And They Were Roommates
| Il est étrange d'être hanté par quelqu'un qui est encore en vie. |
*Listen to Roommates by Malcom Todd for this chapter*
Harry awoke groggily when he felt the train come to a stop. He stretched, opening his eyes and adjusting his glasses.
He looked at Ron and Hermione, who were both still asleep. Harry stood up and shook both of them awake.
Ron protested slightly, but Hermione simply got up and stretched, opening the compartment door.
”Ron,” she said sternly. “Wake up, would you? We’re here!” She exclaimed, and Ron startled awake, jumping up.
”Right! Right! I’m awake!” He slurred, rubbing his eyes. Harry snorted, rolling his eyes in amusement. The three filed out of the compartment, grateful for the fact that in the seven times they had been on this train, for once, the halls weren’t extremely crowded with students.
they seemed to be the last ones off the train, stepping off just as the train lurched forward and began to roll away. In the distance, he could see Luna and Lavender walking up the cracked steps.
”Luna! Lavender!” Hermione called out, waving wildly. Lavender and Luna turned in unison, and Luna waved, turning to Lavender before the two girls stopped to wait for the trio.
”Hello, Hermione,” Luna greeted in her dreamy voice. “Hi, Ron. Nice to see you, Harry,” she added. Lavender just gave a shy wave, smiling.
”Nice to see you too, Luna. How has the prolonged summer been?” Harry asked as they started to walk up the steps.
”Oh, quite lovely. I went on a trip with Lavender to hunt for Wackspurts. It was very fun.” Luna explained, Lavender nodding in agreement.
”Luna is very educated on…Wackspurts,” Lavender seemed to have to look for the word, and Harry heard Ron fight back a snort. He elbowed the ginger in his side. He made a face and pinched Harry. Harry made a face.
Harry wondered where Neville and Blaise were, and if there was anybody else attending. He guessed Pansy Parkinson, since he’d seen her with Ginny. He’d also learned that Ron was wrong about Ginny being the only seventh year attending. All of the sixth years from last year were attending for their seventh year, and most of the people who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. Hermione had explained nobody under fifth year was allowed to attend this year because most of the fifth-year dormitories were still under construction, as with all the lower years. How she knew this, he had no idea. But, Hermione always had her ways.
They finally entered the castle. They walked down the cracked stone hallway, stopping in front of the large oak doors. The entrance to The Great Hall. The five looked at each other, before stepping through.
Harry was surprised to find that there were only two long tables in The Great Hall, and that instead of the sky being displayed on the ceiling, there was just the high rafters and elegant peaks. Harry was startled by this, used to looking up and seeing beautiful clouds across sky blue, or cloudy days with the sound of rain above. It sent a small pang through his heart, and he frowned. He quickly noticed that the room had gone silent, many faces staring at him. He shifted uncomfortably. He hadn’t had this many faces staring at him in awhile. He kept to himself in Sirius’ home, afraid of being recognized.
”Harry?” A voice called out. “Harry! Come sit!” The voice rang again. Harry searched for the voice, before finding Neville cheerfully waving, grinning from ear to ear. Harry smiled back softly, stalking over with the rest of the group behind him. He could feel their stares, their jealousy and mix of awe. He ignored this, as he always did, and the guttural fear that came with it.
”Theres enough room for everyone, Harry! Made sure I kept some seats for those I knew were coming.” Neville scooted closer to Blaise, although he didn’t really have to. Hermione smiled at that.
”Thanks, Neville,” she said, sitting across from him. Harry sat next to Hermione, Ron next to Harry, and Luna and Lavender together by Neville.
The Great Hall had begun to fill up with sound once more, but there was a sudden silence from everyone who had sat down, as they hadn’t almost recognized the blonde haired boy, towards the end, sitting silently next to Pansy Parkinson.
Harry stared, and he stared hard. He couldn’t not stare. Not when Draco Malfoy was sitting diagonal from him, in a little over an arms reach.
”Ahem,” Ginny cleared her throat loudly, looking confident and fiery, “So, how was everybody’s summer? Interesting, I suppose?” She asked.
”Oh!” Hermione exclaimed, as if catching onto something, “Oh, it was lovely, Ginny. You should know, yes? We spent some time together. Oh, Luna, did you know Ginny and I went to visit Bill and Fleur this summer? And they had baby dragons? I think you would have found that interesting,” Hermione ranted. Luna nodded slowly.
”Yes. Maybe I will bring Lavender with me when I visit at Christmas. She enjoys dragons too,” Luna confided, finger on her chin. Lavender nodded enthusiastically. Harry could see Malfoy from the corner of his eye, and he looked to be in pain, from the sour expression he had on his face.
He had on a deep black suit, which looked strangely muggle, considering it was Malfoy. Before anybody could make another comment and Harry’s thoughts could stray to something completely different about the way that suit hugged his waist, Malfoy abruptly stood up and stalked out of The Great Hall. Everyone sat awkwardly, before Ron finally spoke up.
