Happyily ever after?

Chapter 2

[It's the beginning of the first post-war school year. Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others are at Hogwarts to finish their education. Surprisingly, Draco was allowed to attend too. It's the welcoming dinner and everyone is sitting at their table in the Great Hall.]

Harry: I snap out of my trance and realize that I have been starring for the last couple of seconds.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione looks worried. I don't want her to be.

"Y-yap. Totally..."

She is not convinced.

"Just a little tired. Didn't sleep well." I add quickly smiling wearly.

I knows that I haven't been myself since I broke up with Ginny 3 month ago. Although that's not the reason for my dissociations- at least not the only one. The battlefields behind the lightning-shaped scar are bewildering - even for me. I pick up a fork and start poking around in my food trying to look normal. My toughts zoom out again and remind my of the trembling and crying while ending things with Ginny. I misses her a lot. Not in a regretting-the-break-up kinda way - no, THAT was the right decision. More in a she-was-such-an-important-friend kinda way. She had always given me stability - something I lack since I can remember. But my desire for stability was not love or longing for her. The worst is that Ron has been distance ever since and I can't deal with losing so many people at once. losing Ron. Hermione says he'll come back. He only needs time. But will he?

"fcking Death Eater"

Shouts bring me back into reality. I scan the room and find the Gryffindors they belong to. Everyone is looking over to them or - to be more specific - to the blond boy standing in the corner.

Malfoy?!

"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE"

The gryffindor girl screams. Another person in red pushes Malfoy to the ground. Malfoy crawls back closer to the wall - looking like a frightend puppy. His eyes are pinned to the floor and his arms wrapped around the shaking body. But he doesn't say anything. He doesn 't fight back. And no one comes to help. Not even the Slytherins.

He is a Death Eater....but he vanished during the war.

I shake my head and focus on the fight that's still going. The person that pushed Malfoy had spoken a curse and the blond boy is now whimpering.

Why is no one doing anything?

Anger is rising in me.

"YOU have the AUDACITY to show up here? after everything?" The girl laughs and brings her arm up to punch.

fuck it.

"Don't. You. Dare." The heads turn and all eyes land on me who is just as suprised as they are.

Did I say that?

In that moment I realize that I am standing where my ass sat 2 seconds ago.

Sit down again.

My body doesn't listen. Instead it jumps to the ground and hurry to the corner.

"What are you doing?" My harsh voice echos through the Hall. The two Gryffintors freeze.

"You hate him that much?" The authority in those words cause the attackers to step back a little.

"Why are you treating him like that then? Do you hate yourselfs, too?" My eyebrow raises and my feet bring my body closer to the young students.

"HOW ARE YOU BETTER THAT HIM?" Now I'm screaming. My eyes wander to Malfoy and I feel my face softens for a second. Rapidly I looks away and go back into anger.

"You are Gryffindors, now. You represent us. That's an honor. NEVER behave like a fcking shithead wearing our uniform. The uniform I wear." I secreatly laugh at myself for pulling the I-am-the-chosen-one-card. But it worked the two bow their heads and mumble embarressed "I'm sorry"s. My body controle comes back as the dejected kids make their way back to the table.

What now?

The whole Hall's attention is still focused on me. I squints to my right where Malfoy is lying.

I didn't do that for Malfoy. It was for our reputation.

Overwhelmed by what I did I walk back - ignoring everyone who is sticking their head up in the air to follow me. With a begging look over to Hermione I silence her. She's too clever. I don't want to talk to her. I don't understand my brain, either.

Draco: wtf did just happen?

For the first time in minutes I lift my head and let my eyes scrutinize the Great Hall. No one is paying attention anymore. They went straight back to ignoring him. Suits me. My head is still progressing the situation. FCKING Potta saved me. Not because he cares for me but he did. Savoir complex probably. I can't help to smirke a little.

Potta saved me.

Careful I stand up and limp to my seat. My injuries aren't life threatening but they cause quite a pain. Taking deep breaths I stuffs the - now cold- food in my mouth. I haven't eaten a proper meal since I ran away. By now I actually espected myself to be dead and not sitting in the Great Hall of Hogwarts eating with the others. Not really with them but by their side. I was so shocked when I got the letter offering me a place in Hogwarts for my last year. I didn't plan on going but I had been living in the forbidden forest for the last 4 month and no where else to stay. I was so afraid of the other students reaction. The beatup was kinda exspected. It took them actually quite long. The Slytherins were polite but not kind or friendly. Still I fell the safest with them - if you can call it that. I know everyone else hates me. That's why I stayed in the backgroud the whole day - until two Gryffindors finally confronted me. I suddenly stop eating - the pain is fading. I put the fork down and my head up.

Someone is healing me.

The only one looking at me is the Chosen one. Potta is starring at my body while forming silent painkilling spells with his mouth. Relived from the pain I scan Potta's concentrated face and find myself admiring his deeply focused eyes.

Why is he helping again?

The eyes snap out of the work tunnel and realise that they have been noticed. Potta hides his red turing head which made me release a soft giggle.

Stop. I become cruelly selfaware.

Draw. no. attention.

Harry: fuck.

He saw me.

My face is buring. I don't even know why I healed Malfoy. The Chosen One doesn't care for Death Eaters - at least he shouldn't. Slowly I turn my head back. Malfoy is still looking at me. Our eyes meet and we soak each other in. My jaw drops. My brain is blank. My thoughts silent. Draco tilts his heated head a little and forms the words:

"Thank you, Potta." smiling slightly.

"N-No probl..." I said that out loud.

Embarrassed I look at Hermone who is exspecting me to keep talking.

"What?"