Greetings, fellow fans of the Harry Potter universe.

I have been absent a few years from writing. Even though I love writing, my main language isn't English so I'm hopefully better prepared this time than in some of my earlier work, since I have decided to re-write my stories.

Thank you to everyone who still favorited my story on even years after I gave up on it.

Disclaimers: I don't own any part of the Harry Potter universe, but I love JKR's masterpiece.

Warnings: This story will contain topics such as angst, drama, romance, alcohol, tobacco use, sex between men and bashing of certain characters.

The story will mostly revolve around Harry and Draco, but other pairs will also be relieved later on. The POV will change to gain a complete view of the story I intended you to see. Hopefully, it will not be too confusing whenever it happens.

Most of what occurred in sixth and seventh book have not taken place, and some of the events from fifth year has been pushed forward to have happened in Harry's sixth year. Hope you can follow.

The massive red train had left Kings Cross Road at Platform 9¾ on a rather grey morning. In the third compartment on the right, Harry Potter, also known as the boy who lived, sat alone. Already changed into his common black robes, staring at the view of houses and streetcars slowly turning into green grass and giant meadows. Beside him on the soft cushion seat sat an empty cage. Barely a second after leaving the station, Harry had opened the window and the beautiful white bird had flown out to stretch her wings.

Being stuck with the Dursleys all summer had kept the both of them in a cage. Harry's more metaphorical than Hedwig's. For almost two months, Harry had been kept busy tending the garden, cleaned the house – inside and out -, washed the car, cooking and even for two weeks having to walk his annoying aunt's dog, Ripper. But even though Harry knew the Dursleys had had no intention of making his life easier, he had found it relieving to be kept busy. His sixth year at Hogwarts had been a horrible one of a kind.

Harry had spent most of it avoiding almost every student and the constant hate and gossiping he had been exposed to. Moreover, after almost becoming a permanent part of the walls he had ended the year in the Ministry of Magic, fighting for his own life as well as his friends' against Voldemort and his army of death eaters. When Harry had realized his time was almost up, Professor Dumbledore had emerged from the Floo' network and in string, the entire Order of Phoenix.

The fight had continued and in the end, the light had won. Voldemort and him had thrown a single curse at each other, exploding in a shimmer of light. Laying on the floor between Harry and the Headmaster was Voldemort's pale corpse. He had almost seemed human, lying down so quietly and small. Looking past his horrifying demeanor, Harry had realized he had actually grown taller than the serial killer. Sadly, the war had claimed as many loses for the good side as the evil. They had barely comprehended that they had finally won, when Remus Lupin had informed Harry that his godfather had died.

He knew Sirius hadn't been perfect in many ways, but he was the only real family he had left. Now he was once again alone. Harry hadn't had much time to grief over the summer. Being send to the Durleys' only few days later was the cherry on top. He didn't have time to talk to his friends or Remus. Better yet, he hadn't heard from Remus all summer. The man was now the only part of his parents he had left but he seemed to have vanished the scene unbelievably quickly, not informing anyone of his whereabouts.

The sound of the train whistling brought Harry out of his thoughts. The compartment door opened as the Trolley lady smiled at him.

"Would you like something sweet, dear?"

Harry just shook his head and tried to conjure a polite smile. The door closed again with a shushing sound and Harry was once again left to himself. His friends would arrive soon, he hoped. Ron and Hermione had duties in the Prefects' compartment but they would hurry back, they promised. While some of the others had to say 'hello' to all the other Gryffindors first. At Kings Cross' it had been obvious that a certain amount of Slytherins were missing. Some had obviously not been allowed to come back. Others had been collected with their death eater parents or been rushed to a more neutral school. Such as Drumstrang.

Harry had been sitting for half an hour before the compartment door once again opened.

"Hey Harry! How was summer?"

The three boys known as Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom all came through and launched themselves in the red seats.

"Fine enough. You?"

"Great." Seamus said, sitting across from him. "Except five days where mother had invited my cousins to stay. Not the older ones, just the younger triplets of girls my uncle Ralph just got. All of them!" he cried, smashing his head against the backrest. "I swear if someone ever tries to make a ponytail in my hair again, I will kick their tiny ass'!"

Laughing, Dean combed a hand through his boyfriend's hair.

"It wasn't so bad."

"Easy for you to say, my mother never asked you to babysit them alone." Seamus complained.

