A/N; Sorry for the wait on this chapter! I don't even know if anyone is actually enjoying this story but it's gonna get juicy soon, I promise.

Draco stormed back into Hogwarts and went straight to his dorm. Marching through the empty living room, he threw his bag onto the sofa and ran his hands through his hair angrily. He paced back and forth, his eyes straining to keep the tears from falling down his face. Breathing deeply, he sat down, his legging jiggling rhythmically in order to stop himself from thinking. He rolled his eyes.

Keep it fucking together Draco.

He thought to himself. He knew he wouldn't get far acting this way and his mother would not approve either. Desperate to keep his image in check, the blonde straightened himself out. Suddenly feeling a blanket of tired cover his body, he yawned and rubbed his eyes.

I'll close my eyes for two seconds and then I'll write up a to-do list.

He thought, closing his eyes and laying back onto the sofa. He crossed his arms and shifted himself until he was comfortable. He sighed and let the ocean of black take him over.

'Malfoy? MALFOY?'

The blonde man felt himself shaking as if an earthquake plagued the wizarding school. He recognised the voice that was calling out to him and penetrating his slumber.

'I swear to Salazar, Granger. I have been asleep for a grand total of 2 seconds and I'll be damned if it's going to be you to wake me up.' Draco said in a monotone voice, not even opening his eyes.

'Malfoy it's literally 7am, get up or you're going to miss breakfast completely!' Hermione said, pulling a pillow out from underneath him and hitting him in the face with it. He grabbed the pillow as it came into contact with his nose a second time and snatched it out of her hand. He sat up, his eyes wide open.

'7am already? What the actual fuck?' The Slytherin looked down at himself to see he was still in his clothes from yesterday. Hermione followed his gaze and noticed too but didn't mention anything, not wanting to push something that wasn't her business. Draco leapt up and ran to his bedroom to grab his robes, ready for the day.

'Oh Malfoy, McGonagall was looking for you. Since I was the only one awake in the dorm this morning, I had the absolute pleasure of being the one to receive the message for you.'

Draco peeked around the door to look at Hermione. She couldn't help but notice he was shirtless, but his face was clearly annoyed.

'Granger, would you just fucking get on with it? What was the message?' He called over to her, trying to pull his robes on over his head.

'Your mother is here.'

'WHAT!' Draco cried, hopping out of his bedroom, desperately trying to tie his shoe. Hermione couldn't help but giggle to see the flustered blonde prance around the living room. 'Why didn't anyone tell me! Where is everyone?!' He looked around, stuffing things into his bag.

'Everyone's already at breakfast, I only came back to grab my books.' Hermione smiled, still watching him fret. 'McGonagall said that she and your mother are waiting for you in her office.'

He threw his bag strap over his head and onto his shoulder, grabbing an apple from a bowl on the kitchen side. He straightened his collar and ran out the door. Hermione shook her head but was abruptly stopped as Draco popped his head back in.

'Thanks, Hermione.' He flashed a grin as he disappeared behind the painting.

The Gryffindor scooped her books into her arms and left the dorm to meet her friends in the great hall. She closed the painting behind her and smiled as she couldn't help but think about the fact that Draco had called her by her actual name for the first time ever.

Draco sped walked to the headmistress's office, muttering 'shit shit shit shit' with every step he took. Coming to an abrupt stop in front of McGonagalls door, he straightened his tie and knocked.

'Come in, Mr Malfoy' The headmistress's voice flowed out from behind the door. He turned the door handle and poked his head through the gap, catching a glimpse of his mother glaring at him.

'There you are, Draco. I was just telling Professor McGonagall here about the appalling decision she has made.' His mother said, her eyebrows creasing into a deep frown.

The Slytherin internally rolled his eyes as he crept into the room, closing the door behind him and taking the seat next to his mother.

'As I was saying Mrs Malfoy-'

'Ms, if you please. After Lucius was taken to Azkaban, I no longer wished to be a part of him.'

Draco raised an eyebrow.

'As I was saying MS Malfoy, Draco here has been getting on swimmingly with the other students in his dormitory. I see no reason why I would have to move him.' McGonagall said, looking at her student every so often.

'Apart from the fact that he is a clearly superior wizard to the rest of them!'

'In what regards do you see him as being superior, Ms Malfoy? His grades are very similar to Miss Granger's and Mr Longbottom's'

Narcissa shot a glare at her son upon hearing this, as she now was furious that he was not exceeding his fellow students.

