Chapter Text
It still feels weird to be back at Hogwarts after the restoration. Not to mention the fact that he doesn't have to expect any new plots and dangers regarding Voldemort. It's just peaceful and calm, that should make him happy right? There is nothing to complain about, they're back at Hogwarts getting their education and most of them had already gotten accepted in their dream professions. Which is why school is more or less just a formality and excuse to spend time with their friends.
Everyone seems happy, as happy as they can be considering what happened the past year.
Except Harry doesn't feel happy, maybe content but not happy. The sudden calmness is more strange than comforting to him and his paranoia is at an all time high, he is easily irritable especially whenever someone mentions it to his face.
His friends were great though, especially Ron had grown and always had his back no matter what Harry needed. Skipping a lesson? Done. Another nightmare and he needs to go for a fly or play chess, literally anything but sleep? Done. Not wanting to eat at the great hall because of everyone's looks? Ron gets him something to eat and he can eat in their room. Sometimes Harry thinks that his best friend is trying to make up for all the times he got jealous of him during the past school years.
Hermione often nags them, depending on what they are doing she either doesn't care, supports or scolds them. It's unnecessary to mention that whenever Ron and Harry skip school or hide from their peers they always get lectured. She luckily eased up on missing sleep and eating in their room after witnessing Harrys nightmare for herself that one time Ron smuggled her into their room. Sometimes she joins them when Harry feels like the attention is too much for him, she eased up a lot over the time. Just not when it comes to their education.
Looking around the room he smiles a little, it's weird how meaningful so many of these people had become to him. It's actually quite fun to room together, when McGonnagall announced that there would be another house and dorm for the eight years they were all rather upset. No one wanted to leave the houses that they practically grew up in. In the end they didn't really have a choice though, the decision had been made and they couldn't change her mind.
They simply had to accept it. The only good thing about it was, that you were allowed to choose your roommate with the restriction that it couldn't be the opposite gender. McGonnagall was very clear about not wanting babies running around in the castle.
It was a very mortifying talk for everyone involved.
Since not many eight years returned the rooms often consisted of two or three roommates instead of four or five. It wasn't even a question for Harry, Ron and him had silently just picked a room and put their trunks on the beds. Harry choosing the one closer to the window while Ron chose the one closer to the door, there wasn't a particular reasoning behind it. Though they did want to try flying out of the window once.
After a few weeks had passed McGonnagall had another surprise. It was shortly after Halloween when she entered their common room and called them all down.
"I have an announcement to make, since many of you have decided to return to Hogwarts to finish their education and acquire their N.E.W.Ts you must have noticed that none of your Slytherin Peers returned." At that point she paused holding her hand up to silence any whispers or interruptions, she knew where coming. "I will not tolerate any badmouthing. It came to my attention recently that the Ministry falsely informed the students that were sorted into Slytherin, that they were not allowed to return to Hogwarts when a parent reached out to me for a referral."
This had caught not just Harrys attention, but Hermiones as well. They both share an upset look, Hermiones brows furrowed in anger while she crosses her arms. The only reason she doesn't immediately launch into a full-blown and passionate discussion about rights and equality is because McGonnagall is the one telling them this. They both know she is a good teacher and an even better headmaster, so they stayed quiet to hear the rest of the speech.
"I of course had to correct this mistake. Hence why I personally reached out to all of your former classmates to invite them back, many have already transferred to another school but some have decided to return."
She once again paused scanning their faces as she takes a moment to let the words sink in. Not many looked neutral, most of his classmates were upset at the news. Harry isn't really surprised by that, deep down he shared the sentiment even if he would always agree that they should be allowed back.
"This is your first and only warning, they will be arriving this weekend and I expect you to put your differences behind you. I am not asking you to hold hands and be happy but I am asking you to keep the peace we ALL fought hard to achieve. I will not tolerate animosity between you and there will be consequences for everyone that thinks they are above my rules. The same speech will be given to the Slytherins once they arrive and I ask the prefects to lead by example. Is that clear?"
Her voice is steady and demanding, she demanded respect from them. Most of them agreed with a huff and a scowl, some simply nodded whilst few verbally agreed. Harry wasn't one of them, he simply nodded wondering who decided to return.
Which is exactly what they talk about in their room later, Dean, Hermione, Neville and Susan were gathered in Ron and Harrys dorm to discuss exactly that. "Well that was a surprise" Neville awkwardly broke the silence as he stretches his feet and leans against the closet. Ron snorts at that "fucking awful surprise at that" he shakes his head while loosely draping an arm over his girlfriends shoulder.
"Oh don't be like that, everyone deserves the right to get an education. I can't believe the ministry lied about that, that is really messed up Ron" she scolds him but doesn't move away, resting her head on his shoulder. "but Mione you know what they did!!"
