31st of August 1999 - Wednesday
Harry puts his hair up in a small ponytail. He shrinks his trunk down, puts his wand into his hair and pauses when getting Hedwig's old cage. Sometimes he still feels like she is still here. Harry smiled sadly and walked outside to apparate to the Weasley's.
Harry opens his eyes when he lands onto the front lawn, Harry smiles and walks into the house. He can still feel the mourning of Fred's death linger and his smile drops a little.
Harry walks into the kitchen to see Mrs.Weasley cooking dinner, she looks at him,
"Harry!" The plump woman walks over and hugs him warmly. She smiles and says "Ron and Hermionie are upstairs in Ron's room dear, oh! And dinner will be finished soon so be quick!" He smiled at her, said his thanks and walked upstairs into his best friend's room.
Harry walked into Ron's bedroom, most of the Chudley Cannons posters were taken down as well as the bedsheets that were replaced with a nicer burgundy colour.
He had found Hermione and Ron cuddling on his bed, and it turns out Hermione had an inheritance. Inheritances sounded very... odd in Harry's opinion, he didn't quite understand them seeing how every wixen he had seen growing up wasn't part animal..
'except for Veela's' he thought.
When Harry looked at Hermione he had seen glistening white scales in areas of her neck and upper arm. You wouldn't really notice them unless you looked hard enough. Although Ron didn't have any change to him.
Ron was asleep so Harry quietly walked inside and enlarged his trunk putting it by his campfire bed. Hermionie looked at him, smiled and waved, Harry smiled back at her. He was still confused on the whole inheritance thing but obviously it had something to do with animals he will have to ask hermione later.
Harry grabbed a potions book, laid on his bed and began to read it on the chapter he left 'bunny folded' on.
After dinner and interacting with the Weasley's Harry went back upstairs with Hermione. He wanted to ask about inheritances and how they really work didn't really wanna bother her but he sucked up the courage to ask.
While walking next to Hermionie, she looked at Harry and tilted her head slightly huffing,
"Are you alright Harry?" she muttered. Harry rubbed behind his neck he could hear the faint screech of petunia when he got too curious. Hermione raises her eyebrow as they stop In front of Ron's bedroom door.
She put a comforting hand on his arm,
"What is it?" she said.
"whatareinheritances" Harry spoke very fast, anxious of sounding stupid.
"Harry slow down" Hermione sighed, Harry averted his gaze .
"What are inheritances?" He nearly whispered, Hermione strained to hear what he had muttered.
She looked a little thoughtful and paused slightly and said,
"Inheritances are things that run through a family's bloodline. They are most common in pure bloodlines because pure bloods most likely have animal type ancestors like veelas or centaurs, this is because all magical people came from creature descent, this is how we wield magic, use it unlike muggles."
"Then how do you have an inheritance if you are the first witch in your family?" Harry questioned,
"We found out that my ancestors were a branch of squibs from a pure blood family" Hermione excitedly said
"That's amazing!" Harry replied, grinning.
They both grinned as they walked into Ron's room, they both talked animatedly about inheritances as it was something they can both latch onto whilst they wait for a certain red head to come back upstairs.
Harry was still awake in the night, he had been gathering pent up energy as he walked around the house looking for something to do, after Voldemort died he constantly reminded himself that he doesn't have to fight anymore but he doesn't know what to do now, he doesn't want to be an auror anymore — he had fought enough to last a lifetime — but Harry has always grown up with fighting others, the Dursley's, Voldemort. The death eaters... And Malfoy.
Harry shook his head. He quickly made himself some Chamomile tea that he brought with him, he was exhausted after many sleepless nights.
1st of September 1999 - Thursday
When Harry closed his eyes he was all of a sudden in the cupboard. Under the stairs, Vernon leaning over him-
Harry gasps as he wakes up,
He sits up in the campfire bed "tempus" he muttered '3:32' floated in the air. Harry rubbed his head and sighs. He took off his top to change it to something else because it was sweaty.
Harry quietly lays in his bed again and thought about how he's going to Hogwarts tomorrow, it calmed him down slightly but not enough to keep him asleep.
Harry wakes up again to Ron hitting his head with a pillow.
"Bloody hell Ron" he muttered as he pushed himself into a sitting position he wished he got more sleep.
