chapter 1
Draco walked into the common room next to the kitchens, expecting to be stared at or side eyed. What he wasn’t expecting was the resounding “Hello” from the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors that had returned for their eighth year at Hogwarts. Assuming most eighth year students wouldn’t be too fond of his return, Draco had arranged to apparate to Hogsmeade Village and gave himself plenty of time to walk to the grounds of the castle so that he could miss the start of year feast. What he expected even less was being invited into the group conversation on class arrangements by none other than Harry Potter himself. The group of eighth years were spread about the common room discussing if they thought they would have to take courses with the seventh years or not. They were also sharing what classes they felt they would most enjoy.
“Yeah, but if Trelawney is teaching it this year, I want nothing to do with it,” said Ron about the divination course.
“Yeah, me too mate. I prefer Firenze,” said Seamus.
“At least he has never predicted my death,” said Harry even though that wasn’t technically true. Firenze had alluded to his death during their first meeting all those years ago in the Forbidden Forest. Draco decided to keep that bit to himself though.
“I still don’t believe in such silly nonsense. I would much rather take ancient runes again, or arithmancy,” countered Hermione.
“Arithmancy is basically the same thing as divination though, isn’t it?” asked Dean.
“Numbers and math are much more materialistic and real world compared to tea leaves and crystal balls, thank you very much,” she said with a smile.
It was Harry though that scooted to the side and patted the cushion next to him, inviting Draco to sit and join the conversation. Of course, it was. Draco couldn’t refuse the invitation, not that he wanted to. He supposed he had changed over the summer, not so much physically, he was still tall and leanly muscled with the white blonde hair and pale skin. It was something more important than looks that changed for him. When Malfoy gave Potter his wand to finish the Dark Lord, it sent a ripple effect through his life and his thought process. He no longer felt he had to be a shadow of his father, but that he could be his own person now. And what a revelation it had been.
Draco sat down next to Harry, almost uncomfortably close. Being squeezed between Potter and Longbottom, he was once again surprised by the lack of response from Longbottom. Draco supposed he was not the only one who had changed. Although Longbottom’s was more of a physical transformation, Draco supposed that he had always been as brave and caring, but it had been overlooked before. Malfoy also noticed, with a twinge in his stomach that he was more handsome than he had ever noticed before. With that realization, Malfoy turned his attention back to the conversation the others were having.
“I sure wish I knew who was going to teach DADA this year. It seems odd that no one was introduced at the feast,” said Hermione who tended to pride herself on knowing things about Hogwarts that others did not.
Ron replied with a hopeful, “Maybe there won’t be a DADA professor this year.”
“I highly doubt they wouldn’t provide a professor for a subject we were to have a NEWT exam over. Besides that’s the whole point of coming back isn’t it,” Hermione retorted.
“I’m sure they have someone in mind,” chimed in Draco apprehensively, but he was not shunned from the conversation because of it.
“They do,” said Harry not sure if he should yet be sharing this news. “It’s me. And Eighth years aren’t required to take the course in order to take the NEWT for it since, you know, we have been through it already in real life.”
“Bloody Hell!” said Ron his mouth agape.
“That’s fantastic news Harry! Why didn’t you tell us?” asked Hermione.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise. McGonagall said to keep it under wraps until after the feast. I was expecting her to say something, but she didn’t,” Harry said slightly guiltily. “But it isn’t permanent. Just until they can find someone to teach the rest of the years. And then I’ll be free to study for my NEWTS in peace.”
While Draco was stunned that he didn’t have to try to fit DADA into his schedule he thought it did kind of make sense with all that they had been through. He still wasn’t sure if he needed to test for it still, especially considering his aspirations for a calm boring life. He decided he would anyways. There was no harm in that.
There was suddenly a loud noise from behind the couch, where Seamus was now standing.
“Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen” said Seamus after his Weasley fireworks went off startling everyone around him.
Everyone was pretty used to Seamus accidentally setting things alight or exploding objects by now and they all took that as a que to go to bed.
….
Draco woke the next morning to the sun shining through the window in the boy’s dorm. It was an interesting room. Not square, but then again what in this castle was. It was a hexagonal room each wall with a desk, bed, window, and adjoining wall for some privacy and a wardrobe. The space felt united but offered separate areas from the whole to make the space feel secluded. Draco being used to the odd angles of the castle was not put off by the lay out but was curious about the color scheme. Instead of doing a mash up of all the house colors like he had expected, McGonagall had opted for a lack of all house colors. Everything was crème colored with dark wood accents. It was nice though, grown even. And it did help Draco feel more like an adult than the house colors would have. The common room was small, much smaller than the Slytherin one, but the supposed since it was just eighth years it didn’t need to be any larger. After all only ten of them had returned, the majority of which were Gryffindor boys. If it weren’t for the fact that Draco wanted to be completely separated from his father and family name, he would not have returned either. However, he needed his NEWTS to get his boring bill paying job. While he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, he knew he wanted to do it in London. Maybe, he thought, he would be some sort of liaison at the ministry or an accountant. Either way he had time to decide, and in the meantime, he would study hard to keep his options open. And the whole world was open to him now. He supposed he could even get a muggle job if need be.
Draco got out of bed, dressed quietly, and went out to the common room. Ron, Harry, and Neville were already there, in their pajamas still, drinking tea from a silver set that was placed on the coffee table in between the couch and the fireplace. They were all eager to start their first whole day back of classes and plan study sessions.
Dean and Seamus woke last and came out of the dorm dressed for the day. They plopped down next to Draco, who sat on the couch and helped themselves to a cup of tea. Within moments, Ron, Harry, and Neville were up and going to get dressed. They were worried that they might miss breakfast, despite it only being half past six in the morning. Class schedules were to be handed out at 730 and no one wanted to be late for that.
