Walking into the Great Hall for the welcome feast, Draco grinned internally. He was relieved that nothing seemed to be out of place; it was almost as if the War hadn't happened, but it had. They all had the scars and mental wounds to prove it. The staff table was the same as always, Professor McGonagall stood proudly in the centre as she waited patiently for the new round of First Years to arrive. The only difference was that Snape had died in the War and so the school had no Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher.

"Who's that?" Blaise asked, gesturing to a middle aged man, with brown hair that was greying at the tips.

"The new DADA professor, probably." Pansy shrugged, pouring herself a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Wonder why they hired a new one," Theo Nott mused, obviously having been eavesdropping on their conversation, "I mean, it's not as if we're gonna need to know how to protect ourselves against the Dark Arts now, is it?"

The conversation at the table pretty much died out after that.

During the sorting, even know the Eighth Years had to have their own table in the Great Hall due to overcrowding, the ex Slytherins (and every other student at the table) clapped and cheered loudly whenever a First Year got sorted into their original houses.

Stomach rumbling, Draco glanced up to the staff table, wondering when Mcgonagall was going to begin her speech so that the feast could begin. The blonde was slowly regretting not purchasing anything from the train, he'd been to distracted by Potter.

Potter. The boy and his friends were sitting a couple of chairs down from the Slytherins. As usual, Potter and Weasley were whispering not to quietly to each other, Draco couldn't hear what they were saying but Potter kept snickering which made his nose crinkle in the most adorable way. Granger was looking at Professor McGonagall with the utmost attention and Draco scoffed silently to himself. Some things never change, he thought.

"Now as many of you know, I have invited back students who were unable to complete their studies due to... unforeseen circumstances." McGonagall was saying, behind him, Draco could practically hear Pansy rolling her eyes, "These students will be referred to as Eighth Years. You will have your own common room and house rules do not apply to you. Due to the short numbers, you'll only be having one roommate each. Which myself and the staff have already chosen for you." She added in a sterner voice as their table started to talk and grab their best friends, the effect was instantaneous and the noise died down with a collective sigh, "Classes will be as normal starting tomorrow, and since you are of age you will be permitted to leave school grounds at your own free will. As long as it's not in class hours, of course. And as I have been informed a number of you, Eighth Years or not, have purchased something of newfound technology, a mobile phone. If I, or any professor, sees one in class it will be confiscated for the rest of the week."

The rest of the speech passed by agonisingly slowly. But Draco did find out that the man at the staff table was in fact the new DADA Professor, Professor Charles Scammander.

Piling roast potatoes and carrots onto his plate, Draco noticed that Potter had a poor excuse of a meal on his plate which Granger seemed to disapprove of as she kept sending worried glances to the boy when she thought he wasn't looking.

Draco nudged Pansy, "What's wrong with Potter?"

She huffed, "What isn't wrong with Potter would take less time to explain, Draco dearest. Now eat your food and shut the fuck up, I'm tired."

Rolling his eyes yet smirking slightly, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Again.

When Draco looked up from his phone to stare at Potter in disbelief; he found that Potter was already starring straight at him. With those piercing green eyes that no longer had any glasses to dull them, blushing slightly he looked back down at the phone in his lap.

HarryPotter: Hey.

DracoMalfoyy: Why aren't you just talking to me like a normal person?

HarryPotter: Do I look like a normal person?

DracoMalfoyy: No I suppose not.

HarryPotter: Anywayyy, Mione and Ron are being all coupley and gross.

DracoMalfoyy: Ugh, disgusting.

HarryPotter: Yup.

DracoMalfoyy: Why aren't you eating much?

HarryPotter: Ha stalker!

DracoMalfoyy: You were literally starring at me for like 3 minutes.

HarryPotter: Counting were you? And I'm gonna sneak down to the kitchens later.

DracoMalfoyy: Don't flatter yourself🙄 and okay.

HarryPotter: How can I not when the amazing Draco Malfoy is keeping track of what I do?!

DracoMalfoyy: Aw you think I'm amazing :)

HarryPotter: Shut up, prat.

"Who're you texting?" Blaise demanded to know, trying to steal a look at the phone in his lap, "A boyfriend?"

Draco smiled inside, he had come to terms with his sexuality in the summer and came out to Pansy and Blaise before they went back to school. They had been very supportive and it was nice to know that the opinion had not changed since going back to Hogwarts.

"Or better!" Pansy exclaimed, "Is it a potential boyfriend that we can help get you together with?"

Blaise wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Draco choked on his own pumpkin juice laughing. "It's just Potter, and even if it was a potential boyfriend, which it's not!" He said, "Why would I tell you two weirdos?"

"Because you love us." Pansy replied simply, slinging an arm round his shoulder and holding him as if her were a young child, "My, they grow up so fast, don't they Blaise?"

"Bit of irony there, Draco, don't you think?" Blaise said, ignoring Pansy, "You're like the goofiest person I know."

"Tell anyone and I'll kill you." Draco replied seriously.

"Blaise!" Pansy whined, "Don't ignore me when I'm upset about losing my hypothetical son who doubles as my best friend!"

