Even if it ultimately didn’t matter, it was still with some sense of pride that Draco could finally take the place as head of Slytherin house, seated next to Neville who was next to McGonagall, at the high table. Despite the fact that Draco had been teaching at Hogwarts for several years now, he felt that this was the defining moment for him.<br/>Him finally getting to take this place meant that he did have a place at Hogwarts and that he definitely did belong. It had taken a lot of hard work and most of the students were probably not going to notice it, but it meant the world to Draco and he was just about beaming with pride.<br/>The moment, however, was short lived. Moments before the students were due to arrive in the great hall, Draco heard an all too familiar voice close to him.<br/>Of course.<br/>Even if Potter seemed very apologetic about the entire scenario, Draco could still feel the terrible dread wash over him. He had really made an effort so far in not being close to or even around Potter, but now he knew that comparison was going to be inevitable. The saviour of Hogwarts, the chosen one, was back and it was going to become very clear, very quickly, that Draco had never truly been a part of this and had only been here on borrowed time.<br/>“Of course,” Draco said under his breath, unsure whether or not Potter could even hear him, but he really didn’t care. “God forbid that normal rules should apply to Harry Potter.”