Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
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It had been a year since the downfall of Voldemort. Hogwarts had been opened once more; the whole of the wizarding world was looking forward to September. The Golden Trio had decided on different paths for their future; Ron had joined the Chudley Cannons as keeper, Hermione had been let in the Ministry as the head of a new section- Unity and Safety of all Wizarding Creatures- and The-Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, was waiting to be back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"You know the Ministry will accept you as an Auror without a degree too, don't you, mate?" Ron tried once again to stop Harry from leaving. Harry sighed; they had had this conversation over 10 times already since they left the apartment the three were sharing. "I promise I'll write often. Hermione will be there to take care of you. Nonetheless, you deserve your privacy. You have not been alone together since you came back from your honeymoon." Hermione blushed at the mention of this and looked away. Ron chuckled and hugged her while Harry smiled; he was happy for his friends but seeing them made him feel lonely and empty. He shook his head; he would soon meet someone too. He hugged each of them goodbye and then stepped in the train.
Hogwarts Express looked the same as ever, but it was not the same; Harry was travelling without Ron for the first time. He looked out the door to find his two best friends still waiting. He caught their eye and waved. Hermione had tears in her eyes and Ron looked sad. Hermione ran towards Harry and hugged him like always. "Take care and make sure he doesn't get kicked off the team." Hermione smiled through her tears and nodded her head. Harry grinned and Hermione finally found her voice," Take care. We'll miss you." Harry waved his hand till they were out of sight. He turned away from the door already missing his friends.
He picked up his trunk and went to find an empty compartment. He had almost reached the far end of the train and had not found any space. All the compartments were packed and Ginny was regretting letting Luna sit with them; "Harry you better sit somewhere else. There are too many Nargles here and I'm sure you don't want to disturb them." Harry rolled his eyes but let it be and made his way forward, looking for another compartment leaving a grumpy Ginny behind. Ginny and Harry had not got time to talk about their relationship much; last either one knew, they were still together. Being apart during the Horcrux hunt had made them miss each other terribly, but after the war, everything had died down a bit for Harry, even his love for the redhead. Not wanting to break up with her on a train, without having privacy to explain, he let her be.
Not having been functional for a year, there were too many students on the train. Since Harry had been busy saying goodbye, he was the last one to think and reserve a compartment. He sighed with relief when he saw that the last compartment had only one person. He opened the door but tensed up when he saw Draco Malfoy sitting there. Draco looked at Harry but said nothing. Harry took this as a positive sign and tried his luck," Do you mind? Everywhere else is full." Draco hesitated but nodded and turned away. Harry came in and hoisted his trunk up and settled down opposite Draco. He looked around a bit, to waste time but, got bored eventually. Draco was still staring out the window, careful not to even glance at Harry. Harry couldn't take the silence any longer and cleared his throat. Draco ignored him but looked his way when Harry did it again. Harry tried to smile but failed, looking quite weird. Draco raised an eyebrow but did not utter a word. "Why?" was all Harry could manage to say. Draco looked at him for a while and answered just before Harry was starting to get uncomfortable. "You're not the only one who wants to finish his studies and get a degree, Potter," Draco said but without malice. "What are you majoring in? Potions?" Harry asked. "Draco nodded," I want to become a Healer. I want to undo my choices, but can't do that, now can I? So I decided to help people." Harry nodded. "I too am studying to become a Healer." Draco looked confused. "I thought you were planning on being an Auror. Anything less would be an insult for The-Boy-Who-Never-Fails-To-Succeed." Draco did not mean to sound jealous and Harry knew that. Harry smiled," Since I was eleven I have been "succeeding". Ever since my first year I have been endangering my life to get rid of the evil that was Voldemort. I have lost many people in my life, others have too. No one deserves to die, except maybe Voldemort. He chose a path that was bound to come to an end. He chose the Dark Arts, many others did but he people who were not truly foul, were good at heart; they regret it and I believe they did not really support him at all. I believe that they should live their life fully and get second chances," Harry looked at Draco. Draco understood that it referred to him. Draco smiled a little and then turned away to look out the window again. Harry still went on," I still want to help people, but without risking my own life. Healers are the ones that truly save lives. I want to be one of them. I want myself to truly be worthy of my name." Draco wasn't listening as he was deep in thought,' what is he implying? That we could be friends? Second chances? Who would want to give me a second chance? Son of a death eater…'
Harry looked at Draco. He really did believe in second chances. Everyone could be saved, but the problem was, that Harry didn't know if Draco wanted to be saved or not. Harry thought that it was best to leave him alone for a while and left to talk to his friends.
Harry opened the door to find Neville and Luna kissing and Ginny looking at them in disgust and boredom. Harry cleared his throat to announce his presence. Luna and Neville broke apart and Ginny stood up in enthusiasm. Luna, being Luna, did not even blush," Sorry you had to see that Harry. But you can stay here for a while, Nargles are not filling up the compartment. For now…" Harry grinned and shook his head. "Hiya Harry," Neville waved and Harry waved once. Finally he looked at Ginny and felt guilt rise up in his chest to see her so happy being in the same room with him. He needed to tell her soon. "Hi Ginny," he said casually and Ginny attacked him and kissed him. He tried to push her back but she was strong. Ginny finally let him go and smiled at him. She pulled him down to sit with her and talked for hours. She held his hand and played with his hair and occasionally kissed his cheek. He tried to look as happy and content to be so close to her but failed and Ginny's smile, which never left her face since Harry had entered, faltered. "What's wrong, Harry?" Ginny asked concernedly while running her hand up and down his arm comfortingly. Luna stood up and dragged Neville out of the compartment," They need some privacy. Let's find somewhere else to sit." Harry looked at Luna gratefully before looking back at Ginny. "Ginny it's not your fault." Harry began but was cut off by Ginny," What's not my fault, Harry?" she snapped. "I still love you, just more as a friend. We can still hang out and-"He felt his cheek tingle and then hurt. Ginny's hand fell down from his cheek where she had slapped him and she said between sobs," we can still hang out? How dare you? Break a girl's heart and then ask her to remain friends? Don't you dare talk to me again, Harry Potter!" Harry opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand and then left without giving him a chance to explain.