The Slytherin way
The following morning, Harry met up with Ron in the entrance hall before their first class. They’d both come from breakfast, but Harry couldn’t shake the frustration from the previous night. As they walked toward their first class of the day, Harry couldn’t help but mutter to Ron about the Slytherins again.
“I just don’t get it, Ron. I’m in their house now, and they won’t even look at me,”
Harry said, his voice laced with irritation.
“I tried talking to a few of them, and it’s like I don’t even exist. It’s like they’ve got some unspoken rule to just pretend I’m invisible.”
Ron, who had been walking alongside Harry, raised an eyebrow.
“Well, mate, it’s not exactly a surprise. Slytherins don’t exactly make friends easily, especially not with you.”
Harry glared at his friend.
“I’m not asking to be friends with them, Ron. I just want to be acknowledged. I thought maybe things would be different now that I’m in their house. But nope, it’s like they’d rather I disappear.”
Ron scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing over at Harry.
“I mean, they’re just Slytherins, Harry. They’ve always been like this. Don’t take it personally.”
Harry huffed, not satisfied with that explanation.
“But that’s the thing, Ron. It’s not just because they’re Slytherins. They’re treating me like... like I don’t belong, like I’m some sort of outcast. I mean, I’m one of them now, right?”
Ron opened his mouth to respond but then hesitated. He gave Harry a thoughtful look.
“You’ve got a point. Maybe it’s not just them being Slytherins. You’re right, you should be getting the same treatment as everyone else in the house.”
Harry ran a hand through his hair, frustration mounting.
“Exactly! It’s just... I don’t know, Ron. It feels like the entire house wants to pretend I’m still the bloody ‘Boy Who Lived,’ not just a guy trying to get through his last year at Hogwarts.”
Ron nodded slowly, then seemed to think for a moment.
“Well, maybe...”
He trailed off, looking a little sheepish.
“Maybe it’s not just them being Slytherins. Maybe they’re still... I don’t know, weirded out by the whole war thing, yeah?”
Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at Ron.
“What do you mean?”
Ron sighed, looking uncomfortable.
“I mean, Harry, you’ve got to admit... you were kind of a big deal in the war. To a lot of people, you still are. And maybe the Slytherins, especially after everything that happened, just... don’t know how to handle it. Maybe they still see you as that bloody hero who destroyed Voldemort, the guy everyone looks up to, and they don’t know how to treat you like a regular bloke.”
Harry shook his head, trying to process that.
“But... I’m not ‘The Chosen One’ anymore, Ron. I’m just Harry. That’s all I’ve ever been. And yet, it’s like none of them can see that. I just want to be me, you know?”
Ron gave Harry a sympathetic look.
“I know, mate. But maybe... just maybe, the war’s still affecting them too. It was hard on everyone, and not everyone knows how to move past it. Especially the Slytherins.”
Harry’s gaze softened slightly as he let Ron’s words sink in.
“I guess you’ve got a point,”
He muttered.
“I didn’t really think about it like that.”
Ron gave him a quick, encouraging smile.
“Yeah, well, it’s still gonna take time. But don’t let it get to you. You’re here, and you’ve got us. We’ll make sure you’re not alone.”
Harry nodded, grateful for Ron’s support, though the weight of his situation still pressed on him.
“Thanks, Ron.”
Together, they made their way to their first class, Harry feeling a little less agitated but still uncertain about his place in Slytherin.
------
As Harry and Ron entered the classroom, they scanned the room for seats. Most of the seats were already filled, but there were two vacant ones near Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. It would’ve been the easiest choice to sit there, to stick with his friends where he was comfortable. But Harry hesitated. His eyes flicked toward the other side of the room, to the Slytherin section, where most of the students were clustered. There was an empty seat next to Draco. Not just an empty seat, but the only one available near the Slytherins.
Ron, clearly unaware of Harry’s internal dilemma, nudged him lightly.
“Well, mate? What’s it going to be? Are we joining the others?”
Harry’s gaze lingered on the Slytherins for a moment. Draco’s pale blond head was tilted slightly as he looked over at something on the table, looking every bit the part of the aloof Slytherin that Harry had always known. But things were different now. He was in Slytherin.
“If I want to make a move in this house, I should probably start with something small,”
Harry murmured, more to himself than to Ron.
Ron shot him a surprised glance.
“You... you sure about that? It’s Malfoy you're talking about, Harry.”
Harry bit back a sigh.
“Yeah, I know. But if I keep avoiding them, it’s only going to make it worse.”
With that, Harry made his decision. He gave Ron a tight smile before heading toward the vacant seat by Draco. Ron followed him, looking a bit bewildered, but didn’t protest. As Harry sat down, Draco didn’t even glance at him at first. But Harry knew better than to think that Draco hadn’t noticed. He could feel the tension between them, the space that had once been filled with sharp words and insults now hanging awkwardly in the air.
