Chapter 2
Harry glanced nervously around the Great Hall, finally restored to its original glory. He tried not to think about the castle like that, the way it had been torn down, destroyed, ruined, because of the war he started. No, shut up Harry, this isn't about you, none of this is about you.
The Gryffindor table. A sea of red and gold, with the occasional splash of blue and yellow. (McGonagall had abolished the idea that members of each house should sit together. Harry thought it was a brilliant idea. Many disagreed.) His eyes fell onto a head of fiery red hair. Ginny. She sat in deep conversation with Luna, both of them looking tense, agitated. Broken. Because of you. No, fuck off. This isn't my fucking pity party. Ginny glanced away from her blonde companion, and hazel eyes met emerald. Harry nodded reassuringly, to which she replied with a small smile. Things would never be the same between them. Harry killed her brother. But at least he could try to help her.
Further down the table, the Patil twins are holding hands, and Pavarti is crying. She lost her best friend. Neville and Seamus try to cheer her up, but it isn't working. Why should it? Its not their fault Lavendar Brown is gone.
Dean Thomas is struggling to breathe. No one has noticed, because of course they haven't. All around him, students are reliving their trauma, but not Harry, never Harry. He's the reason they are hurt in the first place, he can't feel sorry for himself.
The Hufflepuff table. Hannah Abbot went missing before the final battle broke out. They found her body two weeks ago. Another tragic loss for Hufflepuff. Your fault, Harry. Piss off. Not many Hufflepuffs had returned for eighth year. Ernie Macmillan sat alone, the usual pompousness about his manner gone. Zacharias Smith returned too. He still looked like a dickhead.
The Ravenclaw table, perhaps the most empty of them all. Hermione had said that the Ravenclaws hadn't felt the need to return to Hogwarts when they had the knowledge they needed to pass the NEWT's outside of school. Still, Padma had returned to support her sister, and Luna returned for her seventh year. Both seemed exhausted, and neither sat with their fellow Ravenclaws. Change...
The Slytherin table. Harry was shocked that so many had returned to Hogwarts. He had nothing against them anymore... it was hardly their fault that they got caught up in their parents war... Harry's war... NO. The Slytherins stared about the hall, determined, defiant, as if daring anyone to question them. Huddled at the end of the table were Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zambini, Daphne Greengrass and Theodore Nott. The four of them sat close, protection, a barrier, eyes darting wildly. No one felt safe, it was clearer now more than ever. The memories were too much to handle.
As Harry continued to stare around the hall, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Its not that he was actively searching for him, but the absence of silvery blonde hair was loud. Harry had shared a few words with Draco after his trial, and they had exchanged a few.. not friendly but amicable letters at the start of Draco's house arrest. Harry hadn't heard from him in several weeks though, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that he wasn't there.
'Harry? Harry! ' A sharp jab in the rib bought him back to his senses. Hermione was staring at him in concern, clearly she had been trying to get his attention. After the final battle, she and Ron had moved into Grimmauld Place with him. They said it was because they wanted to stick together, but Harry knew they we're lying. They we're worried about him, but he couldn't figure out why. There was nothing wrong with him, it was everyone else who needed help.
'Huh? What?'
'I asked what you thought about McGonagall's house unity policy?'
'Oh, right. I think its great. I mean, things wouldn't have got this far if we hadn't houses in the first place, right?'
Hermione beamed at him. 'That's exactly what I was thinking. It will be nice to get a fresh start!'
Ron snorted. 'A fresh start? Hermione look at them!' he gestured towards Pansy Parkinsons group at the end of the Slytherin table with his fork. When Hermione raised her eyebrows in question, he sighed dramatically. 'Look at them. All huddled together, shooting daggers at everyone... they're up to something! '
Hermione let out a cackle. 'Up to something? You sound like Harry! No offence, Harry,' she added, smirking slightly.
