A/N: Hello everyone! Just a little introduction to say Hi! My name is Sammie and I hope that you enjoy my story. :) I originally posted this story on harrypotterfanfiction but stopped because they wanted me to take out a scene in one of my later chapters that I didn't actually want to remove so I decided to leave that site and upload here instead! Hope you all enjoy my story as I'm enjoying myself writing it and please do leave me a review letting me know what you think! I also just want to thank Maddie who has helped me edit through some of the chapters to pick up those pesky little things that I miss.
Disclaimer:And I will also just mention that the magical world of Harry Potter does not belong to me (although, I think you may already know that, especially seeing as my name is not joanne ;) ), I am simply borrowing J.K's characters and world to create my own little magical fun. I hope you enjoy reading, and let me know what you think, thanks!
Soft music filled Draco's ears, off in the shadows he could only just see her, but couldn't quite make out her face, smell her, but not quite distinguish the all too familiar smell, hear her speak,and he knew instantly that he recognised it yet he couldn't put a face to that beautiful sound. For a stranger in the shadows, what a familiar girl she seemed. Draco tossed in his sleep, determined in his subconsciousness to figure out who the mystery girl was. Draco moved forward to her, desperate to discover her, know her, befriend her, and something more. He could feel it. There was something else there. The connection, the elevated electricity he felt when he got close, almost able to touch her, but not quite. Something about her told him that she was important, not just to the world, but important to him, to his story, to their story. Slowly, she turned around, holding her right hand in the air to stop him from progressing and something inside of him knew to stop, and to listen. The shadows covered her face keeping her anonymity, and her mouth slightly parted, about to speak. Suddenly, the womans' voice came out distorted, but Draco didn't move, he knew to stay and he knew to listen. He listened intent of hearing every determined word that she spoke. "Draco my darling, you do know just who I am, you may even think you know me well, but you are wrong about me, you don't know me yet. In time you will see. It is destined that two seemingly unlikely souls as yours and mine become one, and in time you will realise this. Take the opportunity to get to know me, it will be worthwhile. Your chance to be happy lies within me, discover it for yourself my darling." Draco blinked, his mouth formed in the perfect 'o' as if he may ask a question, yet too stunned to form any coherent words, and with that the strange girl slowly drifted away. Draco wanted to run after her, ask her what she meant, who she was, but he couldn't seem to move, he just stood there staring with his mouth wide open. And even in his dreams, he caught himself staring like a shocked commoner, and tightened his face into a scowl and he repositioned himself just as his subconscious began to swirl around forming into a fast paced dream of him flying against Potter towards the snitch.
When Draco had woken up that morning, he could have sworn he had been having a dream about his future. But not his future per say, their future. But then who was this 'their'. Suffice to say Draco Malfoy was beyond confused. The dream was unlike the normal dreams he has, he thought, and not at all like the one he had where he was flying against Potter after the snitch. No, this one was different, he could almost feel her there, even though he knew it was a dream, he could even smell her for merlins sake. This was definitely something else, something important, he could feel it. It was almost as his subconscious was dictating the future to him, and that this girl, whoever she was, was incredibly important.
He began to walk down the long hallway to one of the dining rooms, the one where he normally has his meals when there isn't company, to have breakfast with his mother, an activity that he secretly enjoys.
"Good morning Mother," Draco swooped past his Narcissa giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "Did you sleep alright?"
"Oh yes, my boy, It has been odd without your father in the house, but I can't say I'm not enjoying having the house free from all his, er, friends." Narcissa said with a half smile. It pained her to remember that she had ever allowed those vile people in her home, and while she did deep down love her husband, she was not at all happy that it was due to him that Voldemort and his Death Eaters had been camped out in her home.
"Is there anything wrong, sweetheart, you look a little scattered."
"Ah, no no, I am fine. I was just thinking about something you said about one of Fathers aunts the other day, the one that was a Seer. Do you know much about her?" Draco asked.
"Oh yes, she was fairly nice, quirky indeed, but we got along. More than I can say about other members of your Fathers family." She scoffed."I can't say I knew her all that well, did you want to know something about her?"
