It has been forever (near on) since I have last wrote any semblance of a short story, so once the idea popped into my head for this one I decided to write down my thoughts. I have typed with a serious force of concentration to ensure that every ounce of my storytelling capabilities has gone into my writing, I pray it is good enough. Enjoy.
"This will be a difficult year, but I have great hopes for its success at producing another group of fine wizards and witches. And with that, you are all dismissed. Good evening, and good luck with your studies. " Professor McGonagall, now Head Mistress of Hogwarts, waved everyone off to bed.
The new first years, both eager and nervous, followed behind the Prefects like little owls turning their heads to and fro. The older students went off and about heading to their dormitories, or off with friends from other houses hoping to get more time to discuss how their summers had gone. And sitting at a new undefined house table, sat all the returning, new formed eighth year students. All four of them.
Harry , Ron, and Hermione huddled together to avoid the stares. Not that they ever truly could. Draco sat somewhat alone while being across from the golden trio. His did his best to avoid eye contact and conversation, but being the only eighth year Slytherin didn't help his case at all in trying to get into the good graces of them. Ron could only sit and glare occasionally at Draco due to the swats on the arm Hermione kept giving him every time he was caught. Harry only every so often glanced at Draco. His emotions toward the blonde were very confusing. It was a mixture of all those years of loathing mixed with new found pity. The pity, he regretted to think it, was over powering the hate. Curse his kind heart. When McGonagall finally sent them off to bed it was as good a time as any to actually speak to Draco.
"So..." Harry swallowed some air trying to think of his next words carefully, "I suppose we're all going to be living together for a while."
There came no response from any of the other three at the table. Ron glared down at his hands. Hermione took in a small breath, bit her lip and stared at Draco for some sort of reaction. And Draco himself seemed to either not heard Harry, or that he had and was just not going to respond.
"McGonagall set it all up for us. I came and saw our dormitories a few days ago. They're not so bad." Harry said hoping to spark some sort of reciprocation out of Draco.
None came for a while. Then, sensing that Harry wouldn't leave him be until he said a word, Draco spoke up, "Don't expect me to lead the way. I just got here today and have no clue how to get to bed." He mumbled.
Hermione smiled a little and tugged Rons arm to get him moving.
"Follow me then." Harry said getting up.
Draco only got up due to his need for sleep, and only that, or so he tried to convince himself it was for only that reason. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his head, one that had only made itself apparent a little over a two years ago. It was a tiresome sort of nag. Even more recently though there was another sort of nag. A persistent one. A persistently annoying one. And sitting among the golden trio only made that new nag near on unbearable.
In a begrudging manner Draco kept pace with Harry, fully aware that Hermione and Ron were trailing behind like guards to the chosen one. Not that Draco would do anything to Harry. It was because of Harry, that Draco was even still alive.
The staircase was buzzing with activity as they climbed, finally on the fourth floor landing Harry veered left. "Nearly there. The password is 'freedom' by the way. Fitting right?" Harry said trying to ease the tension.
Harry made a right turn down a short stop hall and paused in front of a ceiling to floor length tapestry depicting a unicorn battling a dragon. By the look of it the dragon was about to be speared in the eye any second.
"Freedom." Harry said clearly to the tapestry before pulling the drapery aside and revealing an arched door. "Welcome home." He opened the door and stepped in the room beyond.
Hermione followed suite and had a firm grip on Rons arm knowing full well if left alone with Draco the red head would make the blonde feel unwelcomed.
"Freedom... Yeah, right." Draco mumbled and stepped past the drape.
It was a small tunneled hall that opened up to a large, well lit room. Comfy sofas and chaise lounge chairs formed a semi circle opposite a fireplace. The lighting didn't come from any windows, but from what could be described as a golden globed, glowing ceiling. It wasn't an over bearing sort of brightness, but still warm and inviting. It was far from the green glow that Draco had become accustomed to in the dungeons.
"We each get our own room, and bathroom too. Don't try going in Hermione's room uninvited, McGonagall put a load of charms on it." Harry brushed his hand in the general direction of Hermione's room.
"You heard him, keep out." Hermione said, plopping herself down on a sofa trying to make light of their current living predicament. "That means no sneaking into my room for my homework."
"As if I would have to sneak in. You'll just snatch up my assignments and correct me anyway." Ron sat next to Hermione, lifted her legs and put them in his lap to get comfortable. "What time is our first class tomorrow?"
While the group exchanged pleasantries Draco slunk towards the rooms. He was so tired he just walked into the first room he came to and closed the door behind himself.
