I hope this is going okay . I've uploaded this before any reviews for chapter one, because I have seven chapters, five after this, waiting in the wings to shoot out. It'll probably be one every few days or so, just to see how the reviews etc go. :)
It wasn't long before they were back on Platform 9 ¾, amidst the bodies of chattering children, mewling cats and hooting owls. It was all a bustle to get to the train. Harry was stopped every few steps, due to people shouting greetings at him, or a friend slapping him on the back, or a parent wanting to shake his hand. He greeted those he knew, and smiled at those he didn't.
"Come on," Ron muttered in his ear, and pushed through the remaining strands of people to reach the red steam train. They were accompanied by Ginny, which would have been awkward if Harry hadn't spoken to Ginny about where they stood after the war.
They had sat down one evening in The Burrow, during early August, to talk about them and their relationship. To Harry, it didn't…feel right, with Ginny anymore. What he had thought was romantic love to her, was more of a sibling love. The monster that had raged at seeing her go out with Dean, was a monster that just wanted to keep her safe, just like Ron wanted to. He had explained this to her as best as he could.
Ginny had smiled and took his hand. "I know Harry. I've known for a while now. You don't look at me the same as you did when you were in sixth year. I don't mind, though, because I know that we'll still be friends. Plus, we won't feel tied down in a relationship that we both know won't work."
Harry had been happy with that reply, and thankfully, so had Ron. There had been no shouting about how Harry had hurt his little sister. Ginny and Harry were just like how they used to be now.
"Let's hurry up and find a compartment." Harry sighed, as they boarded the train, dragging their trunks behind them. People were peering out of compartments to gape at him. He had expected it, but that didn't mean he liked it. He had had people gawped at him for years, and ever since he defeated Voldemort, even more were doing it now.
Finally, they came across an empty compartment and slid into it. Harry sank into his seat, weary of all the bodies who wanted to meet and greet him.
Ron seemed to sense this as he looked at his friend from where he was sitting opposite him with Hermione. "Cheer up Harry. Soon enough and the food trolley will be here."
Harry let out a laugh. "Trust you to be thinking about food, Ron."
They chatted idly as the train left the station, watching the parents on the platform waving to their children through the windows.
"Do you know who else is coming back with us?" asked Harry, playing with his wand, making a quill from Hermione's bag twirl and jump in the air.
Hermione answered first. "Well, Neville, Seamus, Dean and Parvati are coming back to Gryfindor."
"Luna said to me earlier that Padma, Terry and Michael are coming back too." said Ginny, petting Crookshanks who had curled up on her lap.
"So's Justin, Hannah and Susan." interjected Ron. Harry nodded. So, it looked like most of Dumbledore's Army were returning.
"Oh," said Hermione, drawing their attention to her, "I heard that Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy are returning too."
If Ron had been drinking or eating, he looked like he would have choked. As it was, he spluttered and gaped at Hermione. "Why the bloody hell is the ferret coming back?"
Hermione sighed, "Honestly Ron, it's just Malfoy."
"Just Malfoy?" exclaimed Ron, "How can you say-"
"Hermione's right, Ron." interrupted Harry. "It is just Malfoy."
Ron rounded on him them. "How can you say that? You, of all people-"
"He saved my life, Ron, if you've forgotten." Harry snapped.
Silence filled the compartment. Minutes ticked by as Harry glared out of the window. Ron shuffled slightly, uncomfortable in the silence, before leaning forward.
"But mate, he made our lives hell for years."
Harry directed his glare to Ron. "That wasn't hell. Last year was hell. Name calling and petty fights are nothing compared to a war. I don't know if you can put the past with Malfoy behind you, and have a peaceful year, but I am. Hell, I don't hear Hermione complaining about him coming back, and he used to call her vile names! I just want to relax and enjoy my last year at Hogwarts. Who cares if he's going back? That doesn't mean to have to interact with him in any way. And you know he won't. Look at how he acted in Diagon Alley! Grow the fuck up Ron, and ignore him."
