✍︎︎4✍︎︎

The massive doors swung open. The loud clash of the huge hinges rang through the hall as the students made their way between the tables. Dainty cutlery decorated the tables with house-associated cloths laid on the dark wood. At the front of the hall, teachers were perched on their seats, each having a welcoming smile on their faces.

The candles floated through the 'sky.' They danced above the heads of every person and glowed brightly throughout the hall.

Harry walked through the doors, Hermione in front and Ron trailing behind. He tried to keep his head down to avoid being recognised. However, it didn't work because he got a few strange looks from the younger years. Harry sighed and sat down with friends, keeping his head low the whole time.

When the slytherins entered, it was like a bomb went off. First, it was silence and then the hall erupted in whispers and murmurs. Draco was, of course, in front of all the slytherins, in all his Malfoy glory. He heard Ron scoff beside him and he could practically feel the glare they were getting from the other houses. Harry just bit his lip and turned to face McGonagall.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts," she began, "this year things are very different due to the...events of last year." Her eyes saddened and a wave of guilt flooded Harry's mind - he gulped.

"This year I am your headmistress and many of the teachers are brand new. Also, you may realise the new tower at the edge of the school. That is restricted to eighth years only. Do not worry eighth years, you are still in houses, you are just in a dorm all together. I will escort you there after the prefects have taken the students to the common rooms," she smiled sweetly and welcomed the first years into the hall.

The children followed the half-giant, Hagrid to the front of the hall as they all taped at him and the older students and few even spotted Harry. He was holding it would take them a few days and not a few minutes.

The headmistress began the sorting ceremony, Harry completely blocking out her voice. Harry rested his head in on his right hand, staring across to the Slytherin table.

Harry didn't known why but ever since he got onto the train, he felt a pull towards them or to a certain boy in that house. That boy being Draco Malfoy. The black haired boy had no clue what this was exactly but it confused him greatly.

Draco was staring glumly down at the table, tracing the fine details of the plate below. Harry watched his slim, pale fingers moving elegantly around the plate. His fingers scrapped the pottery slowly and carefully, not daring to leave any traces.

His hands picked up the steel silverware and examined it carefully. Draco's eyes raking down the metal in his fingers. He seemed to realise the cutlery was either cheap or just not good enough for him because he placed it back down a disgusted look in his features. Draco then continued to trace his fingers along the details of the plate.

Harry bit his lip and perked up slightly as certain pictures came to his head. Quickly, he shook his head and blushed a deep crimson. He took in a shaky breath and excused himself from the table.

Luckily, Harry was able to slip through the doors without causing a stir. He walked swiftly through the hall and into the nearest bathroom. He sighed and undid his tie; feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by it.

Harry took deep breaths . He strode up to the sink and leant on it. He tried to cool his face with freezing water.

'Stop. Stop it. He's Draco Malfoy.'

Harry groaned in frustration. Why did he have to be the chosen one? Why was he destined to be the person to save world? Why did he have to be the one being stared at and watched? Why did he have to be confused over love?

Last year he had his life planned for him; destroy Voldemort, go become head Auror, marry Ginny, have three beautiful children, retire and maybe write an biography and then die happy. But no. He had to be destined to be confused with sexuality.

He hated this. He hated himself for being different. Why couldn't he just be like Hermione and Ron? Harry just wished he was a different person with a normal life or he had someone that understood but he was just 'The Boy Who Lived - Twice!' No one understood him and he was just left with his thoughts that swamped his brain. 

Harry didn't realise he had now tears streaming down his cheeks - the first time he's cried properly since the war. He took shaky breaths and then rubbed his face with hands. Taking a deep breath, he started to pace back and forth.

'It's only one more year...and what the hell is Draco doing to me?! AND SINCE WHEN WAS HE DRACO!'

-

Draco saw Harry leave; wondering what he was doing and if this was going to be another 'Harry Potter parade.' He sneered and thought he should follow him but it'd probably ends like sixth year and suddenly Draco's face paled. He hated the scars on his body and that was another reason he worked out over the summer - maybe if he had a nice body it would distracted people from the scars.

He shrugged it off and ruffed a piece of chicken in his mouth before looking around the hall. Draco scrunched his nose as he saw Weasley across the hall, eating like a pig. Pansy and Blaise followed his gaze.

"He is disgusting," Pansy sneered. She grimaced and turned away otherwise she might throw up.

"He's just hungry."

"Well he's the 'love of your life' so you would say that," Pansy smiled sarcastically before stabbing a piece of chicken and shoving it between her red-painted lips.

"Shut up, Pans. It's not like you don't have the biggest crush on Granger," Blaise shot back and Pansy looked at him with disgust and shock but a slight blush could be seen through all that foundation.

"That's outrageous!"

"Its true, you bitch."

"Take it back!"

"You call me every word under the sun and I call you a bitch once? That's really fair, Pansy."

"We are in Slytherin!"

"BOTH OF YOU! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Draco cut them off, shouting; he was fed up of the bickering. But the reaction did get them a few weird looks but it was nothing they hadn't had before.

"Sorry, Dray. But he's a dickhead," Pansy took a final swig of her drink and pushed the plate back. She crossed her arms over chest and crossed her legs.

"You two are insufferable," Draco rolled his eyes. Blaise scoffed.

"Not like you're any better."

"Don't even start, Blaise because we both know who wins," Draco pulled a smirk once again.

The trio spoke a little longer and watched the younger years yawning and standing up with their friends, ready to get some sleep. Eventually, the first years were leaving and only the eighth years were left in the great hall.

"Hello students!"

Headmistress McGonagall walked down the small steps and motioned for all of them to come to the doors after her. Once they were all in a group she began speaking.

"Now," She smiled at the golden trio in the front, this made Pansy, Blaise and Draco roll their eyes, "if you would follow me, I'll take you to your new dormitories."

-

"At least all the houses are separated," Ron sighed at he placed one of his jumpers on the bed. He folded it messily.

There was five boys in each room and thankfully McGonagall put Neville, Dean, Seamus, Ron and Harry altogether. Neville was already asleep in his bed in the corner.

"Dean!" A shout came from the bathroom. Dean sighed but smiled and walked quickly into the bathroom.

"What baby?" Came a muffled voice when the door was shut and the sound was trapped inside.

"I just hope they don't do it while we're here," Harry smiled which earned a laugh from the ginger. Ron nodded and stretched before getting under the covers.

"Goodnight, Harry," Ron sighed and turned the lamp off next to his bed. Harry 'hm'ed in response and turned over. He heard the bathroom door opened and the two boys renter the room. They flopped onto the same bed and started cuddling.

Harry heard them whispering, kissing and giggling for a while but eventually heard the slight snores from Seamus' mouth. He wished he could have something like that.

With being back at Hogwarts and being so confused with his emotions and sexuality, he just felt so lonely, even if he was surrounded by his friends. He sighed quietly and closed his eyes drifting off into a deep slumber.