The cold September rain hammered the windows of the Hogwart's Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville were sprawled across the seats of a compartment at the end of the train. The gentle lurching of the train was so familiar and comforting that Harry could feel himself slipping into a light sleep.
Ron slapped Harry hard across the face.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione. "Let him sleep."
Harry grinned at her. "Cheers 'Mione."
He lay down across two seats and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Harry woke abruptly as the door to the compartment banged open loudly. Harry looked up. It was Draco Malfoy. He was alone for once, having left his faithful sidekicks Crabbe and Goyle in the past. To Harry's surprise, Draco wasn't sneering or even giving him a dirty look.
Since the previous year, when Harry had killed Voldemort, Draco had moved away from his parents' house to a small apartment in Diagon Alley, or so Harry had been told by Mr Weasley.
"Potter," said Malfoy. Harry was surprised at how different his voice was. There was no trace of dislike.
"Uh.. hey Draco," Harry replied cautiously. He noticed uncomfortably the looks of hostility on the others' faces. Draco must have noticed this, too, because Harry saw something grow dark in his expression and his jaw set.
Draco looked like he was about to speak, but eventually, he just said, "See you around Potter," and left.
Harry was slightly taken aback, having expected a little more.
"What the fuck was that about," said Ron glaring at the door where Draco had left. "Hi Potter. Bye, Potter," he mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
Harry was about to tell Ron to leave the platinum haired boy alone but eventually just grunted dismissively.
* * *
Harry could feel his excitement growing as the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, rain still pouring from the dark sky. Harry's year had been asked to come back to Hogwarts to redo their 7th year due to the school being taken over by the Death Eaters.
The six of them sprinted to the nearest carriage and piled in. Harry's clothes were already soaked and sticking to his body.
As they approached the school, Harry stared out of the carriage window while the other talked and laughed. He couldn't help remember Draco's closed expression.
He was still thinking, as he felt an arm slip through his. It was Ginny. Her soft red hair was falling in waves around her face, and she was smiling gently at him. Harry felt uncomfortable and stiffened as he felt their skin touch. He'd told Ginny just before they left that he needed a break from their relationship, but from how Ginny had been acting since, Harry wasn't quite sure if she got it. He forced a smile and engaged in conversation with Neville, unlinking their arms. He tried to ignore Ginny's hurt expression.
* * *
Harry, Ron, and Neville headed up to the dormitory after the feast. Harry felt slightly sick with the amount of food he'd eaten and wanted more than anything to get into his bed. The plaque on the door read: "8th Year Boys Gryffindor."
Neville pushed open the door, and three of them sleepily entered the dormitory. It seemed that Dean and Seamus hadn't returned to redo their 7th year. Harry couldn't blame them. It had been hard to walk past random parts of the castle and be hit by excruciating memories of the day Voldemort had died.
Harry stripped down to his boxers and crawled into his gloriously comfortable four poster bed, and pulled the curtains shut.
"Night," he grunted as he curled up and laid down. Within minutes, he felt his drowsiness take control, and he drifted off to sleep.