Hermione was looking at him with something similar to empathy. Harry knew that she would want to the same thing as him. Ron on the other hand…
Harry knew that years of prejudice between the two families would be hard to forget. But Harry felt that Malfoy wouldn't cause them any problems this year.
"I'm going to find the others." Harry stated, standing up. Hermione and Ginny watched him leave, whereas Ron just ignored him.
Slipping out into the hallway, he sighed loudly before making his way down the train, glancing into compartments to find his fellow Gryfindors.
People waved at Harry as he passed the doors, smiling. Some just stared.
"Take a bloody picture." Harry growled slightly, making his way into the second carriage. As he glanced into compartment after compartment, he saw no hint of his classmates. Suddenly, a flash of blond hair caught his eye. He glanced at it, then back to the compartments. Something clicked in his head and he whipped round.
Malfoy stood in front of him, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. He seemed to notice that Harry saw, and clenched them into fists. Harry noticed that he was slightly paler than usual,
"Malfoy…" Harry started, but that was all he could say before the Slytherin whipped round and began to hurriedly walk away. Harry's feet moved before he could process what was happening. They moved forwards a few steps, and his hand twitched at his side.
He called his senses back to him as he watched Malfoy's retreating back. He had been about to follow him. Why? He wanted to talk to Malfoy, maybe to see how he was doing. Harry didn't even know.
He cursed himself, and the blonde, before turning around to make his way back to his own compartment, all thoughts of losing his classmates forgotten.
His thoughts travelled back to the Slytherin. The after effects of the war must have gotten to Malfoy, to make him look so pale and scared He knew that Lucius was locked up in Azkaban, and that his mother, Narcissa, was under house arrest, but he had never heard Malfoy's sentence. He had given his testimony at Lucius' trial, and they had carried that through to the other Malfoys too.
Maybe it was a rule of his probation or something, to keep him out of Azkaban. It was a probable reason as to why Malfoy had come back to Hogwarts.
Finally, he arrived back to his friends. As he slid the door open, Hermione chimed up.
"That was an awfully quick visit, Harry. Everything okay?"
Harry collapsed into his seat and looked up at his friends. "I bumped into Malfoy."
Immediately, Ron had his wand in his hand, anger starting to grace his features. "What did the ferret do? I swear, if he-"
Harry held up his hand. "Nothing, Ron. He did nothing."
The redhead slumped back into his seat. "Oh."
Hermione leaned forward. "Harry, what do you mean by 'nothing'?"
"Like I said, nothing. Nada. Zilch." Harry said. "I met him in the hallway. He looked at me, and then left. Like he didn't want to see me."
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "That is a bit strange, similar to what happened in Diagon Alley. Did he not even say anything?"
Harry shook his head and turned his gaze to the window. "It's… He reminded me of sixth year, you know? When he was all quiet and stuff, because he had his mission to kill Dumbledore."
Ginny nodded then. "Do you think he has another burden this year?"
Harry looked from Hermione to Ginny, from one set of caring brown eyes, to another. "Yeah. Being back at school after what happened last year."
"Why is he back, though?" Ron asked. "It must be really… awkward, y'know?"
"I think it might be something like parole or probation." said Harry.
"To keep him out of Azkaban?" asked Ginny.
He nodded at her. "The more I think about it, the more likely it is."
"You might be right, Harry." said Hermione. "It might have been a deal, like 'go back to school, or go to prison'."
"And we all know what he would've chose." Harry said, returning his gaze back to the window.
"I still don't see why he was allowed to come back to Hogwarts. I mean, he was the one that let the bloody Death Eaters in back in sixth year." grumbled Ron, scowling slightly. "Seriously, one dark spell from that overgrown ferret and I'll hex him into next week."
"Honestly, Ron!" Ginny sighed. "What is your problem with him? He'll probably be really quiet this year. The war changed a lot of people, and he's one of them."
Ron was silent for a moment, before grumbling under his breath, something like "Gonna find Seamus.." and stood up, leaving without another word.
