A/N: After the ridiculously long wait, here's the second chapter of Last Hope. :)


Last Hope

Chapter Two: Operation Befriend Her: Phase One

Draco opened his eyes.

"Draco, quickly!" said an all too familiar voice. He turned and saw his mother, Narcissa Malfoy.

"C-coming, mother." Said Draco, slightly forcing back tears. She's dead, she died right on front of me, but she's alive and jumping! Well, not as if my mother would jump. Thought Draco. He grinned and followed his mother into the Apothecary.

"…and how much for the essence of belladonna cost again?" said a familiar voice. Draco heard her mother snort and mutter something like 'Mudblood'. He looked at where the voice came from. Sure enough, it was Hermione Granger.

"Six Knuts a millimeter, dear." Said the salesman

"Oh no, I'm short of two Sickles. Then I still have to go and buy a wand!" said Hermione.

Okay, Drake, here's an opening for Step One. Sidestep your mother and hand Granger a Galleon or ten. It doesn't matter anyway, does it? Ten Galleons? Thought Draco. Well of course. I'm having the body of an eleven year old but having the mind of a seventeen year old. Damn it, I'll surely miss using magic freely.

Draco made up his mind quickly. He walked towards Hermione and pulled his moneybag.

"How much is her balance, Mr. Flamel?" said Draco in a polite voice.

"Ah, young Malfoy, she owes me fifteen Sickles."

"Here's a Galleon. Keep the change."

"No, you don't have to." Said Hermione, blushing scarlet.

"It's alright. Hogwarts?" said Draco.

"No, don't bother, really it doesn't matter." Replied Hermione, blushing even more. "Yeah, Hogwarts."

"Just accept it. Missing essence of belladonna is like committing mortal sin at Hogwarts, just so you know." Said Draco, leaning on the counter.

"Erm, well, if you insist, but allow me to pay you back, okay?" said Hermione.

"Don't even bother." Said Draco, then extending his hand, "I'm Draco Malfoy. And you are?"

Hermione eyed his hand, and then shook it. "Hermione Granger."

Draco flashed her a smile. Hermione went even redder. He then heard the familiar tap-tap of his mother's heels, and let go Hermione's hand.

"Well, see you at Hogwarts." Said Draco with a slight wave.

"I suppose so." Replied Hermione, and with that. Draco walked away. He saw his mother frown at him, but didn't say a word, and instead led him towards Madam Malkins.

"Draco, your father is off meeting Travers, then he'll get your books and I'll look at the wands. Tell Malkins to prepare your clothes and I'll be back in an hour. Don't go out unless you see me, understood?" said Narcissa.

"Perfectly, Mother." Replied Draco, and went in the shop.

"Ah, young Malfoy! You need Hogwarts robes, I presume?" said Madam Malkins.

"Yes, and bring me the best! Understood?" Draco said imperiously. The witch nodded and sought to look for the best robes, returning a few minute later.

"Stand here, if you may."

Draco followed, looking bored, his Malfoy mask in place. He held his head up, the aura of regality around him. The assistant witch fitted the robes on him, pinning here and there, until he heard the door tinkle and he heard a part of the conversation.

"…another young man being fitted up just now, in fact." Said madam Malkin.

Harry Potter finally entered the shop. Harry was led on a pedestal next to Draco and he decided that it was best not to say anything. Soon he was free and went out of the shop to spot his mother beckoning at him to follow her inside Ollivander's, which he did enthusiastically.

His mother had a sour look on her face, and there was no mistaking why. Hermione Granger was inside the shop, receiving her own wand. The girl smiled at Ollivander and noticed Draco in the room just as she was about to pay for her wand.

"Hi!" she said, smiling. "See you at Hogwarts."

Hermione Granger was out of the door before he knew what was happening. His mother made an impatient noise and shoved him good-naturedly towards Ollivander.

"Ah, Draco Malfoy, how nice to meet you." He noticed Narcissa and acknowledged her. "Accompanying your son, I see… How I remember when you first had your own wand… 9 and ¾ inches long, quite graceful in the hands, made of maple, containing a strand of hair from a newborn unicorn… very amiable with waterwork. Yes, how I remember…"

Draco shifted away from Ollivander, the man still creeps him out. The wand maker wlked towards him tgough.

"Well, let's see, which is your right arm?" said Ollivander.

"Right." Draco replied quickly.

"Very well." Sighed the man, and Draco raised his wand arm, and the measuring tape performed its task.

"Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Malfoy. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand." Said a disembodied voice while Draco was being measured.

"Enough." Said Ollivander, and the measuring tape crumpled in a heap. The man was holding a wand, and he gave it to Draco. "Birch, phoenix tail, 11 inches, very rigid. Come on, give it a wave."

Draco handled the wand, waved it confidently, and a lamp blew out.

"Uh, no, not that one." said Ollivander quickly, and Draco surrendered the wand. The old man gave him another wand, and another, and another, until…

"Not a good combination for many, but why not?" said Ollivander, handling a very old looking box. "Hawthorn, 10" unicorn hair."

Draco held the wand, and immediately felt it awaken in his hand. It was as if some power that was dormant in himself awakened that wand.

"Be careful with your wand, Mr. Malfoy, hawthorn wands tend to be… a bit feisty. Coupled with unicorn hair, feisty innocence. Not a bad couple, but certainly dangerous. Expect rather drastic changes in your life, sir, just remember never to forget that our hearts keep us alive." Said Ollivander. "That would be ten galleons, gracious lady."

Draco scowled at Ollivander's words, and when his mother led him outside, he thought it over.

Rather drastic changes in your life…

Oh, I know about that. My life changed drastically when that snake of a man dwelled in our manor. Draco thought rather surly.

Just remember never to forget that our hearts keep us alive…

Now that is what he didn't get.

"Draco!" hissed her mother. "It's not becoming of a Pureblood to stare!"

"Sorry, Mother." He replied and caught sight of his father.

"Narcissa, Draco, there you are. I was rather under the impression that you went home without me.." Lucius said, a playful lilt in his tone.

Draco looked up his father and saw that his eyes were made of molten silver again, not of grey ice that he was used to seeing for about four years of his life—Lucius' eyes turned fully cold only when the Dark Lord was resurrected, even the lowly blood traitors and Mudbloods didn't make his eyes that cold.

"Have you got our son's books?" Narcissa asked.

"Right here. Off we go then?" Narcissa nodded. "Hold on tight!"


A/N: Ah, the chance to rewrite the series... Hey, I don't get money writing this stuff. Just reminding ya. :)

Please review! Tell me you're there. :P