After a long moment, Draco finally looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Potter,”
He said, his tone light but not unfriendly.
“You sure you want to sit here? I’m not exactly the most entertaining company.”
Harry shot him a small, guarded smile.
“I’m fine,”
He said, turning his attention to the front of the classroom.
“Just thought I’d give it a try.”
Draco didn’t respond immediately, his lips quirking in a faint, almost imperceptible smirk as he focused on the professor who had just started the lesson. Harry, for his part, remained silent, focusing on the lecture, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. This was a first step. A small, awkward step toward fitting into his house.
It wasn’t much, but Harry had a feeling that things might start shifting- just a little bit.
After a couple of lectures, the class was given a brief five-minute break. Most of the students shuffled around, stretching or chatting with the person next to them. Harry, however, remained seated at his desk, hands folded in front of him as he thought over the morning’s lesson. He could feel Draco’s gaze on him from the seat beside him.
It wasn’t long before Draco’s voice broke the silence.
“Potter,”
he started, tone as calm as ever, though there was a note of curiosity in his words.
“I have to ask... why sit here? Why not go with your friends? You’re still one of them, after all.”
Harry glanced at Draco, raising an eyebrow. It was the first time Draco had asked something like this, and Harry didn’t want to jump to conclusions about his intentions. Taking a deep breath, Harry leaned back slightly in his chair, looking across the room at Ron, Hermione, and the others who were gathered in their corner, talking and laughing. His fingers drummed lightly on the edge of his desk.
“I’m trying to make a change,”
Harry said after a beat, his tone steady but thoughtful.
“Even if it’s just something small. I’ve been part of Gryffindor for so long, and now... now I’m in Slytherin. If I want to actually fit in here, I have to start somewhere.”
Draco seemed to consider this for a moment, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He didn’t say anything right away, and Harry wasn’t sure what Draco was thinking. It wasn’t like Draco to be this quiet. Finally, Draco shrugged, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“Well,”
He said with a flick of his gaze,
“if you’re looking to make friends here, you might want to try doing... The Slytherin way. But I suppose sitting with me is a start.”
Harry couldn’t help but smirk at the backhanded compliment, but he appreciated Draco’s honesty.
“I’m not looking to be friends with anyone right away,”
Harry replied, his voice matter-of-fact.
“I just want to be... acknowledged. To stop feeling like an outsider. And sitting here, next to you, is one way to do that.”
Draco’s lips twitched in a knowing half-smile.
“Well, don’t expect me to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Potter. But I suppose I can tolerate your presence for now.”
Harry laughed quietly, the tension between them easing just a little.
“I wasn’t expecting that. But hey, it’s progress, right?”
Draco leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms behind his head as he looked up at the ceiling.
“I suppose it is. For both of us.”
The conversation didn’t go any deeper than that, but Harry couldn’t help but feel that small spark of hope. Maybe things wouldn’t change overnight, but this was a start. And that was all he needed.
------
After class, with a free block ahead of them, Harry, Ron, and Hermione settled under a tree near the edge of the Black Lake. It was sunny, warm for early autumn, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh grass and something sweet from the greenhouses nearby. Harry dropped onto the grass with a quiet sigh, leaning back on his elbows.
“You know,”
He started, glancing between his two best friends,
“things might actually be getting a little better.”
Hermione smiled warmly.
“That’s wonderful to hear, Harry. Is it the classes? Or the house situation?”
Harry chuckled, picking at a blade of grass.
“Bit of both, I guess. I mean, it’s still weird, being in Slytherin. Half the house avoids me like I’m about to curse them... but Draco, oddly enough, doesn’t.”
Ron made a face. “Malfoy?”
“Yeah,”
Harry said, and now he was smiling a little despite himself.
“He’s still a complete git, don’t get me wrong. But he’s treating me like... I don’t know, like me. Not The Boy Who Lived. Not some symbol. Just Harry. And it’s kind of refreshing, honestly.”
Hermione beamed.
“That’s actually... really lovely, Harry. I’m glad someone’s treating you normally. Even if it is Malfoy.”
Ron squinted, clearly not convinced.
“You’re telling me Draco Malfoy,who used to hex first-years for fun, is suddenly being all civil with you?”
Harry laughed.
“Not civil. He’s snarky. A bit smug. But I can deal with that. He still argues with me, still throws insults, but it’s not cruel. It’s almost... familiar. Like he doesn’t see me as this war hero. Just the same annoying bloke he used to hate.”
Ron leaned back, rubbing his chin.
“Huh... that’s weird.”
“It is,”
Harry agreed.
“But it’s also kind of nice.”
After a pause, Ron gave him a sidelong look.