Hermione watched him go, chewing on her bottom lip, before turning to Harry. "I'm quite worried about this actually. What if he just snaps at Malfoy when we're at school?"
"We'll make sure that doesn't happen." Harry forced a smile.
"He's just got it into his head that people don't change." sighed Ginny, as Crookshanks moved from her lap to Ron's empty seat. "I don't know why he thinks that, but he does."
"It's not even that Malfoy has changed, or had to change." said Hermione. "He just made the wrong choices."
"You're wrong, Hermione." Harry said quietly. He could feel the eyes of his friends on him. He continued to look out the window, watching the trees and fields go by. He didn't turn around to face them as he spoke.
"He didn't have a choice."
People traipsed passed their compartment as the train stopped, dressed in their robes. Ron had came back to change and collect his things, visibly calmer than what he had been. Not one of the people walking past the compartment noticed Harry as he sat there, gazing out of the window, waiting for the crowd to pass. He had finally got Ron, Hermione and Ginny to leave him, and head for the carriages. They hadn't wanted to, but after Harry had explained that he was going to wait until the very end to leave, so not everyone gaped at him, they had left, albeit reluctantly. He glanced at the corridor to see the last few stragglers leave. It was then that he stood. Hopefully, there would be one spare carriage for him to get to the castle.
Soon enough, the cold night air hit him. He smiled as he saw Hagrid leading the soon to be Sorted first years to the boats on the lake. As he headed to where the carriages usually waited, he looked around the familiar Hogsmeade Station. It was the same as always. The repairs had been made to the small village.
A lone carriage sat in the road, the Thestral drawing it look at him calmly with its milky white eyes. He stopped and stroked its head lightly as it shifted its wings.
"How many people can see you now?" Harry muttered to it. It clicked its beak and nuzzled into his hand before pulling away. He smiled sadly. A lot more people would have been able to see what creatures pulled the carriages now. Harry wondered how many of them had freaked out. Laughing slightly, he opened the carriage door and jumped in.
And found himself sitting opposite Malfoy.
Harry felt as tense as Malfoy looked. Fearful and cautious eyes watched him as he shut the door and the Thestral pulled away down the road.
"Malfoy." Harry nodded at him, not quite meeting the blonde's eyes.
"Honestly Potter, are you following me? That's twice in one day." Malfoy drawled. But Harry could hear the slight tremble in his voice. Despite him trying to keep a calm demeanor, Harry could see that Malfoy was ready to bolt out of the carriage, and probably walk to the school.
"Mere coincidence." Harry said truthfully. Malfoy continued to watch him with suspicious eyes. "Look, Malfoy, I'm not going to hurt you."
Malfoy snorted. "As if I'd be scared of you." Harry could hear the tremble again.
"Then why do you look like a deer in headlights?" Harry sighed.
He could see the confusion flicker on Malfoy's face as the use of the Muggle metaphor. Malfoy chose to ignore it and stare out of the window in the door. "Look, Potter, I just want a quiet year."
"We all do." Harry said quietly. Malfoy's eyes darted to him, then away again. He could see guilt written on Malfoy's face. Some part of Harry sympathised with him. It hadn't exactly been Malfoy's fault. He had been in too deep to get back out.
"Look," Harry started, "Seeing as we both want to have a quiet year, why don't we put the past behind us, and call a truce?"
Malfoy's head snapped round. "What makes you think I would want to form a truce of any kind with you?"
"I don't. I'm just offering it. Plus, I can keep Ron off your back." Harry said.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Ever a Gryfindor, aren't you Potter?"
"Through and through, Malfoy." Harry smirked.
The blonde snorted, before looking at Harry with scrutinizing eyes. "You actually mean this?"
Harry nodded. "Yes."
Then Malfoy did something that Harry had never expected.
He offered Harry his hand.
A smile tugged at the corners of Harry's mouth. "So, you want to make a truce then?"
"Hurry up and accept it before I regret it." Malfoy grumbled.
