A/N: This is my fist fic published on fanfiction so I hope you will be kind. I'm not super concerned with reviews since I am writing for my own entertainment first and simply wish to share my ideas with the rest of you, but they are certainly welcomed. This story is mostly compliant with the book except for one of the pairings in the Epiloge (I won't say which because I don't want to ruin the story). Thanks for taking your time to read and I hope you enjoy. I will try to update once a week-ish. The Mature rating is due to future sexual content

Disclaimer: This is a blanket disclaimer for every chapter in this story-I do not claim to own any of the characters you recognize from JK Rowling's books.

Chapter 1:

"Head Girl!" I yelled as I opened up my Hogwarts letter for my final year. It surprised me since I was sure that Granger was the top female student in our year, but perhaps Mcgonagall wasn't choosing soley based on academic merit. Actually, from what I'd heard she was trying to promote inter-house unity. I eyed Draco as he opened his letter, "Anything?"

"Nah, just prefect. As usual," he sighed. I knew how much he wanted Head Boy. "I'll bet that Saint Potter got it. Dumbledore's favorite. No doubt McGonagall will be following his wishes now that she's headmistress."

"Don't say that! You'll curse me! I have to share a common room thingy with the Head Boy, ya know?" I reminded him.

"Oh yeah…" he looked down.

"Don't worry, though," I reassured him, "you can visit me whenever you want." I winked at him suggestively. He just shook his head and lied back on my bed. Draco and I had been best friends for years and we were both ideal Slytherins. Pureblood? Confidence? Attitude? We had it. Pretty much everyone had missed last year because of the war, so it would be interesting to see how everyone would react to seeing each other after a year of being gone. I hoped that nobody would hate Draco and me for associating with the Dark side. Draco's family had been cleared of charges, but my parents had not been so lucky. Since I was seventeen at the time, their mansion and all of my family's property was mine. Some kids may find that cool I suppose, but I mostly found it lonely.

"Well, I guess you had better get going home, Raven, so we can both get some sleep and catch the train tomorrow. No doubt it will be an interesting year," Draco said. I nodded, then wrapped my arms around his neck.

He returned my gesture by putting his hands on my waist and pulling me closer for a tight hug, "Night, Dray," I muttered into his chest before apparating out of his room and in front of my house.

I laid in bed that night and could hear the thunder rolling outside of my house. I shivered in my blanket. I hated being alone at night, and my small fear always escalated when there was a storm. I stared at my clock. It read 1:00 am. How was I ever going to make the train at 10 in the morning? Just then I heard something in the fireplace in my room. The floo network into my house was pretty well protected and only allowed people from certain places so even though logically it could only be someone I knew, I jolted up in bed. I saw Draco's outline and allowed myself to take a breath.

"Dray, not that I'm not happy as hell to see you, but what are you doing here at 1 am?"

He walked over to my bed, pulled back the covers and I scooted over to make room for him. Although I could afford a king sized bed, and actually had one before my parents went to Azkaban, such a big bed made me feel so alone, so I stuck with a smaller double bed. "Rae, you know as well as I do that you get scared being home alone at night, especially during storms. You honestly think I would leave you to fend for yourself and have a terrible night sleep the day before we go back to school?" He wrapped an arm around me.

"I love you, Dray. You know that right? What would I do without you?" He just mumbled an 'mhm' into my back. I continued, "I actually assumed you would be sleeping, seeing as tomorrow is our first day back to Hogwarts after a year of being away." I turned to face him.

"Yeah, I'm just worried about what everyone is going to think, you know? I certainly won't have the reputation I had before."

"Draco, fuck reputations! We're adults now, and I'm sure everyone will be over what happened 6th year. Trust me. If nothing else, at least we have each other. I understand you better than anyone, Dray, and I'll always be there for you. So you have nothing to worry about."

"I supposed you're right," he mumbled, "Night, Raven."

"Night Draco," I turned back around to allow him to snuggle into my back as I fell into a peaceful slumber. Almost as soon as I had fallen asleep Sparky, my only house elf, was shaking me awake.

"Miss Raven," she squeaked, "it's time to get ready for Hogwarts Express!"

"Thanks Sparky," I mumbled and shook Draco awake. Soon enough we were both ready to face the world that was Hogwarts. I sighed loudly, "Ready for this?"

Draco just grabbed my hand and swished his wand so that our trunks disappeared. Then we were apparating to King's Cross Station. As we arrived on the platform I squeezed Draco's hand for reassurance. The students didn't seem as excited as usual. I think everyone was wondering how this year was going to go after the war. As I looked around my eyes caught the gaze of Harry Potter who was, of course, surrounded by Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. I looked down before it became too awkward and boarded the train with Draco trailing behind me.