Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Chapter Eight

Once alone in his new room, Harry enlarged the trunk that had been in his robe pocket since that morning. Like he had expected, there wasn't much that he had that filled his closet. But that was alright, it's not like he had ever needed a lot of clothes. Once that small task was done, he explored his room. The fact that he needed time to explore it still baffled him. His bed sheets were soft and silky, his balcony overlooked the back gardens, and his private library had a small chair and table within it. His bathroom contained a bathtub and a shower, and was so spacious he could probably fit his bed in there without issue. Merlin, what was he going to do with all that space?

Time seemed to speed up because before he knew it Zabkey popped into his room. Harry jumped and spun on the elf wand raised.

"Sorry Master! Zabkey did not mean to startle the good Master. No, no. Zabkey only wanted to tell the good Master that dinner is ready."

Taking deep breaths to calm his pulsing heart and to allow the blood to stop beating against his ear drums, he sheathed his wand. "Thank you Zabkey. Are all of my guests things arrived?"

"Yes Master. Us elves gathered up everything Masters' guests said they needed."

"Great. I'll head there now."

Nodding to himself, Harry exited his room. He took this moment to observe who lived in what room now that everyone was settled. To his surprise Daphne had the room to his direct left while the room to his right was empty. Astoria had claimed the room beside her sister and then there was an empty room on the opposite corner of Harry's that was then followed by the Owlery entrance room, then Theo's room followed by the Observatory's entrance and then back to the empty room by Harry. The second floor had Pansy right next to the Painting Room and beside her room were three empty bedrooms, then Draco's room right next to the Potion's Lab. On the other side of the Potion's Lab was Blaise's room right beside Gregory's room who had chosen to reside right next to the Nursery. This caused Harry to raise an eyebrow but he didn't dwell on it too much. On the other side of the Nursery was Tracey's room, an empty room and then the Painting room again.

Hoping that now that everyone was settled it would mean things might actually work smoothly, Harry wandered down to the formal dining room. Though inwardly Harry scoffed. When had anything ever gone smoothly for him? With a sigh, Harry walked into the dining room to see everyone else already seated, food on the table and everyone waiting.

Startled, Harry quickly rushed to his seat...at the head of the table he noticed with a wince. "Sorry, you guys didn't have to wait for me you know."

"Potter, consider this your first lesson of etiquette. Which you will need a lot of, I'm afraid," Pansy said with a disdainful sniff. "It is customary for members of a household to wait for the Head of House to commence eating first. It is a sign of the greatest disrespect to eat before the Master of the House arrives. Now, I'm not saying that any of us hold you in a huge amount of respect, but it is the ways of the House so we must follow it."

"Oh...er...right then. Um...thanks...for the lesson...erghm...Pansy. Let's eat, I guess," Harry said uncertainly as his face reddened at being reminded of his current status over his peers. He noticed some eye rolls from Draco and Theodore but thankfully they didn't say anything as everyone began helping themselves to their meal. It was delicious, Hogwarts worthy even. It was roast beef with a savory gravy, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, a basket of rolls, and two different salads that Harry didn't care to know the difference between.

And each resident had an elegant wine glass filled with actual wine, something that Harry inwardly cheered for. It wasn't Firewhiskey, but it would certainly do the trick at the moment. All of this change and good fortune that had fallen upon him only made Harry feel more guilty about the ones who wouldn't ever get another chance to live. Seeing the House Elves made him think of Dobby and seeing the Owlery he thought of Hedwig and he just needed something to take the edge off. That was all, he assured himself as the wine coated his tongue.