”Is nobody going to mention the fact that Draco Malfoy is here? And sitting at our table?” Ron hissed. Pansy scoffed.
”of course he was sitting here. I told him to, against his better wishes,” Pansy drawled, and everyone gaped except for Ginny, Neville, and Blaise.
”What?! Okay, officially banned from the cool kids table, right now—“ Ron was cut off by Hermione very quickly.
”Ronald Weasley!” She hissed sternly, and Ron promptly shut up. Hermione sighed, continuing calmly, “Pansy, I do think it was very kind of you to invite Draco to sit with us, but don’t do it against his own will, and especially not without tell us first! Especially Harry!” Hermione chastised softly. Harry looked at her incredulously, although he knew her reasonings.
”Hey!” He exclaimed nonetheless, earning a look from her. He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and Blaise snorted.
“Fair enough, Hermione.” Pansy picked at her food, before setting down her fork, “I’ll go talk to the prat, get him to loosen up, if that’s alright with all of you?” She asked, cocking a neatly trimmed brow. Everyone either stayed silent or shrugged. She huffed and stalked off after Malfoy.
”God, I feel bad for whoever gets roomed with her.” Ron grumbled, and Hermione slapped him upside the head.
”Hey!” Ron yelped. Hermione humphed, but a few people at the table looked at him with confusion.
”Can’t we choose our roommates?” Neville asked, brows furrowed. Before Ron could answer, someone plopped down in place of Draco’s seat.
”Unfortunately, already talked to the headmaster, and old witch said we have assigned rooms, and that we’ll find out our roommates when we get to the dorms.” A boy with sleek black hair, a sharp jaw line, and sleet grey eyes said, checking his nails.
”Sorry, who are you?” Luna asked bluntly, blinking wide-eyed at the boy who had sat down on Blaise’s other side.
”Oh, apologies dear. Theodore Nott. Lovely to make your acquaintance. Call me Theo, though, all of you. Theodore is so overused, yes?” Theodore greeted kindly, grinning. Harry felt as though Theodore reminded him of a drag queen. Without the drag, though. Possibly without the queen. Maybe just…eccentric would work, possibly? But no, drag queens weren’t eccentric. But Theodore also wasn’t iconic. His thoughts were interrupted.
”Nice to meet you, Theo,” Hermione greeted back, “Dorms? Are we sharing a common room this year?” Hermione asked. Theodore shrugged.
”Most I got out of our lovely headmistress was that eighth- and seventh-years will be separate. Which means I will be promptly listening to Pansy complain about being away from her beloved Ginny-Winny for the rest of the term,” Theodore sighed dramatically. This made Neville snort.
Harry didn’t know how to feel about his decision yet, but he knew that coming back so far had been rather different, and a bit more than eccentric.
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Harry learned that yes, indeed, all eighth years would be sharing a common room and dorms to help ‘inter-house unity.’ Or whatever Headmistress McGonagall called it.
Harry had spent his whole life in these halls. They were his home, his place of being, his sense of self. They held memories Harry longed to recreate, and some he’d rather forget. But, as he walked silently down the now cracked stone hall, the life seemingly drained from the castle, Harry wished that he could go back and time and never go. Just so he didn’t have to see this. He steeled himself, though, walking up towards the Headmistresses office. Harry didn’t need a password, as a lot of the magic from Hogwarts had been destroyed after the battle.
When he first entered the office, McGonagall was nowhere to be found. Just the portraits of the headmasters, dozing away. Well, pretending anyways. He knew damn well the old hags and rags were faking it.
His eyes landed upon Dumbledores and Snape’s sleeping frames. He had mixed feelings for both of these men, but he definitely didn’t believe Dumbledore did it all not knowing Harry was supposed to die in the end, and he definitely knew Snape wasn’t a good person, if he just barely squinted. Wasn’t hard to find, really.
Harry’s thoughts were once again interrupted—God, why was everything being interrupted these days?!— by heels on the floor. McGonagall walked through, sitting down behind her desk.
”Mr. Potter, you must be wondering why I have asked you here.” She adjusted her hat, crossing her legs. Harry nodded.
“You will be roommates with Draco Malfoy this year,” she said suddenly. “Have a biscuit, Potter,” She added, pointing to a tea tray.
Harry gawked at her.
“I— what?!” Harry exclaimed, “Professor— Headmistress—“ He blurted, continuing to gawk.
”Potter, lift up your jaw. You are going to catch flies, sir,” McGonagall said sternly, crossing her arms, “I think this would be good for the two of you. Help better your relationship,” McGonagall explained. Harry groaned and silently cursed any God that existed up in the heavens for cursing him.
Because, Harry Potter hated Draco Malfoy.
Right?
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When Draco Malfoy heard the dorm door open, he expected Blaise, or Theodore. Oh, Merlin, even Longbottom would have been better than him.
Which is why, though neither Harry Potter nor Draco Malfoy knew it yet…
They were roommates.
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