The Savior

Author's NoteWell, well, well. It has been a long time, hasn't it? I'd say about two years. I'm mighty sorry. It's just that... well, I guess I needed to grow up. I started taking even harder classes in school, I made a lot of new friends, and got a job. Now here I am, 18 years old, graduating in a month and three days, and ready for a new beginning. I'm going to college for Secondary Education and Social Studies...in other words, to be a High School History Teacher... I must admit I've changed a lot since I've last written, but do not fear. My taste in fanfiction has not changed, nor has my love for this story. However, I've thought about the plot a lot and I decided to change. I'm sorry if that upsets some people, and I'm sorry if you have to go back and read the first story to catch on again. I should have never left this story alone for so long. I have saved the old chapters of this sequel, so if this doesn't work out, I'll repost those five chapters and I'll try to take it from there. I hope that my writing has matured, and I hope that you all love this story as much as you loved The Wicked. Please leave me as many reviews as you can, I love them and they really encourage me. Flames are not welcome so if you don't like the story, just don't read it. However, as much as I sometimes had criticism, it is welcome when it is friendly and constructive. I hope that this story will be as long and popular as the last, and I hope that you all push me to get the chapters out to you. My AP tests are all over, so I should have more time... but I wrote the last story, all thirty chapters, in 22 days... don't expect that with this one. I still have amazing friends that I did not have before, and a boring job that I have to tend to. Also, my entire family, including myself, is going through a lot of medical problems right now, and my Grandmother is, sadly, on her death bed. She's ready to go however, and for any of you Christians, prayers for my family are very much appreciated. I've always hated betas in the past buuuuut if I do need the help and I have a worthy and loyal reader who is up for the job, I might consider it. Also, I've been thinking about editing and maturing the last story, however I really don't have the time for that, so it might be after this one is finished. We'll see how it goes. Until then, here's goes nothing...

Chapter One: Moving Forward

...or a new beginning?...

In the days following Harry's release from the hospital he was, of course, attacked by reporters for his first hand account of the battle. However, Harry managed to ignore them the best he could, in the end winning him a bad reputation with most the press. He didn't care however, and, a way he had grown sort of cold. When he and everyone else were settled back in their own homes they all celebrated Christmas late at the Malfoys, including the Weasleys. However, Harry wasn't as cheerful as he could have been if he were completely and had he had the ability to erase his own memory of the horrors of that past Christmas.

For months Harry did nothing but study. He didn't talk to anyone outside of the group of friends he was most close to, and it was rare that he spent quality time with any of them besides Draco.

In an attempt to cheer Harry up, Draco had finally had Harry's room fully redecorated, and, while it was appreciated, Harry simply couldn't find much joy in it. At times Draco wondered if Harry would ever be the same again, but when Harry cried in his arms on nights when he slept over the blonde's, Draco knew that Harry just needed time to adjust to the way his life was changing. Harry talked to him about his new fears, his worries, and his guilt. He told Draco about the way he was so scared he would never be with Draco again, and the way he didn't want his new emotions to get in the way of their relationship, but that he couldn't help it.

Draco, of course, tell Harry that everything would get better, and he truly believed that.

As promised, Draco gave Harry the best birthday party ever in July. However, it did happen the way Draco had planned it when he and Harry first met. Instead it involved the couple making love for the first time since their first time, ironically. It hadn't seemed important for all of those months after the battle. They had so much more to worry about, and that was just fine by Draco, who wanted what was best for Harry. However, the time was right when it finally came, and it left Harry feeling slightly more alive.

Their next school year left Harry and Draco with slightly fewer friends, by their own choice due to the fact that they neglected a lot of their former social events, for Harry's emotional protection. He often told Draco to go off and have fun without him, but Draco knew that deep down inside Harry didn't mean that. He knew that Harry needed him as much as he could be around. He was one of the few people that Harry would react to normally, and it was still rare that Harry could be normal.

As the months went by Harry managed to gain the strength to join the spring football team, something he missed out on the year before. Something so simple gave him reason to want to live again, to his full ability. However, as much as he wanted it, it was very difficult for Harry.

At the end of the year he graduated third in his class. Draco had been second, due to the fact that he managed to slip behind Hermione under all of the stress. It was fine by him in the end. Hermione did work a lot harder than him, and she deserved it. All three of them were given the chance to speak at their graduation, but Harry turned the offer down. Hermione and Draco had enough to say though to fill up even Harry's slot of time, and the things they said warmed Harry's heart. They mostly spoke about the opportunities in front of all of them, and the way that they should be grateful for the lives they have. They compared their lives to those who have been less fortunate, and Draco compared their peaceful lives to that of Harry's, discreetly.

Harry and Draco had a combined graduation party the weekend after and invited only their small circle of family and friends. It was, though, amazing to feel the summer sun on their skin and get some fresh air for once. Their shoulders seemed less heavy without any summer homework for the first time in years, and Harry was glad to spend time with all of his friends again. Kate had flown in for the first time since Christmas to see them Graduate, and she stayed for two weeks.

Amazingly, she and Steven had remained friends and spent time together whenever Harry and Draco wanted to be alone. She had calmed her personality down a bit after all that happened, but she had still remained herself through it all. That was probably what Steven liked most about her. Draco and Harry were constantly changing but Kate didn't really let things effect her as much, just as Steven was sort of cold. Then again, she did bring a different side of him out.

Earlier in the year Draco and Harry had decided to apply to Universities outside of the country. They had thought about going somewhere exotic, or back to Italy where Draco had gone to boarding school. However, in the end they decided not to take that much of a leap and instead they wanted to return to Harry's roots. By apply to college in the United States they would not only have a better chance of being at the top of their class there by default, but they'd be closer to Kate and independent of their loving but prying family. Yes, they considered their families to be one.

Draco knew that he wanted to go on to study theater and ended up double majoring in Musical Theater and Theater Studies. Harry however has no clue what he wanted to do with his life. He had thought about snapping out of his depression and pursuing a life following in his parents footsteps, but decided that if he ever wanted to be a part of any of that, he wouldn't need a degree or a license to do it, because he had an in with all of the organizations and everyone knew that he was the best around. He considered maybe being a teacher like Remus, but he didn't know just what to teach, and he didn't think he'd make a good teacher. He then considered a career in music performance, but realized that he'd need to learn a classical instrument and that just wasn't as much his thing as it was his mothers. He had attempted to convince himself he was emotionally stable enough to help others, but ended up laughing at himself. He considered becoming a doctor, since he had already been saving lives for as long as he could remember, but he sure didn't want to be in school for all those years. He wanted to be out when Draco was out, ready to start their life together.

Eventually, Harry chose to enroll under "Undecided." and he figured he'd figure it out. After all, he had two years to decide. However, one night just before he sent in his application to the school that he and Draco ended up choosing, it suddenly hit him, his one true passion.

Art.

However, with his life in motion and things looking up, Harry finally had time to remember a lot of things his mind had let him forget about before. The things that Voldemort had said to him in his last minutes haunted Harry. He didn't know weather to believe him or not, and when he had spoke to his father about it, James couldn't tell him much, other than to explain the way that his old friend Wormtail had betrayed him and to assure Harry that Wormtail wasn't much of a threat.

Harry believed his father, but the way that Voldemort had been so serious and mysterious drove Harry mad, he just had to find out what the connection between the two of them was, and if it was still happening to that day.

He needed to find out for his sake, for Draco's, and for the rest of the world.