The Hogwarts express left from platform 9 3/4 at 11am sharp, just like any other year. Except this wasn't just like any other year. Voldermort was gone, and Harry was just going to be a normal student, aside from the fact that he was the saviour of the wizarding world of course. It was going to be different, and Harry knew it, he was different. The final battle had nearly crushed him. He'd died, for Merlins sake, and so had so many of his friends, people he'd called his family. The only difference was he'd come back and they hadn't and Harry felt so guilty for that. None of them had deserved to die, how was it fair that he'd survived? The summer that followed had been long and lonely for Harry. Physically, he was never by himself. The Weaslys had welcomed him back with open arms along with the rest of the wizarding word. There had been balls and speeches and galas held in his honour. However, Harry had never felt more isolated. The Weaslys felt their grief for Fred in a way that Harry could not, they were family by blood, after all and Harry would always be an outsider in that sense. Ron and Hermione had been there for him, of course, and he knew how worried they were about him, but they had each other now and they were so in love. He was happy for them, but it still hurt when his best friends left him out. Him and Ginny hadn't gotten back together. He still loved her, but not in the same way, she was more a sister than a girlfriend to him. He didn't feel the same passion when the war was over, being with her did nothing to lift the dead weight that seemed to have settled on his chest. Remus was gone, Dumbledore, Snape, Sirius, his parents; it seemed as if one by one, everyone he knew and loved was moving on, leaving him behind, because however hard he tried, Harry couldn't put the war behind him. He still had nightmares, every night each feeling just as real as the final battle did, until he woke, shouting and sweating. His contrast tiredness left him with dark bags under his eyes, his skin pale. He didn't eat much, even with Mrs Weaslys persuasion and so he was thin, thinner than he normally was. In all he looked and felt terrible.

'Come in Harry', Hermione said cheerfully as they settled into an empty carriage, 'it's a new year, a fresh start'.

She was right, and he smiled back at her, but he still felt empty inside. Nothing made him really feel anymore, there was none of his old passion left. Sometimes he was sad, sometimes he was happy, but it was always a dulled.

The train ride was long, so they set about occupying themselves, Ron and Harry with a furious game if wizards chess, which Harry inevitably lost, Hermione flicking through her charms textbook. Ginny and Luna joined them shortly after they departed, chatting and giggling happily together. It was comfortable and companionable, and Harry relaxed, content, but he knew it wouldn't last. He knew someone would say something, or do something and he'd remember, and fall back down the rabbit hole again, into his depression. It didn't take long.

An hour into the journey, the compartment door slid open, revealing a tall blonde boy, flocked by a smaller, dark haired girl and boy. Draco Malfoy.

'Potter', Malfoy said coldly in greeting.

Harry felt his blood boil. Malfoy and his mother he sided with them in the final battle. Malfoy had saved them at the manor by not betraying who they were to his father, and then Narcissa had saved Harry again in the forbidden forest. When Harry had been brought back to the castle, in Hagrids arms, seemingly dead, Malfoy had refused to come and join Voldermort and his family, and had fought the rest of the battle out with the light. He'd ultimately escaped any sort of punishment for his part in the war and was returning to Hogwarts with Harry and fronds for their 8th year. That didn't mean, however, that him and Harry were going to be friends.

'What do you want Malfoy?', he spat angrily, his cheeks bizarrely flushing at the sight of the tall boy looming over him.

'You look like shit Potter, what have you done to yourself?', Harry scowled at Malfoy's bluntness, although let's face it, he was right.

'Malfoy...', Harry snarled warningly'

Malfoy rolled his eyes dramatically at Harry's attempt to be threatening. 'Pansy, Blaine and I just thought it was appropriate to start the year off as...civil as possible'.

Harry didn't miss the way Malfoy avoiding saying friendly, and he was glad. Someone who made him feel this much...hate? anger?...whatever it was, with only a few words, certainly wasn't someone he wanted to be friends with. Malfoy would never be his friend.

