The past month had flown by. Harry didn't know what the Malfoy's had told his Aunt but the Dursley's had barely spoken a word to him. It was peaceful. No one had called him a freak or shoved him in his cupboard! The best part was Draco's letters! They had written back and forth everyday. They had to resort to sending letters through Dobby because Draco's hawk had collapsed the third day in! Harry had felt awful for Achilles. The poor thing had looked terrible the last time he had seen him. Harry double checked that he had stuffed everything in his satchel. The satchel was a gift from Draco, a soft yellow color with a dragon shaped clasp. He couldn't believe they were finally going to Hogwarts! He was nervous about getting sorted but Draco would be there.
"Master Harry, Dobby is ready to take you to the station!" They had decided it would be easier for Dobby to apparate Harry to the platform to avoid the crowds.
"Hi Dobby! Thank you for taking me to the Malfoy's!" Harry grinned widely at Dobby.
Dobby gave a squeal as he threw his arms around Harry.
"Dobby is happy to help! He has to keep his ship alive!" Harry didn't know how to respond to that so he just patted Dobby on the back. With one last look around his room, they disapparated.
Harry landed hard, falling forward. Before he could hit the ground, arms caught him and lifted him up.
"Merlin Harry! Once we get to Hogwarts, I'm having Uncle Sev start you on a nutrition potion! You're practically bones!"
"Hi Draco! I missed you!" He watched as Draco's ears turned red before he said "I missed you too Harry"
"Draco, I think you can put Harry down. Harry darling, how are you? Those muggles kept their manners didn't they?" Mrs. Malfoy was smiling brightly at him. Both of Draco's parents had written him letters along with sending snacks and books. Mr. Malfoy had Dobby bring him cookies twice a week while Mrs. Malfoy sent him books. He thought it was very kind of them but he couldn't seem to shake his nervousness around them.
"I'm doing well ma'am. My relatives barely spoke to me so thank you for that and for the presents. I really appreciate it"
"You're welcome Harry. You are a special part of our family and we're happy to help in any way we can" Mr. Malfoy seemed to be hinting at something but Harry had no clue what he was talking about.
~~~~~~
Draco felt rejuvenated. Leaving Harry behind had been the hardest thing he had ever done. Counting down the days until they would be reunited had felt like torture. Catching Harry in his arms as Dobby dropped him off had worked out perfectly! He had an excuse to hold his love and impress Harry with his quick reflexes. He knew Harry was nervous around his parents and then his father had to go and put his foot in his mouth! Harry wouldn't appreciate him murdering his relatives and if anyone was going was going to do it, it would be Draco! He glared at his Father as he pulled Harry towards the train. They quickly found an empty cabin. Like Harry, Draco had all of his things in a satchel. It was easier than lugging a trunk around. He watched as parents hugged their children goodbye and he turned to his parents. This would be the first time they would be separated and he was feeling anxious. It helped that his godfather would be at Hogwarts but it wasn't the same.
"Now Draco, don't get in trouble and make sure you do well in class. Take care of Harry and have fun" his Mother enveloped him in a hug as he watched his Father do the same to Harry.
"No matter what happens son, I will always be proud of you" his Father seemed to be wiping his eyes as he let go.
"Make sure you write to us after dinner! Eat all of your vegetables and listen to the teachers!"
"Yes, Mother. We will!"
"I'm speaking to you Draco! I know Harry will be on his best behavior!" Rolling his eyes, Draco and Harry got back in their room and waved at his parents through the window until they were out of sight. Looking at Harry, he said "Scared, Potter?"
"In your dreams, Malfoy!"
He should have known Greg and Vince would find him. Greg had some weird sixth sense and had always won hide and seek when they were younger.
"Draco! We've been looking everywh-" he suddenly stopped when he spotted Harry causing Vince to run into him.
"This is my betrothed, Harry Potter. Harry, this is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. We've been friends since we were babies."
"No WAY! You convinced him to marry you?" Vince suddenly shouted.
"Potter, he isn't keeping you against your will is he? Blink twice if you're being held hostage" Greg added.
