Harry Needs Sleep
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had never been one to speak up when he was uncomfortable, but things were getting a little out of hand. Draco fucking Malfoy had walked into the car not five minutes ago, seen Harry sitting there, and decided he was going to camp out there with him. Harry was flabbergasted, to say the least. They didn’t really talk. Like, ever. Harry wanted to know why the ever-living Merlin Draco had decided to invade his space.
“Um, can I do something for you?” Harry finally managed.
Draco looked up from his robe sleeve confused. “What do you mean Potter?” he questioned.
“Well, you sat down here. In the one car that someone else was in. Not to mention, that someone was me. We don’t talk Draco, at least, we never have,” he concluded.
“Yeah, so? Doesn’t mean it has to stay that way,” Draco finished before going back to tracing something along his sleeve.
Now even more completely confused, Harry gave up on deciphering whatever trick Draco was trying to play on him and opted to attempt a nap again. As much as he didn’t trust Draco to not attack him in his sleep, he was really exhausted after being on his guard all summer. Besides, Draco wouldn’t hurt him worse than the Dursleys’ had right?
It didn’t work.
“Merlin,” Harry heard Draco murmur under his breath.
“What?” he snapped.
Looking startled, Draco slowly seemed to consider his answer before responding, “I was just thinking about how stupid the rule about soulmates is. I mean like, do they want us to just pretend that they don’t exist? I wish we could be proud of it, you know?”
“What about those that don’t have any?”
“Everyone that has magic has a soulmate, Potter. Don’t be ridiculous,” Draco scoffed.
Harry ducked his head, ashamed that he didn’t know something that simple. Of course everyone magical would have one. Merlin, I’m stupid. Harry cleared his throat before responding. “Yeah, right. I forgot. They must have some reason then,” he finished lamely, finally looking back up.
Draco was studying him quizzically before he shook his head and grabbed a book.
Harry frowned. Why was he looking at him like that? Did he notice that he had lied? Not like it matters. We hate each other either way. Why did he have to sit here anyways? I just want to sleep. Harry groaned and slowly sat up again. It was going to be a very long train trip.
(^._.^)ﾉ
They arrived at Hogwarts in record time, not that Harry would know. Every second had felt like torture to him. The whole ride had been spent in tense silence between him and Draco. For some reason, Hermione and Ron had never shown up. Everyone else that had passed through had left in a hurry. Harry was starting to get worried about them. What if the platform had closed on them again? Did they get expelled? Did they hate him?
Harry was shaken out of his thoughts when the train screeched to a halt. Shaking his head, Harry grabbed the small bag he was taking with him and stomped by Draco to the door. Draco looked put out, like he was going to say something, but the moment passed.
“Mr. Potter, a word, if you would.”
Harry glanced around until he saw who had called out for him. Professor McGonagall was standing at the door to the train and was looking at him expectantly. Bewildered, Harry made his way through the crowd towards his head of house. “Professor?”
“There seems to be something wrong with some documents of yours, Potter. For some reason, your documents got lost or destroyed somehow. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience.”
“What does that mean?” Harry questioned. “Do I have to leave the school?”
“Oh nothing that drastic, we just have to redo all of your documents before you can begin attending classes,” Professor McGonagall finished.
“Do I need to take all of my classes over again?!” Harry asked, aghast.
“No,” she frowned, “for some reason we still have those documents. It’s just your main one that says you're enrolled in this school, who your guardians are, your house, and all that. Nothing to worry about.”
Relieved, Harry eventually made his way toward the carriages with the last of the students. Finally seeing Hermione and Ron, he ran to catch up to them.
(^._.^)ﾉ
The introduction feast seemed to drag by for Harry, though he couldn’t seem to understand why. Later that evening, as they were winding down for bed, Harry told his two best friends about his weird conversation with Professor McGonagall.
“Wait, say that again,” Hermione ordered.
“It was just the main document?”
“No, the one after that.”
“That there’s nothing to worry about?”
“Nooo,” Hermione groaned, “before that.”
“Oh. I need to fix the document that says I’m enrolled here, which house I’m in, and who my legal guardians are.”
“Are you guys not seeing the problem here that I am?!” Hermione exclaimed. “This is serious.”
“I don’t see a problem. Harry just has to redo some paperwork tomorrow. What’s the big deal?” Ron questioned.
“The big deal is that Harry has to be resorted into a house.”
“WHAT?!” Harry and Ron both yelled.
“Shhhhh,” Hermione scolded. “Yes, I doubt they would just let him write down “Gryffindor” on the paper, the hat usually puts down the house with magic. You’ll probably have to be sorted again Harry. Sorry.”
Harry couldn’t sleep that night.
(^._.^)ﾉ
The next morning Harry went to Professor McGonagall’s office before breakfast. He wanted to get it all over with as soon as he could. He just really hoped that he was put in Gryffindor again.
“Good morning, Mr. Potter. Please, make yourself comfortable.” Professor McGonagall ushered him in.
“Thank you,” Harry replied quietly.
She slid a parchment in front of Harry and asked him to begin filling it out. Harry quickly went through the paper, writing down his legal name, date of birth, guardians, and so forth and so on. Finally he came to the dreaded question, his house. Harry hesitated before attempting to write Gryffindor down on the blank provided. No ink appeared on the parchment.
“Professor? The parchment won’t let me put down my house,” Harry called.
Puzzled, McGonagall came over and took a look at the paper. “Strange,” she muttered. Grabbing a quill, she tried to write it down as well. Still nothing happened. Mcgonagall thought for a moment before walking out of the room. When she returned a few minutes later, it was with the sorting hat. “Sorry, this is the only way I can think to fix it,” she apologized as she placed the hat on Harry’s head.
“Oh, it’s you again. How strange. This doesn’t happen often,” the hat mused in Harry’s head.
Please put me in Gryffindor. Please. I have to be in Gryffindor again.
“No. No. I regret putting you there in the first place. You always belonged to be somewhere else."
"But-"
"No- I will not be repeating myself,” and then out loud, for McGonagall to hear, “SLYTHERIN!”
Harry tore the hat off his head. Staring at McGonagall with an alarmed expression he burst out, “I can’t be in Slytherin. Please, I have to stay in Gryffindor. Please.” He was almost begging at this point.
Professor McGonagall still seemed shocked, but shook her head. “The hat has the only say. It’s already on your document.” She stood there for another minute before looking Harry in the eye and saying, “I guess we should tell your new head of house.”