Spellbound Heart

Harry woke with a start as the screams faintly echoed in his throat. The suns early morning light streamed through the partially covered windows of 12 Grimmauled place.

Since surviving the war and defeating Voldemort this was his usual wake up call. The faces and voices of loved ones and friends who he couldn’t save flashed behind his eyes like a movie reel that never ended. A cold sweat soaked through his shirt clinging to his chest and his normally unruly black hair stuck to his forehead in a wet tangled mess. He lay in bed for a few minutes staring up at the ceiling struggling to regain his breathing and trying to get his heart rate back down to normal rhythm. He wondered if he would ever have a dreamless or even a peaceful night again.

Letting out a loud groan he sat up and started reaching around blindly for his glasses on his bedside table. Where did he end up putting those bloody things he thought to himself? Finally giving up the useless search for his ever elusive glasses he turned to attempt to locate his wand. Lucky he didn’t have to search much seeing to he’s started a habit back on the run of sleeping with it under his pillow. He cast a quick tempus for the time. Just a little after 8 he had more than enough time to shower and to eat breakfast before meeting up with his friends.

“Kreacher!” He called out and with a loud snap the very old and feeble looking house elf appeared in his dirty dishrag of a toga. Harry had tried giving him other things to wear but Kreacher refused every item seeming to prefer the ragged dishcloth that once belonged to his late old mistress.

“Yes master Harry? What can Kreacher do for young master this morning.” Replied the old little elf with a croak and deep bow making his long pointy nose practically brush against the floor. Harry fidgeted in bed awkwardly, their tentative relationship had grown over the course of the summer but still he wished Kreacher wouldn’t bow to him or call him master.

“Would you mind making breakfast, I’ll be down shortly.” With a small nod kreacher was gone leaving Harry still in bed wrapped in a mess of blankets. With a groan Harry uncurled himself from the warmth of his bed and started the short walk across the hall to the bathroom.

Feeling fresh and awake after his shower he found himself starting in the mirror. Even though he looked relatively the same as before the war he didn’t seem to recognize himself anymore. Gone was the kid who was on the run destroying Horcruxes, standing before his was a man who had seen enough death to last a lifetime. He had permanent dark bags under his once vibrant green eyes now dull from the constant nightmares and sleepless nights. His normally tanned skin was starting to pale from lack of sunlight. He had barely left grimmauled since returning after the war due to the mass of reporters watching his house daily just to get a glimpse at the savior of the wizarding world. He really only left the house to visit the Burrow or attend important deatheater cases and every time he was swarmed by overzealous reporters attempting to get a quote from him. Each just wanted to know frivolously meaningless aspects of his life and he grimaced at the thought of what today might bring since his last public appearance was when he formally testified at all three of the Malfoy’s hearings. He helped Narcissa and Draco avoid time in Azkaban but for Lucius he made sure that man would spend the rest of his life there.

Tugging on some jeans and an old grey jumper he had found just laying about he started the decent to the kitchen. The wonderful sent of bacon wafted upstairs making his mouth water and encouraged him to finally start his day.

With breakfast finished and just a few minutes to spare before having to floo to the Leaky cauldron to meet his friends, checking his appearance once more. Nothing could be done to save the disaster that was his hair. He had long given up on trying to take on that daily challenge as long as it covered his famous scar he didn’t mind. He hoped that his overall plain outfit wouldn’t draw attention to him and his friends while they did there shopping for school but he did cast a few glamours to cover the dark circles as to not worry his friends more then need be. Finally satisfied with his appearance Harry grabbed a handful of floo power and stepped into the fireplace and disappeared into the green flames with a shout. His stomach felt like it was being tied into knots as he landed roughly on his knees in the fireplace of the leaky cauldron. He felt a sudden surge of energy and felt the mass of magical power flowing through the air. He could feel Ron’s and Hermione’s magical signatures before even opening his eyes.

“Aye I got yah mate, still don’t have the hang of the floo do yah?” Came an all to familiar voice.

Rons hand grabbed onto His arm helping him stumble onto his feet and out of the fireplace into the packed blurry bar. He blinked trying to focus his vision before realizing soot had covered his glasses, without a second though the scourgify spell surged through his body. With a few blinks he was greeted by flaming red hair, a mass of freckles and the lopsided grin of his best mate Ron. Not to far behind him sat Hermione her once bushy hair now tamed and hung down her back in loose curls, her head was buried behind a thick book seemingly oblivious to the noise of the bar or Harry’s sudden appearance. At least some things never change He thought to himself as he embraced Ron in a quick hug.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of floo travel Ron but at least it’s better now then my first attempt was.” He joked a hint of a smile gracing his lips. Ron just shoot his head laughing at the memory of the mishap at knocturn ally. They chatted a bit about which shops to visit while they made their way to the table Hermione was at, her head still buried in the book.

As if she could sense him Hermione closed her book stuffed it into her bag and jumped out of her chair and engulfed Harry in a crushing hug.

“oh it’s so good to see you, it’s been too long Harry.” As a fast as she hugged him she had already let go.

“we have a lot of shopping to do before we leave for Hogwarts in two days. I can’t believe I let you boys convince me to wait this long before getting packed.” She flashed them a stern look that made both him and Ron fidget under the weight off. Without a backwards glance she was already making her way to the back door that would spit them out Into Diagon Ally. Both boys shared a knowing look and quickly scrambled to follow her out the door.

As the trio entered the Ally to the noise and bustle of families frantically doing last minute shopping before sending there children off to school was astonishing. He hoped by waiting this long it wouldn’t be as packed and he’d be able to shop quietly and without notice but sadly he was wrong. the normally busy street was as packed as ever, crammed full of witches and wizards alike making it almost impossible to walk through as a group. With Harry bringing up the rear and Hermione and Ron in front with there hands intertwined together they slowly made there way to flourish and blotts. He could barely make out Hermione’s rambling about different books she wanted to buy all the while Ron smiled and nodded along as if he completely understood everything she was saying, which wasn’t likely. He was sure Hermione would spend an extra hour at least just sifting through the books they offered for what she liked to call light reading.

