Disclaimer do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

This story is not mine all credits go to BeyondTheSun on AO3

Harry entered the dining hall for breakfast the next morning, bags under his eyes, and his hair seemingly messier than usual.

When he sat down next to Ron and Hermione, he groaned loudly and slammed his head on the table.

Hermione jumped.

"Harry, what in the world?" She exclaimed, glancing over at Ron. They shared the same look of concern.

"C'mon Harry, what's wrong?" Ron offered, awkwardly patting his back. He wasn't the best at this sort of thing. Hermione rolled her eyes at the stilted gesture.

"Oh absolutely nothing, Ron," he said into the table, "nothing at all, except for the fact that I'm rooming with bloody Malfoy for the rest of the school year"

"Malfoy? That's absolutely mental!" Ron cried, somehow looking more upset than Harry.

"Yes, I know, Ron. You've been saying this for years."

"Well I know, but I mean it! That bugger is a bloody death eater, don't forget that either"

"Yeah Ron, I know"

"And— and he's spoiled rotten! I mean, he practically thinks he owns the place and—"

"Ron!" Harry cut him off, finally looking up at him with a withering glare. "I know."

"Ron, eat your breakfast," Hermione interrupted. "Harry, tell me the details," She knew the two of them would go back and forth forever if she didn't interject.

Harry sighed, ruffling his messy hair to make it more manageable for himself. Adjusting his glasses, he took a sip of pumpkin juice and faced her.

"It wasn't so bad at first, Malfoy mostly kept to himself, but he kept randomly waking up in the middle of the fucking night.

I couldn't get a wink of sleep, Hermione. And in the morning, he kept going on and on about how he needed time to make himself look 'presentable' and took all the time in the shower. Merlin, worst of all, the whole room now smells of his stupid, pungent cologne. I didn't even get to whiz."

Harry exhaled and thought about the fact that he was going to have to deal with Malfoy for nine more months. Would he really be able to get through it? Hermione gently laid her hand on his shoulder and offered him a smile, trying her best to sympathize with him.

Breakfast ended and it was off to potions with Ron. The halls were emptier than Harry was used to. Sure, it could be worse; at least parents were still sending their kids to Hogwarts. But even so… not everyone that was missing was because of their parents. Some would never come back.

At least the portraits were as loud as ever, filling the hall with their observations of the students. It was never boring in the halls of Hogwarts.

Harry was lost in thought, thinking about all of his friends when he felt himself crash into a person in front of him. He yelped as he stumbled over and his glasses were launched into the air as the person in front of him collapsed to the floor from the collision. Harry rubbed his head as he tried to search for his glasses when he heard a crunch.

Malfoy snarled, brushing himself off as he stood up. "Really, Potter? I knew you were clumsy, but come on. How do you manage on your own?" Draco said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at Harry.

"You stepped on my glasses," Harry replied, ignoring Malfoy's taunts. He picked up the pieces and stood up. Now he was the one staring down at Malfoy. Since when had he gotten taller than the other?

"Yes, well, you pushed me. So I'd say we're even," he sniped back, turning his back towards the other and heading inside the classroom.

Whatever, Harry thought. He wasn't worth it, he just had to keep telling himself that. He wasn't worth it, he wasn't worth it he wasn't worth it he wasn't worth-

"Good morning, class. Please have a seat!" announced a voice from the front of the classroom. Professor Slughorn ushered everyone in, a shaky smile on his face. "I know the first day back for everyone can be quite exciting but please settle down now."

Harry glanced around and saw Ron sitting with Dean. He locked eyes with Harry and gave him an apologetic look, shrugging. Harry seemed to have terrible luck these days. As Ron turned back to chat with Dean, he tried to look for somewhere else to sit. As his eyes scanned the classroom and he didn't see any empty seats, his heart slowly started to sink.

'Don't tell me…' He though.

"Oh Harry, do you not have a seat, my boy? There's one right here next to Mr. Malfoy," Professor Slughorn said cheerfully. Harry didn't need to look to know Malfoy was glaring at him.

He took his time going to the seat next to the other, slowly sitting down as he kept his gaze ahead of him. It was only the first day, Harry thought as he tried to reassure himself. Just get through the day and it'll be better by tomorrow.

"Alright class, let's begin!" Professor Slughorn started, clapping his hands. "And just a reminder, this is the permanent seating arrangement for the rest of the year. No exception!"

As the rest of the class started to pull out their textbooks and cauldrons, Harry slammed his head against the desk quietly. Of course this was his permanent seat. First the dorms, and now this. Harry imagined someone chaining him and Malfoy together just to get a laugh.

"I understand you despise me Potter, but please try to make it less obvious, would you? Wouldn't want to ruin your precious reputation among the professors now," Malfoy's cold voice drawled from next to him. He was calmly taking out his textbook and cauldron along with everyone else.

Harry stared at him, wishing looks could kill.

"I know the feeling is mutual Malfoy, no need to pretend" Harry muttered and sat up. He had yet to fix his glasses. As he whispered the charm to fix them, he watched Malfoy pull out a bag of ingredients as well.

Harry couldn't help but notice the tip of the death eater tattoo on his arm as his cloak fell slightly. It was an unspoken agreement amongst the student body not to ask Draco about his time with the death eaters. Not many people wanted to talk about the previous year anyway since the figurative and literal wounds were still fairly fresh. Harry found himself curious though, never quite having gotten the full story.