'That is not my point, Headmistress. Draco is-'

'An exceptional student!' McGonagall cut her off as she looked at Draco. 'He is a bright and talented young man who is now an adult. And as an adult he is perfectly capable of making his own decisions! Besides the fact that as a consciously returning student, we simply did not have the room for him in the regular dormitories, nor did we have enough room for ANY of the returning students his age. Mr Malfoy is very welcome to stay in his given dormitory to continue his studies if he so wishes.'

Narcissa had turned a light shade of red in anger, 'My son will not be frolicking with students in a lower class than him! I would like to file a complaint against you and pull him out of his dormitory!'

'Pulling him out of his current dormitory also means pulling him out of this school, this curriculum and his educational right to be here. Do you really want to risk your son failing all of his final year exams and missing out on what I assume is the career you decided for him?' McGonagall sat back in her chair, a look of victory settling across her face.

Narcissa, on the other hand, felt defeated and the look on her face gave it away. She glanced at Draco, sorrow in her eyes. 'No, I guess not.'

Draco coughed, 'Well, if anyone cares what I think, I'd much prefer to stay. I don't have to LIKE the Gryffindors I'm living with, but it's better than nothing. Thank you again Headmistress for giving me this opportunity for the second time.' He grabbed a note out of his pocket. 'I need to be excused from my lessons today if that's okay?'

McGonagall hesitated for a moment and then nodded, signed the piece of paper with a flourish before handing it back to him. He noticed that when their eyes met, she gave him a slight sad smile as if to say that she understood. He nodded back at his teacher in front of him before grabbing his mother's hand.

'I think it's time we take our leave, Mother.' He said to her, noticing that she was avoiding his professors gaze.

'Thank you for seeing us Headmistress.' Narcissa said quietly, bobbing her head in a small curtsy before following her son out of the room, clutching her handbag to her chest.

Closing the door behind him and his mother, Draco turned around to face her.

'What the hell was that, Mother! We spoke about this last night, I am perfectly happy where I am!' Draco whisper shouted, making sure no one around them heard.

'Draco I am just trying to look out for you. With your father gone, I am trying to do what's best for you.' Narcissa sighed, taking his hand and walked beside him as they headed towards the front doors of the castle.

'I know Mother, but I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. Like McGonagall said, I'm an adult. Let me make my own adult mistakes.'

Narcissa smiled at her son who had suddenly grown ten years in her eyes. She coughed awkwardly, not wanting to look too soft in front of him. She turned to straighten his tie and smooth his hair.

'Right, are you ready for this meeting? There is a change of clothes in the car and deodorant. Did you even shower this morning?' Narcissa called after Draco as he groaned and walked a little quicker.

'Yes Mother. Now please come along, I just want to get this over and done with.'

—

Draco observed himself through the mirror in the hallway of Malfoy Manor. He knew that he was tired but the bags under his eyes and the slight drooping of one of his eyelids screamed insomniac. His meeting with his mother and Professor clung to his thoughts. Did his mother really want nothing to do with his father? Or is this just a game she's playing for his benefit? Did McGonagall really mean that he was a good student?

'Draco?'

His mother's shrill voice pierced through this mind and he snapped himself awake from his thoughts. He glanced at himself in the mirror one last time, smoothing his hair down. He coughed and turned away from it, walking towards the entry hall where his guests were waiting.

'Good evening, gentlemen.' He called around the room, a few of the men walking up to him to shake his hand. 'If you'd like to follow me to the banquet hall, I'm sure you'd all like to go over a few things.' Draco turned on his heel and strode over to the meeting room, a sea of footsteps following him as the reverberated off the stone manor walls.

He stood at one side of the table, making sure everyone filtered in and had found a chair for themselves before motioning for them to sit down. He was the last one to sink into his chair as the meeting began. Attendance was called, and the head of the meeting, Augustus Rockwood, stood up.

'Everything is currently in place for our plan. We have set up checkpoints in certain places to ensure that we will not be seen.' He turned to look at Draco. 'The only thing we need is you, Mr Malfoy.'

Draco's eyes darted across the room to his mother and back again, 'Me?'

The death eaters cackled. 'Yes, you. Do you really think you went back to Hogwarts of your own accord? We NEEDED you back there. You must lure that Harry Potter and scum into the forbidden forest.' Rockwood announced, narrowing his eyes at the blonde.

