Harry's choice to return to Hogwarts hadn't been immediate, and though he chose to return in the end, it had still been a bit muddled with some doubts. The ministry had come to him only days after the dust from the war had settled and informed him that, if he so chose, he could begin auror training without having to go back to complete his schooling. His immediate response had been enthusiastic though not exactly excited. In giving them an answer though, he hesitated, asking for more time but ultimately leaving them confident that he would accept the offer. 

Confidence in the idea of hopping right into auror training began to seep away over the next few days, and the whirlwind that the summer had been saw that it was completely drained in the following weeks. Harry had been at the beck and call of many over the summer. There were trials for those that he'd been summoned to testify against, even a few that he'd testified for such as Draco Malfoy and his mother. Besides that, there were a great many events where Harry had to make appearance such as reconstruction sites, funerals, and oh, so many press conferences. By the end of the first month, he'd had to ask himself if he really wanted to go straight back into the action, or if he really wanted to live a life in which all he knew was chasing dark wizards.

By mid-Summer Harry informed the aurors, the ministry, and Headmistress McGonagall that he would be returning to Hogwarts for to finalize his education. The aurors had been disappointed, but McGonagall had complimented him in her typical tone that didn't sound like a compliment at all yet still filled him with pride that he'd made a wise decision. Hermoine had been ecstatic. Ginny had been too, much to his discomfort. Between all of his obligations, he'd found minimal time to visit the Weasley's during the summer, and even still most of that remaining time had been spent with Ron and Molly rather than Ginny. In the rare moments that Harry had been around her, he had been unfortunately unable to hide his discomfort and maintained an awkward sort of cordiality, while she had been calm though somewhat earnest. It reminded him of when they first met, which of course only made him feel awful.

Although Hogwarts was not exactly the same one from first year that Harry had been daydreaming about since those days when he, Ron, and Hermoine were hiding out in the forest and searching for Horcruxes, the Hogwarts that he returned to still provided enough familiarity that it was a relief to him. Ron wasn't there, and the rules from the ministry were difficult initially difficult to swallow only because they contradicted with what he associated Hogwarts with in his head. Ginny's presence was almost determinedly unforceful but persistently there enough to poke at his conscience. However, the routine of classes was exactly what he needed to relax his mind, and Luna and Hermoine's 
newspaper provided an enjoyable use of his free time.

Harry followed Hermoine's gaze to where Draco sat, though he was unsure what about the other boy had prompted her statement. He chose not to ask, thinking that Hermoine always had a million thoughts running through her head and asking her to connect them would just make all of them come out at once. Instead, he nodded slowly in agreement as they descended the staircase, "I think so too. We've been making good progress... I'm glad that we get the chance to talk about Snape like a hero rather than an enemy or a traitor. I never got the chance to sort out my feelings and thank him for everything." He shrugged, and added, "Hopefully everyone will take it as that kind of opportunity too. McGonagall told me that some of the Slytherins have been making a stir in class."

Luna walked into the library, stopping short when she found the room was vacant of the other members of the team for the newsletter aside from Draco. As of yet, Luna remained unsure of how to feel about Draco's relatively constant presence in her life lately. Although he was adamant in joining the newspaper staff only because he had to an for no other reason, she honestly believed that he would use the opportunity to sort himself out and perhaps start working on an image of himself that was separate from the Malfoy legacy. Still, Luna just never quite knew what to say to him or how to receive him, other than to be mildly grateful and enthusiastic about the light and entertaining contribution to the paper that his column would be.

Luna's mind was still reeling with how fast after the start of term they were managing to get the paper off of the ground. It was only a vague idea in her head when school started, something she hoped could happen but wasn't necessarily a sure thing with all of the other activity going on in the school. No sooner had she mentioned it to Hermoine, however, that it real and honest planning started happening. Luna found that she and Hermoine had been growing closer as friends as a result of it. 

Actually, the friendship that Hermoine provided was something as a relief. In past years, Luna had come to see Ginny as perhaps her best friend, but she could always sense that Ginny, despite her general acceptance and supportiveness of Luna, was somewhat uncomfortable in her unsureness of what to do with Luna's "looniness." Alternitavely, in the time they had been spending together, Hermoine seemed not to see it as much of an issue if at all. Whether that was because Hermoine saw her as more of an equal thanks their working on the paper together or due to her contributions during the war, Luna wasn't sure, but she appreciated it all the same.

Luna felt, therefore, that she should give someone else the same consideration, even if many would think that Draco was one of those who would rather be ignored or left alone rather than accepted. After only a moment's hesitation, Luna casually walked over to where he sat and set her belongings on the table in front of her before taking a seat on an adjacent couch. "Evening, Malfoy. Have all of the other's gone off to dinner, then?" she greeted him cheerfully. "Well, I've got good news. I've just gotten a letter from my father. If we send the articles for the paper as we want them, he can print it off for us in the magical presses he uses for the Quibbler."