"It's not so much about her, as more about Seer's. How does one, er, predict the future?" Draco asked, trying as hard to keep the disbelief that he was having this conversation out of his voice. Draco, having grown up with knowledge of the magical world being a pure blood, believed in many things however predicting the future was not one thing he readily trusted. And he didn't like the thought of someone with such status as a Malfoy being fooled about something so silly, even if it was just his Mother that knew. But then again, he thought, what kind of 'status' did he have at the moment, it was likely nobody cared if he was a kook or not.
"Oh, there are many ways." Narcissa began, snapping Draco out of his train of thought and grabbed his attention. "Some people sort of go into a daze, and it's as if something is controlling them causing them to speak. It's been said that some people go into a trance and write down a prediction without being aware they are doing so. Those generally occur if the Seer is predicting something about another person, or group of people." Narcissa concluded.
"And if it is a prediction about yourself?" Draco asked, hoping not to give too much away and only appear as curious.
"Well, sometimes they can occur the same way as before, but otherwise they may appear in a dream or even in actual thought. Although it is said that the sensation is significantly different to normal thought or dreaming, otherwise one could always claim they made predictions." Narcissa paused and Draco thought back to all those ridiculous predictions that that bat Trelawney used to make. "But I'm not sure if that's true, it's just something that your great aunt told me about, and she was sceptical as well, so-" Narcissa said.
"Ah, so it never happened to her then?" asked Draco.
"No, I don't think so. Or if it did, she never told anyone. It's apparently a very rare thing to happen." Narcissa said, her face suddenly turning into a look of concern taking in the worried look of her son. "Is there something wrong Draco, is there any reason you're asking about all this?"
"I just-" Draco began but was cut of by Narcissa,"A real reason, Draco?" She pressed.
"No, Mother, I was simply curious. These are lovely eggs, by the way, did you try them?" Draco's attempt at distraction was poor, but his Mother took it as a dismissal and didn't ask again, though kept on scrutinising him whilst eating her own breakfast.
She was used to her prying questions being dismissed by Lucius in a similar manner and often found it easier to observe to get the answers that she as they were finishing the last scraps on their plates a tapping at the window began and a big brown owl carrying a letter could be seen behind the sheer drapes. Draco got up to retrieve it, noticing that the letter was addressed to himself.
The owl gave a hoot and flew off in the opposite direction. Draco returned to the long table and stared at the envelope recognising the Hogwarts seal. He tore it open and pulled out paper inside and unfolded it.
Dear Draco Malfoy,
We would like to invite you to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to complete your Seventh year. We understand that the environment at Hogwarts last year was not one to promote proper learning and due to the state of the school at the end of the Wizarding War no exams took place. We are inviting all seventh year student to repeat, and all other years have been given the option to sit an exam to deem whether or not they may proceed onto the next year, or if they must repeat the year as well. If you wish not to return to Hogwarts for your seventh year, you may reply with said answer and that will be fine, otherwise you may reply with your yes and we will send out your seventh year booklist.
Looking forward to seeing you
Regards,
Minerva McGonagallHeadmistress of Hogwarts.
"Well?" Inquired Narcissa.
"It's from Hogwarts, they are inviting all Seventh years to return to complete their schooling." Draco muttered and Narcissa shot him a look that Draco perceived to mean that he should go.
"Mother, I know you think I should return, but I wont fit in there anymore. You know what it's like for us at the moment, there are few people that are accepting, and they're only not imprisoning Father because he's helping the Ministry round up the last of the Death Eaters."
"I know you are worried, but there is no need to be. If you want to help make the Malfoy name a better one then you will go to school, you will do well, you will not be mean to that Harry Potter, befriend him if you can, and don't create a scene. As long as you put your best effort in to making your future the best and happiest you can you will be alright my darling." Narcissa noted the look of distress on Dracos face, as if he were on the verge of pleading with her, so she changed her tone to one of demand "Draco Malfoy, please go and send your letter of acceptance immediately."
