Draco was miserable. He had only returned to Hogwarts for his so called "eighth year" to get out of his depressing house. He figured it would be nice to come back to Hogwarts, to return to a sense of normalcy now that the Dark Lord was gone. But no, he should have known. Should have known that all the students hated him. He was aware of that, but he didn't think they would outright let it be known. He figured he'd get at least some peace. He was wrong on all points.

After dinner, he made his way down to the Slytherin dorms. He didn't even spare a glance to anyone in the common room, although he knew they were talking about him as he went by. Like they're so fucking perfect, he thought. Half of them were orphans now that their parents had either been killed in the Final Battle or arrested. They just wanted to play like they were better than him all because they didn't take the Mark like he had. He went straight to his bed and drew the curtains around him.

He had the dorm to himself. Another room had been added in each house for those "eighth years" who wanted to return to redo their god-awful seventh year. However, Draco was alone in Slytherin. Crabbe was dead, Goyle arrested, and Zabini had left the country with his mother. Draco wasn't too upset though. He was happy to have some privacy and quiet at Hogwarts for a change.

As he lay in bed, his mind wandered. He thought of his trial a few months previous. How perfect little Potter had testified for him. The entire Wizengamot now knew about how Draco didn't identify Potter at Malfoy Manor, and how he had tried to keep Goyle from starting that Fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement. After a few hours of deliberating, there was a unanimous vote that Draco would go free, granted that he return to Hogwarts.

Potter had also told them about how Draco had been forced into everything. Draco scoffed. Of course he had. Why the fuck would he willingly sign up to serve that crazy ass dictator of a Dark Lord? He never wanted any of that. Beginning in his fifth year, he honestly wondered if he still believed all that blood purity shit. But then when his father was arrested at the Department of Mysteries, everything changed. Draco was assigned to kill Dumbledore to punish Lucius. Draco knew he couldn't and wouldn't do it. He only tried to succeed to save his parents. He failed there as well.

After his trial was his mother's, and Potter vouched for her too. He told the court about how Narcissa lied openly to Voldemort about Potter being dead. Draco's mother was let free, but she did get a year of house arrest. She was allowed to keep and use her magic, but she could not leave the Manor for one year. Draco was relieved.

When it came time for his father's trial, Draco was shocked to see Potter again. This time, Potter started out testifying against Lucius. But at the end, he told the Wizengamot that during the Battle, Lucius had ran around wandless and defenseless, trying to find his son with no care in the world that both sides hated him. In the end, Draco's father received five years in Azkaban, with one year house arrest on release.

Draco of course missed his father. It had been almost four months since he had been imprisoned. But Draco also understood that his father had gotten off lightly. As he had grown and matured, Draco began to see how cruel his father's beliefs were.

As Draco went through the years at Hogwarts, he saw several bright and talented half bloods and muggleborns. He slowly began to question why his father hated them so much and said they were scum when many of them were so talented.

The more Draco grew and matured, the more he started to see the error in his views and how he had been raised. Spoiled, arrogant, and bratty. He remembered how many times he stayed up in sixth year, crying, wondering if he went to Dumbledore for help would it work. He wanted out the second he met Voldemort. He cried for days after he was Marked. He would sit in the shower and scratch at his arm, wishing he could turn back time. He wanted no part in what he was doing. Potter knew. Potter made sure Draco was set free.

When the Dark Lord was living in the Manor, Draco's life was hell. People were tortured and murdered there. Draco wondered daily if he and his parents would live to see tomorrow. Sometimes he wished he wouldn't, that way he wouldn't constantly replay in his mind all the things he had seen and heard. When Potter was brought there, Draco knew it was him. But he refused to say. Potter was Draco's last hope.

At the Final Battle, the only reason Draco walked over to the Dark Lord's side was because of his parents. Again.

Finally, his Dark Mark was gone. It was gone when Voldemort was killed. That was another thing that helped to free him. Apparently, the dark magic that was used for the Mark knew if those being marked wanted it. When the Dark Lord was killed, all those who had changed their ways or had been forced into taking it (like Draco) had lost the Mark immediately. When the Wizengamot saw that, that was the driving force to set him free. Everyone now knew that Draco never wanted to be part of any of that. Most of the other Death Eaters still had theirs, and it was as dark as the day they got it. Lucius's had faded to almost a faint outline. It gave Draco a small jolt of joy to know his father wasn't the insane blood purist everyone thought him to be.

Draco rolled over onto his back and sighed. It had hurt his feelings quite a bit today when he had been called Death Eater scum and told to rot. It was even worse when none of his house mates wanted to be anywhere near him. He was officially hated, an outcast. He was alone.

