Chapter Text
Harry trudged back to the Gryffindor common rooms quite confused about the whole ordeal.
On the one hand, he had no reason to go and bother Malfoy. But on the other hand, it was actually quite refreshing to see him integrate himself more in hogwarts. Harry had testified for him during the trials, and they had even talked afterwards, except it didn't end well for either of them. Things got messy, blah blah blah, long short their rivalry is still alive and kicking and things didn't really get resolved.
Harry didn't even want to begin thinking about that whole ordeal. He hadn't even told Ron or Hermione, which shocked him alot.
Harry sighed, troubled by his muddled thoughts and never ending worries. You would think that saving the world would free you from your duties, but apparently not. Who knew that his biggest enemy right now wasn't dark magic or even his nightmares about voldemort, but in fact a bunch of petty drama that was truly never that serious.
The Gryffindor common room had expanded exponentially since the war. It had major upgrades in the sleeping quarters, the common area, and even added more rooms like a small library and a small kitchen equipped with spellbound coffee machines and stocked daily with sugars and creams (amongst other things). There were lounges, and it wasn't unusual to see students relaxing in the seats, nursing a late night drink.
In the past, common rooms were restricted to specific houses, but after McGonagalls speech about “interhousr unity”, restrictions were lifted allowing other houses to enter.
Harry was basically dragging his feet when he passed the portrait. As he entered the common room, he saw that there was a bit of activity going on inside, it was actually quite full of people and there seemed to be a lot of tension in the air. The common room buzzed with energy as students from different houses mingled. Groups huddled in corners, pairs gathered by the fireplace, and others moved about, searching for the perfect spot to sit.
Harry had never seen the common room so full before, it was quite shocking but the atmosphere was quite peaceful considering how full it was. It did raise some questions on why there were so many people in the first place, but Harry shrugged it off, aching for his bed.
He quickly scanned the room and found Ginny animatedly talking to Luna, who was deeply focused on writing everything she said down.
Harry pushed around the room, trying to reach them to get to the bottom of this chaos. He unfortunately forgot who he was.
“Is that you, Potter?? How have you been?? You know my family has been dying for me to talk to you, they were so happy to hear that I was in the same house as you. My family is so grateful, you don't understand what an inspiration you are” came a voice nearby, attracting others to speak up. It got overwhelming quite quickly with people noticing him and trying to talk to him. itching to get any piece of him.
Harry awkwardly grinned and swerved around as much as he possibly could. He only had one goal, and he was not going to let people get in the way of it. After much shoving, forced laughs, and many farewells paired with excuses as to not begin speaking with people. He liked talking to people, it just needs the time and place and recently people Harry can't get either. People follow him no matter where he goes and it's actually quite worrisome how quick they find him wandering the Hogwarts grounds.
It had gotten to the point of constantly carrying around his invisibility cloak (and Marauder map) in a small handbag that Hermione had enchanted with an extension charm in it. It wasn't the same one that she had carried around previously but it had been so useful that it would've been a waste to not bring it back. It was a small bag, a mimic of a satchel but it was small enough he could tie it around a belt loop or even as a necklace undetected.
Whenever things got too messy, overwhelming, or stressful, Harry would retrieve it from his bag. He would hide around corridors, in cleaning closets, empty classrooms or in the bathrooms. It proved quite effective with people rarely seeing him in the hallways, only catching him during class time where teachers prevented further attempts at conversation.
Of course he couldn't just pull his invisibility cloak in front of everyone, it would ruin the whole point of it but oh how he so wishes he could.
He finally reached Ginny and Luna, who had both spotted him, making room in the table and scrabbling to clear a chair for him. After the war Harry and Ginny had broken up, they knew that things couldn't be the same between and to no one’s surprise, Harry had seen her as more of a sister and not a lover. They ended on good terms and were even great friends, Harry even helping Ginny get together with Luna after finding out that they were both interested in each other.
“What's got you up so late? I saw Hermione and Ron go to sleep, but I didn’t see you with them” Ginny questioned once he got himself comfortable. Harry exhausted, explained, “I still had homework to finish, and seeing how the common room is right now, I’m glad to have stayed in the library. Hey, do you know why it's so full right now? What's going on?”
“Oh, the History of Magic teacher assigned a new project” Harry's face dropped so quickly. Was the teacher deranged, what was wrong with her!? The nerve of assigning so much work and then complaining about having to grade it.
“So then whats the big deal? Its early morning, and ill surely hear it today anyway.” Harry itched to get away, his seconds ticking away at his sanity.
“Here's the thing, Harry; she assigned it yesterday, and told the students to spread the word. Its first come, first serve. She apparently said shes ‘officially announcing’ today and declaring the partners.” Ginny quickly explained as Harry began to panic. He exhaled and was so thankful.
He would actually protest if he was assigned to someone random, he didn’t want to spend the whole presentation doing it himself or being interviewed by someone who he didn't even know. Why create a whole new friendship when he has a system with Ron and Hermione in the class, it seemed useless in his eyes.
“Did'ya want to check the list? Its being sent to the other common rooms soon, so if you want to sign up, then heres your chance.”
He figured Ron and Hermionehad already signed him up, so there was no bother in checking the list.
“No thanks Ginny, Hermione's probably already signed me up, so there's no need.” With a final yawn, he waved to Ginny, and bid farewell to Luna as well. He mustered all his remaining energy and walked to the sleeping quarters. Pushing the door open, he found his friends fast asleep as they held each other. He gently closed the door, went to the end of the hallway and entered his room.
McGonagall has asked Harry if he had wanted a private room for privacy reasons, and had placed it near his friends room, due to Harrys request.
It was a disorganized organized chaos. A chair had a pile of not dirty (but not clean either) clothes that he needed to sort through. His table was littered with journals, burnt out candles, and broken quills from fits of rage.
The bedside tables and wardrobes held moving photographs of Teddy and him during the summer, alongside pictures of those who passed away in the war.
The walls had self sustaining vines that curled and bloomed as the seasons rolled around. They made for an especially comfortable day when they bloomed by the open window during the summer.
Harry liked his room, he really did, but he never really gave much thought after being so busy being a hero more than a teenager. If the elfs didn't come to do their cleaning, who knows how his room would look.
He sighed and changed clothes, throwing on the cleanest sleeping set he had. After speerunning his night routine, he flopped on his bed and covered himself in his duvet.
This was the hard part. He could have a million naps, but the moment he fell asleep in his bed, his home, he suddenly couldn't. He would have so many thoughts racing in his mind, reminders about his homework and other silly stuff. He tossed and turned abit struggling to find a comfortable position growing more restless. How could one be so tired and so awake at the same time?
Eventually his thoughts turned to Malfoy and he internerally rolled his eyes. Stupid Malfoy. Who in their right mind leaves a full ink jar next to their very important essay? He must’ve planned it. He keep thinking and something didn’t add up. Malfoy was a calculating person, this means that he doesn't lag behind on his work.
Now that he thought it about it, the essay didn't even seem finished in the first place.
Harry only got more and more mad, until his hearbeat slowed, his eyelids dropped and with one final thought, he fell asleep.