It was furnished the same way the Slytherin dormitories were except for a few minor details. The bed was a simple boarding, slightly bigger than the single ones the students beds were. No House crest lay on the quilting, which made sense seeing as the returning eighth years were just making up for their final year classes and weren't a part of the Houses. There was desk in a corner of the room by a large stained glass window that oversaw the school green houses. There was also a dresser, that Draco made a swift beeline to in search of his pajamas.
Upon opening the top drawer Draco realized he was in the wrong room. The only article in the drawer was an album of photos. Being curious Draco opened it up and flipped through the pages slowly.
The first few photos he could only guess at as to who was in them. The Potters. Smiling and waving up at Draco, not knowing of the dark misdeeds of his past. In another photo Draco recognized Sirius Black from the old wanted posters. After some of those photos there came ones of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Some photos of more Weasley's were mixed in, and other photos held Longbottom, and that Looney girl from Ravenclaw.
"Find anything?" Harry said from the doorway. He had entered the room and closed the door quietly while Draco was distracted.
Draco nearly jumped out of his skin being caught and turned around holding the open photo album. He felt embarrassed and his cheeks started to turn a slight shade of pink. It was to late to try and talk his way out of going through Harry's personal belongings so instead he closed the album softly and held it out for Harry to take.
"I was looking for my pajamas and I didn't know it was your room til I opened the drawer." Draco said his voice going low and sounding defeated.
"It's alright. You kind of disappeared before I could point out your room. It's next door to the left." Harry took the album from Draco and opened it up to the first page. He smiled sadly down at his parents then closed the book again. "I don't mind you looking, you know." Harry offered the photos back to Draco.
Draco didn't know what to say. He didn't take the album though instead opting for trying to make a smooth step around Harry to get to the door.
"There's no hard feelings you know. I understand everything. I can't say I relate in anyway to what you went through at all, but I can empathize with your struggles. It can't have been easy. " Harry turned around watching Draco reach for the door knob.
"I don't deserve to be empathized with." Draco whispered.
"Maybe not. But isn't that for me to decide? " Harry asked. After receiving no answer and watching Draco's back for a minute Harry continued "We've all spoken about this out there before I came in. You won't expect any trouble from us. Even Ron. Though you may get some glares. Ron can hold a grudge, but he'll get over it in due time. 'Mione will ease him up to the idea of you being part of the group soon enough."
"Part of the group?" Draco asked, his hand on the doorknob. He was stuck in an almost frozen state.
"Well yeah. Despite us growing up in different houses and what we all went through with the war, we're a group. You included. You played your part as much as anybody else did. "
"The part of a double crossing ferret." Draco snapped.
"No, the part of a survivalist like we all were. You were as much of a victim as the rest of us. Besides, Voldemort couldn't take credit for you being a ferret to begin with." Harry chuckled. Draco finally turned around and let go of the knob.
That incessant nagging was making it's way up Draco's gut into his throat. It was a terrible feeling that he held onto. It was sheer fear that Draco swallowed back everything he knew was ready to spew forth because the moment he let it all out there was no taking it back. There was no running or hiding. And there was definitely a possible death sentence for Draco the moment he spilled all his guts. The fear of the unknown is what kept Draco steady.
Instead of the spew Draco opted for something else on his mind.
"If I was such a ferret, why did you save me?"
"A lot of reasons. The main one being I wanted to be better than Voldemort. I could ask you the same question though. You had me cornered. Why let me live? " Harry paused, and when Draco didn't answer yet again he continued on "Maybe... Maybe it's because you wanted to be better than him too?"
Damn that Potter, right again.
"Pretty much." Draco mumbled.
"I thought as much. And the fact that you are standing here talking to me only proves that I was right about saving you. Just have to trust our instincts sometimes." Harry took a slow step forward towards Draco and held out his hand for the blonde to shake.
Draco swallowed again. Holding back what he wanted to say was causing him pain. He slowly took a steadying breath, two steps forward, and held out his own hand to Harry.
Harry closed the gap and shook Draco's hand awkwardly. There was something in that moment that seemed more off then usual with Draco. The blonde looked close to being sick.
Harry looked from their clasped handshake to Draco's face and blinked. In that one instant, that blink of an instant, Draco had cracked.
The nagging pain Draco had been feeling build up broke forth In a different wave than he expected. The moment Harry and him joined hands it was like the flood gates of all emotion let lose. There was happiness and confusion, sadness, some self loathing, pride, and a new emotion that he hadn't given a name to.
And with all those emotions going haywire at a single handshake Draco could no longer contain himself. And upon instinct he did the only thing he could think of.
He leaned forward as Harry blinked and kissed the green eyed, scar head on the mouth.
Be sure to leave me a review. This is only the start off. I'm going to make this one a slow, lovely burn. If you liked it, or not, all comments are welcome. Next chapter will be up soon enough. ^_^ Thank you.