Draco tried not to look too taken aback. He knew that's what his father would want from him, to be the one to lead them all to victory. But could he really do this to the guy he shared a dorm with? Yeah he hated the man, but he just got back into school-

'He'll do it.' His mother stood up and looked at her son, knowing that he was trying to think himself out of it. 'He will do it.' She pleaded with her eyes, motioning for him to stand up.

Draco slowly stood up out his chair and looked at Rockwood who had a sinister smile spreading across his face.

'Good, that's what I like to hear.' He patted the Slytherin's shoulder. 'We'll give you more information when we have it. That is all, Mr Malfoy.'

Draco nodded his head and left the room, shutting the door behind him. He breathed out a huge sigh of relief and made his way to his room, both mentally and physically exhausted.

'Are you sure about this Narcissa?' Rockwood asked, sitting back down into his seat.

Narcissa smoothed out her dress, 'He was rightfully the owner of the elder wand. We need him.'

'Even if it means risking your own offspring?'

Narcissa thought for a moment.

'As long as you do not harm a hair on that boys head, you have my blessing.'

'Fantastic.' Rockwood sneered, gleefully.

On the other side of the door, Draco was sat with his hands in his lap. He knew better than to eavesdrop on the meeting as he had been caught many times by his father and other death eaters and did not want to be subjected to that punishment again. He wrung his fingers, nervous to know the outcome at the end of the meeting, when the door to the banquet hall swung wide open revealing the many death eaters flooding out. Each of them nodded at Draco as they left, not really making eye contact. The blonde rose from his chair to meet his mother as she too exited the room.

'Mother, I'm afraid I must return to school now. I was only in that meeting for at least 10 minutes and I've got a lot of research to do.' He kissed her cheek as she smiled weakly.

'Your time will come, Draco. I'll come and meet with you as soon as we hear more about the plan. Are you sure you're okay staying there with those...people?' Narcissa asked, shuddering at her last word.

Draco sighed, 'Mother, I'll be perfectly fine.' He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, gathering up his books he had left on a nearby table. 'I'll see you soon.'

Narcissa nodded as she motioned her son off. Draco waved goodbye to his mother as he left his childhood home. As soon as he was out of sight, he stopped and breathed out deeply, leaning on a nearby tree to support himself. He ran a hand through his hair and frowned worryingly, before apparating himself just outside of Hogwarts' grounds.

The blonde stormed past the other students in the hallway.

'Move!'

'Get out of my way'

'Shove off!'

The foul mood radiating off Draco hit everyone like a ton of bricks. But so did he, pushing anyone who crossed his path on the way to his dorm. The sixth and seventh years just laughed at him, but the first years were terrified, scarpering out the way of the blonde coloured tank running everyone down. He made his way to the entrance painting of his dorm quicker than he usually did and, after muttering the password to the painting which swung open soon after, he stormed into the common room and threw himself onto the sofa.

Pansy, Blaise and Theo walked into the room shortly after, talking and laughing amongst themselves when they spotted the blonde Slytherin groaning and staring at the ceiling. The three of them looked at each other before Pansy walked quietly over to him.

'Draco?' The girl sat down and put a hand on his shoulder. 'What's happened?'

Draco groaned loudly again, grabbed a pillow and covered his face. Pansy glanced over at Blaise and Theo, motioning them to sit down too. The two boys looked at each other and reluctantly tiptoed over, sitting on the available seats.

'Mate, was the meeting that shit?' Blaise asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Threy wrant mre troo lread threm intro thre frorest!' Draco said, muffled by the pillow still covering his face.

Theo laughed and stood up to the take pillow away, lightly hitting the blonde with it, 'Again, please. This time in English'

Draco leant forward and placed his head in his hands, 'They want me to lead them into the forest. All three of them! Said they've got a plan.'

Silence fell for a brief second between the four Slytherins.

'Why are you still doing this, mate? We told you being disowned by your parents isn't as bad as you think. We all did it. What's keeping you there?' Blaise said comfortingly.

Draco shook his head, 'I just need enough evidence to hand over to Potter. I know they're up to something massive but they won't let me stay for the whole meetings. It's getting frustrating and it's bringing up a lot of shitty memories that I've purposely repressed.' His eyes welled slightly with tears and he brushed them away quickly, not wanting his friends to see. 'Mother's going to let me know when the plan's being executed, but I'm so close I can feel it, you know?'

His three friends looked at him for a second. They couldn't help but compare this Draco to him in his 6th year, constantly clinging on for help but never getting any.

