CHAPTER 1

'Altair, Taurus, Ursa Major, Hermes . . .' Draco thought silently as he stared up at the night's sky, finding constellations. Every student was out on the school grounds. All four houses gathered around the newly made monument, in honor of the fallen, who had lost their lives fighting for Hogwarts. It was a statue that displayed all the four house creatures. A Lion, A snake, a badger, and a Eagle. Each one posed proud in their natural stance, yet back to each other symbolizing unity and trust. A silent, wand light, vigil was being held at the very moment.

Draco held is wand light up, following the motion of other fellow Slytherins. In his mind however, he wasn't ready to mourn for his loses. He had lost so much. Status, respect, his father, his mother's spirit, his pride, his thick but loyal friend Crabbe and so much more. Why had the young man decided to return to Hogwarts and redo his final year of school and graduate later? Because what else was he suppose to do? He wasn't going to be praised like Potter for saving the wizarding world. He and his mother had been lucky that they weren't thrown into Azkaban. His father's trial had been swift and sure. Everything he had ever done was for his family or for his survival.

Being on the losing side of the war was not going to benefit him attending Hogwarts either, but at least Potter or Weasley weren't around. They were at the Ministry of Magic training to become Aurors. That was good enough reason to stay at Hogwarts another year instead of trying to face his father's contacts and acquaintances at the Ministry or elsewhere.

The school was repaired to his former glorious architecture. The start of the new term was tomorrow. He wasn't the only student 'repeating' or returning a year. Many other students had parents who had withheld them from attending during the tumult of the war. Those that were here, well Headmaster Snape had been a favorite of Slytherin house but not others. Even the Slytherins had an intense year. Potter had made sure to clear Headmaster Snape's name of all ire. Did anyone clear Draco's name? NO. OF COURSE NOT.

Professor, sorry Headmaster McGonagall, stood at the base of the monument statue in sight of everyone. She lowered her wand and all students followed suit. Without a word the Prefects used their hands to silently usher the mass back into the school. Even among fellow Slytherins, Draco was not entirely welcomed. He had been the first student to publicly join Voldemort when it was believed that Potter was dead. He wasn't going to abandon his parents for the sake of 'what was right'. He did what he thought was the best chance of surviving. Hard stares and hushed whispers of insults followed him anywhere he went. "The Traitor" was the most common one.

He retired to his dorm in the lower dungeon with Goyle and an other fellow 7th year Slytherins. Removing his heavy cloak and school uniform he quietly changed into silver and green flannel pajama pants and climbed into bed.

Goyle rolled over onto his side to face Malfoy and whispered, "Did you hear? The Mudblood came back." Malfoy knew he was referring to. Hermione Granger. His mind instantly flashed to the memory at his family home. As he watched his psychotic aunt torture Granger. The girl's screams still echoed his mind in nightmares.

"Don't call . . . Whatever. Just bugger off. I'm trying to sleep." he retorted briskly. Since that time he had decided he would not use the term mudblood ever again. It didn't matter what others called her. He had watched in terror as the term was carved into her arm. Her screams, tears, the way she persevered through the torturing cuts and curciatus curse Bellatrix inflicted. Only to find a moment of solace upon passing out over the excruciating pain. If she had been anyone other than a witch born of muggle parents, he would have found her resilience admirable. As Hermione lay their unconscious on the floor he blankly stared in terror as watched as a single drop of blood rolled down her arm. Blood. That was her blood. It was just as crimson and vibrant as his own. Yet, his was 'pure' and hers was 'not'. It sure as hell hadn't looked any different in that moment. Not that he would ever admit that.

Loaded down by a load of parchments and books, Hermione Granger makes her along the corridors with her fellow returning classmates. She thought about that event which ended everything. Voldemort's defeat, the reestablish of the ministry, returning to Hogwarts to officially complete her education. Then she remembered seeing something, or rather someone she'd never expect to see again with the confides of the institution, Draco Malfoy. It was bad enough seeing Lavender Brown again thought thankfully hadn't died, but Hermione knew Lavender had been bitten by that oaf Greyback. That poor girl…

But Draco Malfoy…Her opinion of him had been confused as of late. The bastard had been nothing but awful to her and her friends, but two possibly three events had changed her mind. Harry told her how he wasn't able to kill Professor Dumbledore, even when his life depended on it. When he "wasn't" able to identify Harry after she'd hit him with stinging hex. Then their second year, she still wasn't sure where that page with the information on the basilisk had come from. Logic was thrown out the window if she thought Draco was the informant, but it wouldn't have been out of character considering the former two items. He'd have to prove himself in the semester to come for her to make a true assessment of his character.