“Well... I guess if anyone was gonna call you out for being a prat and not care you’re a hero, it’d be Malfoy.”
Hermione laughed lightly.
“That’s probably the most honest friendship you’ll have in Slytherin.”
Harry just smiled to himself, gazing out at the water, that little knot in his chest easing.
------
The dorm was dimly lit, quiet except for the occasional soft crackle from the fireplace. Draco was already settled on his bed, lounging against the pillows in his signature fashion — wearing deep green, silky pyjamas that practically screamed Malfoy elegance. He was flipping lazily through a book, though his attention immediately shifted when the door creaked open.
Harry stepped in, looking tired and still dressed in his school robes. His hair was messier than usual, his tie loosened, and his shoulders just slightly slumped from the long day.
Draco glanced up, raising a brow.
“You always come in this late, or is it just a special Gryffindor habit?”
His voice was light, not sharp, teasing, but not cutting. Harry offered a half-smile as he began to unbutton his robes.
“Long day,”
He replied simply, not offering much more. To his quiet relief, Draco didn’t press. He hummed in vague acknowledgment and turned back to his book, leaving Harry to his own space. No questions. No judgment. Harry didn’t say it out loud, but in that moment, he was quietly grateful. After everything- the stares, the whispers, the pressure, having someone just let him be was exactly what he needed. And the fact that it was Draco Malfoy who gave him that peace… well, that was something Harry would have never seen coming.
------
The morning light filtered through the windows, and Harry stirred awake, blinking groggily at the clock on the wall. He groaned when he realized the time - he was already cutting it close. With a half-panicked sigh, he quickly scrambled to get out of bed. Across the room, Draco was already up, dressed impeccably in his school robes, his blonde hair neatly styled as he meticulously checked himself in the mirror. His eyes caught Harry’s frantic movements, and a small smirk tugged at his lips.
“Late, Potter?”
Draco remarked dryly, smoothing a wrinkle in his robe.
“You’re already on the wrong foot. You know, Slytherins are early birds. We have perfect attendance. It’s part of the first step of the Slytherin way.”
Harry paused for a moment, throwing Draco an incredulous look.
“Early birds, huh? Well, I guess I’m not cut out for that,”
he muttered as he fumbled with his uniform.
Draco’s smirk deepened as he fixed his tie with practiced ease.
“It’s more than just showing up on time. It’s about discipline, being ahead of the game. If you want to be truly Slytherin, you have to live up to the standards, Potter. This isn’t just about your house placement.”
Harry rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile.
“Yeah, well, give me a few weeks and I’ll be on your level,”
He said, finally managing to get his tie straight. Draco’s response was a quiet, almost imperceptible hum, as though he was half-amused by the challenge.
“We’ll see. But remember, Slytherins don’t just get there. We make ourselves better. Starting with the basics.”
He glanced at Harry as he adjusted his robes one last time.
“Now, hurry up. You don’t want to be late for the first class of the day.”
Harry shot Draco a grin, both impressed and a little intimidated by his perfect routine.
“Thanks for the lecture, Malfoy. I’ll try to catch up with your ‘Slytherin way’- just don’t expect miracles.”
Draco didn’t reply, just gave Harry a cool glance, as if silently agreeing to let him figure it out for himself. Harry couldn’t help but feel, for a moment, like maybe he had something to learn after all.
------
After the morning classes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione found a quiet spot in the courtyard during their free block. The sunlight was still warm, and the day felt like it might finally settle into a normal routine. But Ron, who had been quieter than usual, suddenly let out a frustrated sigh.
"Harry,"
Ron began, voice low,
"I don’t get it. Why are you trying so hard to fit in with them? You were in Gryffindor for a reason. Why risk losing all that just to be... what? One of them?"
Harry sighed, sitting down beside Ron.
"I’m not trying to be one of them, Ron. I’m just trying to make the best of it. If I have to be in Slytherin now, I might as well try to understand it. I don’t want to keep feeling like I don’t belong. Or like I’m a freak. I have to do something to fit in, Ron. It’s not like I can just ignore that I’m stuck here now."
"But it’s Slytherin, Harry!"
Ron said, throwing up his hands in frustration.
"Look at what they've done—what Malfoy and the others did during the war. You don’t need to change for them."
"I’m not changing for them,"
Harry replied, trying to stay calm.
"I’m just trying to make the best of the situation. I still want to be myself, Ron. But maybe... maybe that includes learning more about this house. It's just another part of who I am now."
Ron looked at Harry, his expression softening a little, but there was still doubt in his eyes.
"I don’t want to see you change, mate. I don’t want you becoming like them."
Harry smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"I won’t, Ron. I promise. But I need you to understand... I need to do this for me."
There was a long pause as Ron processed what Harry had said. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Ron gave Harry a brief nod.
