Harry stood in the stairwell, pleasantly surprised at his interaction with Draco. 'Maybe he really is turning a new leaf? Only time will tell.' Harry thought to himself. He was up for a new version of Draco. One that was kinder, less abrasive, and less willing to outwardly cause issues for him and make his life hell.
Harry began to walk to the Gryffindor common room, not bothering to return to the sorting ceremony. 'I think it'll be okay to skip one thing. I'll see the new ones later anyways.'
As Harry approached the Fat Lady, she began to screech loudly at him down the hall. "HARRY POTTER??? YOU'VE COME BACK??? MY WORD!! WHAT A DELIGHT. I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU!!" she chirped, using her signature high pitched squeal.
"I'm glad to see you too, Miss. I'm glad you're fairing well after.. everything."
"Thanks to you, of course. Why are you all alone? Not feeling up to the ceremony?"
"Yeah, I, urm, wasn't feeling hungry."
"I think we would have much more enthusiasm in our students if Filch would move my portrait in the Great Hall for a concert!! He's refused for decades. If I had operable legs..." the Fat Lady got lost in her thoughts, wondering what kind of songs she would sing if people had TASTE and CLASS.
"I think I heard mumblings about the password at the table.. is it 'Draconus Serpentine'?"
"Yes, darling. You heard correctly. Now get some rest! We want you peachy for the morning!"
The Fat Lady swung open the entrance to the common room with a hearty cackle of a laugh.
Harry walked in through the tunnel and entered the common room space, breathing in deeply. 'It even smells the same' Harry smiled to himself. The familiar scents of wood burning in the fireplace, cinnamon and spices, and smoke from all the fireworks and pranks that Fred and George let loose still permeated the air, many years later. 'Fred...' Harry's eyes allowed a few tears to flow forth as his mind flooded with memories past. The time he won his first Quidditch game, to when he deafened everyone from the screech of his golden egg, to when he gave Fred and George his prize money to start their shop, to speaking with Sirius in the fireplace. Everything. So many important memories happened here, in his cozy slice of home.
Harry ascended the swirling spiral staircase up to his dorm. His feet kicked into muscle memory, picking up where he left off.
He entered the space, taking in the room once more. The circlet of four-poster beds, dressed in scarlet and golden hues, his trunk already in the right place at the foot of his bed. The windows overlooking the vast skies and grounds of Hogwarts. The creaky wooden floors, ancient at this point.
Memories flooded him here too. He, Ron, Seamus, Neville, and Dean had eaten loads of candy, especially the ones that made them act like animals. The hilarity ensued; not a single one of them had a try eye in the room from laughing so hard. It was one of the few nights he felt like a normal teen.
The nights that Ron would wake up in a panic, asking about spiders, followed quickly by his snores. Getting ready for the Yule Ball and holding back laughs at Ron's frilly dress robes. 'Poor Ron. Always something with him.'
This dorm room was one of the only places Harry every felt truly safe. Like the world outside didn't matter, didn't exist. It was his home. The place he laid his head at night. The place where he opened up his first Christmas presents. The first place he felt like he could just be himself.
Harry sighed heavily before unlatching his trunk and sorting through his belongings. Putting the enchanted picture frame of his parents on his bed side table, along with his newer photos of Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and Hedwig. However painful it might be, he needed the reminder that they were still there for him, and he needs to keep going. Harry pondered putting out a picture of Fred and George with the rest of the Weasley family. 'I'm not sure how Ron would respond.. It may be too painful for him still.' Harry shoved the picture towards the bottom of the trunk to revisit later.
Harry heard voices and laughter rumbling from the common room below. 'I guess the ceremony is finally over with.' Harry decided to walk back down to see who had joined their house.
As Harry descended the stairs, he felt every single pair of eyes move towards him, towards his face. The room became quiet, a hush covering the room.
'Here we go with this... I figured it wouldn't start this quickly.'
"Blimey. Enough with your gawking. I know he's handsome, but pick your jaws off the floor and act like normal people, alright?" Ron boomed, his voice carrying across the room.
'What would I do without him?' Harry chuckled, continuing the descent down the stairs, chattering starting again.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat in their favorite corner by the fire, the squishy couches having indents from their many nights sat there.
"Harry, are you alright? Why did you sprint out of the ceremony?" Hermione inquired, her eyebrow ticked upwards in confusion.
"Yes, I'm fine. I followed Draco out of habit. We had a short discussion."
"Really? You don't think he's up to something, right?" Ron chipped in.
"No, no, nothing like that. He apologized and said he was trying to do better essentially. I think we all will need to make sure we work on lowering our guards with him. There isn't really anything bad for him to do anymore, is there?" Harry pondered out loud, thinking about the past.
"I suppose not... But I don't think I'll ever be able to completely let go of my suspicions of him after all that's happened." Ron quipped, laying his head back on his arms.
"You're right Harry. I think it is almost an impulsive habit at this point, wondering what he is doing, who he's talking to, what plan he's cooking up next. But he doesn't really have anyone anymore. And there's no group of Death Eaters influencing him either. It will be a difficult habit to break." Hermione added, chewing her lip as she pondered.
"I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't have the energy to be on guard 24/7 with him, or anyone else for that matter. Whatever unfolds, unfolds." Harry put out there, the exhaustion weighing on his face.
"You're better than me, mate." Ron laughed, a bemused look on his face.
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YOU ARE READING
Everything Remains
FanfictionHarry and the rest of his friends return to Hogwarts for the seventh and final year. After everything he has been through, after all of the fighting, loss, and heartache, maybe, just maybe, he can have a "normal" year at school. That's all he wants...
