Chapter Text
Harry Potter’s POV
1 year later.
It was a sunny morning in Paris, France, and Harry was happily sitting on a chair, tanning, on the balcony of the Malfoys’ summer home.
“Harry!” yelled Draco, who walked out of the top floor of the mansion, “Here, Dobby made the treacle smoothie you like.” Draco handed him one of the smoothies.
“Thank you,” said Harry, who took a sip of the cold goodness.
The (slightly) older boy sat with Harry on a different lounge chair not directly in front of the sun.
“I honestly don’t understand how you stand the sun,” Draco said, as if the long sleeves and long pants he was wearing didn't hint at his skin's inability to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes.
“Honestly, Draco, your skin is just weird. Unlike your family, I actually have melanin,” Harry sassed, loving when he and Draco bantered.
“Ugh, whatever, Harry.” Draco suddenly perked up. “Okay, I have something, and you have to freak out with me.”
“Usually it’s ‘don’t freak out’, but alright.”
Draco rolled his eyes, but then he pulled two envelopes out of his pocket.
“It’s our Hogwarts letters!” he exclaimed.
Harry sat up straight for the first time since the vacation to Paris started.
“Merlin!” He quickly grabbed the letter with his name on it, ripping it out of the packaging. He beamed at his Aunt Minne’s swirly handwriting shining back at him.
Harry looked at Draco, and Draco looked at Harry, bright smiles matching.
Both kids shot up to go bother their parents about their newly gotten treasures, smoothies forgotten.
…
It was the first day of school, and Harry was a bit nervous. He didn’t get to go on the train to Hogwarts, since he already lived here, but he walked with Neville and a girl named Hermione to the opening doors of the Great Hall.
At some point, the conversation shifted towards the Hogwarts houses.
“Neville, you’ll be fine,” Harry assured his friend, “this isn’t life or death.”
“But what if-!”
“Neville!” Harry sighed, “Your nan is going to be proud of you regardless. Whether you get into Hufflepuff or Gryffindor doesn’t matter!”
Hermione cut in, “Why do purebloods think it matters so much?”
Harry looked at Hermione. She had buck teeth and had hair that was way bigger than the size of her head. She seemed intelligent though.
“Well, as a half-blood, I haven’t had it bad but purebloods have a lot of prejudice surrounding the Hogwarts houses, take Ron for example- um redhead, in our year?”
Hermione nodded, showing she knew who he was talking about and Harry continued,
“He’s been raised in a Gryffindor household, so he typically is reserved against Slytherins, but since my dad, who is a slytherin, and I are close to his family he's lightened up a bit. I guess it’s just a big deal because one big bad created a trend and no one comes to save those who are subjected to- to hm.”
“Alright first years-!”
Harry paused his speech to look up at Aunt Minne- Professor Mcgonagall- who gave a speech about the different houses, and what was going to happen after being sorted.
Harry said the rest quickly before they had to get in line.
“Like, for example, take my dad; he was bullied by Gryffindors which made him make bad decisions. And while they did grow up to be nice people, my Dad never had anyone to save him from purebloods who convinced him to fall down a rabbit hole.” He looked around, “The one where he follows You-Know-Who.”
Harry waved goodbye quickly before moving down the line to move behind a girl Harry didn’t know.
Harry swore he recognised her from her face… but he couldn’t quite tell who she was.
He watched as students got called up one by one. Finally, Neville got called up; after a few minutes the hat called Gryffindor and Harry clapped.
He watched as Draco got up; he got Slytherin before the hat even touched his head. Harry smirked while clapping.
At some point he was bothered, and a little bored of watching people he didn’t know, that he didn’t know the girl's name so he struck up a conversation.
“Excuse me, what’s your name, if you don’t mind me asking?” Harry respectfully asked the shorter girl in front of him. He put his right hand in the middle of his chest and bowed slightly. It was a pureblood custom.
She had the shoulder crest that was one of the sacred 28 families and was wearing her robes neatly, so Harry naturally assumed she was pureblood.
“Pansy, Pansy Parkinson,” she said shortly, responding to his gesture by putting both her hands in the middle of her chest and bowing slightly as well.
“Oh, so that's how I know you! Are you friends with Draco Malfoy?” Harry asked, placing his hands together in front of his robes.