"That's because your mother likes me best, remember?" Dean teased with a sweetened voice.

Trying to focus on his friends' conversation, Harry forced a smile. The two young men sitting across from him had been together for a long time now. No one was exactly sure how long. There had always been rumors of what was going on in their dorm room but Harry had never seen anything remotely close to intimacy, certainly not something out of the ordinary friendship. One day they had simple entered the great hall, hand in hand and that was it. Thankfully so many rumors had circulated, so when they actually came out of the closet, the Hogwarts community had been relatively supportive. Of course, Hogwarts wasn't a fairytale and approximately a third of the students were born in rather conservative households and were therefore less excited to see an openly gay couple at their school. Luckily, they had mostly kept to themselves and Dean and Seamus denied to have felt any big impact of injustice.

For the rest of the long trip the boys discussed their upcoming last year at Hogwarts. Now that Voldemort was gone for good, maybe this year, Harry would be able to focus on his studies and slowly getting through the grief of his godfather's death. At some point, Hermione and Ron joined them, and since Hermione had been to France with her parents this summer -once again- she could mostly lead the conversation.

DM POV

A few compartments further up, a group of Slytherins sat. Here in between sat a blond boy looking smug as ever. Of course, this was a fair amount of façade but having been raised in a strong-opinioned family he had to be composed, to be known in charge. The truth was the Malfoys were far from it. At pure luck, his father had escaped life sentence at Azkaban. Lucius Malfoy had gotten his wand under limitation control and was only allowed to perform second-year magic spells and such. Furthermore, he wasn't allowed to leave England without a passing control from the Ministry and any new place or building he spend a certain amount of time at, had to be reported to the Ministry. His mother had managed to escape the sentence all together. Because her involvement in the war had never been particular and there wasn't any evidence to suggest such, she had been free to go after a huge amount of money donated to the Ministry's charity raiser. Now his father was trying to set up a new head business in his department while his mother focused on their social life and reputation. Draco himself, had the shortest trial of all. While he had taken the mark, 'of free will' the fact remained that he was underage and had in fact, not committed any atrocities. No murder, torture or dark magic had left his wand.

Draco couldn't say he cared much for their social life. Many of their associates had fled the country the second the news of the dark lords falling had reached them. Their Slytherin house would be rather quiet this year, but Draco swore it would remain the strongest. Looking past the window from his side, he was happy to say most of his… friends had made it back. He didn't care too much except for his one true friend Blaise Zabini, who had convinced his mother to let him back. The olive-skinned boy was sitting right across from him, looking thoughtfully out at the green landscape. Both of them had definitely been around their fair share of women, before realizing it only led annoying girls whom kept trying to worm their way into their bed again.

Blaise and he had always been friends. Real friends. Not only because their parents forced them to converse when they were younger but because their level of sophistication and intelligence were resembling. Beside Blaise, sat the only other person in the compartment whom Draco could without some doubt say had more between his ears than skin and fat.

Theodore Knott had come back to Hogwarts as well, but Draco hadn't been worried he wouldn't. The Knotts' had never been an openly supportive group of dark arts, but what they lacked in dark arts, they made up for in connections, money and knowledge. Even if it killed Draco to say so, he knew the Knotts were a few generations older than the Malfoys.

Theodore were reading a book without a cover. It was a mystery why Theo was using concealing charms on his books and magazines but Draco believed it to be a habit he inherited from his mother who worked at the Ministry sector of Secrecy.

Sitting at the end of the compartment beside the closed door, were Draco's so called Gorillas. Crabbe and Goyle weren't useful for much but they were certainly strong and made quite the army when it came down to charging the other houses. Draco didn't need them for anything besides muscles. He was perfectly capable of having a conversation without the two boys.

"So Draco, have you thought about next summer?"

Ah yes, saving the best for last. The almost sickeningly sweet voice woke him up from his daydreaming. Almost sighing, Draco responded.

"No Pansy, considering how your fantasy won't be taking place, I have no need for thinking ahead."

The Black-haired girl looked amused but Draco wasn't fooled. He had known Pansy for most of his life and he could recognize the smaller signs that she was feeling annoyed. Her mouth twitched ever so slightly and her eyes were getting stingy.

Dramatically the girl raised herself from her seat with an exasperated sign and quickly dumped onto his lap.

