Be Invisable

Students who were coming back for their 8th year chose how they would get to Hogwarts since some of us could aperate and such but I was left with the Hogwarts express. I wasn't allowed to aperate due to the stipulations around my trial nor could i flu since all of those had also been blocked after both mothers and my trials. I spent my last days of summer waiting in dread at my return. I could not go but I really ought to have a proper education no matter if my family's status was in shambles. Still, I was absolutely petrified. I didn't know how I was to face my peers after all that had happened. Just because I was proved innocent in court didn't mean everyone thought as much.
At 8 am on the Sunday before Hogwarts was to start the school year, I woke from the little fort I had made in one of the little alcoves nearest the kitchen and went to grab an apple. I wasn't very hungry but if I wanted the day to go any semblance of smoothly I had to at least have something in my stomach. I had already packed the night before and just needed to bathe and get dressed. I went about my normal morning tasks with a spiking ball of dread in my stomach, poking me every time I went to do something, reminding me how much of a burden I am.
When it was finally time to go I started on my journey to platform 9 ¾. Thankfully, my family had an emergency port key hidden on the ground near an old tree that the ministry didn't know about. I definitely shouldn't have it, let alone use it, but i didn't quite know how else i was supposed to get to kings cross from Wiltshire without being able to aporate or flu.
I soon zipped to a secluded corner at kings cross (don't ask me why the port key specifically led there, i guess Malfoys have always had an eye for trouble) and made my way into the crowd before i got to platform 9 ¾. I saw a family with a young girl who appeared to be a first year, sending her off for the first time with tears in their eyes. It felt like something I wasn't supposed to see. A moment so private and intimate and full of love. It brought back memories of when my parents were sending me off. Back when father was a little more gentile and when mother had cared. I tried not to dwell on it for long but it kept popping back into my head as I boarded the train and found an empty compartment.
A couple times throughout the ride people knocked and started to open the door but quickly darted away when they saw who was inside. It seemed as though I had built quite the reputation. Once, I heard Potter and his gaggle walking past my compartment and I curled into myself hoping that they weren't trying to find some empty seats and that they would just pass me by without a second thought. I couldn't let them see me like this, not just because the last time i saw them i was being tried for aiding int he murder of thousands, but because i hadnt done anything to redeem myself since. If i were smarter i would have donated to charities or made petitions to help house elves or whatever Granger does.
Once everything had settled down and everyone had parked in their compartments I spent most of my time looking out the window and zoning out like I would in one of my hideouts. It took me a moment to realize that we had stopped and I came back to reality to the sounds of people storming out into the hall to exit the train. I wasn't in a rush and waited until I stopped hearing footsteps to go into the hall and get off the Hogwarts Express. I walked over to the carriages that carry the older student to the door and felt a pang of guilt when I realized how many students could probably see the thestrals this year. I knew it wasn't entirely my fault but it didn't stop me from knowing I was a part of the problem.
I kept my head down as I entered the great hall and sat at the very end of the Slytherin table quickly noticing that I seemed to be the only returning student. I half listened to Mcgonagall drone out the names of the new 1st years, preferring more to follow the swirls of wood on the table, worn down from years of clattering plates and sliding dishes. The one time I did look up was at the sound of a loud holler at the other end of the hall.
“And here I thought this year was finally the year I was to be rid of you but here you are again.” The she weasel barked half heartedly as she walked up to her brother.
“Your not getting rid of me just yet Ginny”
“And here I was…” the conversation fizzled out of my hearing as I glanced over and made eye contact with Potter. He was looking at me with concern etched all over his face and I quickly looked away but kept watching out of my peripheral vision. Potter, the git he is, did not in fact look away and continued to stare at me with a worried look until the end of the feist when I made a beeline for the door.
Since there had been a large amount of returning 8th years (seems everyone but the Slytherins wanted to come back) there wasn't enough room for us to stay in the spare rooms within our houses so the either years all had their own group house in a part of the school that had not been used in a milenia. THe house elves worked their magic and made it nice enough to live in for a year but it didn't have that same character and homey feel that the other houses had built over the centuries of students housed there. So instead of going straight to find my dorm, I went to find one of the passages I had noticed during the war.
It was a quaint corner hallway hidden behind a painting of some old witch with her harp and a dove seated atop it. You had to ask her to play you a lullaby to be allowed in. I had figured this out by spending a lot of time reading up on portrait codes and what old mischief makers often put in or by their secret entrances so that their descendants could find them. A woman with a harp and an animal was a very common choice since it blends in nicely but also is the complete opposite of what a real trouble maker is. It was a long hall that had lanterns adorning the walls. I lit every other one and summoned a blanket and a muggle book I started over the summer. The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien. I found it fun contrasting the rules of magic in the book to the ones in reality and it really opened my eyes to how muggles thought of magic and spells.
