"Things didn't change much. I mean I did but things didn't."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well- obviously everyone grew up. Four years passed after all. Everyone started to develop new interests, met new people, did nee things but they were still kind of the same. Harry, Ron, Hermione and I for instance were still best friends."
"Why didn't you want to talk about what happened in years 3 to 5? Why skip to 6?"
"I told you." I reminded her. "In the beginning of our first session. There were only three years relevant if you want to understand the issues I have. We already talked about the first two. After he left- you know who- things went back to normal. I mean not completely. I was still a wreck and was mentally totally fucked up but at least he was gone."
She opened her mouth wanting to say something but she got interrupted by my laughter.
"When I say it like that it sounds like he died. No I am talking about when he transferred schools my life just went on. I became quite a good student, the teachers liked me, I made new friends and even though there was definitely some drama there was still peace and harmony at Hogwarts."
"You seem in a good mood today."
"I am. I actually love thinking about those years." I smiled in memory of those times.
"How did things between you and Ron develop? You said everyone changed?"
"Oh yeah. We broke up. That was quite some drama." I laughed tilting my head back. "There wasn't an actual reason. We just didn't love each other anymore. I guess after dating for two years you can get bored. And like- we were 13 when we started dating. We were kind of immature as well."
"That must've been hard for you though. He was your first boyfriend if I recall correctly?"
"I mean it wasn't that hard. We still had an on-off thing. Hence the drama." My lips formed into a thin line. "I don't want to go too much into detail since some parts of those on-off flings were quite... mature, if you understand."
"I do." Her cheeks turned red and she seemed kind of embarrassed. "However..."
"However..." I repeated. "Well- it was the sixth year. The first day to be specific when..."
[F L A S H B A C K]
....when I am standing at the train station I recall all the memories I collected last year. I can't believe this will be my penultimate year at Hogwarts. Time flew by and there were still so many things to do and experience before graduating. I just realised how naive we were to postpone everything we had planned saying that we still have time to do them. Time is exactly the one thing we don't have.
"Hey! Y/N!" I get snapped out of my thoughts. When I turn around I spot three people running towards me. This almost seems like our first reunion after second year. I smile. They really didn't change.
"Hey." I welcome each one of them with a warm hug. "I missed you guys so much."
"No one told you to go to Italy over the holidays! You could've spent them with us." Hermione has gotten so much prettier than she was last year. Her hair grew, her skin got clearer, her body matured. She was absolutely beautiful.
The red haired boy looking confused with the train schedule still looked the same though. He obviously became taller and even more handsome - and he has definitely been working out as well - but he still had the same spark in his emerald green eyes and the same habits.
Harry - well he didn't really grow physically - but mentally he's become so much more mature in so many ways. I was always impressed by him and his maturity even when we were little but his affect grew as we became older. He is the reason why all of us are still inseparable. There were times were we were about to break off our friendship but he was the reason it never happened - fortunately.
"I am sorry. But I brought presents though!"
They all started to clap causing me to laugh.
"In that case let me help you with the bags, my lady." Ron bows down and grabs my suitcase.
Hermione shoots him a deadly glance. "You didn't even want to hold my suitcase when I had to lace up my shoes earlier!"
"Let them be." Harry links in. "They are fuck buddies after all."
"Dude!" Ron and I exclaim simultaneously.
"We already explained that things are over between us. For real this time." I explain. Looking at how Ron's body changed over summer I am not sure about it though. I can also feel his eyes scanning my body.
"Oh please. Get a room!" Hermione notices and does fake gaging sounds as she walks in the direction of the train to Hogwarts which just arrived.
"Granger! Wait for me!" I run after her putting my arm around her shoulder and lower my voice as I say "don't worry, we'll get you laid this year as well."
"I don't plan on getting laid, Y/N. I just want to focus on school."
"Okay fine. Then just keep doing it yourself if that's your preference."
"What!" She exclaims.
"You forget I'm a light sleeper, Granger." I tease her and enjoy making her blush in embarrassment. "It's okay. We are almost 17. It's normal."
"I-"
"What are you girls talking about?" Harry asks as he and Ron reach us.
"Masturbation." I tell him.
"Bro what the fuck." His eyebrows rise. "I didn't want to know that."
"Don't be so prude, Potter. Ron is quite bad at keeping things a secret as well, you know?." He knows exactly what I'm hinting at.
"Ron!" He punches his arm.
"You promised not to tell anyone." Ron looks at me and I burst out in laughter putting my arm around all three of them pulling them close to me.
"Look at us being all grown up talking about intimate things like the adults we are. Isn't it great?" I take a deep breath to spiritualise this moment.
"Yeah it's amazing how everyone knows what's going on under my blanket at night." Harry groans.
"Stop crying." Ron slaps the back of Harry's head and we break off the hug.
"Take this one too, will you, sweetheart?" I hand over my other bag to Ron before walking inside the train with everyone following me.
I can't wait to start another amazing year at Hogwarts.
Yeah I shouldn't have said that.
-
"I am so stressed about advancing to the N.E.W.T. level classes this year. We have to be super focused this year and give our best in order to not fail." Hermione speaks as we walk into the great hall. I greet some friends on our way to our seats also observing the first year students. They are so excited and nervous - that's how I felt when I transferred here in year two. Not knowing anyone, wondering if people will even like me, not being aware of what will come. So many doubts and fears crossed my mind that day and I am grateful up to this day that Harry and the others were there to take all those insecurities away from me by just being nice and becoming my friends.
Even though we weren't in the same houses it still felt like there were absolutely no boundaries between us. Eventually being friends with people from different houses were normalised. No one cared about those things anymore. In fact we were even allowed to have sleepovers in different houses - with a strict separation of the genders though - of course. But let me tell you this. No one cared.
"Hermione. Dumbledore didn't even greet us yet. Stop stalking about responsibilities and grades already." I roll my eyes and sit down analysing the room filled with bunch of students. There were many new faces even at our table.
"Are you looking for someone?" Harry asks.
"Huh?" I shake my head. "No I was just looking for... Ah! There they are." I point at Blaise, Cedric and Luna who immediately spot us.
"Hello, you guys." Luna greets us with a smile and gives me a warm hug before sitting down. So do Cedric and Blaise. We end up talking about our summer. Everyone is just throwing bunch of stuff in and telling the most random things until everything goes silent.
What's this cold?
„What the-" I stop myself when I realise why everyone has gone silent. All eyes are fixed on one certain person walking down the grand hall all the way up to our table. The grace he's walking with and the cold embrace fulfils the room and I catch myself shaking. A queasy feeling spreads through every cell in my body and I feel my breathing getting heavier and heavier up to the point where I almost can't breathe. It is as if his presence itself suffocates me.
His big hands rest on the table right in front of me and his tall figure towers over me. I eye every inch of his hands, every ring, every vain, I follow his muscular arms all the way up to his defined jaw, appreciating his full red lips, which are standing in contrast to the paleness of his skin; and finally I lock eyes with the eternal grey of his.
"Missed me?" His deep voice vibrates through the room. That's when it hit me. He's back. Draco's back.