Chapter Text
.
.
I had no intention of returning to Hogwarts for the eighth year, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell McGonagall no when she asked me during the last week of restorations and rebuilding.
Ron had opted out of returning, instead, he is taking over as George's partner at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. After losing Fred in the final battle all of the Weasleys were struggling with how to move forward without him. I think it's important for Ron right now to be close to his family. He had such a hard time away from them when we were hunting Horcruxes during the sixth year and I think now it would be even harder.
Hermione had been invited to attend Beauxbatons Academy of Magic for her eighth year. Of course, she jumped at the chance to expand her magical knowledge. She was already set to be the top student of our year and she couldn’t resist after seeing the curriculum. She may have mentioned a dozen or so times that Nicolas Flamel, the creator of the philosopher’s stone, had attended Beauxbatons. I think Hermione just needs to keep busy, when she slows down you can see how everything starts to creep up on her. You can see how the guilt over Obliviating her parents starts to eat at her, although her actions saved their lives, it became apparent shortly after the war that the effects of the erasure of herself from their lives could not be undone.
We’re all still just trying to figure out how to go about in the world and navigate our lives after the war. At first, it had been simple, there was so much damage by the war that there was endless work to be done to fix it. Over the summer Hermione, Ron, and myself, along with a slew of other volunteers came together to help rebuild Hogwarts, to undo the extensive damage done during the war. The Gryffindor tower was in ruins, the halls and classes of Hogwarts had curses and spells cast all over desecrating its ancient walls with marks and blood The Quidditch pitch was burnt to the ground, and the courtyard was still coated in the evidence of the battle fought and the lives lost.
It had been healing to do something tangible with my two best friends, to feel like we were doing something to help. It had been healing to just exist with them without fighting for our survival, ending our long days rebuilding and charming Hogwarts with chilled Butterbeers and nostalgic stories of good times. Laughing and having fun like normal eighteen-year-olds would.
The final week of the rebuilding had been bittersweet, knowing that in only days we were all set to go on our separate paths, no longer connected in the ways we had been since we were eleven years old.
When it finally came time to see Hermione off for her Portkey to France we had all cried and hugged out our goodbyes, it felt like the end of something. Kissing our tear-streaked cheeks, Hermione insisted “You boys better floo call me at least once a week, or I’m sending Howlers after you.” We had both mumbled out agreements between our sniffles, squeezing her tightly once more before letting her go.
Ron and I had stood in silence just staring at the empty space where Hermione had once stood for a while before Ron cleared his throat. “The Three Broomsticks, Sundays, Yeah?”
“Yeah Ron, wouldn’t miss it.”
And so that’s what I’m focusing on as I make my way to Platform 9 ¾. I’m thinking about how there are only six more days until I floo call with Hermione, and butterbeers with Ron in seven.
I push my trunk along on a trolley as I make my way through Kings Crossing towards the barrier that will lead me to platform 9 ¾. As I approach the illusioned brick wall I see a small group of what appears to be nervous first years arguing over who will go first. I smile at the sight of them remembering my own hesitation as a first year, and how Molly Weasley and her brood of children had helped me.
“How about I go first so you see how it works, and then you can follow suit?” I look down at them amused, Godric were we ever that small?
“Holy Helga’s Hefty Titts, it’s Harry Potter!” The boy's bright blue eyes widen as his jaw drops. His messy locks curtaining his face are red, not like the Weasleys’ patented fiery hue, but a deep almost brown, stuck up with random cowlicks.
A petite blonde with chocolate brown eyes comes up elbowing the boy sharply before slapping his jaw shut, “Watch your mouth, Seth!” She reminds me of Hermione scolding Ron. She turns back to look up at me, “So sorry Mr.Potter.”
Seth gives an exasperated huff, “You can’t blame me, I’m in shock, it’s HARRY BLOODY POTTER, Gerry!”
The girl, Gerry, rolls her eyes at Seth. Their two raven-haired friends with olive complexions blush and shuffle behind the two. “We would appreciate your guidance, Mr.Potter, I am Gerry Glaydes a pleasure to make your acquaintance. This heathen here is my cousin Seth Glaydes, please excuse him, he suffers from the absence of a fully formed frontal lobe.”
I have to bite my cheek to keep from laughing as Seth cries out at Gerry's claims, “Hey!”
“And this is Darcy and Tory Lyra, they’re fraternal twins,” she leans in closer to whisper, “quite shy.”
