It felt like it had been a long time since Draco walked through the doors of Hogwarts. He never thought he'd come back to the place after the Dark Lord had fallen. He was surprised when he had received his letter. It had had a sub note attached to it saying that he and the rest of his year could return to Hogwarts to complete their seventh year, as most either didn't attend or didn't complete it fully. He'd also received a Head Boy badge, much to his shock.

He was glad he had listened to his mother and decided to attend. His father didn't have much say in the matter, for he was in Azkaban, not that Draco minded. The boyish idolism he'd given his father in previous years had died along with the darkest wizard of his time.

He had almost faced time in Azkaban too, but because he committed no real crime that could be proven, he was let off the hook. Suddenly, he felt someone run into him, almost knocking him down. He hadn't noticed that he'd been standing in everyone's way.

"Sorry," the girl mumbled quickly. She bent down to retrieve her bag, but Draco snatched it first and handed it to her distractedly. It was then that she looked up.

"Malfoy?" Hermione Granger said, looking thoroughly shocked.

"Granger," he nodded, almost bitterly. He recoiled slightly from her as her face paled. 'Was it that shocking to see him at Hogwarts?' he thought. 'Well, I suppose no one thought I'd wouldn't be sent into incarceration.'

Granger blinked a few times before she looked around, causing Draco to notice the absence of people. "Everyone's in the hall," Granger said quietly, stepping away from him.

"Obviously," Draco snapped. He brushed past the girl and went straight to the Great Hall doors and went inside, he didn't bother keeping the door open for Granger. His thoughts on blood status had changed along with the love of his father, but Granger was different. She was part of the Golden Trio. She was practically family to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Two of the people in the world he disliked maybe as much as his father.

The moment he shut the door in Granger's face everyone looked at him and whispered in shushed tones.

…His father's in Askaban…

…I bet he used dark magic on the Ministry so he wouldn't have to face the Dementors…

…He's such a coward, just like his father…

All the whispers jabbed Malfoy in the back of the head. But he'd grown used to the odd stares and whispers. He had decided at the beginning to not let it bother him, but in the depths of his heart he knew it did hurt him. He had turned away from the Dark Lord the night Dumbledore fell. He shuttered involuntarily at that last thought and then sat down at the Slytherin table next to Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson.

"Draco," Blaise nodded.

"Blaise," Draco replied.

Pansy was strangely quiet for a few minutes before she spoke. "It's nice to see you, Drake." That was so like Pansy. She immediately tested his limits before any real conversation could start.

"You know I hate that name…" Draco hissed. It was a nickname she'd been trying to place on him ever since third year. He detested it. Mostly because that's what his insane Great Aunt Malfilda called him. "Drake, Drake, you silly old snake. You've got no arms, lets throw you in the lake!" she used to sing when ever she came for Christmas, or Yule as she called it.

"I know," giggled Pansy, "but I can't help it!"

Draco bit back a snide remark and held his tongue. No good would come of starting off on the wrong foot with one of the only friends he had left.

Soon the first years came into the great hall. Many of them, he knew, were orphans, judging by their second hand robs and tattered books. He felt a twinge of an unusual emotion in his chest, but he blocked it out like he did the rest. He needed to preserve at least some of the Malfoy family pride he had left.

"Abert, Alabaster!" Professor McGonagall called out. A small boy pushed through the crowd of first years quickly. He sat down on the stool and the sorting hat was placed on his head.

"Ravenclaw!" the Hat called out after a moment. The Ravenclaw table clapped and cheered.

"Aidenson, Isabella!" McGonagall called. A timid girl was pushed forward by a few other first years. She sat on the stool. The hat was placed on her head and after another short pause…

"Hufflepuff!" the hat cried.

