CHAPTER 2
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. JKR does.
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Maybe you're wondering why I find the fact that Draco Malfoy saving my life so surprising. It's because just like the rest of the students at Hogwarts, I thought Draco was a Death Eater just like his father. I mean he acted no different than usual when Voldemort returned. He still spent a large amount of his time making all Gryffindor's as miserable as he possibly could, the Trio especially. I wonder what happened to him to cause him to change sides.
Anyway, summer is nearly over and the first day of school is rapidly approaching. The parts of the school that were ruined during the battle have been rebuilt to their original state but it won't be the same. The student population will be decreased and there will be four new teachers to replace those that were killed during the battle, Flitwick, Sprout, Hagrid and Trelawney. But just my luck (note the sarcasm in that statement), Charlie is taking the Care of Magical Creatures job, another brother at school with me. Like overprotective Ron and Harry weren't already intimidating enough to any male who may show an interest. I am never going to have a boyfriend.
But seeing as though I can't do anything about that at the moment, I'll dwell on my other problem. What to do when I see Draco at school? I know I need to thank him for saving my life but I'm a little scared of how he will react. Will he be bastard Malfoy, or the Draco who smiled at me when he helped me to my feet after the battle. While I think I would really like to see smiley Draco I really don't think it's going to happen.
From what I've heard, this summer hasn't been a good one for him. And that may be an understatement. Both his father and his mother were found dead in their Death Eater robes on the lawn of Hogwarts. Even though they were evil, they were his parents and he probably loved them. I couldn't imagine how I would feel if mum and dad died. He now lives with his Aunt who is a mediwitch at St. Mungo's and who, from what I've heard, isn't exactly the maternal type. Let's just say not for a million galleons would I want to be him at the moment.
My family I think is starting to wonder why I'm so interested in what's happening to Draco. I haven't told any of them what happened, but it's not like I'm avoiding the issue or anything, it's just that there is an unspoken agreement between Harry, Hermione, Ron and myself that we don't talk about the details of what we either did, or what was done to us. It's too recent, one day we'll talk about it, but not now. We've tried to spend the summer being the carefree teenagers we should have been if Voldemort had never existed. Even so, when you've spent the last two years looking over your shoulder, it's not as easy to let go, as you would think.
On the happier front it looks to Harry and I that Ron has finally realised what he feels for Hermoine and has spent the last couple of weeks trying to gather the courage to tell her. What he doesn't realise is the she feels the same way. We, Harry and I, have to laugh over their predicament, but we've promised them both separately that we wouldn't interfere. They'll figure it out eventually, at least I hope so.
But to get back to the problem at hand, which I rambled off of, what am I going to say to Draco when I see him. I'll have to get him alone because I don't know whether he'll want other people to know what he did or even whether I want others to know just yet. Okay, here's the plan, I get him alone, say 'thanks for saving my life', make a really quick departure as I don't know how he'll react, and my duty is done. Except for the fact that I now have a bond with him.