"Pardon the intrusion, but it's quite urgent, sir." Severus Snape said coldly, swiftly pushing the large door open. He shoved Harry into the purple love seat with more force than was needed. Harry looked around the office he knew so well. It was warm, welcoming, and had somewhat of a light orange glow about it today. Albus Dumbledore's office. The man himself sat behind the oak desk, his eyes still as kind and welcoming as ever. His head rested on his folded hands, a pose only the wise should use, and anyone could agree the elderly wizard was more than wise.
"I'm afraid I'm already informed, Severus. And I must say, what an odd course of events, isn't it? It's not every day you see almost all of Gryffindor walking toward your door." Dumbledore said, not an ounce of anger in his voice, but a hint of sarcasm.
"Professor, is what he's saying true? I'm really in Slytherin house?" Harry managed to stammer, though his mind seemed to shut off out of pure surprise
"I'm afraid so, Harry. Your now a Sl-"
"He is not!" Professor McGonagall managed to squeeze herself into the office, fighting down the raging students outside to be able to shut the door. Yells for explanation and entrance sounded from the other side.
"Minny, I'm afraid it can't be helped. There is nothing I can do. Harry is indeed meant to be apart of Slytherin house." Albus stated calmly, sitting up in the leather chair.
Malfoy reminded everyone of his presence as he sat down loudly in the love seat next to Harry. Harry scooted more to the right, avoiding the blondes knee from pressing against his thigh. Harry looked at Draco, distracted by him tossing his long bangs to the left, giving a clear shot to his crystal blue eye.
"Well then, it's settled. Harry is now appointed to Slytherin. Even the headmaster says so." the blonde said in his more assertive tone.
"He cannot, Mr. Malfoy! He is a Gryffindor, the house the Sorting Hat appointed him into!" McGonagall's anger was raging, her veins showing on her pale temples clearly. Her old knuckles were whitening from the tight fists they were balled into.
"I honestly find it hard to believe that even a thick-headed boy like Mr. Potter would even consider performing such a spell without reason, even though that is the case most of the time. But using the only booby-trapped spell in all of this school, I admit, would need some form of motivation." Snape said in his normal monologue speech, crossing his arms over his chest. He eyed the brunette with ice-like eyes. The three professors peered down at Harry, as if to ask why such spell was cast. Even the crowd outside seemed to quiet down to hear his story. Draco just sat and snickered, the astonishing tale already in his mind.
"Well, it all kind of started in second year when Professor Dumbledore requested me. I had a small conversation with the Sorting Hat before he entered and I asked it if I was in the right house. It didn't give me a straight answer but said I would have done well in Slytherin. I didn't think much of it until fourth year when-" Harry glanced over at Draco for a split second, a quick blush covering his cheeks. He turned away swiftly. "N-never mind. The point is I have been dreaming of the conversation for a few months now, and it was irritating, so I read my Divination textbook, came across the spell, and used it during breakfast this morning."
Silence issued for what seemed like hours. Professor McGonagall looked like her head was going to explode on the spot. Snape's face was unreadable, being as he was an expert at hiding his emotions. Dumbledore had the same kind countenance as before. Draco just stared at Harry, his cool eyes peeking through his hair, connecting with Harrys.
"That settles it." Snape said chillingly.
"Nothing is settled! Albus, your the only one that can intercept this obvious mistake!" Minerva yelled, her voice full of stress. The anger in her face was solid.
"Headmaster, we should consider Mr. Potter's sleeping arrangements before the day it out. I highly doubt he would like to spend his Saturday pushing his way through an unneeded crowd to simply return to his dorm." Snape boldly said, ignoring the Gryffindor Head of House's previous remark.
"The crowds are unavoidable! All of Hogwarts will follow him everywhere! His display in the Great Hall was seen by everyone! Might as well keep him in Gryffi-"
"Mr. Potter had cast the spell, and you of all people know how this curse works, Minny. I'm sorry, but Mr. Potter is indeed a Slytherin." the elderly man calmly said, leaving MoGonagall speechless. Dumbledore stood, and walked to Harry's side. He smiled. "I expect great things from you, Harry."
