1st Year

In this story, Draco leaves Hogwarts early. The war does exist and all that bad stuff, but Harry does not hex Draco with sectumsempra. The story is mostly not canon-compliant.

Year 1

The door to Madam Maulkin's Robes For All Occasions swung open, and in strode a young boy with emerald green eyes and the messiest, untameable black hair. A lad with blond hair, around the same age, was standing on the hightened platform as Madam Maulkin herself measured his frame to customize his Hogwarts uniform. The blond immediately turned his attention to the other boy, observing his scruffy looking attire and broken glasses. He had a look on his face that showed his apprehension, which immediately intrigued the lad. Though he did not show it, he felt the same: scared and anxious to go to school for the first time, weighed down by the name he carries and the responsibilities that it comes with.

The kid on the platform smooths his face blank, and asks, "Hogwarts too?"

"Yes" the other kid murmurs with a still face, frozen that someone was actually talking to him.

The blond contemplated for a second as Madam Maulkin went to the back to construct his robes. After a few beats of a second, "Draco" he stretches his arm towards him, finally showing a hint of warmness to the boy, yet deep down already afraid of rejection.

He doesn't mention his last name because at this moment he is just that, Draco. Not a Malfoy with obligations and rules to follow, but Draco; a boy hoping to have a friend.

Seeing Draco raise his hand, the spectacled boy was taken aback. He had never had anyone shake his hand before, except the half giant Hagrid of course. He eyed the hand of the previously stoic boy reluctantly, but after seeing that small bit of warmth shine through his grey eyes, the raven head clasps his hand, connecting his palm to Draco.

"Harry" he finally replies. He doesn't mention his last name because though he's been in this society for merely hours, he can sense his name carried great weight, and right now Harry is not Harry Potter: the boy who defeated Voldemort. Instead, he is Harry: a boy.

Draco sends him a small smile, and Harry reciprocates. For the first time, both boys, aged 11 in that small empty shop, had made a friend.