"Does it hurt?" Harry asked suddenly.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed.

"Does what hurt, Potter?"

"You know, the mark."

Malfoy froze. "Potter, I don't think that's anappropriatequestion to be asking in class," he said, his voice perfectly level. But Harry could see the way the other had tensed up and he knew that he'd hit a sore spot.

Just as he was about to say something more, Slughorn cleared his throat to grab the class's attention.

"Today, class, we will be brewing Felix Felicis.

We will not be consuming any of it, due to its effects. This is an extremely difficult potion, and if there is even the slightest mistake, the effects could be ghastly. Alright students, look on page 394 and begin!"

Draco went right to work. He heated up the cauldron and added in an ashwinder egg and horseradish.

"Wait—" Harry started, pushing up his glasses and flipping to the page.

"You haven't even looked at the recipe yet."

Malfoy's only response was to roll his eyes. "Yes. I already know the recipe. Now please be useful and be quiet."

Harry's mouth hung open; from awe or annoyance, he didn't know. When he finally gained his composure and looked at the recipe, he noticed that Malfoy was on step five. Step six was to stir. He could do that.

He cleared his throat and grabbed a spoon, putting it in the cauldron.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm 'stirring vigorously' as per the instructions," retorted Harry, glaring back at him. "I am capable of stirring, Malfoy"

"What a miracle…" Draco muttered under his breath, grabbing the rue.

"Fine. You can stir," Draco smirked, "But you have to stir for the next two hours. Otherwise, it won't work. You'' manage, right Mr. Potter?"

Harry willfully ignored the devilish look on Malfoy's face and kept stirring, telling himself that it would be a good workout anyway.

By the end of the class, the potion was finally ready for the last step and Harry was exhausted. He wiped his sweaty forehead and sighed, glancing at the clock. It was almost time to say the last incantation. He lifted his wand and opened his mouth, but was cut off by Draco, who grabbed his wrists.

"Let me check it. I have to make sure you didn't screw it up," Draco said and took out the spoon, glancing at the clear sparkly liquid with a yellow tint.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh please. It's shiny and yellow, just like the picture. Now, do you want me to say incantation or would you like to?" He asked, pulling out his wand again.

Draco would never admit it, but Harry's wand work was better than his. "You do it,' he ordered while he began to clean up the mess. "Let's see if you can actually do something properly."

"Really, Malfoy?" He muttered under his breath. He waved his wand and whispered 'felixempra'. The potion glowed slightly and settled, the bubbles coming to a stop.

Slughorn came to check on the boys' cauldron.

"Well done! Now, bottle up your potion in these three vials and bring them to the front. After that, you are dismissed."

Slughorn walked away with a smile on his face while Harry began to bottle up the potion. He kept subtly glancing at Draco during the process, finding himself trying to catch a glimpse of his dark mark again.

He realized he had been caught red-handed when Draco was suddenly face-to-face with him, having to look up slightly at Harry.

"Are you quite done, Potter?" Draco asked as he started to take the vials from him.

"Erm- well yes, I was. I can do this myself, Malfoy, let it be" Harry responded. He gripped the vials tightly. He could give them to Slughorn.

Draco refused. He held on tighter as well, glaring at him.

"Let go, Potter."

"You let go. They were in my hands first, Malfoy."

"You hardly did any work, I should be the one to turn them in."

"That's because you didn't let me help you, you git."

Draco grimaced at that and tried to yank the potions away, but they ended up slipping through his fingers. The jarring movement had startled Harry and he dropped the vials. He was suddenly staring at a very angry, very wet, and very shiny Draco.

All eyes snapped onto the two of them, including Slughorn's.

"You're absolutely useless, Potter! Look at what you've done!"

"Shut up, Malfoy, this is all your fault. I was just trying to turn in the damn potion! I managed to save one of them, no thanks to you."

Ron was snickering from his seat. "This is just like the faerie incident," He said quietly to Dean, a grin spread on his face.

"You little-" Draco started.

"That's enough, both of you!" Slughorn marched over and yanked them both by their cloaks.

He grabbed the last vial out of Harry's hand as he pushed them toward the door. "Mr. Malfoy, you will go to Madam Pomfrey to make sure that the potion doesn't harm your skin. And then you are to go to Headmistress McGonagall immediately afterward! The same goes for you, Mr. Potter. Now get out!"

The doors slammed in their faces. Harry just stood there for a moment, trying to process what happened. He locked eyes with Draco, who scowled at him.

"Curse you, Potter," he spat and spun on his heel, stomping to the medical wing.

"Fuck you too…" Harry whispered as he watched Malfoy's slim figure storm away. He was starting to doubt his ability to survive this year.

Harry walked through the silent halls to McGonagall's office. He knew he was in for a real beating, but he honestly didn't care.

He was already stuck with Malfoy in his classes and in his room. It couldn't get any worse than this. He paused outside McGonagall's office, acknowledging the stairwell with a sigh.

He lifted his hand to grab the guard rail and stopped dead in his tracks. He checked once, then twice. He turned his arm, checking the other wrist as well. He repeated that twice as well, just to make sure he wasn't nuts.

Harry's mouth dropped and his eyes widened as he finally accepted the truth. His soul numbers were gone. He suddenly felt light-headed as he slowly ascended the stairs.

What the hell was he supposed to do now?