Pansy perked up slightly at that, but frowned before asking, “Yes, but who are you to know that?” She kept her tone even and void of emotion. So she’s experienced.
Harry stuck out his hand for her to shake, and said “I’m Harry Potter.”
Pansy looked shocked for a moment before changing her expression to be more neutral, then said “Nice to meet your acquaintance.” and shook his hand.
Harry smirked, and put his hand back in front of his robes. “Likewise.”
The line moved up as McGonagall called more kids up, Harry looked sideways at Pansy,
“What house do you hope to get into?”
“Slytherin, obviously.” She looked at the hat with determination, “You?” She asked, looking him up and down.
“Slytherin as well,” he said.
“Parkinson, Pansy!” called McGonagall.
Harry smirked as Pansy walked up to the sorting hat, she might be a good person to befriend, he thought.
“SLYTHERIN!” Called the hat.
Pansy made eye contact with Harry for a split second before smiling and walking towards the Slytherin tables.
“Potter, Harry!”
Harry took a deep breath once his name was called, and walked up to the hat. As the hat is lowered to be put on his head, he hears a voice talking.
Hmm… Curious, very curious. Now, what house would you like to be in boy? You have the hard-working aspect of a Hufflepuff, the ambition of a Slytherin, the wit of a Ravenclaw, and even the chivalry of a Gryfindor. You very well might thrive in any house I put you in.
“Slytherin, please,” Harry said shortly.
As you wish.
“SLYTHERIN!”
There wasn’t even a moment of silence, the Slytherin tables just erupted with cheers the second the Sorting Hat opened its mouth.
Harry happily stood up and headed over to where Draco and Blaise had an open seat for him in between themselves.
He smiled at Draco, giddy and happy. Draco smiled back, and Harry could tell he was refraining from hugging him, so Harry did it for him.
Draco laughed, bright and loud as Harry hugged him tight.
Blaise nudged Harry and gestured up at the raised benches the teachers sat at. Harry looked and spotted his Dad.
His dad was smiling, not with his teeth out or anything, but it was a smile. Harry smiled back, wide and unashamed.
Harry looked at Minne, and she had a matching smile on her face. To her right Dumbledore sat and the twinkle in his eye was particularly bright. Harry waved to him before looking through the teachers in hopes he’d see the new DADA teacher.
Professor Quirrell was sitting right next to Harry’s Dad, but for some reason when he made eye contact with him his scar started to hurt.
“Ow!” Harry winced, pressing his hand against his scar.
“Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Draco asked, concerned.
“Nothing, I’m alright.” Harry said.
Draco looked worried but said nothing else.
After the feast, the Slytherin Prefect called out to the first years,
“Follow me firsties! Over here, right this way!”
Harry followed the prefect, even though he already knew his way around. Draco and Blaise on the other hand, did not. So, Harry walked in the very front of the line, Draco on his left, Blaise on his right.
“Do you think there are some people I should avoid?” Harry asked, knowing that the Slytherins he was with were probably already scheming.
“I think Crabbe and Goyle, those two,” Blaise said, pointing to the boys he was talking about.
Crabbe was eating leftovers from dinner, and Goyle looked like he wanted to find someone to beat up. “Their parents are known death eaters, and they are mostly dark.”
“Okay… So, do you think we’ll get to room together?” Harry asked, thinking of ways he could potentially make friends with the boys.
Draco laughed, “Don’t worry Harry, I’m sure we won’t have to room with those brutes.”
Harry looked visibly confused before brushing Draco's comment off and saying, “How’s your mum doing Draco? She sent me some chocolates yesterday, said you guys visited your Aunt Andromeda. How was it?”
“Oh, you won’t believe what happened, so there's this girl Nymphadora, she's my aunt's daughter and she is like a feral kneazle.”
…
Harry ended up rooming with Blaise and Draco, Theodore Nott had to room with Vincent and Greg. Harry learned their names after a particularly loud prefect scolded them for getting crumbs on the common room floor.
The common room was nice, it felt very fancy and since it was in the dungins there was a glass partition that showed the inhabitants of the sea. Overall, Harry felt like it was green overkill. Kinda like how it was walking around his dads quarters for the first time.
“Are you guys excited for classes tomorrow?”
“Ugh, Harry, you are the only one who’s excited for classes tomorrow. I wish it was still summer break.”