Draco took to mean their conversation was over. Sighing, he got up from his seat and headed down a hallway to that lead to the study, where he would write his letter of acceptance, as his mother told him to.
Hermione was ecstatic to know that she would be allowed to return to Hogwarts to complete her education. And it took her a swift thirty seconds to write her reply to Professor McGonagall. It however, took her a whole lot longer to get her best friends Harry and Ron to agree to return to the school with her.
"You have to come back! You'll never get a decent job without finishing your last year of school!" Hermione whined.
"Hermione, look, Harry just finished killing off the most sought after dark wizard of all time. Something that the Ministry itself had failed to do. And you and I helped, a lot! I think that if we were to waltz our way into the Ministry right now, they'd be more than happy to give us all jobs!" Ron said.
"But, Ron, you and Harry want to be Aurors, and whilst you've had a lot of practical experience you haven't had enough time to do the written kind of work or any study. Hogwarts will give you that. Besides, I don't know if I want to work at the ministry anyway, I have a lot of options, I want to broaden my horizons." Hermione said.
"The only thing you want to broaden, Hermione, is the amount of books that you want to read." Ron attacked.
Harry hadn't said anything since the beginning of the conversations. Sure Harry wanted to be and Auror, and he knew Ron was right in saying that they just needed to ask to get accepted into the program, but Hermione had a point. They had spent most of their time at Hogwarts preparing for the practical side of things and not paying much attention to the educational side, and not only that but Hogwarts was his home, and spending one more year there could be nice…
"Harry!" Hermione pressed. "What do you think?"
"Er, I.." Harry stuttered. Though the attention of the room turned to the door as Ginny walked in.
"I could hear a heated argument, just wanted to see what was going on" Ginny said happily, the little redhead thrived on these things.
"The boys are thinking about not returning to Hogwarts." Hermione said through gritted teeth.
"Oh. Yeah, I got the letter saying you lot would be back. Harry, you'll come back, right?" Ginny asked, puppy dog eyes in check. Hermione was not good at that kind of thing, and Ginny had been coming in handy to help persuade Harry with a number of things.
"Oh, yes. Um, well. Ron here was thinking that we'd just, er, start work in a few months" Ginny gave Harry a very stern look and Harry swallowed before continuing "But I disagree, I think Hogwarts is the place to be, don't you think, Ron?"
"I suppose if you're all going to be there, then I might as well come too." Ron grunted, but not before shooting Harry a very dirty look.
"Wonderful." Hermione said "Now all you have to do is send of your replies."
Two days later Hermione received her booklist, but along with it she also received another letter. This was peculiar because the boys had also received their booklists, but neither of them got an extra letter. Hermione hid her letter inside her pocket without any of the boys noticing before opening her first letter which held a number of books that Hermione was very excited to start reading.
She had sat and talked with the boys for a while, wondering who would teach Defence Against the Dark Arts and who would teach potions now. They figured that Horace Slughorn would return again to teach potions, but the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts was still debatable. Hermione thought it would be interesting to see if the so called jinx on the subject would be lifted. Then not soon after Hermione excused herself to go see if she had any of the books that are on her booklist. The boys scoffed at her enthusiasm, but little did they no she was going upstairs to see what the letter in her pocket contained.
Draco sat in his favourite room in the whole of Malfoy Manor, the library. But it wasn't the large library that was located somewhere in the east wing, it was considerably smaller and he much preferred it that way he thought, it indeed had less books but it also contained the most interesting books that he personally thought ever existed and that someone like that bookworm Granger would die to just spend one day in there reading them. Some of the books were extremely ancient, and it would be very difficult to find more than a few copies around the Wizarding world.
Some were hand written by ancestors of Draco's, and these proved to be some of the most interesting books that he had ever read. Whilst the Library was small, it had taken Draco a long time to read little over half of the books that were in there, and he enjoyed the time spent in there reading through the interesting books, and during the summer he often did his summer schoolwork in there because it provided such a comfort. And during the time where the death eaters took over the house, that very room provided a haven for him. And there Draco sat, cross-legged on a very comfortable chair with two letters in his hands.
