•Harry's pov•

We lined up one by one, it was me, then Draco, then Hermione, then Pansy, then Ron, then Blaise. Ginny, Neville, Luna, Seamus, and Dean were right behind us wands out. People from all directions were gasping. "The chosen one.. with a deatheater?!" Someone shouted, and all eyes were finally on us. I turned to the kid who yelled that, but before I could say anything Ginny yelled, "say that again and I will hex the living piss out of you." The kid gasped again, putting his head down sharply. I smirked, turning my head and thanking Ginny.

We walked straight through the front doors, eyes wide on us and made our way to the great hall. McGonagall had a wicked smile crossing her face when she saw us walk in. We all stood in the back still in line, while the sorting ceremony went on. Cheering and screaming for every student that got sorted. At first everyone looked at us like we were nuts, but then some people started following. The hufflepuffs were the first to join, then some from slytherin, only a few from gryffindor joined, and I think maybe three kids from ravenclaw. Either way some people were joining, so that was a good sign.

The sorting ceremony came to an end after awhile, and McGonagall started her speech. "Welcome students, a couple start of term announcements. No student is to enter the forbidden forest. This years circumstances are a bit different, we are welcoming back last years seventh year students who could not be here due to the war, those students will be called eighth years as to not get mixed up with the seventh years. I ask that you leave them alone, they are here for an education same as you are. Eight years as you are of age you will not have a curfew and can come and go as you wish, but I trust that you will follow the rules and be responsible in keeping up with your class work. Furthermore, I will not tolerate bullying of any slytherin student. Any student that was allowed back into my school has been cleared, and therefore will not be held accountable for their parents actions. Now I have a couple of students who wish to speak. Harry."

All eyes snapped to me, some whispering about 'the chosen one' others just gaping at the fact that I have returned. I walked up awkwardly, thanking McGonagall. "Hello. I will cut introductions short because you all very well know who I am. This is not an easy time for many of us. We have been through a war, and a lot of us have lost friends and family. We are all grieving, but that is no reason to be hateful towards the slytherin students. I have actually befriended someone, that I'm sure you all know. Draco Malfoy."

I paused and waved Draco up, some students just gasped while others shouted nasty things at him. "SILENCE." I bellowed, getting angry at the uproar. I sounded like Dumbledore, and it was sickening. "Enough. I am the one who had to fight Voldemort, I am the one who was hurt several times by death eaters. I spoke for Draco Malfoy at his trials and saw that he was free-I'm glad you ask why, Zachariah-Draco Malfoy may have the dark mark, and he may have began on the wrong side.. but in the end if it wasn't for Draco I would be dead. A lot of us would be dead. He saved my life, when his Aunt asked him to identify me even when he knew it was me. He also threw me the wand that helped me defeat Voldemort in the end. He has come a long, long way from where he started, and I think if I can forgive him for it, you all should be able to."

I stopped to let Draco speak, "You all are right, I was a death eater. It wasn't something I was able to decide, my father forced it upon me, by using unforgivables on me. However that doesn't excuse my behavior to some of you, so I will say to everyone I have ever hurt emotionally or physically, I am sorry. I am sorry for how I have treated people and I am sorry for any pain my family caused in the war. I am trying to be a better person, to be my own person. I did what I had to, to protect my family. Voldemort lived in my house, he threatened to kill me and kill my family. I did what any of you would have. However again my actions towards muggleborns, half bloods, and poor people were not alright. I sincerely apologize to each and every one of you."

I smiled, wrapping my arm around his shoulder. "I want us to work on house unity this year, I don't want history to repeat itself. It was blood statuses and houses that caused two wars, Voldemort is gone let's kill his idea of a perfect wizarding world. I just ask that you try your best to make friends outside of your houses, and me and the other eighth years will be watching. I don't want any hate towards the slytherins."

Some clapped, some grumbled, but the look on McGonagall, Draco, and the rest of the slytherins faces was enough for me. Me and Draco walked back to our tables my arm still draped over his shoulder. I missed the smirk between Ginny and Hermione, and the knowing look from McGonagall.

•

After the feast, McGonagall led us all to our common room. Us eighth years had a different common room because there wasn't enough room in our regular house common rooms. "The rooms will be set as such. Longbottom and Zabini. Parkinson and Granger. Malfoy and Potter. Weasley and Nott. Finnigan and Thomas. Lovegood and Abbott. The Parvati sisters. Greengrass and Brown. Bones and Ginny Weasley. I don't want to hear any arguments, I wanted everyone to be paired with someone of a different house. There were a couple we kept together, simply for the fact that they will not stay out of each others dorms anyways."

She was eyeing Seamus and Dean and we all laughed, "min- headmistress, how are Luna and Ginny not with the seventh years?" I asked, the girls never said anything to us about this. McGonagall caught my eye, giving me a stern look on the almost slip up of her first name, "the girls fought right along side you all in the war. They asked that they be apart of the eighth years so to not be seperated from their friends, it was the least I could do for them." I nodded, not questioning her any further.

