What We’ve built | D.M. · Y/n story by @ella8888

The Great Hall was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning. Sunlight streamed through the enchanted ceiling, painting the long house tables in warm, lazy stripes. The usual post-breakfast chatter had died down to a low hum, replaced by a tangible, curious tension.

Headmistress McGonagall

If I could have your attention.

Her voice, magically amplified, cut through the remaining whispers. Every head turned.

Headmistress McGonagall

You are all here because you volunteered for a new, cross-curricular initiative. An extra-credit project of significant scale.

She paused, letting her gaze sweep over the assembled students. Y/n could feel the weight of it as it passed over the Slytherin table.

Headmistress McGonagall

What I am about to disclose is the full nature of that project. It is unprecedented. It will be demanding in ways your academic work has not prepared you for.

A few students exchanged nervous glances. Draco Malfoy, a few seats down from Y/n, stared fixedly at the tabletop, his jaw tight.

Headmistress McGonagall

In the aftermath of the war, we have many to rebuild. Homes. Institutions. Lives.

Her voice softened, just a fraction.

Headmistress McGonagall

Among the most vulnerable are the very young. Children left with no family. No home. The Ministry’s orphanages are overwhelmed.

A cold, understanding dread began to pool in the pit of Y/n’s stomach.

Headmistress McGonagall

This project is a practical rehabilitation and care initiative. Each volunteer pair will be given temporary guardianship of one such child. You will be responsible for their complete care—feeding, clothing, nurturing, and safeguarding—for a period of three months, while maintaining your full academic schedule.

A collective, sharp intake of breath echoed in the hall. Someone choked on their pumpkin juice.

Headmistress McGonagall

This is not a theoretical exercise. You will live with your assigned partner and your child in a modified dormitory. There will be monitoring charms for the child’s wellbeing, but the day-to-day responsibility is yours. Entirely.

She leaned forward slightly, her knuckles white where they gripped the podium.

Headmistress McGonagall

The extra credit offered is substantial. But so is the commitment. If the idea of this responsibility alarms you, if you have any doubt in your ability to see it through, now is the time to withdraw. No penalty will be incurred.

Silence. Heavy, absolute silence. No one moved.

Headmistress McGonagall

Very well.

She unrolled a long parchment. The sound was terribly loud.

Headmistress McGonagall

Pairings and assignments. Abbott, Hannah and Corner, Michael. Dormitory seven. Bones, Susan and Boot, Terry. Dormitory nine.

The names rolled on. Some pairs laughed nervously. Others looked horrified. Y/n’s mind was blank, a static buzz. This couldn’t be real. A child?

Headmistress McGonagall

Parkinson, Pansy and Zabini, Blaise. Dormitory twelve.

From further down the Slytherin table, there was a distinct, muttered “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Pansy Parkinson looked like she’d been slapped. Blaise Zabini just stared into the middle distance, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

Headmistress McGonagall

Rosier, Y/n and Malfoy, Draco. Dormitory thirteen.

The words landed like a physical blow. Y/n’s head snapped up. A few seats away, Draco Malfoy went perfectly, deathly still. Then his head turned, slowly, and his grey eyes—cold and wide with shock—found Y/n’s across the gap.

Headmistress McGonagall

Your assigned child and a Ministry agent await you in your new quarters. You will proceed there immediately following this announcement to complete the temporary custody agreements. Good luck.

She rolled up the parchment. The spell of silence broke, and the hall erupted into a cacophony of panicked voices, disbelieving laughter, and frantic questions. Draco was still staring. He hadn’t looked away.