Chapter 1

A Beginning

At 10:30 on September the 1st, Draco stood on Platform 9 ¾. His trunk, owl and broom settled on the platform next to him. It had been over 3 months since what had become known as the Battle for Hogwarts and school was starting again. He was going back to finish his 7th year, among other things.

His hair was no longer the nearly white it used to be, he had allowed it to grow in a more natural shade of blondish brown. This is the color it would have been had it not be altered by his parents in order to make more of a statement. His face was tanned, not the nearly deathly pale it used to be. His parents didn't approve of sun, it caused freckles and freckles were something Mudblood's had, not Pure-blood's.

Because of these minor differences, it took people some time to recognize him, but when they did, word spread fast. Suddenly, there was a good five feet between him and everybody else on the platform. They moved around him now, like fish avoiding a shark.

He wasn't surprised, he had expected this. But he knew it was going to get worse, especially if he couldn't convince them. He picked up his owl with one hand and the handle of his trunk with the other. The owl was new, he had obtained her over the summer, her name, he thought, was very appropriate. A Great Grey Owl, named Belleza. Oddly enough, she actually liked him.

As he moved toward the train, he couldn't help but be pleased, a small smile working its way onto his face. Very different from past smiles, it was an actual smile, not his typical smirk. He was going back, he had a chance to make his life what it should have been, had he had as many choices as people seemed to think he did. He couldn't blame them, it's not like he ever made any effort to change the status quo, why would he, he was the Prince, everything was as he wished it to be. Or at least, that is what everybody thought anyway.

He could have used his wand to move his trunk, but he thought that the less notice he attracted, the better. Besides, him pulling out a wand could cause a panic and he didn't really feel like suffering any hexes this year. At least not this early and not ones he hadn't earned fair and square.

Since it was still early there were plenty of open cars on the train, he chose one and lifted his trunk into place, settling Belleza on the rack beside it.

He didn't realize how much he missed the noise of the train, the hustle and bustle. The smells of the steam engine, potion ingredients, animals and food brought on unexpected feelings. The chatter of the students, greeting each other after 3 months apart; new students sounding worried as parents calmed them or excited as they began a whole new journey for themselves. It was refreshing in a way, almost life affirming. God knew, the wizarding world needed to feel normal again.

He had set down, his head back, and eyes closed, simply taking in the sounds and scents around him when he heard his compartment door open. He looked over and saw a tall young man there, clutching his frog.

This young man had changed more in the last 7 years than anybody else he knew. No longer pudgy and clumsy, but rather, surprisingly strong, tall and while not 100% confident, 1000% better than he used to be. Neville Longbottom had become a man, a hero of The Battle for Hogwarts. He had fought unceasingly against the atrocities of the Deatheaters who had held the school last year. A small thread of envy creeped into Draco but he ruthlessly crushed it.

"Hey, you saving for anybody?" Neville asked.

Obviously Neville didn't recognize him, not yet anyway. Draco wondered what would happen when he did. Neville had never been one to go for his wand right away, he always waited, watching to see what the other would do, never assuming. Of course, that was before.

"No, I'm not saving it." Draco replied, expecting to be recognized now. However, with none of the usual nasty nasally drawl in his voice, it was almost completely different from how he used to sound; it shouldn't have surprised him that Neville still didn't realize, but it was. After a moment's pause, he gestured to the unoccupied seat across from him.

Neville moved into the compartment, his trunk dragging behind him. Draco stood to help him push the trunk onto the rack opposite from his, but before he could settle back down, Luna Lovegood walked in.

Luna smiled slightly, her eyes impossible to see behind the strange glasses she was wearing. Draco couldn't help but feel his eyebrows rise up in surprise. In the past he would have said something truly nasty and he couldn't pretend, even to himself, that his first thought was not his best, but again he cruelly tamped it down. Instead all he said was: "Would you like some help with your trunk?".

"Oh yes, thank you, it is so hard to concentrate when Wrackspurts are flying around your head you know. And they keep making me forget to move along." Draco gave a little sniff of a laugh and moved Luna's trunk up beside his own, bracketing Belleza.

When he turned back Luna had settled herself next to Neville and they were saying their end of break hello's, which didn't take very long as neither of them were big talkers. Or thinkers, but again, he cut that line of thought short. After the way they had handled themselves over the last few years, he knew looks could be deceiving and he refused to allow himself to be deceived like that again.

Neville suddenly turned to him, a slightly puzzled look on his face. "I'm sorry, but are you a transfer from Beauxbaton, you seem awfully familiar but I can't quite place you. I'm Neville Longbottom." and with this he reached across and offered his hand for Draco to shake.

Draco reached out and took the hand, a small smile playing around his mouth and had just opened his mouth to speak when Luna piped up.

"Of course he's not silly. He's just changed his appearance, probably to help him hide from us." Luna stated, as she pulled out a magazine, turned it over and began to read it upside down.

Draco switched his attention to Luna and found himself staring at her, a shocked expression on his face. She said it so matter-of-factly; it was like she didn't even care who he was. He found himself torn between admiration for her courage and concern for her foolishness. If he had wanted he could have hurt her and yet it didn't seem like she was even worried.

He looked back to Neville, catching his eye, the puzzled look even stronger. "Hi Neville, how was your summer?"

Neville looked confused for a moment, but he was studying Draco closely, and then suddenly his eyes widened and he yanking his hand out of Draco's, sat back in his seat. Pushed up against the back of the seat he was trying to pull his wand out.

"Malfoy!"

Neville practically spat the name at him, still trying to pull out his wand. Draco raised his hands to either side of his head, appearing as unthreatening as he could. He had hoped Neville wouldn't react like this, at least so quickly, but the past can change people.

"I would appreciate if you didn't use your wand just yet. I have no intention of causing any trouble I swear. Also, just to get this out there, I would also appreciate your not calling me Malfoy, I prefer not to use that name anymore. If you feel you can call me something, please, just make it plain Draco."

He kept his tone natural, non-threatening. He didn't want to push Neville into doing something that at least Draco would regret. He decided to get right to the point.

"Listen Neville, I understand your concern, I really do. But I am not the same jackass I used to be. I'd appreciate a chance to prove that before I get hexed into the infirmary before class even starts. I may never gain your or anybody's trust, but I also don't plan on letting myself get beaten down because of the past."

He had kept his hands up and his tone very neutral, not even a hint of a sneer made it past his lips. Actually when he thought about it, he hadn't sneered since he had walked out of the Great Hall over 3 months ago. Interesting.

Luna looked up over her magazine at Draco. "Don't worry Neville, he's changed, completely. Really surprising though, I never thought you would go through with it. It's really nice to meet you."

Once again Luna had his full attention, surprise and confusion on his face this time. He was amused to find, the same look on Neville's face. Luna just put her head back behind the magazine.

This might not be such a horrible year after all. Of course, he still had to deal with Potter and his friends and he doubted that would go nearly as smoothly, but it was a beginning.

Let me know what you think, I'm not really sure how long this chapter is. You might find most of them fairly short or they could turn out to be very long. Still new at this.

9/16: I've made some updates to assist with flow both in the chapter and the story.