Hermione Granger stared worried at her friend as he looked out the window lost in what ever thoughts that were flowing through his head. Harry Potter had not been himself after lately. The light in his eyes had started to fade.

"Harry, you need to eat" Hermione said in a soft voice.

Harry turned his head to her and started blankly before turning back to the window. Hermione sighed and went over to her best friend, grabbing a hold of his hand. His hand felt cold and did not respond to the touch, but he didn't leave her grasp.

"Do you need anything?" she asked. Harry shook his head not looking at her. He had taken off his glasses and the blue shine of the window were clear in his eyes. She pulled her hand away and kissed his head. As she left his room she held back a sob.

Ron was standing right outside the door with a worried look in his eyes. Hermione shook her head. Ron cursed as he held her and kissed her forehead.

"What do we do?" he whispered to her. She didn't respond. For the first time, Hermione Granger had run out of idea's.

A couple days later Hermione visited Harry again and this time he was on the bed sitting cross legged and staring at the sheets.

"Harry, are you packed yet?" Hermione asked yet. He looked at her, and just before he went back to his almost comatose state, there was a slight glimmer of hope in his eyes. Hermione hadn't missed it.

Next to Harry's bed was a packed trunk, and on top was his professor robes. Hermione came and sat next to Harry and grabbed his hand again.

"Harry, are you sure you want to teach at Hogwarts. It's only been 2 years and... your just not well. Are you sure?" Hermione asked.

Harry looked up at her and then past her, to Ron. Harry swallowed. He looked at her again and nodded. Hermione smiled and hugged him, Ron came in and joined in. For the first time in 10 months, Harry returned the affection. Hermione sobbed and held tighter.

The three best friends relished the moment.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry got ready for the portkey to take them to hogmeade. Harry held onto Hermione's hand. Ron smiled at his girlfriend as he felt the small box in his pocket. He was going to talk to Harry today. He was going to tell her how he planned to propose to Hermione tomorrow night. Maybe that would bring a smile to his best friends face.

The held hands as the nausea of the portkey hit them. Landing on their feet on Hogmeade ground, Harry fell to his knees. Hermione by his side holding his shoulder's as Ron asked again and again if he was okay. He only got up and continued to walk to the secret passageway to get to Hogwarts. Hermione sighed and continued to follow him.

Within minuted they arrived in Gryffindor common room. He continued to walk to Mcgonagall's office. Hermione and Ron quietly followed.

"Password?" the gargoyle asked.

"Et animo" Hermione said. The door opened and all three friends went inside.

As the sat and looked at the office, Mcgonagall had not made any changes and kept it the same. "Mr. Potter. Welcome back" she said as he entered the room.

He looked at her and back down. She sighed.

"Well I hope you are all acquainted with the school, there are new wings. Feel free to explore them. I trust you know where your quarters are. I presumed Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley would want to room together so that had been already done" she smiled. Hermione thanked her. Mcgonagall looked at Harry and sighed.

"Mr. Potter when the students found out you would be teaching the DADA class, the requests to be in that class shot up. To leave students satisfied we had to change the curriculum. There will be two sessions of the class, the practice and written. You will be teaching the practice part, and we have hired a second professor for the other task. I expect you to be professional and put your feelings aside and work with your co-professor to give the students the education they deserve" she said sternly.

Harry blinked at her. Hermione asked for him.

"Who's the other professor, Professor?"

"Mr. Draco Malfoy" she replied. On was he first one to get out of his seat. "Are you mad? Letting that git into this school again? And letting him teach? He's a filthy death eater!" he raged.

"Mr. Weasley you will control yourself! Mr. Malfoy was dropped on all charges after Harry himself testified on behalf of him. He has come with high recommendations from Brebuxon School for defense against the dark arts. He has finished a 6 year course in two. He is more than well qualified for the position. I assure you this decision was well thought out."