"Alright, mate. If that’s what you think is best... but I’ll be watching, alright?"
Harry chuckled, grateful for Ron’s support, even if he didn’t fully understand.
"Thanks, Ron."
------
Later that evening, as the three friends made their way to dinner, Harry found himself glancing over at Draco, who was sitting at the Slytherin table as usual, looking calm and collected. It felt strange, but Harry found himself heading that way instead of his usual spot with the Gryffindors. Once he sat down, Draco glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Decided to join the real Slytherins, then?"
Harry let out a quiet laugh.
"You could say that."
Draco didn’t respond immediately. He simply continued eating, but after a moment, he glanced at Harry again, this time his expression a little more thoughtful.
"You know,"
Draco said casually,
"being a Slytherin isn't just about being cunning or ruthless. It’s about ambition and resourcefulness. The ones who don’t have those qualities won’t last long."
Harry looked at him, intrigued.
"Ambition, huh? I guess that’s something I could learn more about."
Draco smirked, clearly pleased that Harry seemed open to hearing more.
"Of course. Slytherins don’t waste time on things we can’t control. We focus on what we can achieve. And we don’t wait for the world to hand us opportunities; we create them."
Harry leaned back in his seat, mulling over Draco’s words.
"Sounds... different. But I guess I could use a bit more of that mentality."
"Everyone could,"
Draco agreed, his tone almost philosophical now.
"It’s part of the Slytherin way, Potter. You’ll understand it better in time."
Harry felt a flicker of something- something more than just curiosity. Maybe Draco had a point. If he really was going to survive in Slytherin, he’d need to think like one.
-------
In the middle of another class, Harry’s patience was wearing thin. Whispers buzzed around him, just loud enough for him to hear but not enough to know who was speaking. They were harsh and filled with venom, the same kind of whispers he’d been hearing since he stepped into Slytherin.
He could feel the eyes on him, some curious, some judgmental, and others filled with clear disdain. Every time he tried to focus on the lesson, he couldn’t help but catch bits and pieces of the conversation. Words like "traitor," "hero-turned-loser," and "undeserving" echoed in his ears, each one gnawing at his nerves.
Finally, unable to keep it in, Harry snapped.
"Is there something you want to say?"
He demanded, his voice rising as he turned to face the group of Slytherins seated nearby. The whispers died down, but there was no apology, no attempt to ease the tension. Instead, the students just stared, some smirking, some pretending they hadn't been talking.
Harry’s frustration bubbled over. After class, he stormed over to Draco, who was already packing up his things, seemingly unbothered by the awkward tension in the room.
"They’re just- ugh, I can’t stand it anymore!"
Harry ranted, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"Everywhere I go, all I hear are whispers. They're calling me a traitor, telling me I don't belong here. I thought Slytherin was supposed to be different now, but they're no better than last time!"
Draco raised an eyebrow, unfazed. He didn’t respond immediately, watching Harry rant with a casual air. Once Harry finally fell silent, Draco simply shook his head.
“Potter, that’s exactly the problem,”
Draco said, his voice cool and collected.
“You’re still caring about what others think. And that’s not the Slytherin way.”
Harry frowned, feeling a bit defensive.
“So, I’m just supposed to ignore it?”
“Not ignore it,”
Draco corrected, locking eyes with Harry.
“You don’t care about it. There’s a difference. Slytherins don’t waste their time on gossip or other people’s opinions unless it’s really, really important. Do you really think I’m bothered by what they say about me? Or you, for that matter?”
Harry blinked, surprised by the bluntness in Draco’s tone.
“But doesn’t it get to you? The way they treat us like... outsiders?”
Draco leaned back against the desk, his expression almost amused.
“No. Why would I care about their petty opinions? If I did, I wouldn’t have survived as long as I have. And neither would you. The moment you start letting other people’s words affect you, you lose the power you have over yourself. That’s the first rule of Slytherin: don’t let anyone, especially people who don’t matter, control how you feel.”
Harry stood there, still trying to process it.
“So, I just... let them talk?”
“Precisely,”
Draco said, his voice firm.
“And if it gets to the point where it’s truly important, when it’s worth your time, then, and only then, you deal with it. You don’t waste energy on small things. The key to being a Slytherin is learning when to pick your battles. And this? This isn’t one of them.”
Harry took a deep breath, mulling over Draco’s words. It was hard to let go of the sting of the whispers, but maybe Draco was right. If he wanted to survive here, he needed to stop caring so much about things that didn’t matter. He had to become stronger than the noise.
“Thanks, Malfoy,”
Harry said, though he still felt unsure.
"I’ll try to keep that in mind."
Draco smirked.
“Good. The sooner you stop letting everyone else control your mood, the sooner you’ll be a true Slytherin.”