Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Harry stood in front of the fireplace; his trunk and Hedwig's cage were lying to the side. He looked over at Hermione, she was pacing mercilessly.

"Hermione, calm down, you won't forget anything."

"But Harry, I only read through the duties three times! Oh I hope Terry had a chance to read it more."

Harry shook his head, "Wait, Terry?"

Hermione didn't miss a beat, "Boot, Ravenclaw, he was in our Potions class last year," Harry nodded.

"So, you and Ron are gonna leave me alone on the train?"

Hermione turned with a startled look, a faint blush threatening to get even worse. "What do you mean Harry?"

He laughed, "You're both going to be in the Prefects meeting yeah?" He watched Hermione mouth "oh."

"I'm sure you could come with us, Harry."

"Nah, it's fine. I'll just read or something." He gave her a mocking smile, only to grin as she glared at him.

The others all collided as they attempted to get through the doorway. Ginny, being the first one there, managed to sneak through after abandoning her trunk. Harry watched the twins struggling.

"Come on, Fred, move!"

"No George! I was here first!"

"No you weren't."

"Yes I was, I'm the older twin after all, mum told us so, didn't you mum?"

Mrs. Weasley turned on both of them, "Both of you out of the way! We're running late." Both twins sidestepped. Ron, who had been trying to push through them, lost his balance and fell to the floor.

"Ow," Ron got off the floor and brushed himself off. Grabbing one end of his trunk, he threw it near Hermione and Harry's luggage. "Aren't we running behind?"

Everyone in the doorway stopped their scrambling for a minute, enough to get them all through the door. Mr. Weasley stood before them.

"Alright everyone, let's do this quickly." The whole lot gathered before the fireplace, quickly exiting through the emerald flames.

---

The group quickly moved through platform 9¾. There were less people than any of them had seen. Harry couldn't believe this would be his last time departing for Hogwarts. He loaded his trunk onto a car, Well, at least there won't be a problem finding seats this year, he thought bitterly. He learned quickly that he was wrong. Despite the majority of students deciding not to go, the train seemed to be as full as ever.

Harry grabbed an open room. He sat back and closed his eyes, he had never been alone the entire journey, This could be weird, at least they'll come back for a little while.

Harry heard the door slide open. He turned his head to see the last face he wanted to.

"Malfoy!" He began to scramble up but Malfoy simply sighed and spoke calmly.

"Easy there, Potter. I didn't know you were in here. I was just trying to find someplace to sit."

Harry eyed him skeptically before nudging his head in Malfoy's direction.

"Well find someplace else, I'd rather not sit with the likes of you."

He watched Malfoy sneer and begin to take off his cloak.

"You know what, Potter? I think I'll stay here. I could use a good laugh and pissing you off is always work one."

"Aren't you supposed to be in the Prefect car or something?" He watched Malfoy stiffen.

"They…told me it was best I avoid as many people as possible."

Harry watched in amazement as Malfoy sat down, placing his feet on Harry's seat. A few minutes of silence found Harry staring flabbergasted. Malfoy seemed to have noticed.

"You know, Potter, you may want to take a picture. Then even when I'm not around you can stare all you want."

Harry quickly looked away, mumbling. "Don't know how you think you're good enough to go back."

Malfoy sat up, giving Harry a look that caused him as much discomfort as his scar burning.

"Listen here, I know that you think I didn't care what I was doing. But you're wrong. I didn't want to kill the old man, I may not have liked him but I didn't want him to die. I…I didn't have a choice."

Harry was about to say something when Malfoy continued.

"It was my birthday, I had just turned 16…when He came. He informed me that he was displeased with my father, and it was up to me to return the Malfoy name to his good graces. After he left I begged my mother, asking her to tell father I couldn't do it. He just told me I had better not fail." He drew in a shaky breath, "I struggled for months, trying to figure out what to do, but in the end I had to. I nearly died last year, I was so exhausted." Malfoy looked straight at Harry, "When you cursed me, I honestly thought maybe you were as great as every said you were. Maybe you could save me." He looked away, "But then I survived, and now here I am, just waiting for one of them to find me and drag me back into his service."

Harry looked at Malfoy, really looked at him, for the first time. He saw the terror etched into his face, the grayish tint that emphasized the dark circles around his eyes, evidence of sleepless nights. But what caught him most were his eyes. The haunted look and the dullness made Harry believe him. He looked directly into his eyes and nodded.

"Malfoy," He made sure the other boy was listening, "I'm glad…you didn't kill him. You may not have had a choice in taking it that far, but at least, in the end, you were able to make a different one." He watched slight disbelief take over Malfoy's face. Harry cursed his Gryffindor nature in what he was about to do, "You know, Dumbledore wasn't lying, the Order could protect you from Him." Who am I kidding? Malfoy wouldn't want to leave, he's convinced that Voldemort will somehow win and then where would he be? The same place as the Weasleys. Malfoy's voice brought him back to reality.

