Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Malfoy looked at the ministry judges as they were sentencing his father to life in azkaban. He and his mother on the other hand were let off easy since the great Harry Potter had spoke in their defense in the trials. His mother’s wand was destroyed and she was forbidden to use magic, while he was to be strictly monitored and if he made even a single mistake or something even slightly suspicious he would be sent to azkaban.
“And due to Harry Potter’s testimony Draco Malfoy won’t be sent to azkaban, but he will have to attend the 8th year at hogwarts and if he causes any conflicts or indulges in any illegal activities he will be sentenced to 10 years in azkaban and his wand shall be seized. Also 200000 galleons will be taken from the Malfoy manor and distributed to the war victims and in proper rebuilding of hogwarts…..” Draco just turned off the rest of the judgement. He just felt numb. Why did that stupid Potter have to save him from the Fiendfyre? Why did he have to testify for him and his mother? Draco just felt hollow. He felt he would have been better off dead instead of being broke and under the noses of ministry officials.
The mere thought of going back to hogwarts made his stomach scrunch. He knew that he wouldn’t be welcome there, and he couldn’t even blame anyone but himself. He was a death eater after all. He was on the wrong side of the war.
He just wanted to go to bed and just never wake up. Never.
“Can you believe they let him go? Why did you even defend him? That deatheater Malfoy!!” Ron whined. It had been 6 months since the war and now the trio were sitting on the hogwarts express heading towards hogwarts for their 8th year.
Harry didn’t respond and just looked out the window. Harry had changed a lot since the war.
He had lost so many people precious to him, Ron had too. They had all grieved and had finally accepted it….but Harry just couldn’t, he still felt the guilt and the hollow feeling. He absolutely despised how everyone thought of him as the saviour of the wizard world. How everyone wanted to thank him and idolised him. He never liked all that attention of being the chosen one but now it had just gotten worse. Harry’s thoughts were interrupted by Hermoine.
Aww! Stop it Ronald! Voldemorts gone and the war is over. You have to get over you hate! Also change into your robes, we are arriving!”
Harry smiled and obliged.
So Malfoy’s coming back huh?
As he walked out he saw a bunch of shy first years and when they saw him they started fangirling and giggling. Harry awkwardly smiled and said hello, to which they shrieked and ran.
Sign.
He had to get used to this. This was the 8th set of people to do this.
The 8th years were given a different table since they couldn’t be placed in the others. The sorting of the first years were happening after which the feast started. Ron was stuffing his mouth with food while hermoine looked disgusted.
“Seriously Ronald! Have some table manners! No one will like you if you do this!” Hermoine said.
“Yet you do!” Ron sniffed, smiling.
They had started dating after the war and honestly Harry felt like a third wheel between them. Ginny and he had mutually broken up(much to Molly and Ron’s disappointment), they had decided that they were better off friends and Ginny was now dating dean.
“Ugh! We have to sit in the same table as the slytherins? And the death eater Malfoy? He should be locked up!” Zacharias Smith Scoffed.
Suddenly Harry turned around and caught sight of Malfoy. He looked so different. Subdued. None of his prior snarkiness, pride or arrogance was visible. His platinum blond hair wasn’t pasted back as it used to and was falling on his face. His face was pale and he looked weak and exhausted. Everyone at the table was glaring at him. He was sitting rather quietly with pansy parkinson and Blaine zabbini. Harry felt a little pity. But then he realised he was staring too long and Malfoy looked up and they were staring at each other eye to eye for a few seconds. But Malfoy quickly lowered his gaze and looked away.
Wait did he just avoid me?
“Harry! I can’t believe I am actually seeing you! The saviour of the wizard world! You are so handsome!!” Some 5th year praising . Harry just chuckled dryly. “You are exaggerating! I-I was just a part of the war…everyone who fought are the heroes.” he blurted.
They kept saying something but Harry couldn’t focus, for some reason his eyes kept landing on Draco Malfoy.