War Hero [Drarry]

Returning

This was the first time that Harry Potter had boarded the Hogwarts Express alone. Just the feeling of hollowness was enough to make him drop the idea and leave. But where would he go? Not to the Dursleys. Not to Grimmauld Place. Not to the Burrow, or at least whilst they were grieving. Hogwarts was all that was left, and even though his heart broke at the sight of the empty platform, it was his only choice. Hermione had decided to take a break from the Wizarding World for a while, and Harry couldn't blame her. She had been dragged into all this, and her dreams of Hogwarts being the perfect place had quite literally blown up in her face. Ron had left, grieving for his brother. No matter how often Ron had tried to convince Harry that he would be fine, Harry knew him too well. He hadn't questioned the matter even once, as Fred had been as much a brother to him as he had to Ron, but had no intention on intruding on the family's grieving.

He'd seen death and trauma a thousand times worse than any boy of seventeen should have. He has seen family after friend struck down beside him with nothing he could do. There are nights where he goes to sleep murmuring their names, dreams of their faces, and wakes up shouting, trying to save them. Secretly, Harry blamed himself. Because of his birth, and the matter of being a walking target, all the people around him died, even though there should have only been one death - his own. If only he had given himself up earlier, so many lives would be saved. People would not have to look upon him without the memory of a loved one floating around as a spirit.

He pulled himself from his thoughts, knowing they'd do him no good, and boarded the train. Normally, there would be a huge bustling, with no spare carriages, but now it was hopelessly deserted. He took one of them, pulling out a book from a pouch on his trunk, as hoisted the trunk onto the compartment above his head. He'd taken to reading when his thoughts got too much, hoping that someone else's problems would drown his out. Often, it worked, relaxing him and showing him that, hey, life's not all bad.

A rap on the window of the door pulled Harry out of his daydream and drew his attention to a figure at the door. A very familiar blond boy stood there, looking both bored and slightly lost. For once, he was on his own, seeing as many of his goons had either been forced out of the Hogwarts, or had not returned due to the disgrace of their family name. But not this one, no. Draco stood, still tall and proud in his stance, but his obvious nerves displayed on his face.

xxx

Draco Malfoy had originally had no intention of coming back to Hogwarts for a seventh year. His father could have no say, being locked away in a dismal cell in Azkaban, but his mother had changed his mind. She'd told him that unless he went for one more year, the few qualifications he had would not get him a job because of his background. He knew it was true, and even the school did not hold the same happiness it held for others, he understood he had no other choice.

He'd made his own way to the station, going in a muggle taxi against his will, as it was his only choice. As he waited on Platform 9 3/4, he looked around, trying to spot a familiar face, but to no such luck. He felt lost without his two goons behind him, and his posse of Slytherins around him. He was still mourning Crabbe, even though it did not particularly affect him, Crabbe had been by his side, no matter how stupid he was. Goyle had not returned, saying that his family's disgrace would throw his attempt at reconciliation back in his face. Of course, he hadn't used such long words, but Draco was much better at eloquent speaking.

Very few people from his house had returned, very few people from Hogwarts had returned overall. He could see a scattering of people in his year, but had no idea of their names. They probably knew him, though, so why bother trying to make new friends with people who know what you've done?

Draco sighed, almost regretting his decision to return. But it was too late to go back now. He grabbed his trunk and boarded the scarlet coloured train and looked around for a carriage. Everywhere was empty, carriage after carriage containing only two people, or one, or no one. Draco had no intention of sitting alone, so he decided to see if one of his friends had already boarded and so he hadn't seen them. He walked up the aisle, looking through the carriages until he recognized a familiar face.