A/N: I do not own J.K. Rowling's story or characters.

The blue, green, red, and gold streamers fell and danced about the cheering crowd. All house's banners hung proudly from everywhere. Students from all houses hugged and cajoled not caring who it was they were celebrating with. But there were a few somber faces around too. Everyone had cast the sorrows of lost loved ones from their hearts long ago but a shadow remained. They still remembered and missed those who had died in the horrific battle of last year, but their hearts were no longer sad, they only had sad memories.

The first years had just entered the hall and were timidly inching their way down the aisles formed by the crowded tables. As they shuffled toward the head table they stopped to join the gawking crowd surrounding the world renowned Harry Potter. They clamored over each other to get just one glimpse of the scarred forehead and tousled black hair.

Draco's knuckles had turned white from gripping his spoon so hard. Those idiots. They worship him like a god. The worst part was that he knew that Potter had earned it… well, at least in their minds. That buffoon wasn't even talented!

"Draco baby, you're tense again." cooed a voice next to him.

He turned in surprise and looked at the girl next to him. She was sort of pretty he supposed. With black hair and green eyes that looked at him with false concern.

"You seem so tense lately. Tell you what, why don't we go swimming at the lake? That always seems to calm you down."

"Angie! I love your earrings!" cried some girl from across the table.

So that was her name he thought. Then it came flooding back. The night at the Three Broomsticks, asking her out, skipping class to meet in the hallways with their friends, the kissing, all of it.

He also remembered how fake the whole thing was. He dated her because he forgot everything from the forest, when he concentrated on acting like he was into her. She dated him because she was gothic and into the fact that he had worked for the Dark Lord. It was so phony, and everyone knew it.

He looked over at Potter again and managed to catch a glimpse of his face. In that fleeting moment where they made eye contact, Potter managed a smile that seemed to say "Gee don't you wish you were me?" Draco clutched at the spoon even harder.

"So what do you say to that swim baby?" Angela asked as she stroked his shoulder.

He recoiled and abruptly stood up from the table. He turned about, and stormed past the sea of first years.

As he passed, one of them was so bold as to say "What's his problem?" But he didn't care. He kept walking, more like running down the endless aisles. Heads turned and stared, people muttered as he passed. He could think of nothing but getting out of there. Finally, the double doors that guarded the Great Hall loomed before him. He pushed through and escaped into the empty hallway. The voices subsided as the doors swung shut behind him.

But he didn't stop there. He charged down stairwells and past classrooms. Mrs. Norris hissed in surprise as he swung around a corner. Just before the doors leading outside, he practically ran through Nearly Headless Nick.

"Now, now!" Nick chastened. But Draco sprinted past, out into the glorious fresh air outside. He ran to the lake, and collapsed on the shore, too careless to avoid the patches of mud scattered about. He lay there, staring at the clouds skipping across the sky.

Soon the clouds disappeared and stars took their place, twinkling in the reflection on the lake. Draco lay there shivering, too drained to move. As he stared at the sky he thought to himself, "wouldn't it be nice if I could lay here forever? Watching the stars and the clouds. Just imagine what the view might be from above."

A shooting star streaked across the sky. "I wish I could… I wish… I wish… I wish I could watch the stars forever." Draco whispered to the night.

A flash of light burst above his head. He whirled about and got to his feet. Another blast hit him square in the chest and he flew backwards. The stars swam before his eyes and a throbbing pain started to well up in his chest. No! Let me see the stars! he thought. Why do you take that which I love most? His reverie was interrupted by voices.

"Oh my god! I think you hit someone Harry!" a girl's voice cried. He tried to sit up but something held him down.

"I wouldn't try to get up quite yet" another voice cautioned, a guy's this time.

"Is he ok?" the girl said. Everything sounded faint and far away, the stars were spinning now.

"I thinks so, just a little stunned. I'm so sorry! We were just messing around." Harry apologized. But there was something false in the way he said it.

"Wha-What happened?" Draco said groggily.

"We were using some of my brother's fireworks. Great lot this time!" the other guy said. Draco now recognized Ron's voice.

"We're so sorry! Here let me heal that for you." definitely Granger this time.

A warm sensation spread through his chest and the weight lifted. Someone helped him up to his feet. He could see clearly now the concerned face of Hermione and the snickering faces of Potter and Weasly.

"Look we're really sorry. Are you ok now?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Yeah, I'm fine. And um, thanks." muttered Draco as he turned around and walked off. He didn't care where he was walking. Kicking at the leaves, he could hear the threesome laughing and enjoying themselves. His shadow flickered before him long and thin whenever a firework went off.

The laughter and fireworks faded as he walked with his hands thrust deep into his pockets. A chill wind was at his back and snatched at the edges of his un-tucked shirt, whipping them about him. He brushed his silvery blonde bangs back and gazed up at the stars.

Another flash of light lit up the sky. Stupid fireworks Draco thought, won't let me see the stars. He looked again at the night sky. One star twinkled, then started shooting across the sky.

"I wish it were night forever. Then I could always see the stars." he said to himself following the falling star's path. It sure is lasting a while he thought. The light grew brighter and brighter, larger and larger! It really is falling! And right for me! But he couldn't move, he was transfixed by the glowing comet streaking toward him.

The light grew to the brightest point yet and he had to tear his eyes away. He could feel the searing heat singing his clothes and he dodged to the side at the last moment. A horrendous crash ripped trees aside and embedded itself in the earth.