Harry stood immediately. "O-of course!"
"Now, time to show you to your new dorm. Mr. Malfoy," Draco stood. "you will assist Mr. Potter in packing and moving of his belongings. I believe he may need help pushing trough the student as well."
"As you wish." Draco sighed, taking Harry's arm again, pulling him through the door. Just as the professors had said, the crowd was massive, filled with Gryffindors, and a few Slytherins, one of them being Pansy, who was currently trying to get Hermione off of her back. Ron was shoving his way to Harry, only to be blocked my Crabbe and Goyle. Draco seemed to know where he was going, needing no instructions to be lead to the Gryphindor Tower. About halfway there, the path was clear, almost as if the students missed their presence completely. They stepped onto the staircase, Draco still holding onto Harry's arm.
"Malfoy, I can walk on my own you know." Harry growled, trying to earn control of his limb again.
"Sorry, but without a little motivation, your a little slow." Draco replied, releasing his arm in front of the Fat Lady. Harry gave the password, ("Pivinbot.") and stepped into the portrait hole, Draco doing the same. The common room was unexpectedly empty, but instead of moving toward the dorms, he slumped himself onto the couch in the middle of the quiet room.
"Get up, Potter. I don't want to be here all day. This place is a bit too bright for me, now if you please," Draco said very aggressively, motioning to the stairs to the boy's dorm.
"I can't do it." Harry mumbled, leaning forward to place his face into his palms. "I just can't. I'm not cut out for this. The world must hate me. Not only do I feel terrible about Ron and Hermione now hating me, but I don't know what do to with you here! I feel so out of it! To the point my head seems to stop and I'm more powerless than I already am." He could feel the tears summoning themselves into the corners of his eyes, wanting to spill over. He had been through so much already today, and now, his entire mind shatters in front of his ex-enemy, per say. A loud snort filled the air, forcing Harry's attention. His green eyes met light blue.
"Don't you dare talk like that. If you really are a Slytherin, those emotions are useless. Throw them out. You are confident and uplifting and strong, and don't tell yourself otherwise." Draco stated, his head held high. The blonde tossed his bangs out of his eyes again. "Now, if you please, I would like to get out of your little lions den, so can we pack please?"
Harry slowly stood, knowing full well arguing at the moment has useless. Leading the way, Harry walked up the stone steps, knowing exactly what rumor-filled, people-induced, and undeniably-stressful the rest of this unbelievable day held in store.
Opening the door, Harry stepped inside, only to be immediately shoved into the wall.
"Malfoy, what the hell?"
"Your taking your own sweet time again. Honestly, it's like you don't know how to walk today." Draco retorted before running into the bedpost.
"And apparently you don't know how to remove the hair out of your face to see." Harry snorted back, holding back the remainder of his laughter. He walked over to the nightstand, grabbed his Firebolt and Hedwig's cage next to it, and shoved them into Draco's arms. He gave a confused look, forcing Harry to roll his eyes.
"Dumbledore said your helping me pack, so your carrying my broomstick and birdcage." Harry said, obviously enjoying his game of 'Belittle the King'. Malfoy huffed annoyingly, causing another round of held laughter from the brunette.
"What now?" Draco asked angrily, clearly hating the current situation.
"Calm down, Drama Queen, no need to pop a vein." Harry joked, bending under his bed to grab his brown leather suitcase
"You mean Drama King, right." Draco said, insinuating it was more of a statement than a question.
"Nope." the blonde kicked Harry's shin, causing him to release all of his laughter.
"That's right, keep giggling. Just wait, I'll be the one laughing my ass off when your dancing for me in Pansy's frilly panties." Draco smiled, this time bopping Harry on the head with the broomstick
"Are you kidding? I'd rather be dead than do that!" Harry replied before getting hit on the head a second time.
Maybe this was the best choice. Harry barely knew Malfoy, and yet, here they were, packing, both laughing about the stupidest of things. It was soothing. He felt whole again. He only hoped Malfoy was joking about the underwear.