"Oi! What are you talking about?" Giving them both a smug smile, he announced "Harry likes me!"
Greg and Vince shared a look before they collapsed on the opposite couch.
"He's going to be insufferable ain't he?"
"I think you're right, Greg."
They looked at Harry before Greg said "you know he used to have the house elves put tiny ties on the peacocks and taught them to walk in a straight line on command?"
"For your information Greg, Harry likes the peacocks! We think they'll make an excellent addition to our wedding."
"You're a nutter, Draco." Vince added. Draco couldn't believe his friends were being like this! He had waited all summer to rub his wonderful news in their faces and they were being prats!
Harry hunched over as he burst into peals of laughter. He was gasping because he was laughing so hard.
"Harry! You're taking their side? The betrayal!"
Harry finally managed to say through his giggles "but Draco, they're so funny!"
"Thank you Harry!" Greg and Vince spoke in unison causing Harry to start laughing again. Draco sighed. It was going to be a long year.
~~~~~~
Harry held tightly to Draco's hand as they got off the boats. He had definitely seen something in the water and it gave him goosebumps! Mr. Hagrid guided them to two large doors where a stern looking lady was waiting. She was wearing a pointed hat and a no nonsense attitude.
"Thank you, Hagrid. My name is Professor McGonagall. I am the head of Gryffindor House. Straighten yourselves up for the sorting!" She said looking at them over the wire rims of her glasses. She turned and led them into a huge dining room. Harry looked up and let out a gasp. The ceiling looked like the night sky! The girl beside him said it was enchanted. He gave her a small smile before he looking forward. On a small stool sat a hat. It honestly looked kind of dirty and he wondered if maybe they had to clean it as part of the test? The hat opened at the brim and started singing! Harry couldn't believe how well it rhymed!
"Students, when I call you name, step forward!" Professor McGonagall said. She seems to be going in alphabetical order. Harry tried not to show it but he was nervous. What if they didn't call his name? He couldn't imagine the ridicule he'd suffer from the Dursley's and he would be forced to separate from Draco! Before he could work himself into a proper panic, Draco leaned closer and whispered "we'll be together, no matter what" and gave his hand a squeeze.
"Malfoy, Draco!" Harry let go of Draco's hand as he walked forward. He put the hat on his head and they waited. Draco was under the hat for almost five minutes before the hat shouted "yes yes I understand! Merlin, you're like a dog with bone! Ahem! Slytherin!" Draco sat the hat back on the stool, gave Harry a wave and strutted to the Slytherin table. The next student was called. Finally it was Harry's turn.
"Potter, Harry!" Everyone broke out into whispers. Harry walked towards the hat and shoved it on his head.
"Ahhh, so you're the one the little Malfoy boy was yammering on about" a voice spoke inside his mind. Harry was about to rip the hat off and just sit besides Draco when the voice said "I wouldn't do that lad, it's just the Sorting Hat talking to you."
This is how they decided where they went? A musty hat?
"Hey! Who are you calling musty?" Harry tried to stop thinking but he couldn't help it.
"Now let's get on with the Sorting eh? Plenty of courage, not a bad mind, what's this? Oh my! Your loyalty to your new friend is outstanding! You really put all of your eggs in one basket huh? I haven't seen such loyalty since Helga herself!
Better be Hufflepuff!" It was dead silent when Harry took off the hat and placed it on the stool beside him. It was broken by Draco standing on the bench and clapping loudly "well done Harry! You'll look dashing in yellow!" The Hufflepuff table soon joined in on the applause. He watched a black haired Professor slam his head against the table as he took his seat.
"What in Merlin's pants is Snape doing?" One of the kids next to him whispered. Soon enough the Sorting was done and food appeared on the table. The girl next to him introduced herself as "Hannah Abbott, please call me Hannah!" Harry said hello. He didn't want to be rude but he was waaaay out of his comfort zone. He wished Draco was sitting with him. He was soon introduced to Susan Bones, Ernie Macmillan, Zacharias "call me Zach" Smith and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"So Harry! I'm surprised Malfoy clapped for you! Everyone knows Hufflepuff isn't someone's first choice." Ernie said.
