Bones

i'll be good

Draco looked around the Slytherin table and saw a couple of fifth years sitting where he used to sit, the centre of attention. Now he sat at the end of the table, alone. All his friends, who were Death Eaters-to-be or not, had decided to continue their lives.

'But not me, all I learnt last year was how to be an asshole', Draco thought. He wanted a fresh start without all the drama from last year. But of course, his reputation was well known, and nobody dared to speak to him. Old Draco Malfoy would have loved this, feared by all. But he'd learnt there was no use in being feared, especially if you are hated.

He looked across to the Gryffindor table to see Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Harry Potter, now he was a boy who seemed full of life, surrounded by love and respect. Draco couldn't help be envious of him, as he'd always done.

"Malfoy!" Draco was snapped out of his daydream by a voice belonging to the raven-haired boy Draco had been thinking about, who was waving him over.

'Oh boy, this is gonna be fun,' Draco walked over, dreading the worst. Harry stood up cautiously and held out his hand. "Let's start over; no fights, no insults. Just friends,". Draco's jaw dropped, as well as Ron's. Hermione, however, looked smug.

"Bloody hell, mate! Malfoy? Are you serious?!" Ron exclaimed.

"I-I um, what game are you playing at Potter?" Draco spat with a loss of confidence.

"No games, I promise," Harry smiled.

"I mean, 'friends' is a bit fast?" Draco asked uncertainly.

"He's been a slimy git!" Ron huffed; he quickly shut up after an elbow from Hermione.

"Well, perhaps schoolmates who have been through a lot together, " Harry suggested with a slight grin.

Draco stared, wide-eyed at The Boy Who Lived Twice.

"Okay, Potter," Draco replied tentatively, slipping his hand into Harry's.

Harry pulled him into a one-armed hug, "Let's get along as we should have, Draco,".

Draco's face turned pink, "Alright, Harry,".

They pulled out of their embrace, and Draco started to walk back to his lonely spot. "Where are you going?" Harry shouted. Draco turned around confused and pointed his thumb towards his table, where there sat a clean and empty plate.

'You idiot Draco, now he's going to notice that you haven't fucking eaten anything!" Draco screamed internally.

"Come sit with us, you idiot! And let's get you to eat something, huh?" Harry invited, gesturing towards the trio's spot.

"Um, okay, I'll get my plate then," Draco replied, continuing to walk.

While Draco was out of earshot, Ron was off the rails. "What the hell, Harry?! I don't like Malfoy. You don't like Malfoy, Hermione doesn't like Ma.." Hermione's interjection cut off Ron.

"I forgive Draco. You saw how much pressure he got from his parents; let's give him a chance,".

Ron was about to disagree before Harry added, "And I also forgive Draco,".

"But his father!" Ron argued.

"He is not his father, Ron," Harry sighed, "We've seen that,".

"Why are you even doing this?" Ron said exasperatedly.

"Hermione and Miss Weasley got me to go to therapy. And I've learnt that forgiveness is necessary to heal," Harry said, fiddling with his sleeves. Ron stayed quiet. There was nothing he could say to that.

"I want to apologise. I was rude to you and your family. You as well, Hermione. I do sincerely wish you'll forgive me," Draco said, appearing out of nowhere, speaking a slight hint of nervousness in his voice.

"I forgive you, Draco, Ron does too, but it'll take him a little while to get used to that," Hermione giggled. Draco chuckled along.

"I'm assuming I shouldn't sit next to Weasley. Where should I sit?" Draco laughed. He hadn't felt this okay for a while.

"Well, Ron, can sit with Hermione, those two annoying lovebirds, and you can sit with me!" Harry concluded.

They all shuffled into their new positions. "You and Ginny are annoying lovebirds too, though, aren't you?" Draco remarked, looking down the table at Ginny, who was sitting with the sixth years.

Harry shuffled uncomfortably in his seat while Ron looked away.

Hermione sighed. "They broke up,".

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry, why is that so?" Draco said apologetically. Now it was Harry's turn to look away and Ron's turn to shuffle.

"Well, Ginny's a lesbian...and Harry's bi," Hermione said quietly.

"Huh, alright, cool," Draco went back to pushing his food around his plate unemotionally.

"Uh, mate, did you hear what Hermione just said?" Ron asked, confused.

"Yeah, and?" Draco replied.

"You..you don't care?" Harry whispered. "Should I?" Draco answered nonchalantly.

"I guess not," Harry chuckled. Hermione smirked.

"You still keeping in touch with Pansy, Draco?" Hermione questioned, taking a sip of water.

"Ugh, no, she was annoying," Draco rolled his eyes while Hermione raised her eyebrow at Harry, knowingly, making Harry blush.

***

After a while of them talking, Ron eventually getting comfortable enough to join in, they were dismissed for the night. After they left the Great Hall, they said their goodbyes and the trio headed up to the Gryffindor common room, while Draco went down to the Slytherin common room.

While walking through to the sleeping chambers, he saw a first-year having trouble with Wingardium Leviosa. Draco walked over with a friendly smile and offered his help. The first year, Avery Val, nervously accepted. After helping with her wand movements and her finally lifting a feather, he continued to the chambers. He was smiling to himself from the chattering of pleasant surprise among the first years back in the common area.

After changing into his black silk pyjamas, he slipped into bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he heard his stomach growl. Thankfully, Harry forgot about Draco's empty plate.

'Harry's gay, that's cool. I mean, it's not like I like him, right?' Draco thought to himself, thinking about all the times he obsessed over Potter, even when he "hated him". But that was a question for another day.

Ignoring his hunger pains, Draco tossed and turned and fell into a deep slumber.

~~

Hey! new fan fiction, tell me if i can improve!