Ron laughed "Breakfast is ready mate"
Harry put his glasses on and followed Ron downstairs smelling the fresh eggs and bacon that was waiting for him downstairs. Harry swiftly plated himself food and ate quickly to keep up with the morning rush of being ready.
After breakfast everyone that went to Hogwarts started to grab their trunks and all got in the car to go to platform nine and three quarters
When The Golden trio and Ginny got into the train it took them a while to find an area to sit. Then a certain blonde caught Harry's eye.
As soon as Harry looked at Malfoy he felt dull pressure on his shoulder again, but he thought nothing of it.
"You alright mate?" Ron asked Harry as he slightly elbowed him, the raven haired man looked at the ginger and replied, "Yeah, just excited about going back that's all" Ron shrugged his shoulders.
While walking on the train Harry wondered why he never saw anyone with inheritances, 'why are people hiding their inheritances.. well maybe not the Veela' he thought to himself.
The group of four finally found Luna and Neville and sat down in their compartment.
"Hey guys" Harry greeted them warmly,
"Hello phoenix" Luna said dreamily, 'phoenix?' Harry thought, 'that's new..'
"Erm.. yeah hey Harry" Neville stuttered
Harry and the trio waved at the Weasley family as the train started to quickly pick up speed.
Luna looked at Harry and smiled at him, Hermione closed the compartment door, locked it and shut the blind.
Luna resumed reading her father's newspaper upside down and Neville was showing Hermione his new plant when she sat next to him.
Harry rolled his shoulder a little as the dull pain started to spread down his arm, Luna looked at him and asked if he was okay but he just brushed it off and shut down her worries.
Harry was going to tune into Hermione's and Neville's conversation until Ron tapped him softly with concern in his eyes.
"Harry if there's something wrong you can tell me" Ron muttered "I've noticed you have been acting distant since you arrived at the house" he added on.
The raven shook his head "No no I'm alright I promise" he held his hands up and waved them a little "just got shoulder pain that's all" he smiled at the ginger, Ron squinted his eyes slightly but didn't push on any longer so he started to talk about Quidditch.
- - - -
When the golden trio and the other year 8s arrived at the great hall they had their own table to themselves that wasn't separated into four, unlike the other years.
The sorting did not take as long as the other years, considering Harry felt disgusted as he comprehended how much of the new generation of wixens were slaughtered.
The newly made headmistress Professor McGonagall stood up near the podium cleared her throat and announced:-
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before you tuck into the delightful meal the house elves made, I would like to remind you that there is no magic that should be used in the hall and that in the second week of term quidditch trials will be held if anyone above first year is interested in joining."
Mcgonagal than turned to the year 8 table, her glasses glistening in the light, and stated:-
"To the year 8's that are confused about why they are all on the same table is because you will be your own house. You will all have a common room together because of how little of you came back to continue your education. Year 8s will also have two person dorm rooms as the tower you are residing in is small in scale, the other person sharing your room is picked randomly."
The Headmistress smiled with a hard gaze
"May the feast commence!" She then strolled back to her chair.
Harry looked at Ron bewildered, Ron looked the same except he had already filled his mouth with chicken. "I cannot believe that they are choosing it randomly. This is ghastly" Harry heard a blond say,
"No one cares what you think Malfoy, what are you going to do? Tell your father?" another person shouted back.
Harry stared to fill his plate and glanced at where the teachers where sitting, as he was scanning who he recognized, he saw a familiar face
"Look, there's Remus!" Harry said with a grin
"B'imy m'te!" Ron swallowed his food "He didn't say about coming back" The ginger grinned.
After food was over the golden trio and the other year 8s were following professor McGonagall to their common room.
When they arrived they were given slips that had their room and dorm mate.. Harry's read
- - - - - - - - -
Room 36
With:
Draco Malfoy
- - - - - - - - -
Harry groaned and showed his friends his card. Ron patted his back sympathetically and shook his head lightly "Sucks to be you".
Hermione tried to make the situation seem better,
"Maybe you and Malfoy will get along? You never know, I mean this childish rivalry needs to end some day"
He huffed and rolled his eyes "you won't have to deal with that pompous git like I will 'mione" He bid his good nights and lazily dragged his feet towards his dorm room and dreadfully opened the door.