I can’t hold back my laugh anymore with Seth still angrily sputtering at Gerry. I hold out my hand in greeting, “Excellent to make your acquaintance, Gerry, Seth, Darcy, Tory.” I shake each of their hands as I say their names. “Feel free to just call me Harry, we will be schoolmates after all.” They’re all smiling and nodding eagerly, Seth a bit more enthusiastically than his friends.
“So, shall we get a move on? Make sure you have everything, and don’t hesitate alright? Just go for it!” I shoot them a wink before barreling through the barrier emerging out into Platform 9 ¾ to the familiar sight of the Hogwarts Express waiting for all the students to board.
“Aaaaah” Seth’s war cry follows behind me much to my amusement. “I DID IT!” He pumps his fist into the air enthusiastically. I wonder if this kid ever runs out of energy.
“Of course you did it Seth, it’s only illusioned to look like a brick wall.” Gerry's bored tone doesn’t match her complete look of awe as she takes in the sight of the Hogwarts Express for the first time. “Merlin, it’s better than all the books said it was.” Yep. Definitely reminds me of little ‘Mione.
I love seeing their awe, and joy in experiencing this for the first time. I remember just how out of my element I had felt, with bubbling excitement for the unknown. I had no idea what the next seven years would have in store for me, and really how could I have, but what a wild and magical ride my first year had been. I let out a content sigh, at least for these kids they had the chance to be normal kids with experiences kids should have instead of being pawns in a war they were unwillingly conscripted into.
The twins step through together, holding onto one another tightly. Wide eyes darting around nervously as they come to a stop next to me with their luggage piled onto one trolley.
“Hey,” I easily recognize the look of someone who is new to the wizarding world, “is all of this new for you two?”
The young boy, Darcy wraps a protective arm around his sister, positioning her slightly behind him as if I am a threat. He narrows his eyes at me, “Our dad was a squib, mums a muggle. We never knew ‘bout any of it until the owls started showing up and dad sat us down to explain everything.” Tory nods along with a serious look on her face, she’s probably going for an intimidating look but she’s just too adorable with her little pout.
“I know how that feels,” I smile warmly at his protective nature hoping to disarm his defensiveness a bit, if his dad explained everything as he says then they’re probably aware of the biases that have existed against muggle-borns and squibs.
“But you’re Harry Potter!” Seth exclaims, “you must be one of the most powerful wizards in all of Britain!”
This kid is loud enough to be a Weasley, maybe he’s a distant relative. “Yes, but I was raised by muggles. I didn’t know about magic or the wizarding world. The muggles I lived with even hid my letters from Hogwarts, trying to keep me from knowing I was a wizard. Eventually, Dumbledore had to send Hagrid, the former groundskeeper, now your Magical Creatures professor, to fetch me for my first year. Hagrid escorted me to Diagon Alley, where I went to Gringotts for the first time. Then with galleons in hand, which I had no idea what the monetary value of it was, I went and bought my school supplies before he dropped me off here at Kings Crossing. I even had someone help me my first time through the barrier as well. I had no bloody idea what I was doing.”
Seth looks shocked by my story before breathing out, “Merlin’s beard.”
“So don’t worry, you two, there’s plenty of students just like you who are learning of magic for the first time.” The twins smile, looking more than a little relieved. “You should hurry up though, best get aboard before all the compartments fill up and you’re forced to split up for seating.” I help the four of them load their trunks onto the train where the Hogwarts elves will later retrieve and magically place at each of their beds after sorting. I shoo them away towards an empty compartment, but Tory runs back throwing her little arms around my waist and giving me a tight hug before running off with rosy cheeks.
I’m grateful for the interaction, I hadn’t realised how anxious I had been feeling about returning to Hogwarts. The tension I had been holding in my shoulders seemed to have eased away as I reassured the first years. Maybe returning to Hogwarts won’t be as bad as I feared.
I take my wand out, only now remembering I’m old enough to cast magic without setting off bells and whistles at the Ministry for underage magic. I cast a quick Reducio over my trunk and drop it into my trouser pocket before stepping onto the Hogwarts Express.
Feeling my way down the narrow train corridor, I peek into the open compartments in hopes of finding some familiar faces, but most compartments are already full with excited students, or nervous first year. There are probably a lot of kids whose parents are only now allowing their kids to attend, now that the threat of war is over. Not to forget the muggle borns that Dumbledore and Snape had delayed their letters to for their safety. The school was bound to be very different from previous years, for obvious reasons.
Finally stumbling upon a deserted compartment I pop into it quickly to claim a seat. Not bothering to close the door as there’s so few available seats left, I’m bound to have company. I lean back, closing my eyes and allowing myself a moment before the inevitable company, the vibration and familiar sounds of the train lulling me into a relaxed state.
