Petty Rivalry

Back Again

Harry Potter. The chosen one. The boy who lived. He had so many names, so many titles, so much fame, yet he quit his high paying job as an Auror and was now standing on the platform of 9 and 3/4.

The scarlet train slowly came to a halt in front of Harry. The smoke billowing around the new first years and the other students. Harry glanced back over his shoulder, a habit he'd picked up from his time hunting down horcruxes and fighting death eaters. The war had taken it's toll on him harder than anyone else, especially after he died, even if it was only for a brief moment.

The shouting of kids echoed around him, bringing him back to his first time on this platform, the group of Weasley's kindly helping him through the barrier to the platform, him and Ron eating until they were sick on the train, then...then Draco Malfoy. His arrogant cold grey eyes flashed through Harry's mind before he quickly dispersed the thoughts. He should be over that petty rivalry by now. He was an adult. The train whistle blew, signalling for the kids to say their last goodbyes and get on the train.

Harry sighed and picked up his case. A new owl sat on top of his trunk. He couldn't bear with the silence after Hedwig was killed. His new owl was a deep black with alarmingly blue eyes that made him shiver. Despite this, the owl Athena, was very kind and affectionate towards Harry and loved to sit on his head or shoulder, never in a cage.

Harry slipped through the crowds of people getting on the train and slowly made his way through the compartments, looking for an empty one. Harry had lost quite a bit of weight after the war and after Ginny had came out as a lesbian and left him for Luna Lovegood. He had never had the motivation to get up and make himself something, he'd slumped into a pit of depression for a while until Hemione Granger and her Husband Ron had helped him get the spot as Defence against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts as a chance to start a new life. 

Athena cawed quietly and flew onto Harry's unkempt raven black hair, "Shh, it's okay just sit on my head then." He rolled his eyes and slipped into an empty compartment. He glanced at the number of the compartment and stopped. It was the same on he had first met Remus Lupin in. Flashbacks from the war came in suddenly. He could see Tonks and Lupin lying in the great hall, so close together, their hands ghosting each others. Harry stepped back, his back hitting of the window, before sitting down on one of the benches, his leg bounced up and down and suddenly he smiled, knowing that if Hermione was here she would of hit his leg with whatever book she was holding and told him to stop and then Ron would lift his legs and rest them over Harry's.

Once Harry's breathing has calmed down once again he closed the blinds and rested his head against the headboard, his eyes closed. Harry's breathing calmer but his leg still bouncing, by this point it was less anxiousness and more because it was a soothing rhythm. He could hear the trolly witch a few doors down and smiled when he thought of the first time he'd bought something and Hermione has walked in on Ron and him stuffing their faces.

Suddenly the door opened and a voice spoke from above him, "Is this seat taken- Oh. Potter" 

Harry looked up and internally groaned, "Malfoy." He nodded in acknowledgment. Draco's white-blond hair was no longer sleeked back and now looked soft and silky. His small pointed nose was hardly different. Harry hadn't expected it to be. Draco was wearing a white shirt tucked into grey slacks.  Harry closed his eyes again and motioned for Malfoy to sit down.

He heard Draco put his luggage away before sitting down on the creaky seats. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a couple of minuets before Dra-Malfoy spoke up.

"I have muggle chess in my trunk if you'd like to play." He said, no hint of mockery in his voice.

Harry shrugged, he wasn't in the mood but then Draco had the nerve to say-

"Scared Potter?"

Harry felt the corners of his mouth quip up at the old line.

"You wish"

Malfoy grinned.

The next hour or so was absorbed by playing non magical chess. They played three times and Draco won all three. He sat back with a smug grin on his face. Harry rolled his eyes and leant back, nearly crushing Athena.

"Merlin's sake, Athena, don't sit behind me!" He scolded.

Draco laughed dryly, "It's and owl Potter, it doesn't know what your saying."

Harry stood up, "We better get our robes on we're nearly th-" The train lurched to a stop, throwing Harry into Draco. Luckily Harry stuck his hand out at the last moment so he didn't fall completely onto him. He looked up. He'd locked Draco against the door and their faces were inches apart. A heat rose to Harry's face as he backpaddled towards the window.

"Sorry! Dr-Malfoy..uhm..."

He expected Draco to sneer or storm of but he just laughed it of effortlessly, pulling his trunk down from the railings, "If you wanted to kiss me so bad you should have just said," Then he winked and walked of.

Harry scowled at the place where Draco had just been. Clearly he'd not lost any cockiness in the last ten years. Harry brushed it of and pulled in case from the railing, but failing miserably. The leather case fell onto him and he fell down, landing on the floor with a loud thump, the case resting on his chest. He heard footsteps and tried to turn his head.

"Hi, Potter I'm back...you really can't go one minuet without help? How in Merlin's name did you defeat the dark lord!?" Malfoy chuckled, lifting Harry's case of his chest and handing it to him, "You better get going, I'm sure all the professors are ecstatic to see you back here." He drawled, strutting out of the compartment, a disgruntled Harry at his heel. As Draco pushed through the groups of students Harry could feel  the stares of kids, boring through the back of his head.

"Malfoy...Malfoy! Wait up!" He groaned as Draco strode towards a black carriage, pulled by the Thestrals. Harry smiled softly as the Thestrals brought back memories of Luna. Then his smile faded as he remembered why he was riding the Thestrals in the first place. He shook of the thought of his dead godfather and climbed into the carriage, across from Draco. 

Malfoy pulled out a book from his pocket and read, determinedly ignoring Potter. The rest of the journey was taken in silence, except for the occasional rustling of pages every few minuets.

Harry knocked his wand against his kneecap restlessly. His mind wandering to the war and oddly enough his parents (note the sarcasm).

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the large brass doors that were the entrance to Hogwarts. Harry thought back to a muggle's book he'd read a while back called Dante's Inferno. He called back the memory of the inscriptions on the doors to hell. It was something like- "Abandon every hope, all ye who enter here."

Harry slowly walked over to the gates, his shoes dragging in the gravel, leaving inprints. As he stood before the castle, he took in the sight. The whole great hall had been re built after the war and new banners of house unity swayed from little poles on the turrets. He felt Draco come up behind him.

"Potter." Malfoy

Harry turned and had an urge to roll his eyes but instead stuck out his hand, "Let's start again. Im Harry Potter, let's try get along."

Malfoy looked at Harry's hand for a second or two before saying, "Im Draco Malfoy, and I can tell the wrong sort for myself."

Harry was about to put his hand back, embarrassed when Draco took his hand and shook it, "I'm glad you've finally got it into ur thick head to shake my hand."

They looked at each other and Harry smiled, "Okay no more sappy friendship shit, we need to actually get into the castle before you start crying." Draco drawled, walking towards the wooden doors of Hogwarts.

Harry ran to catch up with him, "Does this mean I can call you Draco instead of Malfoy?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "Not a chance in hell Potter."