Harry looked around, he walked into a small living room, inside had a black sofa with dark green walls with dark oak floorboards. on each side of the walls there are doors.
Harry opened the one on the right and it leads to a kitchen that has greenish black cupboards and dark oak countertops with a black sink.
In the kitchen there is another door that leads to a bathroom that is silver and black with a bath and shower.
The other door on the left leads to a twin bedroom that has a desaturated green wall with the beds being a dark wood with gold patterns etched into it and a black rug in the middle, there were two wardrobes to put their clothes and belongings in.
He saw his trunk under the bed, he grabbed it and set it on his bed. Harry opened his trunk and started to unpack his clothes quietly on the left side of the room, until a blond burst in.
Harry rolled his eyes at him and carried on unpacking his things. He heard Malfoy huff and start unpacking his things as well.
Harry started to feel the dull pressure on his shoulder again and something in the back of his mind. He tried to pay less attention to it and try to unpack the rest of his stuff in the tense atmosphere.
After a while Malfoy finally broke the still quietness "Potter" he sniffed, turning to look at Harry. The other rolled his eyes again and turned to look at the smaller "Yes Malfoy?"
Malfoy averted his gaze to something else and continued "if we are going to share a dorm.." he looked at Harry again, uncertainty laced within his voice, "I think, we should at least, well... be civil."
Harry could tell the blond was tense, the way his shoulders were square and the way his hair looked fluffy and his eyes...
Harry blinked and cleared his throat, "I agree, uh.. shake on it?" He questioned and held his hand out a little.
Malfoy raised his eyebrow and shook Harry's hand, they
both went back to unpacking the atmosphere more calming than before...
- - - -
The wizard woke up to rustling bed sheets, he cracked one eye open to Malfoy standing up and going to their kitchen, he closed his eyes again and listened out to what he was doing.
There was a glass that was being filled by a running tap, Malfoy had soft footsteps as he walked around.
Harry opened his eyes to check the time,
6:05 am
He wondered why Malfoy was up this early, he wasn't going to check until he heard muffled sobs. He knew it wasn't his business and they were not really close. But he felt something telling him that he needed to check it out.
He quietly got out of bed and walked to the kitchen, he saw Draco with a half drunk glass of water leaning over the counter crying softly.
Harry felt awkward but went to the blonde anyways "Malfoy?" He said quietly to not startle the blonde. Malfoy looked at him and glared "What Potter" He whispered, voice horse as he wiped his tears with the back of his hand although fresh ones replaced them,
"Here to laugh! You fucking-" Malfoy said stuttering as he sobbed "absolute freak coming in here to just- just!"
Harry cut him off "No, no I'm not here to laugh. I just heard you crying and y'know.."
The blonde looked at him with a puzzled rage staring into Harry's soul. Harry looked back unwavering, he noticed how Malfoy was hugging himself and nursing an empty glass, he had an insecure and lonely feeling radiating off him in waves.
'I'm going to get my bollocks blasted off for this..' thought Harry, he walked towards Malfoy and softly wrapped his arms around him.
Malfoy startled, he was stiff as a board at first but it did not take him long to soften up and mould into Harry's comforting hold. Malfoy wrapped his pale arms around Harry.
Harry put his hand on Malfoy's back and rubbed it comfortingly. Malfoy put his head on Harry's shoulder, Harry rocked them both slowly as he quietly comforted the blonde.
After they finished their hug and Malfoy's quiet crys turned into hiccups, Malfoy moved slightly and lifted his head looking at Harry, "We.. We don't talk about this.." he muttered.
They both went to their separate beds, feeling an odd sort of warmth as they both drifted off to sleep.
2nd of September 1999 - Friday
Harry woke up at 7am and yawned. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and immediately started his day. It was natural for him to do so after living with the Dursleys for so long and living in a tent during the war. He grabbed his uniform to get dressed in the bathroom after a shower, brushed his teeth and hair.
After he was ready it was 7:30 and Malfoy was just waking up. Harry looked at Malfoy "Mornin" Malfoy looked at his eyes darting nervously "Morning Potter" he muttered Harry rolled his eyes and smiled slightly.
"I didn't know you're a morning person" Malfoy commented as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes, his hair stuck up in many places. Harry nearly chuckled at the sight.