“Oh…Um, mind if we join you Potter?” A nervous feminine voice asks from the open doorway.
I crack an eye open, not recognizing the voice. Straightening up when I recognize the two girls standing there waiting for my reply. There stands the Greengrass sisters, Daphne and Astoria. I shared a few classes with Daphne over the years, but being Slytherin we didn’t interact much if at all. I only knew her younger sister from rumors of her betrothal to Malfoy, but that contract dissolved when their parents had fled Europe with them, taking them to America until things settled down here. Reportedly Lucious was venomous at the lack of loyalty and had deemed Astoria not worthy to bear a Malfoy heir. Honestly she probably dodged a hex there.
The taller girl, Daphne, was fidgeting nervously with her short blonde hair patiently waiting for an answer.
“Not many warm and fuzzy welcomes for snakes I’m afraid, nowhere else will have us.” I didn’t miss the bitter tone to Astoria’s words, raising her chin as if to dare me to make the mistake of pitying her. She obviously hates to ask me for permission.
“Yeah, welcome to it. The compartment is far too big for just me.” studying the girls as they enter, they both seemed to have relaxed with my answer. You can see their shoulders drop, and their posture slowly loosen up.
The Greengrass sisters shove their trunks under the seats opposite of where I sit. Daphne reaches down to let out a fluffy grey kitten before settling back into her seat. Astoria is already sitting, having pulled out a potions book, opening it to begin reading.
“What’s their name?” Watching the small, sleepy kitten yawn I can’t help but melt at the cuteness.
“Fitz” Daphne’s cheeks flush.
“After Scotts Fitzgerald.” Astoria looks up from her book to flash a smirk, “Daphy’s favourite muggle author.” She settles back lifting the book higher to read again.
“Oh, you read muggle books?”
Astoria raises a threatening eyebrow over the top of her book.
“I noticed not many wizarding folk do” I add quickly to defuse her speculation at my question.
“Oh yes, those who choose not to are missing out on some of the world’s best writing. I just adore muggle novels. Maybe it’s because they don’t have magic like ours, but you’d think they had spelled you with the beautiful words they write. The way they can make you feel such an array of emotions . The Great Gatsby is my absolute favourite though.” Her face is lit up and excited, her cheeks flushed and her blue eyes sparkling.
Without looking up from her potions book Astoria quips, “Now you’ve done it. She’s going to talk your ears off about the likes of Ole Fitzy, Jane Austen, and Dickens.” Her words have no bite, just warm affection for her sister.
“Tori, please.” Daphne’s face goes pinker. She and Ron would make quite the pair the way they redden.
“I don’t mind” I chuckle, mostly at the image I have of Daphne and Ron blushing and sputtering if they met. “It’s a nice change from hearing about the latest edition of Hogwarts: A History and how it differs from the previous one. Just don’t tell Hermione I told you.” I shoot a playful wink.
Daphne’s shy smile grows into a full on grin, she radiates her feelings freely. It’s almost as if her aura is a tangible thing warming the small space. She feels more like she belongs in Hufflepuff than Slytherin. She opens her mouth to say something but someone comes flying into the compartment, scrambling to slam the door behind them shut. He turns around panting heavily from the sprint.
“Oi! Daph! You gotta hide me!” The curly haired brunette looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. His olive skin is dusted in a spattering of freckles just across the bridge of his nose. “Salazar, didn’t see you there Potter! Mind saving this damsel from the big bad Dragon?”
“What?” I’m blinking at him in confusion.
“Slay the Dragon, Save the Damsel” he flutters his lush lashes at me flashing his bright green eyes at me.
Astoria lets out a snort, “Nott, the last thing you are is a damsel, what chaos did you unleash to anger said Dragon?”
That’s right, Theodore Nott, another Slytherin I only saw in passing over the years. His father had been there during the Tri-Wizard tournament when Cedric died. He was currently serving a life sentence in Azkaban.
It’s strange watching the three of them interact, acting the same way me and my friends would. The Slytherins had never seemed all that friendly, even towards one another.
“Oh you know, I may or may not have aided him in potentially catching the eye of the object of his infatuation.” He shrugs with a Cheshire like grin.
Astoria and Daphne exchange a glance, silently communicating something leaving me in the dark. Astoria asks warily, “How exactly did you aid in that, Nott?” She slides her eyes to me then back to Theo.
“I just thought he could do with an update to his look, I–”
“THEODORE, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?”
