Chapter 1
If there’s one thing that Harry hates is having to spend summer with the Dursley’s. They don’t see him as another member of the family, they see him as a parasite stuck in their house. And as much as Harry wants to ignore it, the fact that he has nowhere to go hurts him daily.
Every time he goes there he does everything that has to be done in the house. However, there’s no ‘Thank you, Harry’ after doing all that, instead there are always looks of disgust in their faces. Like he’s not doing enough or something like that.
Returning to Hogwarts to see his friends was basically the thing that kept him alive this summer. It was his motivation.
———————————————————
September 1st, 1993.
“Fuck” Harry says. The clock in his room said that it was 10:30 am, he was going to be fucking late for his fucking first day. Can you believe it?
He was waiting for this day all summer and when it finally arrives he might not get to the train on time.
Unbelievable, Harry. He thought.
He grabbed the first clothes that he saw and threw them into his luggage. He brushed his teeth, he ate a slice of bread and without saying goodbye he ran as fast as he could to King’s cross station.
“Damn it” he murmured almost breathlessly, his knees were giving up and he still had to run for 15 minutes more. Shit.
He thought he was not going to make it, but suddenly he realized that he was already in the entrance of King’s cross station. Thank Merlin.
He arrived to platform 9 3/4 five minutes before the train left, such a lucky man. The first thing he saw was a worried and furious Hermione waiting outside the train, with a clumsy Ron trying to calm her down.
“Oh thank god, where have you been Harry? We almost thought you were not coming.” Hermione ran towards him and hugged him as soon as she recognized his messy hair in the station.
“Hey” said Harry, finding this a bit awkward.
Ron hugged him as well.
“Bloody hell mate. You can’t do that again. She almost hexed me when I tried to tell her you were probably just late.”
Hermione just stared at Ron, with a furious look on her face.
Ron looked to the floor. “Well, you know it’s true Hermione. There’s no need to be mad.”
Hermione looked away, her eyes turning to Harry again. “Never mind, imagine what could’ve happened if you lost the train Harry, you need to be more responsible.”
“I’m sorry for scaring you guys. I overslept. Sorry…”
Harry looked a bit embarrassed.
“It’s okay Harry, just don’t scare us like that so often.” Hermione chuckled.
“Yeah mate. No worries.” Ron smiled.
“I’ve missed you so much guys, really.” Harry felt relived to be with his friends again, they were his family.
“We missed you too Harry. We’re so excited! We can finally spend more time together.” Hermione was like a big sister for Harry, always caring for him.
“Yeah mate. Not that I don’t like writing to you, but… you know. Seeing you is better.” And Ron was like his brother, a bit dumb sometimes, but he was a good brother.
“Oh bloody hell.” Ron was laughing.
Harry and Hermione were confused. Did they missed something in their conversation?
“Look over there! See that blonde bloke? It’s Malfoy, he looks so stupid.” He laughed even more. “What happened to his hair? He changed it.” Ron chuckled.
Harry was searching Malfoy with his eyes. Finally spotted him; Malfoy was standing next to his friends, they were all laughing, except him. He seemed to be sad, or that’s what Harry thought at first, maybe he was tired or he was just quiet. Who knows.
But the truth is that Malfoy did change, he seemed taller, and his child features disappeared, his chin and jaw were sharp, his cheekbones were more visible and his hair was different. He used to comb his hair back with a stupid amount of gel, but this year it was more natural, Harry’s not sure if ‘natural’ is the right word to describe it, but it’s fine. Now his hair covers a bit of his forehead, it’s longer and straight, it looks so soft and it shines under sunlight. He actually looks better like that, Harry thinks.
“-arry, Harry? Are you still with us mate?” Ron said.
Apparently Harry was in kind of a trance looking at Malfoy, he couldn’t stop staring. He hopes Ron and Hermione didn’t notice.
“Oh- umm, sorry. What did you say?”
“Forget it. I was just making fun of Malfoy, he gets uglier every year, don’t you think?” Ron chuckled while Hermione was just looking at the two boys.
“I don’t think so. I mean, not saying that he’s handsome or anything, but I think he looks better like that.” Hermione said quietly, it was almost like a whisper.
“What?! Are you kidding me? He looks uglier like that. I didn’t think it was possible for Malfoy to be uglier, but there he is, proving just the opposite.” Ron rolled his eyes.
“Umm, sorry Ron. But I think I agree with Hermione on this one.” Harry placed his hand behind his neck.
“Ughhh. You two are nuts! What’s wrong with you?!”
Hermione just chuckled and Harry stared at Malfoy again. This time the blonde was smiling a bit, showing just a small part of his teeth, they were super white and Harry remembers that last year he had crooked teeth, this year they were completely straight.
Stupid, Harry thought. He should definitely stop staring at Draco bloody Malfoy.
“Whatever Ron. Let’s get into the train before it leaves.” Hermione walked past them.
“Wait Hermione!” Ron followed her.
And Harry is alone. Still staring, but the train was closing the doors so Harry finally reacted and walked towards the entrance.
