A Light in the Dark

CH.1: A Room with a Promise.

⠀⠀Breath catching, his eyes move towards the castle. It had been a couple of months since he last saw it; rubble no longer surrounded it. Instead, it lay on the inside, as if someone had gotten incredibly lazy. Stepping over it, luggage in hand, grey eyes dart to either side, seeing if he recognized anyone.
⠀⠀Unable to see a familiar face, he is instructed to put his bags onto the ground to be taken to their rooms. Brows furrowed, he questions Filch's words; then, he is guided to a giant bulletin board by the doors. Striding over, realization strikes him; it was a list of people he would be housed with.
⠀⠀At the moment, the common rooms were off-limits, leaving something like a dormitory situation. They housed two per dormitory, protected by house-like structures. The blonde starts to make his way towards his own, SG7.
⠀⠀The pathway to the dormitories wasn't long, but provided him a way to overlook, or gaze at, certain things. Perhaps even think, but, alas, he does that too much anyway.
⠀⠀Strutting up to a dark oak door, he places his pale hand onto the golden door handle and twists right, eyes plastered to the floor. Yet, as he opens it, his gaze moves upwards to see none other than Harry fucking Potter.
⠀⠀He almost wanted to turn around and glide back out, but thought it somewhat rude. Instead, the boy settles for a glare at the dark-haired male. Upon hearing the door open, Potter turns around and gives an audible groan of disapproval.
⠀⠀The Slytherin doesn't shut the door; a breeze needed to come through. He crosses his arms, fighting a smirk. 'Oh, I'm terribly sorry, did I ruin your eighth year already, Potter?'
⠀⠀The green-eyed male just rolls his eyes and turns his back towards the grey-eyed blonde. He notices the other had claimed the bed farthest from the door, which was fine by him. Lifting his right sleeve up, he checks the time: 8:23am. He gives a sigh, dropping his arms and making his way to his new bed.
⠀⠀'I'm heading to breakfast.' the Gryffindor announces, as if he were the announcer of a Quidditch game - only, he used a softer tone.
⠀⠀He looks up to see the other trying not look at him; as if he didn't want to. Draco didn't blame him. The war, and his family, made him into a monster of a sort. The Slytherin sneers. 'Go on, then, Potter.'
⠀⠀His unexpected roommate leaves the room to head to the Great Hall; Draco exhales, laying on his bed. He didn't want to leave the room, he didn't want to face a single soul.

*⠀⠀♡⠀⠀*

⠀⠀'Malfoy, who did you get paired in with?' a familiar voice asks, bringing him back to reality. He had spaced out during lunch, his mind racing a million miles a minute. What would happen if I did this, or this, or even that? What would happen if.. He sighs, gaze moving to meet the one who spoke - Goyle, no less.
⠀⠀'Who did you get paired with?' he retorts, earning a raised eyebrow from his friend.
⠀⠀'I got paired with Susan Bones, though I suppose she already hates it.' his friend sighs, his facial expression softening. 'But, seriously. Who did you get paired with?'
⠀⠀Draco tries to hide his somewhat disgust as he picks up some odd pastry he couldn't place a name to. His fingernails dig into it as he tears off a piece. 'Harry Potter.' he speaks, his voice low. He then plops the piece of pastry into his mouth, chewing as Goyle frowns.
⠀⠀'Sorry? I didn't catch that.'
⠀⠀Draco tears off yet another piece, looking annoyed that he has to repeat himself. 'I got paired in with Potter.' Goyle's eyes couldn't have been more wide; if they were, they could pop right out of his head.
⠀⠀'Really?!' he hisses, almost as if he were angry. 'I'd hate to be you!'
⠀⠀Grey hues meet dull ones, which were still as wide as a marble. 'Of course you would, you dolt.' Draco says, stuffing the rest of the pastry into his mouth; he quickly stands, strutting out of the Great Hall. He has no idea where he was going, his mind was so unclear.
⠀⠀His father had decided to corrupt his mind with the ideals that Muggleborns did not belong here, that anyone who was not Pureblood didn't deserve anything. He had made his son into the jackass he was today. The most the boy could do was right what was wrong; nobody would believe him, though.
⠀⠀Draco finds himself back into his and Potter's room. Oh, how empty it looked at the moment. His trunk had been delivered, so to pre-occupy himself, he moves to start organizing everything. The blonde, for once, did not feel like using magic to do his organizing; which could be concerning.
⠀⠀He carefully and gently puts away his textbooks, organizing them either by class or alphabetically; when he couldn't make up his mind, he just sighed and arranged them into alphabetical order. He places his parchment next to his textbooks, his ink and quill on top. After shutting it closed, he shoves his trunk under his bed, then the boy sits there, spacing out again.
⠀⠀A small creak of the dark oak door takes him back out of his thoughts, and grey eyes meet green once more. No words were spoken as his roommate walks to his bed. Draco hears some shuffling, then something opening. He makes no effort to look over his shoulder, to see what he was doing, opening. Checking his watch again, it reads 1:12pm; he had an hour for a free period. Perhaps he could find Goyle and Blaise, head up to Hogsmeade. Perhaps he could stay in, shower? The possibilities were limited, but he still tried to make the most of it.
⠀⠀He decides to go find his friends as he stands. His roommate clears his throat, making him turn around. 'What is it, Potter?' he questions, moving to the end of his bed, crossing his arms again, an annoyed look on his face.
⠀⠀The Gryffindor makes his way towards Draco, absentmindedly making him put his guard up. His annoyed expression turns to a threatening glare. 'I forgot to give this to you earlier.' Potter simply states, holding out the blonde's wand. 'That git took my wand..' He blinks, as the other's hand shakes, rushing him to take it. So, he does, somewhat grateful he now had protection.
⠀⠀'Thanks,' he grumbles, stuffing his wand into his pocket. The other just nods, and they stand there in silence for a minute or two.
⠀⠀'Where are you going?' Potter speaks up as Draco turns around to walk out.
⠀⠀'What do you care for?' Draco's voice sounds heavy as he speaks, staring at the door instead of his roommate.
⠀⠀'Well, we are going to be sleeping in the same dorm this year. Best make some progress towards becoming friends. Heard it's healthy.'
⠀⠀'You sound like Granger.'
⠀⠀'Besides,' Potter presses on. 'you never kn-'
⠀⠀Draco tunes him out, walking to the door and opening it, practically slamming it as he strides off to find his friends.

