Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any characters, plot, setting, or other things associated with it. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling, and I could never hope to compete with her work.

Draco's POV

I feel like I'm on top of the world right now, and it's all because of a single piece of paper. According to the letter in my hands, I'm going to be this year's Head Boy. I never thought that I would be given such a prestigious position. When I was younger it was all I wanted, but later on, I didn't think it would ever be possible. However, when I notice who the Head Girl will be, my elation subsides.

There was no way she couldn't have been. Granger is the perfect student and she was one of the most crucial members of the Order. She's the polar opposite of me in every aspect. The only things we have in common are our grades, though she was far better than me in everything except Potions, and our love of literature. Most of my peers would laugh at the thought, but as a pureblood I've been taught to truly appreciate the written word. Books have a special magic about them, different from the kind we use in our world.

I still can't believe that I'm the Head Boy. What was McGonagall thinking when she chose the two of us? We'll hex each other to death within the first month. Not to mention that Granger and her friends are never going to trust me since I'm an ex-Death Eater. I'd be surprised if they didn't kick up a fuss about this.

After reading the letter a few more times, I begin to look through my timetable and supply list. I've got a healthy course load with Arithmancy, Potions, DADA, History of Magic, Charms, Transfiguration, Alchemy, and Muggle Studies. I never thought that I'd have to take Muggle Studies, but something tells me this is going to be a year of 'firsts'. I could ask Granger for some help, but that would probably end rather badly.

A tap at the door pulls me out of my thoughts. "Come in!" I call out without thinking. The door creaks a little as my mum steps into my room.

"Draco, dear, are you going to join us for dinner tonight? Your father and I are getting worried about how much time you're spending all alone in here. It's not healthy, especially for someone of your age and complexion. You'll be going back to school in a couple of weeks and I think you would do well to speak to someone before then." I sigh at her words. Trust my mother to think I'll lose my ability to communicate with others just by staying inside. Having said that, I'm nervous about having to rejoin my peers. Most of them will be scared of me or will hate me. I consider my mother's offer for a moment.

"I think I'd like to join you for dinner tonight. I have some very important news for you and father." I can't wait to see my father's reaction. Although he should have been sent to Azkaban, he was allowed to postpone the start of his sentence until I leave for school. The ministry didn't want to pull families apart so soon after the war, even for Death Eaters. For now, he's under house arrest and his wand has been confiscated.

"That's wonderful Draco! I'll go tell your father. Dinner should be ready in half an hour." My mother leaves and, thankfully, shuts the door behind her.

Since the war, the ministry has implemented a few laws on the use of house elves. You have to pay them a salary with vacation time, contacts and everything. My family didn't want to go through the hassle of hiring them, which means that my mother cooks and cleans now while my father sits in his study.

I gently place my Hogwarts letter on my dresser, along with my journal and sketch pad. I decide to play some music since I have some time before dinner. Strangely enough, my father brought a guitar back home after a business trip to wizarding America, fifteen years ago. It's a lot more popular there and he was quite taken with it, even if he couldn't play it himself. I came across it one day in his study and he let me stop piano lessons if I could figure out how to play the guitar instead. I can only play a few lullabies that my mother sang to me when I was younger, but it calms me in a way piano never did. With the amount of time I've had recently, I've been experimenting with writing music of my own.

I pull my guitar out from under my bed and set to tuning it. It takes a few minutes, but once it's tuned I begin to work on my latest chord patterns. A few minutes before dinner, I place the guitar back in its case before freshening up. After straightening out my shift and washing my face, I leave to go downstairs, making sure to grab my letter on my way out.

The Manor has always astounded me with its elegance and beauty. The staircase is made of marble, with gold accents on the railing. Countless paintings of the wizarding countryside adorn the walls. Between each painting, small, ornately carved, wooden tables, hold sculptures of all sizes and shapes. My mother has an excellent taste for art and decor, so she's always adding to the collection. It's so large that she has to cycle through them every other month to display all of them.

I reach the small private dining room to find my father reading an old book on ancient magic and my mother just setting down the last dish of the table. As I walk in, my father puts his book down and smiles at me. It's been many years since the last time he did that and it's unnerving.