"Why must I always teach you good manners, Draco? For instant, keeping a lady waiting is not very gentleman-like." She smiled like a Cheshire cat. Before Draco could sneer a comeback, Theodore took over the conversation.

"Pansy if you haven't realized it, Draco isn't interested. Perhaps you should try someone more… easy. Like you."

The two gorillaz by the door laughed so loud Draco swore the window shook. Even Blaise couldn't help but give a small smirk. Pansy on the other hand looked like she tried to stop herself from shooting 'Crucio' out through her eyes right now. In the end, she just huffed.

"Draco will most certainly marry me. We have been promised to each other since birth and that isn't about to change."

"Draco would like it if you didn't discuss his life as if he wasn't here." Draco sneered, trying to push the woman off him at the same time.

Finally getting up, Pansy returned to her seat.

"Besides, I don't have to do anything. In the end it is my choice."

"Oh really?" Pansy smirked. "So, you are going to tell your parents you don't want to get married?"

Draco ignored her. Pansy just leaned back with a real grin on her face. They both knew neither wanted to be at the end of their parents' wrath. Pansy had won this argument so many times but at some point, Draco hoped she would give it up.

"Well how about a bet? You know, for fun. Since this year is going to be an utter drag anyway."

"What kind of bet?" Draco considered carefully. Games had always been a weakness of his.

"Since you believe you can do SO much better than me, how about we make a wager? To see if this proclamation is true." Pansy looked at her nail, trying to sound bored. Theodore had placed his book in his lap, looking on at the passive battle between the blond boy and the cat-like girl.

"If you, let's say, suddenly found someone else, I promise I will back down."

This just got interesting.

"What do you mean?" Draco challenged.

"Just as I said, my love. If you, Draco Malfoy, get someone from… Gryffindor, to sleep with you AND get them to admit they love you, then I, Pansy Parkinson, will tell my parents the marriage is off. Just like that." Pansy cajoled him and snapped her fingers.

This was a very alluring bet to receive indeed. But what was in it for Pansy? Draco pondered. It seemed too easy to be true. Draco was very good in bed or so he had always been told, and when he had too, he could charm his way into any heart. So, it wouldn't exactly be groundbreaking difficult for him to win.

"What happens if I lose?"

Pansy shrug casually.

"Nothing. You marry me as is already agreed to, but you will cooperate this time. You will care; every time I ask you a question about dresses, flowers, food, etc. EVERY little detail. You will care. Or at least pretend to." Ouch. Draco had only so much willpower. Pretending through an entire summer of wedding nonsense seemed quite a challenge.

On the other hand, Draco mused. It would be easy enough. He would only have to pull off the best performance of his life. He didn't even have to consider the option of losing, because he was after all, a Malfoy. Malfoys didn't lose.

The compartment was deadly silence as Draco friends waited in anticipation for his answer. Pansy seemed at ease, but Draco could see her fingers picking at her nail roots. A horrible nervous habit she had had since childhood.

"Alright, I accept." The two teens shook hands.

"What are the rules?" Theodore asked curiously, his book completely forgotten now.

"It will be the following-" Pansy declared. "Draco must find a person from Gryffindor, whom he will have until summer, to deceive into falling in love with him, declare their love and sleep with him. This will have to happen before the final exams begin, in order for him to win."

"It goes without saying that no one in this room will tell others of this bet." Draco sneered, looking around every single person in the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle quickly nodded their agreement, while Blaise just shook his head in amusement.

"Childish. But interesting," Theodore chirped. "I actually wish to place a bet of our own. I place three gallons on Draco. Anyone else want in?"

"I will." Crabbe and Goyle chorused. Placing their coins into Theodore's open palm.

"How about you Blaise?" Theodore turned.

Blaise just shook his head. "I believe I shall spend this year on something more progressive than a puerile bet." Looking out the window Blaise loudly noted that they were almost at the train station. Collecting themselves the Slytherins started getting up.

"Wait, who is the Gryffindor we'll use?" Goyle asked confused.

Pansy thought for a moment, tapping her manicured fingertip against her lip for a second.

"The first person from Gryffindor who says Draco's name will be our candidate. Seems fair." Pansy said moving to open the door. She held the door open for Draco and mockingly bowed.