After ten minutes Malfoy was ready for breakfast. He walked straight out the common room and Harry waited for Hermione and Ron.
Harry didn't need to wait long for them to meet up with Harry and they all walked down together to the great hall.
Harry grabbed some porridge and ate grimacing when he looked at Ron was stuffing his face with toast and speaking at the same time.
Professor McGonagall was giving out the year 8s their timetable Harry's read,
Monday:
7:40 - 8:40
Defence Against The Dark Arts.
8:40 - 9:00
Break time
9:00 - 10:00
Transfiguration
10:00 - 11:00
Potions
11:00 - 12:00
Lunch
So on so forth... he had boring lessons after lunch today. He and the rest of the trio put their timetables together.
"Okay so we have every single one before lunch together!" Hermione said, Ron nodded
"I wonder if Remus will have better DADA classes than before!" Harry grinned "His classes were so good in 3rd year."
"Probably because he was the only one who taught us anything," Ron snickered.
A few minutes passed and they had finished their breakfast, the trio were walking down the corridor to Remus' class. Harry was almost bouncing with excitement. They lined up outside of the door with the other year 8s waiting to be let in, there was a bunch of excited muttering that was mostly "I wonder how long he will last" or "I wonder if his classes are still good".
Everything was going great until Harry heard an ex-Slytherin loudly say "I can't believe they let this mutt back at Hogwarts! What the hell were the ministry thinking"
Harry's fingers twitched, his mind racing as he snapped his head to look at him, his hand etching towards his wand. He glared venomously at the freakishly white Slytherin daring him to say more.
Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and as he looked at her she shook her head, "don't pay attention to them" she muttered.
Remus finally opened the door and let everyone in, he stood at the front of the classroom and smiled at the students.
"Hello class!" He said "Welcome back to a new year at Hogwarts!, hopefully this year it will at least be a normal one" most of the class giggled at his joke.
Harry was listening interested in today's lesson, his leg was bouncing out of excitement.
"Today's lesson, we are going back to the Boggards," some people tense up, "a lot of fears have changed drastically. I know that some of you will have different probably more powerful fears than before, so this is why we are going back to it"
Harry was wide eyed, what was he afraid of?..
Harry's wandering eyes landed on Malfoy, he didn't know why but when they did he felt a rough pain in his shoulder. So he looked at Remus instead, his well prepared speech starting to drift away as Harry started to tune out of the lesson and subconsciously focus on the pain in his shoulder.
"Ter?" Someone nudged him "Ot-r" and they did it again.
"Potter!"
Yelled Malfoy, Harry blinked twice "wha-" Malfoy groaned "of course you're going to be stupid when we are partnered together!" Wait what?? When were they partnered together? Harry felt dazed and he had a far away feeling.
"Cmon potter we have to go to the Boggard" The blond said, Harry stood up nodded numbly and winced as he moved his shoulder.
Malfoy raised his eyebrow at Harry, why did he wince? Why wasn't he paying attention to a lesson he enjoys?
"Where are we going then?" Harry asked, Malfoy looked at him "Follow me scarhead" Draco replied.
They walked to an empty classroom where everyone else was lined up in front of a draw, turns out everyone was partnered with their dorm buddy.
"Welcome boys, just stand behind Neville!" Draco rolled his eyes and Harry just went to the back of the line.
Most people's fears included the death of others which is unsurprising. It was not long before it was Ron's turn, suddenly he was in front of the dark cloud that emitted from the horcruxes when they were broken. Ron took a small step back and held up, his wand shook as he muttered the spell, then there was a cloud with a smiley face on it, most people laughed as it floated around.
Then it was Hermione's turn, she walked in front of the drawer, Bellatrix jumped out of the drawer she was holding a knife, like she did when they were all captured.
Malfoy cleared his throat quietly at this, it is his aunt after all.
Hermione was firm, he gripped her want and pointed it straight at Bellatrix "Riddikulus" she shouted. Bellatrix had a pink frilly dress on, her hair was straight and neat as she held a tea cup like a child waiting to play tea parties with her toys.
The reaction from the audience was awkward as a few awkwardly chucked at the well known black.
After a while it was finally Malfoy's turn, the blonde stood in front of the draw.
It was now that Harry realised that Malfoy had not worn any gel as Lucius Malfoy was facing Malfoy.