Then there was the matter of the new girl standing up for him today. Draco felt guilty for lashing out at her. She was only trying to help, he knew that. The old Draco had came out at that moment and he felt awful remembering it. The combination of his hurt feelings and his hurt pride had caused him to lash out at the one person that had spoken to him besides his parents since the Final Battle. She only talked to me and stood up for me because she didn't know me, Draco thought. If she wasn't new, and had been part of the hell that Hogwarts had been through the last two years, she would hate him too. Now that she had been placed in Gryffindor and gotten chummy with the Golden Trio, it was only a matter of time before she knew everything about him and scorned him like everyone else.

Trying to turn his mind off for a bit, Draco slipped into a fitful sleep.

Audrey woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed and ready to face her classes. She loved her dorm and the girls she shared it with. One of them was Ginny Weasley, who was dating Harry. Ginny had made Audrey feel right at home, and welcomed her in along with the other girls in her year.

After she had showered and gotten ready, Audrey made her way down to her first class, Charms. She had missed breakfast but she didn't mind. Again, her nerves probably wouldn't let her eat.

This class was a double, with both Gryffindors and Slytherins. The same went for her Potions class in a few days. As she walked in, she had no idea where to sit. The tables were designed for two, and it seemed everyone had gotten there early to partner up since the seat you chose in the beginning was your spot for the rest of the year. The eighth years were also in this class. They were put in the same curriculum as the seventh years, since technically that was the year they were repeating. Audrey saw in the front row that Hermione and Ron were paired together, and Harry and Ginny were behind them.

She returned their wave, and scanned the room. There was only one spot left open, and it was right beside Draco Malfoy. Audrey tried to contain her groan as she walked toward him and sat down.

He didn't scoot away from her, which shocked her. She went about pulling her parchment and quill out of her bag, along with her textbook. Professor Flitwick welcomed them all to another year of classes, then put their assignment for the day on the chalkboard. Audrey instantly decided she hated this class.

The assignment spanned the course of four weeks, requiring the partners work together to perfect their own Patronus Charm. That was very high level magic, and Audrey felt uneasy. She didn't know if she would be able to perfect such a thing.

"Now, I know many of you are thinking this is too complex of a charm to begin with, or even attempt. However, many of you sitting in this room can cast a Patronus. Therefore I have full confidence in your ability. Four weeks working with a partner should be just enough time to learn." Flitwick said. "Set a schedule with your partner, such as when and where to meet. I recommend outside on the grounds. Also, be sure that you meet at least twice a week, for at least two hours."

Audrey felt Malfoy tense up beside of her. Well, go ahead, she thought. She didn't wanna spend any time with him either. Especially not if it meant showing him that she wasn't an expert at this type of magic.

"How do you feel about Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays? From five to seven?" Audrey asked, forcing her words out.

Malfoy turned and glanced at her. "He said we only have to meet twice a week."

"I know that." Audrey rolled her eyes. "I'm just sayin', maybe three times would be better. We could learn it faster."

Malfoy grimaced. "Your accent is atrocious."

Audrey instantly got angry. Of course she had a southern accent, she was from Virginia! Better than Malfoy's pompous British one, she thought. She told him this, earning herself a glare.

"Whatever. Fine, three days." He agreed.

The rest of class passed quietly and awkwardly. Audrey took notes on the Patronus Charm, and as she learned more about it, she started to calm down a bit. She was beginning to think maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

When class was dismissed, Malfoy gathered his things and darted from the room. Audrey hung behind to wait on Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

"So, you excited to work with Malfoy?" Ron asked her, making a face.

"Ew, no. He's so rude. He told me my accent was 'atrocious'. Like he has any room to talk." Audrey replied, then instantly put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry y'all."

Harry laughed. "No, it's fine. I'm sure we do sound pretty funny."

Ginny and Hermione agreed. "We like your accent though. It's sweet."

Audrey smiled and followed them out of the classroom. The next class was Transfiguration, then she had the rest of the day free. She only had this class with Hermione though, while the other three were heading toward Defense. Audrey didn't have that class until tomorrow.

"You'll love Headmistress McGonagall. I'm so glad she decided to remain teaching even though she took over as head of the school." Hermione told her.

"I hope so! This is one of my favorite subjects." Audrey responded.

"Oh? What's your number one then?" Hermione asked. Audrey could tell this girl really loved school.

"Potions." Audrey replied.

Hermione looked downcast. "Hm. It's too bad you won't get to meet our old teacher, Professor Snape. He was rude, but he was amazing at his subject."

Audrey had heard about the teacher's brave acts in the war and his passing. Ginny had mentioned it the night before. Audrey sighed in agreement.

Once her classes were over for the day and she had eaten in the Great Hall with her friends, Audrey went to bed early. She had Defense tomorrow, along with Potions and Herbology. Not to mention her study session with Malfoy. She could barely hold in her groan at that thought. It was gonna be a long four weeks.