Next chapter! And please don't ask me why I wrote it, I don't know it either :D I hope you like it and please tell me if you want Draco to appear again in this story. Your reviews have been great, they were very motivating. I don't own the characters, but the plot of this story.

Chapter 20

Draco POV

It was strange to return to Hogwarts after the battle, in which I had fought on the wrong side.

Well, partly. I had stopped to fight for the Dark Lord, after Potter and his friends had saved my life in the Room of Requirement, the place where Crabbe had died. It had been stupid to use the Fiendfyre, but nobody had been able to prevent him from doing it.

Nevertheless, this wasn't the reason why I had changed the sides. When the Dark Lord instructed me to kill Albus Dumbledore at the beginning of my sixth year at Hogwarts, I began to feel uncomfortable. I knew that it was an honour to get the task, but somehow I knew that I wouldn't be able to do it. I began to have nightmares and after some time, I didn't sleep anymore. When I was alone, I cried and a ghost was the only one who could comfort me because nobody should know of my mission or my weakness.

And then there was Snape. The favourite of the Dark Lord and the person who was spying on Dumbledore. At least we thought that. He offered me his help many times, but of course I didn't accept it. I had to do it alone, no matter what it would cost me.

I didn't do it.

This was still bothering me and when I saw Snape after the events on the tower, I felt ashamed. I didn't show it openly, but I started to hate the man more and more.

Maybe that was also a reason why I didn't want to fight for the Dark Arts anymore.

And because of that, I froze when I saw him standing in front of the castle when I returned. He was wearing his usual clothes, a black cloak, but even though there was something different about him. Was he looking... happier? I couldn't tell. That feeling was strange to me.

Suddenly, I realized that I had fled from the fight against the Dark Lord. I changed the sides, that was true, but did anybody notice that? Or did they just think that I was afraid and didn't want to fight anymore?

Now there was a distance of about five meters between Snape and me. I knew that I looked shocked, so I forced myself to look at my old teacher coldly.

"It's good to see you again, Draco." Snape said and took two steps into my direction. He wasn't that pale anymore.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly and raised my eyebrows.

"I just wanted to welcome you at the castle. Is there something wrong about that?"

"I don't want anyone to welcome me. This isn't my school anymore." I spat and looked at him angrily.

"Then I see no reason for you to be here." Snape's tone was still calm, as if he was talking to a stranger. Not friendly, but also not cold. Just... curious.

"That's none of your business."

"Oh, I think you're wrong. As the Head of Slytherin, one of Hogwarts' houses, I am authorized to ask questions. And because Slytherin was your House for many years, it's also my business."

I laughed coldly. "Slughorn's the Head of Slytherin, not you!"

Now a smile appeared on Snape's face. But it wasn't the cold smile which had been usual for him. This smile was... amused. What the hell?

"Maybe he didn't want that job anymore. Who knows?"

I shook my head. "That doesn't matter right now!" I growled loudly. "I don't have to tell you why I'm here."

To my surprise, Snape stayed calm and the smile didn't leave his face. What had happened to the man who had been feared by so many students?

"If you don't tell me about your plans right now, I'll get to know them later from the other teachers. So you can also be honest. I know that you stopped fighting for the Dark Lord during the battle. And it's no secret that you have always been uncomfortable with the idea of having to kill Albus. You think that you belong to us right now. But if that would be the truth, there's one question left to be asked. Why didn't you fight against the Death Eaters after everyone thought that Harry Potter was dead? You ran away with your parents, they wanted you to and of course you followed their orders. What do you have to say now? And don't lie to me, I'm really curious."

Why the hell was he right? Maybe because he knew me since my first year at Hogwarts, or because he was good at occlumency. I had to answer the question quickly. If I wouldn't do it, he would think that I didn't have a plan. So I said the only thing which came into my mind right now.

"I had to find my parents first, that was more important to me. They didn't have wands."

Snape chuckled. "We both know that your parents aren't that important to you, Draco."

I wanted to sigh. This man couldn't be tricked, right? But saying 'I did it because I thought that it was right' sounded stupid to me. How could I solve this problem right now and get into the castle?

But wait!

What did I want to do once I had entered Hogwarts? I had hoped that nobody would ask questions and that I could just... do what? Help them at rebuilding the destroyed parts of the castle? Talk to anyone again? Apologize for my behaviour?

Snape took another step into my direction. "You wanted to help, right? Even though you won't accept it. I know that those feelings are strange to you, Draco. Believe me. Many years ago, I had felt the same."

I shook my head slowly. "You don't understand anything." I whispered, turned around, and left.