One, he recognised instantly as one that held his booklist, of which he would most likely own all the books, but the other, whilst obviously signed by professor McGonagall was different to the he opened up the second letter and read through the first few lines he couldn't believe what he was reading. Was he really being given this opportunity he mused, surely not despite everything that he did in his sixth year, despite all that his parents stood for, despite everything that had happened last year with the war, and Voldemort, and his house being home to a large amount of Death Eaters plotting the death of Potter and his friends. Not that Draco particularly liked Potter, he never felt it was needed that he die, and that's why he didn't say that it was him when the snatchers brought him to his house. It was blatantly obvious to anyone who had spent 6 years prior at school with him, but he wasn't evil enough to send him to his death. But this, this thing that they were asking of him now, surely they made a mistake, surely it was not supposed to be addressed to him.
So, convinced that they had made a mistake, Draco took out some parchment and a pen and began writing Professor McGonagall a letter asking exactly why he received such a letter.
Once in the silence of her room she shared with Ginny, which actually happened to be Fred and George's old room, Hermione reached into her pocket to pull out the letter. As she opened it she noticed the Hogwarts emblem which was of course written on every letter addressed from Hogwarts, but she already knew it was from Hogwarts, she recognised McGonagall's handwriting. This was not the first time she got a peculiar letter from Hogwarts, once she communicated with McGonagall about her using a time turner but she hadn't talked to her about that or anything similar this year, and another time she was given her prefects letter, but she just assumed that she would continue that roll when she got back. So she decided to forgo anymore guesswork and just read handwriting of this letter however, was not that of Professor McGonagall.
Dear Hermione Granger,
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that you have been selected to be Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe that you have the potential to be a wonderful leader and your work as a prefect has been admiral and I have trust that you will make for a truly magical Head Girl. Thankyou for being such a wonderful addition to Hogwarts, and I wish you the best for your future,
Regards,
Professor Dumbledore.
Hermione's jaw dropped, and she had to read the name and signature at least five more times for it to sink in enough for her brain to return back to normal. Why was she receiving a letter from Dumbledore. He was dead. Long dead. She saw him be buried, she saw his wand used by Voldemort, and she saw his wand snapped by Harry. This must have been written in advance for what was supposed to be her original seventh year. Maybe this was a mistake and accidentally sent. But as soon as the thought formed, it was squandered as soon as she saw the other note that was left inside the envelope.
Dear Hermione,
Professor Dumbledore gave me that letter the night before he left with Harry, the night before he died. He told me to make sure that you came back to Hogwarts, even if it wasn't during your designated seventh year. He wanted you to gain the experience you deserved in your rightful place as Head Girl.
I couldn't agree more, and I do hope you wear the badge with not with as much pride as one Percy Weasley, but you get the you on September First Hermione, don't forget to meet in the prefects carriage on the Hogwarts express, you need to get acquainted with your Head Boy.
Play nice.
Professor McGonagall.
Hermione's jaw dropped again. What does that mean, she wondered, and why is McGonagall being so...personal. Whilst Hermione knew that McGonagall favoured Hermione she had never experienced her being so casual about something. Her letters had always remained professional. Perhaps this counted as a situation where it as best to be more personal, or perhaps now that technically they were adults, and they had experienced something way beyond their years they were going to be treated more like equals. And what does that mean about the Head Boy. Maybe he's new. Maybe he's in Ginny's year. Maybe he's a Slytherin. No, Hermione thought, don't be ridiculous, neither professor McGonagall or myself are so petty regarding house.
So then what does it mean, her mind pressed on and she pondered the thought until the door sprang open and Ginny bounced in.
"What's that?" Ginny asked gesturing to the papers in her hand. Hermione stuffed them into her trunk.
"Oh. Just a letter from Hogwarts." Hermione said. Not sure why she wasn't telling her friend what it was.
"Really? But you opened your letters downstairs, I saw you. And you had two there." Ginny pressed, she had grown up with a house full of boys, so she knew when someone was lying to her.