Draining his first wine glass rather quickly, he then proceeded to fill his plate with beef and potatoes while he filled himself a second glass of wine. There wasn't really any conversation happening and Harry couldn't help but start to fidget, should he initiate conversation? Gryffindor table had never been this quiet, the Burrow always had noise going and even the Dursleys had some sort of background noise coming from Dudley's many TVs. But this was a dead silent dinner, only the sound of utensils scraping plates. What the bloody hell should he say anyway? School? Hell no, that would be a topic for a later time such as never. The weather? Quidditch? Yeah….Quidditch was typically a safe topic... right? But then that would lead to talking about brooms which would lead Harry to remember the battle and flying in the Room of Requirement and the loss of Crabbe and that wasn't a good topic either he supposed…

Running a weary hand through his mess of hair, maybe he should get it cut soon, it was rather long. The last time it was cut was when Hermione did it while they were camping. Casting his eyes around for a topic he spotted Daphne sitting at his right hand side and absently looked at her plate.

"Say Daphne….are you only going to eat the salad? Do you not want to try some of the other food? The beef is fantastic," Harry said. He had attempted to talk quietly so as not to draw any attention to her but given the lack of any other noise his voice carried.

"Oh no, I'm fine, thank you," she said with a polite shake of her head. "I'm actually a vegan."

"Oh! Well good to know…" Harry faltered slightly, self-consciously looking at his own plate loaded with beef and everything smothered in gravy. "You should have mentioned something, I could have asked Kilky to prepare a vegan food." What the hell did vegans eat? He thought inwardly. He had never even heard of the term.

"Well thank you for the offer, but the salad is fine. I assure you." As if to prove her point, she daintily stabbed her fork into the bowl of greens and elegantly ate the spinach that had been speared.

"Oh...if you're sure," he replied, nervously grabbing his wine glass and draining it in a large gulp. He avoided the eyes of the other occupants of the table by pouring himself another glass. Maybe by drinking a little earlier it would help him sleep instead of waiting until he couldn't sleep to start drinking. Hmm...something to consider...he thought as he took a sip of the blood red wine.

"So, how is this going to work?" Astoria asked finally. All eyes went to the youngest member but she didn't flinch under the gazes. "All of us living together. Is there going to be a routine? Are we going to have mandatory meals or scheduled bonding time bullshit?" Harry blinked in surprise for two reasons. The first surprise was how someone so young and dainty could curse while still looking so innocent. The second surprise was that he had no idea how things should go.

"I'm not actually sure. Though I'd rather pass on the bonding bullshit," he replied with a smirk. "But as for the rest of it, I'm open ears for suggestions this is your home to now after all." No response. "Really? None of you have any opinions on how you want to live together in this place for the next five years? No opinions whatsoever?"

"What does it bloody matter what opinions we have. You're fucking in charge so it doesn't make a difference," Pansy snapped.

"It does matter actually. Surprise, surprise but I do actually care about your well-being and I don't want you to be miserable. If I wanted that I would have sent you to Azkaban and moved on with my life. But I didn't. I'm making an effort here, the least you could do is at least state your damn opinion even if it's a dumb-ass opinion at least you're contributing and trying," Harry spat back. He glared at Pansy who returned the glare in full force.

The tension was mounting as the two continued to glare, emerald green eyes matching muddy brown eyes with a heated intensity that made the air thick. Harry could feel his fury pulsating in his veins, he curled his fingers around the tablecloth. The veins in Pansy's neck stood out sharply as her nostrils flared.

"I've never really cared for bananas," Theodore sighed as if not noticing the situation in the room. Blaise snorted at this comment and that was followed by Tracey's rough laughter. Soon the entire room was snorting and chuckling and the tension was diffused as Pansy and Harry glanced at Theodore in bemusement.

"What?" Harry questioned.

"You wanted our opinions on things and I just gave you mine. I don't care for bananas."

Harry felt his mouth twitch. "That's very good to know I'll be sure that Kilky is made aware." While the laughter didn't ring with pure joy or carefree amusement and it wasn't gusty belly laughs, it was something. Even if it didn't reach the occupants eyes and even if the laugh fell short a few notes, it was something. It was a sound that Harry hadn't expected to hear so soon.

When everyone fell into silence once again, Harry started once more. "Now, in all honesty, what are your opinions on the schedule of this place?"

"I quite like this time for dinner," Tracey commented quietly, her eyes on her plate and her fingers twisting her fork nervously.