“Do you like studying Harry?” Blaise asked.
Over the summer Draco and Blaise had started to become friends due to both being gray in terms of politics. Not exactly light, but not dark either. Blaise and Harry weren’t as close but still enjoyed each other's company.
Neville had met Blaise as well, and those two bonded over a wizarding opera they both really like.
Harry had enjoyed his group, and all 4 of the boys had met up at Diagon Alley to do the school shopping. There, Harry had met Blaise's mum and she was very intimidating- the women had a diamond on nearly every piece of clothing.
Harry’s Dad rightfully stayed away.
Neville's nan wasn’t particularly happy that her son was hanging out with a Black descendant and a Zabini, but in the end their manners won her over (And aunt Narcissa apologising for what her sister did to Neville's parents, but it was definitely the manners).
“Ugh, that's all he does. You know he’s the one who made my father make me study before school? He loves reading, and his favorite subject is potions, because Uncle Sev-”
“Professor Snape,” Harry corrected instantly.
Draco rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, Professor Snape lets him sit in while he makes potions. Once me and Harry-”
Blaise looked at Harry and gestured at Draco with his eyes, “Is he always like this?” He whispered.
“Unfourntunately.”
Soon, the three boys fell asleep.
…
The next morning, Harry's alarm woke up not only him, but Blaise too.
“Hmp,” said Blaise. The alarm had nearly covered the sound but Harry heard him.
Blaise heard Harry shuffle on his bed before he heard a big THUMP and then the alarm stopped.
“You alright?” Blaise called out, followed by a sound he had thought was “Yeah.”
Harry stood up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, as he yawned. He fixed his bed up, he always made it in the mornings. Then he left to go use the loo, while he tried his best to wake up.
He brushed his teeth and washed his face. The restroom was nice, it was big enough for two people to fit comforably together. It was well put together, but Harry was sure that in a few months it would be a mess.
Draco was still asleep by the time Harry finished using the loo. Harry knew Draco was a heavy sleeper and that only one thing worked to wake him up.
Harry stood by the side of Draco’s bed, reared up, and jumped the boy.
“Harry! Ugh, you're heavy! Get off!”
“Good morning Draco!”
Harry rolled Draco so he could see his face, he was pouting with his light blonde hair framing his face. Harry's smile faltered. He looked pretty, he thought. He was confused, pretty? It was the first time he had ever thought something like that in the year he had known Draco.
“Harry? Harryyy,” said Draco, “You spaced out, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” He said, a bit too quickly, “Just worried about classes, now get up!”
“Alright, alright.”
Blaise was waiting by the door when Harry walked over, he was a bit flushed. Blaise raised an eyebrow.
“Are you alright Harry?”
“Yeah, yeah, just nervous. First day jitters.”
Blaise nodded in understanding, and there was awkward silence as they waited for Draco to finish getting ready.
“You know your way around the castle right?” Blaise asked, “With how you live here most of the time.”
“Uh, Yes. My dad lets me sit in on the first and second year classes with almost every teacher. Professor Sinatra only lets me sit in every other class. Other than that I have free reign of the castle and the grounds because my dad has a tracking spell on me.”
“So what I’m hearing is you’ll definitely be our tour guide.” Blaise joked.
Harry laughed saying, “Oh just you wait Blaise, this place is a maze!”
“Hey that rhymes!” Draco said, popping out of nowhere. “Blaise and amaze.”
The three boys started to walk up the stairs that led to their common room. The common room was crowded. The prefect was Gemma Farley, and Harry often came to her when he watched the upper year classes in the event no one else could look after Harry. Harry stopped walking as they got to the common room door to exit.
“Should we wait for our other year-mates?” He asked.
“They can figure things out themselves, you know.” Replied Draco snootily.
Harry glared at Draco, then he sighed, “Would it kill you to be kind once in a while?”
“My guess is that it would.” Blaise said while he smiled mischeviously.
“Potter!” Called out Gemma, “I can trust you won’t get lost?”
“Yeah!” Harry shouted back, for it had gotten loud in the common room.
“Alright, just don’t do anything I wouldn’t!”
“Okay!”
Harry turned back to his friends, “Alright, I think it's a good time to go.”
So the trio followed the line of students walking out of the painting hole. Time to see what the first day would be like!