"Oh yeah. It was a different letter." Hermione said. Not a lie, she reminded herself, but not telling her friend the whole truth.
"Saying…?" Ginny pressed and Hermione sighed.
"Okay, but you can't tell the boys just yet, they'll make fun of me. Do you remember what they did to percy?" Hermione said, Ginny nodded slowly looking very confused and so Hermione continued "It's my letter informing me that I am not the Head Girl of Hogwarts."
"Congratulations. Why didn't you tell me as soon as I asked?" Ginny said as she rushed over to her friend to give her a hug.
"I, er, I thought maybe you'd be mad. You're a seventh year this year too, I thought maybe you'd want it." Hermione said bashfully.
"Don't be ridiculous Hermione, besides I might not be Seventh year this year, we have to pass an extremely difficult exam, and I'm not sure I'm ready. After everything that happened last year, well, I think I'd rather just repeat it and pretend last year never existed." Ginny sighed "and besides, I'll be too preoccupied with Quidditch. Providing Harry has me back on the team."
The two girls laughed and talked about what Hogwarts would be like now that everything was slowly getting back to normal.
Draco received his reply from McGonagall quite promptly, and he resumed his spot in the library where a house elf brought him a cup of tea and a scone. Sipping the tea he observed the letter with mixed emotions. He wanted it to be true, it would help him in the future, help him become a better person, help him be known as a better person. But surely it wasn't true. Surely it was a mean joke someone was playing on him for being on the wrong side of things for too long. Sighing, he put down his cup and began to open the letter.
Dear Draco,
I am not sure what to make of your letter. Of course the original letter I sent you was real, and of course Hogwarts welcomes you back with open arms. And more importantly yes, we want to be our Head Boy.
Dumbledore had that letter prepared for you before he died, as I mentioned in my own letter. He had faith that you would not be on the wrong side for very long. And you proved that you were worthy. You didn't kill Dumbledore, you couldn't kill, and not only that, but you saved Harry's life at the manor. Not only have I heard the stories, but I've seen the memories during your trial. And you chose the right side in the end. I do hope you are willing to fulfil the roles of Head Boy, and I know that you will do a good job of it.
Dumbledore was adamant that when all is right again that you return to Hogwarts and become Head Boy. He didn't exactly explain why but he has a way of being right about these things. Looking forward to seeing you on the first of september Draco, don't forget to go to the prefects carriage on the Hogwarts Express to meet up with our new Head Girl. And remember, this is a new beginning for you Draco, don't mess it up.
Regards,
Professor McGonagall.
So it was true, Draco thought, he was going to be Head Boy, he was going to redeem himself in the magical world. There was a time that he thought he would have to become a recluse and hide from the world where he now felt nothing but ashamed of himself. However, this was his chance, his opportunity to become something, no someone better. And that excited him. And then it hit him. Head Girl. Who would be the Head Girl? Someone from the year below him? Was that Astoria Greengrass in that year? She was cute.
Hopefully it wouldn't be that Weasley girl, as much as he would like to change, he wasn't sure how he would handle that. Well, she did have a nice body, that might help him resist the urge to make fun of her everyday. Or there was Granger, but surely the golden Trio would not be returning to Hogwarts, they would have been getting job requests that spilled out their ears. No, Head Girl would surely not be Hermione Granger. And even if it was, he would just have to get over it, and do his job as Head.
He hadn't seen Hermione since the end of the war, he realised. He had seen Harry once, during his father's first hearing, but not Hermione although he assumed that she was there. He felt like he had though, there was something weird about that, like he had felt her around him quite recently in fact. But he couldn't put his finger on it, so he just settled into his chair and picked up the book that was required for Potions, his favourite subject. And as he realised that he suddenly felt a pang deep in his stomach, Severus Snape, the potions master, his favourite teacher and mentor, would no longer be around. He swallowed hard as he felt a lump form in his throat. After coughing quite loudly and taking another sip of tea, he opened the book and began to read.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter, let me know what you thought!