Chapter Two

Harry stared at the tall, pale figure standing at the opposite side of the Great Hall. He rubbed his eyes furiously in disbelief. No. No, this could not be happening. After all, this was the boy who had assisted in the killing of perhaps the greatest wizard in the history of the wizarding world. There was no way, absolutely no way whatsoever, that they could have returned to the scene of the crime. That only happens in bad murder/mystery novels that only idiots like Harry's Aunt Petunia read.

Yet, Draco Malfoy still stood proud at the head of the Slytherin table. As real as ever. And Harry hated him. He hated his eyes, his mouth, and his scrawny middle. Harry hated everything about him. How could Professor McGonagall allow Draco to return to Hogwarts? She knew he had meant to kill Dumbledore. Even if he hadn't done it himself, he was going to.

What would Harry do? He couldn't just ignore Malfoy like nothing had ever happened. He had plans for Draco. He'd make the boy suffer like he had made half the wizarding world suffer. Harry realized that he had stopped moving for a few solid minutes, and proceeded through the huge oak doors to the stairs heading up to Gryffindor Tower. He didn't take a step up the stairs, though. He was waiting for Malfoy.

Harry stood tall with a blank face in front of the stairs for a good half an hour, waiting for Draco to strut through the doors. He watched students pour out of the Great Hall in groups of twos, threes, fours, etc. He even saw Draco's cronies, Crabbe and Goyle stumble out of the hall, and they never left the jerk's side. Something told Harry that Draco wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

After an hour had passed, Harry decided that it was time to sneak a look into the Great Hall, to see what was keeping Draco. He opened the great, oak doors just a tiny crack, trying not to let off the loud creak the doors usually made when opened. Harry couldn't see much, but he heard plenty. It was just Malfoy and McGonagall left.

"I am being very understanding here, Mr. Malfoy. Do you know why?" There was a long pause before Draco answered.

"No, ma'am."

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, it is because I believe in second chances. But please, just tell me the truth," McGonagall made a loud sniff. It was quite obvious that she was on the verge of tears. "Did you murder Professor Dumbledore?" If Draco even dare lied, Harry was going to rip him limb from limb. There was another long pause.

"Please, professor, define 'murder'." Harry was going to kill him.

"WHAT THE RUDDY HELL DO YOU MEAN 'DEFINE MURDER'? DIDYOU KILL HIM? ARE YOU THE REASON HE'S DEAD? IS THAT ENOUGH DEFINITION FOR YOU MALFOY? HMM? NOW, ANSWER THE BLOODY QUESTION!"

Draco's voice was very soft and quiet, Harry could barely hear him. "Professor, I swear to Merlin, I did not murder Professor Dumbledore." This was too much for Harry to hear. He closed the doors as quietly as possible. Just as he was about to turn and retire to the Gryffindor common room, he heard footsteps.

Harry turned around and watched Draco step gracefully through the doors. His famous smirky sneer spread across his face. He would return to his favorite pastime: Tormenting Harry Potter.

"Hello Potter. You look well. I guess it hasn't spread yet."

"What are you on about, Malfoy?" He knew Malfoy was leading him into an insult; he just had a hard time understanding them sometimes.

"Well, I thought you would have gotten some kind of disease from hanging around that filthy Mudblood by now. You know, they're sort of like dogs, those people. They give off such a horrible odor, and carry around so many germs. Of course, you'd know all about dogs. How is your godfather? Oh, that's right! Aunt Belletrix killed him! Just like the Dark Lord killed your filthy, no-good--" Before Harry could think, he punched Malfoy square in the jaw. The blond spit out a white object that resembled a tooth, and howled in pain.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry spat out with as much venom as he could muster.

"What the bloody hell was that for!?" Draco stared at harry disbelievingly. He had never, in his six years of knowing Harry, thought he would ever hit him.

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT THAT WAS FOR, MALFOY! I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL SUMMER TO DO THAT! YOU KILLED DUMBLEDORE!"

Malfoy got very quiet again. "I did not kill--"

"But you were going to. And that is the same exact thing. You may be a hero to all of those stupid, evil Slytherins, but don't you think for a second that you're going to be welcomed back by anyone else. Say whatever you want to your cronies and whoever else will bear to listen, but just remember: I was there. I saw everything. I know what really happened. Do anything else to hurt me, my friends, or anyone else, I'll send you straight to Azkaban. Good night, and watch out."

With that, Harry turned his back on a dazed and bleeding Draco, and began to walk up the stairs. Maybe McGonagall believed in second chances, but he would never forgive Draco. In reality, nobody would. But it didn't matter. Draco did not matter.

Harry awoke the next morning ready for the first day of his last year at Hogwarts. He rolled clumsily out of his four-poster and began to dress into his new set of school robes. He tucked his wand and his schedule into his pocket, and set off to the Great Hall for breakfast. Once he took a few bites out of some toast drowned with marmalade, he began to scan his schedule. First up was Defense Against The Dark Arts with the Slytherins, then Double Herbology with Hufflepuff. Following lunch was Charms with Ravenclaw and to finish the day: Potions with Slytherin.

After Harry washed down his toast with a tall glass of pumpkin juice, he headed towards Defense Against The Dark Arts. Ron and Hermione started to walk beside him.

"Good morning, Harry," Hermione said cheerfully. She was always so excited about the first day of the school year.

"Hey, mate," Ron yawned. "You didn't get back to the common room until pretty late last night. What kept you?"

"You-Know-Who is back," Harry muttered, not thinking his words out carefully. He had regretted it the moment the words passed his lips.

"WHAT?!" Ron nearly gave two second year girls a heart attack. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WE'VE GOTTA PREPARE WEAPONS, REASEMBLE THE ARMY--"

"No, Ron, not that You-Know-Who. I mean the one that did his bidding and killed Dumbledore.

Hermione gave a little gasp. "Harry! You don't mean Draco Malfoy has come back?" Harry did not like the answer he had to give her.

"That would be correct." Harry's heart sank. "I guess we'd better get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I can't wait to see Tonks!" Together, the Golden Trio marched into the filling classroom, eagerly awaiting one of their favorite people to teach one of their favorite classes.

Please review. Also, I know that the final Harry Potter book has already been released, but I have decided to continue the story anyway. Thank you.

Yours truly,

AStakeThroughMyHeart