The second semester begins

During that holiday, Harry experienced a pleasant life she had never known in her previous life.

Or rather, not quite never. To be precise, it was a pleasant life she had never known during her childhood in her previous life.

There were no countless chores waiting for him the moment he opened his eyes each morning, as though he were a House-elf, and no endless daily cursing. She could sleep under warm blankets and eat food that could be called tasty.

If there were any drawbacks, they were the endless variety of princess dresses waiting for her when she got home, and having to watch out from time to time for Voldemort, who might attack Muggles at any moment.

By the time Harry returned to school, whatever else might be said, her knowledge of women's dresses had reached a new level. At the very least, she could now describe them with more than just the word "dress" and accurately tell which styles were appropriate for different occasions.

As soon as Harry received her back-to-school letter, she packed her things and headed for Hogwarts. This time, she didn't see Dobby appear out of thin air at home, and her journey to school was much safer and smoother.

Harry was the first to arrive at the dormitory. She was still unpacking when she heard a suitcase rolling through the door.

"Harry!" London's rain still clung to Hermione's brown curls as she threw her arms around Harry. "I missed you so much!"

The impact knocked Harry half a step back, and she caught the faint scent of mint shampoo in Hermione's hair. She broke into a grin. "I missed you too."

"How was your holiday? I bet you had a good time."

Harry shrugged without answering. In some ways, her holiday had indeed been good, but it had also been a little peculiar.

Once they had unpacked, Harry and Hermione went to the common room, where Ron was playing Wizard's Chess with Neville. When Ron saw Harry, a chess piece slipped from his fingers, and he waved at her in pleasant surprise. "You're here!"

Once the three had met up, they naturally headed to the Great Hall together.

"My sister Ginny is starting school this year," Ron said happily on the way. "I'll introduce you later."

Harry's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She remembered Ginny's trembling fingers as she tied a bandage around her with the tip of her wand amid the ruins after the war in her previous life. Back then, she had secretly decided that once everything was over, she would... The bracelet suddenly tightened, and Voldemort's sneer sounded in her mind. She shook her wrist hard.

The Basilisk problem had already been dealt with this semester. Ginny wouldn't be in danger anymore!

That excitement lasted until the next day, when she saw the Malfoys, father and son, in the corridor leading to Dumbledore's office.

Harry had been counting the diamond-shaped patches of light the windowpanes cast on the floor when she suddenly heard a snake-headed cane tapping against the marble.

She looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy, with Draco beside him.

"Potter." A flicker of surprise first crossed Draco's pale face. Then his gray-blue eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his mouth rose of their own accord in a smile that was almost one of delight.

But the next second, as though he had suddenly remembered something, Draco shot a quick glance at his father. His smile vanished at once, replaced by a reserved, indifferent expression.

He lifted his chin slightly and said in a deliberately distant tone that couldn't quite conceal his anticipation, "Long time no see, Potter."

Harry froze for a moment. The bracelet tightened slightly around her wrist, and Voldemort's whisper slithered into her mind like a venomous snake. "Look how happy Young Malfoy is to see the Chosen One."

Over the holiday, perhaps the most pleasant surprise concerning Voldemort was that they could communicate through their minds, which conveniently prevented anyone from discovering that Voldemort was alive.

Her fingers instinctively tensed, but she soon relaxed them again.

In this time and place, she and Draco had not been at each other's throats as they had in her previous life.

They hadn't tripped each other up on the Quidditch Pitch or exchanged sarcastic jabs in the corridors, much less hurled irreparable insults like "Mudblood" at Hermione.

So Harry simply nodded calmly and replied, "Long time no see, Malfoy."

The tips of Draco's ears turned slightly red, and he seemed about to say something else, but Lucius Malfoy suddenly tapped his snake-headed cane lightly against the floor with a crisp click.

Draco immediately looked as though a Tongue-Tying Curse had been cast on him. Everything he hadn't said caught in his throat, his shoulders tensed involuntarily, and his fingers unconsciously gripped his cuff.

Only then did Harry turn her gaze to Lucius.

The man's silver-gray eyes were like a frozen lake, and his lips were pressed tight, making him look cold and inscrutable.

Harry had braced herself for mockery or threats. To her surprise, however, Lucius's lips twitched, then slowly stretched into a smile.

The smile was unnatural, even a little stiff, like an expression he hadn't used in a long time. But Harry keenly noticed that it held none of the contempt or malice she was familiar with.

"Miss Potter," Lucius said in a low, measured voice, each word sounding as though it had been carefully considered before he uttered it, "thank you for... looking after Draco at school."

Harry could hardly believe her ears. She blinked and looked uncertainly at Draco, only to find him staring in astonishment too, clearly not having expected his father to say such a thing.

Ignoring their reactions, Lucius continued, "During the next holiday, if you are willing, you are welcome at Malfoy Manor." His tone was calm, even a little polite. "We will see that you are well looked after."

Harry's first response was to shake her head. "No, thank you."

Lucius didn't seem surprised. He merely inclined his head slightly. "You needn't answer so quickly. After all... the semester has only just begun." With that, he turned to leave.

Just then, Harry noticed Dobby standing behind Lucius.

The House-elf's large ears drooped, and his small, thin body, wrapped in a tea towel, trembled slightly. His tennis-ball-sized eyes gazed at her pitifully, filled with silent pleading.

Harry's breath caught.

There was the sight of Dobby lying on the ground in her previous life, his last, faint "Harry... Potter...," and those eyes, full of reverence, that had remained open even in death.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched the fabric of her robes.

"...I'll think about it," she said suddenly.

Lucius's steps faltered slightly, but he didn't turn around. He merely gave a quiet "Mm," then strode away.

Draco's eyes, however, lit up like a candle being kindled, a flash of barely concealed joy passing through their gray-blue depths. He opened his mouth, apparently wanting to say something, but in the end he merely pressed his lips together, turned, and followed his father.