'You need to start talking to use more. We can help you know, you don't need to keep it all locked in.' Pansy said, smiling weakly at him.

Draco smiled back, 'I know, it's just so hard pretending to be this almighty death eater that's supposed to follow in his father's footsteps and bring Harry Potter to his knees. You'd think they would've stopped with the death of Baldymort yet here we are.' He chuckled lightly, the first laugh in what seemed like ages. Sitting in thought, his happy expression faltered slightly, 'I just feel bad. I feel bad that I'm laughing right now and there are people who were in our classes who can never laugh again.'

The four of them sat for a minute, remembering what had happened only months ago and how they were luckily still here. Theo sighed.

'As much as I feel bad too, we mustn't linger in the past. We're here now and we can do something, so let's start planning.' He smiled, grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill out of his bag.

Meanwhile, Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth. Being able to hear through the entrance painting was one thing but hearing that come out of, who she thought was their worst enemies, mouth? Maybe Draco wasn't as bad as they thought after all. She had gotten him all wrong, he was on their side.

I can't tell anyone. I can't even tell him that I know!

She thought. She was risking blowing his cover if she let anyone know. She would just saunter into the common room and pretend she forgot her books, that was it. Just to get a glimpse of what they're doing. She nodded to herself and whispered the password to the painting as it swung open, letting her in.

Four pairs of Slytherin eyes focused on Hermione as she walked in. Theo quickly took the sheet of parchment off the table and shoved it into his bag.

'Hi guys!' The Gryffindor said awkwardly. 'What you up to?'

'Nothing!' Blaise said quickly, his eyes darting around the room as he desperately tried to think of something to say, 'uh, just telling Malfoy here about the ball that was announced for tomorrow!'

'Ball? What ball?' Draco turned his head towards his friends and then quickly back at Hermione.

'Oh, that's when you must have been out. McGonagall announced that a ball is taking place tomorrow evening. Something about house unity.' Hermione chuckled nervously. 'I'm surprised they hadn't mentioned it to you yet.' She frowned slightly.

Draco rolled his eyes, 'Yeah apparently I've got some pretty crap friends.' He smiled lightly at her as Pansy elbowed him in the ribs, 'Ow?'

Hermione laughed, 'Well I'm just here to grab some books. I'll see you guys this evening? Pansy we can go over dress options!' She glanced over at the Slytherin girl who nodded her head eagerly. Hermione slipped into her room to grab a few books she didn't even need and waved at them as she left the dorm.

Shit, I couldn't see anything. I'll have to investigate while everyone is at the ball tomorrow.

She thought, as she made her way towards the library.

The four Slytherin's breathed a sigh of relief.

'We really do need somewhere away from everyone else if we're not going to tell them yet.' Theo said, scratching his eyebrow.

Draco glared at his friends, 'I can not fucking believe you guys failed to mention a bloody ball! Who the hell am I going to ask?!' He glanced over at Pansy.

'Don't look at me! I'm going with Theo. Strictly as friends. And Blaise won't even tell us who he's asking!' Pansy yelled, laughing at them.

'You're cheating on me, you horny fuck!' Draco laughed at Blaise who turned a deep shade of red.

'It's a secret for a reason okay? you'll see tomorrow night. Do you want to go into Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade tomorrow to look for suits and shit like that?' Blaise asked, speaking to both Theo and Draco.

Theo nodded, 'Yeah why not, I've got free periods in the afternoon anyway. Draco?'

'Yeah sure, might take my mind off this madness anyway.' Draco shrugged.

Maybe a ball won't be that bad after all. Who would I ask? Who would actually want to be around me? I'm going to end up going stag aren't I?

He thought, glancing at the three of his friends laughing and joking together. He thought about how much they had been through together, how they'd always managed to make it through in the end and for the first time in a long time he didn't feel that alone.

—

Hermione chewed on the end of her pen as she read through a few topics for her next defence against the dark arts class. Flipping through the pages, her frown deepened in concentration.

Ron snuck up behind her and kissed her on her head, making her jump.

'Ronald!' She whispered loudly, shoving him off.

He chuckled quietly and sat down beside her, 'So what are you looking at?' He glanced down at the pages the book was open on. 'Time turner?'

She grimaced, 'Yeah I noticed there was a book in our dorm someone had taken out the library so I'm doing a bit of research myself. I know that I haven't unlocked the time turner's full potential so I want to check it out.'