Hermione grabbed Ron's and and he stopped his next sentence. He fumed silently and sat back down. Mcgonagall looked back at Harry.

"You and Mr. Malfoy will have joint quarter's. Classes start in a week" she stood up and so did the three, they all took their leave.

Draco Malfoy stared at the picture in his hands. It was the only pictures of his entire, where they were all smiling. Right before the Dark Lord came to life when he was a baby. After then, there only fake family portraits. He ran his thumb over the photo.

He felt rescued, set free. This was his second chance. He was going to teach all those children that you are incharge of your own destiny, because that's how life works. Don't let someone else take over that. He heard the door click and looked up to see Hermione and Ron walking in with Harry Potter behind them. But Harry was different.

Draco wanted to look at his hero's face. He wanted to see those eyes. He couldn't. Harry was only looking at the ground as he walked.

Ron spotted him and growled.

"Why are you here Malfoy?" he asked.

Draco looked at Ron and and sighed.

"Weasley, I'm glad to see you're okay" he said sincerely.

"Don't play games ferret. You want to turn more children into murderers? Are you not satisfied by the deaths you caused? WHAT WILL IT TAKE YOU TO REALIZE NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE?" Ron screeched.

Draco flinched and looked at a red Ron. His eyes watered. He had changed. People should be able to see that.

"Oh so now the little death eaters going to cry, huh?" Ron scoffed.

Draco held back is tears. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Weasl...Ron. I want to apologize to you. And especially to you Grang...Hermione. I know what I did was not right. I'm sorry for hurting you. For torturing you. And your brother Ron, I'm sor-"

"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY BROTHER WITH THAT FILTHY MOUTH OF YOURS YOU SCUM" Ron screamed.

"I'm sorry okay! Please! I don't know what else to do! I'm begging for forgiveness"

"Don't even try. You use everyone you filth. Just like your father."

"I AM NOTHING LIKE MY FATHER!" Draco screamed.

Everything was silent. As the seconds passed, Draco finally spoke.

"If there is anyway I can make-up for what I have done please inform me. I will do all in my hands to repay you, to ask for forgiveness." Draco whispered.

Ron stared at him. Taking a breath he turned around to walk out. But he stopped halfway out.

"Take care of my best friend. You're forgiven" he said. Hermione started at him as walked out. She smiled at him. At one time she thought he would hit Malfoy. But he forgave him. Like a hero, a man. Her man. She giggled and turned to Malfoy. She gave him a light smile. He smiled back. She left to follow Ron.

The door closed. Draco sighed and turned to Harry. Through this argument, Harry had sat himself on the sofa. He was staring blankly at Malfoy.

"Please don't look at me like that Potter. I already apologized to Weasley and Granger, do I have to repeat myself to you?" he asked. Harry continued to stare at him. Draco sighed and came to sit by him.

"I guess I deserve that. Can I call you Harry?" he asked looking at Harry. Harry looked at Draco and blinked.

"Okay...Potter than. Are you okay?" Draco squinted and looked into the hero's eyes. He gasped, as he grabbed Harry's face and felt it cool to the touch.

"Harry...can you hear me? Blink if you're still there" Draco said, his voice panicked. Harry blinked. Draco gasped and got up.

"Listen to me Harry. Stay here. Do not move. Okay? Don't even walk around. Stay in the seat" Draco said. He turned around and ran to the door. When he looked out, he could barely see a light outline of Herimone and Ron walking away, holding hands.

"Hermione! Ron! Wait! WAIT!" he screamed. Both turned their heads to see a frantic Draco running toward them.

"Go get Mcgonagall. Harry's in trouble" Draco said.

"Already? It's been like 2 minutes? What the hell Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"No. It's been going on for a while. How long has Harry been like that?" Draco asked.

"10 months at the most. Why?"

"Because he's not depressed like you and Mcgonagall thought. He's under a rare dark curse. His soul is slowly being taken away from his body."