The next student was a Ravenclaw, followed by a Griffendor, followed by another Griffendor, and finally a Slytherin came by the name of Cole Wilkins. After he sat down another Griffendor was called, then three Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff who almost tripped and fell in her hurry to sit down, and then, finally, another Slytherin. Draco, and the rest of his table couldn't help but notice how few kids were being sorted into their house. It didn't shock him as much as it did some of the other house members. But it stung a little.

When the sorting was done, and the last child was sorted into Griffendor, there were a total of only seven new Slytherins. Out of almost 50 first years there were only seven sorted into Slytherin. The rest of the houses got at least 12. However, Draco didn't have a lot of time to ponder over this because Professor McGonagall had sat down and feast began. Draco filled his plate with steak and kidney pie and potatoes and started eating along with everyone else. He looked up at the table all the Professors sat at. Professor Slughorn sat to Professor McGonagall's right, who was now the Headmistress. On Slughorn's left was the Professor who taught Arithmancy, although Draco couldn't remember his name. Next to him was a teacher he didn't recognize.

"Blaise, who is that new teacher? The one who's sitting two seats down from Slughorn?" Draco asked nonchalantly.

"That's the new Transfiguration Professor. Professor Flute," Blaise replied, eyeing the new teacher. Draco looked at her for another moment. She was a pretty woman, with long, French braided hair, and cream colored skin.

"She looks too young to be a professor," Pansy added. She must be taking the job just out of University.

"Perhaps," Draco shrugged. He looked further along the row of teachers and then something struck him so completely that he almost fell out of his seat. "What is Granger doing sitting at the Professor's table?!"

"She's been taken on as an assistant teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Pansy spat angrily. "Honestly, weren't you listening to Professor McGonagall at all after the sorting?"

"No, I wasn't. But then, who's the teacher?" Draco asked.

Pansy's eyebrows knitted together as she thought. "I can't remember. He has a funny name, like Balmy or something."

"It's Professor Bellamy," Blaise said before taking a bite out of some treacle tart that had just appeared. Draco had become so distracted that he hadn't finished his steak and kidney pie. He loaded a piece of pumpkin pie onto his plate and ate a mouthful. Then he remembered something he'd been wanting to ask.

"So who's head girl?" He asked. Blaise and Pansy looked at him like he'd grown another head.

"You really weren't listening, were you?" Pansy murmured.

Then Blaise spoke up. "Granger is Head Girl. She just decided to take on an assistant teaching position as well. Only Head Girls and Boys can do that. And she chose to. You got the papers for assisting didn't you?"

"Of course, but I didn't think anything of it. I also thought it was one or the other and you had to chose," he hissed.

"Where have you been Draco?" Pansy said, shaking her head. "You don't seem yourself at all. You're oblivious to everything…" She trailed off. He looked down at his half eaten dessert, suddenly not hungry.

"It's okay Pans," Blaise sighed. Then he said in an undertone so that he could barely hear it, "He's had a rough few years. He needs some time to recuperate."

Draco watched as plate of uneaten food disappeared and everyone got up to go to bed. He stood up slowly and turned only when someone tapped on his shoulder. "Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said. "I shall escort you to your dorm now with Miss Granger." He shot a look at Granger as Professor McGonagall led the way out of the Great Hall. He followed quietly through the students who gave him narrow eyed looks and glances. He walked silently and smoothly, though not quite as fluid as his father had. Professor took them down many corridors and up many stair cases before reaching wall between two suits of armor, and stopping.

"Here is your dorm, your password is 'Quattuor Iunctum'," she looked at the wall as it dissolved into wooden door at the mention of the password.

She opened the door and walked through the threshold, they followed her up a staircase and into an elaborate common room. The room wasn't as big as a House common room, but it was the right size for two people who needed their own space. The room was brightly lit and colored neutrally in whites, grays, and browns. There were two butter soft leather armchairs and a matching couch. Also, there was a rather large fire place, where a fire was crackling merrily, that didn't seem to fit amidst everything else. There were two desks, and next to them, two doors that both had labels that read Head Boy and Head Girl. Draco was quite impressed with the room, actually.

