Chapter Text
Harry sat in the Great Hall, listening to McGonagall’s speech about interhouse unity and watching Malfoy from the Gryffindor table. He watched as Pansy Parkinson nudged him and whispered in his ear, and he smiled - a real smile, not a smirk, not a cruel grin, but a smile - and he thought how unfair it all was. Harry was miserable. He had defeated Voldemort and he was miserable. But Malfoy, the bastard, seemed perfectly happy. Happier than he was before the war, in fact. Everywhere Harry went, Malfoy was there, laughing with his friends, or reading with a smile on his face, or writing in his little notebook that he carried around with him. What was even in that notebook, anyway?
He felt Hermione jab at his ribs with her elbow. Harry winced and turned towards her, a frown on his face. She nodded towards McGonagall and Harry remembered that he was supposed to be paying attention. As he looked up, he saw that McGonagall was staring directly at him.
Shit, he thought, what did she just say?
He was about to ask Hermione, but McGonagall let her gaze travel across the room, from Harry to Malfoy. She started speaking again, pointedly looking at the both of them.
“It would seem our previous focus on the importance of each of your houses has not been beneficial in all of the ways we had hoped it would be.” Oh god. “We’ve noticed an unacceptable level of rivalry between houses, especially since returning this year.” Uh oh. “And I have personally found it unacceptable.”
She stared Harry down again, and Harry felt the whole Hall’s eyes on him. Of course, she was talking about him and Malfoy.
Harry had thought that he was finished with fighting - it had never brought him any good - but, when he had returned to Hogwarts to repeat seventh year (or, as McGonagall would say, to complete ‘eighth year’), he had seen how bloody happy Malfoy had seemed. And that had infuriated him. So, he had picked a fight. And another one. And another one. And another one. And, eventually, it had become a habit.
He didn’t enjoy it, really. As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t pleased when he saw Malfoy’s genuine smile turn into a scowl. He didn’t do it because he enjoyed it. He did it because he had to. How else was he supposed to treat Malfoy? He couldn’t just forget about the seven years of his life that he had spent despising Malfoy. That would be far too easy for everyone involved. And besides, it never got physical. It wasn’t too bad - they would argue, insult each other, one of their friends would drag them away, and they would repeat it a few days later. It wasn’t a big deal.
Except, McGonagall clearly thought differently, because she continued to speak. “I will be arranging a ball for all senior students to attend at the end of the month. Whilst attendance isn’t compulsory, it is greatly encouraged. I’m hoping this night will help us unify the houses for the first time in decades.”
Harry almost rolled his eyes. How would a ball even begin to fix the years of bad blood between Gryffindor and Slytherin?
“However,” McGonagall’s voice grew louder, just slightly, “it will be compulsory for those attending to be accompanied by a student from another house, or else they must attend alone.”
Harry scoffed at the concept, and was shocked to hear a murmur of excitement spread throughout the Hall. Why would anyone agree to this? He looked over at Malfoy again, watching as his face screwed up in disgust. Harry was sure their expressions were rather similar at the moment.
McGonagall had a small smile on her face, but silenced the room, anyway. “As I’m sure you’re all aware, the… disagreements between houses have reached an all-time high since we have returned this year. My efforts to repair this in the past have not been successful, however,” She paused for a moment and eyed Harry and Malfoy once more, “if this does not improve over the next few months, I will be forced to abolish the house system altogether.”
Harry gasped. There was an eruption of noise in the Hall, and Harry looked to McGonagall to see if she would put a stop to it. He frowned as he watched her nod quickly and return to her seat at the head of the room.
What the fuck was happening?