Sitting at the Gryffindor's table in the Great Hall, situated across from the couple that was Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, Harry couldn't help but feel anxious. Another year at Hogwarts meant drama. Things were going to go down, he could feel it. At least it was better than being at the Dursley's. Being there felt like a demeanour had him in it's grasp, sucking all the happiness left in him day by day.
Looking around for something- anything to help him indicate what was to happen next, Harry's emerald eyes fell on a familiar face. He scowled at first, but his furrowed eyebrows relaxed after recognizing the expression upon the Slytherin Prince's features. Something big was on his mind. Any malicious intent that was constantly present in his eyes the last year was gone now.
Draco Malfoy was up to something.
That's all that Harry could deduce for now. He decided he'd keep a close eye on the boy. I mean, when has he ever not done that, though? Harry quickly tore his stare away from the blonde once Dumbledore's voice boomed through the room. He discussed present matters briefly, then dismissed us all to eat and enjoy our evening as our first night back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He always tried to be so formal.
Harry ate platefuls after platefuls, seeing as he couldn't eat much at the Dursley's. After he was full, which seemed impossible in his mind when he started, he noticed Ron and Hermione eyeing him up, then looking behind him. Harry burped and raised his eyebrow, "What?" He thought they'd comment on how much he'd eaten, but Ron just jerked his head, signalling behind him. Harry turned around and met eyes with Malfoy, who seemed to be in a trance while looking at the back of Harry's head. After a few seconds, Draco snapped out of it and stood up, ignoring his friends' questions and side glances.
Harry had to use all of his might to stay sitting and not run after the Malfoy. It wad the first day, couldn't he just relax for a night? That's what he ended up doing. Him, Hermione and Ron all went to their common room after most of the Gryffindor's had finished. They followed their head boy and didn't bat an eye when the boy had confidently said, "Caput Draconis." and the picture moved to the side, allowing for all the students to pass through. They've been through this multiple times before, and naturally, Hogwarts just felt like a home they were returning to.
Hermione and Ron plopped down on the couch in front of the fire, Ron throwing an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "It's so nice to be back! Don't you think so, Harry?" Hermione smiled brightly at him. Harry couldn't stop thinking about Draco's hard stare. He just nodded, looking into the fire in thought. Hermione sighed, "Look, Harry, even if Draco is planning something, don't worry about it tonight. Make sure to get a good nights rest. You can deal with it in the morning." Hermione gave him a reassuring smile.
Harry sighed and nodded, "I'll try my best. I know I shouldn't be so worried on the first night. Did you by chance notice...Before and even after Dumbledore began speaking, he looked so..."
"Out of it? Depressed? In despair? The bloody git deserves it, mate. Looked like he was planning something too, I tell you. Knowing him, it's nothing good. Nothing good ever comes from Malfoy's- Or Slytherins, for that matter!" Harry nodded, agreeing with Ron for the most part. Still, he had the urge to know exactly what Malfoy was planning. Was it something against him? Dumbledore? The Ministry of Magic? Hogwarts as a whole?
Whatever it was, Harry promised himself he'd find out- one way or another.
Eventually, Hermione called it a night. She kissed Ron on the cheek and shyly walked to her dorms. Ron smirked at Harry, "And that, my friend, is happiness." Ron dreamily smiled at the door Hermione just passed through and couldn't stop himself from fantasizing.
Harry chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, okay, buddy. H-Hey, listen. So...What do you think Malfoy has in mind this year?" Ron was quickly snapped out of his daze at the name that makes his blood boil just thinking about.
Ron furrowed his eyebrows, "I reckon we find out! It can't be anything good, can it?" Harry nodded. For a little while, they planned ways to find out what Malfoy was up to. Before they decided to head to bed, Ron had said a phrase that lingered in Harry's mind as he fell unconscious.
"No matter what, don't get involved with him, Harry. It won't do you any good."