An Innocence Restored

FULL SUMMARY: When Draco Malfoy's father dies in the Summer after sixth year, Draco is determined to return to Hogwarts in September with a new outlook on life. He's determined to do well by everyone and leave all of the prejudices behind, but with everyone pestering him on his father's death, it seems it's going to be impossible to forget his past and the darkness that was woven within it. It seems that only a certain Muggle-born is going to listen to what he has to say without bringing up memories of his father.

Author's Note: Well, this my first Draco/Hermione story, so please forgive me if it's not entirely up to scratch. Anyway, I think it's important to mention that this story will not follow the books. It'll be set in seventh year, but there won't be a way, meaning that Fred will still be alive etc. Also, Dumbledore won't be dead. In addition, Voldemort won't be part of this story. It'll just be sheer Dramione! Oh, I also put a quote or a lyric on each of my chapters. Just thought I'd warn you before you started reading the story. Enjoy and please leave me some feedback!

Lyrics: You say we can learn from this, but I just don't know what to do without you anymore.

Chapter One

As Draco Malfoy stepped out from the barrier, he met a sight that would have made him sick to the stomach last year. The platform was packed with witches and wizards all saying goodbye to their families. A few were crying and others were laughing with their friends that they hadn't seen since last term. This level of joy would have infuriated him had he not vowed to make a change to the way he acted.

The death of a father can do that to a boy of only seventeen. Ever since Lucius died during the Summer, Draco had felt that he didn't have to live up to anymore expectations. He would give anything in the world to have his father back, though. The way he saw it, it happened for a reason and he had to look for the good things that may be able to come of it.

Now, it sort of made him pleased to see everyone act like this. Over the Summer, he had been through an ordeal that he would love to forget. To see everyone so happy almost made him feel the same. Hell, he almost felt as though the death of his father wasn't going to affect him too much anymore.

As he pushed past through people on the platform, he tried to ignore the stares from the students as they thought of what to say. Well, what do you say to the kid who lost a parent during the Summer? Exactly. There isn't much you really can say and even if you try, it won't make the person feel any better.

"What's up, Malfoy?" A voice asked from behind him. He turned to see Blaise jogging up behind him. He had told him last term that he would be sure to keep connected with him over the Summer, but after everything that had happened to his family, he simply hadn't found the time.

"Not much" Malfoy replied sadly as he pushed his trunk up the steps of the Hogwarts Express, beginning to miss seeing his father waving him off. "Same old" He could tell that things were going to be a little awkward between him and all of his friends for a little while. After all, they all seemed to be trying to comfort him about his father's death, but all he wanted to do was forget it.

"I'm sorry about your father" Blaise finally said once they had reached an empty compartment on the train. "Lucius was a good man" Draco couldn't properly agree. He had known of his plans to bring Voldemort back and he had never really approved of them. Yes, he had been in Slytherin and yes, he was probably destined to live a life of darkness, but he feared Lord Voldemort as much as any other wizard did in Hogwarts. He didn't want him back.

"Hmm, he was" Draco hummed as he looked out the window at the platform. Blaise seemed to take the hint that Malfoy wasn't in the mood for talking and abruptly quietened down, leaving Draco to his own devices. His eyes scanned the platform with precision. He half expected his father to be standing there, conversing with a few other parents, but looking stony and annoyed.

"Oh, here they come" Blaise muttered as he stared out the same window that Draco was looking out of. For a moment, confusion swept over Draco before his eyes followed where Blaise was looking to see the trio that everyone knew. A glare morphed onto Draco's face as his eyes fell on Harry Potter's scar. Perhaps his father wouldn't have died had Harry not been born. Perhaps the stress of trying to bring the Dark Lord back to strength wouldn't have killed him.

"Do you have any idea how much I hate them?" Draco asked before his promise to himself came flooding back. No, there was to be no more hate towards any students unless they had purposely done something that he didn't agree with. They may have done all of that stuff to him in the past, but it was only because of what he had done to them. Besides, he was turning over a new leaf. That meant forgiving everyone and bearing a clean slate.

"Yeah, I think I have a pretty good idea" Blaise chuckled, his eyes never leaving the three as they said goodbye to the rest if the Weasley's before boarding the train.

"Maybe we should stop with the hatred" Malfoy voiced, almost fearing what Blaise was going to say…what Blaise was going to tell everyone else. Well, everyone knows that Malfoy was notorious for being the most horrible, evil people in the school. Suggesting to be nice to people was just not what was expected of him.