Harry let out a short laugh, before taking Malfoy's hand in his. They shook a few times. Compared to Harry's rough and calloused hands, Malfoy's were incredibly smooth. They hands dropped to their sides just as the carriage came to a halt.
They exited, and Harry noticed that Malfoy was avoiding looking at the Thestral. He raised an eyebrow, but left the subject unspoken. Together, they walked up the steps that led to the Entrance Hall. Their feet scuffed on the stone steps. Well, Harry's did. Malfoy walked with a grace that only he had, even it if was a little battered around the edges.
The Entrance Hall had been returned to all its glory. The stone looked like it had never been torched or split by spells. The statues of armour stood in their rightful places, and torches burned brightly. The great wooden doors of the Great Hall stood open, and a few students walked into the laugher and chatter of reunited friends.
Harry glanced to his side, looking at Malfoy, as they stood in the entrance of the Great Hall. He looked even more frightened than he had in the carriage or on the train.
"Hey," Harry said quietly, causing Malfoy to raise an eyebrow at him. "Don't let them see that it gets to you. They'll use it against you if they see it."
Malfoy snorted. "Stupid Gryfindors…" Yet, some of the tension seemed to leave him. "Later, Potter."
"See you, Malfoy." And with that, Malfoy headed towards the Slytherin table in a whip of robes, as Harry made his way to Gryfindor. Eyes followed him as he walked down between Gryfindor and Ravenclaw, looking for the familiar hair of his two friends.
As soon as he stopped them, he plonked himself down in the seat opposite them.
"Harry." He looked up, eyebrows furrowed, as Ron said his name through gritted teeth. "What in the name of Merlin were you doing with Malfoy?"
"We just-" but the sound of the arrival of the new first years halted him. "I'll tell you after the Sorting."
Hermione watched Harry instead of the new first years that were filing in down the middle of the hall behind Harry. He shot her a smile and turned around to watch the amazed 11 year olds, who were gazing up at the enchanted ceiling and the floating candles.
McGonagall sat where Albus Dumbledore had once sat, as Professor Flitwick led the new students in, He was a head shorter than them, at least. Soon, the stool and the Sorting Hat were being brought forth by Professor Sprout, who smiled warmly at them. And with that, the Sorting began.
Harry lost track of who went to which house, but clapped loudly whenever he heard "Gryfindor!" erupt from the Hat. His eyes wandered across the Teacher's table. There was Hagrid, of course, beaming down at the first years. Trelawney sat between Professor Sinstra and Vector. Flitwick was reeling off the names. Sprout waited patiently beside him. Slughorn sat near Hagrid, clapping whenever a student joined Slytherin. What grabbed Harry's attention, were the two empty seats, which were more than likely for the new Transfiguration and Defence Against The Dark Arts teachers.
The Sorting came to a close, with the last of the first years going to Hufflepuff. Professor McGonagall stood, and the mild chatting ceased. She had survived the war with no more than a few grey hairs and mild injuries. Students still talked about her duel with snape that fateful day. Now, she was a badass.
"Welcome, to our new first years, and welcome back to all of our familiar faces."She began, a small smile on her lips, as she looked around the hall. "Last year was a very… difficult year for us, but Hogwarts has been restored, and we all greet your return, and new beginnings, with open arms.
"Here at Hogwarts, we want you to feel safe. It will be a home to you for many years, and a family. You will never be turned away with a question unanswered or a problem unsolved."
The Headmistress took a deep breath. "Last year, we lost some of our students, teachers, friends and family during the war. Some, if most, of us are still grieving for our losses. But know that you are not alone. You will never be alone. We are out of the dark times we went through, and into the light again. You have peers, and teachers, to advise you and help you, and I want you all to remember that."
As she paused, Harry felt pride and admiration for the old woman bursting inside of him. The war was a risky subject to discuss, but she had managed to turn it around, so people could see that they could get through it.
"A main focus this year will be on Inter-House Unity. Some people have become too caught up in the stigmas of the Houses. We all need to remember the Founders and their true wishes for the school." she said, looking around all four tables.