I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until I heard bustling in the hallway. I checked the time and rushed up and summoned my school robes and books before sneaking out of my new little hideaway and blending into the stream of people on their way to classes. I probably looked a mess but even if I looked my best, who was I going to impress? I only signed up for the required classes, even though I believe I should have a good education. I'm not spending more time with these people than I have to. That leaves me with 2 free periods(and 3 on fridays) and 4 classes (3 on fridays, the reason friday is weird is because of my drop class). My 1st hour the majority of the week is potions which I used to look forward to but now that it's taught by Slughorn… lets say im less than enthused. Then I have arithmancy and then my first free period before lunch. In the afternoons I have transfiguration, herbology, and I end my day with a free period which since it's my last hour I just end my school day there.
Our classes are split up strangely due to the uneven 8th years in each house, so since the Griffondooores had the most returning students, they paired up Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff then just chucked me in with the lions. This was going to be disastrous. I quietly slipped into a seat in the farthest left corner, barely making it before the bell. Slughorn began to drawl off attendance when Mr. Golden boy waltzes in 5 minutes late.
“Sorry Profesor, I had to uhhh, find a cat?” He stumbled out.
The potions teacher waved him off with a smile saying it was fine and told him to take a seat. Out of all the places in the potions lab he could have chose to sit, Mr. Harry Potter, the great golden git, sat next to me. To make it even better Slughorn announced that these were now out ASSIGNED SEATS! Here i was just trying to slip through this year unnoticed and Potter decided to fuck all that up on the first day. Isnt my life swell. Of course I should have known better than to think life would be kind to me for once but I was really hoping.
It hadn't been 20 minutes into the class before Potter nudged my arm. I steeled myself for a crude name or joke at my expense but was met with a quiet,
“ Do you have a quill I could borrow?”
“What?” I responded thoroughly taken aback.
“Um a quill i forgot mine in my dorm. I can give it back once the day is over since our dorms are next to each other.”
“WHAT?” this one said a little too loud as “Professor” Slughorn paused before clearing his throat and continuing.
“Oh yeah you didn't go in there last night did you?Why was that? Well, just, later okay, SO can I have that quill?” he seemed to sputter out his train of thought as he spoke.
I silently reached into my bag and pulled out an extra quill I kept in the hidden side pocket. He said a quick thanks and I nodded in return before we both went back to our studies. Later that day it seemed as though Merlin had blessed me thoroughly as I had EVERY class with Potter. I don't know how or why the fates did this to me but this was going to be a very trying year for all of us.
The rest of my day was a little less hectic since my life wasn't so cursed that I sat next to Potter in every one of my classes but he was still there and during my before lunch study hall we both sat at tables across from each other in the library. We both primarily kept to ourselves except for the couple times I caught him staring at me and when the lunch bell rang he got up and started to walk out before he turned back around and looked at me.
“Are you not going to lunch?”
“I uh had a big breakfast” that was i lie i hadn't had anything to eat since noon yesterday but i couldn't stomach eating with everyone there and i was too nervous to bump into anyone on the way to the kitchen so i planned on just staying where i was.
He continued to look at with a puzzled if not mildly annoyed look before resuming his walk to the great hall. I watched him retreating for a moment before tearing my gaze away and looking back down at my book. I was nearly finished with The Hobbit. I heard there were more in the series but I wanted to read more muggle books that contained magic. I had heard about Howl's Moving Castle and The Colour of Magic. Both were childrens books but they were easy reads that were captivating enough. As I stared at the pages of the book, the words started to blur together as I got lost in thought. Why had Potter been so friendly? Why was he looking at me so often? Is he going to do something? Was this going to be some kind of practical joke? I slammed my book shut knowing I wasn't going to get anything out of it at the moment and that earned me a loud SSSHHH from Madam Pince. I put my head down and unknowingly dozed off.
I woke up to someone tapping me on the back and saying something. Immediately I was startled awake and lifted my book above my head ready to fight an attacker but instead I was faced with a very nervous Potter.
“What do you need, Potter?” I sighed as I set down my book.
“When you didn't show up for afternoon classes or dinner I thought the worst and came to find you.”
“Oh so that's what you are. A babysitter assigned by Mcgonagal to make sure I stay out of trouble. Well now that you know no one is being harmed you can be on your way.”
“ No. I came out here to find you because I was worried not because someone put me up to it.” he said, looking a bit less startled now.
“And why, for merlin's sake, would you be worried about me of all people Potter? Don't you have some gingers to mingle with or a half-blood to save?”
“Why wouldn't I worry about you?” At this I was dumbfounded. I, as any normal sane wizard would do, assumed it to be the other way around and I had not prepared for the fact that he would think otherwise. He had to be up to something.
After realizing I wasn't going to talk, Potter continued, “Well it's around 8pm now so we should be getting to our dorms and such. Since we have the same classes I could fill you in on what happened today.”
“I don't want to be your next pity project” I responded, standing to follow him out of the library doors.
“You're Not im just trying to be, friendly'' There was a short pause before that last word, barely noticeable but it started me right in the face.
“ And why is that? We’ve never cared about being ‘friendly’ before have we?”
“Yeah well we also are not 13 anymore. Now we are both adults and i think its due time we put our childish arguing behind us and start a new”
I stared at him blankly for a few moments but then continued walking beside him until we reached the entrance to the 8th year dorms. To enter you have to press a series of bricks on the wall in the correct order and Potter told me that changed every other week. He also said that the bricks to press (A3, B5, C1, so on and so forth) were always posted right inside the common room doors so you could see them before exiting. I stayed silent during the entire encounter and just followed him as the bricks slid apart revealing a bustling common room.