Lucius opened his mouth to say something, until Malfoy made him wear a dress that had peacock feathers on making him mimic the animal.
Harry and the audience sniggered at this. Although his fun didn't last long as his stomach did a somersault realising it was his turn next. He was worried about what would appear.
He stood in front of the drawer himself, it took a while to take a form.
First Voldemort appeared, this made most people gasp. Then a Death Eater appeared, then a half dead Snape, then other dead people that he had seen during the battle, this made Harry shudder a little as he waited for it to settle on something.
Suddenly the Boggard made a dark wall that surrounded him in a small box and Vernon appeared his face was purple as he sneered at Harry, the boggard raised its hand and Harry flinched his with his own arm raised. Before Harry could say anything his hand lit up and shot the boggard.
Vernon and the dark wall disappeared and so did the boggard; the bright light that left his palm created a massive crack in the stone wall behind the drawer. Harry nearly threw up on the floor, the world slightly spinning as his lungs contracted.
Remus went over to Harry and caught him as he nearly collapsed on the floor. "Rest of you did amazing! Lesson is over." Some of the students stood with their jaws open staring at the crack, others stared at Harry like he was a zoo animal "Don't stand there and gawp move!"
Harry's eyes found themselves looking at Malfoy who had genuine concern laced in his eyes, Malfoy and the class walked back to the DADA classroom.
Lupin sat Harry down "You alright?" Harry gripped onto Lupin as his breathing quickened, Lupin hugged the boy and exaggerated his breathing, tapping a pattern into his arm as he said comforting words to the younger.
It took Harry a little while to calm down, his breathing slowed as he tried to count with the taps Lupin was doing.
After he calmed down Harry and Lupin went back to the class, Harry was still shaken and pale by what had happened and sat next to Ron.
"Alright mate" Ron muttered and patted his back softly, Harry nodded, Hermione smiled a little at him.
The day went pretty fast although most of the time Harry was distant, not paying attention to most of his classes. McGonagall's class was just turning pillows into animals and then turning the animals into tiny pieces of furniture, and potions was just a recap. Although throughout potions certain slytherins grinned nastily at Harry as they chuckle and giggle about what happened in DADA.
By the end of the day Harry was tired, so he went to his dorm and made a move of going straight to bed until Malfoy stood in front of him in the living room…
"What happened in DADA?"He asked, Harry relived the memory and shuddered violently,
"It's none of your business" he sneered back quietly he felt exposed. Harrys hands felt warm as some of the books that were on the shelves shifted and the windows creaked viscously as if they were ready to break.
Malfoy observed his reaction, the windows and other moving inanimate objects and sighed, "Well I want you to tell someone. I don't want to be seeing the person I share a dorm with walking around with a face like a smacked arse" Draco sniffed as he rolled his eyes.
Harry nodded, he watched Malfoy walk a little closer to him. "I know it's only been a few hours since this civil thing." Malfoy said "But don't think you can treat me like your little cronies, I will help you. But don't think I'll let you sit there and yell at me."
Harry looked at Malfoy in the eyes, he huffed and nodded. "I'm going to bed" he grumbled walking towards the bedroom.
- - - -
Draco woke up in the middle of the night to Potter tossing and turning in his bed like he's doing a marathon.
Safe to say it's way too early to be woken up by him for goodness sake.
He turns to look at Potter, his brow furrowed as Potter was wincing and muttering in his sleep.
"Don't… dley…" Harry murmured.
Draco got up and walked towards Potter's bed, he put his hand on Harry's shoulder and shook him lightly.
"Potter?.. Harry! Wake up" he yelled.
As he went to shake Harry again his green eyes snapped open, his pupils dilated as he shot up in his bed.
"DONT! Don't you dare touch me. Get off, GET OFF!" Harry started to swing his arms around blindly "Get away from me, GET AWAY" his voice starting to become horse as he was still stuck in whatever dream he had been in.
Draco could sense the flickers of magic coming off Harry's hands and around his body as Harry thrashed around his bed trying to get away from Malfoy.
Draco was stunned. He took a few steps away from Harry's bed slightly, he can see that he is not breathing right, his chest stuttering, what on god's green earth..