"After you, your highness. Let's see your awaiting commoner princess." Draco rolled his eyes at her tacky act and made to walk out the door. But as faith would have it that day, Draco accidently slipped on a candy wrapper from Crabbe or Goyle, moist with leftover chocolate. Slipping through the opened door, the Slytherins were left, watching their so-called leader comically sliding out on one leg.

Barely able to keep himself up, Draco didn't wander far. A person had the audacity to walk straight into him and entangled, they dropped to the floor. Draco was normally a very composed young man but he was certainly also a rather temperamental one. So, as he usual handled situations where he was caught off guard, he immediately turned to anger. He quickly tried to push himself away from the warm body beneath him. He had barely recognized the red collar coated robe before an angry shout reached his ears.

"Malfoy, get off me!"

Of course. Of all people, he had to run into Potter. The most Annoying golden child, who only lived to be a pain in the ass.

Strong hands suddenly grabbed his shoulders and Draco was removed from the golden boy. Goyle's hands gentle placed him back on his feet and Draco hurried to straighten out his robes. Draco opened his mouth ready for a retort, when a dreadful thought hit him like a lightning.

Malfoy. Potter had said 'Malfoy'. Harry Potter had said his name. Out loud. Looking for proof of what could only be construed as a horrible joke, Draco looked into a blue pair of eyes from what was most certainly a dark bloodcurdling monster. Pansy looked like she had just hit the jackpot of the Ministry lottery. The toe-curling smirk on her face was enough to confirm Draco's worst nightmare. Harry Potter was indeed his intended for this year's bet.

His mouth felt unbelievably dry as he scanned his brain looking for something remotely nice to say.

"I… did not see… you there, Potter." There. He hadn't blamed the idiot for their fall, even though it most certainly was.

Potter was about to respond, when an angry red head practically tackled past him and brought Potter along.

"Leave him alone, you slimy git!" The weasel just shouted as he stormed off with Potter in a tow and all their irritating friends. Left behind stood a shocked Slytherin and five laughing teens.

Theodore had obviously found the whole ordeal most amusing. His mocking laughter didn't do anything besides piss Draco off, even further.

"Sorry my friend, it seems like Potter is going to be your new partner." Theodore gurgled. "See it from the positive side of things, it could be worse. Two second later out the door and you would have had to sleep with Longbottom."

Draco pushed his way through his fellows and tried to escape the embarrassment of the other students looking at them. He didn't get to far considering everyone else stepping off the train at the same time, had created a bit of a line to the carriages. His friends had finally caught up with him and while most of them were still trying to keep in the glee of having to watch Draco Malfoy court Harry Potter, Blaise seemed concerned.

Laying a gentle hand on Draco's shoulder, Blaise whispered.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? We are better off staying to ourselves this year, Draco."

Blaise had a point. No matter the outcome of the bet, Draco could see how much trouble it would become. While still being quite popular, the Slytherin house had taken a fall. The dark lord had vanquished, and Draco was a known death eater even if he was cleared of all charges. God, he could practically feel the headache already. But there wasn't anything to be done now, he had accepted the bet and he would win it, no matter the cost.

"It'll be fine. I have acquired girls and boys more prudish than the golden boy, before. I will win this." Draco said assuring. Much more assuring than he actually felt. Deciding on changing the subject, he turned back to an earlier topic.

"How was the summer vacation? You went to Australia, right?"

"Blaise didn't look very assured, but he probably sensed his friend's discomfort and let it go for now.

"Fine. Mother brought her new husband with us this time. She seems different with this one. Almost giddy." He scrunched up.

"I can't imagine your mother 'giddy'." Draco commented snorting.

"No, it was definitely a big change."

The boys continued to discuss the matter of the Land down under's absence from the wizarding world. While most countries in the world outside of Europe had stayed neutral concerning the dark lord, it was rather unusual for such a large continent to stay completely out of the matter. Especially since most of its countries had a long history of wizarding wars against each other as well as others.

The student population had thinned out and slowly turned into groups of sixth or more walking together. The six Slytherins had stayed together walking alone and quickly, trying to escape the many loud children. Finally arriving at the carriages, Draco noticed something move in front of it. Looking beside it before entering, he saw damn Potter petting the empty air.

Knott, who wasn't known to keep his mouth shut unless his face was stuffed in a book, startled the Gryffindor from his daydreaming.

"Potter? What are doing?"

Trying to compose himself, Potter didn't look very amused by the thought of having to share a carriage with the Slytherins.