"Draco my boy, I see you've finally decided to join us in the land of the living?" he asks in a rather jovial tone. I'm surprised, he usually critiques my choice of clothing or my posture, but he is never cheery. Perhaps Voldemort's death has had a good effect on his mood. We'll have to wait to know for sure.

"Yes father, I have come back. There is something very important I would like to share with you and mother." I finally notice what we're having for dinner and I can't help but smile. "Wow, we haven't had sausage and potatoes since I first started in Hogwarts!" I exclaim. This was one of my favourite meals when I was a child.

"Yes, well, when you said you were joining us for dinner, I decided to make your favourite," replies my mother.

"Thank you mother, it's delicious!" I say after taking a bite. It was no joke, it tasted even better than when Dobby, our old house elf, used to make it. Last I heard, he died after rescuing Potter and his friends at the Manor. I was devastated when he left in Second Year; he was my best friend.

"So what's this important thing you'll be telling us about? I'm curious to know what it is!" my father says. His attitude still seems peculiar, but I continue.

"As you both know, I received my letter from Hogwarts yesterday. Well, I've been accepted for the Eighth Year program, and I'm also the Head Boy!" My mother looks very excited, and her face lights up in pride, but my father speaks first.

"That's wonderful Draco! Perhaps we may yet be able to redeem the Malfoy name. Do you know who the Head Girl will be? Is she also in Slytherin?" He asked the last question with a somewhat teasing tone, but more importantly he asked 'the dreaded question'. I don't know how my family will take the news that I will be living with Granger for the whole year.

"You see, the Head Girl is Granger, from Gryffindor. You know, the mudblood whom aunt Bellatrix tortured last year?" Though I don't care much for Granger, her screams will forever haunt my dreams. Speaking as someone who has been victim to it before, no one deserves the wrath of my aunt.

"Oh, well that will be interesting. I know we don't like muggleborns but treat her well. How you behave around her will reflect on all of us." I almost choke on the piece of sausage I have in my mouth when my mother says 'muggleborn' instead of 'mudblood'. Her words are very carefully articulated and she seems reserved.

"Anyway, it matters not, I highly doubt anything will change what has been decided and I'm sure there is a very good reason as to why she was picked," says my father. "We might as well move on to more meaningful topics while we have the whole family gathered. Draco, have you thought about when you will go to Diagon Alley to pick up your supplies?" Both my parents have moved on quickly from the news and I'm very surprised. I expected disapproval from both of them and a very angry rant from my father.

"I was thinking of going the Friday before we go to school, the week before we leave. That way the stores will have stocked up on all the necessary supplies, but there won't be as much of a rush."

"Excellent thinking. I'll write to the ministry and see if they might let me leave to accompany you and your Mother to Diagon Alley, as well as Kings Cross station to see you off. Even if it's highly unlikely, it would still be nice to see you go back to Hogwarts for your last year," says my father with a sad smile. I feel like I'm missing something, but perhaps he did change while I locked myself in my room for the past few weeks. Both of my parents seem a lot calmer and wiser than they used to be.

The rest of the meal is conducted in silence, but I don't mind as I'm too busy enjoying the food. Just as we finish up, my mother gets up and returns with a small berry pie.

"Mum, you didn't have to make dessert as well!" I say, but I can't help but stare at it in awe. The berries are all delicately arranged, and there's a delicate sprinkling of icing sugar and streusel on the top.

"Nonsense dear, we haven't seen much from you this summer and you'll be leaving for Hogwarts in just a couple of weeks. It's the least I could do, especially since I just needed to bake it today. The plan was to have it after Sunday dinner, but then I thought it would be better for today."

"Thank you mother," I say.

Once we all finish eating, I collect the dishes to go wash them in the kitchen. I only have to charm them, but it saves my mother the extra work. When I'm done, I go back up to my room.

I read my letter one more time to check that I'm not dreaming. Today has been wonderful. I feel truly happy for the first time in over a year, if not two.

I put down my letter and reach for my journal. This is a day I want to remember.

August 14th,

Today I received my Hogwarts letter…

Author's Note: Please review! Feedback is always welcome! Feel free to check out some of my favourite stories by clicking my username at the top. Some of them are really amazing, though some were discontinued. Have a great week, till next time!