*⠀⠀♡⠀⠀*

⠀⠀Sitting inside of The Three Broomsticks, his two friends sit there, laughing and carrying on, with almost no care in the world. They clink their butterbeer glasses together, making Draco raise an eyebrow. 'You two seem chipper.'
⠀⠀Blaise's grin spreads wide on his lips. 'Perhaps you should learn to be happier, Malfoy.'
⠀⠀Grey eyes narrow. He wasn't having the best of days; mentally and class-wise. 'Perhaps you should know to not be a bloody git.'
⠀⠀Goyle lets out a hearty laugh as Draco stands up. 'Pay for your own damn drinks.' he hisses, venom coating every word. He struts to the door, yanking it open and making his way out of the pub. He makes his way, in a hurry no more, towards the castle, towards his next, and last, class of today.

*⠀⠀♡⠀⠀*

⠀⠀After all his classes, and dinner, Draco walks to his shared room once more, his expression full of thought. He thinks of his parents, his mother especially, as he walks through the oak door to be greeted by nobody. He exhales a sharp breath he had not known he'd taken and makes his way towards the bathroom.
⠀⠀After staring blankly at the shower walls for what seems like hours, absentmindedly washing his body and hair, he turns off the water and wraps his towel around himself. Draco steps out, opening the door to let the steam roll on out. He doesn't spare a glance towards Potter, who had walked in ten minutes prior to the Slytherin's shower ending. However, his roommate had other plans.
⠀⠀'Malfoy.'
⠀⠀Draco heaves a sigh, using magic to get out his sweatpants and boxers. 'What?' He spits, heading back into the bathroom to yank his two pieces of clothing on.
⠀⠀Once they were on, he hangs the towel up, running his comb through his hair. He thought about putting on a shirt, but decided against it. He makes his way out of the bathroom and to his bed.
⠀⠀'What did you want?' he questions the ravenette.
⠀⠀'Er,' he responds. The lights had darkened by the time he had come back out; Potter's face was rather hard to see now. Not like Draco wanted to see his face, anyway. 'I wanted to apologize for earlier, when you first walked in. We not might be enemies anymore, but we certainly aren't friends. Acquaintances that know too much about the other?'
⠀⠀By the time he had finished yapping away, Draco had already slipped under his blanket. Now the two males were under their blankets, staring at each other in a dimly lit room. Draco chuckles at the thought as his voice reigns quiet.
⠀⠀'You're apologizing, are you? Sounds more like rambling.'
⠀⠀This time, Potter chuckles. 'I s'pose. But it's the truth.'
⠀⠀'Whatever, Potter. Just shut up and go to sleep.' he sighs, laying down as he turns his back to him. Darkness shines through, interrupted by the smallest speck of moonlight.
⠀⠀Whatever would be happening this year, in this room, he would keep to himself. He could feel his shell hardening, his thoughts becoming shut in.
⠀⠀I promise to attempt to open up, to right my wrongs. No matter how they affect me.

*⠀⠀♡⠀⠀*

WOWIE! First chapter is done! Please tell me what you all thought of this; maybe give me some feedback or constructive criticism? ♡

SPECIAL THANKS TO LACVNAS ON INSTA FOR HELPING ME WITH HOW I SHOULD FORMAT haha ♡