"Why not? I think it's been great so far." Harry was just happy no one had asked to see his scar. Once he learned why he had it, he didn't really like showing it off.
"That's so sweet of you to say, Harry!" Hannah replied as she ruffled his hair.
"Anyways! You and Malfoy are friends?" Susan asked, her voice casual.
"Of course we're friends, we're actually going to get married once we come of age!" As Harry replied, there was lull in conversation so the whole table heard. Almost as one, every Hufflepuff turned and stared at the Slytherin table. Harry Potter was going to what?
~~~~~~
Draco watched as the Bones girl ruffled Harry's hair and had to stop himself from grinding his teeth together.
"Draco, stop trying to light the girl on fire and eat your dinner" Greg gave him a shove. None of them understood! They weren't in love like he was! How would they like it if some stranger touched their husband's hair? Giving a sniff, he started cutting up his food, barely tasting whatever was on his plate as he continued to watch Harry.
"Oi Malfoy! Stop making cow eyes at Potter and have some pride" Marcus Flint was a third year and a pain in his behind. At this point, everyone knew Draco's obsession with Harry Potter. It was a well talked about subject in Pureblood circles. Giving Flint a rude hand gesture, he turned back to watching Harry, only to find the whole Hufflepuff table staring at him! Harry's face was red as he waved and Draco couldn't help but grin at how cute he was! Waving back, he decided that being in different House's wasn't going to stop him from eating with Harry. Just as he was about to go rescue Harry from the 'Puffs, the prefect came to gather all the first years and take them to the dungeons. He looked at them before he said "excuse me, may I have a moment?" Not waiting for a reply, he ran across the hall to where the first year Hufflepuffs were lining up.
"Harry!" Harry turned to face him, looking relieved.
"Draco, what are you doing?" Ignoring the other children around Harry, he swept him into a hug.
"I'm very happy for you, Harry. I just wanted to tell you good night and that I'll see you for breakfast in the morning okay?" Harry buried his head in Draco's chest for a moment before he wished him a good night too. Draco practically floated back to the waiting Slytherins.
"What did I tell you? Insufferable!"
~~~~~~
Severus Snape was a bitter man and he liked it that way. He knew the children called him a "dungeon bat" and he purposely fed into the rumor mill that he was a vampire. Children tended to listen better when they thought he might drink their blood. Sitting around the table in the staff room, he sighed for the tenth time in the last hour. He hated the first teachers meeting of the year. All they did was gossip about the Sorting. He watched as Albus cleared his throat before saying "Alright, is everyone present?" There was a chorus of "yes!" as all of the Professors chimed in. Albus opened his mouth to speak but Pomona interrupted.
"I bet you almost had a heart attack when the hat called out Hufflepuff, didn't you Minerva? Weren't you bragging that Potter would be in your House?" Minerva gave a huff before she said "I'm sure Potter will do well in Hufflepuff, Pomona!" She gave Minevera another smug smile before turning to look at Albus. He ignored the speech Albus gave every year and tried to mentally prepare himself for the disaster that was his godson. He couldn't believe the boy had attached himself to Potter so quickly! He shouldn't have been surprised though. He had seen the force that was Narcissa Black as she aggressively courted Lucius. The boy was an exact replica of his mother. Of course he couldn't have gotten a crush on anyone but Potter! He had seen the boy sprint across the Great Hall to give Potter a good night hug. Merlin, Snape was going to throw up if he had to see that everyday. He saw that Lupin looked as shocked as everyone else did. He thought the man was rather pitiful but he didn't blame him. The Boy-Who-Lived in Hufflepuff? It was ridiculous! Almost as ridiculous as hiring a werewolf to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. He felt his lip curl as he stared at Lupin. Honestly the man looked like a stiff wind would knock him down but he saw the beast within. The meeting wrapped up quickly and Severus was thankful that the Sorting Ceremony fell on a Friday, leaving him the weekend to try and scare the incoming First Years.