"Along with the Head's responsibilities lie certain privileges as well," Professor McGonagall said, knocking both the students out of their marveling. "You also have access to the schools private floo network. It'll make it easier for you to attend meetings and the like. The floo has access to all the house common rooms, the kitchens, and to all the Professor's offices including mine. It also has access to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, however, that particular floo is only open on weekends, including Friday night. As you are both of age now, I'm sure you know enough not to abuse this privilege. A few times I've had to withdraw that particular access."

"I'm sure we can handle it, Professor," Granger smiled sweetly.

"Well then," Professor McGonagall sighed. "Classes start tomorrow, get some rest, and here are your schedules." She passed Draco and Granger two pieces of parchment. She then walked over to the Floo and disappeared in a burst of green flame.

Granger walked over to an armchair and sunk into it, still looking at her schedule. Draco looked at his too.

Malfoy, Draco: 7

Breakfast 07:20-+-07:451. Advanced Transfiguration 07:45-+-09:15Break 09:15-+-09:252. Advanced Potions 09:25-+-10:55Break 10:55-+-11:053. Advanced D.A.D.A 11:05-+-12:35Lunch 12:35-+-13:304. Free 13:30-+-15:00Break 15:00-+-15:105. Arithmancy: Year Seven 15:10-+-16:40Break 16:40-+-16:506. Advanced Charms 16:50-+-18:20

Dinner 18:20-+-19:15

He was pleased with his course load. It was going to be challenging and ambitious, most seventh years didn't bother taking Advanced anything, but the regular course load was too easy for him. He'd been switching to more difficult levels since he was in second year and still he was behind Granger. He was always second best. This year might be different because not only did she have her classes to concentrate on, she was a teacher's assistant. Meaning she'd have more distraction. She might just slip up this year.

Draco glanced over to the girl in question. She looked up at him warily, but not unkindly. "How do you like your course load?" She asked. Was she trying to be nice?

"It's fine," Draco said in clipped tones. He'd never had any great qualms against the girl. He usually used her to get at Weasley and Potter, and the fact that she was muggleborn made her an excellent target. However, given recent events, he'd changed his outlook on blood status. He looked at the girl with no hatred in his eyes. He was indifferent toward her. He hadn't had anything to do with her in almost a year.

"Well, I think I'll go to bed…" she said trailing off awkwardly. She got up and walked over to the door that said Head Girl and opened it. He caught a glimpse of another stair case leading up to her bedroom. Curious, he went to his dorm room and discovered a staircase as well. He climbed it and came out to a room decorated in green and silver hangings. The ceiling was a great glass dome that he could look through and see the sky, unlike the great hall that was just charmed to look like the sky.

The glass reached half way down the walls and there were curtains that he could draw around the room for privacy. There was also two doors in his new room. One lead out to a balcony that had a chair and a table placed on it. He walked out onto it and was amazed at the view of the grounds. He could see the great lake, and the quidditch pitch and the vastness of the forbidden forest. He also could see a lot of the castle that he never paid any attention too. He looked over at another domed tower and realized that that's where Granger's dorm room would be. She also had a balcony and privacy curtains, which were drawn at the moment. He went back inside his room and ventured to the other door. It was a staircase leading down. 'This place is full of stair cases, now isn't it?' Draco thought to himself. He descended down the staircase and found him self in a room that looked like a small version of the prefects bathroom. Everything was polished white and black marble. There was a five foot wide bath tub with many nozzles and spouts for water and bubbles and a single shower to the side of that. There was a small clothing hamper, and shelves filled with lotions and shampoos and towels and wash clothes. The ceiling was high and also made of marble and there were a few windows but all had privacy blinds.

McGonagall was right, there really were privileges to being Head Boy. Draco yawned and went back into his room and drew the curtains. He had never expected the Head's dorms to be so elaborate. He threw his school robes off and climbed into bed. It was warm and comfortable and soon he was fast asleep.