I know I already have 2 stories on the go (which I will update soon – I'm just having a bit of a block at the moment) but I've had this idea for a while – this does not mean I am abandoning Ava Adore or Love: Rediscovered – don't worry yourselves.

So, this story – set in the seventh (and final) year, one year into the war – Draco is a good guy (obviously) but still doesn't get along with Harry/Ron/Hermione etc (but they are civil).

H/D – H/OC – R/H

I'm not really sure how this is going to work and it'll be very obscure in some places but...yea...read and see what you think.



1. First Day Back

It was the first day back at Hogwart's after the summer holidays and the entire school was congregated in the Great Hall for the grand feast, now just waiting for the sorting.

Harry tilted back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling above, which currently depicted a starry twilight, almost purple clouds floating through the navy blue sea glittering with twinkling silver. Usually, he would have been delighted to be returning to the school and would be enthusiastically joining in the conversations that surrounding him, but, even though he was glad to be back, he couldn't throw off the fear that this was his final year, and the knowledge of impending doom.

At the end of his fifth year, in had finally been announced that Voldermort was back and that there was no way of avoiding a war – the ultimate fight of good against evil. For most people this meant no going out after dark and no going out in groups smaller than four. For Harry it meant all eyes on him.

The last year, his sixth, had involved conspiracies, missing people, murders on both sides, a few minor battles and a heck of a lot of research. Of course, Ron and Hermione had been there the whole time, helping as much as they could and offering endless support.

What had shocked Harry most was that Draco Malfoy, son of Voldermort's right hand man, had crossed over to their side and had been helping in any which way he was able, often staying up to the early hours of the morning with Harry and his two best friends, flicking through endless books for just a glimpse of something that could help.

However, Percy Weasley had crossed over to the dark side. Few had seen it coming and most were surprised, but, when people thought back, there had always been something about Percy, something to suggest he wasn't being completely honest.

Some good news had come from the bad. Ron and Hermione had finally admitted they liked each other and had been an item since the beginning of sixth year. During the summer, the three of them had spent a week at the Weasley's and, while there, Ron had asked Hermione to marry him. She'd agreed, of course, with much squealing and tears and hugs all around.

Harry was happy for them, he truly was, and he was ecstatic that Ron had asked him to be best man, but the two of them getting engaged just reminded Harry that he had no one. He hadn't even had a real relationship. Sure, a few flings here and there, but he'd never been with any one whom he could've honestly say he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

'Harry, are you okay?"

Harry rested his chair back on all four legs and smiled at Hermione. "Yea, I'm fine. Just thinking."

Hermione had changed a lot in the past two years. Her hair had somehow lost all its frizz and was now smooth and silky. She was beautiful and curvaceous for all her seventeen years, but still remained kind and sweet and intelligent.

Professor McGonagall entered, followed by a stream of first year students, all looking nervous.

"Remember when we were sorted?" whispered Ron.

Harry nodded. "I was so scared. I just kept thinking 'not Slytherin' over and over again."

Hermione shrugged. "I expected to be put into Ravenclaw."

"That's 'cause you're too smart."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at Ron, who kissed her cheek. Harry watched this all with a small smile on his face.

Finally 'Zeros, Erina' was sorted into Hufflepuff and the food appeared on the golden plates. The chatter ceased as everyone dug into the amazing selection of foods provided.

Suddenly, the huge doors of the Great Hall opened and a stunningly beautiful girl with dark brown, almost black hair, and bright blue eyes entered. She was petite, slim and short, probably only about five foot two, dressed in low slung blue jeans and a figure hugging black shirt.

What drew Harry's eyes to her were the jewels adorning her body. A pink stone glittered from her bellybutton, matching the bar through her left eyebrow. A small silver hoop pierced her lip and five studs went through each ear, the right with two hoops at the top.

It was only after taking all this in that he noticed blood dripping down her face and arms, forming small puddles on the floor.

The girl smiled slightly and mouthed something, before gasping and collapsing to the floor.

In an instant, Dumbledore was on the floor next to the girl, summoning a stretcher, but to the shock of all the students, so were Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy.

As they left the hall to go to the hospital wing, the same excited whispering could be heard throughout all the tables.

"Who is she?"



Please review and tell me what you think.