"I mean do we?" Harry hears himself say and curses his own mind, all eyes were on him ...now he has to explain. Great. "I just mean, we saw like the surface right? We don't know what happened outside of Hogwarts or even in their house...in the end we're just children, all of us. Children forced to live through a war"
Many looked surprise as he explains himself, Hermione looked approving though. She shared the sentiment. "That was like proper wise or something mate" Ron looks a little pissed off that Harry made sense but doesn't disagree. "That makes a lot of sense actually, I mean living with you guys was like a culture shock to me" Susan laughs as she crosses her legs and gets comfortable by leaning against the door.
"Wait really?" this time Dean is the one to look surprised, he isn't as noisy as he used to be ever since Seamus decided to drop out. They're still together just doing long-distance while Seamus is in Ireland with his family and Dean at Hogwarts.
Susan nods "I mean yeah, it's like living with siblings I guess? I'm an only child but if I had siblings I imagine it would feel like that"
"So what you mean to say is that we are annoying?" Ron narrows his eyes at her, slightly offended before Hermione nudges him "let her talk Ronald, I'm sure Susan would have explained her comparison if you had given her the chance"
"Thanks Hermione" Susan laughs amused at the couple before continuing "Yeah kind of annoying but you always have each others back I guess? Ravenclaws are usually more quiet, our common room was mostly used for study groups and tutoring. We do get along don't get me wrong and there are individual deep friendships and friend groups, but not like one big group if that makes sense?"
"That is actually really interesting, so Slytherins probably had their own dynamic and stuff."
"You know we got distracted from the whole snakes coming back to Hogwarts thing, who do you reckon will be back? Minnie said not many right?" navigating the discussion back to the initial topic Ron was being very careful to sound neutral, to prevent another elbow in his ribs incident. Giving Hermione a glance to see if he did well, causing him to grin proudly when she didn't scold him.
There was a short silence in the room "I heard that Zabini went back to Italy" Susan was the first to speak "I don't know if it is because his family lives in Italy or because he goes to the magical school there"
"It's kind of funny how we all are ignoring the elephant in the room" Ron snorts after another silence. "What elephant?" Hermione turns to her boyfriend looking at him with furrowed brows "I mean the ferrets not allowed to leave the UK for like five years or something right? If he wants to graduate he has to attend Hogwarts so he is probably coming back with all his pride at being the best and smartest and shit"
"That is actually....really smart"
"No need to sound so surprised Mione" he rolls his eyes with a sulk as he crosses his arms, they shortly squabble before his arm is around her waist again "If Malfoy is coming back Parkinson probably will also be back right? So will Greengrass?" Hermione finishes her boyfriends thought-process "maybe even Goyle, they were really close during the years."
It all sounded plausible to Harry yet the only thing he can focus on is the fact that Malfoy might be returning to Hogwarts. Draco Lucius Malfoy. Returning to Hogwarts? Malfoy returning.
"Wasn't he also kind of close with Nott?" this time Neville speaks up, looking thoughtfully up at the ceiling trying to remember who used to hang with who "I think he was closer to Zabini but yeah they hung out"
"So it all comes back to Malfoy..."
Everyone turns their heads to look at him "I mean depending on whether he comes back or not will probably influence the others." Harry shrugs a little "I swear to Merlin harry if you start obsessing over Malfoy again I am moving in with Neville and Dean. I literally cannot do this again, I will put up one of these Muggle jars and make you put Galleons in whenever you bring him up or something. Give us one peaceful year Harry. ONE pleaseeee"
Ron dramatically flips over Hermiones lap, burying his face in the sheets as he groans dramatically. She only laughs as she pats his back soothingly "there there Ron, I'm sure Harry will not obsess over Malfoy again. No evil plots"
"Can we still get the jar thingy?"
"Yes we can still get the Malfoy jar and make him put money in"
"This is why I love you" In no time Ron is up again, grinning happily as he wraps his arm around her and kisses her cheek, she rolls her eyes while Harry pretends to gag. Solely to annoy Ron, who flips him off and kisses Hermione properly for a short moment.
"We should head to bed, we have class tomorrow. Enjoy the peaceful silence during class while it lasts, before Gryffindors and Slytherins tear each other apart again"
Susan gets up and brushes off her robes before pulling Neville up they all say good night to each other before Dean and the other two leave. "You sure it's okay to sleep over today? You don't have to say yes Harry, if its weird we don't have to"
"Honestly I'm more weirded out by the fact that you said yes during a school night than you sleeping here...we slept for months in a tent you can sleep over Mione...I really don't care if you sleep over or not as long as you like make sure I don't see you snogging and shit." As he speaks he gets up and grabs his pajamas "Ill be right back" he leaves them be and goes to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed.
Soon enough everyone is asleep.