"I'm in agreement with you. Alright, so six o'clock will be dinner everyday. If something has come up or if you can't make it that is fine. None of the meals will be a requirement. Any other ideas?"

"Slytherins are typically early risers, so could breakfast be held around seven?" Daphne asked.

"Of course," Harry nodded. "Any thoughts on lunch or will that just be a free for all?"

"Free for all. Let's not push all this close proximity stuff just yet. Eating two meals in your presence is going to be hard enough. Let's not make it three," Blaise responded.

"Understood. Great. So I guess the rest of the day just do what you want? Start thinking on your ideas for restoration?"

"What limitations do we have?" Blaise asked, using the tip of his fork to dig a hole in his mashed potatoes.

"Err….what do you mean limitations?"

"Like are we allowed to leave this place whenever we want?" The Italian clarified. Harry shifted, he wasn't fond of the Slytherins leaving and possibly not coming back but he didn't want them confined here. He knew how it felt to be cut off from the world from when he lived with the Dursleys.

"Not limited really. Just not gone for more than 24 hours and letting people know where you're going, I guess. And the same would go for me too."

"Fine," Blaise said tossing his fork down. "Well I'll be going out tonight. I'll be here for breakfast," he said standing up. "Don't wait up," he smirked with a wink before turning and stalking out of the dining room.

Uncertain about what to do now that Blaise had made a dramatic exit, Harry glanced around and the Slytherins were exchanging looks that he couldn't decipher. Then slowly the others started leaving as well. None of them had eaten all of their food, hell, neither had Harry. Seeing that everyone else had decided dinner was over, Harry sighed and pushed his seat away from the table too.

"Potter. Wait."

Hand almost at doorknob, the wizarding savior froze and slowly turned back around to see Draco Malfoy still sitting at the table. The blonde sat with his elbows leaning against the table and his fingertips touching in front of his face. His grey eyes stared at the grain work of the wooden table while Harry debated if he had even heard the blonde speak at all. Maybe he had imagined it? "What are you going to do about her?" The steel grey eyes finally moved from the table to Harry. The rest of Malfoy's body hadn't moved an inch, it was like his body was made of stone.

"What am I going to do about who?" Harry huffed.

"My mother, Potter!" Draco hissed, his steel eyes flashing.

"Oh.." Harry faltered. "I don't know. Is there something I should be doing about her?"

"Well considering the fact that you now own everything we thought we owned, then yes you should do something," Draco spat.

"What do you want me to do?" Harry asked slowly, trying to think of solutions. He had honestly forgotten all about Narcissa Malfoy, though he felt guilty for doing so. Without her he would be dead.

"Do what you are doing for us."

"How? She wasn't given to Voldemort, I have no control over her." Seeing Draco's eyes narrow and the sneer forming, Harry realized what he said. "Not that I have control over any of you. I don't want to control anyone. I just meant that I hadn't inherited her. No! Dammit I mean her life isn't owned...no fuck it." Huffing a frustrated sigh, Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. Draco hadn't moved but his eyes burned with anger and fury. "Just tell me what you want, Malfoy."

"You own our accounts and house. Offer her the chance to live here. You have the room. Let her live and work here."

"Why though? I'm not going to evict her out of that house. Hell, I don't plan on ever setting foot in that place again."

"My feelings are likewise. If you wanted to demolish that hellhole then my support would be tenfold. Which is why I want my mother out of that house. She is all alone and that house isn't good for her, not anymore. Please," Draco said, his harsh tone cracked slightly at the word and the anger in his eyes had faded into anguish. "Please...I'm worried about her. I want her to be safe."

"Alright, I'll make the offer, but if she says no then there isn't anything I can do. I refuse to evict her or force her here. If she won't come willingly, then she doesn't come at all."

"But you'll make the offer?"

"Yes. I'll make the offer."

"Tha-erghm- Thank you, Potter," Malfoy ground out, the mere act of saying those three words looked like it caused the man physical pain but Harry didn't comment on it. He simply nodded and turned to leave the room, apparently he had some letters to write.