After she left we all decided to sit around the common room and tell stories and get to know each other. "So you're telling me, in first fucking year, at eleven years old.. you had to face Voldemort on the back of Quirrells head and killed him with your bare hands?! Was there a year you didn't almost die." I chuckled, shrugging at Nott. "Let's see, first year it was quirrell, second year it was Tom Riddle and Salazars basilisk, third year we thought it was Sirius but it was actually Rons rat he was looking for who was actually Peter Pettigrew, fourth year it was Voldemort and Barty Crouch Jr who was polyjuiced as Mad-Eye Moody, fifth year Voldemort again, sixth year who wants to guess?" Everyone laughed, "Damn Harry, you really are the boy who wouldn't die."

I laughed at Malfoys words, rolling my eyes. "Man the nicknames are terrible, I just want to be Harry for once. Not Harry Potter, not the boy who lived, the chosen one.. sometimes I think about just obliviating myself and moving to the states." Ron jumped in my lap, gasping and holding me close, "my love! You wouldn't leave me, you can't!"

Everyone laughed as I tried to shove Ron off of me, "Ron you git, I'm not going anywhere get away from me!" He whined some more, throwing his head back overdramatically, "good you can't leave me, think of the children." Hermione scoffed, "Ronald Weasley, down boy. Down." Howling laughter soared through the common room. "Who knew Gryffindorks were so funny? Man we missed out on so much growing up." Blaise added helping Hermione pry Ron off of me. "Well it's never too late, I'm happy we can all just relax and be friends without anyone's influence over us."

"Man did you see their faces when you threw your arm around me? I bet half the students thought I cursed you!" Malfoy said through laughs. "I bet the other half placed bets on whether or not you two fancied each other!" Ron shouted and Seamus nodded, "oh they sure did! Potter and Malfoy are the now the second best gay ship in the school. Below me and Dean of course." I screwed my face up, "that's bloody disgusting, why would anyone think I was gay?!"

Everyone stared at me in disbelief, "not that being gay is a problem, I'M just not gay." Everyone cleared their throats, continuing to stare at me. "Well.. Harry.." Hermione started and stopped abruptly. "What does everyone think I'm gay?!" I said in shock. Everyone nodded, "most of the school placed bets on it after they heard of you and Ginny separating." Malfoy added.

I rolled my eyes, "well rest assured guys, I am not!" Luna patted my knee, "it's alright Harry. Don't think on it too much, only you get to determine your own sexuality. You also shouldn't go around calling gay disgusting, it may cause people to think badly of themselves." I blushed, nodding my head, "yeah that came out wrong, I'm really sorry. Being gay isn't disgusting." Malfoy shrugged, "I'm gay."

"I'm bisexual." Blaise added. "We all know I'm gay, for my Dean here." Seamus said, kissing his boyfriend. I smiled, it took them too long to realize that. "I'm pretty sure I'm bisexual. Maybe pansexual." Ginny said, avoiding Ron's gaze who just patted his sisters shoulder. "It's okay Gin, I support you no matter who you kiss." Ginny smiled widely. I started blushing, everyone was so comfortable coming out, and I just felt weird. I didn't think I was gay, I never really put much thought into it. I wasn't sure why everyone else thought I was gay. "I'm a lesbian." Luna said confidently. "Well aren't we a gay bunch." Nott added chuckling. "I'm straight." Ron said causing me to laugh, "but I thought you loved me!" I sighed, dramatically.

Ron hugged me tightly, "of course Harbear." I gagged at the nickname, and Hermione sighed. "You boys! Anyways, I'm pretty sure I'm straight, but I wouldn't be opposed to kissing a girl, so maybe bi." Pansy winked, "hey we can find out, bisexual pride all day over here." Ron and Blaise shared looks, "our girlfriends are flirting." Blaise gasped, and I chuckled. "I love that we all just became friends and started coming out. I'm straight, I guess." I added and Nev shrugged, "well I'm bisexual and asexual." I smiled, "I'm proud of you all. I'm sorry I said it was disgusting, I grew up around muggles who thought anything not straight and magic related was freakish. I'm still fighting those learned traits. I love you all, the lot of you, gay straight or whatever."

"We love you more Harbear." Ron cooed, making me roll my eyes, "nott take Ronald to his bed and then hex the living piss out of him." Ginny swatted at me, "don't steal my lines!" I rolled my eyes again, "oh you weasleys. Always on my last nerve, come on Draco let's go to our dorm." The blonde followed me, as I hollered goodnight to everyone kissing Ron and Hermione's heads.

We got settled in pretty easily, only fighting about who got the bathroom first in the morning. "Hey, goodnight Harry." Draco whispered from his side of the room. I smiled softly, facing away from him, "goodnight Draco.."

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A/N hope you enjoyed loves.

Much love,

-H🫶🏼