Sun filtered through the curtains of the bed, lighting up the inside of the canopy. Harry sighed, content as he shrunk deeper into the covers. With a yawn, he opened his eyes and looked up. "What?" He mumbled, as he took in the deep red surrounding him. Then, he remembered.
Gryffindor. House of the brave and loyal. He snorted to himself… maybe if he had chosen this house in the first place, he wouldn't have found himself betrayed by his friends. For a second, he allowed himself to wonder how different his life would be if he hadn't gone to Slytherin. Short of not being friends with Draco… Voldemort had completely taken over all of the good parts of his life. Taking his friends was just the next step in his plan. Maybe instead of killing Harry physically, he would settle for destroying him emotionally… Voldemort, focusing on feelings, was almost laughable.
Harry tried to ignore the burning that had returned to his eyes. Although he had lost his parents and longed for a 'normal' life at times, he hadn't felt their loss as a baby. The Dursley's were the life he knew, there was no other life to mourn. Nothing had ever felt as painful as this… Besides Sirius, Harry had never completely confided in another person except for Draco. He had other friends in Slytherin, of course. He had fooled around with Pansy Parkinson a few times until she admitted she was truly only in it for Draco, and was on good terms with most of the professors, even if his relationship with Professor Snape was always a bit strained and awkward… But he told Draco everything. Even knowing where Draco came from, he never once doubted the strength of their friendship.
Throwing back the covers, he climbed to the end of the bed to reach into his trunk for a set of clean robes and trousers. He pulled them on, covering another yawn, before flinging open the curtains of the bed to reveal the rest of the room. He looked at the other five beds and saw that the other boys in his room had already gotten up and dressed and were gone.
"Good morning, everyone." Harry said to the empty room. He reached for his shoes and pulled them onto his feet. He hoped this empty room wasn't going to be a sign of the rest of the day. From his nightstand, he picked up his glasses and saw a new class schedule had been left for him. He glanced it over and winced as he remembered that most of the core classes he had through the week, he had the pleasure of being in with Slytherin.
Trudging down the steps, Harry looked up from the schedule seconds before he slammed into someone waiting at the bottom.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped, taking a step back.
"Sorry… I thought everyone had left… Was looking over my classes…" He trailed off, shoving the schedule in his pocket.
"Oh, that's alright!" She smiled at him. "I thought you might want some company this morning?" She offered, turning to head towards the portrait.
"Um," Harry started, confused. "Why are you trying to be my friend, Hermione?" He asked, following after her slowly.
"Good morning!" Hermione called at the Fat Lady as they climbed out into the hallway. "Let's just say, I know what it's like being alone, Harry." She said looking over her shoulder at him. "Although you're not new to Hogwarts, this is a completely new experience for you. It wasn't until I made a fool of myself being scared over that Troll in our first year that I made any friends at all. Ron says I used to act like too much of a know-it-all." She waved her hand and Harry saw her roll her eyes.
"Oh." Harry replied, not knowing what else to say. Hermione continued walking towards the great hall. If she was concerned over his lack of conversational skills, she didn't seem fazed. Harry watched her as she walked. She seemed completely relaxed in his presence, and genuinely seemed like she was just being friendly. Did he want new friends? The thought of trusting someone made him feel nauseous. Although he couldn't see Hermione Granger being a closet Death Eater, that didn't mean she could be trusted.
"Once everyone has gotten over the shock of you changing houses, I really think you're going to enjoy being in Gryffindor. Ron might be a bit harder to bring around… His family has had a few issues with the Malfoy's, but once you get to know him, he's actually really sweet!" Hermione said. "Let's see… who else are you rooming with? I'm sure you'll want to know a little bit about them!"
"Look, Hermione." Harry stopped walking, and waited for her to turn to face him. "I'm not really that hungry. I think I am just going to head to Potion's class a little early." He forced a smile and turned towards the dungeon's without waiting for a response.
The corridor was dark, the torches coming to life as he neared them. He stood between two of them, soaking in the heat from the flames. He knew Professor Snape would still be eating breakfast and would come to the classroom close to the same time the rest of the students did.
Pain suddenly shot through his scar and he winced out loud, his voice echoing in the hallway. He turned to face the rocks, pressing his head against them. His breathing was magnified in his head, and he concentrated on slowing it and his heart rate, instead of the pain. Slowly the sound of his breathing was replaced with footsteps. He looked up and squinted in the opposite direction, the glow from the torches spreading toward him.
"Hey." Draco said as he came into view, a sheepish look on his face. "I thought you would be down here…"
"What the hell do you want, Draco?" Harry fired at him, moving away from the wall to face him. His fingers twitched as he dropped his hand to his side, feeling his wand through his cloak.
"Really Harry?" Draco motioned to his arm. "You think I'm here to… what? Attack you?"
"I honestly don't know what you're here for, Malfoy."
