{A/N: Hi besties, happy July! I hope everyone who celebrates pride month had a wonderful June, and you're still valid and have the right to celebrate every day 😌

I'm thinking the story will be done around chapter 60 perhaps? I have all of my ideas planned for the end, but I haven't actually written them yet. Knowing me it could be longer because I start I don't know how to stop. Just wanted to give a quick update!}

The day to meet with McGonagall was finally here. It was 10am, and Harry could not sit still any longer. When he apparated to Draco's, his hair was still damp.

"Good morning Harry. We were just finishing up a late breakfast. I'll fix you a plate."

Draco rushed to his feet once he saw Harry.

"Oh thank Salazar you showed up early. I'm going out of my mind here."

"You're not the only one."

"Both of you, eat", Narcissa chided.

Sharing a look, they sat down and tucked into breakfast.

"Would you join us for dinner tonight Harry?"

"I would love to, thank you Narcissa."

"Wonderful. I want to hear how both of your meetings went once you return."

"Hopefully well. I've gone over the worst case scenarios only a hundred times."

"So dramatic, just like your father."

"I had to get something from him I suppose. My sparkling personality and good looks clearly came from you."

Laughing lightly, Narcissa ruffled Draco's hair.

"Always the charmer, I've taught you well indeed. Go finish getting ready, I'll see you when you get back."

After saying goodbye to Narcissa, they made their way up to Draco's room, where he promptly collapsed onto his bed.

"What if I don't go?"

"Then you're going to continue torturing yourself as you worry about what you're missing", Harry replied, sitting down next to Draco.

Draco pulled Harry down next to him so they could cuddle.

"I hate when you're right. I need emotional support."

"We'll be okay."

"Will we though? What's going to happen to us at Hogwarts? Our relationship? You'll be with Weasley and Granger because you're Gryffindors and I'll be with Pansy and Blaise. We're not taking all of the same classes."

"I'm not going to forget about you. We don't know what's going to happen. We'll find out from McGonagall today and then we can figure everything out together okay Prince? Just take a deep breath."

"Okay Scarhead."

They laid there together for a few more minutes.

"Can we just go now?", Harry asked quietly. "I'd like to walk around a bit first."

"I love when you're thinking exactly the same thing as I am."

They finished getting ready in silence, both men mentally hyping themselves up.

"Potter?"

"Yeah Malfoy?"

"Are we telling her that we're friends?"

"Is it okay if we wait? I haven't told Ron and Hermione yet, and once McGonagall knows the whole school is going to know, and then it'll be all over the Prophet and I just cannot deal with that."

"That's perfectly fine darling. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page."

Harry let out a sigh of relief and hugged Draco.

"If she sees us together, we can just say we're on civil terms after your trial. I don't have the energy to hold grudges. I'll leave you to do most of the talking, so I apologize in advance."

"I just want you to be comfortable, Scarhead. If for some reason we don't leave at the same time, we'll meet back in my kitchen okay?"

"Okay."

Taking a deep breath, they apparated to Hogwarts together, and were immediately taken aback by the sight of how normal it looked. No one was around, so they didn't let go of the other's hand. The physical contact was all that was keeping them grounded.

Slowly but surely, they made their way across the grounds and into the castle. Everything looked as it did before the war. Once they were inside however, they let go of each other's hands because the portraits were nosy.

"Should've brought the cloak", Harry muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

Stopping in a corner where there were no portraits, Draco cast a silencing charm over the both of them.

"As long as we barely move our mouths they'll have no clue we're speaking because there's no reason for us too, unless we're fighting."

"I can't wait until the potion is done", Harry lamented, leading the way back down the hall.

"Next week", Draco responded.

They explored for half an hour, just trying to get the feel of things again. Harry didn't think he had ever felt the atmosphere at Hogwarts be so calm.

When they were passing by the gargoyles again, McGonagall made an appearance, and was shocked to see the two men walking amicably side-by-side.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. I must say I'm surprised to see you both together and not trying to cause harm to the other. And Mr. Potter, you're early nonetheless. I suppose I don't have to transfigure you into a pocket watch after all?", she asked, the corners of her mouth upturned as she suppressed a smile.

"Headmistress", Harry greeted with a light laugh.

"I suppose you're both wondering why I've called you here. Do you think you can both handle being in my office at the same time?"

Draco turned to Harry and raised an eyebrow.

"Potter?"

Harry nodded once to Draco, and then once more to McGonagall.

"Wonderful. If you'll follow me up then."

She pulled up another chair for Harry and gestured for the two men to sit next to each other.

"Biscuit boys?"

They each accepted, and after replacing the tin, she slid Harry a quill, ink pot, and parchment.

"May I?", she asked, gesturing to the parchment.

Harry nodded, and she continued speaking.

"I'd like to know why you chose to arrive early Potter. Now, Mr. Malfoy. Mr Potter over here has chosen parchment as his primary method of communication. I trust that is not a problem?"

"Not at all Headmistress."

"Excellent. I had scheduled you both to meet an hour apart because I wished to speak to Mr. Malfoy about something first. I can send Mr. Potter out of the room if you would like?"

"If it concerns him too he can stay", Draco responded, not having to fake the confusion in his voice.

Harry slid over his parchment.

"I wanted to come early to get myself settled. I wasn't sure what kind of effect returning would have on me, so I wanted time to process. As I walked in, I saw Malfoy down the hall. He approached me, looking as anxious as I did. We agreed to walk with each other down the halls so we weren't alone. It helped."

McGonagall read Harry's parchment out loud.

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"That's true. I didn't fancy having to walk these halls alone for the first time again. Potter was better than no company."

"This is wonderful news. Now, I know neither of you have decided on whether you want to come back for 8th year again. I wish to tell you how things will be run.

For starters, you will remain in your houses. With that being said, you as 8th years will have more privileges. There is an 8th year dormitory where you will be sharing a room with one other person for safety purposes, an 8th year table in the Great Hall, however you may sit with your house if you wish, no curfew as you're all adults, and you may leave the grounds anytime within reason as long as you inform me.

I'm not going to dance around the subject. I would ideally like you both to be roommates. I thought it would be best to ask you first and hear you both out because your feelings are valid."

As McGonagall continued on about how it would be a great example of school unity and how the two men weren't all that different if they looked past their history, Harry and Draco kept exchanging looks with each other, wondering how they had gotten so lucky to be in this scenario.

"If you need more time to make a decision, I understand. However, I will give both of you a piece of parchment. Write yes, no, or maybe so I can see where we are at for this point in time."

As her back was turned to get another quill, Harry and Draco both mouthed "yes" to each other.

"This is non-binding, unless you're sure you wish to attend."

Draco and Harry had to hold back a snicker at the look of pure confusion and joy on McGonagall's face.

"You've both said yes. Will you definitely be returning?"

They knew this deal was almost too good to be true, and they would be stupid not to accept it. Harry was the first to speak up.

"Yes. I'll return."

"I'll return as well."

With that being said, the two men sealed their fate. There was no turning back now.

{This is less important so I'm sticking it at the bottom, but you've all been so kind and I've loved interacting with you all in the comments (shoutout to my J name squad), as well as messages for a few of you.

I've been toying with the notion of maybe making a Twitter group chat with some of you that everyone can make friends and interact? Let me know what you guys are thinking in the comments. Enjoy the rest of your day! ~ J}