Dear Ginny,

I apologize beforehand for what I am about to say. I know I said we could be together after the war; when I said it, I meant it. But the war has made me realize something about myself. I'm gay, Gin, and I think I'm in love with your brother. Please don't tell him- he's straight, and I'm sure he has a thing for Hermione. He might even tell her this year. The point is that I can't lie and pretend I'm straight for you; it would only end up hurting you more in the end. I can't help who I am. I love you, but not how I thought I did. You're amazing, and if you were a boy I'd snatch you up, I swear I would. Please say that we can still be friends.

Love,

Harry

Her first instinct had been to burn it, to destroy it along with all feelings for the boy who lived. To stare at him indifferently the next day over her mother's pancakes, her eyes coldly informing him that No, they couldn't be friends and No, she didn't forgive him.

But in her heart, she knew that it wasn't his fault. He couldn't help who he loved. And she believed him when he said that he didn't purposely deceive her. Too bad that knowledge didn't stop it from hurting. At least he'd already graduated and she wouldn't have to deal with seeing him at school.

"Ginny, are you listening?" Her friend's voice broke her thoughts and Ginny blinked, confused for a moment before she realized where she was.

"Of course I am," she lied smoothly, staring at the scenery rushing by through the train's windows.

"Then what was I talking about?" Linda asked suspiciously.

Ginny paused.

"Max?" she guessed.

Linda grinned.

"I knew you were listening to me. Anyway, so Max and I-"

Ginny sunk deeper into her chair, stifling the urge to sigh. Max was Linda's new boyfriend – and first boyfriend. They'd been dancing around each other for years and now that they finally got together, he was all Linda could talk about. Normally she wouldn't mind, but having to listen to Linda's happy romance stories while all she wanted to do was wallow in self-pity over Harry was just a tad annoying. The fact that Linda didn't notice she was upset made it all the worse. Ginny allowed her mind to wander, making sure to half-listen so that if Linda asked something, she'd be able to respond. The mention of someone other than Max pulled Ginny out of her daze.

"Malfoy will probably be worse than Snape! Not that Snape's too bad. He's got a nice bum, anyway."

Ginny nearly gagged.

"That's disgusting!"

Linda shrugged.

"I'm not the only one who thinks so. Hermione of all people had a major crush on him last year. I'm not even sure if she got over it. Probably not. She was lustin' pretty hard."

"Hermione? Why didn't she tell me?"

Linda rolled her eyes.

"Because Ron's in love with her, and you're his sister."

"So? I never thought that Ron was right for her; they'd just make each other miserable." Ginny pouted and looked out of the window. "She should have told me."

"Well, you'll get a chance to bitch at her about it after Astronomy class tomorrow." Linda reminded her.

"You can't do that to a Professor. It doesn't matter if she's your best friend." She frowned slightly. "Do you think that's why she took the job? Snape?"

Linda shrugged.

"Maybe." She shifted in her seat. "You still haven't told me what you think about Malfoy."

Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I think nothing about Malfoy. He'll make DADA hell- but still, we've had bad teachers nearly every year in that subject."

"Mmmmm…plus, he's cute."

Ginny pulled a face.

"Too scrawny for me. Not to mention his disgusting personality."

"He's filled out a bit since then – I saw him buying teaching robes at The Alley. Plus, I heard he's less of a git since the war."

"Probably just stupid gossip. What reason would he have to change?"

"Well, his father's pretty different. Narcissa almost divorced him because he ignored her so much while Voldie was alive – that shook him up. He's spending all his time making up for it – romantic dinners, beautiful clothes- and we all know Malfoy lives to be a copy of his father, so when his dear daddy changed, he followed."

"And if his father changed back?" Ginny wanted it to be true, but it was all too bizarre to believe.

Linda shrugged.

"I don't think he will. His father looked happier since then. I guess he did the whole Voldemort business was to feel powerful, but it was making his family miserable. Now I think he gets it."

Ginny shook her head.

"You trust people too easily, Linda. One day you'll get burned."

Like I was, Ginny added silently, turning back to the window.

Hermione Granger was nervous. For the first time in her life, she was seriously concerned about her appearance. Did her robes make her look dowdy? Did she have something stuck in her teeth?

"Relax, Granger."

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin.

"P-Professor Snape. How did you know I was nervous?"

Snape rolled his eyes.

"You're shaking."

Hermione glanced down at herself to realize that he was right. She took a deep breath and was pleased to find that her trembling had stopped.

"Just anxious about teaching," she explained with a shaky smile. And about you, she thought, blushing. They had been friendly since her final year, when they worked together fighting the war, but they had never gone further. Hermione sighed and stared down at her plate. Maybe this year, that will change, she thought hopefully.

"There are more Slytherins this year," he noted.

"Well, after you guys proved you weren't complete gits, more people wanted to be in Slytherin." She smirked as she spooned some more eggs into her mouth.

He snorted.

"Less lions, I see. I guess your house's bravery was questioned after so many went M.I.A in the final battle."

Hermione mock-glared at him.

"The only ones to flee were Ron and Percy. Look at what happened to Neville! He was so brave." Her eyes glowed with pride at her friend's newfound courage.

"Longbottom did do very well – perhaps it was because I wasn't there to frighten him." A slow, wicked smirk snaked its way across his face.

She playfully smacked him on the chest.

"That's horrible! I knew you did that on purpose."

"Of course I did. You also did remarkably well, Granger." He added.

She blushed.

"So did you."

He glanced at her briefly, his eyes uncharacteristically soft, before turning to stare at his plate.

The following silence wasn't so much awkward as it was pregnant.

Ginny reached for another muffin, her eyes glued to the staff table. Draco sat looking around the room at his new students, even paler than usual with worry.

"You're right. He did get pretty toned over the summer." She whispered.

"Of course he did. I'm always right." Linda grinned triumphantly before turning back to giggling over some private joke with Maxwell.

Ginny turned back to the staff table, surprised to find Draco looking at her. She stared blankly for a second, then quickly turned away when his lips twisted into a smirk. Her heart was almost pounding through her chest. She shoved another spoonful of pudding into her mouth and shook her head, confused. What was that about?