"Pot- Harry! It's me it's Draco"
Potter's eyes were misted over darting as if he could see something that wasn't there, he was still reliving whatever nightmare he had, Draco started to walk towards Harry and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Harry it's just me"
It was odd talking to him like this, so softly and carefully like he was a bomb ready to explode. But Draco can see how Harry stiffens as he finally registers him, Harry looks at Draco, his pupils start to constrict to their original size and the wild magic becomes more tame.
Draco puts his hand on top of Harry's slowly and softly to not scare him, "it's just me" Draco whispers.
Harry's breathing slows down, "'raco" he murmurs.
"Yes Harry?" He answered
Harry finally turns towards him trails of tears shone on his cheeks, "what time is it? Jesus, did I wake you up? I'm so sorry"
Of course he is worried about others and not himself, Jesus this man needs to learn how to be selfish.
"I'm fine you idiot, I'm worried about you for goodness sake! You bloody woke up screaming half the castle down."
Harry looked away, flushing a little, looking embarrassed. Draco thinks he would be as well if he was in Harry's situation.
"Do you wanna talk about it? I did tell you yesterday that I'm here for you. I mean it"
Harry shudders, it reminds Draco of the reaction he had at the mention of the DADA class.
Harry then curls in on himself, his knees being pulled towards his chest as he hugs them " 's not that important.."
Draco raised his eyebrow,
"Not that important my backside, I get that we've really been okay for like what, a day? But you can't keep this to yourself. Have you even told the mu- Hermione about this"
"Well no.. but really it's not that big of a deal"
Harry looks really small, vulnerable.
Draco softly pulls Harry close thinking about the night before.
"You can tell me, it's okay" he mutters.
Harry's shoulders lose their tension, he leans into Draco and puts his head on his shoulder.
They are just a bundle of limbs, it's warm and quiet, they both think.
Draco softly rubs Harry's back, similar to what the raven did to him on the first night.
"Speak to me Harry"
Harry shakes his head "don' wanna, jus' go asleep" his words slurring together as he spoke.
Draco could easily weasel information out of Potter right now, but he feels like that would be pushing too many of his buttons.
Draco decided to let it go for now, let Harry finally sleep but if it happens again he won't be so nice.
3rd of September 1999 - Saturday
Harry woke up laying on top of something. He opened his eyes and tensed 'what the fuck…' he thought as his pillow turned out to be Draco fucking Malfoy.
Harry slowly lifted his head and looked at the sun piercing through the clouds, unusual for a September in hogwarts. They are so lucky it's a Saturday as he can tell they both slept in late.
Harry yawned, his eyes heavy from the amount of sleep he got. It was unusual for him to sleep as late as he had done, he wasn't complaining though he felt relaxed.
Harry slowly sat up from laying ontop of Malfoy; he felt weirded out by how calm he was when surrounded by the blonde.
He walked to the bathroom, when he looked in the mirror while brushing his teeth he saw something growing on his shoulder.
'Is that.. a feather?' He thought. Harry spat out into the sink and put his brush down as he violently took off his top.
"What the fuck." He said, as small green feathers trailed were sprouting from his shoulder and seemed to travel to the top of his arm.
"What the fuck" Harry repeated. He stood, shocked as his eyes were glued onto the arm.
He lifted his right hand and felt the biggest one, it was smooth but small. He could see a slight gradient of black to green on some of the feathers.
Harry puts his head in his hands, the stubble on his face scratching against his fingers. He lifts his head up and grabs his shirt, putting it back on.
He finished brushing his teeth and shaved the stubble on his face. He then went to the living room, he had not heard Malfoy get up yet.
Harry took out his wand "tempus". 12:45 floated in the air. He had missed breakfast 15 minutes ago, he wondered if he should quickly make something in the kitchen.
'No' he thought 'I'm going to the library to figure out what the fuck is happening to me'
He quickly got dressed and speed walked down to the library.
- - - -
Draco woke up after he heard the front door close. He inhaled an ambery scent as he relaxed more into the duvet.
'Ambery?..' he thought. Draco cracked open an eye and flushed, he was still in Potter's bed.
As he sat up, on his top there was a greenish feather. Draco frowned; he was confused about where it had come from. "There's no green owls or birds here," he muttered.
'Whatever' he thought, he got out of Potter's bed and rubbed his eyes as the sun glared through a crack in the curtains.