“Okay seriously, Potter, You’ll save me right?” Theo is actually starting to look worried, “I think he might hex my bollocks off if you don’t. I’m a thoroughbred wizard who hasn’t sowed his oats, don’t deprive the world of the joy of my heirs to come.”
“Uh…”
Before I can articulate a response to Theo a panting and fuming Draco Malfoy bursts into the compartment throwing the door open with a loud bang. “Theo, I hope you have your affairs in order because I’m going to–” he stops suddenly, his eyes widening in surprise, then gives a soft greeting, “Potter.”
I see now why Theo was running from Malfoy. The evidence of what Theo had done was hard to not notice. Malfoy’s usually nearly white hair was now flaming red, so red that the Weasleys’ hair would seem almost dull.
Theo shrinks beside me, hooking his arm through the crook of mine. “Don’t you think Drake’s new look suits him? With his complexion and this color he hardly looks translucent anymore. Wouldn’t you agree, Potter?”
I’m frozen, just staring, I hadn’t seen Malfoy since the last battle, when he had run towards me shouting my name. He had thrown me his wand without hesitation, trusting me to do what needed to be done and finish off Voldemort. I hadn’t even returned his wand, it was in my trunk, I had planned to leave it with McGonagall to arrange the return.
The hair isn’t all that has changed since I last saw Malfoy. Since I took possession of his wand he has grown taller, nearly a head taller than I am now. His shoulders are broad and tapering to his thin waist. His features less sharp, almost as if his body filled out, so did his face. His hair was no longer coiffed into that patented slicked back style he had worn throughout the years, now it fell loosely into his face, and was slightly wavy. Malfoy’s eyes are just as locked on to me as mine are to him, it isn’t until Theo speaks that we look away from one another.
“Sorry Drake, no can do. That’s from the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes latest line in temporary beauty charms.” He sounds far from sorry, especially with his ever growing grin, “I’m afraid you’re a ginge for at least the next forty-eight hours. So relax, grab a seat and get cozy. The train must be leaving soon, we will be moving shortly and there isn’t much left for seating out there.”
Malfoy’s shoulders slump in defeat, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. I almost don’t catch it when he mutters “If it’s okay with you, Potter.”
This Malfoy is nothing like the Malfoy I remember. I clear my throat, realizing I still hadn’t said anything since Malfoy burst in “Yeah, there’s plenty enough space I reckon...”
Malfoy gives me a curt nod of acknowledgement then seems to stall deciding where to sit. Theo scooches down the bench seat wiggling his eyebrows at Malfoy who only rolls his eyes, sitting in the space between Theo and me.
“Did you need to get your stuff, Draco?” Daphne’s eyebrows were furrowed in concern.
“Et’slay otnay ingbray isthay upyay” Theo hisses at Daphne.
“What?” Daphne crinkles her nose in confusion.
I can’t believe I’m hearing a pureblood speaking Pig Latin, “That’s very muggle of you, Nott” I can’t help but laugh. Seeing Daphne’s confusion worsen I take pity and explain, “It’s a muggle language, he said ‘Let’s not bring this up’.”
Theo deflates mumbling, “That sorta defeats the point, Potter, I see why you and the Weasel needed her royal swottiness.”
The train begins leaving the station and Astoria ignores Theo, closing her book she sits up straight directing her question at Malfoy, “Why not?”
“Why did you assign that job to your house elf?” The way it's so easy to slide back into our old dynamic, but it makes me feel uncomfortably childish to have said it.
Theo lets out a dramatic moan, sliding from his seat to the floor as if his bones were suddenly made of jello. “Potter, you’re only alive because of big brains Granger, aren’t you? How can the saviour of the wizarding world have such a lack of self-preservation? We don’t poke the Dragon.” I quirk an eyebrow looking at Theo where he lies sprawled on the floor between the two benches, considering the irony of his words. He more than just poked the Dragon with his latest antics.
“What Theo was so elegantly trying to avoid bringing up was how Lucius has disowned me.” Malfoy picks at invisible lint on his robes as if bored of the conversation, “I’m essentially homeless and penniless. Lucius stripped me of my title and my inheritance.” Malfoy looks unbothered despite the bomb he just dropped.
Both Greengrass girls start asking questions at the same time, their words falling over one another until Draco raises a hand to halt them, “It’s fine. Mother hasn’t disowned me, I’m still an heir of the House of Black in her eyes. She assures me she will arrange for my things to get to Hogwarts, but she’s obviously working to be discrete. She doesn’t need Lucius’ wrath focused on her. So let’s drop this.”