"What on Earth have you done with the real Draco Malfoy?" Blaise joked as he leaned back in his seat and pulled out the Daily Prophet and began to read before turning back to face the blonde. "Ten sickles says you won't last being a nice person" Blaise wagered as he grinned at Malfoy. Well, it was nice to know how much faith they had in him.

"Hey, I'm not always a huge prick" Draco laughed…it had probably been the first real laugh he had experienced since before his father's death. Perhaps Hogwarts wasn't all too bad. Maybe he'd finally be able to enjoy it like everyone else seemed to. The simple thought was enough to cheer Draco up.

"Oh believe me, you are" Blaise laughed, his eyes returning to the paper in his hands. The train began to move forward, and Draco's eyes were trained on the window once more. Older witches and wizards waved goodbye to their kids before they became just a distant blur and then finally, their faces were replaced with the whir of green trees.

…

A few carriages down from where Draco and Blaise sat, Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny were in a deep conversation. Their heads were huddled close together as they mumbled about a Slytherin boy that had been all too familiar in their years at Hogwarts.

"Do you think he's going to be worse than he ever was now that his father's dead?" Ron asked as he looked around the carriage anxiously as though Malfoy was going to burst in on them at any moment.

"He probably will be" Ginny sighed as she looked down at the floor with a sad look in her eyes. She had often been the victim of Malfoy's cruel bullying and she couldn't imagine how it could ever get worse.

"He's got no reason to get nicer" Harry chipped in. "Let's face it, wouldn't losing a family member just make people carry more animosity?"

"I don't think that's how Malfoy's taking it" Hermione suddenly chipped in as thoughts of seeing him when she was on the platform came back to her. The others in the group looked at her as though she had gone mental and flashed her looks that said 'explain yourself now or you're out of the gang.' "When we were getting on the train, I saw him in the carriage. He was looking out the window. Yeah, he looked sad, but who wouldn't be? I saw no anger in his eyes. I'd place money on him being nicer this year."

"Since when did you ever think that Draco Malfoy could be nice?" Ron questioned as he shook his head in defiance. He was absolutely adamant that Hermione was wrong. If she was right, it would mean he would have to start getting along with Malfoy in order to be a good person. He didn't ever want that to happen.

"Hermione could be right" Ginny supported as her face contorted with thought. "Malfoy was close to his father. If he lost him, he'd want all of the friends he can get. He wouldn't want to feel anymore alone. Maybe that's what he's doing."

"Hmm, the theory makes sense" Hermione replied before unfolding her copy of the Daily Prophet, no longer surprised to see stories on Lucius Malfoy all over the front cover. When someone as high up and as important as him dies, well it doesn't go unnoticed.

…

The train soon slowed to a stop and most occupants of the train began to clamber out of their carriages and into the middle aisle. Malfoy was among one of the first to get off simply because he didn't want to hang around a large group of people if they were just going to ask questions.

"Hey man, wait up" He heard Blaise call from behind him before a sharp tug stopped him from practically running away. "You've turned soft, my friend" It felt as though Draco could actually hear the grin in his voice. Maybe he was turning soft. Maybe he was becoming just like Potter and his stupid followers. He mentally slapped himself as he remembered that he was supposed to be being nice to everyone. Well, what Blaise doesn't know, won't hurt him.

"Sorry, I'm just hungry" He lied quickly as he followed the familiar path that led to the castle. Behind him, were a few Hufflepuff's and in front he found the infamous Gryffindor's. Before he even had a chance to really register who it was, the eldest girl turned around and smiled at him. His eyes fell on Granger before they widened. What in God's name was that!? Did Hermione Granger just smile at him after all the horrible things he had said to her?

"Hello, Draco" She greeted before turning back to her dumbfounded group and strutting into the castle with Draco following close behind.

"Hello, Granger" He replied, although he doubted that she could even hear him. It didn't take long for Malfoy to figure out what had just happened. He had actually been given a sympathy vote from Hermione Granger. What was the world coming to?

Still, he had managed to stay friendly and that meant that he was closer to winning the bet with Blaise.

"Those ten sickles will be mine before you know it" He whispered to Blaise once they were seated in the majestic great hall. Finally, a familiar smirk sparked back to life within him. It seemed that Draco was still able to have a little fun with his friends.

Yes, I am well aware that that was probably a dreadful first chapter, but I'm going to give it a go anyway! Please review and tell me if you think I should continue. Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this! Oh, and of course I'd like to say a big Happy New Year to everyone. I hope your 2013 is good!