A Second Chance

"Draco, wait up."

Draco Malfoy's smirk was replaced by a huge smile when he saw Harry Potter and Hermione Granger walking towards him hand in hand. If anyone had told him a year ago that those two would become his closest friends he would've laughed in their faces. But then again a lot had happened over their sixth year. After Draco had helped Hermione and Ron Weasley rescue Harry from the clutches of Voldemort there had been an inexplicable bond between them. At least between him, Harry and Hermione, couldn't be that sure about Weasley. The death of his father, Lucius Malfoy, had further confirmed Draco's suspicion that he was meant to fight against not for the dark side.

He waved towards them and stopped so that they could catch up with him. Hermione hugged him while Harry thumped him on the back.

"How has summer been going," Harry asked.

"Not bad," Draco replied, "In fact I'd even go far enough to call it good. Mum's finally started smiling. Heck anyone would if you finally have the imperius curse taken off you."

Hermione winced at the mention of the unforgivable curse. "I still can't believe that your father kept his own wife under that curse."

Draco shrugged. "Believe me my father was capable of much more than that. Come on Hermione we have to help the first years board the train." Draco was head boy and Hermione had managed to snag the position of head girl.

"Tell Ron we'll catch up with him on the train," Hermione said giving Harry a quick peck on the lips.

"Or not, whatever," Draco said smiling. He shook his head wondering what Harry and Hermione saw in that Weasley.

*******

"Hey wake up we're almost there," Josh Randall smiled down at Sarah White and shook her gently. She opened one eye groggily and sat up.

"Unfortunately," Sarah remarked.

"It'll be okay. I'm still here for you just remember that."

"No it won't be okay Josh," she exclaimed angrily, "This was supposed to be our final year at Beauxbatons. It was supposed to be perfect. Now we have to go to a completely new school and form a new identity for ourselves. Everyone will recognize us as graduates from Hogwarts not Beauxbatons." Sarah promptly burst into tears.

Josh put his arm around her and let her cry into his shoulder.

"Is that really what's wrong," he asked her caressing her head in a brotherly gesture.

"No," she whispered through her tears.

"It's Adam isn't it?"

"Why did he have to die?" Sarah asked raising her innocent blue eyes to his, "Why did Voldemort have to attack the school? Why did he kill Adam?"

"I don't know," Josh replied kissing her forehead. He shook his head and sighed, "I don't know."

*******

"Good evening," Dumbledore addressed the school. "I have an important announcement to make. As you all know Voldemort recently attacked Beauxbatons and destroyed the school. To ensure that all remaining students from Beauxbatons can carry on their wizarding studies in safety they are to be transferred to Hogwarts. They will be arriving in about five minutes time and I wish all to give them a warm welcome."

Hermione looked towards the Slytherin table and caught Draco's eye. His expression told her all she wanted to know. He didn't know about this either. She was surprised that being Head boy and Head girl Dumbledore hadn't told them about this earlier.

"Do you think they'll be any cute chicks," Ron was asking Harry.

"If there are I'm not interested," Harry smiled looking at Hermione. She blushed and looked away. Harry and Hermione had been a couple since fifth year but she still felt special when he looked at her the way he was just now.

"Look there they are," Ginny Weasley nudged Hermione. She looked at the entrance hall where about two hundred students of different ages stood. "The only survivors of the attack," she thought as she stood up and began clapping along with the rest of the students.

*******

Sarah clutched Josh's hand and looked around the great hall. There were four long tables which she guessed were the four houses - Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The hall was extremely pretty even though it lacked the grandeur of the eating hall back in Beauxbatons. She had to admit she kind of preferred this one. It just seemed cosier somehow.

She looked towards the front of the Hall where a stern looking witch placed a worn looking hat on a stool.

"My name is Professor McGonagall," she introduced herself. "You will each be sorted into the four different houses. There will be a slight change in the sorting ceremony this year seeing that we have students of different years. We will start with the first years and make our way to the seventh years. As I call your name please make your way to the stool and place the sorting hand on your head."

Sarah hardly listened to the song sung by the hat and tightened her grip on Josh's hand. She was extremely nervous and her stomach was churning having not eaten all day. Though she wasn't sure whether the sick feeling was due to lack of food alone. Her thoughts drifted off to a bright summer day. She was kissing someone... Adam. The sky suddenly turned dark and hundreds of death eaters surrounded the school appearing seemingly out of nowhere. In between them was Voldemort. He was laughing...oh that wicked laugh! People were screaming and students were running about...

"Randall, Josh." She snapped back to reality. Josh let go of her hand and stepped forward. She blinked back tears as he made his way to the podium. Please don't leave me as well Josh.

*******

"Ravenclaw," the hat shouted.

Draco looked up as the guy who was holding her hand a minute ago (what was his name Jack?) made his was to the Ravenclaw table.

