Train Cars
“Ronald, hurry up,” Hermione called as they made their way through the train. Each cabin was filled to the brim with excited students.
They searched for an empty car, only to find one at the very end. Although it wasn’t entirely empty. One student sat alone, close to the window, peering out at the train station. Draco Malfoy.
The Golden trio glanced at one another, before Hermione knocked on the door. She pushed it open cautiously, “Mind if we join you? Every other cabin is full.”
Without a word for an answer, Draco nodded before continuing to glance out the window. The Golden trio shuffled in awkwardly, Ron and Hermione taking a seat next to each other, leaving Harry to sit next to Draco.
“Do you think we’ll get special quarters since we’re in eighth year?” Ron asked through a mouthful of candy from the trolly.
“I suppose so, I’m not sure how dorms will be for anyone,” Hermione sighed, opening up a book on ‘The History of The Ministry’.
The ride was long, and eventually Harry found himself fast asleep.
He awoke to a tap on his shoulder, expecting it to be Hermione. When he rubbed his eyes, he was greeted by blonde hair. Startled, he jumped further back in his seat.
“We’re here,” Draco said shortly. Harry eyed his expression, very plain. He was dressed as usual, he blonde hair a bit longer than he last saw him, falling gently in front of his eyebrows.
“Ron, and Hermione?” Harry asked groggily, peering around the Slytherin. Draco shook his head, “They left to find Ginny and Luna, they said they’d be back for you. That was ten minutes ago.”
“So why are you still here?”
“I don’t think you would’ve liked to wake up back at the train station, now would you?” Draco raised an eyebrow. The comment sounded like the old Draco, yet with a softer tone, this new Draco seemed rather different.
Harry arose from his seat, following the Slytherin out of the cabin. Ron and Hermione were busy chatting with a few of the returning Gryffindors when they spotted him.
“Harry! So sorry, we completely forgot-“Don’t sweat it.” Harry interrupted her, not wanting the sympathy card tossed at him once more.
His eyes found their way back to Draco, who was standing alone next to his luggage, staring down at his pocket watch.
As if he could feel the sting of attention, Draco glanced up to meet Harry’s gaze. His eyes quickly found their path to a new focus before things grew awkward.
The Golden trio made their way up from the boats to the grand doors of Hogwarts. Memories of the war flooded Harry’s mind, the shattered walls, broken windows, attempted fixes of the archways.
His airway tightened as more thoughts crept in of the war, of his scars, his wounds, his innocence. He remembered watching death after death, losing those he was so close to and those he’d never known before.
Seeing his discomfort, Hermione squeezed his hand as they turned down the corridor to the Great Hall.
Taking a seat at the Gryffindor table, Harry felt lightheaded. Mcgonagall was now headmistress, and was trying to rally up the last of the first years.
After the sorting, Mcgonagall asked all the eighth years to stay behind to discuss living quarters.
“As you know, we do not host year eight at Hogwarts, yet since your year was bombarded by the war and the events following it, we feel it is best for you all to receive your last bit of education. That comes with a bit of a problem, and living arrangements are a bit different than usual.”
Harry felt Ron shift next to him, a bit uneasy. “I hope we’re not sharing a room with four other boys again.”
“On the contrary, Mr Weasley. You all will be living in our new eighth year house, it is built right next to the quidditch field. You will each have one roommate, as well as a portal to each of your common rooms, where you are allowed to visit. Roommate switches are nonnegotiable, as you were randomly assigned to your roommate. If you have any problems with this arrangement, you may speak with me.”
The room was quiet after that. No one knew how to phrase how they felt. Yet everyone had at least a bit of nerves about who they’d get stuck with for the rest of the year.
Following the small crowd of eighth years, Harry’s soon to be roommate was the least of his concerns. His skin crawled with memories of his previous time at Hogwarts, chills snaking down his back with each step.
The common house was decorated to accommodate the four houses, the main area having a bit of each common room. Lots of couches and reading nooks, tables to do late night homework and such.
Pushing past the groups of groaning students reading the label of their doors, he searched for his.
Ron came racing down the hallway, “Harry! You’re not gonna believe who you’re paired up with.”
Once again, it was the least of Harry’s concerns, he doubted he’d be spending much time in his dorm anyway. But he followed Ron down the small corridor to the door that had his name on it.
‘Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.’
Huh, odd. Wasn’t terrible, Harry thought. Before the war, Harry would’ve been outraged to have to share a room with Draco, and would beg Dumbledore into letting him be with anybody else. By now, the idea of sharing a room with the Slytherin didn’t bother him in the least.
He opened the door to see Draco’s belongings neatly placed near and upon the bed he had claimed, yet there was no sign of him anywhere.
Harry didn’t mind, tossing his trunk next to the remaining bed and plopping down on it. In minutes he was fast asleep.