✍︎︎12✍︎︎

Harry stared out into the open fields of the Hogwarts grounds. The boy was perched atop the astronomy tower - the perfect place to watch a sunrise. The silence was mesmerising and beautiful. It was peaceful and calm, nature at its most captivating.

The sky was a perfect mixture of oranges, pinks and blues. The flames of the sun began to bloom over the horizon, stretching outwards in the vast and endless sky, yearning to let its rays caress the ground. Daylight spreading across the pristine forest as it begins a new day.

The air was brisk as it passed into the boy's lungs - early morning air was always fresh. In the highlands of Scotland, the air was untouched. The air in the strenuous streets of London were polluted and impure. Over time, the city became busy and infected place.

Which is why Harry adored the countryside. He had been alone his entire life and at this point it was all he knew and he accepted that he would possibly be alone in his future. He had dreamt about living in his own cottage with Teddy and maybe a partner, if he was lucky.  

To him, it was perfect and everything he wanted. With the riches from his parents and Remus - after he died they were gave to Harry since Teddy was not able to accept them yet - it was possible he would never have to work a day in his life.

However, he knew that his dream life was not possible; he was the famous Harry Potter, a after all. Magical folk across the globe probably expected him to be the next Minister For Magic, Head Auror or at least work for the ministry, maybe with a wife and big family to keep the legacy going.

Harry sighed, dully, at the thought. He pulled his knees up to his chest as a cool breeze washed over his scrawny body. He shivered slightly.

He cast a tempest charm (his wand was in his dorm room when he returned), realising the time he got up and began walking down the tower's stairs.

When Harry had returned to his dorm room yesterday afternoon, all the other boys began teasing him about wearing Draco's jumper. This lead him to be a blushing mess and quickly leave to the astronomy tower. That's where Harry had been sat ever since.

While he sat up there, he contemplated his sexuality. Harry did break down into tears a couple times but he felt like he had finally worked it out - he liked both but had preference for men. For an hour, he just thought he was gay but he still found some woman attractive.

He also came to terms with the fact he did like Draco but he knew nothing would happen between them. After all, they were enemies for seven years and only just became friends and it's still awkward. Harry couldn't risk telling him so he just had to move on.

He also remembered Dumbledore's death while up there. It brought him to tears as he recalled the headmaster plummeting to his death; killed by his most trusted friend. Harry knew Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him but the young boy couldn't help but feel resentment towards the teacher.

The war had destroyed so many relationships, friendships and families and Harry thought it was all his fault. He was the one that asked people to fight for him and he hated the fact people gave up everything for the silly little boy he was. He had disliked so many people but a lot of them died for him so he hated himself for that.

Since he was so lost in his thoughts, he completely forgot about dinner and the fact he was wearing Draco's jumper still - he had to admit it was so warm.

As he descended the stairs, his body began warming from the castle's heat spell, which they always put on during the long winters. He sighed contently and pulled the sleeves of the jumper down.

As he approached the door, which would lead him into a main corridor, he quickly listened for students of footsteps. When he heard none, he peered out - looking around quickly - and turned to the direction of his dorm.

"Harry?"

The boy turned and saw his best friend Hermione holding a big stack of books and a bag hanging from her elbow filled with parchment and pens. She was dressed in her pyjamas with her Gryffindor robe keeping her warm and on her feet were some red, fluffy slippers.

"Hey 'Mione," Harry smiled sheepishly, fiddling with a loose thread on the old jumper.

"Why are you wearing a Slytherin jumper? Oh merlin! Did you sleep wi-"

"No no no! No!" Harry said frantically. He blushed at the thought before clearing his throat and beginning to explain.

"I- I got really drunk at the party and um... I tried stripping in front of everyone but Draco grabbed me before I could. He took me back to his dorm and let me sleep in his jumper," he became ever redder as he recalled the memory of Draco explaining it to him and the blond laughing. Harry was so embarrassed.

"Draco?!" She grinned.

Harry nodded and said quietly, "Don't remind me."

"So why are you still wearing it?" She smirked slightly.

"Cause the boys kept teasing me so I've been in the astronomy tower since yesterday afternoon," he huffed. The boy's cheeks blazing red and radiating heat.

"That's why you weren't at dinner," she muttered, "Harry, you have to start eating properly."

She pouted at him when he shrugged. When he was child, he survived weeks without food. He hardly felt hungry anymore so he only ate when Hermione forced him to.

"C'mon, breakfast starts soon," she stumbled slightly with the books in her arms when she took a step.

Harry rushed over to help her and take a few books off her hands. She smiled and they began walking back to their dorm rooms.

-

"Hello class," a tall, dark-skinned man entered the classroom, 2 thick books in hand and dressed in a dark grey suit and dark blue tie.

"My name is Professor Christopher Jones and I will be your Arithmancy professor for the remainder of the year," he smiled brightly as he placed the books on the table.

"Professor Vector quit after last week because he couldn't stand being back at Hogwarts," he cleared his throat, "but enough about that, please could you all stand at the back of the class so I can and place where I think is suitable."

The entire class groaned at the sentence, reluctantly getting up from their seats. They lined up at the back of the room as Professor Jones began reading out names.

Harry didn't particularly like Arithmancy. Hermione was forcing him to take it with her and the Ravenclaws because she thought he had too many free periods. Harry hesitated but agreed when he remembered he wasn't allowed to play Quidditch since was an eighth now.

Harry sighed and repeated in his head, 'please don't sit me next to someone I hate, please don't sit me next to someone I hate.'

"Dylan and Harry - last row in the right, second from the back."

Harry's brow furrow. He didn't know a Dylan but to avoid interrupting the lesson, he just made his way to his seat.

As he began pulling out his books, quill and ink pot, he felt a presence beside him. Harry turned his head and saw a boy with tanned skin, dark-brown, fluffy hair and he had dazzling chocolate eyes. He was a Slytherin and quite tall, even sat down.

"Hi, I'm Dylan," he smiled with pearly-white teeth while holding out his hand, "Dylan Ruíz. My parents are from Guatemala."

"I presume you know me," Harry chuckled lightly as the boy nodded, "It's nice to meet someone new who doesn't just want an autograph."

"I bet," the Latino boy grinned widely, "being globally famous would be difficult when you just want to be secluded."

"How'd you know that?"

"I'm good at reading people."

Harry nodded, his perking up when Professor Jones began speaking to the class. Harry realised the whole class was now sat down, Hermione sat at the front with another Gryffindor.

"So today we will be reading the first chapter of 'New Theory of Numerology.' The homework is to read the next two chapters and write a minimum of two pages of analysis by Friday," Jones smiled while most of the class huffed and wrote it in a notebook.

'Why did I agree to this?' Harry asked himself after rubbing his eyes. He looked down at the book, his eyes scanning the first chapterHe sighed before feeling a nudge to his arm and looked towards the direction it came from.

"If you need help with it let me know," Dylan winked at him.

Harry turned back to his book, drowning out any noise from the classroom and blushed. As he fell to sleep that night, the thought of Dylan became unavoidable.