He turned his attention back to her. She was so beautiful. It looked as if God had taken at least a month to make her. She had flawless skin and her silky black hair fell around her face making her look like an angel dropped from heaven. Her black eyes were so innocent and yet so deep. A man could lose himself completely in them. What's her name Draco wondered as he continued to stare at her.

"White, Sarah." Sarah so that was her name. She walked across the hall towards the stool. Draco noticed that lots of guys were turning around to stare at her. She was captivating like a Veela but there was something else about her. Her eyes and her hair made her seem like someone you could relate to. Someone who's personality was obviously as captivating as her looks.

"Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin," Draco muttered as she placed the cap on top of her head. Please let her be in Slytherin. But the hat barely touched her head before it shouted out 'Gryffindor'.

With one hopeless look towards Jack(?) at the Ravenclaw table Sarah made her way towards the Gryffindors.

*******

Ron practically yelled out in delight when the cap shouted out 'Gryffindor'. Thank God for the empty seat beside him. He waved at her and indicated the seat besides him. Sarah smiled gratefully at him and sat down next to him. That smile was the most gorgeous one he'd ever seen. Ron was aware of his heart beating a thousand times faster.

"Hi! I'm Harry potter," Harry introduced himself; "These are my friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."

"Hey," she said smiling at them, "Sarah White." Ron felt himself melting at that smile again.

"Dean Thomas," Dean said leaning across the table. Ron could understand the awed look in his eyes after all they mirrored his own. As he reached out to shake her hand he spilled lemon juice all over the table.

Ron laughed. "You'll get used to us," he told her. Sarah smiled at him as the tinkling sound of her laughter seemed to stand out among all the others. I can handle that smile Ron told himself. Yeah right.

*******

Draco looked over at her for the hundredth time that night. Sarah seemed nervous at first but now she was talking to everyone as if she had known them for years. It was good that she had befriended Hermione and Harry because that gave him a chance to get to know her. But why the hell did she have to sit next to Weasley? If that wasn't enough he was giving her love sick puppy looks and she had smiled at him too many times for comfort. From the moment he had seen her Draco had known she was the one and he wasn't about to let a Weasley take that away from him.

*******

Sarah tuned out as the discussion turned towards Quidditch. Funnily enough she had never much liked the wizarding sport. Even though she flew well she had never had any wish to play Quidditch. She just thought it was boring to have only one major sport. She was extremely sportive and loved to play Muggle sports. The one think she didn't like about school was the fact that she fell out of touch with the leagues. Sarah was Muggle born and in junior school played for the football, hockey, cricket, basketball and tennis teams. She loved sport but playing on a broomstick just wasn't appealing. Sarah smiled as she remembered the time Josh had insisted that she be a beater for the Quidditch team and she had promptly him with a buldger.

"Sarah." She jerked to attention as Ginny called out her name.

"Um...do you know the name of that guy over there?" Sarah looked towards where Ginny was pointing and smiled (AN: I know she smiles a lot but please put up with me) as she saw that Ginny was referring to Josh who had thrown back his head and was laughing heartily.

"Yeah, he's called Josh. Why?" she asked innocently a twinkle in her eye.

"No reason," Ginny blushed and looked down.

All of a sudden the headmaster stood up. "I have one last announcement before you proceed to your common rooms," he said, "This year besides the Yule ball we will also be hosting a welcoming ball in honour of the Beaux Batons students. It is to take place this Saturday. Unlike the Yule ball it will be open to all years. I would like to remind the school that the forbidden forest is closed to all years (was it Sarah's imagination or did Dumbledore's eyes flick towards them?). I wish you all a good night."

As Dumbledore sat down a buzz broke out throughout the great hall.

"Will you be my date to the welcoming ball?" Harry asked Hermione. She nodded, smiled, blushed and then looked down.

Sarah sighed. She didn't want to go to any ball. She didn't want a date. There would never be anyone who meant as much to her as Adam.

"Come on we'd better go to the common room," a voice sounded in her ear. She turned around and saw Ron standing by her said. She nodded and followed the other students out of the hall still chatting away about the upcoming ball.

*******

Draco tried to make his way through the crowd. He had to talk to Sarah, he just had to. Harry and Hermione would be more than happy to make the introduction.

"Excuse me," he said as he weaved his way towards them. Ron said something to Sarah. She nodded and followed him out of the hall.

"Damn it," he said as they disappeared from view followed by Harry and Hermione.

*******

Sarah followed Ron up the stairs. She looked around her in delight. At Beauxbatons everything was extremely modern. Hogwarts on the other hand had an old world charm. As is a thousand mysteries were hidden waiting to be explores behind its walls. She ran a hand down the intricately carved banister preferring it to the stainless steel one at her old school.

As the staircase they were standing on suddenly started moving she grabbed hold of Ron's cloak to steady herself. 'What the hell?' she thought.

"It's okay," Hermione told her from behind, "they do that sometimes."

"Oh," Sarah said feeling dumb. She had read about the moving staircases at Hogwarts. She was just taken by surprise when it actually happened.

