stared at for too long, but he was at least a coward with dignity. Harry fished into his muggle backpack and found the black case, smoothing it and handing it over. "H-here you go. It was well seeing you, argh, I'll see you at school." And just like that, Harry disappeared into the crowd, leaving Draco to wonder what in Merlin's name was happening. Dear Salazar, his first day at college was not going to be as lowkey as he hoped, not with the questioning stares he got. He decided it was too much, and apparated away from Harry's too-friendly smile and all the harsh looks, the desolute manor looking pretty good right now.