𝑵𝑰𝑲𝑶𝑳𝑨 𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹 ⭑ 𝑫𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑶 𝑴𝑨𝑳𝑭𝑶𝒀

𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛

▄ . . . . ᡣ𐭩 .ೃ࿔*:･

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

:･ꗃ𓈈 𝑐𝘩𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 ִ𓂃‧₊ ˚.

▬▬▬ 𝘩𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜 𝑖 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑠

𝑤𝘩𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝘩𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘? °❀⋆.ೃ*₊༉‧˚.

My eyes fluttered open, and I woke to see Draco asleep beside me in a chair next to my hospital bed. I smiled gently, as I watched as his chest lift and shrink with his heavy breathing. Okay Malfoy, maybe I believe you care a little. Just then, Dumbledore walked in.

"He didn't leave your side all night, you know," he spoke quietly, and I glanced back between Draco and Dumbledore.

"Strange, that boy," I mumbled, watching him again. The memories of the night before flooded back to me then, and I say upright.

"Harry? Ron? Are-" I started, and Dumbledore lifted a hand to tell me to calm myself.

"Fine, they're perfectly fine." He pulled back the curtain beside my hospital bed to reveal Harry stirring awake right beside me, but Draco stayed fast asleep. I only then noticed the gifts and cards at the foot of our beds, and grinned.

"Noble thing, you four did the other night. Though I must say you broke several school rules," Dumbledore explained.

"Sorry, sir." Harry spoke beside me, now also sat up putting his glasses back on.

"What are rules without a little rebellion? Don't tell anyone I said that though." Dumbledore slouched to whisper this to us.

"Sir, the stone?" I asked, looking up at him and he examined a box of Burtie Botts Beans.

"Relax. The stone had been destroyed. Nicholas and I decided it was about time," he replied.

"But professor, why is it only Nikola and I could see the stone in the mirror?" Harry asked.

"Ah, you see. Only one who wants the stone but not to use it, can see and receive it," he explained, popping one of the beans into his mouth and 'hmm'ing at the taste. He sat between our beds then, the opposite side to Draco - who was still sound asleep.

"Do you two know why he couldn't stand your touch tonight? Voldemort." he asked, and we both shook our heads blankly. "The same reason he couldn't kill you the night of your parents' death. They sacrificed themselves for you, and that left a mark." Harry's hand lifted to his scar, but Dumbledore shook his head at this. "Not that one. This scar can't be seen, it lives within your very skin. Something Voldemort could not bear to touch. Love."

I glanced at Harry smiling, and he smiled right back. The connection that was not there instantly at the train station, well it was definitely there now. We may not have grown up together, but he was my brother. He was my only blood, and we shared both physical and mental marks to show it.

***

Dumbledore and Harry had cleared out by the time Draco woke next to me. He rubbed his eyes and stretched before noticing I was awake beside him, and remembering his surroundings.

"Potter," he said, somewhat embarrassed as I saw a slight pink grow in his pale face.

"Malfoy," I responded. He looked at me in thought for a moment, wondering what to say. He shifted closer to the bed and leant his forearms on it.

"For the record, I didn't tell this time. Notts heard the professors in the hallways saying you were in trouble, Dumbledore let us tag along behind." I laughed a little at him feeling the need to explain himself.

"So you do care," I nudged him smiling.

"Sort of what I've been trying to say all year," he replied.

"Yeah well, you've have a funny way of showing it," I smiled at him, though his faded slightly looking down. I frowned, tilting my head slightly.

"About that, I suppose I'm not as great at projecting my emotions as well as reflecting on them," he explained quickly, and I almost giggled again at the pathetic apology he was attempting. But I said nothing, as he rambled on. "And about Notts, it's totally cool that you're seeing him. Amazing, in fact. Um, I actually support it completely. Yeah, not the biggest fan on the lad of course, but.. witnessing you nearly die down there made me th-" He paused, as I grabbed his hand on the hospital bed.

"Shut up Malfoy," I snapped, and he looked up at me smiling from ear to ear at him. He laughed and nodded. "And just to be clear, me and Notts? Not a thing." I rolled my eyes laughing.

"Oh really, because I thought a little festive snog might have meant so," he teased, and I punched him in the chest. He let out a huff.

"You're supposed to be too weak and resting for abuse."

"Oh I'm never too weak to take a chance of putting you in your place," I said, sliding up out of the bed, and we walked out of the hospital wing.

***

I spotted Harry, Hermione and Ron coming down the stairs also heading to the great hall as me and Draco exited the hospital wing. When they noticed us they stopped to smile.

Hermione giggled and went to give me a hug. I stepped back awkwardly, and then lifted my hand out to her instead.

"Not a hugger," I explained.

"Right," she answered, shaking my hand.

"Great to have you back, Nikola." Ron nodded behind her also grinning. I turned back to Draco, and I never thought the five of us would be walking down to the great hall together happily, but it was a good day. Which was complete with loud cheers and claps as we entered the final dinner in the great hall.

***

I dragged my luggage along the train behind Harry and the others, as we searched for a free carriage. I glanced through one of the windows to see Draco, Blaise, Goyle, Notts and Daphne bundled together. They looked up to see us passing, smiling at me welcomingly. I turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione who had all stopped too. Harry smiled at me and cocked his head towards the door.

"Go on, as long as you promise to write to me this summer," he said, and I promised, sliding in the carriage door to join the Slytherins the rest of the way home.

[A/N] Sorry just realised how insanely shirt this last chapter was and could have probably fitted it in with the one before this but oh well! Thats the first year done! I'll be writing The Chamber of Secrets next but I hope you're loving reading as much as I am writing!