Draco hadn’t wanted to come back to Hogwarts this year. Since the war (and if he’s honest even before that), he’d been treated differently knowing that he had the dark mark on his left arm. He expected this, really, but nevertheless, it is still disappointing when his family was once viewed very highly of, but is now complete rubbish to everyone else. He can’t blame them for thinking that about him, or his father really. He knows he did things that are unforgivable, but his father…
Lucius never claimed to be a good person. Draco just wished he realized what kind of a person his father was earlier. Before all hell rained down on his life. He should be thankful that he isn’t in Azkaban like his father, but it almost seems worse being out here. Seeing everyone’s disappointed faces. Merlin, he wished he could’ve stayed back at the manor with Mother, he supposed her house arrest can’t be too bad, but damn is it lonely.
Part of Draco’s punishment had been to return to Hogwarts for another year, which he supposed was the best-case scenario. If Potter had not come and defended him at his trial as he did, Draco has no idea where he would be now. Azkaban probably, he reckons.
That’s how he ended up here, at the new eighth-year table that somehow manages to fit in front of the other four house tables. It is frankly awkward either facing the entire school or the whole staff table. Draco decides to face the staff, fewer faces he has to see glancing at him.
“Draco, are you listening to anything I’ve been saying!?” Pansy practically roared at him. Merlin, has she been talking this entire time? Draco is in for it.
“Uh yeah totally…” he tries not to meet the girl's eyes in front of him. Blaises snorts out a laugh at Draco’s poor attempt to pretend he was listening. Pansy sends Blaise a glare which triggers a smile of his own.
“You two are insufferable, really” Pansy sighs. “Don’t you think it’s strange that us eighth years have to share a table? There’s no way McGonagall thinks that will end well.”
As Draco tries to express his agreement, they are interrupted by the headmistress gathering everyone’s attention.
“Good evening everyone. Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I am so glad to see so many familiar faces back at this lovely place I like to call home. Now, I would like to get on with the sorting ceremony. Shall we?” The headmistress places the sorting hat on the same stool Draco had sat on, seven years ago. It’s odd he thinks, being back here. Something feels wrong about Hogwarts now. Not in a bad way, but more in a nostalgic way. He missed how it used to be. Well, for the most part. As McGonagall sends off the last of the first years, she turns her attention back to the rest of the school.
“Now, I would like to make a few announcements before our meal. I’m happy to welcome back the eighth years who have come back to finishing their schooling. Considering that we now have more students than normal, we have made adjustments to our dorming system. All eighth-year students will share a common room, as well as dorms with one person of their same gender.” Before anyone could protest, the old professor raises her hand and silences everyone once more.
“You lot are adults and I believe that you can handle sharing a dorm with other people for once. Also, inter-house unity never hurt anyone. Eighth years please stay behind after dinner so I can escort you to your dorms. Now that’s out of the way, you may eat!” As she finishes her speech the tables fill with loads of different foods. McGonagall's speech has put the entirety of the eighth-year table in a trance. It’s as if almost everyone processes what just happened at the same time, exclaiming their disagreements to their friends.
“Blimey,” Blaise grumbled. Draco could only nod in agreement. Draco cannot believe his luck. Sharing a dormitory with anyone other than Blaise would be hell. He really hopes they are put together. He could not even imagine sharing a dorm with someone else, possibly even Potter.
Actually yes he could, he very much could. Potter had come back from summer super fit. You don’t even understand. It appears that Harry spent his summer in the gym. Draco almost sank to his knees when he first saw him on the train. Harry’s shoulders were huge and had biceps the size of Draco’s head. Though, it seems he still hasn’t invested in new clothes. His trousers clung to his legs so well Draco’s knees were weak. Draco knew he was insane for thinking these things about Potter, but bloody hell he did look good.
Draco knew he wasn’t straight. Hell, that’s an understatement, Draco is gay as fuck. He’s known since he and Pansy messed around in fourth year. He found out soon after that, that he did not find girls attractive like he found guys. Pansy also seemed to have her gay awakening around the same time. It’s funny when he thinks about it. Their parents expected them to marry each other to make the perfect pureblood family, while little did they know their children are super gay.
Draco filled his plate with lots of food and ate mindlessly. He kept occasionally sneaking a glance over at Potter, who he saw chatting with the two other parts of their silly trio. Draco wonders absentmindedly where the she-weasel was. Last he knew, her and Potter were together. They must still be, right? As Draco looks over at the Gryffindor table, he can see the weaslette giving a sad look at the back of Potter’s head. Well, that’s the answer to that question he presumes.
It seems that Potter doesn’t even care to acknowledge the red-haired girl. He doesn’t look bothered whatsoever.
Draco finishes up his food right as it all clears away. As the rest of the great hall stands, the eighth years stay seated, waiting for instruction. Draco sees the girl Weasley sneak one last glance towards Potter before she exits the hall.
All of the younger years have cleared out by now, McGonagall turns towards their table before walking in front of them. Gesturing for them to follow. As the group of adults make their way through the halls, everyone stays silent. Their dorms appear to be on the west side of the school. In a corridor, Draco didn’t even know existed. McGonagall stops in front of a portrait that opens automatically. As they all file into the cozy room, Draco glances around, it looks quite similar to the Slytherin common room, a bit more comfy though, he thinks. The room has different accents that showcase every house. For the most part, though, the room is a deep purple color which Draco thinks looks surprisingly nice.
Once they are in the small room, McGonagall turns to address them.
“This is your common room, as you probably suspected already.” She says a few more things regarding this awkward shared space they now all have. “As you are all adults you do not have a curfew but I would prefer if you were not completely wrecked in classes.” She gives a pointed look to the Gryffindors, which earns her a few laughs. “Now I suppose I should tell you, your roommates, shouldn’t I?”