As i had expected it wasn't as homey as the normal house common rooms but it fixed up nice enough.
“So, since this place hasn’t been used in a while, the dorms are kind of weird so see those balconies? Yeah, okay so the stairs over there(L) lead to the dorms on the other side of the area and the stairs over there (R) lead to the ones you see above you now. Our dorms are to the left so its a bit of a walk but its not that bad.” he gestured as he spoke before beginning to walk towards the intended staircase,” we get single dorms this year because there is enough room here for it and each dorm is like a mini apartment, with a full bathroom, closet, microwave, along with the normal desk and bed. Your dorm currently has your name on it but you can take that down or replace it with whatever you like so long as its school appropriate. There is a little communal library at each dorm cluster and, as you probably saw, a rock climbing course in the common room. There was at least 1 little thing included from each house, except,” his voice fizzled out.
“Slytherin i get it, now could you stop being a tour guide. It's not like I'm gonna get the chance to use any of this stuff anyway.”
“How come?”
“As you gloriously just explained, people would rather not think of me and if it will prevent them from getting angry, I'm perfectly happy with keeping it that way.” i huffed
“What? No, it's not like that at all. Just you see after the war and what happened and-”
“Just because we are being civil doesn't mean I need you defending me. I am a shitty person who did some real shitty things and that's the truth of it.” I interrupted.
“But-”
“Nope”
“Dude-”
“Zip it”
He tried another time or two to get a word in but the rest went the same as his first attempts before he finally gave up and we arrived at my dorm which said in beautiful BIG letters Draco Lucius Malfoy. Well isn't this just peachy.
“Well this is you and I'm right across the hall in case you need anything. All of your things should already be in your room so i'll leave you be now.” he sounded pleasant but noticeably less peppy than when he started.
Once Potter was a while down the hallway I quickly slipped into my new dorm, swiping the sign off of it as I entered. It was standard in size and appearance. Much smaller than my rooms at home but it's not like I enjoyed being in there anyway. But one thing both places had in common, I planned not to spend much time in them. Before I had even gotten back to Hogwarts I had decided that I would spend the least amount of time possible in the vicinity of my peers outside of class. That meant only stopping by to change and grab books. The rest of my time I didn't quite have a plan for yet.
I already knew that I had at least one usable hideout. I say one because I also know how to enter The Room of Requirements but I don't plan on going there voluntarily any time soon. I also assumed that there would be more secret passages and hidden nooks because come on this was Hogwarts for Merlin's sake. Since the 8th years don’t have the usual curfew, us being adults and all, I plan on going looking for these alcoves late at night. The only people I would really bump into are teachers and maybe a few other students from my year who also want to take advantage of this freedom. So as long as I didn't look too suspicious there shouldn't be a problem there. Plus its not like i would be breaking any rules, im aloud to be out that late, there isn't a school rule that i know of that says you can't use secret passages (and if there was Potter and his golden gaggle would surely have broken it by now), and i wouldn't be breaking any other already established school rules. Now, that didn't mean that I didn't have to be cautious. Even if there weren't explicit rules against it and any other student might be able to get away with it, doesn't mean I would. I was on thin ice as it was. I spent almost the entirety of that night thinking about where I was going to look the next day and how I would mark and remember what I had found.
My next few weeks were surprisingly quite peaceful. I paid attention only as much as I needed to in class and I went out scouring for passages almost every night. The nights I wasn't hidden hunting I slept in the original passage I found. I had since decorated it similarly to the one back at the manor and I summoned a few of my favorite novels from home to read whenever I felt like just hanging out there. I was surprisingly content with how my life was going, that was until our celebration for Samhain.
I know at least in the states it is a day for children to go beg for candy from strangers in mediocre costumes and most muggles call it Halloween. I can’t speak for all magic families but mine celebrates Samhain on the same day(though it also dips into November 1st). Samhain celebrates the end of the harvest season but more importantly, and the part that is often included in other cultures, it is when the veil between our world and the spirit realm is at its thinnest. Since over the years it has become a more obscure celebration, not all families celebrate it the exact same. The Blacks and Malfoys always have an altar that has items special to the deceased person placed upon it. These items are then put under a protection charm and restoring charm to keep them looking the exact same as when the person passed and in order to complete the ceremony. Then these items are set ablaze(hence the protection charm) starting from the first passed, moving to the most recent death. It is also traditional to dress in your family colours though I know some others just go with the holiday colours, black and orange. There are then also things like dancing and making the deceased's favorite food but that part gets a little more personalized.
This used to be a holiday where children would get to go home for the week inorder to make preparations and be with family but since it has become less and less celebrated we no longer get off for it. So it is then up to the family on how to celebrate. In the past mother and father would light the items and I would watch via fireplace but now that no one else is here to do it, I summoned some of the items from more recent generations and was planning on holding the ceremony in one of my hidden rooms. But just as I was lighting the first few relics, guess who walks in.
“What are you doing here Malfoy and why are you burning things?”