The ride was alright. He bought some candies for Ron, just like he always does, and chatted with him and Hermione. However, his mind was focused on Malfoy, he doesn’t understand why. It was just Malfoy, the same idiot he had to deal with since he was eleven, what could’ve possibly changed between them? Well, Malfoy’s appearance did, but that didn’t matter, right?
————————————————————
Finally, they arrived to Hogwarts, and bloody hell, Harry had forgotten how much he loved that place, it was so beautiful and peaceful. Such a dream.
They got out of the train, picked up their luggage and walked to the castle.
When they were in the stairs near the entrance of the Great Hall professor McGonagall said that she had a very special announcement. Everyone was curious.
“Very well, my dear students. All of you are welcome to Hogwarts and we all hope that you will have an extraordinary time during this year, we also expect the best behavior from each one of you. As you may know, we have a special announcement for you, this year students from different houses will share rooms. This decision was made because we saw some students struggling or fighting with other students from different houses.” McGonagall said.
Share rooms? With students from different houses? What the hell?!?
McGonagall continued,
“We suppose you have a lot of questions, and we will answer them very soon. The first thing is that a list has already been created, this list contains the name of the students that will share a room, and before you ask, no, there are no possible changes. The list has already been approved by the headmaster.” She stared at the speechless students.
“If you are wondering, you can still go to the common room of your respective house, there are no changes in that, but you must return to your room when you have to sleep or whenever you need, since it will be your new room. When we enter to the Great Hall Headmaster Dumbledore will tell you who is your partner. Now, that being said, let this wonderful year at Hogwarts begin.” She smiled.
“Follow me.” McGonagall said as she opened the door of the Great Hall.
“Wicked! I can’t believe they’re separating us! Why is life so unfair?” Ron whispered.
“Don’t worry Ronald. She said we can meet in the common room, at least we can still see each other there, besides, we can see each other in class.”
Hermione gave him a weak smile.
“It’s not the same Hermione. You’re clever, you know it.”
Hermione blushed a little. “I guess you’re right. But there’s nothing else we can do, the choice has been taken.”
Harry was just listening to them, he didn’t know what to say or do. He was speechless, he wasn’t expecting that, but well, it couldn’t be that bad right? If he is lucky probably he’ll end up with one Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, everyone was better than a Slytherin.
“Good evening students. Welcome to this new year at Hogwarts, my best wishes for all of you. As you may know, you will be sharing a room with a student from a different house, we hope you can understand why we took this decision and that you will act like ladies and gentlemen and behave properly. Now, I will read the following list, which contains the name of the students that will share a room, as profesor McGonagall already told you.”
Dumbledore nodded.
“Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley.”
“Hermione Granger and Pansy Parkinson…”
Completely insane, Harry thought, while Dumbledore finished with the list of the girls.
Dumbledore continued,
“Now the name of the boys.
Neville Longbottom and Gregory Goyle.
Seamus Finnigan and Vincent Crabbe…”
Finally, the list was almost over, the only ones left were Blaise and Malfoy and Ron and Harry.
“Oh no Mate, which one of us will be the unlucky one that’ll end up with bloody Malfoy.” Ron rolled his eyes.
“Ronald Weasley and Blaise Zabini.” Dumbledore said.
Well, fuck. Harry ended up with Malfoy. Great, just what he needed! After spending a horrible summer he just wanted to rest, but now his whole year in Hogwarts will also be torture. Awesome!
“And finally, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter” Dumbledore said with a strong voice. “Now that we have finished and it’s late, you should all eat and then go to your rooms, tomorrow will be a great day full of adventures, now it is time to rest.”
Harry was quiet during the whole dinner. He couldn’t say anything, he was still hoping that someone would show up and say that everything was a stupid joke and he wasn’t going to share a room with Malfoy. Sadly, that did not happen.
—————————————————————-
“Professor McGonagall!” Harry shouted in the stairs.
“Professor!”
“What is it Mr Potter? There is no need to scream.”
She turned to look at Harry.
“My apologies, professor. It’s just that— I know I shouldn’t be asking this, you already said we couldn’t, but— just…— please, I don’t want to share a room with Malfoy. Why him of all people professor?”
“Harry my dear, I’m afraid I can’t do anything about it, you just said it, you can’t change, the list has been approved, there are no possible changes.”
“But professor, you know Malfoy, he will make my life a fucking living hell! It’ll be torture!”
“Language Mr Potter! Besides, I already answered your question, no possible changes.”
Harry looked away, and- oh fuck.
He saw bloody Malfoy standing like five meters aways from him. Did he hear all of that?
Malfoy saw that Harry noticed he was there. So he quickly walked away. Leaving before Harry could say anything.
McGonagall noticed as well that Malfoy was there.
“Very well Mr potter. Now that is a problem, I suggest you go talk to him, apologize even.”
Harry opened his mouth to argue, but he closed it again.
“That being said, good night, Potter.” She nodded and walked away. Leaving Harry alone before he could answer.
Well, now that was definitely a problem. If Malfoy already hated him and was determined to make his life a living hell, now it will be ten times worse. Shit.
How could Harry not notice that Malfoy was next to him? How?!?
He went to his—their room. Shit.