Draco knows it’s a rhetorical question, but in his head, he is silently screaming at her to not. Draco doesn’t pay much attention until he hears his name called.
“Draco Malfoy and.. Harry Potter.” McGonagall distributed their names as if they were lifelong buddies. Draco shares a glance at Potter to find he is already looking at him with a surprised expression. Potter doesn’t seem to be too angered which is good, he thinks. But good lord Draco is going to have trouble keeping his thoughts from earlier tucked away.
———————————————-
“Bad luck mate,” Ron muttered to Harry. All Harry could do was shrug. He didn’t mind Malfoy too much anymore. Not that he would admit that to anyone, but he supposes it won’t be too bad. “Well, I better get to my room before Terry steals the good side, good night guys!” Ron gives Hermione a quick peck on the cheek and makes his way up to his room.
“‘Mione, who are you with?” Harry asks after a few moments. Harry really hadn’t been paying attention to McGonagall until he heard his and Malfoy's name.
“Honestly Harry you’d think you would pay attention,” Hermione teased with an eye roll. “I’m with Parkinson.” She says as she gestures to the dark-haired girl on the other side of the room.
“Oh. Well, good night, Mione. Better get my stuff situated before bed.” Harry waves back to his friends as he makes his way to his dorm.
When Harry cracks open the door to his dorm he sees that Malfoy is already in the room. He was putting his stuff in his wardrobe when he saw Harry and froze.
“Hi,” Harry muttered as Malfoy eyed him nervously.
“Hello,” Malfoy replied. “Your side is over there,” he added while he motioned to the right side of the room. Of course, Malfoy took the side with the bloody window. Whatever, it doesn’t matter that much, Harry supposed.
Harry looked around the dorm. It was nice, cozy. There was a bed on either side of the room, almost facing each other. Two desks, two wardrobes, and a window on the left side. The bathroom was in the back corner on the right side. Not as nice as the Gryffindor dorms but it will do, Harry thinks.
“Right, thanks,” Harry responded. He made his way to his bed and saw that his trunk was already at the foot of his bed. He pulled it on top of his bed and started emptying the contents. He quickly put the few pieces of clothes he had in the wardrobe.
Compared to Malfoy, Harry barely had any clothes. His relatives never gave him any clothes besides Dudley’s hand-me-downs, and the shirts still don’t fit him right, even after the muscle he gained this summer. All of his trousers were a bit small, but Ron said it made his legs look good, so he figured it was fine. He hadn’t invested in any new clothes, he didn’t pay much mind to his looks, but now he was feeling a bit self-conscious.
When he made his way back over to his bed he saw the map and his cloak still in the bottom of his trunk. He decided it would be best to keep them in there for the time being.
When he hung up the last of his posters and put on his bedding, he closed his trunk and pushed it underneath his bed.
He grabbed some pajamas and toiletries and made his way to the bathroom. Before going in he figured he should ask Malfoy.
“Do you mind if I shower first?” He hoped Malfoy wouldn’t be an arse. It’s been a long day and he wanted to take a quick shower and then flop back in his bed.
Malfoy looked up and looked at Harry before answering. “Not at all,” he said with a kind smile. That confused Harry, he’d never seen Malfoy give a KIND smile before. It threw him off guard. He supposed it looked good on him.
“Oh. um, right then.” Harry stuttered and turned back to the washroom.
Harry locked the door and stripped his clothes. As he stood under the running water his thoughts turned.
It shouldn’t have left him so flustered when Malfoy was nice to him, considering he spoke at his trial. But some part of Harry expected to argue with Malfoy again, in past years it always made Harry feel alive. He supposes that he misses how it used to be, everything at Hogwarts has changed. He hoped Malfoy would be the same. He knows he should be happy that their little childish rivalry is over. It’s a good thing, right? Maybe something will come with it. A friendship maybe? Or more.
That sprung Harry out of his head. What was he thinking? It’s Malfoy for Merlin’s sake. He supposed that he is pretty fit. But Malfoy isn’t his type, right? Gosh, what is Harry thinking? He and Ginny had just broken up 2 months ago. Ginny had told him that it just wasn’t working, that he had to focus on himself. He supposed she was right. He spent loads of time in the gym after that. It helped get his post-war anger down. He knows he probably spent a bit too much time in the gym, Hermione told him that. Being there though, helped him figure himself out more.
He started to notice the guys in the gym, Harry thought they looked nice. He soon realized he didn’t want to be them, he wanted them. The same way he wanted and looked at girls. It had made him so confused that he would spend even more time in the gym trying to figure it out. He wasn’t gay? Was he? He didn’t think so because he still looked at girls the same way, but now guys? One day he eventually asked Hermione if something was wrong with him. She had told him that it is completely normal and called bisexuality. Bisexuality, it took him a few weeks to come to terms with that new information but he soon realized that it fit him. He left like he discovered a part of him that made him feel more whole. Over the summer he had met a few guys and went on multiple dates. None of them were a good fit though. He even talked to some muggles. Never again he thinks. He came out to the Weasleys and Mione a few weeks ago. They all took it well, and Ginny confessed that she was bi too. The week leading up to Hogwarts she had kept trying to flirt with him again. Which he thought was odd considering she ended it. He tries not to give her much thought anymore really.
That’s how he ended up here, single and bi. He is happy though, he thinks. Years later, he realizes his first crush was probably on Cedric. Which sounds insane but he supposes is true. Hermione is convinced that Harry had a crush on Malfoy, but he had told her that, that was insane to even consider. But now that he thinks about it she might not be wrong. That crush might still linger a tiny bit…