It was September 1st, 1998. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger stood on platform 9 ¾ next to the Hogwarts Express that would take them to the castle to finish their education, the now called "8th year". A few of the older students from every house would be coming back, but many chose the honorary degree offered to students affected by the war, or went abroad as exchange students. Those coming back seemed to do it not much for their education, but because Hogwarts gave them a routine and a sense of normality. Hermione felt more comfortable in an academic environment and Harry did not want to face life alone yet. Ron Weasley had been deeply affected by the loss of his brother and since the early summer had gone to Romania to stay with Charlie and give dragon training a shot. He might still come back to school, but not right now.
After boarding the train and settling in a compartment sitting side by side they rode in silence, each of them lost in thought, only to be interrupted by a polite knock on the door compartment.
They looked up to see Draco Malfoy asking softly
"may we have a word with you?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and nodded silently. Malfoy entered the compartment followed by Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott.
They took sits and Malfoy spoke first
"we came to make a formal peace offering. The three of us are now heads of our respective households, no longer under the influence of our parents, and therefore we want to make clear that we openly reject the teachings and dangerous stereotypes that were forced on us growing up."
Nott nodded and added,
"we offer now an olive branch, and whenever you feel comfortable with it, we would like to offer our friendship too, if you would have us."
Harry and Hermione only blinked, appreciating the sentiment but taken aback by the formality.
Zabini rolled his eyes and said
"allow the Italian stud to translate: we all grew the fuck up during the war. We do not think you guys are dorks anymore. Actually, quite the opposite. Granger, you are looking damn fine, and Potter, well, yum!".
Hermione was the first to burst into nervous giggles followed by everyone else's hearty laughs.
"Well thank you Zabini, you know how to make a girl feel beautiful. And a boy too, I guess" she said elbowing Harry, who was blushing tomato red but smiling before adding
"yeah, thank you guys, we do appreciate the sentiment, we are exhausted from all the fighting and the horrors we all went through".
The Slytherins nodded and stood to leave the compartment.
Before closing the door Malfoy turned one last time to say
"you do look beautiful Granger" and then he winked at her before closing the door.
Hermione gaped, eyes like saucers.
"What just happened?" she asked dumbfounded.
Harry laughed "I think Malfoy got tired of dating stiff pureblood girls and decided to go down the muggleborn rabbit hole".
Hermione swatted his arm, blushing.
When they arrived at the castle and headed for the Great Hall they realized that a fifth table was set in front of the staff table at the very front of the room. The head boy and head girl were pointing the 8th years to that table. Besides Harry, Hermione and the three Slytherins there was Neville Longbottom, the Patil sisters, Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones. After the general announcements, Headmistress McGonagall approached the 8th year table and informed them that they would have their own accommodations with a common room of their own and more privileges than the younger students. Curfew wouldn't be enforced for them but she warned them that no one was planning on going to get their dismembered bodies from the forbidden forest if they decided that they wanted a stroll in the moonlight. Also, they would share rooms in pairs, a big improvement from their younger years.
When they got to their new accommodations they all had big grins in their faces. The area was ample and comfortable, there was a separate study room that could be silenced so the common room was just for relaxing and having fun, there were plenty of chaises and couches, all with plush throws and pillows. The rooms had two four posters each and their things were already there. A house elf brought a handful of sticks and told the boys and the girls to pick one since there would be one single room for boys and one for girls, although two beds would still be the norm in case new students joined later that year. Hermione and Neville were the lucky ones. The Patil sisters had one room, Susan and Hanna the other; as for the boys, Malfoy and Nott had one room and Harry was paired with Zabini.
Everyone retired to their rooms and Harry was about to discover how chatty his new roommate was.
"So. Potter. The Chosen One. Savior of the Wizarding World. Master of the Universe. Who is going to be the lucky girl?"
Harry looked dumbfounded
"what?".
Zabini rolled his eyes
"who are you dating, or who do you have your eye on? Is it the Weasley girl?".
Harry blushed and shook his head no.
Zabini cocked his head like a confused dog
"is it Granger?"
Harry jumped
"what? No! No girls or I don't know…" he trailed off.
Zabini looked for a minute and opened his eyes wide
"Oooh. Exploring, are we?"
Harry blushed crimson. Zabini gave him a knowing smile
"hey, I'm bisexual. And Italian, which means I have felt the confusion and jumped face first to figure it out. Is not that hard once you realize that you simply like the person. Boy, girl, whatever, as long as they are good for you".
Harry looked at him with puppy eyes
"really? I feel so lost".
Zabini sat on his bed and grabbed him on a one arm man hug
"Potter, you have found yourself a mentor. We will find you the love of your life. Or the flavor of the month, whatever suits your fancy".
Harry laughed wholeheartedly
"Thanks Zabini. I guess coming back to Hogwarts was the right choice. Enlighten me, oh Wise One" he said putting his hands together in a plea.
Zabini stood from the bed, gave him a theatrical bow and said:
"it will be my pleasure, oh Chosen One". And with that, he jumped on his own bed and called the lights off.
Harry fell asleep with a smile on his face.