She let go of Ron's cloak who had gone completely red.

"Sorry about that," she said.

"No...no problem," he stammered.

*******

"I'm never going to wash this cloak," Ron thought as they made their way towards the common room. Sarah's touch had sent his pulse racing. Please let the next staircase be a moving one as well. But it wasn't and all the staircases stayed in position as well. Before Ron knew it they had reached the portrait of the fat lady.

"What's the password," he asked Hermione.

"Godric," she said and the portrait flung aside. Ron climbed into in followed by Sarah.

"It's lovely," she sighed. Ron had never thought of the common room as lovely before but he had to admit the house elves had done a wonderful job that night.

The sofas had new cushions. There was a cheerful fire burning in the fireplace and flowers of all colours had been placed around the room. Everyone had gone all out in the preparation of the students from Beauxbatons.

He heard a sharp intake of breath and turned around to see Hermione and Harry gazing around in delight.

"Boy's dormitories to the right and the girls to the left," Hermione said. She then turned to Sarah and offered to take her to her room. Sarah nodded and followed her up the left staircase. Before disappearing from view she turned around and smiled at him and Harry.

Oh that smile!

*******

Draco made his way to the Slytherin common room his thoughts still on that beautiful face. He shook his head trying to rid himself of her thought and tried to concentrate on what Pansy was saying.

"...It's on such a short notice. I always order my dress robes a month before the ball. They're all specially designed for me. I can't wear something off the rack..."

Draco sighed and let his thoughts drift away. 'Stop it!' he told himself, 'You haven't even talked to this girl yet and you can't stop thinking about her. For all you know she could have the worst personality on his planet. She could be as boring as Weasley. But then again she could also be completely charming. God help me.'

Draco let his face drop into his hands.

"Draco, are you all right?" Pansy asked him.

"Huh? Yeah...I'm fine," he replied.

She nodded and started talking about her dress robes again.

As hard as Draco tried to listen to her babble he couldn't. His thoughts kept wandering back to a specific person with a gorgeous smile.

*******

Sarah followed Hermione to her dorm room.

"Thanks Hermione," she said as Hermione turned to leave.

"It was no problem showing you your room. In fact it's one of my responsibilities as head girl."

"No I didn't mean that." Sarah told her shaking her head, "I meant thanks for everything as in making me feel welcome and stuff."

Hermione walked over to her and sat down on the bed.

"I'm not making you feel welcome because I have to," she said smiling at smiling at Sarah, "it's because I genuinely like you. So, are we friends?"

"Absolutely," Sarah said hugging her. Hermione hugged her back and got up to leave.

"See you tomorrow," she said walking out of the room.

Sarah smiled as she watched her go. She sat down on bed and thought about that day's events. Hogwarts wasn't so bad. She had met some great people and she actually found herself looking forward to the next day.

Maybe after Adam's death things were finally looking up.

*******

"You like her don't you?" Harry asked Ron. Ron jerked his head away from the staircase which he had been staring at for the past five minutes.

"Yeah course. So do you and Hermione," he replied.

"You know that's not what I mean," Harry said. Ron sighed and sank into the red sofa nearest to him.

"What do you mean?" he asked Harry innocently.

"Don't do this," Harry warned him.

"Do what? I'm not doing anything," Ron chuckled at the impatient look on Harry's face.

"Okay," Harry said, "let's try a different approach. How would you like to be bashed up if you don't answer me properly."

"Better," Ron nodded approvingly.

"I think I do," he admitted grudgingly.

"She's really pretty and nice," Harry remarked, "Go for it. Why don't you ask her to the upcoming ball?"

"I don't know," Ron shrugged, "I mean...I'd really like to go with her but what if she says no?"

"You won't know until you ask her," Harry said.

"It isn't that easy," Ron grumbled.

"It is that easy," Harry argued.

"Yeah right! I happen to remember someone in fourth year asking Cho 'wouldyougototheballwithme'," Ron said laughing at the memory.

Harry grimaced. "Well at least, I didn't have my best friend asking Parvati if anyone could go to the ball with me," he retorted.

"Hey Padma obviously liked me. That's why she went to the fifth year ball with me as well."

"Yeah and left you as soon as you two stepped into the hall. For Flint from Slytherin."

Ron put a hand on his heart and feigned sadness. "Okay now you've hurt me," he said pretending to wipe away tears from his eyes.

Harry laughed and punched him on the shoulder.

"So how about asking her," he said.

"Asking who?"

"Ron!"

"I'm not sure. I'll think about it."

"Definitely?"

"No."

"Ron!"

"That's my name don't wear it out."

"Ron!"

"Obviously you're not going to rest till you wear it out."

"Ron!"

"Ok...maybe."

"Ron!"

"This is getting old."

"Ron!"

"Fine! I'll definitely think about it. Happy?"

"Happy."

"Up for a game of wizarding chest?"

"Absolutely. I'll beat you this time."

"Ha! You wish,"

*******