"As you may have realised, we have more students than usual with us with year. That is because some of last year's seventh years, whose year was just as disrupted as yours," her gaze landed on Harry, causing him to grin up at her. A small smile pulled at her lips, such a rare and amazing sight, "have decided to return to Hogwarts to complete an eighth year, to achieve their N.E.W.T's. Once the feast has ended, I ask those eighth years to wait behind.
"Now, that is all I wish to say. Enjoy the feast." And with that, the Headmistress sat.
Suddenly, the plates before them were full of food. Harry began to fill his own plate with mashed potatoes and roast beef.
"So," said Ron, piling food of every kind onto his plate, "You and the ferret. Explain."
Harry sighed. "I waited on the train until everyone left. I got off and ended up sharing the last carriage with Malfoy."
"He didn't try to do anything, did he?" Ron asked, taking a swig of pumpkin juice.
Harry shook his head. "Actually, we agreed on a truce."
In hindsight, he should have waited until Ron had swallowed, as he ended up covered in the juice.
"What?" Ron hissed, his face a mix of disbelief and confusion. "Surely you didn't mate!"
"Yup." Harry said briskly. "It was me who suggested it."
Hermione cut in before Ron could explode. "Harry, can I ask why?"
He shrugged. "He said he wanted a quiet year. I agreed. Plus I said I would keep Ron off his back."
Ron glared at him, as Hermione seemed to study him.
"What?" Harry asked. "It was the best solution. I've had enough trouble in my life."
"I'm not disagreeing with you," Hermione smiled, "That was very mature of you."
"Thanks." Harry grinned back at her. He looked at Ron, but found him staring at his gravy, before he turned to his left and began a conversation with Seamus.
Harry couldn't help but frown. He edged closer to Hermione. "What have I done now?"
She frowned as well. "I don't know, but he'll get used to it." She patted his hand. "Just eat something and then we can go to bed."
Harry nodded, and speared a potato off her plate.
"Now, seeing as you are eighth years, I have decided to give you a common room and dormitories to yourself." McGonagall said.
The feast had ended, and the other students departed to their dorms. They stood at the bottom of the podium that the teacher's table sat on. Looking around, Harry saw that the names he had been told on the train were correct.
"You are in the East Tower. Your portrait is of a hippogriff in flight, and the password is 'Wolfsbane'." The mention of the potion set an ache through Harry as he thought of Remus. He remember in his third year, when he was in Remus' office, Snape had entered with the smoking goblet of the potion, and how wary he had been when Remus had drunk it. He missed his old teacher. A lot.
"You will find your belongings in the dorms you will be sleeping in. Any House points you earn will be added to your respective Houses. Now, off to bed." McGonagall gave them all one last look before departing herself, leaving them to find their way.
"Our own Common Room! How cool is that?" Seamus exclaimed as they left the hall. "I can't wait to see what it looks like."
The Common Room was a cozy place. The décor was mainly black, with the four house colours of red, blue, yellow and green placed within it.
"She was serious about the Inter-House unity stuff, wasn't she?" Ron asked as he looked around. There were two couches and two armchairs around the blazing fire. Numerous desks and chairs were set out along the back wall, beside a rather large bookcase, crammed with all sorts of books.
"Seems so." replied Harry.
"I'm gonna find out which room's which." Ron said, before darting up the stairs. He looked like a little kid to Harry, reminding him of when they first arrived at Hogwarts and were introduced to Gryfindor Tower.
Harry stood there for a minute, looking around the Common Room. It wasn't the same as his old one in the North Tower, but at least it wasn't like the dungeons. Slowly, all of the other students made their way to the stairs and towards bed. Malfoy stopped half way up the stairs, and turned around to look at Harry.
"Going to stand there all night, Potter?" He drawled.
Harry smirked. "See you in the morning, Malfoy." He watched the blonde Slytherin make his way up the rest of the stairs before heading up himself, and to the warm, soft bed that awaited him.