'None taken. Look mate,' he turned to Ron, 'we just need to put all that shit behind us. The war is over. They did what they had to do. Just leave it.' he warned when Ron opened his mouth to protest. The redhead sagged in his seat. Harry had grown used to Ron's animosity towards the green house over the past few years, but it was quite honestly exhausting now. Everything was.
A hush fell across the hall as McGonagall rose to her feet. She had been acting as headmistress before Snape took over and was more than happy to take on the job after Voldemort's death. The majority of students were glad of this - she was a damned capable witch, and was certainly less manipulative than Dumbledore. 'Welcome back to Hogwarts everyone! I know you must all be exhausted, but I have a few words to say before you leave for bed. Firstly, as I mentioned before the feast, whilst you will sleep in dormitories with members of your house, there are no restrictions on common rooms or house tables. Inter-house communications are encouraged. Secondly, the faculty understand that this will be a difficult year for many. Subsequently, we will be more lenient with most rules, but the forbidden forest remains out of bounds to all students. I would also like to note that any discrimination, whether that be based on house, blood type, or anything unrelated to magic, will result in your immediate suspension.' McGonagall was certainly doing a better job than Dumbledore. There were no cryptic warnings in the welcome speech, for one. 'All eight years please remain behind. That will be all. Goodnight.'
The sound of benches scraping sounded throughout the hall as seventh year and below stood and filtered out of the hall, When the hall was nearly empty, McGonagall beckoned the Eighth Years into a small group at the foot of the teachers table. Looking around, Harry counted fourteen students: himself, Ron and Hermione, Dean, Seamus, Neville and Pavarti from Gryffindor, Pansy, Blaise, Daphne, and Theodore from Slytherin, Ernie and Zacharias from Hufflepuff and just Padma from Ravenclaw.
McGonagall spoke. 'Welcome back, all of you. I shall cut right to the chase. You will all be living in a new wing of the castle, which we added on when we were rebuilding the castle. As you are all of age, you will have free reign of the castle at all times, but I ask you not to disturb any of the younger students. Hogsmeade visits will be every weekend for you, but you may not invite another student. This year you will have more free time, but I urge you to focus on your exams as best you can. Now, allow me to lead you to your dwellings.'
The eighth years followed her through the large oak doors to the great hall, and down a long passageway to the left. They continued along the passage for what seemed like an hour, sharing looks of confusion as it got progressively darker. Then, brackets on the walls burst into flame as McGonagall jabbed her wand into a hole in the wall and twisted it. The wall seemed to melt away, and suddenly they we're stood in the middle of a magnificent room.
'Bloody hell.'
'Did we just Apparate?'
'Don't be stupid, you can't Apparate inside Hogwarts grounds, you should know that by now!'
McGonagall smiled at the group. 'No Mr Finnegan, we did not just Apparate, this was a rather complex Disillusion Charm performed by Professor Flitwick. All you have to do to enter the room is poke your wand into the whole in the wall with the intent of getting to the common room,'
'This is our common room?'
'Yes Mr Weasley. Do you have a problem with that?'
'Well its not very... common... is it?'
Though everyone sniggered at his comment, the eighth years agreed with Ron. The common room had high ceilings, mahogany floors, wide, arched windows, Several large fireplaces stood against the walls, cozy armchairs placed in front of them. To the left of them were three doors, which Professor McGonagall addressed. 'These two doors,' she gestured to the one on the left and the one on the right, 'will lead to your dormitories. And this one,' she gestured to the door in the middle, 'will take you anywhere in the castle. Anywhere you want.'
Harry fucking loved magic.
'So, I will hand out your timetables for the fortnight. At the bottom of your timetable you will see who you will be sharing a dormitory with. Boys are on the left, girls are on the right. Goodnight.'
Once McGonagall had left the room, the students broke out into lazy conversation. All we're exhausted, but none wanted to go to sleep just yet.
'Hey Harry, who are you rooming with?' Ron asked, staring at his timetable in disappointment.
Harry looked down at his timetable, scanning past all the lessons to the bottom.
Dorm Two
Harry Potter
Zacharias Smith
Draco Malfoy