Slack jawed and staring at Malfoy, my mind has a million questions. What did Malfoy do to be disowned? Was he really homeless and penniless? I can’t fathom anything crazy enough to warrant Lucius giving up his sole heir.
Theo makes a valiant effort to steer the conversation elsewhere from where he’s still sprawled out on the floor, “So you see gang, I’ve had to put up with a rather grumpy Dragon all summer. As you can imagine he’s not the most amicable roommate. So I had to get him back with a HARMLESS charm.” he nearly shouts, emphasizing the harmlessness of the beauty charm.
“Oh I so look forward to how you will retaliate against rabbit here” Astoria claps her hands gleefully despite the glare Theo is throwing at her for the nickname.
Malfoy leans over me, and I can smell mint on him as he drops his voice, staring down at Theo as he practically growls, “Yes Theo, you have to sleep sometime after all.”
Theo sits up on the floor leaning into my legs from where he sits. “Potter, would you care to adopt this poor snake? You like to play hero and all that rot right?” He pouts at me with puppy dog eyes, “I’m practically an orphan, dead mum, incarcerated criminal wankstain of an abusive father. I basically have ‘Save me’ tattooed on my forehead. Save me from the Dragon Papa”
Malfoy snorts before I can react and I tense ready to receive some obnoxious taunt about my being an orphan myself. That’s what the Malfoy I know would do.
“Potter, if you do take in this snake I feel it is my duty to warn you of what you’d be undertaking.” He leans back, his legs sprawled and holding his hands with the fingertips peaked together across his stomach. He nods solemnly as he continues, “Theodore is immensely spoiled, high maintenance, and has an insatiable hunger for being the center of attention. He craves attention so thoroughly that I suspect he would wither and die without it. He also has no sense of boundaries, and is a harbinger of chaos”
I look to Theo who just continues to flutter his lashes up at me. The exaggerated posh accent he uses has him sounding like Malfoy in first year. “Yes Papa, I need a minimum of ALL your attention, steady supply of Honey Dukes sugar quills and butterbeer on tap– but I will in fact, be the bestest boy.” He sticks his tongue out at Malfoy playfully.
Malfoy lets out a booming laugh and my heart stalls. I don’t think in all the years I’ve known Draco Malfoy, have I ever heard him laugh. Not a chuckle after a barbed insult or a sneering scoff at someone's expense, but a genuine full-bellied laugh. A laugh that has his cheek pink and his face soft as the corners of his eyes crinkle.
“Okay, okay, down boy. I don’t think Potter is well-versed in your weirdness. You and Draco are barmy at the best of times, absolute nutters the rest.” Astoria pats the seat next to her, “Up boy.”
Theo growls a bark at her sarcastically. He leaps to his feet and bounds over to attempt to squeeze between the Greengrass sisters, instead of where Astoria had patted the empty space that sat to her opposite side. Theo wiggles obnoxiously around until they make the space for him, where he tosses an arm over the back of the bench behind each of the sisters.
“Fuck, this is like I’m in the Twilight Zone” I blink a few times before it occurs to me that I spoke my thoughts about this entire situation out loud.
“Never thought I’d hear the Chosen One use such filthy language” Malfoys face is still smiling, with his tone playful.
“And what’s the Twilight Zone?” Theo cocks his head in question.
I look around me at the group of snakes who are all staring back expectantly at me, “Well, it’s a muggle saying…”
“What does it mean?” Daphne’s eyes shine with curiosity. She’s like Hermione, if instead of being enthusiastic about learning about the wizarding world she was enthusiastic about the muggle world.
“It means you’re experiencing a state of mind that's between reality and fantasy... A feeling of surrealness. Like being in a vague or uncertain condition or situation.”
“Yeah, you lost me.” Theo lets out a huff of air slouching back.
“So this situation feels immensely strange or surreal to you?” Malfoy’s silver eyes search my face in earnest.
“Yes. Not in a bad way, just… confusing.” My mouth feels dry looking back at the intense pools of silver.
Malfoy gives a curt nod of his head, “Makes sense, it’s not as if things were ever civil between us before.” He lets his gaze wander to the window, where the Scottish countryside whizzes by, and he falls silent.
Clearing her throat at the sudden awkward tension in the air Daphne extends her hand out to me smiling sweetly, “Daphne Greengrass, a pleasure to make your acquaintance once more Potter. To new beginnings?”
I return her smile, reaching out to clasp her hand in mine, shaking it, “to new beginnings.”