"Don't call me that." Draco looked angry as he took a step forward. Harry shook his head, gripping his wand and pulling it from his robes. Draco stopped, a shocked look on his face. "You honestly think I would hurt you?"
Harry didn't respond. He kept his eyes trained on Draco, but listened carefully to hear if anyone else was coming from behind either of them.
"Harry… I just wanted to know if you were okay." Draco shrugged.
"If I was okay? You want to know if I am okay?" Harry yelled back at him, then started laughing. "Are you for real, Malfoy? How long have you known me now? In five years I have ignored the fact that your family was responsible for torturing and killing countless innocent people,"
Draco shook his head, opening his mouth to interrupt.
"And ignored the fact that ever since our first year when your new buddy Voldemort gained access to the Sorcerer's Stone through Quirrell that your father was suddenly getting stronger and more involved in the Ministry and attempting to here, all so that I could trust you and call you my best friend. And for what? For you to screw me over the first chance you got? You sold me out, Draco! You stabbed me in the back! You, of all people. You, who knew everything that he had already taken from me, the life that I already had to live, and spent countless nights discussing the awful way people were treated back in the first war; You sold me out the first god damn chance you got."
"And you of all people should understand that my options were limited." Draco shook his head, his eyes flashing in the firelight.
"Again, Draco. That's bullshit. You could have told me what was going on. You could have run! Sirius would have taken you in if you needed it, I know he would have if I asked. Dumbledore could have offered you protection! You know all about the Order… God, how much have you told him?" Harry strode forward and shoved Draco hard into the classroom door. "What have you told him, Draco?"
"I didn't tell him anything, I swear." Draco tried to shrug him off, but Harry pressed into his chest harder.
"If anything happened to Sirius, Draco? I will kill you myself. I promise you that." Harry hissed before releasing Draco and stepping back.
"Not that I should be telling you this," Draco said, straightening his robes and pushing back the few strands of hair that had fallen into his face, "But as far as anyone knows? We were friends that first year and then we drifted apart. I haven't told my parents we had continued being friends because I never wanted to listen to the crap every time I went home for the holidays."
Harry glared at him, his hands still shaking.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," A cold look crossed Draco's face as he straightened his shoulders, "I actually have friends to sit with for breakfast." He spun on his heels and retreated back down the hallway, leaving Harry standing alone outside the classroom door.
"Stupid…. Fucking…. Git…." Harry punched each word into the wood. On the last hit, he felt two of his knuckles split open.
Behind him, someone cleared their throat. Harry spun around, wand raised, to see Hermione standing in the firelight, a half smile on her face.
"I… Um," She shrugged, extending her hand to hand him a plate of croissants and fruit. "I thought you might want to eat something."
Harry stared at her a moment, before smiling his thanks and taking the plate.
"Let me see your hands." She said, moving closer to him. She inspected his knuckles, moving his wrist side to side in the light. "I believe I have some murtlap essence upstairs... We can get it after class."
"I'm not going to be able to get rid of you, am I?" He asked, leaning against the wall and slinking down until he was sitting.
"Nope!" Hermione said, moving to sit beside him. "I… I didn't mean to overhear…" She started, and Harry stiffened. "But, I'm really sorry." She reached over and grabbed his uninjured hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Oi!" Both of them looked up to see Ron coming down the hallway towards them, shoving a muffin in his mouth. "Hermione said she was going to meet a friend." Ron shrugged, plopping himself on the other side of Hermione and swallowing the rest of his muffin. Hermione smiled and pulled out a sheet of fresh parchment.
"What do you think Professor Snape will start off this year with?" She asked out loud, biting on the end of a quill. "I asked at the end of last year what would be on the OWLs, of course, so I studied most of those over the summer…"
Harry let out a small groan that was matched by Ron's. He leaned forward, meeting Ron's eyes and smiled softly.
"Is she always like this?" He asked. A look crossed Ron's face and for a moment, Harry was worried that he had offended his new roommate. He opened his mouth to fix his mistake when Ron smiled back.
"Oh, she's bloody awful." He laughed, looking at Hermione. "But you'll get used to her."
Harry laughed and leaned back against the wall, listening to Hermione titter over different potions she had read about and mentally crossing those off her list because of ingredient availability in the classroom. When Professor Snape finally opened the door, he watched Harry carefully pick his way to the opposite side of the room and sit between Ron and Hermione. A strange look passed over his face, but his past Head of House turned away to pull ingredients from the cupboard.
As the Slytherin's filed into the room, Harry stiffened and stared straight ahead, determined not to look at Draco or any of the other people he used to call his friends. He jumped when Hermione laid her hand on his arm and offered him a smile.
"I think tonight Ron is going to have another Chess tournament, aren't you Ron?" She said, leaning over Harry. "Think Harry could beat you?"
"Oh, you're on!" Ron said, challenging Harry. Harry relaxed between the two of them and decided that perhaps, hanging around new people wouldn't be so bad.