'Wonderful idea Malfoy', Hermione said beaming, 'there isn't a whole lot of eighth years, so it's best we all try to get along'.

Malfoy nodded at her curtly, and then the three Slytherins were gone, the door shutting behind them.

'What was that all about?' Malfoy's not being a git- , Ron asked, then, noticing Harry's scowl, corrected, 'I mean, as much of a hit as normal.'

'Didn't you listen Ronald?', Hermione chided, 'we need to turn a new page this year. It's our last year at Hogwarts and the war is over'.

'Doesn't mean we have to be friends', Harry said sulkily.

'No, but we do need to be nice', Hermione said, rather as if she was addressing a toddler.

'I still don't trust him'.

Ron nodded in agreement with Harry, scowling along with the brown haired bit at his impatient girlfriend.

'Harry, he fought with us, only a few months ago! I'll bet he's had a hard time of it since, last thing he needs is you breathing down his neck!'

'Hermione! I just meant I think we should watch-'

'Merlin Harry, we don't need another year of you obsessing over Malfoy. He sided with us, so however much you dislike him, remember that he's not one of the bad guys. We got rid of the bad guys'. She shot back.

'I did not obsess over Malfoy!' Harry said defensively.

'Oh please', Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

'Of course you didn't', Ginny said patronisingly, patting his arm.

Harry scowled at her, then looked to Ron for help.

'Sorry mate, but, well, you know...'

Harry let out an indignant sigh as Hermione grinned smugly. He wasn't going to win this one.

'Well I don't care. I'm not his friend'.

His friends chuckled silently, and then everyone drifted back into their casual conversations. Harry on the other hand, was in a foul mood now, all because of Malfoy and his stupid face. And his stupid friends. And his stupid- bloody hell, Harry thought to himself, stop thinking about Malfoy. But he couldn't and so the bad mood continued.

Pansy and Blaise weren't keen on the idea of Draco Draco approaching Harry and his friends, but there was no stopping him. Draco got what he wanted. The only thing he wasn't going to get was Harry. That damn boy, the only thing he could think about all summer. Pansy had spent her summer trying to convince Draco that being in love with Harry Potter of all people was the worst idea in the whole world, even worse than getting the dark mark, but it wasn't like Draco could help it. It wasn't like he wanted to obsess over the small, skinny, beautiful boy who was supposed to be his biggest rival. Blaise was just fed up of hearing about the daft Gryffindor that Draco couldn't seem to shut up about.

And Draco knew that it was ridiculous, that Harry hated him, but why not have some fun with it, he was going to suffer either way. He hadn't seen Harry since the final battle, dirty and bloody, his face stained with tears, absolutely exhausted and weak. The newspapers had headlined him daily and a letter at his court hearing from the boy had been the only indication of his existence to Draco. When he'd seen Harry, he'd been shocked. Skinner and paler then he'd ever seen him, Harry looked ill and sad. His eyes didn't sparkle in the way they used to, he didn't smile so much... Merlin, since when has Draco become such a Hufflepuff! Even so, it was very hard not to worry about Harry, and even harder not take Harry into his arms and make him sleep and eat, until he was better. Until he looked like Harry again. At least they would be civil to each other this year. At least Draco didn't have to act like he hated him completely.

Another couple of hours past like the first few in Harry's compartment. They chatted and ate and slept. They all changed into their robes it was growing dark outside as the train pulled into the station. Harry couldn't quite decide how he felt. This place held so many bad memories for him, but also so many good ones. He felt frozen in his seat, couldn't get up. He felt a hand grasp his, an arm slide around his shoulders.

'I know', Hermione whispered. 'We can make new ones'

He smiled at her gratefully, her eyes were sparkling with tears.

'Come on mate', ruffling his hair affectionately, and Harry felt a rush of love for his best friends. How could he feel so alone when they were so good to him? He knew that whatever happened, they'd always be there for him. They were there for each other. Together, the trio made there way off the train, onto the platform, Hogwarts castle looming impressively on the horizon under the stars.

'Bring on eight year', Harry said, putting on a brave face. He could do this.