"Are you serious, Potter? You actually think they'd follow through with Dumbledore's final promise? You must be loonier than I thought." He looked away and Harry barely heard him mumble, "I don't think even you could convince them to help me."

Harry looked out the window, It's true, the Order wouldn't be happy, even if I was the one trying to convince them, he looked at Malfoy from the corner of his eye, but maybe it will work anyway. Harry voiced his thoughts.

"Malfoy, if I asked them to help you, would you do what was needed of you?"

Malfoy's eyes widened, Harry was unsure of what was going through his mind, but he continued anyway.

"They will use you any way they can. Use you as a pawn, the same way Voldemort would." Harry laughed bitterly, "I used to think that the Order was different than the Death Eaters…but then I realized that both sides would do anything to ensure their victory." He looked into Malfoy's eyes, "But if you decide you believe in our cause and choose to help, there would be no reason for them to deny you." He watched, trying to discern what was going through the other boy's head. Harry was actually amazed when he saw Malfoy nod.

"Alright, Potter, I'll give it a shot. I don't want to be a part of it but I'll do whatever it takes."

Harry let a small smile form, Who would have thought that Malfoy would actually choose to help the Order? Of course…he might be tricking me.

"I'll speak to Professor McGonagall then." Harry leaned back and, after a few minutes of silence, fell asleep.
---

"Harry, wake up." Harry opened his eyes, Hermione and Ron were standing in front of him.

"We're almost at Hogwarts." He watched his friends sit on the seat across from him, a look of confusion formed. Where's Malfoy?

"Was there anyone else in here when you guys came?"

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other before shaking their heads.

"Should there have been?"

Harry sighed, "No, I guess not."
---

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, surrounded by his classmates and a few others in various years. He looked around the Great Hall.It's so empty. There were only about 50 students of the usual 500. Harry looked to the front of the hall. He felt a stinging sensation in his eyes. God, I thought I was over this. It's been three months since Dumbledore died. But seeing McGonagall sitting there, in his chair, made everything rush back. Flashes of moments spent with the older man, sitting in front of the Mirror of Erised, listening about the properties of phoenixes, waking up to Dumbledore saying he had to save Sirius, Dumbledore sitting in his office looking older than Harry thought he ever could. When McGonagall stood, Harry shoved his thoughts back, determined to stay focused this year.

"Good evening, students. Welcome back once again. I'm pleased to see so many of you have returned, and even a few new students." McGonagall looked around the hall before continuing, "I must warn you all, these are dangerous times. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you all be on guard, watch out for each other, even those you may not be willing to." Her eyes landed on the Slytherin table, where only seven students sat, before looking over the rest once more. "Now, let the feast begin."

Before Harry knew it their plates and goblets had appeared and food was smothering the table.
---

Harry climbed up the familiar staircase, the gargoyle had not been in its usual position, as if McGonagall had been expecting him. I guess after knowing Dumbledore for so many years she picked up a few of his traits. He walked up the stairs, bracing himself for the encounter he was about to have.

He reached the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

"Come in."

Harry entered the room, the warm space causing another rush of memories. He looked around the walls, eyes zeroing in on the most recent: Albus Dumbledore. Harry noticed something then.

"Fawks." He whispered, walking over to the bird.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry whipped towards McGonagall, "Professor."

Her eyebrow quirked at his silence.

"I presume you wished to speak to me?"

Harry nodded. He looked directly at McGonagall.

"I need the Order to protect Draco Malfoy."

He watched her eyes widen.

"Draco Malfoy? Why does he need protection?"

"He offered his services to the Order in exchange for protection. He claims he has no desire to join Voldemort. I think he deserves a chance, Professor."

"Mr. Potter, that's very noble of you," she gazed deeply at him, assessing his argument, "Very well, I will speak with the Order. Is that all Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded. "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, goodnight Mr. Potter."

Harry walked away, heading towards the Gryffindor common room.
---

Harry woke up for his first day of classes. He traveled with his friends, sat through his classes, Slughorn remained Potions master while Defense Against the Dark Arts was now taught by Rae Carter, an Irish witch in her mid-twenties. He laughed with his classmates, walking to and from classes talking the whole way. They did their homework, went to class, ate meals, and made fun of their professors.

Life seemed to go on, as though nothing had happened.

Harry laid in bed after his first week. It's strange, nothing has changed…and yet everything has. It's like Hogwarts is…unaffected. The people change, but Hogwarts lasts.

Harry rolled over, Great, I have to be up at 7 to start research horcruxes with Ron and Hermione.

Little did Harry know what they would find.

Alright, so I missed the update last week and this chapter is ridiculously short. And, as one who feels the need to make excuses, here are the reasons. School has been a bit crazy, along with the fact that this chapter (while actual setting is the reason it has to be in here) feels like filler, and I despise filler.

So, I apologize and I hope no one was too heartbroken (ha, yeah right).

Next time will be sweet, as actual action will be happening. Until then.