"My apologies, dear," Blaise winked, "Oh sweet Salazar. It was as if it were only yesterday you were asking me to tie your shoelaces." He said in a highly over exaggerated voice

"I hate the both of you." Draco deadpanned when Pansy started cackling.

When everyone was finished eating, the Eighth Years were shown to their common room. A small yet cosy abandoned classroom in between the library and the front gates. There was a corner dedicated to each house, but they could go wherever they wanted. The houses they were previously stored into were mashed together; Gryffindor with Slytherin and Hufflepuff with Ravenclaw. This meant that the classes would be held in these groups and the dorms were arranged that way. The right staircase lead to the Slytherin/Gryffindor dorms and the left was for Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw. The staff didn't seemed to bothered that boys and girls would be sharing the same dorm level. They probably assumed that since everyone was of age, they couldn't really stop anyone having sex.

There was a piece of parchment pinned magically to the notice board that told everyone who their roommate was, which every student immediately gathered around.

"Brilliant!" Ron cheered, "Me and you are paired together, Harry!"

"I'm with Granger," Pansy said neutrally, "I guess that's not so bad, she is smart maybe she could help me with my homework?"

"Thanks, Parkinson." Granger replied, having heard the Slytherin girl.

"How comes you'll help her but not Harry and me?" Ron asked, a disappointed look on his face but judging by the tone of voice, it was obvious he didn't really care.

Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek and patted his arm fondly, "You need to learn it for yourself, Ronald." She said evenly. "Come on, Parkinson, lets check out our dorm."

"Oh darling,"Pansy laughed, "It's Pansy now. We're going to be living together, after all.

"If that's a friendship in the making, we should all run and hide whilst we still can." Draco pointed out. Ron, for his part, laughed loudly and agreed.

This was all a bit much for Draco to get used to, the whole being civil thing and going back to Hogwarts so soon after the worst War in Wizarding World history.

His running thoughts, however, where interrupted by Blaise. "Yes! Me and you are together, Draco."

"Thank Merlin." Draco replied. As everyone made their way up to the dorms, he noticed that Harry and Ron were in the dorm right next door to them and Pansy and Hermione were opposite. It was obvious, not only for the names engraved into the door, but you could hear giggling coming from the girls room.

"Well, I'm gonna get in the shower. I would do it in the morning, but y'know I want that extra five minutes in bed." Blaise shrugged unapologetically and made his way into the adjoining bathroom.

"You lazy bastard!" Draco called out, "I know for a fact your mother didn't raise you to be like that!" Blaise chuckled and flipped him off before shutting the door.

As the blonde began the tedious task of unpacking his trunk, he heard the familiar ringtone of his phone.

Sighing loudly and looking over at the wall which Draco knew separated himself from Potter, he swiped 'Accept'. When he did, Potters face came into view, laying stomach down on his bed, he was yawning widely and his hair was even more messy than usual, his clothes (which Draco guesses were his pyjamas since he wasn't wearing them at dinner) were scruffy and wrinkled. Indicating that he had flopped onto his bed before calling the Slytherin.

"That's attractive." Draco remarked.

"Glad you think so," Potter smiled innocently. "What're you doing?"

"Unpacking." He shrugged, "You?"

Potter hummed, "Nothing really. Ron went to go see Hermione so I'm all alone."

Draco frowned, "Where's Pansy then?" He asked.

"You're such a good friend," the black haired boy replied with a heavy sigh, "I saw her go down to the common room with some Slytherin guy. Nott, I think."

Draco nodded evenly, "I see."

"You're not jealous, are you?"

The blonde had to laugh at that, wheezing and shaking his head he replied, "No Potter. I'm afraid I'm a bit too gay to be jealous of Nott and Pansy."

"Call me Harry." He replied, "I didn't know you were gay?" It wasn't rude or judgemental, more curious than anything.

"That'll take some getting used to," Draco laughed, "And yes I am."

"I'll call you Draco then. I think I might be a bit gay as well."

"Only a bit?" He questioned.

Potter- Harry raked a hand through his thoroughly dishevelled jet black locks and said, "Well, I kissed Cho and I dated Ginny. But I did fancy the hell out of Ron's older brother, Bill. So I think I'm Bisexual."

"How are you and Ginevra?" Draco asked quietly.

"Oh we broke up aggggessss ago." Harry replied, dragging out every syllable of the word. "She's more like my sister, you know?"

Draco nodded, "I know."

They spoke some more about random things, skating over deep conversations about the War. It was nice, to have a familiar face to seem new all at the same time.

Harry was gone by the time Blaise got out of the shower, saying that he was going to sleep.

"Who were you talking to?" Blaise asked curiously, eyebrows raised knowingly.

"Just Potter." Draco shrugged, there was no need to lie it wasn't as if they were doing anything bad. "Although now he wants to be referred to as Harry."

"Harry, eh?" The Italian boy smirked, "Wait till I tell Pansy that you and the boy who lived are on a first name basis."

He scoffed, "Yeah whatever, Blaise."

Pulling on his pyjamas and putting his phone on his bedside table, Draco was fast asleep by the time Blaise stopped chuckling to himself.