"Did your friends leave you behind? Oh, poor Potter." Pansy cooed.

Steadily set on ignoring them, Potter got into the carriage from the other side. When the cart was loaded with students, it slowly went into motion and an uncomfortable silence settled. The ride would only take ten minutes tops but it was without a doubt the most silenced moment in Draco's life. As if everyone tried to breathe carefully, so as not to make too much noise. Draco looked out the window, realizing it was starting to rain. Enormous wet drops smashed against the small windows. A gentle cough turned his attention to Theodore, who not so subtly tilted his head towards Potter. Right. He supposed that now was as a good time as any to start easing the tension between them.

Clearing his throat, he turned slightly to the golden child.

"So… Potter, now that the dark lord has fallen, do you intend to… continue the dark wizard chase?" okay, it wasn't the smoothest icebreaker but it was something.

Potter looked completely perplexed as if he pondered having imagined, Draco actually talking to him.

"I… I haven't actually thought it through." Potter answered uneasy.

"I see." Draco wringed his brain for anything to say. "Well it could be a smart move career-wise."

"No offense Malfoy, but I most certainly do not need your opinion regarding my future career." Potter retorted, turning his head to the window, clearly wanting to escape from the Slytherins' staring.

Draco clenched his fist trying to sooth his boiling rage. How dare the fool? Draco didn't have to waste his time speaking to someone of lower stature than him. Potter should be pleased he had tried to take an interest in his dull life. After all, Potter wasn't anything special. He had just been at the right place at the right time and 'puff' he had been famous. Stupid Potter. The rest of the way, Draco fumed. It didn't help that Pansy looked as if she had the time of her life across from them.

Finally arriving at Hogwarts' grounds, the seventh years' departed the carriage. Draco couldn't help but notice how Potter's eyes lingered on the front of the carriage for a moment before he started walking towards the darkened castle. Perhaps Draco was imagining things. Mentally shrugging to himself, he and his friends started walking as well. Potter was clearly trying to escape them and rapidly increased his speed.

They were soon joining the other students and Potter disappeared in the mass, probably trying to find his dorky friends. The group of Slytherins found comfort between the other snakes as professor Flitwick demanded silence in his shrilling voice. Asking the students to follow him in a straight line, the students quieted down. Being back at Hogwarts was always an annoyingly comforting feeling to Draco and also made it harder for him to hate the place and its headmaster. The senile fool should have been forced to retire years ago, but so far, it hadn't been possible for his father to resign him, and it would positively be impossible now. Draco looked around and soaked it all in again. Somehow, it was the same, year after year, and yet still felt new and exciting.

After walking in through the giant wooden doors, they only had a left turn to go before they would be arriving at the great hall, where a magnificent feast would be awaiting them. The great hall was per usual, filled with floating candles. The sky ceiling had been charmed to look clear and brightly shinning with stars, unlike outside where the rain was still pouring. Finding their seats on the long bench at the Slytherin table, Draco turned his attention to the teachers'. Gaining eye contact with his godfather, Draco gave a slight nod and received one back. Even now when the dark lord had been vanquished, one couldn't be too careful to show emotions. Even though Draco looked up to his godfather from a young age, he believed Snape had only provided him help in order to save his own skin. The Gryffindors may think otherwise but only a Slytherin knew how a Slytherin thought. This didn't mean Draco didn't care for Snape, it just meant he kept his thoughts to himself unless it was otherwise necessary.

Draco zoned out during the sorting hat ceremony and the headmaster's yearly welcoming speech. More nonsense of house bonding and remembering to see the goodness in an otherwise evil world. Scanning the giant room, Draco could see the golden trio paying close attention to the headmaster. Draco snorted. What a surprise, they were never able to think for themselves.

Eventually, the food magically appeared and he, good mannered, took a smaller portion of steak and mixed a salad on his plate. Spending the rest of the evening talking to the other Slytherins in the commonroom, Draco went to bed exhausted from the long travel. Not long after the boys retreated to their beds. Blaise was having an after dinner drink, sipping some legally imported whiskey. Next to him, lying in bed in his silk pajamas was Draco, dreading tomorrow where he would officially have to start courting the Scarhead.

All right, first chapter done!

So, Draco is supposed to make Harry fall in love with him. How do you think that will go? Do you already think you know who will win the bet? Comment if you like.

Thank you,

TheMillionaireBitch