The ginger rolled his eyes, 'As interesting as the time turner itself is. I doubt any of the other people in our dorm were researching, apart from us three, Neville and Luna obviously.'

She turned her body towards her boyfriend, 'So you mean the four Slytherin's?'

He shifted in his seat, 'I didn't say that.'

'They're the only other people in our dorm! Why don't you think they'd be researching?'

'They're death eaters! Do you really think they care about their education when they're going to be following in mummy and daddy's footsteps?'

'You don't know that Ronald!'

'And YOU do?!'

They were suddenly aware of how loud they had gotten after someone had shushed them from across the library hall.

'I know more than you do.' Hermione went back to whispering.

'What's the supposed to mean?' Ron leant forward to look at her.

Hermione stood up and gathered her books, shoving them into her bag, 'Nothing. You can't even get past that their parents were death eaters. It's like you think that you're superior to them based solely on their parents, you're just like them!'

Ron's eyes widened as Hermione turned and left, leaving him alone with that haunting thought.

She wiped the tears out of her eyes as she sped walked out of the library. This was the first big fight her and Ron had gotten in and she didn't like how it made her feel. She was about to break down into tears again when she rounded a corner and slammed straight into Luna. Both girls toppled over as their bodies came into contact with each other.

'Oh god, I'm so sorry Luna!' Hermione said, clambering to her feet and rushing over to her friend, gathering up the books and parchment that fell everywhere.

'Hermione it's fine!' Luna smiled, putting her hand on the Gryffindors shoulder as she slid the books back into her arms. The girls both stood up and brushed themselves off, when Luna tilted her head and stared into Hermione's eyes.

'You've been crying'

'No I haven't'

'Your eyes are red'

'I'm stoned.'

'Hermione...'

'Yes, fine. Ron and I had a fight.' Hermione said, scuffling her feet and looking down.

Luna swung an arm round her shoulders and squeezed her slightly. Hermione smiled weakly at her friend as the both slowly walked towards their dorm.

'I have ice cream in the freezer.' Luna said quietly.

Hermione laughed, 'oh god, I'm definitely going to need that.'

They talked and laughed all the way to the dorm, Luna making sure that Hermione's mind was kept off her fight with her boyfriend. They whispered the password to their painting and walked in, still laughing.

Blaise was sat on the sofa, reading the newest print of The Quibbler. His head whipped round as the two girls entered the dorm.

'Hi guys.' He smiled warmly as the two girls returned the grin. They started to walk towards their bedroom before he coughed awkwardly and called after them, 'Uh, Luna. Do you mind if I have a quick word?'

The two girls looked at each other in confusion before Hermione broke the silence.

'It's okay, I've got a bit more research to do and I think I hear Pansy playing music so I'll fill her in. I'll meet you in there.' She smiled and squeezed Luna's arm. The blonde nodded and turned her attention to the Slytherin who was rising from his seat on the sofa.

Hearing the door close behind Hermione, the two were both alone in the common room. Blaise was rocking on his feet and had his hands in his pockets as Luna tucked a hair behind her ear.

'So what did you want to talk about, Blaise?' Luna asked, timidly.

Without looking at her eyes directly, he answered, 'So did you hear about that ball we're having tomorrow?'

She smiled, 'Yeah! Something about house unity right? I think I'm going with Hermione and Pansy to talk dresses tomorrow.'

He smiled back at her and gulped, 'Iwaswonderingifyouwantedtogowithmeifyoudidnthaveanyoneelsetogowith' all his words mushing together to create one big word severely lacking in breath.

Luna chuckled slightly, 'That sounds lovely Blaise, but I really hope you won't talk that fast tomorrow. I do hope to get a word in edgeways!' She smiled and turned to walk towards her bedroom, looking back at him as soon as she got to her door. 'I'll see you tomorrow then, at 6?'

He nodded, 'I'll see you then.' He said as she entered her bedroom. The sound of giggling wafted through the air and cut off as she closed the door. He widened his eyes in disbelief as he spun round and held his head. He had actually managed to successfully ask the girl he wanted to take to the ball! AND SHE SAID YES!

Meanwhile, Draco entered the library and sauntered up to the front desk. Handing over a book to the librarian, she frowned.

'This book isn't due for another week, Mr Malfoy. Are you sure you're done with it?'

Draco grinned, 'Yeah, I've got all the information I need from it, thanks.'

'A strange book to take out though, not many wizards or witches can conquer time travel. Is it for a class?'

Draco shrugged, 'Something like that.'