“Morning” Dean said flatly to Draco as he walked into the common room.
“Morning” Draco replied slightly confused by the sudden change in his tone from last night.
“Good morning, Malfoy” said Seamus and by way of explanation continued with “Don’t worry he just hasn’t had his coffee yet. The bugger.”
“Ah, up early despite it though” said Draco.
“Yeah, well this prat wouldn’t let me sleep” Dean said wrapping his arms around Seamus and nuzzling his nose into his neck.
“Oi! That’s cold!” Seamus said and pushed Dean off.
Draco crossed his legs and gave them an appraising look. “You two?” asked Draco tentatively.
“Oh, didn’t think there was anyone who didn’t know but that makes sense I guess since we’ve all been a little separated this last little while. Yeah, we’ve been dating for a few months now.” Said Seamus unabashed.
“Got a problem with that Malfoy?” Dean added threateningly.
“Not at all actually. Despite being without a partner currently it would still be hypocritical of me,” replied Draco.
Seamus sniggered, but Dean continued to glare. He really wasn’t a morning person and it was really early. But sleep evaded most of them at least some of the time. The air grew slightly tense because of it though and they sat in quite for a little while. It wasn’t long before Harry, Ron, and Neville returned to the common room and ushered everyone out the door to the great hall.
“Isn’t it odd that none of the girls have gotten up yet?” asked Ron as they entered the entrance way.
“I’m sure Hermione will be waiting for us in the great hall” said Harry, knowing all too well that Hermione tended to not sleep when she felt like something needed solving. In this case, her class schedule was on the line.
Sure enough, she was in the great hall surrounded by all her course books reviewing them with first day jitters. As they sat down around her, she greeted them all in turn, kissing Ron on the cheek as he sat down next to her and within her ring of papers and books.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came here to start planning my schedule” said Hermione with a yawn.
“Understandable, but why in the great hall instead of the common room?” asked Harry
“It was too small and too dark and I didn’t want to wake anyone by turning on the lights” replied Hermione.
….
It was a quick half hour later when other students and the staff started wandering into the hall. The first being Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. While she still taught transfiguration, she no longer handled the scheduling which had been taken over by Flitwick.
It had been decided by the 8th years en masse that they would all be taking Herbology, Potions, DADA, Transfiguration, and Charms. Hermione and Draco would be taking Arithmancy in addition to that work and the rest would be taking Divination. Draco was happy with this plan because that meant he wasn’t going to be left to the mercies of the 7th years alone and would have at least Hermione with him. He was sure that despite the way the 8th years accepted him that the 7th years would not be as forgiving. Outside of Luna and Ginny of course. Whom he had already apologized to through owl post over the summer. He had also invited them to lunch at the Manor, but both declined and reasonably so thought Draco. It was pushing it in his opinion, but he felt like making the effort was the important part. And while he and Hermione were not destined to be best friends, he found that the thought of her company was much more preferable than going it alone. Draco only hoped that he wasn’t the only one to think that way.
Draco returned to his breakfast after Flitwick left their table, everyone’s schedule in hand. It had been a long time since Draco felt comfortable enough to eat a decent meal. He had gotten rather skinny over the past year, but war would do that to you. He was not the only one affected in that way. Draco noticed that the majority of 7th and 8th year students were thinner than they had been the last time he had been in class here. It had been some time for them too since they were able to enjoy sitting down to routine and three meals a day. This was either going to be the best thing for them or the worst and Draco hoped with every part of his being that it was the best. Not just because he needed the new start, but he needed a reason for that new start, and he didn’t think he could allow himself that if others weren’t able to get that too.
….
It was a good first day for Draco and the others. Arithmancy was good, nothing unexpected. He and Hermione were still vying for the spot of top student just like they had been before He Who Must Not Be Named regained power. After that was double potions, where Draco noticed Hermione was back to helping Harry instead of side eyeing him throughout class. He might ask about that later, but left it be for now. He considered himself far from anyone’s friend at the current moment. Even though he was working hard to change that. The afternoon saw them into Greenhouse 5 for three and a half hours working away to the instruction of Professor Sprout, with Neville’s help of course.
Dinner was comfortable. It was quiet and everyone seemed to have a good first day back. Draco allowed himself some space to relax while he ate and drank listening to the chatter of students around him. The great hall was back to being comforting for most everyone despite so many lost lives being gathered there only a few months previously. That’s not to say it felt the same as it did before the final battle. There were more ghosts, young ones, along with the old. But it felt like home to so many that no longer felt at home anywhere else. It was a type of solace found after a storm. For those that had weathered it anyways. The first years were acting as every first-year class had that Draco had encountered. Boisterous and animated, eating and playing, in awe of the size and magnitude of the castle and the classes.
As each of the 8th year students finished dinner, they excused themselves to the common room and dorms. It had been a good day, but it had also been a long day. Draco was one of the last to leave, next to Harry, who seemed to not be eating much at all but was writing something. A letter or lesson plans perhaps, thought Draco. That would make sense since everyone would be in Defense against the dark arts tomorrow, from first years to 8th. It was the only class they had on Tuesdays, first thing in the morning for two whole hours with the 7th years. Draco was nervous and wondered why Harry didn’t seem a slight bit off considering he was the one teaching it. If it were to have Draco, he would have been a wreck. But then again this wouldn’t be Harry’s first time teaching the whole school DADA. When Draco finally finished his pumpkin juice, he stood, nodded to Potter who remained seated and then left for his dorm room and the comfort of warm blankets and soft night clothes.