After a few hours of shopping it seemed they all had everything they would need for there last year at Hogwarts. Luckily enough he was pleased that most people hadn’t payed him any attention, he had been stopped a few times by young children who wanted autographs or to ask questions. A few parents had stared wide eyed and some had come up to shake his hand and express their gratitude. Hermione was going on about how she should have bought more quills and this year was going to be the most important one yet. As they made their way back inside the leaky cauldron for a butterbeer. He was slowly starting to relax into his seat in the back corner of the old dusty bar when Tom the old bartender approached with butterbeers floating ahead of him.

“These are on the house, I’m glad to see you lot again it’s been a while. Did yah just finish your school shopping?” Tom said gently floating the drinks down onto the table.

“Aye we just finished getting everything. Glad to be headed back to Hogwarts. Looks like business had been doing well, it was crazy packed in Diagon Ally.” Ron said before descending into his drink like he was dying of thirst. Hermione shot him a revolted look before pulling her own glass to her lips.

“Business has been good since the war ended, people aren’t afraid to leave there homes now thanks to you Harry my boy.” Tom slapped him on the back and grinned down at him crookedly. Before he could even respond Tom was already headed back to the bar. Leaving him speechless and slightly embarrassed.

After a few more rounds of drinks he was starting to genuinely enjoy the company of his friends. It was like nothing had changed and they fell back into their easy back and forth banter with one another. Conversation changed from their shopping excursion to classes they were excited to get back too. He missed these moments he realized, it had been hard during the war and especially after with the amount of lost friends and family they had. easygoing banter and laughter seemed to have been all but forgotten before the war ended but was now starting to come back and made him feel like he was finally moving on. He was glad things were changing for the better it seemed, while he was lost in thought he didn’t hear the topic of conversation change until Ron nudged his shoulder and Hermione was giving him a reproachful look.

“Huh what did you say herm?” He looked around confused at what he had missed.

“oh really Harry did you really not hear anything I just said!” Hermione sighed.

“I was asking, do you think things will be different this year? I heard a lot of our class isn’t returning to Hogwarts.” She looked at him pointedly as if he had the answers to everything which was funny considering he rarely did and she was the one to ask in these situations.

“There are a few kids who have to return, it was a stipulation for them after they’re hearing with the wizengamot council.” He recalled having to attend some of these hearings.

“Bloody hell don’t tell me Malfoy will be back Harry, I don’t even understand why you helped that git anyway after everything he did. Haven’t we had enough of his snarky attitude and ferret face for the last 6 years?” Groaned Ron staring down at his butterbeer like it was the culprit of his distain.

“I really can’t believe you Ron. After everything we’ve all been through. I’d have hoped you would give him a chance like Harry has, especially after everything that happened.” The glare Hermione gave Ron would have made even Molly Weasley proud.

With Ron squirming in his seat and bashfully attempting to defend himself to his girlfriend, His thoughts drifted back to Draco’s trial. The normally reserved and well dressed Slytherin was skin and bone, his pale skin looking almost translucent in the bright sterile lights of the court room. His usual perfectly styled hair hung limp and dirty framing his bruised and bloody face. He sat in the middle of the court room strapped down to a chair wearing a grimy prison uniform that was covered in blood and filth. Draco and his family were being kept in cells under the ministry of magic, along with other death eaters and followers of Voldemort to await either to be released or be sent to Azkaban after their trial. He had amazingly been able to get Draco released on house arrest, with random check ups and the understanding he would attend Hogwarts again. At the trial He spoke to the council about how he had known Draco for years, from how they first met to the day at Malfoy Manor when he saved Harry’s life. Sadly during the whole trial Draco had never once eye contact with him. Even after he was released Draco’s grey eyes never strayed away from his feet.

A pain in Harry’s stomach made him wince bringing him back reality, Ron and Hermione were still deep in conversation with one another. Absentmindedly he ran a hand through his unruly hair not quite understanding why he was so upset Draco didn’t meet his eyes that day. It wasn’t like they were ever friends or even close enough to have a halfway decent conversation but still he had wanted to talk to him after the trial. He wanted to apologize but never got a chance to, having been swept aside by the mass of witches and wizards who engulfed him in conversation.

Letting out a deep breath he drained the last dregs of his butterbeer and stood from table earning himself questioning looks from his best friend’s.

“Everything alright mate?” Ron asked with a raised eyebrow, shooting a perplexed look to hermione across the table.

“Yeah it’s just getting late. I better get home and start packing.” He started to gather his belongings before looking back at Rons still confused face.

“I’ll meet you both at the Burrow tomorrow morning before we leave for kings cross?” A lopsided smile splayed across his face but it didn’t quite meet his eyes, not that Ron noticed. Hermione was the first to regain composure and speak.

“We’ll see you tomorrow Harry and you’re right we should head back as well I didn’t realize how late it was, oh Merlin Ron we have so much to do.” And that was all it took for Ron to let out a groan and a few unsavory words before slowly turning and gathering his and Mione’s bags.

A few hugs and awkward goodbyes later he found himself standing alone in the fire place of Grimmualed place. With a sigh he started up the stairs to begin packing for his final year at Hogwarts. So many questions floated around head. What would this year be like? Would everything be different or stay the same? Could he even stand to walk halls he once called home but now housed the very memories that kept him awake at night? He had too many questions and was starting to get overwhelmed by them all. With a grimace he changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed deciding he’d ask Kreacher to pack his trunk for him the morning.